Abstract: An object tracking system for automatically tracking a plurality of objects such as keys includes a plurality of tags each associated with an object to be tracked, and each having a depending tongue with opposed side faces. A touch memory device storing a unique ID code is attached to the tongue of each tag protrudes from one side face of its tag a distance greater than from the other side face. A storage unit for receiving and storing the tags has a plurality of slots each asymmetrically profiled with a bulge along one side to allow the tongue and touch memory device of one of the tags to pass through in one orientation of the tag but to prevent them to pass through in other orientations. A sensor is associated with each clot for engaging the touch memory device of the tongue of a tag inserted through the slot and a computer controller is coupled to the sensors for reading the ID codes of the touch memory devices to determine the presence and absence of tags and their objects in the container.

Abstract: A hand-held feeder for fasteners having a head and a shank comprises a handle configured to contain fasteners and a channel extending from the handle, the channel having a free end and a support slit extending from the free end toward the handle. The support slit is wider than the fastener shanks but narrower than the heads, so that when fasteners emerging from the handle encounter the slit, the shanks will drop down through the, slit while the heads remain accessible within the channel. The channel is designed to provide unobstructed access to the heads of fasteners having shanks extending through the slit.

Abstract: A system and method for enhancing display of a sporting event. A background video image frame is recorded that represents a background video image of the playing field within the large field of view. The path of a ball in a playing field of the sporting event is tracked while the ball is moving. In response, successive overlay video image frames are generated that represent successive overlay video images of the path of the ball within the large field of view but without the playing field in the background. The successive overlay video image frames are combined with the background video image frame so as to generate successive overlaid video image frames. The overlaid video image frames represent successive overlaid video images of the path of the ball in the playing field within a large field of view and comprise the successive overlay video images overlaid on the background video image.

Abstract: An exercise apparatus has a body supporting carriage that moves relative to a frame in a direction having a vertical component. Levers are movably mounted on the carriage and connected to the frame in such a manner that movement of the levers relative to the carriage is linked to movement of the carriage relative to the frame.

Abstract: Upstanding, vertical side rails welded to oppositely facing horizontal top and bottom plates at respective corners thereof form a unitary, rigid, parallelepiped open frame structure including an open front slot to receive a bicycle wheel rim and tire. Deflectable resilient members mounted to side rails extend towards each other and snap behind an inserted bicycle wheel rim. Horizontal side rails or plates and rear plates are fixed to respective pairs of side rails to render the structure rigid. Apertures in the bottom and top plates permit fixedly mounting of the module or a plurality of upright modules to form a multi-module bicycle rack. A transverse common coupling member may be a bench, a planar seat, a table top or a planter. A steel security arm having a U-shaped steel loop welded at one end may be rotatably mounted to the open frame structure at the opposite end.

Abstract: A composite load bearing structure comprises a main body portion having a top surface and a bottom surface defining a dimension of thickness therebetween, first and second side surfaces defining a dimension of width therebetween, first and second end surfaces defining a dimension of length therebetween, and a first longitudinal axis oriented along the length of the main body portion. The thickness is significantly less than at least the length of the load bearing structure. The main body portion is made of a first composite material comprising a binding constituent in a proportion of about 10% to about 20% by volume, and an aggregate material in a proportion of about 80% to about 90% by volume. The binding constituent comprises polyethylene or a polyethylene blend having at least 10% polyethylene.

Abstract: Self-propelled vehicle for ground handling of equipment supportable by a pair of skids engageable by a lifting element and a stabilizing element. The vehicle has a front chassis rotatably connected to a rear chassis for relative tilting movement in a plane transverse to a longitudinal vehicle axis. Each chassis is supported by a pair of independently driven omnidirectional wheels for movement of the vehicle over the ground in any azimuthal direction. Mounted on the rear chassis is a lift assembly of adjustable transverse width for engaging the skids with the lifting elements and lifting the equipment to an elevated position for transport over the ground. A stabilizer assembly of adjustable transverse width is also mounted on the rear chassis, but extends through and in front of the front chassis for engaging the skids with the stabilizing elements to prevent fore/aft teetering movement of the elevated equipment.

Abstract: An exhaust fumes distribution system for use within a structure adjacent to a space in which a vehicle having an engine coupled to a vertically oriented, open ended, exhaust stack is to be located to discharge exhaust fumes out of the structure. The system comprises an blower, an elongated, hollow guide tube having a slot extending the length thereof. The guide tube includes a pair of sealing members located along the slot for forming a sealed interface through which the exhaust stack is arranged to enter, so that fumes from the stack are carried down the guide tube and vented out of the structure by the blower. The sealing members are of generally C-shape in cross section so that peripheral portions thereof abut along the length of the slot to form the sealed interface.

Abstract: The present invention provides a flywheel resistance mechanism for exercise equipment. The flywheel rotates subject to frictional resistance created by contact between a drag strap and an outer cylindrical surface on the flywheel. The outer cylindrical surface has a surface roughness of between fifteen (15) microinches and one hundred and fifty (150) microinches.

Abstract: A composite railway tie, and process for manufacture thereof, is disclosed. The composite railway tie comprises a main body portion being made of a first composite material comprising a binding constituent in a proportion of about 10% to about 20% by volume, and an aggregate material in a proportion of about 80% to about 90% by volume. The binding constituent comprises a plastic material chosen from the group of polyethylene and a polyethylene blend having at least 10% polyethylene. The aggregate material is in the form of irregular multi-faceted pieces chosen from the group consisting of crushed furnace slag, crushed gravel, crushed limestone, crushed granite, crushed basalt, and crushed trap rock, and mixtures thereof. The pieces of the aggregate material are distributed and otherwise arranged within the main body portion of the second material so that opposed surfaces of the pieces of the aggregate material have at least partial contact, one with another, in a contiguous manner.

Abstract: A bowling ball comprises a dense inner core which cannot be penetrated during the drilling of holes for gripping purposes and balance holes to adjust the static weight, a non-spherical outer core formed about the inner core to act as a top weight, and a cover stock. The dense inner core which cannot be penetrated by a drill prevents the characteristics of the bowling ball from being changed and, further, lowers both the moment of inertia and radius or gyration of the bowling ball to improve the bowling ball's characteristics. These characteristics include enhancing the rolling pattern of the ball and increasing the energy with which the ball strikes the pins. The non-spherical outer core operates as a top weight to replace weight removed during the drilling of the finger and thumb holes and enhance the hooking action of the ball by providing a breakpoint which is very sharp at the back end of the bowling lane. That late, sharp breaking hook allows the bowling ball to strike the pins with a greater force.

Abstract: An environmentally tolerant personal identification, access control and monitoring system including a dual contact limb-worn identification (ID) code-producing unit and a multiple-physical contact arrayed ID code reader are described. Momentary physical contact between the unit's dual contacts, in any position and orientation, and the reader's arrayed multiple contacts is detected by sequentially energizing contact pairs of the array until a characteristic low-impedance is sensed and then the indicated contact pair is reverse-energized to read the ID code from the ID unit. Preferably, the contact array geometry is of closely spaced, nickel-plated, planar, hexagonally shaped conductors that are group-encoded and -energized to minimize the input/output port requirements of a microprocessor and associated drive/sense electronics that accomplish the scanning of the array and the reading of the ID unit.

Abstract: An exhaust fumes distribution system for use within a structure adjacent to a space in which a vehicle having an engine coupled to a vertically oriented, open ended, exhaust stack is to be located to discharge exhaust fumes out of the structure. The system comprises an actuatable blower, an elongated guide tube, a collapsible conduit, and a wireless transmitter and receiver. The guide tube has a hollow interior and a slot extending therealong and is mounted horizontally above the space so that the slot extends from a first position adjacent an entrance to the structure to a second, remote position. The collapsible conduit is located within the guide tube and is coupled to the blower. The conduit has an end portion including an inlet opening and is biased into an extended position within the guide tube so that the inlet opening is located adjacent the first position to receive the open end of the stack through the slot.

Abstract: A golf training device having a grip with a top and bottom and longitudinal axis therethrough is provided with a laser light generating mechanism within the grip which generates a laser light beam that projects out of the top of the grip. An obstruction mechanism is positioned in the path of the laser light beam in order to selectively obstruct the emission of the laser light beam from the grip, and a power source is connected to the laser light generator in order to supply power to operate the generator mechanism. In one embodiment, a shaft and golf club head are connected to the bottom of the grip, and in a second embodiment, weights are added to the bottom of the grip to simulate the swing weight of a golf club.

Abstract: A resistance or load indicator for use with an exercising unit, in particular one which has motions or movements in opposite directions for exercise, such as reciprocal arm or leg exercisers, and in particular one which can be used with coordinated movements of the arms and legs. The resistance indicator unit comprises an indicator plate that is frictionally loaded to turn from a centered position as the exercise load is applied. The indicator plate is spring loaded so it will turn until the friction control slips. The amount of movement of the spring loaded plate indicates the load being applied in either direction.