Abstract: A holding assembly for holding articles in place for printing includes features for locking an article in place. The holding assembly can include an adjustable heel assembly. The holding assembly can include a lace locking member. The adjustable heel assembly and the lace locking member can be used to keep the article in a temporarily fixed position on the holding assembly.

Abstract: A method for bonding PEBA plastic composition with dissimilar materials. Also, composite articles made in accordance with the method. The method uses only water-borne adhesive compositions.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper having a first area and a second area. The footwear also includes a sole structure that is coupled to the upper. The sole structure includes a bladder that contains a fluid. Moreover, the footwear includes a tensile structure that is coupled to the first area of the upper, that extends through the sole structure, and that is coupled to the second area of the upper. The tensile structure is operably coupled to the bladder. The tensile structure is operable to flex the bladder due to an increase in tension in the tensile structure.

Abstract: A thermoplastic golf ball material is made by combining and reacting (a) an unneutralized copolymer of ethylene and at least one of acrylic acid and methacrylic acid, which has from about 5 to about 12 percent by weight acid monomer; (b) a metallocene-catalyzed copolymer of ethylene and octene; (c) an unsaturated fatty acid; and (d) a metal cation in an amount sufficient to neutralize from about 65 to about 90% of the acid groups, to produce an ionomeric thermoplastic material. The ionomeric thermoplastic material may be used in a core, a cover, or a layer between a core and a cover of a golf ball.

Abstract: A ball striking device may include a ball striking plate having a front surface configured to strike a ball and a rear surface opposite the front surface. The ball striking device may include a covering element located behind the rear surface. The covering element may be affixed to the rear surface of the ball striking plate with an adhesive member. The adhesive member may include a double-sided tape. Further, a thickened portion of the ball striking plate may be located behind a desired-contact region of the ball striking plate and the covering element may be affixed thereto. The covering element may be a highly-contoured element. The ball striking device may be a golf club head.

Abstract: A system and method for ball fitting is disclosed. The system and method may use a swing characteristics detector. A detector may be placed between a golf club face and a golf ball. The golf club may strike the golf ball, and a mark may be made on the swing characteristic detector. The mark may be evaluated to determine at least one swing characteristic. The swing characteristic may be used to select an appropriate golf ball for a golfer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a fluid-filled chamber with a tensile element includes manufacturing a tensile element and incorporating the tensile element into a chamber. A first material layer, a second material layer, and a spacing structure having a plurality of support portions and a plurality of gaps may be stacked. The material layers may be located on either side of the spacing structure or on one side of the spacing structure. A strand may be stitched through the gaps to join the material layers and to form the tensile element. The spacing structure may be removed, and the first material layer may be spaced from the second material layer such that segments of the strand extend between the material layers. The tensile element may then be secured to opposite interior surfaces of an outer barrier, and the outer barrier may be pressurized to place the strand in tension.

Abstract: A foamed article is made by infusing the article of thermoplastic elastomer including a nonpolar component with a supercritical fluid, then removing the article from the supercritical fluid and either (i) immersing the article in a heated fluid or (ii) irradiating the article with infrared or microwave radiation.

Abstract: A golf club with a golf club head having various front face characteristics is presented. The golf club head may include a front face having one or more regions including texture to aid in movement of the ball, such as from the sand. In some examples, the front face may include a ball striking portion having regions with distinct and different score line arrangements. For instance, one region of the ball striking portion may have score lines that are more widely spaced than another region of the ball striking portion.

Abstract: A fluid-filled chamber, which may be incorporated into articles of footwear and other products, may include an outer barrier and a tensile element. The outer barrier may have a first portion, an opposite second portion, and an interior surface defining an interior void. The tensile element may be secured to the first portion of the outer barrier in a plurality of first bond areas and may be secured to the second portion of the outer barrier in a plurality of second bond areas. Each of the bond areas may be connected to portions of the tensile element spaced from the interior surface.

Abstract: Golf clubs and golf club heads, such as iron heads, may include an iron body and a ball striking plate engaged with the iron body. The ball striking plate may include a face layer and a backing layer. The face layer of the ball striking plate may be formed of a metal material, while the backing layer may be formed of a polymeric material. The backing layer isolates the face layer from the iron body. In some arrangements, the backing layer of the insert may be visible at the top, the bottom, the side and/or the front surfaces of the iron head. Methods for making such iron devices are also described.

Abstract: A sole structure may include at least one plate. The at least one plate may include a first portion located in a forefoot region of the sole structure and a second portion located in a rearfoot region of the sole structure. At least one compressible midsole component may be coupled to the at least one plate. A linkage rod couples the first and second portions and is configured to bias the first and second portions away from one another during bending of the sole structure.

Abstract: A polyurethane is dyed with an aqueous solution of an acid dye compound, a quaternary ammonium compound selected from soluble tetrabutylammonium compounds and tetrahexylammonium compounds, and, optionally, an water-soluble organic solvent.

Abstract: A golf ball of a first color is dyed to a second color with an anionic or nonionic disperse dye. Either or both of a pigmented coating layer or an optional clear coating layer on the pigmented coating layer comprises a member selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, polyureas, polyamides, and combinations thereof, which can be dyed by the anionic or nonionic disperse dye.

Abstract: A golf ball of a first color is dyed to a second color with an anionic or nonionic disperse dye. Either or both of the cover or an optional clear coating layer on the cover comprises a member selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, polyureas, polyamides, and combinations thereof, which can be dyed by the anionic or nonionic disperse dye.

Abstract: An upper for an article of footwear includes a knitted component having unitary knit construction. The knitted component has a base portion configured to be disposed adjacent the sole structure. The knitted component also includes one or more side portions that extend from the base portion. Furthermore, the knitted component can have at least a first edge and a second edge that are joined at a seam to define a void that receives a foot. Additionally, the upper can include a tensile strand that extends through a passage defined between an exterior surface and an interior surface of the base portion.

Abstract: A knitted component for an article of footwear having a vertically inlaid tensile element is described. The vertically inlaid tensile element extends along a direction that is vertical or at an angle to the direction of the knitting process of the knitted component. A method of knitting the knitted component includes placing a quantity of a tensile element into an auxiliary element of the knitted component and vertically inlaying a tensile element by using needles of a knitting machine to hold the tensile element by loops while the remaining portion of the knitted component is formed. As the knitted component is formed along a horizontal direction on the needles of the knitting machine, the tensile element spools out from within the auxiliary element to form the vertically inlaid tensile element.

Abstract: A feeder for a knitting machine includes a feeder arm with a dispensing area configured to feed a strand toward a knitting bed of the knitting machine. The feeder also includes a pushing member that is operably supported by the feeder arm. The pushing member is configured to push a portion of the knit component to provide clearance for the strand to be incorporated in a knit component.

Abstract: A knitting machine includes a take-down assembly that includes a first take-down roller and a second take-down roller. The first take-down roller is configured to rotatably contact and apply tension to a first portion of a knit component. The second take-down roller is configured to rotatably contact and apply tension to a second portion of the knit component. The knitting machine further includes a first actuator that actuates to selectively adjust tension applied by the first take-down roller on the first portion of the knit component. Furthermore, the knitting machine includes a second actuator that actuates to selectively adjust tension applied by the second take-down roller on the second portion of the knit component. Additionally, the knitting machine includes a controller that is operably coupled to the first actuator and the second actuator to selectively and independently control actuation of the first actuator and the second actuator.

Abstract: A feeder for a knitting machine includes a feeder arm with a dispensing area configured to feed a strand toward a knitting bed of the knitting machine. Moreover, the feeder includes an actuation arm that is operably coupled to the feeder arm. The actuation arm includes an abutment surface that is configured to abut against a drive bolt of the knitting machine to selectively move the feeder arm relative to the knitting bed. The abutment surface is rounded and convex.