Abstract: A rake system having a pair of rake handles, each having a top and bottom and a main body with a plurality of tines projecting therefrom mounted to the bottom of the handle. The distal ends of the tines form an angle of about 45° and 60° between the ground and a longitudinal axis passing through the handles, the angle being fixedly adjustable by the user based on height and/or posture. The handles are pivotally attached to each other at a pivot point between the top and bottom ends to permit the handles to pivot the rake and gathering member toward and away from each other to permit the raking and capture of debris. Pivotally hinged struts limit the pivot action of the handles to prevent them from separating too for apart and to maintain optimum separation.

Abstract: A shoe shape selection method selects an appropriate shoe shape from a plurality of kinds of shoe shapes prepared beforehand, based on a plurality of items of data on a customer. The plurality of data items include the foot length of the customer, the foot girth of the customer and the difference between the lengths of the first and second toes of the customer.

Abstract: A process for validating an identification badge or plastic card for a plurality of predetermined periods of time. The process includes generating, preferably randomly, an initial image for an initial predetermined period of time and then transmitting this initial image to a printing device. The printing device prints the image on the identification badge to thereby validate the badge for the initial predetermined period of time. Thereafter, a subsequent image is randomly generated for a subsequent predetermined period of time. This subsequent image is then transmitted to the printing device. The initial image is then removed from the identification badge and the subsequent image printed on the identification badge to validate the badge for the subsequent predetermined period of time.

Abstract: The invention provides tights that are capable of efficiently training the psoas major while preventing discomfort of wearing the tights due to the high elastic portions provided over an area in which no load for the psoas major is required. There are provided tights characterized in that it includes a high elastic portion that is formed in a predetermined area of a back side of the tights, which area corresponding to a region of the buttocks and the posterior thigh of the human body in which the skin of the region is stretched greatly when the femoral region of the human body is lifted, the high elastic portion being higher in elastic modulus in the height direction than the area of the back side of the tights other than the predetermined area and an area of a front side of the tights corresponding to at least the abdomen and the anterior thigh.

Abstract: A shoe with belts according to the present invention comprising an upper, a sole S that has a first and second roll-up portions S11, S10 rolling upwards along side faces of a foot, and first and second belts 51, 52. The first belt 51 is fixed to the first roll-up portion S11 at a first joined portion 58 on the medial side of the foot. The second belt 52 is fixed to the second roll-up portion S10 at a second joined portion 59 on the lateral side of the foot. The pair of belts 51, 52 cross each other at a position approximately above the navicular bone 91. The first belt 51 can be arranged in a tensioned state along a path extending from the medial side of the foot to the vicinity of an ankle on the lateral side of the foot through the crossing position 57. The second belt 52 can be arranged in a tensioned state along a path extending from the lateral side to the vicinity of the ankle on the medial side of the foot through the crossing position 57.

Abstract: A head rod molding and awning system adapted to be mounted above or below the roof line. The head rod molding member comprises an elongated member having an upper edge and an opposite lower edge along its length. A guideway is provided on the front side of the elongated molding member between the upper and lower edges. A forwardly disposed overhanging lip is provided along the upper edge and a channel, preferably substantially cylindrical, is running along the lower edge, the channel have having a slot along the length of the channel.

Abstract: The wrestling shoe according to the present invention comprises outer soles 1F and 1B separated forward and rearward on the side of a grounding surface of the shoe. The fore and rear outer soles 1F and 1B essentially protrude downward further than an outer skin 3, thereby to support the foot in a fore foot part and a rear foot part, respectively, when landing on the ground. The fore and rear outer soles 1F and 1B are made of an outer sole material of rubber and/or resin. The outer skin 3 is formed of a laminated body where an outer surface layer 30 and a cushion layer 31 are laminated. The outer surface layer 30 is exposed in a mid foot part M and made of substantially flexible sheet-like material, and the cushion layer 31 is laminated on the inner side of the outer surface layer 30 and made of substantially flexible rubber foam or resin foam.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to enhance durability of the non-slip member of the shoe where a lot of non-slip protuberances are fixed to the surface of a base fabric. The shoe of the present invention comprises an upper 20 that covers an instep of a foot, a sole 21 having a ground contact surface and a non-slip member 1 provided on an outer surface of the upper 20 and/or the sole 21. The non-slip member 1 comprises a base fabric 12composed of a knitted fabric of a multilayer structure, the base fabric including an external knitted fabric layer 123 having a first surface 121 exposed to the outside and an internal knitted fabric layer 124 having a second surface 122 on a opposite side of the first surface 121 and a plurality of resin or rubber non-slip protuberances 1 that are fixed to the base fabric 12 and protrude from the first surface 121 of the external knitted fabric layer 123.

Abstract: Novel mixed esters of dicarboxylic acids with monohydric fatty alcohols and propoxylated fatty alcohols show unexpected superior properties as pigment dispersants, especially for inorganic pigments used in foundations, make-ups, lipsticks and physical sunscreens. The compounds of the present invention show superior pigment wetting and dispersing properties, as demonstrated by their ability to form fluid, very high-solids dispersions, while exhibiting unusual emolliency and gloss formation.