Abstract: A clamp for use with a wearable jewelry item including a support surface to which is pivotally secured a pin. A clasp portion extends from a further location of the support surface and receives the pin in an engaged position. The clamp includes a body exhibiting a specified three-dimensional shape, inwardly facing surfaces associated with the body defining an inner recess substantially corresponding in configuration with the clasp portion. The body is adapted to being manipulated to seat the clasp portion within the inner recess and to bias the clasp portion in a manner to prevent disengagement of the clasp portion from the pin, without first removing said body.

Abstract: A convenient lacing system including a drawing mechanism, pulleys or some other form of low friction lace paths, an attachment point, and a lace. The lace terminates at the attachment point, and follows a path around the outside hemispheres of the pulleys (or through the lace paths), criss-crossing between the two rows of pulleys without the lace overlapping. The pulleys are aligned generally in two rows on either side of an area to be drawn together. A drawing mechanism is attached at the non-terminating end of the path of the lace, and through use of a pull-cord draws in the lace and tightens the item to which the system is attached by drawing the pulleys (lace paths) closer together. The use of pulleys allows the system to distribute tension evenly along the path of the lace, and aids in the convenience of tightening.

Abstract: A device for the hydrodynamic treatment of a fabric, or also a knitted fabric, of a certain width, with a jet bar and a jet strip arranged in it with a multitude of orifices arranged closely adjacent to each other for the formation of a water curtain during the passage of hard water jets that are directed at the threads and their crossing points of the fabric, or such, is already known. According to the invention it is now provided that for the shifting, spreading, evening out, and, if necessary, also for the splitting of the fibers of the threads, the jet bar is aligned at an even distance across its length, but laterally to the longitudinal direction of the product web, and across its entire effective width, and that additionally all jet orifices of the jet strip are directed not perpendicularly, but at an angle lateral to, and therefore the water jets also being lateral to, the product web.

Abstract: The present invention relates to equipment/apparatus, and the relative method/process, for the treatment of synthetic filaments, in particular for drawing said filaments, comprising at least two nozzles each provided with a main passage, through which said yarns pass, having a section variable between an inlet portion and an outlet portion and into which at least one supply channel opens to supply a fluid according to a preferential direction. Advantageously, the nozzles are provided in line and the sections of the main passage of the second nozzle have an area at least 3% larger than the corresponding sections of the main passage of the first nozzle.

Abstract: An improved fastener removal apparatus is configured to remove a swaged fastener of the type having an elongated threaded pin and a collar, with the collar being swaged to the pin. The fastener removal apparatus includes a nose assembly that can be mounted to an actuator of the type having a base and a translatable piston. The nose assembly includes a threaded thimble and a cutting anvil that are translatable with respect to one another. The threaded thimble is threadably connectable with the pin. The cutting anvil includes a number blades that cuttingly engage the swaged collar when the thimble is connected with the pin and translated with respect to the cuffing anvil.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for fastening a tool (22) within a tool chuck (20). An actual position of the tool (22), especially in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the tool (22), is determined by taking a measurement, whereupon the tool (22) is inserted into the tool chuck (20) and is placed therein based on the determined actual position and is shrunk. The actual position of the tool (22) within the tool chuck (20) is determined following the shrinking process.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for mating a base deck to an assembly nest are disclosed. The method incorporates use of an alignment post supported by a visco-elastic damping material and a cam controlled mechanical finger, each precluding exposure of excessive mechanical shock impacting a base deck during alignment and positioning of the base deck within an assembly nest. The method further incorporates use of a lift deck supported by a gimbal bearing mechanism. The gimbal bearing mechanism provides attitude compliance adjustment between a base deck datum surface, and a corresponding assembly nest datum surface. Attitude compliance adjustment is promoted by a gimbaling of the lift deck about a centralized spherical bearing of the gimbal bearing mechanism, which occurs subsequent to the alignment and positioning of the base deck in respective said first and second directions and during engagement of the base deck with the assembly nest.

Abstract: A conduit modifier may be used to corrugate at least a portion of a conduit. The conduit modifier may include at least a first plurality of rollers arranged in a first pattern around a passageway. The first plurality of rollers may form ridges and grooves lengthwise along a conduit passing through the passageway. A second plurality of rollers arranged in a second pattern around the passageway may compress ridges formed by the first set of rollers. The ridges may be formed such that a distance from a central axis of the conduit to a highest portion of an outer surface of a ridge is substantially equal to a distance from the central axis of the conduit to an outer surface of the un-corrugated portion of the conduit. The corrugated portion of the modified conduit may be expandable.

Abstract: Additions of small but effective amounts of one or more of bismuth, indium, lead and/or tin to an aluminum casting alloy markedly improved the dry machinability of a casting made from the modified alloy. The added elements, which are softer and lower melting than the matrix alloy form as small globules in the microstructure of the aluminum casting. These globules do not adversely affect the strength or hardness of the casting but enable surfaces of the casting to be machined without the use of a cooling and lubricating machining fluid.

Abstract: A method of sealing a generator stator bar and a stator bar end fitting receiving the end including the steps of: brazing the fitting to the end of the stator bar with a braze material; applying a metallic barrier coating material to the end of the stator bar in the fitting; heating the fitting at a temperature at least as hot as a liquidus temperature of the metallic coating material and cooler than a solidus temperature of the braze material; coating the end of the stator bar in the fitting with liquid metallic barrier coating material, and solidifying the liquefied metallic coating material to form a metallic barrier coating on the end of the stator bar in the fitting.

Abstract: Magnetic tunnel junctions and method for making the magnetic tunnel junctions are provided. The magnetic tunnel junctions are characterized by a tunnel barrier oxide layer sandwiched between two ferromagnetic layers. The methods used to fabricate the magnetic tunnel junctions are capable of completely and selectively oxidizing a tunnel junction precursor material using an oxidizing gas containing a mixture of gases to provide a tunnel junction oxide without oxidizing the adjacent ferromagnetic materials. In some embodiments the gas mixture is a mixture of CO and CO2 or a mixture of H2 and H2O.

Abstract: An electrically powered device includes a shell, and a battery integrated with the shell. The electrically powered device also includes a trace, and a site adapted to receive an electrically powered component, wherein the battery, the trace and the electrically powered component form a portion of a circuit. The electrically shell may be a portion of an enclosure. The battery is formed within the shell and may be comprised of one or a plurality of deposited layers.

Abstract: The invention is directed to performing electronic component mounting operations by the suction nozzles of the mounting heads in each of the plurality of the rotary tables independently, moving each of the positioning tables for positioning a printed board in a component mounting position independently, and performing the electronic component mounting operation on the plurality of the printed boards independently. A component feeding device moves a plurality of component feeding tables having a plurality of component feeding units in an arraying direction thereof respectively and independently. Mounting heads having a plurality of suction nozzles for picking up electronic components from the component feeding devices respectively are provided at predetermined intervals corresponding to intermittent pitches on an outer circumference of two rotary tables intermittently rotating.

Abstract: A connector axial compression tool having a lever end and a cable end, with a body slidably supporting a cradle in a cavity formed in the body. The cradle is slidable via a handle which pivots about the body, linked to the cradle by a lever mechanism. The cradle has a shoulder clamp adapted to mate with a connector body. Operation of the handle moves the cradle towards and away from a cable end of the cavity, against a cable clamp through which the cable may pass but against which a cable clamp sleeve of the connector abuts, axially compressing the connector to couple it to the cable. Because the shoulder clamp holds the connector body rather than pressing against the connector interface, a wide range of different connectors may be used with the same tool, without causing damage to the connector interface of the various connectors.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of aligning rocker arms (401 and 403) with push rods (611) during the assembly of an internal combustion engine utilizes an installation tool (100). The tool (100) includes a plurality of alignment members (101) that engage and constrain the rocker arms (401 and 403) to facilitate installation of the rocker arms (401 and 403) in alignment with the push rods (611) during engine assembly.

Abstract: A seal and method of making seals utilises folds in order to form creases in a length of material such that the creases reinforce individual seal elements or surfaces whilst perforations or slots in a seal edge allow air leakage from one side of the seal element or surface to the other. Thus, air pressurisation can take place between spaced seal elements or surfaces and this allows air flotation or riding of a rotating component relative to a static housing component. The perforations are typically graduated from the seal edge in order to provide the best pressurisation and air-riding effect for proximity or gap control between the sealing edge and the rotating component surface. The slots effectively provide flexibility to the sealing edge such that the seal component emulates a brush seal.

Abstract: A method for repairing a damaged portion of a combustor inner liner assembly. The method includes removing the combustor from a gas turbine engine. After inspecting the combustor to determine whether cracks exists in portions of the inner liner assembly, the method includes removing a cracked inner liner assembly from the combustor. Then the portion of the inner liner assembly, comprising a multi-hole panel region, an aft lip region, an aft seal flange region and an aft panel support leg are separated from the inner liner assembly. The multi-hole panel region and aft lip, where fatigue damage typically exists, along with the aft seal flange region, are discarded and a new aft lip region/aft seal flange region and multi-hole panel region are provided. The new parts are joined to the aft panel support leg and the inner liner assembly aft of forward bolt flange region after these parts are refurbished. The inner liner assembly is then reattached to the combustor and reassembled into the engine.

Abstract: An impeller for a fluid transmitting device includes a hub and a bowl-shaped shell connected to an outer peripheral portion of the hub via an annular weld seam. An inner peripheral surface of the shell is fitted to an outer peripheral surface of the hub, and the weld seam is formed therebetween by laser welding over an entire length of fitting depth. Thus, it is possible to form the annular weld seam between the hub and the shell with a relatively small amount of heat input, and to precisely perform a visual inspection as to whether the weld seam is good or not without any skill.

Abstract: Titanium aluminide (TiAl) rotor shaft assembly (10) of a type used in a turbocharger has a TiAl rotor (20) with an axially protruded portion (40) that is fixedly joined to a recessed portion (50) of a metal shaft (30) by the synergistic combination of an interference fit, such as a heat shrinkage fit, further supported by a brazed joint (60) in which a thin layer of a brazing material (110) is interposed between the surface of the protruded portion (120) and the recessed surface (130). Optionally, one or both of the jointed surfaces have braze channels (90) to facilitate braze flow within the joint. Methods for producing the rotor shaft assembly (10) and a turbocharger having the rotor shaft assembly (10) are provided.

Abstract: A ducted fan gas turbine engine aerofoil is made by electron beam welding together at least two metal sheets (10) and (12) and electron beam welding that sub assembly via an end to a root that has been manufactured in a separate operation, and then heating the whole to a temperature that will convert the electron beam welds to diffusion bonds.

Abstract: A method for producing an ink-jet head includes forming a buffer layer on an upper surface of a vibration plate, and forming a piezoelectric precursor layer on an entire upper surface of a surface layer, the piezoelectric precursor layer being converted into a piezoelectric sheet. The buffer layer is formed of a material with which mutual diffusion between the piezoelectric precursor layer and the buffer layer is hardly caused as compared with mutual diffusion between the piezoelectric precursor layer and the vibration plate with which no buffer layer is provided. A stack, in which the buffer layer and the piezoelectric precursor layer are formed, is heated at a predetermined temperature, and the piezoelectric precursor layer is calcinated to form the piezoelectric sheet. It is possible to suppress the deterioration of the performance of the piezoelectric member.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for forming a valve assembly for a rack and pinion steering apparatus. A pinion having a bore formed therein, a torsion bar having an outer diameter, a valve sleeve, and an input shaft are provided. The input shaft has a bore and an elongated cavity formed therein. The input shaft has an outer diameter less than an inner diameter of the valve sleeve. The torsion bar is forced into the bore of the pinion to friction weld the torsion bar to the pinion. The valve sleeve is positioned over the torsion bar and pinion, and secured with the pinion. The torsion bar is positioned within the bore of the input shaft such that a first end of the torsion bar is positioned coaxially within the elongated cavity of the input shaft. A locking material is inserted into the elongated cavity to lock the torsion bar and the input shaft together.

Abstract: A forming method of a tooth trace of a gear according to the present invention includes: a first step of preparing a preformed gear made of metal including a cylindrical main body and a tooth part having a flat tooth flank having a uniform thickness in a tooth trace direction inside of the main body; and a second step of conducting a surface treatment locally to an outside surface of the main body in order to deform the outside surface of the main body in such a manner that the same becomes concave, so that a crowning bulging in the tooth trace direction is formed on the tooth flank of the tooth part.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved method for producing a metallic core for use in the production of a blanket cylinder or an image cylinder sleeve for use in electrophotographic processes. The sleeves includes aluminum or other suitable metal, which is rendered more suitable for use as a sleeve surface by oxidation.

Abstract: A reciprocatory dry shaver capable of driving an inner cutter smoothly along an arcuately curved outer cutter for efficient shaving. The dry shaver includes a shaving head carrying an outer cutter which is arcuately curved along its length, and an inner cutter driven to reciprocate along the length of the outer cutter. An actuator is mounted in the shaving head for driving the inner cutter. The actuator includes an oscillator which reciprocates in the lengthwise direction of the outer cutter and carries a joint for driving connection to the inner cutter. Also included in the actuator is a resilient coupling link which supports the oscillator to the shaving head in order to allow the oscillator to reciprocate relative to the shaving head. The resilient coupling link has its one end coupled to the oscillator and the other end anchored to the shaving head at a portion away from the inner cutter than the oscillator.

Abstract: A dry shaver includes a hand grip and a shaving head supported to the grip. The shaving head carries a foil cutter unit composed of an outer foil and an inner cutter driven to move relative to the outer foil in hair shearing engagement therewith. The outer foil is elongated to have a length and a width, and is arcuately curved along its length. The shaving head is movably supported to the grip so as to be tiltable about a transverse axis parallel to the width of the outer foil. Thus, when the shaving head is pressed against the skin as being inclined, the shaving head is allowed to tilt in a direction of reducing a contact pressure which would otherwise be greater at one longitudinal end than at the other longitudinal end. Therefore, the shaving head can be free from undue dragging at either of the longitudinal ends of the outer foil to be thereby guided smoothly across the skin surface for efficient and comfortable shaving.

Abstract: A knife assembly has a knife having a blade, a handle at an end of the blade and a lock portion on the handle. A rigid sheath has an elongated bottom wall and two upright sidewalls, between which is a slot o receive the blade of the knife. Two lock devices are provided in a recess of the sheath for movement between a lock position, in which rods of the lock devices are engaged with the lock portion of the knife to secure the knife, and an unlock position, in which the rod of the lock devices are disengaged with the lock portion of the knife. An ejector is provided on the sheath to eject the handle of the knife out while the lock devices release the knife.

Abstract: The pair of cutting blades are pin joined to each other at their terminal webs which are joined to bow handles. A ball bearing is mounted to the pivot pin by way of an antifriction spacer for providing a permanent spacing between the terminal webs in order to prevent the same from abrasion and consequent uneven wear. A clamp is coupled at one end to the pivot pin projecting from one of the terminal webs, and anchored at another end to the other terminal web, in order to bear the component of cutting resistance which tends to spread the pair of blades in opposite directions away from their parallel planes of motion.

Abstract: In accordance with this invention, an underside or lower scissors handle, which is conventionally attached to the upper blade of a pair of scissors, is provided with a separate, appropriately sized, additional hole or loop-like band for receiving the index finger of the user. This additional index finger hole is located forward of the main lower finger opening. This unique placement of a separate index finger hole, which is a primary feature of this invention, isolates the index finger against the shaft of the scissors and closer to the pivot point of the blades, and allows the index finger to guide advancing motion of the scissor blades to the right or left as needed to follow a desired path or pattern, for example forming or following a curve. A separate third hole for placement of the index finger makes these scissors unique.

Abstract: A knife with an adjustable blade guide includes a groove extending from a left end of the handle to a right end of the handle (in a view from which the handle rests on a surface), an extension from the blade guide insertable into the groove of the handle from both the left and right ends, such that the blade guide's position within the groove may be adjusted to determine the spacing between the guide and the blade and thereby the thickness of the slices obtained.

Abstract: A magnetic attractable spoon comprises a tie ring having a hole; a spoon combined to the hole of the tie ring; and at least one magnet installed to the tie ring for attracting metal objects. The tie ring is elastic. The tie ring has at least one embedding groove for embedding the magnet. The magnet is enclosed within the tie ring. A plurality of magnets are annularly arranged along an edge of the tie ring. The tie ring is combined to an annular body of the tie ring and the tie ring has an annular attracting surface. The hole of the tie ring is not a penetrating hole. The tie ring has a plane attracting surface or a cambered attracting surface.

Abstract: An inner cutter of the present invention is fabricated through the steps of: (a) preparing a metal sheet which is elongated to have a length and a width; (b) forming a plurality of slits in the metal sheet to form a plurality of crossbars separated by the slits along the length of the metal sheet; (c) processing the metal sheet to form sharp edges on opposite sides of each of the crossbars; (d) bending the metal sheet arcuately to form a blade which is curved arcuately along both the length and the width; (e) assembling the blade and a base into the inner cutter.

Abstract: The invention concerns an appliance indicating the inclination of a device along two spatial directions said appliance being designed to be associated with the device, and comprising a housing wherein are arranged: a first instantaneous inclination sensor for measuring a first inclination value, a second instantaneous inclination sensor for measuring a second inclination value, an electronic processing unit. The invention is characterized in that said electronic processing unit is designed to store set point values, and to compare them respectively with the measured inclination values, and to compute calculated inclination values which correspond to values of the difference between the measured inclination values and the set point values, said inclination sensors comprising semiconductor electronic accelerometer type sensors. The invention applicable to an inclination indicator.

Abstract: To obtain an accurate survey value even if a centering operation is simplified without using a specific target. When a survey point S is displayed on the screen of a display 20 as an image picked up by a CCD camera 38 in a process to perform an operation for placing a surveying instrument 10 directly above the survey point S, a centering operation is ended, and the survey point S is specified as a true centering point. Accordingly, coordinates (Xs, Ys) of the survey point S in which the instrument center point 0 is defined as an origin are calculated as a decentering amount (i.e., dislocation) of the survey point S with respect to an instrument center point 0.

Abstract: A measuring and leveling tool has a distance encoder which is movable along a surface. The tool determines a distance traveled by the measuring device. The distance traveled is displayed in a digital display. The tool includes a laser leveling device which may be self-leveling or may be leveled manually to provide a projected line.

Abstract: In a compass sensor unit, an azimuth data computing method is carried out by the steps of: inputting a signal from a geomagnetic sensor to measure magnetic field; determining whether to store measurement data of the magnetic field based on a distance from the last stored measurement data; calculating an offset value based on the stored data; making a comparison for each component of a plurality of measurement data used for calculating the offset value, and judging the offset value to be valid when a difference between the maximum and minimum values of each component is a given value or more; updating the already stored offset value to the offset value judged to be valid; and correcting newly provided measurement data by the updated offset value to compute azimuth data.

Abstract: A leveling tool having: a body, including a first face and an opposite second face, the first and second faces defining a thickness between them, the body defining a first side surface, a second side surface opposite said first side surface, a first end surface, and a second end surface substantially opposite said first end surface; at least one level indicator disposed within the thickness; and a clip removably attachable to each of the first and second faces.

Abstract: An apparatus used for notifying a user of a patient's upper body physical orientation. The apparatus uses an inclinometer that is attached in the region of the patient's upper body to measure the physical orientation of the patient's upper body, which is then transmitted to a display. In one embodiment, the display can be set to display a plurality of alarm conditions. In other embodiments the patient upper body orientation information is transmitted to a processor and then to the nurses' station or to a ventilator. The invention also relates to a method for measuring the physical orientation of a patient, using such an apparatus.

Abstract: A string line box tool comprising a chalk line box and a line block integral therewith used for guiding a string line rearward from the chalk line box through a groove in the line block in order to provide a free holding string line for carpentry or construction work. To effect this condition the hook shaped protrusion of the line block will hook onto one end of a work project while the L-shaped metal tab on the free end of the string line will hook onto the opposite end of the work project, the string line being under tension during this condition.

Abstract: What is described is a structural part comprising a mounting surface (M) for mounting the mounting surface to an attachment surface, wherein means for adhesive-bonding the mounting surface (M) with the attachment surface are provided, in order to glue the structural part to the attachment surface, and wherein spacers are provided on the mounting surface (M), said spacers causing a predetermined gap (S) between the mounting surface (M) and the attachment surface when attaching the structural part to the attachment surface and being removable and/or deformable by pressing the structural part onto the attachment surface.

Abstract: A combined stud finder and tape measure device includes a housing having any traditional stud finder circuitry integrally disposed therein along with a tape measure having a tape strip wound on a spindle. The tape measure is oriented so that the width of the tape strip lies parallel to the surface being scanned for studs or other obstacles. This orientation accommodates a wide viewing angle of the scale markings on the tape strip, making it easier to use the stud finder and the tape measure at the same time. Additionally, the tape measure can be re-oriented over at least 180 degrees so that the tape strip can be directed to either side of or from the bottom of the combined stud finder and tape measure device. Detents may be located at, for example, 90 degree intervals to provide a manner of locking the tape measure at predetermined angles with respect to the housing.

Abstract: A length measuring instrument capable of measuring, displaying and recording the length around a part being measured by applying a measuring belt tightly to that part and operating the instrument by single hand. A rotary shaft disposed in a housing is provided with a spiral spring, the measuring belt, and an optical modulating section having a part for regulating the quantity of transmitted light. The belt is drawn out and applied tightly to the circumference of the part being measured. The rotary shaft is rotated forward when the belt is drawn out and rotated reversely by the recovering force of the spring to pull in the belt automatically thus, stretching and tensioning the belt. The light is converted into an optical modulation signal L depending on the rotation of optical modulating section and that signal is converted temporarily into a photoelectric conversion signal before being converted into an electric signal.

Abstract: A dryer is used for drying a web of material. The dryer includes a passage duct for the material web. Drying takes place within this passage duct which includes at least one straight section. The dryer is disposed on a printing group which includes vertical web guidance. The passage duct straight section is essentially horizontal and receives the web of material delivered to it by the printing group. The passage duct is comprised of at least two sections through which the web of material travels in opposite directions.

Abstract: A universal access port includes a specific size opening that is formed through a wall of a conditioning enclosure and located at a specific distance from a floor or mounting surface. The opening is preferably rectangular in shape, but other shapes may also be used. When not in use, the universal access port is covered with a sealing panel. Insertable devices may be efficiently inserted and removed from the universal access port. A perimeter of the insertable device is sized to be sealable inserted into the universal access port. Each insertable device preferably seals with an exterior and interior wall of the conditioning enclosure. Some insertable devices include fixturing devices, windows, manual manipulation devices, junction devices, hinged access doors, wire access devices, temperature modifying devices or air circulation devices.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning, rinsing and drying a reticle used in semiconductor device manufacturing, tilts the reticle during the drying process to prevent water from the rinsing process from collecting and remaining on the reticle. The rectangularly shaped reticle is held in a carrier and the top and bottom edges of the reticle may form an angle of at least about 8° with the horizontal to maximize drying efficiency, when the carrier is placed on a horizontal surface or suspended from above.

Abstract: A body dryer which comprises a housing in which a fan assembly is supported at a lower end of the housing. The housing also contains an elongated heating element which extends substantially parallel to an outlet aperture which is in the form of a long slot extending substantially from one end of the dryer to the other end. Hot air is drawn into the housing by a fan assembly through an inlet, over a heating element and forced out of the slot in the form of a thin blade of air surrounded by a buttress of colder air from outside the heater which envelopes around the user's body. The heating element comprises a pair of heating coils supported in a frame and the fan assembly has an inner housing supported within an outer housing and wings for converting a vortex type air flow created by the fan unit into a laminar air flow for flow over the heating element and out of the apertures.

Abstract: A through-air device includes a permeable roll having a hollow interior and mounted for rotation about a longitudinal axis. At least one divider is located in the hollow interior so as to define a plurality of roll channels within the roll, the roll channels being positioned side-by-side along the longitudinal axis. A first housing bounds a first portion of the roll, and a second housing bounds a second portion of the roll. At least one partition is located in the second housing so as to define a plurality of housing channels within the second housing. Each one of the housing channels is aligned with a corresponding one of the roll channels. The device further includes structure for individually controlling airflow through each pair of corresponding roll channels and housing channels.

Abstract: The present invention provides a drum type washer with dry function, by which a product cost is lowered and by which compatibility of a blower cover is enhanced. The present invention includes a first duct housing provided to a tub included in the drum type washer, a second duct housing provided to an upper side of the first duct housing, a blower cover provided to the upper side of the first duct housing adjacent to the second duct housing, the blower cover being formed of a synthetic resin based injection material, a heater provided between the first and second duct housings, a motor provided to the blower cover, and a blower provided under the blower being rotatably connected to the motor.

Abstract: A sole component for footwear combining the desirable response characteristics of a fluid filled chamber and an elastomeric material is disclosed. The chamber can be formed as a single bladder chamber in contact with an elastomeric midsole or as a single chamber by a sealing a void in elastomeric material. Alternately, an insert having the shape of the bladder, and potentially formed from foam, may be positioned within the chamber. The interface between the chamber and elastomeric material is sloped and gradual so that the shape of the chamber and its placement in a midsole determine the combination of response characteristics in the sole component. The chamber has a relatively simple shape with one axis of symmetry with a rounded portion and a narrow portion.

Abstract: An insole includes a heel collar formed by a relatively hard bottom member and a softer top member, the heel collar underlying the heel and arch region and having a channel in its upper surface. A forefoot pad has a forward portion that underlies the forefoot and a rear portion that fits in the channel of the heel collar and is adhered therein. Relatively softer foam pads are disposed within recesses in the lower surface of the forefoot pad in the forefoot and heel strike areas. A footwear system can include the insole in combination with a knit sock having thick padded ball and heel portions and a thinner arch portion, and the insole has an upper surface contoured to abuttingly mate with the sock. The footwear system can also include a shoe in combination with the insole, where the shoe functions to enhance the benefits of the insole.