Abstract: A groove is provided a surface on a cavity portion side of a sole portion in a head portion of an iron golf club, and a thickness of a ball hitting portion in a face portion is made larger than a thickness of a top edge side portion of the face portion and at least as large as a thickness of a sole side portion of the face portion. In a golf club set according to the present invention, the groove has the greatest depth in a long iron golf club, while the groove has the smallest depth in a short iron golf club or no groove is provided in the short iron golf club.

Abstract: A golf club head (11) has an ellipsoid of inertia (12) with its center at a center of gravity G. When the ellipsoid of inertia (12) is virtually cut with a plane passing through the center of gravity of the golf club head (11) and being parallel to a face surface (11f), a major axis of a plane ellipse (13) appearing on its cut surface forms an angle of &thgr; with an intersecting line (15) of the cut surface and a ground surface (16). The major axis extends upward and away from the ground surface (16) as it approaches a toe part (11t). The angle &thgr; is not smaller than 0.5° and not larger than 9.5°. An aspect ratio a/b defined by a ratio of the length a of the major axis (13d) to the length b of a minor axis (13e) of the plane ellipse (13) is not smaller than 1 and not larger than 4.

Abstract: A form-fitting chest protector. In one embodiment, the chest protector includes a pair of detachably secured wing portions. A main portion of the chest protector has a variable thickness and substantially overlies the chest and abdomen of the athlete to absorb impacts to the athlete from a projectile. The wing portions are separate from the main portion, but are detachably secured to the chest protector to permit each wing portion to be adjustable when the chest protector is worn by the athlete. The wing portions facilitate a constant form-fit no matter how the body of the athlete flexes.

Abstract: The present invention is a phase loss protector for a three phase motor supplied by a three phase power source. A three phase motor has three main power legs, L1, L2 and L3, going in. Two of the three legs power the stepdown transformer that supplies a controller. The controller ensures power does not reach the three phase motor when L3 is not operating. If L3 loses power, a controller relay will not supply power to a power coil that supplies generally open contact points, shutting down power to the three phase motor. If L1 loses power, the transformer will not provide power for the controller to operate. If L2 loses power, the transformer will not provide power to the controller and the controller relay will not supply power to the power coil, again shutting down power to the three phase motor.

Abstract: A locking device for a butterfly type valve is provided with an actuating shaft extending through a bore provided in a conduit in which the valve is located; the inner end of the shaft carries a locking arm that is movable upon rotation of the shaft between a locking and unlocking position relative to the valve.

Abstract: A hitch assembly for a work machine, particularly suitable for use in a track-type tractor, is provided with a frame having a generally vertical pivot axis. A pair of draft arms are carried by the frame, with each draft arm being pivotable about a corresponding generally horizontal axis. A drawbar is carried by the frame and is pivotable about the pivot axis of the frame. The drawbar may be fixed or movable relative to the frame, and also pivots about the common pivot axis.

Abstract: A golf club has a shaft made of fiber reinforced plastics. The shaft has braided layers with substantially symmetrical diagonal yarns which are positioned at orientation angles +&thgr;, −&thgr; from more than 0° to +10° and from less than −0° to −10° respectively, and/or from 45° to less than +90° and from −45° to more than −90° respectively, against the longitudinal axis of the shaft at at least a portion along the longitudinal direction of the shaft. The Poisson's ratio &ngr; expressed by the ratio of lateral strain to longitudinal strain is 0.5 or less at least at the portion when load is applied to the shaft. The portion with the Poisson's ratio of 0.5 or less is preferably on the grip side, thus facilitating a swing of the club.

Abstract: A pressure support ventilatory assist device is disclosed. Pressure is provided by a blower which is operated at the minimum speed necessary to achieve the desired inspiration pressure. Pressure regulation is achieved by means of a novel pressure regulator valve, rather than by modulating blower speed, thereby reducing perceptible noise. The flow sensor is removed from its conventional location between the regulator valve and the patient mask to a location upstream of the regulator valve to minimize resistance to patient expiration and to isolate the valve from possible fluids in the tubing. Since the flow sensor in this location cannot sense expiration flows, the device includes circuitry for generating a model of the expiratory waveform based upon the inspiratory waveform. Actual pressure is then modulated to conform to the model waveform.

Abstract: A process is provided for recycling heterogeneous waste including the initial step of subjecting the heterogeneous waste to pyrolysis to produce a synthesis gas stream comprising at least carbon monoxide and hydrogen and a molten pyrolysis product stream having a variable composition comprising at least a mineral material and a metallic material. The molten pyrolysis product stream is converted to a plurality of commercial grade solid materials. Likewise, the synthesis gas stream is also converted into at least one commercial grade chemical.

Abstract: A trailer recovery vehicle is provided for transporting a trailer towed by a tractor. The trailer recovery vehicle includes a generally horizontal wheeled support platform for mounting underneath the trailer for supporting the trailer in a horizontal position and a wheel brace for engaging a wheel of the trailer to prevent lateral shifting when the trailer is carried by the carrier support platform. The trailer recovery vehicle also includes a pivotable connector for connecting the support platform to the tractor while the trailer is connected to the tractor via a fifth wheel connector, enabling the support platform and trailer to be transported simultaneously so that the trailer mounted to the tractor is supported above the road surface and transported by the trailer recovery vehicle when the tractor pulls the trailer recovery vehicle.

Abstract: A process for converting tropical materials into fibers useful in paper-making, textiles, insulation, general fiber filler and the absorption of liquids. The tropical materials utilized in the process include, banana, plantain or cavendish plant stalks, pineapple crowns, coconut, palm or palmetto fronds, or the pinzote of palm. The process includes the steps of: reducing the raw fibrous plant materials to separated fibers by cutting, shredding or grinding; washing the separated fibers in a mild alum solution to extract latex and natural resinous substances; pressing the fibers to remove a high percentage of excess water and residual latex and natural resinous substances with the consumption of a minimum amount of energy; and drying the fibers to less than 10% by weight water content.

Abstract: A three dimensional strategy game and method for its play are provided, wherein multiple game pieces are assembled into geometrical configurations without the limitations imposed by a pre-existing support structure and wherein the interior of the three dimensional geometrical configuration is easily viewable. The three dimensional strategy game includes an orientation game piece and two or more sets of game pieces which may be matingly interconnected to construct geometric configurations. In addition to the game pieces, a directional indicator may also provided for indicating the direction from which each game piece must also be added to the growing geometric configuration. Each game piece has a plurality of sides extending outward from a central area with each side carrying an interconnecting member for matingly receiving a portion of an interconnecting member for connection to other game pieces.