1. A tennis training aid, comprising:
a forearm attachment member operable to be releasably attached to a forearm of a player; and
a tether attachment having a first and second end, wherein the first end is attached to the forearm attachment member and the second end is attached to a tennis racket throat in order to hold the wrist of the forearm holding that racket at a desired angle so as to allow the player to practice a plurality of different tennis strokes.
2. A tennis training aid according to claim 1, wherein the tether attachment comprises a single-tether design.
3. A tennis training aid according to claim 1, wherein the tether attachment comprises a dual-tether design.
4. A tennis training aid according to claim 1, wherein the tether attachment comprises a Y-tether design.
5. A tennis training aid according to claim 1, wherein the second end of the tether attachment is tied to the tennis racket throat.
6. A tennis training aid according to claim 1, wherein the second end of the tether attachment is attached to the tennis racket throat via an attachment device.
7. A tennis training aid according to claim 6, wherein the attachment device comprises a ring apparatus.
8. A tennis training aid according to claim 6, wherein the attachment device comprises a clam-shell apparatus.
9. A tennis training aid according to claim 6, wherein the attachment device comprises a wedge apparatus.
10. A tennis training aid according to claim 1, wherein the tether attachment comprises a single elastic portion.
11. A tennis training aid according to claim 1, wherein the elastic portion comprises a plurality of elastic portions.
12. A tennis training aid according to claim 11, wherein at least two of the plurality of elastic portions have different elasticities.
13. A tennis training aid according to claim 12, wherein the at least two elastic portions having different elasticities are in line with each other.
14. A tennis training aid according to claim 12, wherein the at least two elastic portions having different elasticities are separated by a non-elastic portion.
15. A tennis training aid according to claim 1, wherein the forearm attachment member further comprises a jam cleat locking mechanism for engaging the tether attachment.
16. A tennis training aid according to claim 1, wherein the forearm attachment member further comprises a cam-lock locking mechanism for engaging the tether attachment.
17. A tennis training aid according to claim 1, wherein the forearm attachment member further comprises at least one forearm strap for connecting the forearm attachment member to the forearm of the player.
18. A tennis training aid according to claim 1, wherein the tether attachment comprises webbed material.
19. A tennis training aid according to claim 1, wherein the tether attachment comprises a plastic strap.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A process for forming a composite material using a vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) process, the improvement comprising subjecting a majority of the components of a VARTM system to an increased temperature, wherein said temperature is stabilized and maintained for a predetermined time prior to introducing a resin into the VARTM system.
2. The process of claim 1, wherein the entire VARTM system is subjected to an increased temperature.
3. The process of claim 1, wherein the increased temperature is in the range of about 100\xb0 to 550\xb0 F.
4. The process of claim 1, wherein the increased temperature is in the range of about 200\xb0 to 550\xb0 F.
5. The process of claim 1, wherein the predetermined time is at least about 20 minutes.
6. The process of claim 1, wherein the process produces a composite having an increased fiber volume compared to a composite produced by a conventional VARTM process.
7. The process of claim 1, wherein the process produces a composite having fewer voids compared to a composite produced by a conventional VARTM process.
8. The process of claim 1, wherein the process produces a composite having a lower porosity compared to a composite produced by a conventional VARTM process.
9. The process of claim 1, wherein the process can be employed to form a complex-shaped composite.
10. A method of improving the fiber volume fraction andor the dimensional thickness of a composite panel, the method comprising forming a composite using a vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) process and subjecting a majority of the components of a VARTM system to an increased temperature, wherein said temperature is stabilized and maintained for a predetermined time prior to introducing a resin into the VARTM system.
11. The process of claim 10, wherein the entire VARTM system is subjected to an increased temperature.
12. The process of claim 10, wherein the increased temperature is in the range of about 100\xb0 to 550\xb0 F.
13. The process of claim 10, wherein the increased temperature is in the range of about 200\xb0 to 550\xb0 F.
14. The process of claim 10, wherein the predetermined time is at least about 20 minutes.
15. The process of claim 10, wherein the process produces a composite having an increased fiber volume compared to a composite produced by a conventional VARTM process.
16. The process of claim 10, wherein the composite panel has a complex shape.