Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards systems and methods for assisting with legal research and for aiding in the discovery of information and documents relevant to a user's research focus or input text. The inventive systems receive identifications of relevant documents explicitly or implicitly from a user's research session or input text and, based on issues relevant to those documents, texts and other connections to those documents and texts, recommends similar or helpful documents to the user for their consideration. Recommendations may be ranked and filtered.

Abstract: A testing apparatus for a composite material includes a base for holding the composite article, a load cell for placing a selected load on a portion of the composite article, and a displacement measuring device for measuring the amount of displacement for a selected load. In operation, a composite article is placed in a testing apparatus, a selected load is placed on the composite article, and the displacement of the composite article is measured.

Abstract: A testing apparatus for a composite material includes a base for holding the composite article, a load cell for placing a selected load on a portion of the composite article, and a displacement measuring device for measuring the amount of displacement for a selected load. In operation, a composite article is placed in a testing apparatus, a selected load is placed on the composite article, and the displacement of the composite article is measured.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a bat having an exterior and a hollow interior. The method consists of successive steps of placing a first layer of filament onto a rotating mandrel while simultaneously applying resin to the first layer; winding additional layers of filament around the first layer without resin; and vacuum transfer molding additional resin onto the filament layers so that the additional resin impregnates these layers. The apparatus consists of a mandrel; a mandrel holder allowing rotation of the mandrel; a resin applicator adjacent the mandrel of the same length as the mandrel; a filament winder for winding filament onto the mandrel; and a vacuum transfer molding apparatus. A bat made by this method is also disclosed. The present invention also relates to a resin bath to apply resin to a line of filament.

Abstract: A testing apparatus for a composite material includes a base for holding the composite article, a load cell for placing a selected load on a portion of the composite article, and a displacement measuring device for measuring the amount of displacement for a selected load. In operation, a composite article is placed in a testing apparatus, a selected load is placed on the composite article, and the displacement of the composite article is measured.

Abstract: A softball bat is made substantially out of composite material. The main portion of the bat includes a substantially tubular hitting surface, a taper, and a handle. A plurality of sleeves are added within the hitting surface to form a flexible bat.