Methods for fabricating a 3D braided material and exemplary 3D braided material for sporting implements are disclosed. The exemplary braids can be incorporated into any sporting implements, such as, baseball bats, lacrosse sticks, hockey sticks, rackets, helmets, and other protective equipment. The example sporting implement can be constructed, partially or entirely, with a braided three dimensional structure. The 3D braided material can be a multi-directional layup having tows oriented in three directions (X, Y and Z) and also at any angle created by the combination of two or three directions. A single woven preform can be formed that can have a near net shape of the formed product, with the fibers oriented in a way that will be optimal for the particular application.

A mold for manufacturing an artificial shuttlecock from a semi-finished shuttlecock includes a male mold and a female mold. The male mold includes a cone frustum and a plurality of first annular grooves. The semi-finished shuttlecock is placed on an outside of the cone frustum. The first annular grooves are disposed apart on the outside of the cone frustum. The female mold includes a tapered slot, a plurality of second annular grooves and an injection channel. The second annular grooves are disposed apart on an inner surface of the tapered slot. When the semi-finished shuttlecock and the male mold are placed into the female mold, each of the first annular grooves corresponds to each of the second annular grooves to form a plurality of molded grooves. The injection channel communicates with the second annular grooves, and the molded grooves communicate with the injection channel through the second annular grooves.

Foamed articles including a foamed thermoplastic elastomeric material, methods of making the foamed articles, and methods for manufacturing articles of footwear, apparel, and athletic equipment incorporating such foamed articles are provided. In one aspect, a method for making a foamed article comprises placing an article comprising a foamable material and carbon dioxide in a vessel, maintaining the vessel at a first pressure and first temperature at which the carbon dioxide is a liquid and carbon dioxide is soluble in the foamable material, optionally exposing the infused article to a second temperature and second pressure, and subjecting the article to a third pressure and third temperature at which the infused carbon dioxide phase transitions to a gas, thereby expanding the foamable material into a foamed material and forming the foamed article.

The present disclosure discloses a fiber structure, including a plurality of fiber layers. The plurality of the fiber layers are stacked and arranged in a surrounding manner and are impregnated and cured in sequence. The fiber structure of the present disclosure is high in structural strength and low in mass. The present disclosure further provides a gymnastic apparatus force bearing frame, including the above-mentioned fiber structure, which is beneficial to reducing the weight of the gymnastic apparatus force bearing frame, facilitating the movement, transportation, disassembling, and assembling of the apparatus, and reducing the labor burden of an operator.

The present invention relates to a kit comprising a mould (1; 101; 201) for kids and a powder water-sensitive mixture (M) for making a bijou through the mould, wherein the mould (1; 101; 201) comprises at least one body (2; 102) having a lower face, an opposing upper face (3) and a side wall (4) comprised between the lower face and the upper face (3), and at least one cavity (5) opened on the upper face (3) and equipped with a bottom (6), wherein the at least one body (2; 102) is of a flexible and/or deformable material, and wherein the mixture comprises polyvinyl alcohol, guar gum and ethylene vinyl acetate.

The soft boot and liner include a moisture transfer system that includes an inner fabric layer carefully selected from technically advanced fabrics. A series of layers are provided outside the inner liner including foam material layers, spacer fabrics and breathable membranes, in various orders. Encapsulation technology and waterproofing are used as well. The outer fabric layer is also capable of working with the other layers to promote the transfer of moisture. Frothed foams and flocking with fibers are further characteristics of the present invention. The moisture transfer system is incorporated into a soft boot or skate or as a removable liner for a shell boot. Numerous other modifications and applications are disclosed.

A method for welding at least two parts including a thermoplastic material and having respective surfaces to be welded, including: inserting an insert between the surfaces to be welded of the two parts; generating heat via the insert; wherein the insert moves in relation to the parts to be welded in a welding direction. Also, an installation adapted for implementation of this method.

Foamed articles including a foamed thermoplastic elastomeric material, methods of making the foamed articles, and methods for manufacturing articles of footwear, apparel, and athletic equipment incorporating such foamed articles are provided. In one aspect, a method for making a foamed article comprises placing an article comprising a foamable material and carbon dioxide in a vessel, maintaining the vessel at a first pressure and first temperature at which the carbon dioxide is a liquid and carbon dioxide is soluble in the foamable material, optionally exposing the infused article to a second temperature and second pressure, and subjecting the article to a third pressure and third temperature at which the infused carbon dioxide phase transitions to a gas, thereby expanding the foamable material into a foamed material and forming the foamed article.

Disclosed is a method of resistance welding between composite articles. A conductive element is provided between faying surfaces, having a plurality of lower resistivity electrode portions spaced apart along the length of the contact area between the composite articles. The electrode portions can be used to spot weld across the electrode portions, and along a longitudinal portion of the conductive element between the electrode portions by application of an electrical current. Also disclosed are apparatus for use in the resistance welding methods and composite articles and structures and elements incorporating the conductive element.

A hockey-stick blade includes a heel region, a toe region spaced longitudinally from the heel region, and a mid-region located between the heel region and the toe region. The toe region includes one or more reinforcing elements, optionally of different lengths, located at different vertical positions within the toe region. The blade further includes a hosel that optionally is tailored to substantially match the strength and stiffness characteristics of an attached or integral hockey stick shaft. The mid-region of the blade exhibits improved feel and flexibility characteristics due to the increased stiffness in the toe region.