Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a barrel comprising cast metal, composite or plastic for use in a bat assembly; a bat assembly comprising a barrel portion, an end cap and a handle; and a ball bat. The barrel may have uniform wall thickness or may include structural elements disposed on an inner surface to improve stiffness and reduce weight. The barrel and bat may further comprise a weighted insert for an asymmetrical center of gravity, allowing controlled spin to be imparted on a struck ball based on the angular orientation of the bat.

Abstract: A ball bat comprising a cast metal barrel region with uniform thickness adjoining a carbon handle and a carbon end cap.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a modular helmet comprising a shell, an energy-absorbing layer, and at least one energy-absorbing panel or other modular element, which is removably attached to the helmet. For example, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, an improved football helmet comprises an outer shell with six apertures, an inner, energy-absorbing layer, a face mask, and six modular panels, each of which sits inside an aperture and is releasably attached to the outer shell.

Abstract: A golf club head in accordance with various aspects of the present invention, may have a higher volume and/or higher strength. The golf club head may also comprise a variously configured and/or detachable face, allowing various faces of differing materials to be attached to the body. A detachable face further allows the head to be tuned via placement/rearrangement of weights within the head to change the center of gravity and moment of inertia.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved tubular structure which uses the properties of different materials, such as stiffness, strength, and density are exploited in a manner which combines the most attractive characteristics of existing metal and composite tubes into a metal/composite tube which contains performance characteristics (stiffness, strength or weight) not possible with pure metal or composite materials. For example, an improved tube is suitably created with a conventional metallic tube structure (e.g., steel, aluminum, titanium or the like). The original tube is modified with a secondary operation such as machining, punching, laser cutting or the like to remove various portions of the original tube wall, resulting in a tube with some pattern of “holes” or “cutaway” sections, thus resulting in a lighter tube. The tube is then suitably “fused” with composite material.

Abstract: A golf club head in accordance with various aspects of the present invention, may have a higher volume and/or higher strength. The golf club head may comprise a frame structure with a composite matrix. The golf club head may also comprise a detachable face, allowing various faces of differing materials to be attached to the body. A detachable face further allows the head to be tuned via placement/rearrangement of weights within the head to change the center of gravity and moment of inertia.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved tubular structure which uses the properties of different materials, such as stiffness, strength, and density are exploited in a manner which combines the most attractive characteristics of existing metal and composite tubes into a metal/composite tube which contains performance characteristics (stiffness, strength or weight) not possible with pure metal or composite materials. For example, an improved tube is suitably created with a conventional metallic tube structure (e.g., steel, aluminum, titanium or the like). The original tube is modified with a secondary operation such as machining, punching, laser cutting or the like to remove various portions of the original tube wall, resulting in a tube with some pattern of “holes” or “cutaway” sections, thus resulting in a lighter tube. The tube is then suitably “fused” with composite material.

Abstract: A golf club head in accordance with various aspects of the present invention, may have a higher volume and/or higher strength. The golf club head may comprise a frame structure with a composite matrix. The golf club head may also comprise a detachable face, allowing various faces of differing materials to be attached to the body. A detachable face further allows the head to be tuned via placement/rearrangement of weights within the head to change the center of gravity and moment of inertia.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved tubular structure which uses the properties of different materials, such as stiffness, strength, and density are exploited in a manner which combines the most attractive characteristics of existing metal and composite tubes into a metal/composite tube which contains performance characteristics (stiffness, strength or weight) not possible with pure metal or composite materials. For example, an improved tube is suitably created with a conventional metallic tube structure (e.g., steel, aluminum, titanium or the like). The original tube is modified with a secondary operation such as machining, punching, laser cutting or the like to remove various portions of the original tube wall, resulting in a tube with some pattern of “holes” or “cutaway” sections, thus resulting in a lighter tube. The tube is then suitably “fused” with composite material.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved tubular structure which uses the properties of different materials, such as stiffness, strength, and density are exploited in a manner which combines the most attractive characteristics of existing metal and composite tubes into a metal/composite tube which contains performance characteristics (stiffness, strength or weight) not possible with pure metal or composite materials. For example, an improved tube is suitably created with a conventional metallic tube structure (e.g., steel, aluminum, titanium or the like). The original tube is modified with a secondary operation such as machining, punching, laser cutting or the like to remove various portions of the original tube wall, resulting in a tube with some pattern of “holes” or “cutaway” sections, thus resulting in a lighter tube. The tube is then suitably “fused” with composite material.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved tubular structure which uses the properties of different materials, such as stiffness, strength, and density are exploited in a manner which combines the most attractive characteristics of existing metal and composite tubes into a metal/composite tube which contains performance characteristics (stiffness, strength or weight) not possible with pure metal or composite materials. For example, an improved tube is suitably created with a conventional metallic tube structure (e.g., steel, aluminum, titanium or the like). The original tube is modified with a secondary operation such as machining, punching, laser cutting or the like to remove various portions of the original tube wall, resulting in a tube with some pattern of “holes” or “cutaway” sections, thus resulting in a lighter tube. The tube is then suitably “fused” with composite material.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to the design and manufacture of high performance, composite, tubular structures. More specifically, the invention relates to a high performance, composite, tubular structure that utilizes an integral pattern of ribs on the internal diameter (“ID”) or outer diameter (“OD”) surface of the tube. The present invention provides high performance, composite, tubular structures that are both lighter and stiffer than conventional tubes. In general, the present invention incorporates unconventional features into the design of tubular structures, to greatly enhance performance. For example, in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention, tubular structures are enhanced by incorporating small, stabilizing, raised ribs on the ID of the tubes.