Abstract: The arrangement includes a latch pivotally mounted to cooperate with a catch, a lock member including a locking ratchet arranged to cooperate with the latch between initial and intermediate locking configurations of the latch, following at least one movement control action of the ratchet by an actuator, an ejector arranged to drive, with the ejection thereof, the pivoting of the latch and the lifting of the hood, the latch and the ejector forming an ejection member of the striker. During the movement of the ratchet from the initial configuration to the final configuration, the lock member is arranged to pivot the ejection member in an ejection direction against the resultant torque of the weight of the hood exerted on the ejector via the striker in order to enable the lifting of the hood.

Abstract: A shoe sole cleaning device; the shoe sole cleaning device includes a base housing a dirty water reservoir, a top plate, a series of spray nozzles, and at least one bristle roller brush having bristles. Extending from the base is a housing having a water-acceptance port, a user interface, a clean water reservoir, a pump, a motor, a water intake line, and a water sprayer line. The series of spray nozzles are in alignment with the at least one bristle roller brush and configured to disperse the liquid from the clean water reservoir on to the at least one bristle roller brush. The bristle roller brushes are configured to rotate and remove germs, dirt, mud, and other debris from shoes.

Abstract: Various aspects directed towards reinforcing a wooden baseball bat are disclosed. In a first aspect, a compression wrap apparatus includes an elastic strap and a fastening device coupled to a first end of the elastic strap in which the fastening device facilitates securing a wrapping of the elastic strap around a handle of a wooden baseball bat. In another aspect, a baseball bat apparatus includes a wooden baseball bat and a compression wrap configured to wrap around a handle of the wooden baseball bat. In a further aspect, yet another baseball bat apparatus is disclosed, which includes a wooden baseball bat and at least one alloy compression ring configured to wrap around a handle of the wooden baseball bat.

Abstract: Aspects directed towards a training apparatus are disclosed. In one example, a bat sleeve having a substantially cylindrical shape is configured to remain affixed to a desired point of impact on a baseball bat. The bat sleeve includes a first open end having a first inner diameter and a first outer diameter, and a second open end having a second inner diameter and a second outer diameter. In another example, a training apparatus includes a bat portion and a sledgehammer portion. The bat portion has a form factor substantially similar to a lower portion of a baseball bat, whereas the sledgehammer portion has a form factor substantially similar to an upper portion of a sledgehammer In yet another example, a training apparatus includes a sensor portion coupled to a striking portion. Here, the sensor portion is configured to sense an impact between the striking portion and a target.

Abstract: A beacon based check-in system and method for a health rewards program. The present invention allows members to check-in to predetermined locations or events to earn points and rewards for use in health rewards programs. The member may use the points or rewards to purchase gift cards, merchandise or health related services.

Abstract: Collaboration between discrete systems and a shared system to consolidate shared storage-related services. In one example, shared, consolidated storage-related services and high-availability are provided by pairing each of a plurality of discrete block storage virtualization modules residing on each discrete computer system to a shared block storage virtualization module residing on a shared computer system, and maintaining logical volume coherency locally by each of the plurality of discrete block storage virtualization modules, and globally by the shared block storage virtualization module. Additionally, allocation of a set of block storage virtualization functions to be performed by at least one of the plurality of discrete block storage virtualization modules or the shared block storage virtualization module can be made according to the pairing.

Abstract: Collaboration between discrete systems and a shared system to consolidate shared storage-related services. In one example, shared, consolidated storage-related services and high-availability are provided by pairing each of a plurality of discrete block storage virtualization modules residing on each discrete computer system to a shared block storage virtualization module residing on a shared computer system, and maintaining logical volume coherency locally by each of the plurality of discrete block storage virtualization modules, and globally by the shared block storage virtualization module. Additionally, allocation of a set of block storage virtualization functions to be performed by at least one of the plurality of discrete block storage virtualization modules or the shared block storage virtualization module can be made according to the pairing.