Abstract: A method for treating certain patients with walking impediments, such as stroke patents, are trained to walk more effectively by providing audio signals to them to reinforce them when they are walking properly, or to warn them to take remedial action when they are walking improperly. Sensors in an insert or shoe sense distribution of weight and foot strikes against a ground surface while walking, and an IMU senses foot movement. Outputs from these devices are analyzed by a processing system to detect when the patient is walking with an impediment, such as one that may cause stumbling and/or falling, and an audio warning is provided so the patient can train himself/herself to walk more properly. Such a device may also be used by a clinician to analyze foot problems in a rehabilitation setting, and devise a treatment protocol for the patient outside a rehabilitation setting.

Abstract: A method for safety and/or training with an elongated item of sporting equipment has an electronic sports device affixed a gripping end of the sports device such that the sports device and the gripping end move together. The sports device emits first audible signal upon a first rotation of the sports device in a first rotational direction about a longitudinal axis of the equipment and the sports device emits a second audible signal upon a rotation of the sports device in a second, opposite, rotational direction about the longitudinal axis. This informs a user that the equipment is being undesirably rotated during a swinging motion of the equipment through an arc appropriate to the sport associated with the equipment. The user can adjust the next swing in response to hearing such signals. The sports device may also emit a motion signal to warn others that the equipment is in motion.

Abstract: A training or safety aid for a baseball bat is disclosed. The device is configured to be placed on a bat, and indicators, which may be sound producing devices, produce a noise in accordance with selected qualities of the swing. In some embodiments, a flute-type opening is used, and may be configured with tubes to determine a pitch of a produced tone. An air scoop or funnel may be used with any of the devices that utilize airflow to produce a tone. Where more than one sound producing device is used, the devices are configured to only produce a sound within a narrow angular range of airflow, and are angularly spaced so as to produce sounds during different portions of a bat swing.

Abstract: A baseball bat includes a body portion having a target area with a midline extending longitudinally through the target area center and along the bat's entire length to a handle portion having a pair of substantially planar regions spaced from each other and inclined toward the midline by a convergence angle of between about 50° and 70°. The planar regions are separated by curved surface regions joining the planar regions to each other and sloping regions at each longitudinal end of the planar regions. The bat provides enhanced tactile information concerning the dynamic characteristics of the bat during the swing up to and through contact with a pitched ball so that the batter can learn substantially improved location and trajectory control.

Abstract: A process for producing electromagnetic silicon steel having a cube-on-edge orientation. The process includes the steps of: preparing a melt of silicon steel containing from 0.02 to 0.06% carbon, from 0.015 to 0.15% manganese, from 0.005 to 0.05% of material from the group consisting of sulfur and selenium, from 0.0006 to 0.0080% boron, up to 0.0100% nitrogen, up to 1.0% copper, less than 0.005% antimony, less than 0.009% aluminum and from 2.5 to 4.0% silicon; casting; hot rolling; cold rolling; decarburizing; applying a refractory oxide base coating; and final texture annealing. During final texture annealing the steel is heated from a temperature of 1700.degree. F. to a temperature of 1900.degree. F. at an average rate of less than 30.degree. F. per hour, and subsequently maintained at a temperature in excess of 2000.degree. F. for a period of time sufficient to effect a purification of the steel.