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.

A sporting implement, such as a blade for a hockey stick, may include an outer layer, a core, and a recovery gel positioned between the core and the outer layer. The recovery gel can form a film, be compressible, shape recoverable, and pressurized to a predetermined pressure. The recovery gel can be configured to provide an integrated agent for filling cracks that appear during use of the blade and configured to absorb energy impacts between the outer layer and the core. When a crack appears, the predetermined pressure can be relieved inside the crack and fills a cavity formed by the crack to provide cohesion between the outer layer and the core to recreate a new material in the place of the crack. The recovery gel can be configured to help prevent cracks from propagating and actively heals potential damages by reducing stiffness loss caused by cracks.

A sporting implement, such as a blade for a hockey stick, may include an outer layer, a core, and a recovery gel positioned between the core and the outer layer. The recovery gel can form a film, be compressible, shape recoverable, and pressurized to a predetermined pressure. The recovery gel can be configured to provide an integrated agent for filling cracks that appear during use of the blade and configured to absorb energy impacts between the outer layer and the core. When a crack appears, the predetermined pressure can be relieved inside the crack and fills a cavity formed by the crack to provide cohesion between the outer layer and the core to recreate a new material in the place of the crack. The recovery gel can be configured to help prevent cracks from propagating and actively heals potential damages by reducing stiffness loss caused by cracks.

A heated hockey stick includes a heating system having a power source contained within the shaft of the hockey stick, a heating element within the blade of the hockey stick connected to the power source and configured to heat at least the blade of the hockey stick. An actuatable switch device may be employed to manually or automatically for enable or disable the power source. The hockey stick may include structure to enable adjustment of the length of the shaft of the heated hockey stick. An external heating device may be used in conjunction with the present heated hockey stick.

A heated hockey stick includes a heating system having a power source contained within the shaft of the hockey stick, a heating element within the blade of the hockey stick connected to the power source and configured to heat at least the blade of the hockey stick. An actuatable switch device may be employed to manually or automatically for enable or disable the power source. The hockey stick may include structure to enable adjustment of the length of the shaft of the heated hockey stick. An external heating device may be used in conjunction with the present heated hockey stick.

An ice hockey stick template tool is disclosed for creating a personal tailored curved hockey stick blade of a hockey stick. The ice hockey stick template tool includes several blade parts that are configured to be assembled into a particular customized blade shape. The blade parts include several interchangeable heels, several interchangeable mids, and several interchangeable toes. A customized blade shape is created by a player assembling and adjusting one heel, one mid, and one toe, resulting in a blade profile which references a particular heel, a particular mid, and a particular toe. The blade profile is recorded and stored in a database that also stores all combinations of the interchangeable blade parts. The blade profile can then be transmitted electronically to a manufacturer or 3D printed to create the customized hockey stick the player desires.

An ice hockey stick template tool is disclosed for creating a personal tailored curved hockey stick blade of a hockey stick. The ice hockey stick template tool includes several blade parts that are configured to be assembled into a particular customized blade shape. The blade parts include several interchangeable heels, several interchangeable mids, and several interchangeable toes. A customized blade shape is created by a player assembling and adjusting one heel, one mid, and one toe, resulting in a blade profile which references a particular heel, a particular mid, and a particular toe. The blade profile is recorded and stored in a database that also stores all combinations of the interchangeable blade parts. The blade profile can then be transmitted electronically to a manufacturer or 3D printed to create the customized hockey stick the player desires.

A construct for a hockey blade that includes a foam core. The foam core includes a first core face, a second core face, and a bottom core edge and a top core edge. Multiple pins are injected into the foam core, and one or more layers of resin preimpregnated tape are wrapped around the foam before forming a hockey blade structure in a heated mold.

A construct for a hockey blade that includes a foam core. The foam core includes a first core face, a second core face, and a bottom core edge and a top core edge. Multiple pins are injected into the foam core, and one or more layers of resin preimpregnated tape are wrapped around the foam before forming a hockey blade structure in a heated mold.

A piece of tubular sports equipment includes: a first layer of composite material including fibers oriented in a first direction; a second layer of composite material that directly contacts the first layer of composite material, that is arranged radially outwardly of the first layer of composite material, and that includes fibers oriented in a second direction that is different than the first direction; and a third layer of composite material that directly contacts the second layer of composite material, that is arranged radially outwardly of the second layer of composite material, that includes fibers oriented in a third direction that is different than the second direction, and that includes an aperture formed through the third layer such that a portion of the second layer is visible through the aperture.