A composite lacrosse handle configured to join with a lacrosse head is provided including a top end, a bottom end and an intermediate portion located therebetween, all of which are constructed from hardened fiber reinforced plies. The intermediate portion includes a different exterior contour than that of the top and bottom ends. The intermediate portion can be generally recessed relative to the exterior of the top and bottom ends. Within the recess, an overmold or cover of a material, for example a viscoelastic material and/or thermoplastic elastomer can be disposed. The overmold material can follow the contours of the intermediate portion and top and bottom ends, and can vary in thickness from the top end to the bottom end along the intermediate portion. A method of constructing the composite lacrosse handle is also provided including utilizing special mandrels and mold cavities to form the composite handle and overmold the cover element.

A method is provided for producing a component connection. The method includes the following steps: providing a first component, providing a first ball, pressing the first ball against the first component by a sonotrode, vibrating the first ball by the sonotrode such that material of the first ball and/or material of the first component melts, and the first ball is welded to the first component, providing a second ball, pressing the second ball against the first ball by the same sonotrode or another sonotrode, and vibrating the second ball by the same sonotrode or the other sonotrode such that material of the second ball and/or material of the first ball melts, and the second ball is welded to the first ball.

A method is provided for producing a component connection. The method includes the following steps: providing a first component, providing a first ball, pressing the first ball against the first component by a sonotrode, vibrating the first ball by the sonotrode such that material of the first ball and/or material of the first component melts, and the first ball is welded to the first component, providing a second ball, pressing the second ball against the first ball by the same sonotrode or another sonotrode, and vibrating the second ball by the same sonotrode or the other sonotrode such that material of the second ball and/or material of the first ball melts, and the second ball is welded to the first ball.

A fiber composite component having a first and a second fiber composite element each bent along a transverse axis opf the fiber composite component to have, respectively, in succession, a first and second base flange, a first and second web section, a first and second top flange and a first and second stiffening web. Respectively, the first and second base flanges are parallel to the first and second top flanges, the first and second web sections are angled with respect to each of the first and second base flanges and the first and second top flanges, the first and second stiffening webs are at right angles with respect to the first and second top flanges, and the first stiffening web and the second stiffening web are congruent with respect to one another, and are connected to one another, along a longitudinal axis of the fiber composite component.

A fiber composite component having a first and a second fiber composite element each bent along a transverse axis opf the fiber composite component to have, respectively, in succession, a first and second base flange, a first and second web section, a first and second top flange and a first and second stiffening web. Respectively, the first and second base flanges are parallel to the first and second top flanges, the first and second web sections are angled with respect to each of the first and second base flanges and the first and second top flanges, the first and second stiffening webs are at right angles with respect to the first and second top flanges, and the first stiffening web and the second stiffening web are congruent with respect to one another, and are connected to one another, along a longitudinal axis of the fiber composite component.

A method is provided for producing a component connection. The method includes the steps of: providing a first component that is made of a thermoplastic plastic material at least in the region of a portion of the surface thereof; providing a ball that is made of a thermoplastic plastic material in at least one region of the surface thereof; pressing the ball on the first component such that the thermoplastic plastic material of the ball comes into contact with the thermoplastic plastic material of the first component; vibrating the ball using an ultrasonic sonotrode and welding the ball with the first component; providing a second component having a through hole; bringing the second component to the first component in such a way that the ball projects at least into the through hole of the second component or a portion projects to a certain extent through the through hole; clipping a clip element to the ball, wherein the clip element projects beyond the through hole and joins both components to one another in an interlocking and/or force-locked manner.

A method is provided for producing a component connection. The method includes the steps of: providing a first component that is made of a thermoplastic plastic material at least in the region of a portion of the surface thereof; providing a ball that is made of a thermoplastic plastic material in at least one region of the surface thereof; pressing the ball on the first component such that the thermoplastic plastic material of the ball comes into contact with the thermoplastic plastic material of the first component; vibrating the ball using an ultrasonic sonotrode and welding the ball with the first component; providing a second component having a through hole; bringing the second component to the first component in such a way that the ball projects at least into the through hole of the second component or a portion projects to a certain extent through the through hole; clipping a clip element to the ball, wherein the clip element projects beyond the through hole and joins both components to one another in an interlocking and/or force-locked manner.

A joining method is provided during which a first thermoplastic component joint section and a second thermoplastic component joint section are arranged between first tooling and second tooling. The second thermoplastic component joint section is abutted against the first thermoplastic component joint section at a joint area. The first thermoplastic component joint section is joined to the second thermoplastic component joint section to provide a unitized thermoplastic structure. The joining includes: pressing the first thermoplastic component joint section against the second thermoplastic component joint section at the joint area between the first tooling and the second tooling using a pressure device; and heating the first thermoplastic component joint section and the second thermoplastic component joint section at the joint area using a first heater configured with the first tooling. The unitized thermoplastic structure is cooled at the joint area using a first cooler configured with the first tooling.

A joining method is provided during which a first thermoplastic component joint section and a second thermoplastic component joint section are arranged between first tooling and second tooling. The second thermoplastic component joint section is abutted against the first thermoplastic component joint section at a joint area. The first thermoplastic component joint section is joined to the second thermoplastic component joint section to provide a unitized thermoplastic structure. The joining includes: pressing the first thermoplastic component joint section against the second thermoplastic component joint section at the joint area between the first tooling and the second tooling using a pressure device; and heating the first thermoplastic component joint section and the second thermoplastic component joint section at the joint area using a first heater configured with the first tooling. The unitized thermoplastic structure is cooled at the joint area using a first cooler configured with the first tooling.

An open-channel stiffener for stiffening a panel has a bonding flange for bonding the stiffener to the panel through a bondline formed between the bonding flange and the panel to form a stiffened panel. The open-channel stiffener has a cross-sectional shape that aligns, or substantially aligns, a shear center of the stiffener with a centroid of the stiffener and aligns the shear center proximate an edge of the bondline, and removes the need for a radius filler noodle. A plurality of perforations may be formed through the bonding flange to permit an adhesive to wick into the perforations and create a mechanical interlock between the bonding flange and the panel.