May 5, 2026

US12616886 - Structural energy storage with carbon fiber for sport equipment sensor

A sport apparatus, including a handle, an action portion, a connection portion connecting the handle to the action portion, at least part of the connection portion including a structural battery, the structural battery including one or more energy storage devices, each of the one or more energy storage devices having at least one anode core of a continuous carbon fiber, an electrolyte arranged on the at least one continuous carbon fiber core, and a cathode layer coating arranged to the at least one continuous carbon fiber core on the electrolyte, and at least one sensor unit electrically connected to the energy storage devices, the at least one sensor unit providing signals related to use of the sport apparatus.

Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Inventors: Jae Seung Lee, Paul Gilmore
Filing date: 2022-01-13

This patent describes a sport apparatus that integrates a structural battery within its connection portion, utilizing continuous carbon fiber as an anode core. The apparatus also includes a sensor unit that provides feedback on its usage, enhancing the functionality of the equipment.

Claim 1

1 . A sport apparatus, comprising: a handle; an action portion; a connection portion connecting the handle to the action portion, at least part of the connection portion including a structural battery, the structural battery including one or more energy storage devices; each of the one or more energy storage devices having: at least one anode core of a continuous carbon fiber, an electrolyte arranged on the at least one continuous carbon fiber core, and a cathode layer arranged to the at least one continuous carbon fiber core on the electrolyte; and at least one sensor unit electrically connected to the one or more energy storage devices, the at least one sensor unit outputting signals related to use of the sport apparatus. a handle; an action portion; a connection portion connecting the handle to the action portion, at least part of the connection portion including a structural battery, the structural battery including one or more energy storage devices; each of the one or more energy storage devices having: at least one anode core of a continuous carbon fiber, an electrolyte arranged on the at least one continuous carbon fiber core, and a cathode layer arranged to the at least one continuous carbon fiber core on the electrolyte; and at least one anode core of a continuous carbon fiber, an electrolyte arranged on the at least one continuous carbon fiber core, and a cathode layer arranged to the at least one continuous carbon fiber core on the electrolyte; and at least one sensor unit electrically connected to the one or more energy storage devices, the at least one sensor unit outputting signals related to use of the sport apparatus.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12616886

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12616886