Abstract: A chest protector may include shoulder portions to extend over shoulders of a sport participant wearing the chest protector, a padded chest portion to extend over the chest of a sport participant wearing the chest protector, a padded torso portion and a pliable shaper extending across the padded torso portion.

Abstract: A garment configured for retaining a beverage container and for use on the lower body of a user. The garment includes a pocket coupled to the garment, and a tab coupled to the garment at first and second locations. The pocket includes a lower closed edge, first and second closed side edges and an open upper edge. The pocket is sized to removably receive and retain the beverage container. The first and second locations are spaced apart from each other to define an unattached region of the tab between the first and second locations. The unattached region configured for facilitating the opening of the beverage container by the user.

Abstract: A method of forming a barrel portion including obtaining a mandrel shaped to define at least an inner surface of a barrel portion of the bat, wrapping a first plurality of layers of fiber composite material about the mandrel, placing a removable material over a first portion of the first plurality of layers, and wrapping a second plurality of layers of fiber composite material over the removable material and the portion of the first plurality of layers not covered by the removable material for form an assembly. The method further includes separating the mandrel from the assembly, inserting an expandable member within the assembly, inserting the assembly into a barrel-forming mold, and molding the assembly in a single molding cycle, curing the first and second layers with the removable material to form the barrel portion of the bat, and removing the removable material and the member from the barrel portion.

Abstract: A golf club may include a head having a body and a faceplate coupled to the body. The faceplate may have a maximum thickness at a central location and a cross-section intersecting the central location. The cross-section may have continuously variable wall thickness across the faceplate. The faceplate may have a closed non-convex contour curve defined by constant faceplate wall thickness that encloses the central location.

Abstract: A golf club may include a head having a body and a faceplate coupled to the body. The faceplate may have a maximum thickness at a central location and a cross-section intersecting the central location. The cross-section may have continuously variable wall thickness across the faceplate. The faceplate may have a closed non-convex contour curve defined by constant faceplate wall thickness that encloses the central location.

Abstract: A method for forming a tennis ball including the steps of providing a non-foamed thermoplastic core and providing a non-smooth textured surface on the core. The thermoplastic core including a thermoplastic material having a specific gravity of 0.86 to 1.38, a flexural modulus of 2.0 to 50.0 MPa, and a Shore D hardness of 10 to 70. The thermoplastic material having a thickness between 3.0 and 8.0 mm. The thickness of the thermoplastic material being configured to maintain dimensional stability at internal pressures of between zero and 15 psi.

Abstract: A method of forming a barrel portion including obtaining a mandrel shaped to define at least an inner surface of a barrel portion of the bat, wrapping a first plurality of layers of fiber composite material about the mandrel, placing a removable material over a first portion of the first plurality of layers, and wrapping a second plurality of layers of fiber composite material over the removable material and the portion of the first plurality of layers not covered by the removable material for form an assembly. The method further includes separating the mandrel from the assembly, inserting an expandable member within the assembly, inserting the assembly into a barrel-forming mold, and molding the assembly in a single molding cycle, curing the first and second layers with the removable material to form the barrel portion of the bat, and removing the removable material and the member from the barrel portion.

Abstract: A tennis ball may include a non-foamed thermoplastic core defining an internal volume, the core having an outer meltable surface. The core may include a thermoplastic material having a specific gravity of 0.86 to 1.38, a flexural modulus of 2.0 to 50.0 MPa, and a Shore D hardness of 10 to 70. The thickness of the thermoplastic material may be between 3.0 and 8.0 mm and configured to maintain dimensional stability at internal pressures of between zero and 15 psi. The tennis ball may further include a felt cover at least partially covering the core, wherein the tennis ball conforms to ITF and USTA size, weight, deformation and rebound requirements.

Abstract: A ball bat, extending along a longitudinal axis. The bat includes a barrel portion, an end cap and a handle portion. The barrel portion is formed of a fiber composite material and includes a proximal region having a continuous single wall construction, a central region and a distal region. The central region includes at least first and second central region walls longitudinally extending from the proximal region, and a distal region includes first and second distal region walls longitudinally extending from the central region. The central region walls and the distal region walls form a first inner barrel wall and an outer barrel wall, respectively. The barrel walls are spaced apart by a first separation. The first separation is unfilled and longitudinally extends over the central region and the first distal region wall. The end cap and the handle portion are coupled to the distal and proximal region, respectively.

Abstract: An overcap for a container for storing at least one tennis ball, the container extending along a longitudinal axis and having an open end. The overcap includes a body adapted for removably attachment to the open end of the tennis ball container. The body includes a peripheral rim for engaging an outer surface of the container at the open end, and a lip projecting from the peripheral rim toward the longitudinal axis. The peripheral lip extends over a portion of the open end of the tennis ball container. The lip defines a first opening.

Abstract: A sports glove for being worn by a hand may include a backhand panel and a palm panel joined to the backhand panel to form a palm cavity therebetween. The palm cavity extends from a base portion to a knuckle portion. The sports glove may further include finger stalls extending from the palm cavity, the finger stalls comprising an index finger stall and a thumb stall extending from the palm cavity. The sports glove may further include a slit within the backhand panel, the slit distally extending from the base portion to a terminus between an index metacarpal and a thumb metacarpal of the hand received within the glove. The sports glove may further or alternatively include a wrist strap containing a protective insert that extends in an arc about an ulna side of a forearm.

Abstract: A shin guard may include an upper shin guard piece and a lower shin guard piece removably connected and overlapping the upper shin guard piece. A leg guard may include a toe guard releasably connected to a shin guard by a hook and loop fastener. A leg guard may include a knee guard, a thigh guard and a continuous flexible band underlying and connecting the thigh guard and the knee guard.

Abstract: A tennis ball including a non-foamed thermoplastic core defining an internal volume. The core includes a thermoplastic material having a specific gravity of 0.86 to 1.38, a flexural modulus of 2.0 to 50.0 MPa, and a Shore D hardness of 10 to 70. A thickness of the thermoplastic material is between 3.0 and 8.0 mm. The thickness of the thermoplastic material is configured to maintain dimensional stability at internal pressures of between zero and 15 psi.

Abstract: An iron-type golf club head includes a body having a wall extending about an opening, a faceplate coupled to the body across the opening, and a fill material. The wall defines a first set of apertures and a second aperture, and includes an outer peripheral surface, a sole and a rear wall portion extending from the heel to the toe. The wall and the faceplate define a rearward-facing back cavity. The sole, the rear wall portion and the faceplate define a lower cavity that is continuous with the back cavity. The first set of apertures and the second aperture extend through the wall from the peripheral outer surface to, and are continuous with, the lower cavity. The first set of apertures and the second aperture extend about first and second planes, respectively. The fill material substantially fills the lower cavity and the first set of apertures and the second aperture.

Abstract: An American-style football may include a prolate spheroidal shaped bladder having a longitudinal axis, an outermost layer about the bladder, a lacing surface featuring a series of parallel projections from an exterior of the outermost layer and an intermediate sandwiched between the bladder and the outermost layer, wherein the intermediate layer is configured to decrease a MOI of the football.

Abstract: A ball glove may include a front glove portion, a back glove portion and a webbing. A palm side of the webbing comprises a spin reduction texture. The spin reduction texture includes a first pattern of raised projections and/or recesses.

Abstract: A generally spherical basketball defining a center point and including a carcass having an outer surface and a cover assembly positioned over the outer surface of the carcass. The cover assembly includes at least one cover panel. The cover panel has an outer surface including a valley base surface and first and second sets of spaced-apart projections. Each of the projections of the first and second sets of spaced-apart projections include first and second outermost surfaces, respectively. The first set of projections have an average height measured in a radial direction from the center point within the range of 0.2 to 2.0 mm from the valley base surface to the first outermost surface. The second set of projections have an average height measured in a radial direction from the center point within the range of 15 to 175 ?m from the valley base surface to the second outermost surface.

Abstract: An example pickleball paddle may include a handle and a head coupled to the handle. The head may include an inner layer sandwiched between a first outer faceplate and a second outer faceplate. The inner layer may include a lattice. At least portions of the handle, the inner layer, the first outer faceplate and the second outer faceplate are integrally formed as a single unitary body.

Abstract: An iron-type golf club head includes a body having a wall extending about an opening, a faceplate coupled to the body across the opening, first and second sets of apertures, and a fill material. The wall has an outer peripheral surface, a sole, a toe, a heel, a topline and a rear wall portion extending from the heel to the toe. The wall and the faceplate define a rearward-facing back cavity, and the sole, the rear wall portion and the faceplate define a lower cavity that is continuous with the back cavity. The first and second sets of apertures extend through the wall from the peripheral outer surface to, and are continuous with, the lower cavity. The first and second sets of apertures extend about first and second planes, respectively. The fill material substantially fills the lower cavity and the first and second sets of apertures.