Abstract: A prolate spheroidal inflatable game ball in the form of a football is provided with a segmented panel having stripes formed by attaching stripe pieces to adjacent segments. In one embodiment, the stripe pieces have beveled edges and the edges of adjacent segments have corresponding beveled edges. The component pieces of the panel can be joined to the stripe pieces using stitching to securely fasten the components of the segmented panel together. A segmented panel of this construction can allow different materials having different characteristics to be used for various portions of the segmented panel.

Abstract: An ergonomic curved athletic glove is provided. The glove comprises palm and back portions as well as four finger sheaths and a thumb sheath, each sheath having a front and back finger portion and one or more gussets. The thumb, pinky, and index finger sheaths may incorporate a “seamless” design that avoids seams where the glove comes in contact with a sporting implement and reduces potential gripping interference. The palm portion of the glove may comprise multiple sections connected with a stretchable palm gusset to minimize bunching when a sporting implement is gripped. The length of each front finger portion is shorter than the length of the corresponding back finger portion to provide the glove with a gripping curve. Providing the glove with a gripping curve minimizes bunching of the front finger portions, front thumb portion, and palm portion while a received hand grips the sporting implement.

Abstract: A sport ball may include a casing, a bladder, and a valve. The casing forms at least a portion of an exterior surface of the ball. The bladder is located within the casing for enclosing a pressurized fluid, and the bladder may be formed from a material that includes a first layer of thermoplastic polymer material and a second layer of a barrier material. The valve is for introducing the fluid to the bladder, and the valve is secured to the bladder and accessible from an exterior of the casing. A tie layer may be located between the flange and a surface of the bladder to join the flange to the bladder.

Abstract: A sport ball may include a casing, a bladder, and a valve. The casing forms at least a portion of an exterior surface of the ball. The bladder is located within the casing for enclosing a pressurized fluid, and the bladder may be formed from a material that includes a first layer of thermoplastic polymer material and a second layer of a barrier material. The valve is for introducing the fluid to the bladder, and the valve is secured to the bladder and accessible from an exterior of the casing. A tie layer may be located between the flange and a surface of the bladder to join the flange to the bladder.

Abstract: A sport ball may include a casing, an intermediate layer, and a bladder. In manufacturing the sport ball, a panel element of the casing and the bladder may be located in a mold, and a polymer foam material of the intermediate layer may be injected into an area between the bladder and the panel element. In addition, edges of panel element may be heatbonded to each other to join the panel elements and form seams of the casing.

Abstract: A tubular bat having a barrel of thin walls is stiffened by rings to adjust and tune performance. The walls of a bat is thinned to reduce weight and to enhance a batters control. However, regulatory bodies dictate performance standards that may require stiffer walls. Additionally different regulatory bodies dictate different standards. Therefore in order to meet regulatory standards in various jurisdictions, the walls of the bat barrel may be stiffened using rings to adjust and tune performance while minimizing the weight of the bat. The design, size and material from which the ring is made may vary. The placement of the ring may be used to tune specific performance profile of a bat.

Abstract: An athletic glove capable of receiving a human hand is provided. The glove comprises an exterior glove shell having a palm side portion and a back portion and an interior glove liner connected together to form index, middle, ring, and pinky finger sheaths and a thumb sheath. A glove webbing is connected to and extends between the thumb sheath and the index finger sheath. A middle layer is located between the exterior shell and the interior liner. One or more low-elasticity strengthening inserts are affixed to the palm-side portion of the exterior glove shell. The inserts maintain the integrity of the exterior glove shell after repeated use of the glove by limiting the amount the exterior glove shell stretches.

Abstract: An athletic glove capable of receiving a human hand is provided. The glove comprises an exterior glove shell and an interior glove liner connected together to form index, middle, ring, and pinky finger sheaths and a thumb sheath. A glove webbing is connected to and extends between the thumb sheath and the index finger sheath. At least one middle layer is located between the exterior shell and the interior liner. At least one thermally moldable shaping insert is embedded in a finger or thumb sheath between the exterior glove shell and the interior glove liner. When heated beyond a threshold temperature, the embedded insert becomes temporarily pliable such that the insert can be molded while the threshold temperature is exceeded and retains the molded shape after the insert cools below the threshold temperature, the molded insert providing the glove a desired shape.

Abstract: A ball glove having a palmar panel, a dorsal panel, and a webbing may have a palmar force attenuation system, a dorsal force attenuation system, or both. The palmar panel and dorsal panel may define a hand cavity having five finger voids. The webbing may be secured to the ball glove and may be positioned between finger voids for the thumb and index fingers. A palmar force attenuation system may include at least one chamber sealed to enclose a fluid. A majority of the palmar force attenuation system may be positioned between the front surface of the palmar panel and the hand void. The palmar force attenuation system may be L-shaped, and it may enclose a foam structure. A dorsal force attenuation system may include at least one chamber sealed to enclose a fluid and may be secured to the dorsal panel.

Abstract: A sport ball may include a casing, an intermediate layer, and a bladder. In manufacturing the sport ball, a panel element of the casing and the bladder may be located in a mold, and a polymer foam material of the intermediate layer may be injected into an area between the bladder and the panel element. In addition, edges of panel element may be heatbonded to each other to join the panel elements and form seams of the casing.

Abstract: An energy absorbing receiving glove constructed with a substrate having an exterior surface and a complementary interior surface. The substrate is used in constructing a palmar portion of the glove. The glove may incorporates a gripping layer of material affixed to the exterior surface of the substrate. Further, the glove may incorporate an energy absorbing layer of material affixed to the interior surface of the substrate. Additionally, the energy absorbing layer of material may have both a first thickness in a first location and a second thickness in a second location of the substrate. In an embodiment, the energy absorbing material is a silicone gel and the gripping material is a silicone material. Additionally, the varied thicknesses of the energy absorbing material may be effective for covering a palmar side of joints located on a hand wearing the glove.

Abstract: An ergonomic curved athletic glove is provided. The glove comprises palm and back portions as well as four finger sheaths and a thumb sheath, each sheath having a front and back finger portion and one or more gussets. The thumb, pinky, and index finger sheaths may incorporate a “seamless” design that avoids seams where the glove comes in contact with a sporting implement and reduces potential gripping interference. The palm portion of the glove may comprise multiple sections connected with a stretchable palm gusset to minimize bunching when a sporting implement is gripped. The length of each front finger portion is shorter than the length of the corresponding back finger portion to provide the glove with a gripping curve. Providing the glove with a gripping curve minimizes bunching of the front finger portions, front thumb portion, and palm portion while a received hand grips the sporting implement.

Abstract: A bat includes a composite material barrel. The barrel includes a plurality of layers. A stiffening layer forms one of the exterior layers of the barrel. The stiffening layer includes unidirectional fibers, where the unidirectional fibers are oriented to substantially encircle the barrel. The stiffening layer is positioned on the barrel to cover at least a portion of the sweet zone. The barrel may include multiple walls, where each wall includes a stiffening layer.

Abstract: A ball glove having a palmar panel, a dorsal panel, and a webbing may have a palmar force attenuation system, a dorsal force attenuation system, or both. The palmar panel and dorsal panel may define a hand cavity having five finger voids. The webbing may be secured to the ball glove and may be positioned between finger voids for the thumb and index fingers. A palmar force attenuation system may include at least one chamber sealed to enclose a fluid. A majority of the palmar force attenuation system may be positioned between the front surface of the palmar panel and the hand void. The palmar force attenuation system may be L-shaped, and it may enclose a foam structure. A dorsal force attenuation system may include at least one chamber sealed to enclose a fluid and may be secured to the dorsal panel.

Abstract: A layered composite bat is designed to include fiber angles of orientation that are layered and progressive. The bat includes a multi-layered composite material configuration wherein progressing from an innermost layer to an outermost layer, the unidirectional fiber angle of orientation within each layer increases from an angle substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bat to an angle substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bat. In progressing from an innermost layer to an outermost layer, there also exists at least one instance where subsequent positive angles of orientation are separated by or vary by about 15 degrees. The bat may include multiple walls. Each wall contains layers that progress from a low angle to a high angle in 15-degree increments.

Abstract: A sport ball may include a casing, an intermediate layer, and a bladder. In manufacturing the sport ball, a panel element of the casing and the bladder may be located in a mold, and a polymer foam material of the intermediate layer may be injected into an area between the bladder and the panel element. In addition, edges of panel element may be heatbonded to each other to join the panel elements and form seams of the casing.

Abstract: A bat includes a composite material barrel. The barrel includes a plurality of layers. A stiffening layer forms one of the exterior layers of the barrel. The stiffening layer includes unidirectional fibers, where the unidirectional fibers are oriented to substantially encircle the barrel. The stiffening layer is positioned on the barrel to cover at least a portion of the sweet zone. The barrel may include multiple walls, where each wall includes a stiffening layer.

Abstract: A layered composite bat is designed to include fiber angles of orientation that are layered and progressive. The bat includes a multi-layered composite material configuration wherein progressing from an innermost layer to an outermost layer, the unidirectional fiber angle of orientation within each layer increases from an angle substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bat to an angle substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bat. In progressing from an innermost layer to an outermost layer, there also exists at least one instance where subsequent positive angles of orientation are separated by or vary by about 15 degrees. The bat may include multiple walls. Each wall contains layers that progress from a low angle to a high angle in 15-degree increments.

Abstract: A two-piece ball bat comprising a hollow barrel attached to a handle by a combination of mechanical interference and a layer of rigid adhesive interposed between the interior surface of the barrel and the exterior surface of the handle at a tapered junction. The rigid adhesive layer prevents any direct contact between the barrel and handle thereby eliminating the need to provide any mating features thereon and reducing complexity and cost of manufacture. In an alternative embodiment, glass shafting beads are added to the rigid adhesive compound to ensure even distribution of the adhesive compound, align the barrel and handle and ensure separation prior to curing.