Abstract: A protective athletic garment comprising a protective cap for protecting a body part of the user. The protective cap comprises a shell for overlying the user's body part. The shell comprises a first shell member and a second shell member. The protective cap comprises a liner mounted under the shell for being disposed between the shell and the user's body part. The protective cap also comprises a link interconnecting the first shell member and the second shell member to hold the first shell member and the second shell member together. The link extends along at least part of a periphery of the first shell member and at least part of a periphery of the second shell member such that the first shell member and the second shell member are movable relative to one another in response to movement of the user's body part.

Abstract: A sole includes a base having a medial side and a lateral side; and a plurality of projections extending from the base, wherein at least one of the projections includes a first pod filled with ambient air and a foam layer disposed below the first pod. The first pod and the foam layer are disposed such that the projection extends non-orthogonally from the base.

Abstract: Articles of footwear and soles are disclosed. The article of footwear may include an upper; an outer midsole having a base coupled to the upper, and a rim portion extending from the periphery of the base, wherein the rim portion defines a plurality of spaced apart gaps; and an inner midsole disposed interiorly to the rim portion, wherein a portion of the inner midsole is disposed in at least one gap.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining a physical parameter representative of a point P of a plate by means of a device comprising a first receiver for measuring a wave propagating in the plate, and a calculation unit. The method includes the following steps: measuring, by means of the first receiver, a first signal s1(t) representative of a wave propagating in the plate; defining a closed contour C on the plate surrounding said point P, the contour C being the location on the plate on which either a wave is generated by a first emitter, or the first signal s1(t) is measured; and determining the physical parameter at point P on the plate by identifying, thanks to at least said first signal, a shape function fshape(f), in the following equation: formula (I), where Wcontour and Gplate are functions of Green, and the shape function fshape(f) is dependent on the frequency f of the wave and on the physical parameter.

Abstract: A hollow pipe connector is described for interconnecting opposed ends of two hollow pipes in abutting end-to-end relationship. Preferably, but not exclusively, the pipes are hollow pile cylinders of circular cross-section. The connector is formed by two flat metal plates each having interconnecting slots whereby the plates are coupled together to form a connector of X-cross-section. Each of the plates have outer side edges having opposed sloped edge portions on a respective side of an arresting raised projection formed in the outer edge in a mid-section thereof. The sloped edge portions slope inwardly towards a respective one of the opposed ends of the connector member. The connector engages opposed end portions of pipes coupled together by a frictional retaining force exerted on the inner walls at opposed ends of the coupled pipes.

Abstract: A hollow pipe connector is described for interconnecting opposed ends of two hollow pipes in abutting end-to-end relationship. Preferably, but not exclusively, the pipes are hollow pile cylinders of circular cross-section. The connector is formed by two flat metal plates each having interconnecting slots whereby the plates are coupled together to form a connector of X-cross-section. Each of the plates have outer side edges having opposed sloped edge portions on a respective side of an arresting raised projection formed in the outer edge in a mid-section thereof. The sloped edge portions slope inwardly towards a respective one of the opposed ends of the connector member. The connector engages opposed end portions of pipes coupled together by a frictional retaining force exerted on the inner walls at opposed ends of the coupled pipes.