Abstract: The present invention is embodied in a polyurethane composition suitable for coating, casting or laminating, which incorporates a prescribed additive selected to increase the composition's electrical conductivity without adversely affecting the composition's transparency and percent haze and without adversely affecting its adhesion to an underlying substrate or its environmental durability, especially with regard to humidity resistance. The prescribed additive is an ionizable metal salt of a perfluoroalkylsulfonimide, in a weight percent of 0.5 to 5.0, with the metal being an alkali metal and the preferred perfluoroalkylsulfonimide being trifluoromethanesulfonimide. The most preferred salt is lithium trifluoromethanesulfonimide. The preferred polyurethanes include both aliphatic polyetherurethanes and aliphatic polyesterurethanes.

Abstract: An improved golf club head is disclosed, in which a desired weight for the head is precisely controlled by installing into a cavity formed in the rear wall of the club head's hollow main body a selected weight cartridge from a group of such cartridges having identical sizes but a range of weights. The selected weight cartridge is installed simply by sliding it into the rear wall cavity, where it is retained by a snap fit, and/or by an interference fit, and/or by a suitable bonding material, without the need for a screw attachment. This greatly simplifies the golf club head's manufacture, thus reducing its cost. The invention is applicable to golf club heads of all kinds, including metal woods, irons and putters.

Abstract: A skateboard having one or more truck assemblies configured to eliminate undesired ride characteristics such as hanger-jiggle and wheel bite, without sacrificing the skateboard's steering responsiveness. Each truck assembly includes an axle assembly with a ring-shaped hanger that is confined on a kingpin using a pair of bushings, at least one of which includes an annular flange that projects into an annular gap defined between the hanger and the kingpin. This prevents the hanger from moving laterally relative to the kingpin and thereby eliminates undesired ride characteristics such as hanger-jiggle and wheel bite. In a separate feature of the invention, the skateboard truck assembly further incorporates a low-friction slider plate that enhances the rider's performance of certain maneuvers and at the same time protects other components of the truck assembly from undue wear.

Abstract: A stackable container formed from a single-piece blank pre-cut and pre-scored with an improved design directed at providing material cost savings while achieving stacking stability and related benefits. The container includes a base with two sets of opposing walls. Each wall of the first set incorporates a first panel and a second panel. The first panel is foldably attached at a lower edge to the base and is hinged at an upper edge to the second panel, wherein the upper edge also defines a shoulder. Each wall of the first set further incorporates at least one stacking tab that extends beyond the shoulder. The stacking tabs are two-ply and have a tab base and a sequencing panel. The tab base extend from the first panel and is foldably attached to the sequencing panel, wherein the tab base and the sequencing panel are formed from material cut from the second panel, thereby providing the benefits of two-ply stacking tabs and two-ply walls without expanding size requirements of the blank.

Abstract: A packaging assembly, and method of packaging a plurality of products, for economically and safely shipping and displaying the plurality of products. The packaging assembly includes a display stand, a plurality of display packs holding the plurality of products, and a shipping cover. The display stand is constructed from a single sheet of cardboard, and includes a rectangular base panel, a front panel having a gap for viewing, and two parallel side panels with slots that correspond between the side panels. A cross-brace extends between the side panels. Each display pack is an approximately planar assembly formed from front and rear portions of transparent, vacuum-molded plastic. The front and rear portions are each configured with a flange and a frame. The display pack includes a product chamber configured to hold the product, and further contains a product display card.

Abstract: An improved clipless pedal of the kind having forward and rearward cleat retainers configured to releasably secure the cleat of a rider's shoe and prevent an unintended release of the securement. The pedal includes a special wall/stop fixture that defines forward and rearward walls for preventing the cleat from moving forwardly or rearwardly relative to the pedal by an amount that otherwise would be sufficient to cause an unintended disengagement of the cleat from the pedal. These walls have no effect on the intended release of the cleat from the pedal, which is accomplished by rotating the shoe about an axis perpendicular to the pedal's upper face.

Abstract: An improved lower leg prosthesis is disclosed that, during use, provides an improved dynamic feel at heel strike and that provides improved inversion/eversion compliance. The prosthesis includes an elongated pylon having an upper, generally vertical section and a lower, forwardly oriented foot section, and it further includes a generally horizontally oriented foot plate disposed beneath the pylon and including a heel section projecting a substantial distance rearwardly of a vertical pylon axis. An elastomeric layer is interposed between the pylon and the foot plate, extending along substantially the entire length of the heel section of the foot plate, for attaching the pylon and foot plate together. During use of the prosthesis, at heel strike, upward deflection of the foot plate's heel section is limited in substantial part both by the stiffness of the heel section, itself, and by compression of the portion of the elastomeric layer disposed rearwardly of the vertical pylon axis.

Abstract: The present invention is embodied in a polyurethane composition suitable for coating, casting or laminating, which incorporates a prescribed additive selected to increase the composition's electrical conductivity without adversely affecting the composition's transparency and percent haze and without adversely affecting its adhesion to an underlying substrate or its environmental durability, especially with regard to humidity resistance. The prescribed additive is an ionizable metal salt of a perfluoroalkylsulfonimide, in a weight percent of 0.5 to 5.0, with the metal being an alkali metal and the preferred perfluoroalkylsulfonimide being trifluoromethanesulfonimide. The most preferred salt is lithium trifluoromethanesulfonimide. The preferred polyurethane include both aliphatic polyetherurethanes and aliphatic polyesterurethanes.

Abstract: An entertainment and/or training system providing a game-type system having two controllers, where the controllers have generally redundant controls. The controls can be limited on at least one of the controllers so as to provide one player with a simplified game to play. The person on the other controller then can act as a teacher, exclusively receiving some player input and exclusively providing some player output, so as to simplify the student's playing experience.

Abstract: A process is described for applying a thin-film, hydrophobic, oil-repellant, stain-resistant, optical coating to a transparent substrate. The coating is applied using a treatment solution that incorporates an organosilane in a solvent of water, alcohol, and ethylene glycol or glycerol, and an acid catalyst, with the organosilane having a preferred concentration in the range of 0.05 to 50 mmole per liter. The treatment solution preferably is prepared in a two-step procedure, in which the organosilane is first reacted in concentrated form and then diluted. After the treatment solution has been applied to the transparent substrate, e.g., by dip coating, the coated substrate is dried, preferably by flash-drying at room temperature and then heating it to a prescribed elevated temperature, in a prescribed humidity.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sol-gel process for making high-density monolithic alpha-alumina articles. Cracking problems caused by shrinkage of the gel during the drying and firing stages are minimized by controlling the temperature and humidity during the drying process and by using molds formed of prescribed polymeric materials, preliminarily coated with a silicone release agent. The process of the invention provides porous alpha-alumina articles having a controlled microstructure and a controlled pore size distribution, which are beneficial features when the material is used in practical applications, e.g., as substrates for gas sensors.