Abstract: Golf shaft adapters of two different types, a skewed shim shaft adapter and an elemental shaft adapter, are interchangeable in their connection to a head. These interchangeable shaft adapters are particularly useful in retrofitting the elemental shaft adapter to a head which is manufactured to be fitted with the skewed shim shaft adapter. An assemblage, comprising the head, the skewed shim shaft adapter, and the elemental shaft adapter, provides a technician a choice between a skewed shim shaft adapter and head assembly comprising the head and the skewed shim shaft adapter, or an elemental shaft adapter and head assembly comprising the head and the elemental shaft adapter. This assemblage allows the technician to choose the shaft adapter which is more beneficial to his customer.

Abstract: In a golf club, an apparatus which provides for a shaft to be adjustably secured to a head comprises a skewed axis shaft coupling and a shaft having an intermediate shaft section which joins a nominal shaft section to an offset shaft section such that they are offset one from the other. A shaft indexing mechanism provides for the nominal shaft section to have a plurality of indexed rotational positions in a socket of the skewed axis shaft coupling, thereby providing for the head to have, with respect to the offset shaft section, a plurality of possible sets of spatial and mass distribution properties. Furthermore, the skewed axis shaft coupling provides for the head to have, with respect to the nominal shaft section, a plurality of sets of angular properties.

Abstract: In a golf club, an apparatus which secures a shaft to a head comprises a rotator, a shaft adapter, a rotator connection mechanism which provides for the rotator be secured to the head in a plurality of rotational orientations, and a shaft adapter connection mechanism which provides for a component of the shaft adapter to be secured to the rotator in a plurality of rotational orientations. Under a condition that the shaft adapter is a skewed axis shaft adapter, the apparatus can be used to make independent adjustments to the head's mass distribution properties and angular orientation with respect to an axis of the shaft. The apparatus is also useful in making adjustments to the golf club's face progression and to the shaft's rotational orientation with respect to the head.

Abstract: In a golf club, an apparatus which secures a shaft to a head comprises a rotator, a shaft adapter, a rotator connection mechanism which provides for the rotator be secured to the head in a plurality of rotational orientations, and a shaft adapter connection mechanism which provides for a component of the shaft adapter to be secured to the rotator in a plurality of rotational orientations. Under a condition that the shaft adapter is a skewed axis shaft adapter, the apparatus can be used to make independent adjustments to the head's mass distribution properties and angular orientation with respect to an axis of the shaft. The apparatus is also useful in making adjustments to the golf club's face progression and to the shaft's rotational orientation with respect to the head.

Abstract: An apparatus which damps oscillation in a ski, the apparatus comprising an enclosure, a cavity encompassed by the enclosure, and an aggregate located in the cavity. The cavity has a dimension in a direction perpendicular to a gliding surface of the ski which is larger than a thickness of the ski in a location adjacent to the enclosure. The aggregate, in its tapped density, occupies substantially less volume than a volume of the cavity, thereby allowing significant travel of the aggregate in the cavity. Oscillation accelerates and decelerates the enclosure, resulting in accelerations and decelerations of the aggregate which cause it to acquire and lose kinetic energy. The aggregate's acquisition and loss of kinetic energy attenuates the oscillation.

Abstract: A bicycle seat post assembly uses a detent to urge the assembly to remain in an extended position to provide a rider of the bicycle a relatively high seat height but which allows the rider to move the assembly between the extended position and a retracted position using hands-free operations. In one assembly embodiment, a second detent can hold this assembly at an intermediate position between its extended and its retracted positions absent any of the rider's weight applied to the seat, but in which the assembly can then be returned to its extended position by a sequential application and removal of a portion of the rider's weight to the seat. Therefore, this embodiment allows the rider to have a relatively high seat position, it allows him to move his seat between a relatively high position and a relatively low position, and it allows him to place the seat in an intermediate position absent any of his weight applied to the seat, all movements being performed using hands-free operations.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a bowling ball weighing apparatus comprises a weight scale and a bowling ball support assembly. The apparatus comprises a ball support assembly and a weight scale. The ball support assembly has a cradle which holds the bowling ball and the assembly has weight supports. Whenever the scale is read, one of these weight supports is supported by the scale and another is supported apart from the scale. In a first orientation of the bowling ball with a first hemisphere of the ball closer to the weight support supported by the scale, a first scale reading is determined. Then in a second orientation with the first hemisphere of the ball farther from the weight support supported by the scale, a second scale reading is determined. Comparison of the two scale readings allows determination of the weight imbalance of the ball's two hemispheres.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a bowling ball weighing apparatus comprises a weight scale and a bowling ball support assembly. The apparatus comprises a ball support assembly and a weight scale. The ball support assembly has a cradle which holds the bowling ball and the assembly has weight supports. Whenever the scale is read, one of these weight supports is supported by the scale and another is supported apart from the scale. In a first orientation of the bowling ball with a first hemisphere of the ball closer to the weight support supported by the scale, a first scale reading is determined. Then in a second orientation with the first hemisphere of the ball farther from the weight support supported by the scale, a second scale reading is determined. Comparison of the two scale readings allows determination of the weight imbalance of the ball's two hemispheres.

Abstract: A golf club gauge includes a frame, a clamping means, and a hand-held electronic level which can be zeroed to establish a reference plane. The level is positioned relative to a reference surface of the frame and relative to a surface to be measured, and using information obtained in these two positions, the level is used to square a head in the frame and also to measure the head's loft, lie, and face angles. An attachment is provided for the level which improves accuracy when it is used on heads with arcuate faces.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a golf club gauge includes a frame, a clamping means, and a hand-held electronic level which can be zeroed to establish a reference plane. The level is positioned relative to a reference surface of the frame and relative to a surface to be measured, and using information obtained in these two positions, the level is used to square a head in the frame and also to measure the head's loft, lie, and face angles. An attachment is provided for the level which improves accuracy when it is used on heads with arcuate faces.

Abstract: An analyzer that can provide information concerning a golf shaft assembly's oscillation properties, its natural frequency and its flat line oscillation planes. In the embodiments presented, a clamping assembly holds both the golf shaft assembly and an oscillator. Oscillation of the golf shaft assembly and that of the oscillator with known oscillation properties provides information about the golf shaft assembly's oscillation properties. Some of the test procedures presented are made possible by oscillation coupling between the golf shaft assembly and the oscillator. Oscillator assemblies are presented which have adjustable natural frequencies and one has a preferred oscillation deflection plane.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an extraction apparatus used to pull a golf shaft out of a club head comprises a hosel engagement member, an annular cylinder bore and piston assembly, and a shaft clamping device. The assembly is positioned on the shaft by passing the shaft through an axial hole in the assembly and the hosel engagement member is placed next to the head's hosel. The shaft is clamped in the clamping device so that the hosel, the hosel engagement member, and the cylinder and piston assembly are held tightly against the clamping device. The cylinder is then pressurized, thereby applying a force to the piston and an extraction force to the head which is essentially symmetrical with the shaft. The hosel is then heated to weaken its adhesive bond to the shaft so the piston is able to move and push the head away from the shaft.

Abstract: An analyzer that can provide information concerning a golf shaft assembly's oscillation properties, its natural frequency and its flat line oscillation planes. In the embodiments presented, a clamping assembly holds both the golf shaft assembly and an oscillator. Oscillation of the golf shaft assembly and that of the oscillator with known oscillation properties provides information about the golf shaft assembly's oscillation properties. Some of the test procedures presented are made possible by oscillation coupling between the golf shaft assembly and the oscillator. Oscillator assemblies are presented which have adjustable natural frequencies and one has a preferred oscillation deflection plane.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an extraction apparatus used to pull a golf shaft out of a club head comprises a hosel engagement member, an annular cylinder bore and piston assembly, and a shaft clamping device. The assembly is positioned on the shaft by passing the shaft through an axial hole in the assembly and the hosel engagement member is placed next to the head's hosel. The shaft is clamped in the clamping device so that the hosel, the hosel engagement member, and the cylinder and piston assembly are held tightly against the clamping device. The cylinder is then pressurized, thereby applying a force to the piston and an extraction force to the head which is essentially symmetrical with the shaft. The hosel is then heated to weaken its adhesive bond to the shaft so the piston is able to move and push the head away from the shaft.

Abstract: An embodiment of this golf club shaft extractor has a slotted externally threaded member and an internally threaded member. The externally threaded member, using its slot, is placed on the shaft, and the internally threaded member is placed on the shaft over the shaft's grip, and these members are then joined by their threads. A vise then clamps the shaft such that the club head's hosel touches and centers in a tapered cavity in the externally threaded member, and the internally threaded member touches the vise. After the hosel is heated to weaken the shaft's adhesive bond, while preventing rotation of the externally threaded member, the internally threaded member is rotated in a direction which reduces the thread engagement distance, thereby increasing the overall length of the joined members and pushing the head away from the shaft. This extractor is relatively low in cost, using items commonly possessed by club fitters to reduce the number of additional parts required.

Abstract: This invention is a putter shaft extension assembly which is especially suitable for use in converting a putter with a conventional shaft length into a longer shaft “belly putter”. It uses a novel screw attachment and pin arrangement to prevent accidental loosening and improper assembly. It is also preferably supplied with spacers to provide different extension lengths, these spacers also contain pins to prevent accidental loosening of the extension.

Abstract: This invention is a connection which can be used to secure a shaft in a hosel of a golf club head or a shaft extension in a golf club shaft. The connection uses tapered threads in its operation to expand a locking shaft inside a receptacle. This connection is easily-loosened and repositioned, readily allowing adjustment in total golf shaft length. It is especially suitable for use in converting a putter with a conventional shaft length into a longer shaft “belly putter”. It is low in cost to produce, requires few parts, and is easily adjusted using simple tooling.

Abstract: This invention is a manually driven pump used to transfer a liquefied gas such as nitrous oxide or carbon dioxide between containers. The pump is designed to minimize friction, can be directly attached to a mother bottle, and has an automatic piston return on the pumping stroke, all of which optimize operator use for the particular gas which is being pumped. The pump is small, portable, and requires no additional power source in its operation, making it ideal for field use. The pump can be used to fill nursing bottles from a mother bottle or to raise the pressure of a nursing bottle to a desired operating level.

Abstract: This invention is a nitrous oxide delivery system to improve engine power in which the nitrous oxide leaves its storage bottle as a vapor rather than conventional liquid delivery systems in which it leaves as a liquid. This system can therefore use a relatively simple pressure regulator and fixed orifice to maintain an essentially constant nitrous oxide mass flow rate over a wide range of storage bottle pressure. The nitrous oxide which enters the engine does not contain any ice crystals and will not cause icing, therefore allowing introduction of the nitrous virtually anywhere in the engine's induction tract.

Abstract: This invention is a variable orifice for controlling the mass flow rate of nitrous oxide used as an engine oxidizer, this orifice having an effective size, or area, which changes with changes in the nitrous oxide pressure applied to it. Several design parameters can be changed to provide the desired effective orifice area as a function of pressure. This variable orifice can be designed to maintain an essentially constant nitrous oxide delivery rate over a wide range of nitrous oxide pressures.