Abstract: A method of manufacturing a piece of sporting equipment is provided. A namebar is affixed to a surface of the sporting equipment, the namebar being blank and adapted to receive thereon a printed design. A solvent-based clear coat is applied to the surface of the sporting equipment including the namebar, subsequent to the affixing of the namebar. A removable covering is applied over the namebar, subsequent to the applying of the solvent-based clear coat. Then, a gripping material is applied to at least a portion of the surface of the sporting equipment including the removable covering over the namebar, subsequently to the applying of the removable covering.

Abstract: A hockey stick blade with a rear face and a front face having a heel portion, a toe portion spaced apart from the heel portion, and a central portion intermediate the toe and heel portions. The front face has a textured zone defined by a plurality of front protrusions, and a front face reduced-texture zone. At least part of the textured zone extends in the central portion from a lower edge of the blade. The reduced-texture zone extends adjacent the front face textured zone. At least part of the reduced-textured zone extends in the central portion from an upper edge of the blade and in the toe portion from the lower edge of the blade. The textured zone extends in the toe portion upwardly from the reduced-texture zone.

Abstract: A hockey stick blade with a rear face and a front face having a heel portion, a toe portion spaced apart from the heel portion, and a central portion intermediate the toe and heel portions. The front face has a textured zone defined by a plurality of front protrusions, and a front face reduced-texture zone. At least part of the textured zone extends in the central portion from a lower edge of the blade. The reduced-texture zone extends adjacent the front face textured zone. At least part of the reduced-textured zone extends in the central portion from an upper edge of the blade and in the toe portion from the lower edge of the blade. The textured zone extends in the toe portion upwardly from the reduced-texture zone.

Abstract: A blade of/for a hockey stick having: a toe, a heel, rear face, and front face. The front face has a striking surface intermediate the toe and the heel, and a plurality of front protrusions forming a front face textured zone extending along a portion of the front face proximate the toe and the striking surface. The front protrusions are shaped to be engageable with a puck to hinder slippage of the puck along the front face when the puck is in contact with the front protrusions. The front face also has a front face reduced-texture zone (which may be at least one of a front face non-textured zone and a front face less-textured zone). The rear face may optionally be similarly configured.

Abstract: A blade of/for a hockey stick having: a toe, a heel, rear face, and front face. The front face has a striking surface intermediate the toe and the heel, and a plurality of front protrusions forming a front face textured zone extending along a portion of the front face proximate the toe and the striking surface. The front protrusions are shaped to be engageable with a puck to hinder slippage of the puck along the front face when the puck is in contact with the front protrusions. The front face also has a front face reduced-texture zone (which may be at least one of a front face non-textured zone and a front face less-textured zone). The rear face may optionally be similarly configured.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the purification of water with a view to separating therefrom at least one organic substance, particularly olfactory pollutants such as (-)geosmine and (+)2-methyl-isoborneol.This process consists of contacting the water to be purified with a cyclodextrin of formula: ##STR1## in which R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom, a C.sub.1 to C.sub.12 alkyl group or the acetyl group CH.sub.3 CO--, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3, which can be the same or different, represent H or R.sup.1, and n=5, 6 or 7, in order to include therein the organic substance or substances to be separated and separating the purified water from the cyclodextrin.