Abstract: The invention is a glove having a palmar side panel and a dorsal side panel and a thumb stall and a plurality of finger stalls for receiving a thumb and fingers of a human hand. The invention further includes a finger or thumb stall having a transverse expansion zone and/or a longitudinal expansion zone comprised of expandable material for accommodating fingers of varying sizes.

Abstract: A multi-purpose glove includes protective or shock absorbing padding over the pulleys and tendons of the boney prominences of the fingers and thumb between adjacent joints of the boney prominences or phalanxes. The center axis of rotation of the individual joints are provided with expandable material positioned to overlie specific finger and thumb joints thereby defining motion or flexion zones at these joints.

Abstract: A glove, particularly for golf, is provided with a gusset of expandable material which extends along the finger stalls of the glove from the web between the finger stalls to a selected distance from the distal end of the fingers, the glove having a non-expandable material wrap around the fingers thereby providing an expansion zone that extends along the length of the fingers to a selected distance from the tip end of the distal phalanxes of the fingers.

Abstract: A glove particularly useful for cycling includes a plurality of finger elements a thumb element a dorsal side panel and a palmar side panel. The finger elements cover the fingers the thumb elements cover a thumb the dorsal side panel covers a back or dorsal side of the hand and the palmar side panel covers a palm of the hand. Shock absorbing pads are provided on the palmar side of the glove to extend along opposed sides of the ulnar nerve when in a use condition. Moreover one of the ulnar protective pads is placed generally between the ulnar and the median nerves and thereby off loads the stress on the ulnar nerve in the wrist area of the wearer when a wearer is gripping objects such as the handle bars of a bicycle or the like.

Abstract: A bat is created using efficient and automated techniques to apply layers of composite materials onto a mandrel. The system includes a plurality of rotating wrapping mechanisms binding stages. Each wrapping mechanism rotates along a central axis while a mandrel is driven through the axis. The rotational motion allows each wrapping mechanism to wrap one or more material strips along the outer surface of the mandrel. Between each wrapping layer, a binding material such as fusible thread may be applied to fuse wrapping layers together. The wrapping may be performed for the bat barrel and bat handle. Each mandrel may form two bats, and multiple mandrels can be connected together to maximize wrapping efficiency. The wrapped mandrels are separated into bat units, a resin transfer molding is performed, and the bats are completed.

Abstract: Industry regulatory organizations have created performance restrictions for ball bats. The present invention relates to a ball bat with an internal impact dampening means. More particularly, the present invention relates to a ball bat with a handle, a barrel, and a central tube positioned coaxially within the barrel. The central tube includes at least one restriction member capable of limiting the deformation experienced by the ball bat upon impact of a ball. Precisely limiting the deformation of the ball bat allows the present invention to achieve, but not exceed, performance substantially equal to the maximum performance allowed by industry regulatory organizations and maintain that level of performance over a substantial length of the ball bat.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a ball bat with improved shock and vibration dampening. More particularly, the present invention relates to a ball bat with a handle, a barrel, and a socket assembly interposed between the handle and barrel. The socket assembly allows the barrel and handle to move relative to each other, which dampens shock and vibration.

Abstract: A glove, particularly useful for automobile mechanic work and other types of working environments or sports which brings the dorsal side of the hand in contact with hard objects or the like which may result in injuries to the knuckles of the fingers, thumb and dorsal side of the hand is provided with padding positioned to circumscribe the center axis of rotation of the metacarpalphalangeal joints of the fingers and the thumb. The pad covers the distal ends of the metacarpals and the proximal ends of the proximal phalanxes of the fingers with padding being absent at the metacarpalphalangeal joints of the fingers.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a composite tubular member includes providing a mandrel having a central longitudinal axis and wrapping a plurality of composite fiber layers around said mandrel wherein the longitudinal axis thereof is oriented at a first angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said mandrel. The composite tubular member produced does not have any longitudinal seams and is thus considerably stronger and more durable than prior art composite tubes.

Abstract: A protective glove, particularly useful for automobile mechanic work and other types of working environments or sports which brings the dorsal side of the hand in contact with hard objects or the like which may result in injuries to the knuckles of the fingers, thumb and dorsal side of the hand is provided with protective padding positioned to circumscribe the center axis of rotation of the metacarpalphalangeal joints of the fingers and the thumb. The protective pad covers the distal ends of the metacarpals and the proximal ends of the proximal phalanxes of the fingers with padding being absent at the metacarpalphalangeal joints of the fingers.

Abstract: A glove is provided to flex as the user clinches his fist. The glove is provided with expandable zones on both sides of the top portion of the glove. Two expandable zones are positioned over the metacarpalphalangeal joints of the one small finger and the index finger. A third expandable zone is positioned to overly the center axis of rotation of the metacarpalphalangeal joints of the long finger and the ring finger. Cooperating relationship between the three expandable zones allow for expansion of the glove, both longitudinally and laterally, over the metacarpalphalangeal joints of the hand.

Abstract: A batting glove particularly for baseball and softball includes padding along the palmar side of at least the proximal ends of the metacarpals of the ring finger and the small finger. Padding is absent over the hook of the hamate and preferably the carpometacarpal joints of the ring finger and the small finger.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for playing ball sports including softball. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for deterring the modification of ball bats. The bat comprises a barrel, a sweet spot, a transition area, a handle, and an end knob. Within the barrel are found supports used to reinforce the structural integrity of the bat to deter users from crushing the bat, causing the bat to fall outside the legal classification of bats allowed by the Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA). The supports are made out of a lightweight durable composition. The supports are held in place by a retaining member. Multiple supports and retaining members may be used.

Abstract: An automatic leveling fixture includes a base, at least one jaw slidably connected to the base, a base plate slidable relative to the base. The at least one jaw has a base plate camming surface engaging the base plate and causing the at least one jaw to move a preselected distance relative to a distance moved by the base plate.

Abstract: A batting glove includes a plurality of finger elements, a thumb element, a top portion, and a lower portion. The finger elements cover fingers, the thumb element covers a thumb, the top portion covers a back side of the hand, and the lower portion covers a palm of the hand. Expandable material is disposed at selected areas of the thumb stall and finger stalls to overlie or underlie the center axis of rotation of selected joints of a finger or a thumb of a human hand.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a composite tubular member includes providing a mandrel having a central longitudinal axis and wrapping a plurality of composite fiber layers around said mandrel wherein the longitudinal axis thereof is oriented at a first angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said mandrel. The composite tubular member produced does not have any longitudinal seams and is thus considerably stronger and more durable than prior art composite tubes.

Abstract: A work glove particularly useful for gardening, automobile mechanical work and any other type of use which brings the palmar side of the hand in contact with work or the like which may result in stinging, bruising, or blistering of the fingers, thumb and palm of a human hand is provided with protective padding disclosed or positioned for overlying at least the distal halves of the index finger and long finger metacarpals excluding the metacarpalphalangeal joints of the index finger and the long finger. Preferably, the glove also includes protective padding disposed along a thumb stall of the glove at a location adapted to be along an ulnar border as well as the A2 pulleys of the thumb's proximal phalanx between the metacarpalphalangeal joint and the interphalangeal joint.