A flexible elastomeric grip for the shaft of a golf club having an end cap with a cavity for receiving a sensor and/or counterweight. The cap has a durometer hardness equal to or greater than the tubular body portion of the grip and a flange sized to match the larger diameter of the body, with a sleeve engaging the inner periphery of the larger end of the tubular body. In one version of the cap, the sleeve portion is extended in length and has stiffening ribs on the outer surface of the sleeve; and, in another version, the sleeve is shorter and may also have stiffening ribs on the outer surface of the sleeve. In another version of the cap, fibrous material is disposed in the flange and sleeve to increase lateral stiffness without increasing durometer.

A method of forming a support pole, comprising splitting one or more canes of bamboo, or similar tubular plant material, into a plurality of split lengths; inserting a bundle of the split lengths from one or more canes into an outer tube (4); tilting the outer tube (4) at an angle from horizontal and injecting a matrix material into the outer tube (4) so as to fill in between the split lengths and encapsulate the split lengths to form a substantially solid core. The method may comprise injecting the matrix material at multiple injection points (25a, 25b, 25c, 25d) along the length of the tube (4).

A window regulator includes a guide rail including a thermoformed composite. The thermoformed composite includes a thermoplastic composition and reinforcing fibers.

A system for manufacturing a synthetic organ suitable for transplantation into a biological organism is provided. This synthetic organ includes a three-dimensional polymer scaffold, wherein the shape and dimensions of the polymer scaffold are based on a native organ, wherein the polymer scaffold further includes at least one layer of polymer fibers that have been deposited by electrospinning, and wherein the orientation of the fibers in the scaffold relative to one another is generally parallel, random, or both; and wherein the polymer scaffold has been preseeded with at least one type of biological cell prior to implantation into a biological organism, and wherein the at least one type of biological cell is operative to facilitate integration of the polymer scaffold into the organism so that the polymer scaffold may function in a manner significantly similar to or the same as the native organ.

A cosmetically altered fiberglass piece having an outer layer of curable gel-coat, an intermediate layer of textile fabric having a graphical element depicted thereon, and an inner layer of composite. A resin or epoxy is used to bond the layers to form the cosmetically altered fiberglass piece. Introduction of resin or epoxy is performed through one of a manual application, a vacuum infusion, or light RTM.

Textile compositions comprising at least one filamentous fungus are disclosed, as are methods for making and using such textile compositions. Embodiments of the textile compositions generally include at least one of a plasticizer, a polymer, and a crosslinker, in addition to the filamentous fungus. The disclosed textile compositions are particularly useful as analogs or substitutes for conventional textile compositions, including but not limited to leather.

A method is described for forming a body having at least one through-going passage, said method has the steps of: a) providing a mixture comprising particles and at least one liquid pocket inside a curable matrix, b) subjecting said mixture to a first alternating voltage having a first frequency to form a body in which said at least one liquid pocket extends from a first surface of said body to a second surface of said body thereby forming at least one through-going passage lacking curable matrix, and c) curing said curable matrix into a cured matrix, wherein at least some of said particles are located at an interface between said at least one through-going passage comprising liquid and said cured matrix.

A vehicle interior material that is manufactured at by bonding a base member and a surface member with each other without using an adhesive agent or an adhesive film, that is light in weight and that has adhesive strength and abrasion resistance. The base member includes a natural fiber or a glass fiber and a first thermoplastic resin fiber and has a density of 0.2 to 0.7 g/cm.sup.3 The surface member includes a second thermoplastic resin fiber and a low melting point resin fiber and that has a weight per unit area of 50 to 500 g/m.sup.2. The surface member is laid on a surface of the base member. An entangled layer where the second thermoplastic resin fiber enters texture of the base member to be entangled with the first thermoplastic resin fiber is provided at an interface between the base member and the surface member.

A fiber composite component assembly (100) includes a fiber composite component (3) including a base material and a fiber material, and a tolerance compensation layer (5) for joining the fiber composite component (3) to a further component (1), the tolerance compensation layer (5) including a fiber composite portion (17) and/or a further layer portion (7). A fiber composite component system (200) including a fiber composite component assembly (100) and a further component (1) joined to the fiber composite component assembly (100), as well as a method for producing a fiber composite component system (200), is also provided.

A fiber composite component assembly (100) includes a fiber composite component (3) including a base material and a fiber material, and a tolerance compensation layer (5) for joining the fiber composite component (3) to a further component (1), the tolerance compensation layer (5) including a fiber composite portion (17) and/or a further layer portion (7). A fiber composite component system (200) including a fiber composite component assembly (100) and a further component (1) joined to the fiber composite component assembly (100), as well as a method for producing a fiber composite component system (200), is also provided.