Abstract: A method for applying a putter alignment indicator to a putter to aid in aligning the putter during a putting stroke. The method includes providing a substantially planar alignment surface and having a golfer, while standing in the golfer's normal putting stance, place the striking surface of the putter head against the substantially planar alignment surface. A light source directs a beam of light onto the elongated shaft to create a shadow on the heel portion of the putter head. The position of the light source is adjusted until the first edge and the second edge of the shadow, as viewed by the golfer when standing in the golfer's normal putting stance, appear adjacent to or directly behind the shaft. An alignment indicator is applied to the putter head adjacent to at least one edge of the shadow.

Abstract: A golf club has a club head with a wedge face, a rounded sole, and a putting face located along a blade area between the wedge face and a front portion of the rounded sole. The putting face is located at a height above the crown of the rounded sole so that the putting face strikes a golf ball above the equator of the ball to impart top spin when putting. The wedge face preferably has a 90° loft. The club can be used for short chips by placing the hands forward of the club head to “de-loft” the wedge face, and chipping in an otherwise conventional manner. Also, the wedge face can be closed in order to hit high lob shots. A leading apex on the club head located at the intersection of the wedge face, the rounded sole, the toe of the club head, and the putting face points forward when the wedge face is closed to hit a high lob shot. The grooves on the wedge face are aligned to impart backspin when the wedge face is closed so that the leading apex is facing towards the target.

Abstract: A clearing nasal passage product is made of a flexible sheet or the like having a hypo-allergenic adhesive back that is designed to be applied to a user's face. The product has a chin support portion that fits on a user's face underneath a user's mouth, and a first and second cheek attachment portion which adhere to the user's face above the user's mouth. The product is configured so that the chin support portion supports the user's lower lip upward against the user's upper lip to keep the user's mouth naturally closed while the user is sleeping. However, the product does not significantly cover the upper lip, and does not significantly restrict movement of the upper lip. A user is therefore able to cough or otherwise expel air or phlegm through the mouth while sleeping. When the product is in place, a sleeping user instinctively and naturally breathes through his nose, thereby helping to keep nasal passages clear and promoting restful sleep.

Abstract: A tool to assist in the fastening of a seat belt buckle having an elongated, rigid body, a hook extension extending longitudinally from a front end of the body about 1 inch, and a curved hook which extends from the hook extension and curves towards the front end of the tool body. The tool body is preferably about 16 inches in length. The hook/hook extension may be mounted to the body with a hinge. A flashlight may be included within the tool body. An occupant in a vehicle uses the tool by engaging the hook through an opening in the male metal part of a seat belt buckle, and pulls the male part of the buckle and the belt across their body using the tool. With the male part of the buckle in front of the occupant, the occupant can easily engage the male part of the buckle into the female part of the buckle. The tool makes it easier for an occupant of a vehicle to retrieve the male part of a seat belt buckle, and therefore encourages the use of seat belts.

Abstract: A kit to promote effective breathing through nasal passages when a user is sleeping includes a chin support member and a nasal passage dilator. The chin support member is made of a flexible sheet or the like having an adhesive back that is designed to be applied to a user's face. The chin support member has a chin support portion that fits on a user's face underneath a user's mouth, and a first and second cheek attachment portion which adhere to the user's face above the user's mouth. The chin support member is configured so that the chin support portion supports the user's lower lip upward against the user's upper lip to keep the user's mouth naturally closed while the user is sleeping. However, the chin support member does not significantly cover the upper lip, and does not significantly restrict movement of the upper lip. A user is therefore able to cough or otherwise expel air or phlegm through the mouth while sleeping.

Abstract: Occulting apparatus for use with an image generator that provides for multiple-level occulting of image data. The occulting apparatus comprises a mask buffer and control logic for processing image data to construct and store an obscurance mask in the mask buffer. Foreground entities contained in the image data are logically ORed into the mask buffer until the entities extend beyond a predefined range from a predetermined image viewpoint. Thereafter, the mask is used by the control logic to reject entities contained in subsequently processed image data that are fully obscured by the foreground entities comprising the obscurance mask. The control logic includes an obscurance manager, a region processor, an object processor, a polygon processor, and insertion logic. The obscurance manager is a controller for building and applying the obscurance mask to the image data.

Abstract: A method of putting features the golfer's dominant hand so that the golfer can improve control over putting speed and direction. The golfer's non-dominant hand stabilizes the dominant hand and the orientation of the putter blade, but does not otherwise substantially interfere with the putting stroke. In particular, a right-handed golfer grips the putter grip with their right hand in a conventional manner so that the thumb on the right hand is placed straight down the top surface of the putter grip. The golfer addresses the ball as if to stroke the putter using only the right hand. Then, the golfer takes the left hand and uses it to stabilize the right hand and the putter. To do this, the golfer places their left hand over the interior wrist portion of the right hand behind the thumb of the right hand with the middle finger of the left hand resting on the styloid process of the right hand. The golfer presses the ring finger and the little finger of their left hand against the back of the right hand.

Abstract: An image generator architecture in which tri-level fixed interleave processing provides medium grain parallelism for polygon, tiling, and pixel operations. Input data at each stage are divided into spatially distributed subsets that are interleaved among parallel processors using a fixed, precalculated mapping that minimizes correlation of local scene complexity with any one processor. The present tri-level fixed interleave processing architecture divides a processing task into a pseudo-random, fixed interleaved pattern of regions that are assigned to different processors. Each processor processes many of these randomly located regions. The assignment of processors to regions is a fixed repeating pattern. The highest level of fixed interleave processing is the allocation of fixed-size database regions (area modules) to polygon processors. The next level relates to image sub-region fixed interleave processing.

Abstract: An article handling system, particularly for baggage routing, has a tag affixed to each article of baggage, each tag bearing human and machine readable destination data disposed immediately adjacent to a uniquely configured target symbol of predetermined and known characteristics. Video cameras disposed adjacent to the baggage transport assembly are effective, in combination with control networks, to detect the target symbol and electronically read the destination data on the tags, so that the baggage can be routed along transport paths respectively corresponding to the intended destination of each article of baggage. The control network is also effective to transform the video image of the target to a desired orientation and configuration, as well as to select for processing the destination data viewed by the camera having the best image of the target.

Abstract: A range determination apparatus for determining target range within a range depth of D and within a range bin error of e comprises a carrier frequency transmitter for transmitting a carrier frequency and a generator for generating at least two modulating signals having frequency f.sub.1 and f.sub.2, respectively. A modulation device, operative for at least two discrete frequencies for providing one of simultaneous or sequential modulated signals, is coupled to the carrier frequency transmitter for modulating the carrier. The two modulating frequencies and a common sub-multiple counting frequency are related such that f.sub.o =m.sub.1.sup.' f.sub.1 =m.sub.2.sup.' f.sub.2. A receiver is provided for receiving a reflected signal from the target and for producing a corresponding received electrical signal. A phase detection device is responsive to the modulating signals of the generator and the received signals for detecting the phase difference x.sub.1.sup.' and x.sub.2.sup.