Abstract: A steering wheel for a vehicle comprising: i) a hub adapted to be mounted on a steering column of a vehicle; ii) a rim coupled to the hub; iii) a rim material covering at least a part of the rim; iv) at least one bladder disposed between the rim and the rim material; v) a fluid pump configured to inflate and to deflate the at least one bladder; and vi) a control module coupled to at least one vehicle sensor and configured to control the operation of the fluid pump.

Abstract: A device and method of use thereof provide a gripping element having a hexagonal cross-section. A weightlifting bar having a hexagonal circumference forming non-circular, substantively planar surfaces enables weight training. A pull up bar or other bar attached to a structure, wherein the gripping surface has a hexagonal circumference forming six surfaces enables gymnastic exercise. A kettle bell, a dumbbell and/or barbell exercise equipment each present a hexagonal circumference forming six planar surfaces. A structure or equipment presenting the gripping element may include knurled portions and/or smoothed portions. The gripping element may be positioned on a curved bar.

Abstract: A sports product may include a support member and an impact region configured to impact an object. The impact region may be coupled to the support member. The sports product may also include a shear thickening material in at least one of the support member or the impact region. The shear thickening material may be configured to exhibit shear thickening behavior when an impact occurs between the impact region and the object.

Abstract: A racket frame 2 includes a body 4 and a first vibration-damping portion 6 fixed to the body 4. The body 4 includes a head 8, a shaft 12, a pair of throats 10 extending from the head 8 to the shaft 12, and a grip 14 connected to the shaft 12. The body 4 includes a second vibration-damping portion 18, and the material of the second vibration-damping portion 18 is different from the material of the first vibration-damping portion 6. The ratio (R2/R4) of a side pressure rigidity R2 to a throat rigidity R4 is 0.26 or greater, a moment of inertia around an axis at a position of 10 cm from a grip end is less than 300 kg·cm2, and a vibration damping rate in an out-of-plane secondary mode is equal to or greater than 0.70 but equal to or less than 1.0.

Abstract: A sports racquet including a handle assembly coupled to, and longitudinally extending from, a head portion. The handle assembly includes an elongate tubular shaft, a pallet positioned over the shaft, and a plurality of support members. The pallet defines a plurality of longitudinally extending planar regions and a plurality of longitudinally extending recesses. The recesses are respectively positioned between two of the plurality of planar regions. The support members are positioned within the respective recesses. Each of the support members has an outer surface that forms an elongated corner. The handle assembly has an outer surface that includes a plurality of longitudinally extending flats and a generally polygonal-shaped transverse cross-sectional area. Each of the plurality of planar regions forms at least part of a separate one of the plurality of flats.

Abstract: Provided is a shaped body for production of sports equipment such as tennis, squash, and badminton rackets, golf clubs, hockey and ice hockey sticks and baseball bats. The shaped body includes a core of two tubular resonant bodies, running parallel to and spaced at a distance from each other and surrounded by a common covering. A spacer body with convexly curved opposed ends is arranged between the resonant bodies, whereby the mass of the resonant bodies is greater than that of the spacer body. The vibrations of the two vibrating systems, in the form of the resonance bodies, are overlaid in an advantageous manner, by means of the coupling of the resonance bodies. The invention further relates to a method for the production of the shaped body and the use of the shaped body in sports equipment.

Abstract: Handles providing shock absorption are provided. In some embodiments, handles comprise: a handle core having an axis; core permanent magnets mounted to the handle core; a handle sleeve surrounding the handle core; sleeve permanent magnets mounted to the handle sleeve which generate repelling forces radial to the axis from at least some of the core permanent magnets; and an adjustment screw used to control a force longitudinal to the axis.

Abstract: A racket frame including a grip part, a shaft part, a throat part, and a head part formed hollowly with a fiber reinforced resin and having a weight not less than 100 g nor more than 270 g. The racket frame is provided with a dynamic damper comprising a mass member and a viscoelastic member mounted on a part of a peripheral surface of the mass member. The dynamic damper is mounted inside the grip part by fixing the viscoelastic member to a position of an inner wall of the grip part located within a range of 0.2 L from a free end of the grip part, supposing that a whole length of the racket frame is L in such a way that inside the grip part, at least one part of the mass member is shakable with respect to the inner wall of the grip part.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a sports racket includes a racket frame comprising a head portion, handle portion and a throat portion joining the head portion to the handle portion. The racket frame also comprises a self-powered piezoelectric damping system for damping vibrations of the racket during play. The self-powered piezoelectric damping system comprises at least one transducer laminated to the racket and at least one circuit located within the racket handle portion and electrically connected to the at least one transducer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a racket, in particular a tennis racket or squash racket having a particularly suitable dampening behavior. For this purpose, the ball game racket of the present invention comprises a racket head, a heart region and a handle portion which together form a frame, wherein in the region of the handle portion and/or in the region of the transition between handle portion and heart region a dampening means consisting of a front and/or a rear dampening element is arranged.

Abstract: A weight that is composed of a composite of a soft material and a loading member which is a high specific gravity substance and that is mounted on a grip end bottom of a ball-hitting implement, allowing the loading member to be divided into an internal weighting element and an external weighting element; and a grip end bottom weighting structure that uses this weight, in which the center of gravity is shifted closer to the portion grasped by hand, and the node of vibration on the grip is shifted to the grip fulcrum. When mounted, the loading member is disposed on either side of the grip end member, with soft material region interposed therebetween. The weight is at least flexible enough to be easily mounted and to be adjusted in balance, and it will not come off during play.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a sports racket includes a racket frame comprising a head portion, handle portion and a throat portion joining the head portion to the handle portion. The racket frame also comprises a self-powered piezoelectric damping system for damping vibrations of the racket during play. The self-powered piezoelectric damping system comprises at least one transducer laminated to the racket and at least one circuit located within the racket handle portion and electrically connected to the at least one transducer.

Abstract: A sequential vibration preventer for a ball hitting implement in which impact vibration that is generated when a ball is hit is transmitted to the human body from the impact generation source via the ball hitting implement. The sequential vibration preventer is detachably mounted on a portion of the implement where the vibration amplitude is large, such as the frame shaft or grip, so that the impact vibration is attenuated, and injury to the body is prevented. A ring body consisting of a soft material that has extendability or viscoelasticity is provided, and a plurality of vibrators are sequentially embedded in the circumferential direction in a single ring configuration or in a multiple ring configuration in the interior of the ring body.

Abstract: A sports racquet extending along a longitudinal axis. The racquet includes a head portion and a handle portion. The head portion defines a string bed area. The handle portion has a distal end and a proximal end. The distal end of the handle portion is coupled to the head portion. The handle portion has a length and an outer surface. The handle portion includes at least two spaced apart channels. Each channel inwardly extends into the outer surface and extends generally parallel to the longitudinal axis from the distal end of the handle portion and over at least a portion of the length of the handle portion. Each channel is configured for receiving at least one string and for guiding the string along at least a portion of the length of the handle portion.

Abstract: A handle assembly for a sports racquet having a head portion. The handle assembly includes an elongate handle, a pallet, a pad and a cover layer. The elongate handle is coupled to the head portion. The pallet is coupled to and longitudinally extends along the handle. The pallet has a proximal portion, a distal portion and a gripping portion disposed between the proximal and distal portions. The gripping portion is stepped down with respect to the proximal and distal portions to form a peripheral recess. The pad has an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface of the pad is coupled to the gripping portion of the pallet. The cover layer extends over and substantially covers the pad, and generally covers the proximal and distal portions of the pallet. The cover layer can include indicia including graphical indicia, alphanumeric indicia, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A grip tape is formed of a tape body and an elastomer. The tape body has an inner surface and an outer surface. The elastomer is fastened to the inner surface of the tape body such that the elastomer is extended along the longitudinal direction of the tape body. The tape body is wound spirally on a handle to form a grip segment on the handle in such a manner that the elastomer is located in the grip segment, and that the length of the elastomer ranges between 30% and 70% of the total length of the grip segment.

Abstract: A sport racket includes a head with a shank extending therefrom and a connection section extends from the shank. A shock absorbing sleeve is mounted to the connection section and a handle is mounted to the sleeve.

Abstract: A shock-absorbing device is designed for use in a game apparatus having a tubular rod body. The game apparatus comprises a ball-hitting portion, and a grip portion. The ball-hitting portion is formed of a frame, a ball-hitting face defined by the frame, and a neck extending from the frame. The grip portion is formed of a hollow rod and is fastened with the neck. The neck is provided with at least one groove and one shock-absorbing device which is disposed in the groove. The groove is extended along the longitudinal direction of the neck and toward the grip portion. The shock-absorbing device is formed of an absorbing member and a weight body which is put through the absorbing member and is capable of swiveling upon being exerted on by an external force.

Abstract: A metal racket includes a shock removing member, a frame and a handle. The shock removing member has a fitting hole for a lower end of the frame having two shaft rods to fit through and into a hollow interior of the handle and fixed therein by rivets passing through rivet holes of the handle, the shock removing member and the shaft rods. Thus a shock reducing hollow space is formed between the lower end of the shock removing member and the lower end of the handle, When the racket receives shock in hitting a ball, the shock is firstly buffered by the shock removing member and then reduced by the shock reducing hollow space again.

Abstract: A shock-absorbing and skidproof protective jacket of a game racket handle comprises a foundation layer and a top layer which is adhered to the upper surface of the foundation layer and is provided with one or more shock-absorbing sections and skidproof sections arranged alternately with the shock-absorbing sections. The shock-absorbing sections are made of polyesters, whereas the skidproof sections are made of a mixture containing a plurality of plastic or rubber granules and a binder.

Abstract: A handle for a racket includes a tubular handle with an end cap mounted to the distal end thereof. The end cap has a bottom board and a swinging device is connected to the bottom board and the swinging device is swingable in the handle. The swinging device includes a cup-like flexible frame and a weight which is retained in the tubular frame so that the flexible frame swings in the tubular handle to absorb the shocks.

Abstract: A hand held article, such as a golf club, includes an elongated handle with an inner support structure mounted to the handle and a vibration absorbing material mounted around the inner support structure. The inner support structure includes a plurality of spaced rigid projections which extend into the vibration absorbing material to a location inwardly of the outer surface of the vibration absorbing material. In one embodiment the inner support structure is integral with the shaft of the handle. In another embodiment a sleeve is heat shrunk onto the shaft and the inner support structure and vibration absorbing material are mounted over the sleeve.

Abstract: A shock-absorbing racket handle having a plurality of grooves and solid blocks alternatively arranged along the length of the body thereof, and a plurality of longitudinal ribs respectively disposed in the grooves and connected between each two adjacent solid blocks in a staggered manner.

Abstract: A method for inflating cushioning devices which comprise at least first and second distinct chambers having an interconnecting passage providing fluid communication between the chambers. The method comprises either: (1) limiting the volume of at least one of the chambers, filling the chambers with a fluid at a single inflation pressure from a single inflation point and sealing the interconnecting passage, or (2) filling the chambers with a fluid at a single inflation pressure from a single inflation point compressing at least one of the distinct chambers, and sealing the interconnecting passage. The method is particularly suited to manufacture of a footwear cushion comprised of a body of elastomeric material having a plurality of sealed non-communicating cells having a single inflation point. At least two cells sharing a single sealed inflation passage are at different pressures.

Abstract: A game racket has a handle formed of at least three suspension arms arranged side by side at an interval to form therebetween three slots parallel to the longitudinal axes of the suspension arms. The handle is provided with a shock-absorbing element having a body and a plurality of pieces extending from the body and corresponding in number to the slots. The shock-absorbing element is implanted in the handle such that the body is located in a common center of the slots, and that the pieces are located in the slots. The overall contact area between the shock-absorbing element and the handle is greatly expanded to enable the handle to alleviate the impact effectively.

Abstract: A racket handle for a racket includes grooves for positioning a player's fingers in a position specifically adapted to the stroke to be performed, and to increase the contact surface between the player's fingers and the racket handle while also assisting the player in teaming a correct grip and stroke. In one embodiment, three index finger grooves are provided in from of a thumb groove. Each index finger groove corresponds to a position of the index finger during a different type of stroke, such as a forehand stroke, a volleying stroke, and a backhand stroke. The thumb groove is also positioned obliquely opposite and adjacent to a middle finger groove to permit the thumb and middle finger to be in contact with one another to form a lock ring around the racket handle.

Abstract: Various tools and devices, such as golf clubs, are improved by the incorporation of a vibration absorbing material having a hardness of less than 40 durometer reading, a coefficient of friction of at least 0.6 and a dampening vibration greater than 55%. When used for a golf club the material can be incorporated in the handle part of the shaft to improve the grip, can be inserted down the inside of the shaft to increase vibration absorption and a more solid contact or can be incorporated in the club head.

Abstract: A butt cap for a racquet comprises walls defining a cavity for slidably engaging the handle of the racquet and walls defining a butt ballast cavity for containing a butt ballast. The butt cap is preferably a ellipsoidal, rounded, tapering approximate egg-shape protruding in excess of 1 cm axially beyond the handle end of the racquet so as to add length to a racquet and provide a comfortable surface such that the player may simultaneously grip the handle and the distal extension, particularly on the serve. The advantage of a butt weight for adding power and control to sports striking implements in general is discussed. A racquet having a distal particulate butt ballast not only damps shock but prevents it by adding more mass to the racquet at the distal end thereof. The butt ballast is preferably of loose metal balls approximately 1 mm in diameter. Retrofit of the butt cap in replacement of a conventional butt cap is possible.