Abstract: A composite hockey stick having a tubular hollow rectangular shaft and a blade is disclosed. The shaft comprises an inner layer and an outer layer, each of the inner and outer layers are formed of uni-directional substantially continuous fibers disposed in a hardened resin matrix and wrapped and molded around a middle elastomer layer. A new manufacturing method is also disclosed in which a cured hollow tubular composite hockey stick shaft is inserted between the front and back faces of an un-cured composite hockey stick blade and the blade is then cured in a mold around the hockey stick shaft to form a unitary composite hockey stick.

Abstract: An article of footwear comprising a molded unitary support structure preferably constructed of substantially continuous fibers aligned in one or more defined orientations disposed within a hardened resin matrix and methods of manufacturing is disclosed. The unitary support structure comprises a plurality of wall structures including a sole that extends generally from a front end region configured to underlie the toe region of the foot to a back end region configured and side wall structures that extend from the sides of the sole. The wall structures are partitioned from one another to facilitate flex and provide structural and functional independence between partitioned regions. The vertical and longitudinal locations of the partitions are configured to coincide with defined locations relative to the foot so as to facilitate natural movement bending in the foot while also providing the needed support as well as the desired flexibility in attached ground engaging structures.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a golf ball and a method of making the golf ball, which comprises a center and at least one fused, wound layer. The fused wound layer can be a cover layer or an intermediate layer. In one embodiment, the fused wound layer surrounds the center to form a wound core and a cover surrounds the core. In another embodiment the fused wound layer forms the outer surface of the ball. The method of the present invention allows the characteristics of the wound layer to be altered and controlled after the wound layer has been formed. In the method, fusing occurs by applying heat alone or with pressure to the wound core. In one embodiment, fusing can occur during formation of the cover layer. In one embodiment, single, double, multi-ply or multi-strand thread is used. The cross-sectional shape and area of the thread can be, for example, rectangular or circular.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a golf ball which comprises a center, at least one cover layer, and at least one layer of windings between the center and the cover. Preferably, the thread of the present invention is comprises of at least about 10 individual strands that are each about 0.01 inches in diameter. Most preferably, the thread is a solvent spun polyether urea thread manufactured by combining over 25 strands with diameters of less than about 0.002 inches. Because of the smaller thread dimension, the thread of the present invention is capable of being wound more densely than the typical thread. The elastic modulus of this thread is greater than about 20 ksi when wound about a center. The maximum elongation of the thread is greater than about 8%. The smaller cross-sectional area of the thread and higher elastic modulus of the thread also enable production of golf balls with less total thread volume.