Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a treatment method of growth regulation for preventing wasteful growth of turf grass as well as growth-regulated turf grass. The invention relates to a treatment method for growth regulation of turf grass by introducing a rice-derived homeotic gene through a bacterium into a turf grass seed as well as to a growth-regulated turf grass produced by seeding and cultivating a turf grass seed obtained by this method.

Abstract: An airbag apparatus for vehicles, provided to protect a vehicle occupant by instantaneously inflating an airbag at the time of an accident such as a collision of a vehicle or automobile, and which is capable of securely holding and protecting the occupant and reducing injury to the occupant. The airbag apparatus includes an airbag which is inflated by being filled with gas, an airbag inflator for jetting gas and filling the airbag with the gas, and an acceleration sensor for detecting acceleration, the airbag apparatus being installed on the seat belt worn by the occupant. Since the direction of the gas jetted by the airbag inflator when the airbag is inflated is nearly parallel to an imaginary plane including a surface of a seat belt, the airbag apparatus does not strongly press the occupant, but securely holds the occupant whereby injury to the occupant can be minimized.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to provide an airbag apparatus for vehicles, which is provided to protect a vehicle occupant by instantaneously inflating an airbag at the time of an accident such as a collision of a vehicle or automobile, and is capable of securely holding and protecting the occupant and reducing injury to the occupant. The airbag apparatus of the invention comprises an airbag which is inflated by being filled with gas, airbag inflating means for jetting gas and filling the airbag with the gas, and an acceleration sensor for detecting acceleration, the airbag apparatus being installed on the seat belt worn by the occupant. Since the direction of the gas jetted by the airbag inflating means is nearly parallel to an imaginary plane including a surface of a seat belt, when the airbag is inflated, the airbag apparatus does not strongly press the occupant, and yet securely holds the occupant, whereby injury to the occupant can be minimized.

Abstract: A bobbin which is housed in a bobbin case holder is held, as it is elastically pressed by a peripheral wall of a bobbin case. Passing through a gap which is created between an outermost portion of a flange of the bobbin which is disposed on an open end side of the bobbin case holder and an inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall of the bobbin case and between the flange of the bobbin which is disposed on the open end side of the bobbin case holder and the inner surface of an end wall of the bobbin case, a bobbin thread which is wound around the bobbin is led outside through the bobbin thread leading hole which is formed in the end wall of the bobbin case.

Abstract: A golf club is provided in which a face 14 is formed so as to incline to become more distant from an axis L1 of a club shaft 11 as the face 14 extends from upper to lower, and an angle q1 formed by the axis L1 and the face 14, in an imaginary plane which is perpendicular to the face 14 and includes the axis L1 of the club shaft, is selected to be in a range from 0.3 to 45.0 degrees. With this constitution, the influence of the undulation of ground to a golf ball 90 is reduced which enabling the golf ball 90 to reach a target position.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for producing a sufficiently large pearl in a short time without requiring a skilled person. Genes of mantle cells of a shellfish for forming a pearl layer are incorporated into genes of monads or ultramicro organisms that generate a viscous secretion, by which pearl generating organisms are prepared. By these pearl generating organisms, pearl constituents are formed from calcium ions or magnesium ions in seawater and carbonate ions. By the viscous secretion, the pearl constituents are made to adhere to and stack onto the outer peripheral surface of a core composed of a synthetic resin, shell, ceramic, wood, or metal, so that a pearl layer is formed up.

Abstract: A pair of roller skates capable of skating while keeping the soles in nearly horizontal state even on a slope is presented. A base of a roller skate is provided with driving wheels driven by an internal-combustion engine, and driven wheels. On a sole plate, the foot is placed detachably, and a tilting mechanism is provided between the sole plate and the base. Ends of a first link and a second link are coupled to the front part of the sole plate and the base, respectively, while other ends are coupled to a first nut. Ends of a third link and a fourth link are coupled to the rear part of the sole plate and the base, respectively, while other ends are coupled to a second nut. A screw rod is inserted in the first and second nuts, and a link drive is provided in the middle of the screw rod. The link drive is coupled to the base, and rotates the screw rod about the axial line.

Abstract: A hook assembly includes a bearing rib on a bobbin case basket or at least a surface layer thereof composed of a synthetic resin, such as a liquid crystal polymer, which has properties such that the amount of the rotating friction generated between such surface layer and an inner surface layer of a groove shaped bearing raceway in which the bearing rib is fitted is lower, with no industrial sewing machine oil therebetween than such industrial sewing machine oil where to be provided therebetween. The hook assembly thus has good durability without any lubrication being provided. Accordingly, oil staining of threads and sewing materials by a lubricant is avoided, and sewing quality is enhanced.

Abstract: It is an object to provide a golf club comprising a head including a face having a loft angle of 70 to 90 degrees. Preferably, grooves are formed in the face of a head in the longitudinal direction of the face, and the back surface of the head has a slowly bulgy form or grooves are formed on the back surface of the head in the transverse direction of the back surface. Since the loft angle is 70 to 90 degrees, it is possible to loft up a ball almost directly overhead.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide an aircraft which is capable of being enhanced in speed and preventing a crash even when a propeller does not operate to provide thrust to the aircraft. A wing which is an envelope made of a flexible material is comprised on an upper side of a aircraft body, and is filled with a gas with a specific gravity less than that of air. Moreover, the aircraft body is provided with a propeller.

Abstract: A bobbin case holder body and a track projection portion are made of steel. A coating member of a liquid crystal polymer is integrally molded to the outer surface of the track projection portion so as to have a thickness t which is selected to be 0.3 to 0.5 mm. A part of the coating member is fitted into a groove formed in the track projection portion, thereby preventing the member from peeling off. In a loop spreading portion, the track projection portion made of steel is exposed from the coating member so that a so-called thread handing area is prevented from being formed. Therefore, wear resistance and durability are improved.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide an escape apparatus which enables persons to promptly escape from an elevated place such as a building and an aircraft, and is easy to handle. An aerial floating flier such as airfoil or a parachute is folded and contained in a case, and by throwing out such a case or an aerial floating flier in folded state into the air, the aerial floating flier is spread in the air, thereby allowing to escape from a site of an accident by hanging from the aerial floating flier and descend slowly on the ground.

Abstract: A transport vessel such as a tanker prevents crude oil from spilling in the event of accidents. One or plural storage bags or bladders made of flexible film-like material and having upper entrance and exit openings are installed in one or plural storage chambers of the transport vessel.

Abstract: The friction coefficient between a track projection of an inner bobbin case holder and a track groove of an outer loop taker is reduced so that the outer loop taker can be rotated a small torque. One portion of the inner bobbin case holder opposite to a needle location is made of a synthetic resin or a synthetic resin containing metal powder carbon fiber, glass grains, ceramic powder or the like.

Abstract: An alphanumeric character input device includes a character input panel located on a planar top surface of a flat housing. The character input panel includes a plurality of character input pads each having indicia thereon corresponding to alphanumeric characters. A plurality of switches are provided for activating in response to pressure applied to the character input pads. A contact pen having an elongated shape and a rounded end point is provided for contacting the character input pads. A display device and memory are provided for respectively displaying and storing alphanumeric characters inputted using the contact pen and the character inputs pads of the character panel. The flat housing further includes an aperture extending therein for accommodating the contact pin when the character input device is not in use.

Abstract: An axis of a needle is inclined with respect to an imaginary plane perpendicular to an axis of a lower shaft. The lowermost position of the needle where it comes closest to a loop taker is spaced from the loop taker in the axial direction thereof in proportion to the degree of inclination of the axis of the needle. As a result, the length of a bobbin accommodated in the loop taker can be extended along the axis thereof, thereby permitting the amount of thread loaded on the bobbin to be increased. The amount of thread drawn by a needle thread take-up may remain the same and need not be changed.

Abstract: A front section of a hook point member, relative to a rotating direction, of a rotating hook assembly is replaceable. The member can be replaced with a new one when a hook point is worn. Also, the replaceable member is made of a material of high hardness, such that burr-like edges will not be formed, thereby making it possible to obtain good sewing performance for a long period of time. The hook point and a claw may be formed integrally and can be replaced when the hook point and/or the claw is worn.

Abstract: A bobbin holding member magnetically adheres within a bobbin case holder which houses a bobbin. The bobbin is securely retained in the bobbin case holder without allowing the bobbin to be removed therefrom during a sewing operation. The bobbin holding member is installed in the bobbin case holder freely detachably, and thus the bobbin easily can be replaced.

Abstract: A fully rotating hook includes an inner bobbin case, an outer loop taker mounted about the bobbin case, the loop taker having a track groove formed therein, a rotating member for rotating the loop taker such that relative rotation occurs between the loop taker and the bobbin case, and a stopper member for preventing rotation of the bobbin case with the loop taker while the loop taker is rotating. The track groove of the loop taker is formed by at least one wall therein which is coated with a layer of synthetic resin material having a small coefficient of friction to reduce friction between a track projection member on the bobbin case and the track groove of the loop taker.

Abstract: A floating raceway includes a raceway portion formed of a tough and flexible film material to define a space for accommodating water, and a floating bank portion surrounding the raceway portion for imparting buoyancy to the raceway portion and shutting off the interior of the raceway portion from the exterior. Therefore, the raceway stays afloat on the water surface to allow water in the raceway portion to be transported. The raceway portion can be set afloat on the water by way of the floating bank portion. Therefore, it can be advantageously employed to transport water. By a similar arrangement it is possible to provide a floating water storage tank so that a large amount of water can be made available at sea.