Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.

Salomon S.a.

Salomon S.a.s.

Mavic S.a.s.

Jean-Luc Veux

Todd P Beach

Benoit Vincent

Jean-Pierre Mercat

Pierre Feche

Joseph Normand

Gilles Parquet

Pascal Ramel

Device including an inner shaft and an outer body rotatably mounted about an axis with respect to the shaft via at least one rolling bearing, the rolling bearing including an inner ring mounted on the inner shaft and an outer ring mounted in a housing of the outer body, the device including an automatic backlash elimination mechanism. The automatic backlash elimination mechanism includes a first washer having a tapered surface, and an elastic element in contact with the tapered surface of the first washer, the elastic element structured and arranged to generate a radial return force that is converted, by means of the tapered surface, into an axial force in order to eliminate the backlash related to the mounting of the rolling bearing. The first washer can be mounted on the shaft, in which case the elastic element generates a centripetal return force, or it can be mounted in the bore of the outer body, in which case the elastic element generates a centrifugal return force. A second washer can be provided so that the elastic element is positioned between the first washer and the second washer. The angle formed by the tapered surface and a plane perpendicular to the aforementioned axis is smaller than 12&#xb0;. The invention also includes a wheel for a cycle, such as a bicycle, and a hub therefore which includes such device.

Device for mounting bearings and a cycle wheel and hub including such device

A quick-release system for a quick-release device, in particular for a cycle, such as a bicycle, the device being of the type including an axially extending skewer and an end support element mounted on a first end of the skewer adapted to be supported on a first tightening surface of the cycle. The quick-release system includes a tightening sub-assembly including a support surface and an actuation sub-assembly including a movable actuating mechanism, capable of axial rotation around the skewer and configured to transmit a tightening torque to the tightening sub-assembly when the device is being tightened. The system includes tightening torque limiting mechanism making it possible to limit the torque transmitted by the actuation sub-assembly to the tightening sub-assembly.

Quick-tightening system for cycle with tightening torque control

A sealing strip to be used with the rim of a wheel, particularly the rim of a so-called box section bicycle rim, as well as a rim equipped with such a sealing strip, and a wheel having such rim and sealing strip. The sealing strip is formed by a continuous annular strip having, in cross section, a median depression, forming a U-shaped radial groove provided to be positioned within in the central well of the rim, two lateral extensions provided to be supported upon on the interior edges of the rim that border of the well, and two lateral walls provided to extend along the flanges of the rim. The walls of the sealing strip are extended by a pair of lips that project toward the inside relative to the walls of the sealing strip, the lips being adapted to be positioned adjacent the lips of the rim.

Sealing strip for a rim of a wheel and a rim having a sealing strip

A system for binding a shoe to a sports gear, such as a cross-country ski, using a fixing device fixed on the sports gear and including a stop cooperating with the shoe front end and an elastic catch cooperating with the sole associated catch arranged behind the sole front end and exerting on the sole a tension pressure towards the stop. The elastic catch is anchored on the fixing device, at the rear of the stop. The elastic catch and anchoring mechanism are longitudinally mobile countering the elastic mechanism.

Device for coupling a shoe with a sports gear

A golf club shaft that is light in weight but which avoids problems related to a bending deformation of the section where these phenomena might otherwise occur. The bending strength of the shaft in the area sensitive to these phenomena is improved and the flexional and torsional stiffness characteristics are not significantly affected. Further, the mass and the mass distribution of the shaft are not significantly affected. According to one embodiment, the golf club shaft is tubular and includes a variable cross section along its length. The shaft has an enlarged butt at one end an a smaller radius tip at the opposite end. The shaft includes several layers of reinforcing fibers having different orientations with respect to the longitudinal axis, at least one of the layers being oriented at, or approximately at, 90.degree. with respect to the longitudinal axis at least over a portion of the shaft where the external radius/thickness ratio is greater than or equal to 4. More particularly, the invention relates to shafts which comprise a radius/thickness ratio that is greater than the ratio of a conventional shaft in the bending area of the shaft length, i.e., the area which experiences a greater bending deformation during the swinging motion. A higher radius/thickness ratio in the bending area allows the shaft to be lightened while keeping proper mechanical properties of stiffness and strength by use of regular modulus carbon fibers which are less expensive than ultra-high modulus fibers.

Golf club shaft

The invention is directed to a golf club shaft and to a process for manufacturing same. The golf club shaft is made of a fiber- and resin-base composite material, the shaft including, along a part of its length, a neck portion in which a ring is inserted, such ring being made of a material having a density higher than the density of the composite material and the ring having a first end portion and a second end portion each having an inner surface in contact with the surface of the neck portion which flares out gradually up to the ends of the ring. The process includes the steps of positioning a bladder made of an extensible and impervious material on an elongated mandrel; covering the mandrel with fibers impregnated with a resin so as to obtain a wound fibrous complex; fitting the complex with the ring; positioning the complex provided with the ring in a mold whose cavity defines the final shape of the shaft to be produced; and performing the molding operation by heating and by application of a pressurized fluid inside the bladder, in order to form the neck portion against the inner surface of the ring and to obtain the compaction of the complex against the mold cavity outside of the neck portion.

Golf club shaft and process for manufacturing same

The invention is directed to a golf club, such as a driver, wherein the club includes a shaft, at the lower end of which a head is mounted, and at the upper end of which a grip is mounted. The club is light in weight and, according to a first embodiment, has a mass of less than 340 grams and an LPE/LC ratio (Equivalent Pendulum Length)/(Length of Club) of less than 0.87, preferably between 0.87 and 0.85 and, according to a second embodiment, has a mass of less than 310 grams and an LPE/LC ratio of between 0.87 and 0.885.

Balanced golf club

A golf club comprising a shaft made of a composite material with a head (2) at its lower end and a grip (3) at its upper end. The shaft comprises three distinct sections, namely (a) a first, upper tapered portion (12a) covered by the grip, (b) a second, lower portion (12b) extending to the lower portion (10) of the shaft, and (c) a third connecting portion attaching the first to the second portions. The diameter (d1) of the section of the lower end of the first portion (12a) is smaller than the diameter (d2) of the section of the upper end of the second portion (12b).

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Rumilly, France

Jean-Luc Veux