Abstract: A head for a ball striking device includes a bracing member connected to an upper sole surface located on the sole of the body opposite the bottom sole surface. The bracing member includes a first end connected to a first point on the upper sole surface, a second end connected to a second point on the upper sole surface spaced from the first point, and a bridge portion extending between the first and second ends. The bridge portion extends upward from the upper sole surface and is spaced from the upper sole surface. The bridge portion may be formed by one or more trusses, and may define a generally triangular shape in one embodiment. The first and second ends may be connected to the upper sole surface using a variety of techniques, e.g., welding or other integral joining technique, integral forming, adhesive or other bonding material, or other technique.

Abstract: A bronchoscope locking mechanism includes a clamping member and a nut. The clamping member includes a threaded portion and a clamping surface that defines a compressible channel. The compressible channel is configured for communication with a tracheal tube. The nut has an inner threaded surface configured to cooperate with the threaded portion of the clamping member. The compressible channel is compressed from a first position defining a first diameter to a second position defining a second diameter when the nut is advanced over the threaded portion. The second diameter is smaller than the first diameter.

Abstract: A head for a ball striking device includes a bracing member connected to an upper sole surface located on the sole of the body opposite the bottom sole surface. The bracing member includes a first end connected to a first point on the upper sole surface, a second end connected to a second point on the upper sole surface spaced from the first point, and a bridge portion extending between the first and second ends. The bridge portion extends upward from the upper sole surface and is spaced from the upper sole surface. The bridge portion may be formed by one or more trusses, and may define a generally triangular shape in one embodiment. The first and second ends may be connected to the upper sole surface using a variety of techniques, e.g., welding or other integral joining technique, integral forming, adhesive or other bonding material, or other technique. The location of the bracing member may be determined using a modal analysis to determine a maximum displacement region.

Abstract: A head for a ball striking device includes a bracing member connected to an upper sole surface located on the sole of the body opposite the bottom sole surface. The bracing member includes a first end connected to a first point on the upper sole surface, a second end connected to a second point on the upper sole surface spaced from the first point, and a bridge portion extending between the first and second ends. The bridge portion extends upward from the upper sole surface and is spaced from the upper sole surface. The bridge portion may be formed by one or more trusses, and may define a generally triangular shape in one embodiment. The first and second ends may be connected to the upper sole surface using a variety of techniques, e.g., welding or other integral joining technique, integral forming, adhesive or other bonding material, or other technique.

Abstract: Various designs are provided to mitigate or solve limitation on the bendability of an active matrix backplanes: including breaking large rigid silicon chips (ICs) into smaller rigid ICs, changing the orientation of rigid ICs, changing the placement of the ICs on the array, thinning the ICs to the point where the Si is flexible, and replacing the ICs with high quality TFT processing which can be done on flexible substrates.

Abstract: A variety of active units that sense environmental variables and take various actions are described. In one embodiment, an active unit includes at least one sensor to detect a change in an environmental variable and generate a sensor signal and an action module configured to influence the environmental. The active unit may also include a communication module and a processor module configured to accept the sensor signal and determine if the environmental variable exceeds a threshold and to instruct the action module not to take action to influence the environmental variable, and instruct the communication module to transmit a signal to other active units that the environmental variable has exceeded the threshold.

Abstract: A ball striking device includes a ball striking plate having a front surface configured to strike a ball and a rear surface opposite the front surface. The ball striking plate has a desired-contact region and a perimeter. One or more spoke-like reinforcement ribs may be located on the rear surface and may radiate away from the desired-contact region toward the perimeter. At least one of the spoke-like reinforcement ribs may be located in an upper-toe quadrant or in an upper-heel quadrant of the rear surface. One or more encircling reinforcement ribs may be located on the rear surface. The one or more encircling reinforcement ribs may be at least partially encircling the desired-contact region. A thickened portion of the ball striking plate may be positioned behind the desired-contact region of the ball striking plate. The ball striking device may be a golf club head.

Abstract: A head for a ball striking device includes a bracing member connected to an upper sole surface located on the sole of the body opposite the bottom sole surface. The bracing member includes a first end connected to a first point on the upper sole surface, a second end connected to a second point on the upper sole surface spaced from the first point, and a bridge portion extending between the first and second ends. The bridge portion extends upward from the upper sole surface and is spaced from the upper sole surface. The bridge portion may be formed by one or more trusses, and may define a generally triangular shape in one embodiment. The first and second ends may be connected to the upper sole surface using a variety of techniques, e.g., welding or other integral joining technique, integral forming, adhesive or other bonding material, or other technique. The location of the bracing member may be determined using a modal analysis to determine a maximum displacement region.

Abstract: Bending a flexible x-ray detector to image a curved structure or object will distort the object appearance when compared to an image captured by a flat/rigid detector. An image distortion of this type can be corrected when the shape (relative bend position) of the x-ray detector is known. Incorporating strain sensors on the flexible x-ray detector makes it possible to record the local bend of the flexible x-ray detector when an image is taken. This shape information can be used to either label or correct for the image distortions created by bending the x-ray detector to assist users more accustomed to viewing images produced by flat/rigid x-ray detectors.

Abstract: A ball striking device includes a ball striking plate having a front surface configured to strike a ball and a rear surface opposite the front surface. The ball striking plate has a desired-contact region and a perimeter. One or more spoke-like reinforcement ribs may be located on the rear surface and may radiate away from the desired-contact region toward the perimeter. At least one of the spoke-like reinforcement ribs may be located in an upper-toe quadrant or in an upper-heel quadrant of the rear surface. One or more encircling reinforcement ribs may be located on the rear surface. The one or more encircling reinforcement ribs may be at least partially encircling the desired-contact region. A thickened portion of the ball striking plate may be positioned behind the desired-contact region of the ball striking plate. The ball striking device may be a golf club head.

Abstract: Bending a flexible x-ray detector to image a curved structure or object will distort the object appearance when compared to an image captured by a flat/rigid detector. An image distortion of this type can be corrected when the shape (relative bend position) of the x-ray detector is known. Incorporating strain sensors on the flexible x-ray detector makes it possible to record the local bend of the flexible x-ray detector when an image is taken. This shape information can be used to either label or correct for the image distortions created by bending the x-ray detector to assist users more accustomed to viewing images produced by flat/rigid x-ray detectors.

Abstract: A pet treat holder includes an outer body shell, treat and actuator openings penetrating therethrough, and an adjustment unit having an internal body situated within the shell, and an actuator joined to the internal body for rotation thereof from outside the shell. The internal body has a non-uniform profile, different areas of which are selectively movable into registration with the treat opening by rotation of the actuator to adjust the effective size of an open passageway through said treat opening. In one mode of use, kibble treats are placed inside the hollow interior space the size of the passageway is adjusted to control an ease by which said kibble treats escape through the passageway. In another mode of use, a chew treat is partially inserted through the treat opening, and wedged into a gripped position between the edge of the treat opening and the adjustment unit by rotation thereof.

Abstract: Transitioning conventional x-ray detector materials and structures to bendable or flexible (e.g., plastic) substrates makes them rugged against breakage when dropped but exposes the detectors to damage if bent. Disclosed are bendable digital x-ray detector structures that are rugged with regard to bending as well as dropping. The structures provide strain matching between layers so that a detector backplane is in and/or near the mechanical neutral plane and therefore less susceptible to bending stress.

Abstract: A head for a ball striking device includes a bracing member connected to an upper sole surface located on the sole of the body opposite the bottom sole surface. The bracing member includes a first end connected to a first point on the upper sole surface, a second end connected to a second point on the upper sole surface spaced from the first point, and a bridge portion extending between the first and second ends. The bridge portion extends upward from the upper sole surface and is spaced from the upper sole surface. The bridge portion may be formed by one or more trusses, and may define a generally triangular shape in one embodiment. The first and second ends may be connected to the upper sole surface using a variety of techniques, e.g., welding or other integral joining technique, integral forming, adhesive or other bonding material, or other technique.

Abstract: A variety of active cover plate configurations with prongs configured to contact side screw terminals of electrical receptacles are described.

Abstract: A head for a ball striking device includes a bracing member connected to an upper sole surface located on the sole of the body opposite the bottom sole surface. The bracing member includes a first end connected to a first point on the upper sole surface, a second end connected to a second point on the upper sole surface spaced from the first point, and a bridge portion extending between the first and second ends. The bridge portion extends upward from the upper sole surface and is spaced from the upper sole surface. The bridge portion may be formed by one or more trusses, and may define a generally triangular shape in one embodiment. The first and second ends may be connected to the upper sole surface using a variety of techniques, e.g., welding or other integral joining technique, integral forming, adhesive or other bonding material, or other technique.