Aspects of this disclosure relate to improved ergonomic hockey sticks and hockey goalie sticks having shafts and paddles with variable geometric shapes and facets for enhanced gripping ability, and methods for the production thereof.

Multiple embodiments feature active stick surface guarding, more or less bonded to a sole mechanism, using state of the art plastics and manufacturing techniques to offer for consideration better ways to preserve hockey sticks longer, for more efficient and sustainable use. Analytics-supporting versions feature chip sets and apps, interfacing with state of the art gamification and studies.

Multiple embodiments feature active stick surface guarding, more or less bonded to a sole mechanism, using state of the art plastics and manufacturing techniques to offer for consideration better ways to preserve hockey sticks longer, for more efficient and sustainable use. Analytics-supporting versions feature chip sets and apps, interfacing with state of the art gamification and studies.

A device (e.g., an article of athletic gear) comprising a post-molded expandable component, which is a part of the device that is configured to be expanded or has been expanded after being molded. This may allow the post-molded expandable component to have enhanced characteristics (e.g., be more shock-absorbent, lighter, etc.), to be cost-effectively manufactured (e.g., by using less material and/or making it in various sizes), and/or to be customized for a user (e.g., by custom-fitting it to the user).

A device (e.g., an article of athletic gear) comprising a post-molded expandable component, which is a part of the device that is configured to be expanded or has been expanded after being molded. This may allow the post-molded expandable component to have enhanced characteristics (e.g., be more shock-absorbent, lighter, etc.), to be cost-effectively manufactured (e.g., by using less material and/or making it in various sizes), and/or to be customized for a user (e.g., by custom-fitting it to the user).

A hockey stick or other sporting implement designed to enhance its use, performance and/or manufacturing, including, for example, by being lightweight, having improved strength, flex, stiffness, impact resistance and/or other properties, reducing scrap waste during its construction, and/or enhancing other aspects of the hockey stick or other sporting implement. For instance, in some embodiments, the hockey stick or other sporting implement may include a structure that is open, such as by being latticed (e.g., trussed), and/or made by additive manufacturing, selective material positioning, etc.

A hockey stick or other sporting implement designed to enhance its use, performance and/or manufacturing, including, for example, by being lightweight, having improved strength, flex, stiffness, impact resistance and/or other properties, reducing scrap waste during its construction, and/or enhancing other aspects of the hockey stick or other sporting implement. For instance, in some embodiments, the hockey stick or other sporting implement may include a structure that is open, such as by being latticed (e.g., trussed), and/or made by additive manufacturing, selective material positioning, etc.

A method of fabricating a formed structure with expandable polymeric shell microspheres. A first plurality of polymeric shell microspheres are heated from an unexpanded state to an expanded state to form a plurality of expanded microspheres. The plurality of expanded microspheres are mixed with an epoxy resin and a second plurality of unexpanded polymeric shell microspheres. The mixture is formed in a shape to create a preform. The preform is wrapped with fiber tape to create a wrapped preform. The wrapped preform is placed in a mold. The mold is heated and the second plurality of unexpanded microspheres expand from an unexpanded state to an expanded state. The mold is cooled and the formed structure is removed from the mold.

A method of fabricating a formed structure with expandable polymeric shell microspheres. A first plurality of polymeric shell microspheres are heated from an unexpanded state to an expanded state to form a plurality of expanded microspheres. The plurality of expanded microspheres are mixed with an epoxy resin and a second plurality of unexpanded polymeric shell microspheres. The mixture is formed in a shape to create a preform. The preform is wrapped with fiber tape to create a wrapped preform. The wrapped preform is placed in a mold. The mold is heated and the second plurality of unexpanded microspheres expand from an unexpanded state to an expanded state. The mold is cooled and the formed structure is removed from the mold.

Described is a knob for application to the gripping end of a hollow stick. The knob comprises a rounded, oblique, cylindrical support structure, transitional shaft and tang aligned on a common longitudinal central axis. The support structure comprises a greater diameter rounded, cantle-like support and gripping structures.