Abstract: A tennis racquet includes a frame with a head and a shaft portion. The shaft portion has an outer periphery with outside surfaces arranged generally in an octagonal configuration. A handle includes a preformed core or “pallet”. The pallet is molded of a solid elastomeric material, e.g. thermoplastic rubber, with a hollow interior having surfaces sized to conform to the outside surfaces of the shaft portion of the frame. Further, an array of holes is formed on the outside surface of the pallet, in selected gripping areas, for a comfortable grip and to reduce shock and vibration. The pallet may include an overwrap, such as cloth-backed polyurethane, which is preferably soft and flexible enough to retain feel of the pallet.

Abstract: The hair care appliance of this invention has a housing, which holds a set of hair curlers and encloses electrical heating means for heating the curlers, and has a transparent cover which covers the set of curlers and the top of the housing. Each curler has a reversibly thermochromic thermoplastic elastomeric surface layer (around which hair is to be curled) which preferably covers a mandrel portion of a thermoplastic body. The thermoplastic body has ends of larger diameter than the mandrel portion of the body, and the mandrel may be hollow. A hollow mandrel may contain a double-walled metal core, which may contain a heat-retaining material. The elastomeric surface layer is preferably molded from an thermoplastic elastomer composition containing particulate thermochromic material, which preferably comprises reversibly thermochromic dye encapsulated in micro-capsules. The thermochromic dye components are chosen to be non-toxic and environmentally benign.

Abstract: The hair care appliance of this invention has a housing, which holds a set of hair curlers and encloses electrical heating means for heating the curlers, and has a transparent cover which covers the set of curlers and the top of the housing. Each curler has a reversibly thermochromic thermoplastic elastomeric surface layer (around which hair is to be curled) which preferably covers a mandrel portion of a thermoplastic body. The thermoplastic body has ends of larger diameter than the mandrel portion of the body, and the mandrel may be hollow. A hollow mandrel may contain a double-walled metal core, which may contain a heat-retaining material. The elastomeric surface layer is preferably molded from an thermoplastic elastomer composition containing particulate thermochromic material, which preferably comprises reversibly thermochromic dye encapsulated in micro-capsules. The thermochromic dye components are chosen to be non-toxic and environmentally benign.

Abstract: A hand grip for fitting on the handle shaft of a sporting implement or a tool, for example a racket or bat, comprises an elongate sleeve of elastomeric material having an internal surface for fitting over the handle shaft and an outer, gripping surface for gripping by the user's hand. The grip has indentations on at least one of its inner and outer surfaces which extend over part of the surface area to provide regions of varying softness. The softness is provided by the thinned out or indented regions bending or collapsing under load against the hand.

Abstract: A hand grip for fitting on the handle shaft of a sporting implement or a tool, for example a racket or bat, comprises an elongate sleeve of elastomeric material having an internal surface for fitting over the handle shaft and an outer, gripping surface for gripping by the user's hand. The grip has indentations on at least one of its inner and outer surfaces which extend over part of the surface area to provide regions of varying softness. The softness is provided by the thinned out or indented regions bending or collapsing under load against the hand.