Abstract: A fishing rod shaft having a line guide body, e.g., a rod tip body and/or a middle line guide body designed to minimize snag locations and that facilitate exiting of fishing line wound around the shaft by flicking the rod in a casting-type motion. The outer surface of the bodies define a line opening for receiving fishing line. The line opening communicates with a line passageway. The outer surface defines a continuous, smooth, uninterrupted surface from the attached end to the terminal end but for the line opening. The line opening and the line passageway preferably define the only path to an exit orifice and the line passageway between the line opening and the exit orifice is continuous and defines no openings. The described configuration eliminates snag locations for a fishing hook or for fishing line except for the openings of the line passageway.

Abstract: Protective headgear comprising one or more plates and one or more connectors, such as an adjustable strap, connecting the plates to each other and to a user's head. Each plate comprises an inner layer, a trauma plate, and an outer layer, where the trauma plate is located between the inner layer and the outer layer. The inner layer and the outer layer may be foam, while the trauma plate may be a rigid material. The one or more plates may comprise a front plate shaped to conform to the user's forehead; a back plate shaped to conform to the back of the user's head; a right plate shaped to conform to the right side of the user's head, covering the user's right ear; a left plate shaped to conform to the left side of the user's head, covering the user's left ear; and/or a top plate shaped to conform to the top of the user's head.

Abstract: Protective headgear comprising one or more plates and one or more connectors, such as an adjustable strap, connecting the plates to each other and to a user's head. Each plate comprises an inner layer, a trauma plate, and an outer layer, where the trauma plate is located between the inner layer and the outer layer. The inner layer and the outer layer may be foam, while the trauma plate may be a rigid material. The one or more plates may comprise a front plate shaped to conform to the user's forehead; a back plate shaped to conform to the back of the user's head; a right plate shaped to conform to the right side of the user's head, covering the user's right ear; a left plate shaped to conform to the left side of the user's head, covering the user's left ear; and/or a top plate shaped to conform to the top of the user's head.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a securing apparatus and method for securing a hand protective device about the wrist of the wearer. The apparatus provides a mechanism that allows a wearer to single-handedly secure a glove or hand protective device on their other hand, even when the wearer has taped hands for contact sports. The invention allows for the glove or hand protective device to be secured in a manner that eliminates gaps or twisting about the wearer's wrist.