Abstract: A bowling shoe sole fastening system of structures that allows a variety of outsoles to be attached to and detached from the midsole that improve the consistency of the flex of the show throughout a bowler's stride, which allow the bowling shoe to be adjusted to achieve consistent stopping and sliding characteristics over a variety of bowling lane conditions and maintain consistent performance in the flex of the shoe across cycles of attachment, detachment, and reattachment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the production of ethene, CO, and hydrogen in a reactor with a circulating fluidized bed with two independent sections, from feedstocks that contain hydrocarbons with at least 11 carbon atoms or from feedstocks with a high oxygen content, using a catalyst in particulate form. The method teaches that in one of the sections of the reactor, in the absence of oxygen, a catalyst containing a dehydrogenation metal promotes the cracking of the said feedstocks, facilitating the subsequent endothermic reactions. In the other section, the coke is burned with air and the heating of the catalyst is controlled, for the adjustment of the appropriate amount of energy that the heated catalyst will convey to the section in which the endothermic reactions take place. The total ethene yield of the process according to the present invention is approximately 20% by weight in relation to the feedstock.

Abstract: The invention relates to a shoe and method for making a shoe with divided ground contact surfaces including a toe area covered in part by a toe material; the toe material for contacting a ground; a heel area covered in part by a heel material; wherein the heel material is for contacting the ground. The shoe also has a flex member between the toe and heel areas; the flex member extends both in lateral and longitudinal directions for spreading the toe and heel materials toward a periphery of the shoe and for reducing friction between the ground and the toe and heel materials; and wherein the flex member is contoured for facilitating flexing of the shoe.

Abstract: A footwear kit suitable for producing a pair of customized bowling shoes with appropriate sliding sole and a traction sole for right and left handed bowlers and optimizable for a variety of lane conditions is provided. A distal margin on the shoe matches a margin on a removable forepart to provide rapid alignment and orientation of the ground contact surface area of the forepart to the shoe. Foreparts provided are adjustable for use on either a left or right shoe.

Abstract: A bowling shoe kit is provided including a shoe upper, a shoe sole mounted to the shoe upper and having a slide area extending longitudinally from a toe end of the sole rearwardly towards an arch portion thereof, at least one slide pad having a peripheral margin substantially equal to a peripheral margin of the slide area and extending laterally substantially across an entire width of the sole, and a fastener removably securing the slide pad to the slide area. The slide pad includes a first area having a first coefficient of friction, a second area having a second coefficient of friction, and a third area having a third coefficient of friction, wherein the first coefficient of friction is different from the third coefficient of friction, and the second coefficient of friction presents a transition from the first coefficient of friction to the third coefficient of friction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a footwear kit and method of providing a footwear kit comprising a forepart that can be removably attached to both a left shoe and a right shoe, in which the shoes are substantially asymmetric about a line running from the front to the back of the shoe, and in which the periphery of the forepart substantially matches the periphery of the toe region of both the left shoe and the right shoe.

Abstract: A bowling footwear kit includes a left shoe and a right shoe, each having a midsole with a toe region and a heel region, wherein the toe region covers the entire area from the front of the shoe to a selected line in front of the heel region, and the peripheral shapes of the toe region of the left shoe and of the toe region of the right shoe are substantially identical. The kit further includes two or more foreparts having different traction characteristics for removable attachment to the toe region of either the left or right shoe, and having the peripheral shapes substantially identical to each other and to the peripheral shape of the toe regions of the left and right shoe.

Abstract: Systems and methods for altering the shape of a reconfigurable surface area are presented. The present systems and methods facilitate efficient and effective interaction with a device or system. In one embodiment, a surface reconfiguration system includes a flexible surface; an elevation unit that creates alterations in the contours of the surface; and an elevation control component that controls adjustments to the elevation unit. Thus, the surface of the device is reconfigurable based on system, application, mode, and/or user needs. Accordingly, the surface can be used to provide input and output functionality. The surface can include touch detection functionality for added input functionality.

Abstract: Systems and methods for altering the shape of a reconfigurable surface area are presented. The present systems and methods facilitate efficient and effective interaction with a device or system. In one embodiment, a surface reconfiguration system includes a flexible surface; an elevation unit that creates alterations in the contours of the surface; and an elevation control component that controls adjustments to the elevation unit. Thus, the surface of the device is reconfigurable based on system, application, mode, and/or user needs. Accordingly, the surface can be used to provide input and output functionality. The surface can include touch detection functionality for added input functionality.

Abstract: A bowling footwear kit includes a left shoe and a right shoe, each having a midsole with a toe region and a heel region, wherein the toe region covers the entire area from the front of the shoe to a selected line in front of the heel region, and the peripheral shapes of the toe region of the left shoe and of the toe region of the right shoe are substantially identical. The kit further includes two or more foreparts having different traction characteristics for removable attachment to the toe region of either the left or right shoe, and having the peripheral shapes substantially identical to each other and to the peripheral shape of the toe regions of the left and right shoe.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the production of ethene, CO, and hydrogen in a reactor with a circulating fluidized bed with two independent sections, from feedstocks that contain hydrocarbons with at least 11 carbon atoms or from feedstocks with a high oxygen content, using a catalyst in particulate form. The method teaches that in one of the sections of the reactor, in the absence of oxygen, a catalyst containing a dehydrogenation metal promotes the cracking of the said feedstocks, facilitating the subsequent endothermic reactions. In the other section, the coke is burned with air and the heating of the catalyst is controlled, for the adjustment of the appropriate amount of energy that the heated catalyst will convey to the section in which the endothermic reactions take place. The total ethene yield of the process according to the present invention is approximately 20% by weight in relation to the feedstock.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for securing a reversible cleat having a securing mechanism, an anchoring mechanism adapted to be attached to a sole of a shoe, and a cleat having a first side and a second side and placed between the securing mechanism and the anchoring mechanism. The second side faces toward the anchoring mechanism when the securing mechanism is removably secured to the anchoring mechanism. The second side is repositioned to face away from the anchoring mechanism by removing the securing mechanism from the anchoring mechanism, removing and repositioning the cleat with the second side facing away from the anchoring mechanism, and removably securing the securing mechanism to the anchoring mechanism.

Abstract: A traffic informational system provides information to traffic moving along a road and may include a plurality of traffic information devices mountable to the road, each having an integral power producing source, at least a first set of illumination sources, and a wireless communications subsystem. The traffic informational system may further include at least a first external control device comprising at least one antenna and a transmitter communication wirelessly with the traffic information devices and/or with one another. The traffic information device may communicate with one another, and may include sensor for sensing ambient conditions. The system employs various approaches to reducing power consumption and improving communications, and is suitable for a wide range of applications, including use in remote environments.