Abstract: A striking implement comprises a handle portion and a striking portion, in which the striking implement is discontinuous in that it comprises two parts one part including the striking portion and the other part including the handle portion or a part thereof, the said two parts having complementary hollow formations which are assembled to overlap axially with a vibration-damping material interposed between and bonded to said formations, whereby the two parts are inseparably connected together but the vibration-damping material mechanically isolates one from the other, i.e. there is no direct contact between the two parts.

Abstract: A games racket frame is discontinuous being in two parts (11, 12). The parts (11, 12) are joined by a vibration-damping material (21) secured in position by plugs (23, 24). A reinforcing member (14) is also provided and this may comprise a collar (20) surrounding the discontinuity (13), together with a rod (25) contained within the vibration-damping material (21). Rackets according to the invention exhibit reduced transmission of shock and vibration to the player, thus minimizing the risk of "tennis elbow" and similar injuries.

Abstract: A unique system for distributing and sampling cosmetics is disclosed. The cosmetics which are normally dry, are combined with a liquid carrier and film forming agent and deposited onto a substrate. The film forming agent acts to microencapsulate the cosmetic and lightly bond the cosmetic to the substrate. When the film forming agent dries, it protects the cosmetic. Thus, the cosmetic can be applied to a substrate and covered with a paperboard sheet. Access to the cosmetic can be provided by a tear strip. Greasy cosmetics, such as lipstick, can also be applied to a substrate according to the present invention. These cosmetics are first microencapsulated with gelatin and the formed microparticles are secondarily encapsulated with a film forming agent and deposited onto a substrate. This method permits cosmetics to be distributed through the mail and as magazine inserts and the like.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of making a hollow frame for a games racket by injection moulding of fibre-reinforced thermoplastics material around a fusible core. The core is formed with holes through it corresponding to the desired stringing holes. The core holes are stepped so that the hole in one face of the core is larger than the hole in the opposite face. A stepped mould pin is inserted through each hole through the core, the pins being of such dimensions that the bore of the larger hole is completely filled giving positive location but the bore of the smaller hole is of greater diameter than that of its corresponding portion of the pin. Injection of the thermoplastics material, followed by setting of that material and then removal of the core results in a product having reinforcing tubular projections inwardly from one wall of the hollow frame.

Abstract: The invention relates to hollow frames for games rackets e.g. for squash and badminton, which are in the form of hollow injection moldings of thermoplastics material and to a method of making such frames involving injecting the thermoplastics material around a fusible core that can be subsequently melted out. For rackets such as for squash and badminton with relatively long thin shafts undesirable displacement of the shaft portion (22) of the core under molding pressure is achieved by use of locating means (24A,25A) that form holes that do not weaken the eventual shaft (23). The means are positioned to correspond to the neutral surface of the shaft and such that the greatest unclamped length of shaft core between supports divided by the depth of the shaft core is less than 10.

Abstract: A unique system for distributing and sampling cosmetics is disclosed. The cosmetics which are normally dry, are combined with a liquid carrier and film forming agent and deposited onto a substrate. The film forming agent acts to microencapsulate the cosmetic and lightly bond the cosmetic to the substrate. When the film forming agent dries, it protects the cosmetic. Thus, the cosmetic can be applied to a substrate and covered with a paperboard sheet. Access to the cosmetic can be provided by a tear strip. Greasy cosmetics, such as lipstick, can also be applied to a substrate according to the present invention. These cosmetics are first microencapsulated with gelatin and the formed microparticles are secondarily encapsulated with a film forming agent and deposited onto a substrate. This method permits cosmetics to be distributed through the mail and as magazine inserts and the like.

Abstract: A one-piece, hollow, moulded head for a golf-club of the "wood" or "driver" type is made by injecting a thermoplastics material around a fusible core having a melting-point below the injection temperature, allowing the injected material to set and melting out the core.One or more holes are provided, the holes extending completely through the core, so that the injected material fills each hole and sets therein to provide corresponding internal "struts" in the moulding.The injected material may be, e.g., a polyamide, a polycarbonate, a poly(phenylene oxide), an acetal resin or an ABS resin. The material may be reinforced with up to 50% by weight of glass and/or carbon fibres.The moulded head may optionally be filled with a polyurethane foam.The finished moulding may have the conventional face-pieces and/or sole-plates attached thereto.

Abstract: A tennis-ball is made by covering a spherical core with twelve substantially identical pentagonally-shaped pieces of a cover material. Before the pentagonally-shaped pieces are attached to the core, they are covered on their outermost surface by a removable layer of adhesive-impermeable barrier material (e.g. tissue paper). The barrier material restrains the movement of the pentagonally-shaped pieces when applied to the spherical core, so that a narrow uniform seam is obtained. When all twelve cover pieces are correctly positioned on the core, the barrier material is removed and the assembly subjected to a random rolling action to "finish" the ball.

Abstract: A frame for a games racket comprises a hollow plastics moulding which is at least partially reinforced by means of a rigid member integrally moulded therewith. The rigid member can consist of a metal plate having perforations which, when the plate and the plastics material are moulded together, are penetrated by the plastics material, which sets therein to lock the plate to the moulding.The plate may, for example, extend over an area corresponding to the crown portion of the frame so as to provide for localized reinforcement, particularly, in the event of impact (e.g. when the racket is dropped on to a hard surface).

Abstract: A hollow injection moulded thermoplastics games racket frame comprising a head (21) and a shaft (20), the head (21) having integrally-formed internal supports (25) containing the stringing holes (23) and the moulding being polyurethane foam-filled. The foam filling is provided in two parts, a lighter filling (32) for the head and a denser filling (33) for the shaft. The shaft filling (33) is integrally-formed with a foam handle portion (34). The handle end of the shaft is preferably provided with moulded-in holes (31) through which filling (33) can flow during its foaming.

Abstract: A core for a tennis-ball, the tennis-ball having either an internal pressure substantially equal to atmospheric pressure (a "pressureless" ball) or an internal pressure of up to 7 p.s.i. (0.49 Kg.cm.sup.-2) above atmospheric pressure (a "low-pressure" ball), in which the core is made from a rubber composition wherein up to 60% by weight of the total polymer content comprises either a copolymer of ethylene and propylene (an EPM elastomer) or a terpolymer of ethylene, propylene and up to 12% by weight of a non-conjugated diene monomer (an EPDM elastomer). The most suitable EPM and EPDM elastomers are those containing 70 mole percent or more ethylene.

Abstract: A throat piece for a tennis racquet has a series of indentations which provide parallel ridges and depressions on its two major faces. The ridges on one face constitute the depressions on the other face. The longitudinal racquet strings pass across the throatpiece in contact with the wall of the indentations and are diverted thereby into the racquet frame. Preferably alternate strings pass on opposite faces of the throatpiece but in the same plane. The structure is preferably of crenellated shape and may be of metal or plastics material.

Abstract: A golf ball has a surface pattern of dimples arranged to provide at least 12 symmetrically disposed bald patches, a bald patch being defined in terms of its ability to accommodate a spherical rectangle of specified minimum width and area relative to the dimple size.