Abstract: A lacrosse head with improved weight and handling characteristics includes a frame element having a base portion, a scoop portion, and a pair of opposing sidewall portions extending between the base portion and the scoop portion. The frame element includes one or more cavities integrally formed within one or more of the sidewall portions, the base portion, and the scoop portion. In addition, the lacrosse head includes a no-skid surface integrated with a portion of the frame element. This surface is intended to create friction between the no-skid surface and a lacrosse ball, as well as to absorb kinetic energy of the lacrosse ball preventing the ball from inadvertently bouncing out of the lacrosse head or rattling therein.

Abstract: An interior armrest for an automotive vehicle includes upper and lower horizontal walls and a channel-shaped lateral impact contactor joined to the upper horizontal walls by the means of shear planes. The lateral impact contactor has a number of wedge-shaped vertical interruptions which cooperate with the shear planes to produce a controlled collapse in the event of a lateral impact of an occupant of the vehicle against the armrest.

Abstract: A tire pressure monitoring system (12) for a vehicle (10) includes a vehicle speed sensor (38, 98) that is used to generate a vehicle speed signal. A receiver (28) operates using a first protocol when the vehicle speed signal is below a first speed threshold and operates using a second protocol when the vehicle speed is above the speed threshold. A remote keyless entry system (23) is coupled to the receiver and operates when the vehicle speed is below a speed threshold. The remote keyless entry system (23) receives signals from a keyless entry transmitter (60) using the first protocol. A tire pressure monitoring system (12) has a pressure transmitter (16A-16E) that generates a signal using a first protocol and a second protocol when the speed signal is below the speed threshold and generating the signal using only the second protocol when the speed signal is above the speed threshold.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle body includes a generally tubular, hydroformed cowl with integral mounting flanges which are welded to an engine compartment structural member and a cowlside member. The cowl may be hydroformed from several different preforms having both symmetrical and asymmetrical geometric characteristics.

Abstract: A powered lift gate for an automotive vehicle includes a lift gate door hinged to a vehicle body. A motor system which opens and closes the door is operated by a controller coupled to a primary obstacle detection system which senses operation of the motor itself, and by a secondary detection system which directly senses an object interposed between a margin of the door and the door opening panel. A pinch protection member interposed between a marginal zone of the door and the door opening panel includes a resilient element having sufficient strength to support an object positioned between the door and the door opening panel such that the primary obstacle detection system will be triggered when the door and motor develop a predetermined compressive force upon the object. The predetermined compressive force is selected to allow normal operation of the lift gate, without subjecting an obstructing object to excessive crushing force.

Abstract: A lacrosse head having a netting with a shallow pocket is provided for improving the handling and the retention of a lacrosse ball. The lacrosse head includes a frame element comprised of a pair of opposing sidewalls that each have a top end and a bottom end, a scoop portion connecting the top ends of the sidewalls, and a base portion connecting the bottom ends of the sidewalls. Furthermore, the lacrosse head includes a netting that is coupled to the opposing sidewalls. This netting has one or more partitions coupled thereto for substantially defining a ball retention region and one or more peripheral regions of the netting. These partitions protrude outwardly from the netting and are adapted for contacting a lacrosse ball and retaining the lacrosse ball within the ball retention region.

Abstract: A dolly wheel assembly for a vehicle includes a dolly wheel and a dolly wheel spindle fixedly secured to the dolly wheel such that the dolly wheel and the dolly wheel spindle rotate together as a single unit. The dolly wheel spindle is in communication with a dampening device so as to apply a resisting force to the dolly wheel spindle. Application of the resisting or braking force restricts or prevents free rotation of the dolly wheel about an axis defined by the dolly wheel spindle. The dampening device is in communication with a controller which causes the dampening device to apply the resisting or braking force or to remove application of the resisting or braking force upon demand to satisfy a variety of different conditions encountered with the vehicle operation considering functional implication of the dolly wheel assembly.

Abstract: A protective glove for protecting a wearer's hand includes a thumb pocket and an index finger pocket. The glove is designed to receive the wearer's thumb in the thumb pocket and the wearer's index finger in the index finger pocket, while leaving the user's other fingers exposed. The thumb pocket and the index finger pocket are attached to an adjustable wrist strap. Further, the thumb pocket and the index finger pocket are attached to each other.

Abstract: A lacrosse stick with replaceable modular handle sections includes a sectional handle, an interlocking mechanism for the sectional handle, and a head. The sectional handle includes an upper elongate section having both a top end and a locking bottom end and a lower elongate section having both a locking top end and a bottom end. The interlocking mechanism serves to interlock the locking bottom end of the upper elongate section with the locking top end of the lower elongate section. The head is mounted on the top end of the upper elongate section and includes both a closed-loop frame and a net suspended substantially within the confines of the frame. The interlocking mechanism can be unlocked so that either the upper elongate section or the lower elongate section of the sectional handle may be replaced as desired in a modular fashion with a substitutive elongate section.

Abstract: A upper body protective garment for cushioning blows imparted upon the wearer's body includes a chest protector portion, a back protector portion, and a pair of telescopic shoulder protector portions. These protector portions preferably form a single integral unit. Each telescopic shoulder protector portion includes an inner-shoulder protector portion and an outer-shoulder protector portion that is telescopically coupled to the inner-shoulder protector portion. The outer-shoulder protector portion is moveable between an extended position and a retracted position for allowing an individual wearing the protective garment to raise his arm without interference from the telescopic shoulder protector portion.

Abstract: A birdcage assembly for a high performance vehicle includes a birdcage having an opening defined by an inner periphery. The birdcage is secured to a rear suspension of the vehicle and is maintained in a substantially vertical position. The opening is intended to receive a vehicle axle therethough. The opening has a bearing located therein, which includes an inner race, an outer race, and a plurality of rollers disposed between the inner race and the outer race. The inner race of the bearing is in communication and rotates with the vehicle rear axle. Further, the bearing is moveable with respect to the birdcage such that as the axle deviates from an orientation parallel to ground, the bearing can move with respect to the birdcage away from a vertical position. The floating aspect of the bearing with respect to the birdcage minimizes side loads on the birdcage are thus prolongs the life of the bearing.

Abstract: A pocket for a lacrosse head (10) includes a netting portion (20) attached to the lacrosse head (10). The netting portion (20) has a plurality of holes (22) therein. The netting portion (20) is characterized by a middle section (28) with a plurality of center holes (32) therein intended to grip a lacrosse ball (24) and provide enhanced ball control characteristics. The netting portion (20) further includes at least one peripheral section (30) with a plurality of peripheral holes (34) therein capable of funneling the lacrosse ball (24) toward the middle section (28) and improving ball retention capabilities of the lacrosse head (10).

Abstract: A MRI system having a scanning unit adapted to generate a parallel scan includes a substantially cylindrical member defining a scanning bore and a RF coil assembly mounted in the scanning bore. The RF coil assembly includes a TEM surface resonator.

Abstract: A vehicle mirror assembly includes a mounting bracket for attachment of the mirror assembly to a vehicle. The bracket is in communication with a mounting arm at a first end thereof. The mounting arm has a second end that is in communication with a mirror. The mirror assembly includes at least one release mechanism that allows the mounting arm to pivot with respect to the bracket when the mounting arm is subject to a force of at least a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A framework for a deployable antenna is disclosed herein. The framework basically includes a plurality of elongate ribs, a matching plurality of foldable resilient members, and a hub. Each of the elongate ribs has both a proximal end and a distal end. The foldable resilient members serve to interconnect the proximal ends of the elongate ribs to the hub. Within such a configuration, each of the foldable resilient members is capable of storing strain energy whenever forcibly folded and also releasing the strain energy whenever subsequently permitted to elastically unfold. Thus, whenever the elongate ribs are released from a stowed position in which the foldable resilient members are forcibly folded, the strain energy causes automatic deployment of the antenna as the foldable resilient members are permitted to elastically unfold. In sum, therefore, the framework obviates many conventional uses of electro-mechanical motors or actuators in deploying various antennas.

Abstract: A method of ionizing a liquid propellant is disclosed herein. The method includes the steps of applying an electrical charge to a showerhead, delivering a liquid propellant under pressure into a chamber defined within the showerhead, and emitting the liquid propellant under pressure through a plurality of micro-nozzles interspaced within the face of the showerhead to create a plurality of jets that collectively produce an electrospray having charged particles. An electric thruster that implements such a method is also disclosed herein. The thruster includes a showerhead having an inlet and a plurality of micro-nozzles, a reservoir for supplying propellant to the showerhead via the inlet, means for accelerating charged particles, and a power source connected to the showerhead and the accelerating means. The propellant is emitted under pressure from the micro-nozzles to produce an electrospray having charged particles. The charged particles are accelerated by the accelerating means to produce thrust.

Abstract: A reversible one-way clutch (90) is positioned in parallel with a friction pack (62, 72) to drive a planetary transmission (10) in low gear and reverse. The clutch (90) has a biasing plate (96) secured to its surface to bias the clutch (90) in a direction so that the transmission (10) operates in either low gear or reverse gear. The biasing plate (96) is hydraulically actuated to bias the clutch (90) between low gear, neutral, and reverse gear.

Abstract: An accelerometer includes an inertial platform maintaining an attitude in response to a platform stabilizing controller signal and defining a spin axis and a reference plane. An accelerometer, coupled to the inertial platform a distance from the spin axis, defines a flex axis. The accelerometer generates an accelerometer signal in response to acceleration of the accelerometer. A second accelerometer defines a second flex axis, and is also coupled to the inertial platform a distance from the spin axis. The second accelerometer generates a second accelerometer signal in response to acceleration of the second accelerometer. A controller receives the first accelerometer signal and the second accelerometer signal and generates a linear acceleration signal in response to a sum of the first accelerometer signal and the second accelerometer signal and generates an angular acceleration signal from the difference.

Abstract: A free standing, upright sports goal structure (10) having a plurality of inflatable bladders to form the framework (19) of a standing goal structure, together with an outer casing (25) of non-elastic material which encloses the inflatable framework (19) and serves to form a strong rigid goal structure (10) which is useful in a plurality of sports, yet which can quickly and easily be erected or collapsed for convenient transportation and storage.