BAUER HOCKEY LLC

A sport helmet may include a first surface and a second surface opposite one another, and a lattice formed of flexible polymeric material, configured to deform from an initial shape upon an impact on the sport helmet and recover the initial shape thereafter to absorb at least part of the impact.

Articles comprising one or more additively-manufactured components are provided, as are method of additively manufacturing such components. The additvely-manufactured components are designed to enhance performance and use of the article, such as, but not limited to: impact protection, including for managing different types of impacts; fit and comfort; adjustability; and/or other aspects of the article. The provided methods of additive manufacturing include methods involving expandable materials and the expansion of post-additively manufactured expandable components.

A hockey stick blade can also include a first region and a second region. The first region can be a top section of the blade portion, and the second region can be a bottom section of the blade. The first region can include a plurality of support elements. Also, the plurality of support elements may define a series of openings extending through the blade portion. The second region may be formed from one or more layers of carbon fiber tape that are preimpregnated with resin, and wrapped around an optional foam core.

A skate (e.g., an ice skate) or other footwear for a user. The skate or other footwear comprises a skate boot or other foot-receiving structure for receiving a foot of the user and possibly one or more other components, such as a skating device (e.g., a blade and a blade holder) disposed beneath the skate boot to engage a skating surface (e.g., ice). In some cases, at least part of the skate boot or other foot-receiving structure and optionally at least part of one or more other components (e.g., the skating device) may be constructed from one or more materials (e.g., foams) molded by flowing in molding equipment during a molding process (e.g., injection molding or casting). This may allow the skate or other footwear to have useful performance characteristics (e.g., reduced weight, proper fit and comfort, etc.) while being more cost-effectively manufactured.

A skate (e.g., an ice skate) for a skater (e.g., a hockey player). The skate comprises a skate boot for receiving a foot of the skater and a skating device (e.g., a blade and a blade holder) disposed beneath the skate boot to engage a skating surface (e.g., ice). At least part of the skate boot and optionally at least part of one or more other components (e.g., the skating device) may be constructed from one or more materials (e.g., foams) molded by flowing in molding equipment during a molding process (e.g., injection molding or casting). This may allow the skate (or other footwear) to have useful performance characteristics (e.g., reduced weight, proper fit and comfort, etc.) while being more cost-effectively manufactured. Other articles of footwear are also provided.

A helmet for protecting a user's head, in which mounting of a faceguard to the helmet is facilitated, notably by clipping of the faceguard using a clip comprising openings to receive fasteners connecting the clip to the helmet, and a mount configured for placement of the faceguard thereon to mount the faceguard to the clip while the clip is connected to the fasteners. This may be useful for the user or other individuals, such as at a retail store or other location selling or otherwise providing the helmet and/or the faceguard and/or in various other situations and/or locations, including by allowing quick and convenient (e.g., toolless) mounting and/or removal of the faceguard to/from the helmet.

A method of forming a sporting implement includes placing a plurality of fibers in a cavity formed in a first portion of a mold, the mold having an inlet and an outlet. A second portion of the mold is positioned in contact with the first portion such that the cavity cooperates with the second portion of the mold to define a chamber. A first material is mixed with a second material to form a thermoplastic resin. The thermoplastic resin is injected into the chamber through the inlet. The inlet and outlet are closed, and the thermoplastic resin completely polymerizes so as to form a fiber reinforced sporting element in the chamber, and the sporting element is removed from the chamber.

A computer-implemented method for recommending an item of equipment, which comprises: gathering sensed data from a sensor; processing the sensed data in accordance with a biomechanical protocol to determine at least one performance indicator associated with a subject's execution of the biomechanical protocol; and determining at least one recommended feature of an item of equipment based at least in part on the at least one performance indicator. Also, an equipment recommendation system with specific application to hockey, which comprises: a camera configured to produce images representative of execution of a hockey shot of a given type by a subject; an I/O interface; and a processor connected to the camera via the I/O interface and configured to extract parameters from the images and to output, via the I/O interface, a hockey stick recommendation for the subject that is based on the parameters and on the given type of hockey shot.

A helmet comprising one or more additively-manufactured components designed to enhance performance and use of the helmet, such as: impact protection, including for managing different types of impacts; fit and comfort; adjustability; and/or other aspects of the helmet. Methods of additively-manufacturing components for such helmets are also provided, including methods involving expandable materials and the expansion of post-additively manufactured expandable components.