Abstract: A nursing aid system which includes at least one breast cup and at least one nipple extender which may be integrally formed with the breast cup or which may comprise a separate piece. The breast cup has a concave breast receiving portion and a hollow generally cylindrical nipple receiving portion located on and projecting away from the breast receiving portion, the nipple receiving portion having a remote end which includes a milk delivery aperture. The nipple extender, if separately formed, may be slidably received in the nipple receiving portion of the breast cup and has an axial length less than the length of the nipple receiving portion. The nipple extender provides at least one flow channel for conducting milk from the mother's nipple to the milk delivery aperture and is preferably sized and configured to occupy most of the space in the nipple receiving portion of the breast cup which is not occupied by a mother's nipple.

Abstract: A nursing aid system which includes at least one breast cup and at least one nipple extender which may be integrally formed with the breast cup or which may comprise a separate piece. The breast cup has a concave breast receiving portion and a hollow generally cylindrical nipple receiving portion located on and projecting away from the breast receiving portion, the nipple receiving portion having a remote end which includes a milk delivery aperture. The nipple extender, if separately formed, may be slidably received in the nipple receiving portion of the breast cup and has an axial length less than the length of the nipple receiving portion. The nipple extender provides at least one flow channel for conducting milk from the mother's nipple to the milk delivery aperture and is preferably sized and configured to occupy most of the space in the nipple receiving portion of the breast cup which is not occupied by a mother's nipple.

Abstract: A thin wall tubular bat, particularly for softball, has a constant barrel diameter and an internal tubular insert spaced from the barrel with a shear stress transmitting elastomeric layer sandwiched between the barrel and insert so that the insert reinforces the barrel to reduce denting which would otherwise occur as the elastomer efficiently transfers stress to the insert and stores and releases energy during impact of the bat with a ball.

Abstract: A thin wall tubular bat, particularly for softball, has a constant barrel diameter and an internal tubular insert spaced from the barrel with a shear stress transmitting elastomeric layer sandwiched between the barrel and insert so that the insert reinforces the barrel to reduce denting which would otherwise occur as the elastomer efficiently transfers stress to the insert and stores and releases energy during impact of the bat with a ball.

Abstract: An end cap assembly for a thin wall tubular ball bat includes an insert sleeve which is closely received inside the barrel end of the bat and defines, with the barrel, a glue chamber into which adhesive is injected to affix the sleeve to the barrel without a mechanical interlock. The end cap is mechanically locked into the sleeve and held in place by a radially projecting locking collar on an axially depending skirt portion of the end cap which is received in an annular recess in the internal cylindrical surface of the sleeve. Abutting shoulders on the end cap and sleeve prevent axial movement of the end cap relative to the sleeve.

Abstract: A vibration dampened hand held implement such as a ball bat, archery bow or hammer is provided with a vibration dampening system comprising a chamber having a low modulus viscoelastic elastomeric vibration dampening member freely moveable therein to bounce back and forth between and move out of phase with the chamber walls to rapidly dampen unwanted lower frequency vibrations of the implement.