Abstract: An infant footwear leash for preventing the loss of footwear worn by infants is provided. The leash includes a string and a slidable element through which the ends of the strings are completely inserted to define a loop that rests around the infant's ankle, while the leash is in use. In an open position, the slidable element allows adjustment of the size of the loop as necessary. In a closed position, the slidable element prevents adjustment of the size of the loop to prevent the loop from enlarging and causing the leash to fall off the infant's foot. A clip is attached to one end of the string. The clip is clipped onto the infant footwear. Thus, if the footwear falls off the infant's foot, it is held by the clip and is kept dangling from the leash.

Abstract: An in-line roller skate including a soft, pliable, and comfortable shoe body having structural foot support components positioned in selected strategic areas such as the ball, heel and ankle areas. The shoe body may be made of a material that allows air circulation for coolness. In one embodiment, the structural components are made of semi-rigid plastic which may be heat moldable to conform to the user's foot. The sole of the shoe may also include heat moldable materials so that it can be anatomically formed to the user's foot. The shoe is mounted on a frame that supports a plurality of in-line roller wheels and includes structure for easily removing and replacing the wheels. The shoe-frame connection may be laterally and longitudinally adjustable. A speed control or brake, which applies a frictional force downwardly onto some or all of the in-line roller wheels, is mounted on the frame. Canting adjustment is provided to allow the ankle support to be canted laterally or longitudinally.

Abstract: A first embodiment of a flexing base skate (10) includes an upper shoe portion (12) mounted on a base (14). The base includes a forefoot region (20) secured to a forward frame segment (26) carrying forward wheels (18a, 18b). A heel region (24) of the base is secured to a rearward frame segment (28) that carries rearward wheels (18c, 18d). The base defines and flexes at a reduced thickness metatarsal head portion (22), with the skater's heel and the rearward frame segment elevating freely relative to the forward frame segment. A spring (72) incorporated into the base biases the skate to the unflexed configuration. The forward frame section overlaps the rearward frame section for lateral stability. An alternate embodiment provides a rigid full length frame (112) and a flexible base (104) mounted only at the forefoot region (106) to the frame. The base (104) flexes at a metatarsal head portion (108), and is constructed to form an integral spring biasing the base against the frame.

Abstract: A port closure is a combination which includes a tank, a closure member and an actuator. The tank has defining walls, an exterior surface, an interior surface, an interior cavity and an access port. The closure member is disposed within the interior cavity of the tank. The closure member has an access port engaging face that is larger than a cross-sectional area of the access port. The actuator is coupled with the closure member and moves the closure member between a first position in which the access port engaging face closes the access port and a second position laterally spaced from the access port.