Abstract: In a multi-piece solid golf ball having a core, a cover and an intermediate layer therebetween, the core, an intermediate layer-encased sphere and the ball have surface hardnesses which satisfy a specific relationship. and the intermediate layer and the cover have thicknesses which satisfy a specific relationship. Also, the core has a hardness profile in which the hardnesses at the core surface, core center, a position 5 mm from the core center, and a position midway between the surface and center of the core satisfy specific relationships. This golf ball, when used by mid- and high-level amateurs, enables the golfer to maintain an adequate distance on shots with a driver and achieve a good distance on iron shots, has a good spin performance on approach shots and has a good feel on impact. In addition, the ball has an excellent scuff resistance when struck with a grooved wedge.

Abstract: In a golf ball having a two-layer core consisting of an inner core layer and an outer core layer and a cover of one or more layer, the inner core layer and outer core layer are each formed of a rubber composition made up primarily of a base rubber, the inner core layer has a diameter of not more than 30 mm; and the core has specific hardness ratios (JIS-C hardness/Shore D hardness) at specific points on the cross-section thereof. This golf ball has a reduced spin rate on full shots with a driver and middle irons, thus imparting to an excellent flight performance, and moreover has a good controllability in the short game on approach shots, making it ideal as a golf ball for professional golfers and mid- and high-level amateur golfers.

Abstract: In order to satisfy at a high level the golf ball flight and control performances relied on by professional golfers and skilled amateurs, this invention provides a multi-piece solid golf ball G having a core 1, a cover 3 and an intermediate layer 2 therebetween wherein the core is formed of a rubber composition that includes a lower alcohol having a molecular weight below 200. Also, letting Hc be the JIS-C hardness at the center of the core, H12 be the JIS-C hardness at a position 12 mm from the core center and Ho be the JIS-C hardness at the surface of the core, the core has a hardness profile in which these hardnesses satisfy fixed relationships defined by specific formulas.

Abstract: A golf ball having a core and a cover that is formed of a resin composition which includes (A) a polyurethane or a polyurea and (B) a styrenic resin material, when dropped from a height of 3 m and made to collide with a metal plate, has velocities 200 ms before and 200 ms after contact that satisfy the condition: (incident velocity)?(rebound velocity)?0.80 m/s. The ball has a good controllability on approach shots without a loss in the distance achieved on shots with a driver, and thus is particularly useful to professional golfers and skilled amateurs.

Abstract: A connector assembly comprises a first connector having a first contact and a second connector having a second contact. The first contact has a first supported portion which is supported not to be moved in a horizontal direction, a first resiliently-support portion extending from the first supported portion and a first contact point supported by the first resiliently-support portion. The second contact has a second supported portion which is supported not to be moved in the horizontal direction, a second resiliently-support portion extending from the second supported portion and a second contact point supported by the second resiliently-support portion. Under a completely-mated state where the first connector and the second connector are completely mated with each other, the first contact point is in contact with the second supported portion, and the second contact point is in contact with the first supported portion.

Abstract: In a multi-piece solid golf ball having a core, a cover and an intermediate layer therebetween, the core, an intermediate layer-encased sphere and the ball have surface hardnesses which satisfy a specific relationship, and the intermediate layer and the cover have thicknesses which satisfy a specific relationship. Also, the core has a hardness profile in which the hardnesses at the core surface, core center, a position 5 mm from the core center, and a position midway between the surface and center of the core satisfy specific relationships. This golf ball, when used by mid- and high-level amateurs, enables the golfer to maintain an adequate distance on shots with a driver and achieve a good distance on iron shots, has a good spin performance on approach shots and has a good feel on impact. In addition, the ball has an excellent scuff resistance when struck with a grooved wedge.

Abstract: In a golf ball having a two-layer core consisting of an inner core layer and an outer core layer, an intermediate layer and a cover, the core is formed primarily of a base rubber, the diameter of the inner core layer is at least 21 mm, the intermediate layer and cover are each formed primarily of a resin material, the overall core has a specific hardness profile, the inner core layer has a higher specific gravity than the outer core layer, and the sphere consisting of the core encased by the intermediate layer has a higher surface hardness than the ball. This golf ball has a high initial velocity at impact while holding down the spin rate on full shots with a driver or long iron, enabling a good distance to be achieved. The ball also has a good controllability in the short game.

Abstract: A connector comprises a fixed housing and a movable housing movable relative to the fixed housing. The fixed housing has an end wall, and the movable housing has a regulated portion. The end wall is provided with a stopping portion and a projecting portion projecting inward in a pitch direction (Y-direction). The regulated portion is provided with a reference surface, a stopped portion and a receiving recess. The stopped portion projects outward in the pitch direction beyond the reference surface to be located below the stopping portion, and an upward movement thereof is regulated by the stopping portion. The receiving recess is recessed inward in the pitch direction beyond the reference surface. The receiving recess faces, at least in part, the projecting portion in the pitch direction or receives, at least in part, the projecting portion.

Abstract: A connector assembly comprises a first connector having a first contact and a second connector having a second contact. The first contact has a first supported portion which is supported not to be moved in a horizontal direction, a first resiliently-support portion extending from the first supported portion and a first contact point supported by the first resiliently-support portion. The second contact has a second supported portion which is supported not to be moved in the horizontal direction, a second resiliently-support portion extending from the second supported portion and a second contact point supported by the second resiliently-support portion. Under a completely-mated state where the first connector and the second connector are completely mated with each other, the first contact point is in contact with the second supported portion, and the second contact point is in contact with the first supported portion.

Abstract: In a multi-piece solid golf ball having a core, a cover and an intermediate layer therebetween, the core, an intermediate layer-encased sphere and the ball have surface hardnesses which satisfy a specific relationship, and the intermediate layer and the cover have thicknesses which satisfy a specific relationship. Also, the core has a hardness profile in which the hardnesses at the core surface, core center, a position 5 mm from the core center, and a position midway between the surface and center of the core satisfy specific relationships. This golf ball, when used by mid- and high-level amateurs, enables the golfer to maintain an adequate distance on shots with a driver and achieve a good distance on iron shots, has a good spin performance on approach shots and has a good feel on impact. In addition, the ball has an excellent scuff resistance when struck with a grooved wedge.

Abstract: An underwater mobile inspection apparatus capable of inspecting an inspection object on a seafloor while cruising includes a cruising body configured to submerge under-water and cruise along the inspection object so as to not come into contact with the inspection object, a first movable arm provided on the cruising-body, and an inspection tool unit provided on the first movable arm and including at least one of an image-capturing camera for use in visually inspecting the inspection object and a device configured to inspect a wall thickness of the inspection object by using an ultrasonic wave. A controller is configured to, when the cruising-body cruises along the inspection object so as to not come into contact with the inspection object, operate the first movable arm to move the inspection tool unit, such that a positional relationship of the inspection tool unit with the inspection object becomes a predetermined target positional relationship.

Abstract: A multi-piece solid golf ball for professional golfers and skilled amateurs in particular is endowed with an excellent distance, a soft yet good feel at impact and a good durability. In the ball, which includes a core, an envelope layer, an intermediate layer and a cover, the core has a hardness profile which satisfies specific conditions, the envelope layer has a thickness of from 0.3 to 1.2 mm, the intermediate layer has a thickness of from 0.3 to 1.2 mm, and the envelope and intermediate layers have a combined thickness from of 0.8 to 1.7 mm.

Abstract: There is provided a detecting device which detects a contact with an object, which includes, a fixed portion provided in the detecting device, a shaft portion, and a base portion which is connected to the shaft portion and configured to move relative to the fixed portion, a sensor which measures a displacement resulting from an inclination of the base portion relative to the fixed portion caused by a contact between an object and the shaft portion, and a control portion which determines if a contact between an object and the shaft portion occurs or not based on the measured displacement.

Abstract: A continuous structure capable of producing a connector cover is made from a single strip-shaped flat plate. The continuous structure has a structure in which a unit structure repeatedly and regularly appears in a longitudinal direction of the strip-shaped flat plate. The unit structure includes a flat-plate portion and two side wall portion groups. One of the two side wall portion groups includes a first side wall portion standing on one of two edges of the flat-plate portion in a width direction of the flat-plate portion, and the other of the two side wall portion groups includes a second side wall portion standing on the other of the two edges of the flat-plate portion. The second side wall portion is a spring portion which generates pressing force in the width direction. The first side wall portion faces the second side wall portion.

Abstract: In a multi-piece solid golf ball having a core, a cover and an intermediate layer therebetween, the core, an intermediate layer-encased sphere and the ball have surface hardnesses which satisfy a specific relationship, and the intermediate layer and the cover have thicknesses which satisfy a specific relationship. Also, the core has a hardness profile in which the hardnesses at the core surface, core center, a position 5 mm from the core center, and a position midway between the surface and center of the core satisfy specific relationships. This golf ball, when used by mid- and high-level amateurs, enables the golfer to maintain an adequate distance on shots with a driver and achieve a good distance on iron shots, has a good spin performance on approach shots and has a good feel on impact. In addition, the ball has an excellent scuff resistance when struck with a grooved wedge.

Abstract: An underwater mobile inspection apparatus capable of inspecting an inspection object on a seafloor while cruising includes a cruising body configured to submerge under-water and cruise along the inspection object so as to not come into contact with the inspection object, a first movable arm provided on the cruising-body, and an inspection tool unit provided on the first movable arm and including at least one of an image-capturing camera for use in visually inspecting the inspection object and a device configured to inspect a wall thickness of the inspection object by using an ultrasonic wave. A controller is configured to, when the cruising-body cruises along the inspection object so as to not come into contact with the inspection object, operate the first movable arm to move the inspection tool unit, such that a positional relationship of the inspection tool unit with the inspection object becomes a predetermined target positional relationship.

Abstract: In order to satisfy at a high level the golf ball flight and control performances relied on by professional golfers and skilled amateurs, this invention provides a multi-piece solid golf ball G having a core 1, a cover 3 and an intermediate layer 2 therebetween wherein the core is formed of a rubber composition that includes a lower alcohol having a molecular weight below 200. Also, letting Hc be the JIS-C hardness at the center of the core, H12 be the JIS-C hardness at a position 12 mm from the core center and Ho be the JIS-C hardness at the surface of the core, the core has a hardness profile in which these hardnesses satisfy fixed relationships defined by specific formulas.

Abstract: An encoder includes a scale having a pattern to be detected, a detecting sensor outputting a signal corresponding to the pattern, a position calculator calculating a relative position between the scale and the detecting sensor based on the signal, a position data storage storing the calculated position data, and a position estimator estimating a relative position between the scale and the detecting sensor at a calculation-target time point based on the stored position data. The position estimator estimates the position at the calculation-target time point based on positions at first and second time points each preceding the calculation-target time point by a predetermined time. The position estimator processes position data in a first time width centered on the first time point and position data in a second time width centered on the second time point to calculate the positions at the first and second time points.

Abstract: The invention provides a drag reducer having an excellent frictional drag-reducing effect on an aqueous medium and the like and also provides a fire-extinguishing agent including this drag reducer. The drag reducer according to the present invention includes a polyalkylene oxide aqueous dispersion that includes a polyalkylene oxide, aluminum oxide, an electrolyte, and water, and that has the polyalkylene oxide dispersed therein. The drag reducer has an excellent frictional drag-reducing effect on an aqueous medium and the like.