Abstract: A sole includes an upper sole portion having a heel region and a toe region, and a pod assembly disposed below the upper sole portion. The pod assembly includes at least five pods fluidly connected in a substantially linear arrangement extending from the heel region to the toe region. The pods are fluidly connected in series.

Abstract: A sole includes an upper sole portion having a region and a toe region, and a pod assembly disposed below the upper sole portion. The pod assembly includes at least five pods fluidly connected in a substantially linear arrangement extending from the heel region to the toe region. The pods are fluidly connected in series.

Abstract: A sole includes a base having a medial side and a lateral side; and a plurality of projections extending from the base, wherein at least one of the projections includes a first pod filled with ambient air and a foam layer disposed below the first pod. The first pod and the foam layer are disposed such that the projection extends non-orthogonally from the base.

Abstract: A hybrid metal composite (HMC) structure comprises a first tier comprising a first fiber composite material structure, a second tier longitudinally adjacent the first tier and comprising a first metallic structure and a second fiber composite material structure laterally adjacent the first metallic structure, a third tier longitudinally adjacent the second tier and comprising a third fiber composite material structure, and a fourth tier longitudinally adjacent the third tier and comprising a second metallic structure and a fourth fiber composite material structure laterally adjacent the second metallic structure. At least one lateral end of the second metallic structure is laterally offset from at least one lateral end of the first metallic structure most proximate thereto. Methods of forming an HMC structure, and related rocket motors and multi-stage rocket motor assemblies are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of forming a hybrid metal composite structure including at least one metal ply. The method includes forming at least one metal ply, forming the at least one metal ply comprising forming at least one perforation in the at least one metal ply, abrasively blasting at least one surface of the at least one metal ply to coarsen the at least one surface of the metal ply, and exposing the at least one metal ply to at least one of an acid or a base. The method further includes disposing at least one fiber composite material structure adjacent the at least one metal ply. Related methods of forming a portion of a rocket case and related hybrid metal composite structures are also disclosed.

Abstract: A hybrid metal composite (HMC) structure comprises tiers comprising fiber composite material structures, and additional tiers longitudinally adjacent one or more of the tiers and comprising perforated metallic structures and additional fiber composite material structures laterally adjacent the perforated metallic structures. Methods of forming an HMC structure, and related rocket motors and multi-stage rocket motor assemblies are also disclosed.

Abstract: Shoe uppers having smooth seams and methods for producing them are disclosed. In one embodiment the upper uses thermoplastic seam tape which forms bonds between contiguous upper sections after being subjected to heat and/or pressure. In another embodiment, different parts of the shoe can be joined using hidden seams. Close seams can also be covered with a transfer material adapted to give the interior and/or exterior of the upper a smooth surface. In yet another embodiment, a method is disclosed which allows three-dimensional upper sections to be bonded on a last using thermoplastic seam tape.

Abstract: A controller electronic device selectively associates one or more monitoring electronic devices and a viewing electronic device, so that the viewing electronic device can selectively access content acquired by the one or more monitoring electronic devices, such as captured images and/or measured acoustic information corresponding to sound in environments. In particular, the controller electronic device may receive messages with timestamps and current locations of a monitoring electronic device that is associated with the viewing electronic device. Based on a duration of time the monitoring electronic device is at a fixed or an approximately fixed location, the controller electronic device may establish the associations. For example, a maximum distance associated with the associations may increase as the duration of time increases.

Abstract: An electronic device executes a program module that sets an operating mode of the electronic device as a monitoring mode or a viewing mode. When the electronic device is in the monitoring mode, the electronic device at least selectively captures images and measures acoustic information corresponding to sound in an environment, and then communicates the images and the acoustic information to a second electronic device. Alternatively, when the electronic device is in the viewing mode, the electronic device at least selectively receives visual information and additional acoustic information from the second electronic device, presents the visual information on a display, and outputs additional sound corresponding to the additional acoustic information using an acoustic transducer. For example, the electronic device may be a previous model and/or may execute a previous version of an operating system.

Abstract: A controller electronic device selectively associates one or more monitoring electronic devices and a viewing electronic device, so that the viewing electronic device can selectively access content acquired by the one or more monitoring electronic devices, such as captured images and/or measured acoustic information corresponding to sound in environments. In particular, the controller electronic device may receive messages with timestamps and current locations of a monitoring electronic device that is associated with the viewing electronic device. Based on a duration of time the monitoring electronic device is at a fixed or an approximately fixed location, the controller electronic device may establish the associations. For example, a maximum distance associated with the associations may increase as the duration of time increases.

Abstract: An electronic device executes a program module that determines whether a power supply in the electronic device provides power from an external power source or an internal power source. When the power supply provides power from the external power source, the electronic device may remain in a monitoring mode without transitioning to a power-saving mode when the electronic device is inactive. Note that in the monitoring mode the electronic device at least selectively captures images and measures acoustic information corresponding to sound in an environment, and then communicates the images and the acoustic information to a second electronic device. Alternatively, when the power supply provides power from the internal power source, the electronic device selectively provides an activity signal that keeps the electronic device in the monitoring mode without transitioning to the power-saving mode when the electronic device is inactive.

Abstract: A battery compartment can include a primary battery slot, at least one optional intermediate battery slot, a terminal battery slot, and a bypass switch. More specifically, the primary battery slot can retain a first battery and can have primary positive and negative leads oriented to contact corresponding positive and negative terminals of the first battery. The optional intermediate battery slot can retain a second battery and can have intermediate positive and negative leads oriented to contact positive and negative terminals of the second battery. The terminal battery slot can retain a third battery and can have terminal positive and negative leads oriented to contact positive and negative terminals of the third battery. The battery slots can be connected in series with the intermediate battery slot oriented between the primary and terminal slots. At least one bypass switch can be coupled to one or both of the leads of at least one of the battery slots.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for manufacturing inflatable articles, or bladders for inflatable articles, that is time-efficient, simple, inexpensive and permits the uninterrupted manufacture of numerous and even customized article or bladder configurations and sizes, without expensive configuration-specific, metal tooling. The method includes the steps of applying a barrier material to a side of a first film, providing a second film with the first film so that the barrier material is disposed between the first and second films, adhering the first film to the second film so that the films are sealed together in areas except where the barrier material has been applied to form at least one inflatable compartment and sealed peripheral edge, and cutting along the sealed peripheral edge to form an inflatable article or bladder for use in an article of manufacture. The barrier material may be a paint, ink, paper or surface treatment that effectively prevents the first film from adhering to the second.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for manufacturing inflatable articles, or bladders for inflatable articles, that is time-efficient, simple, inexpensive and permits the uninterrupted manufacture of numerous and even customized article or bladder configurations and sizes, without expensive configuration-specific, metal tooling. The method includes the steps of applying a barrier material to a side of a first film, providing a second film with the first film so that the barrier material is disposed between the first and second films, adhering the first film to the second film so that the films are sealed together in areas except where the barrier material has been applied to form at least one inflatable compartment and sealed peripheral edge, and cutting along the sealed peripheral edge to form an inflatable article or bladder for use in an article of manufacture. The barrier material may be a paint, ink, paper or surface treatment that effectively prevents the first film from adhering to the second.