Abstract: A connection system for Yachts comprising a lightweight rope loop (2) and a body part for connecting sheets, sails and blocks. A tensile connecting device comprises a high strength fiber rope with a first enlarged terminated end that is held captive in a second body part having a shoulder (59a) such that said elongated loop is slipped over said shoulder to form a quickly connected and disconnected tensile joining device.

Abstract: A connection system for Yachts comprising a lightweight rope loop (2) and a body part for connecting sheets, sails and blocks. A tensile connecting device comprises a high strength fiber rope with a first enlarged terminated end that is held captive in a second body part having a shoulder (59a) such that said elongated loop is slipped over said shoulder to form a quickly connected and disconnected tensile joining device.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring and visually displaying a user's body movement while performing a motion. Sensing means such as, for example, potentiometers are coupled to the joints of a user in order quantitatively detect movement of the user's body while performing a motion. The sensors generate signals indicative of the movement of the user's body while the user performed the motion. The apparatus also includes processing means for receiving and processing the signals which generated by the sensing means. Display means are coupled to the processing means for receiving the processed signals from the processing means and for graphically displaying at least one image representing the movement of the user's body which occurred while the user performed said motion. In so doing, the present invention allows for real time or delayed observation by a user of the user's body movements while performing a motion.

Abstract: This invention is an apparatus for measuring and visually displaying a user's body movement while performing a motion. Sensing means (22) such as potentiometers, are coupled to the joints of a user in order to quantitatively detect movement of the user's body while performing a motion. The sensors (22) generate signals indicative of the motion and are received by processor means (30) which in turn connects to a display means (32) for graphically displaying at least one image representing the movement. A second image may be displayed with the first image for comparison purposes.

Abstract: Roll-forming apparatus and method for more precisely shaping an extruded-plastic Fresnel lens. A drive/support roller is rotatably mounted to the support frame and the surface of which engages and rotates to support the smooth outer surface of an extruded arcuate, elongated linear Fresnel lens. A tooth-forming roller is rotatably mounted to the support frame and has an external profile with tooth-forming projections formed thereon for engagement with the grooves on the inner surface of the extruded sheet, said tooth-forming roller being positioned on the inner surface of the Fresnel lens opposite the drive/support roller and being loosely mounted on the support frame to track the grooves formed in the Fresnel lens to improve the profile of the lens section by sharpening the root radius and flattening the optical face of each lens section.

Abstract: A golf simulator is provided with an improved trajectory sensing and spin detector. The trajectory sending system includes a first row of light sensors located adjacent to a tee and receiving light from a first light source directly above the tee. Second and third rows of light sensors are positioned away from the tee. The second row receives light from a second source directly overhead. The third row receives light from the first light source where a plane of light is defined between the first light source and the third row of sensors. The time intervals between a golf ball passing from the tee to the first plane of light and to the second plane of light, where the second plane of light is defined by the second light source and the second row of sensors are detected by the first, second, and third rows of light sensors. The angle of elevation of a golf ball is determined as a function of the ratio of the first and second time intervals.

Abstract: An improved golf simulation system for two players is contained in a single booth, which has a single screen on which are projected various views of simulated golf holes and into which two golfers independently but concurrently hit golf balls from within the single booth, a dual-player golf simulator system. Each player uses a portion of a golf tee area. Ball flight sensors sense the flight of the two independently, concurrently hit golf balls. A computer concurrently computes the flight and landing location of the first golf ball on the simulated hole and the flight and landing location of the second golf ball on the simulated hole as a function of the sensed velocity, trajectory, and spin of each of the respective golf balls. The simulated golf hole can be viewed as a single view of as a split view when each player has a different viewing location.

Abstract: A storable cover for covering the cabin portion of a variety of vehicles, such as sedans, vans, and hatchbacks, carries storage means secured thereto to be disposed in a suitable compartment of the vehicle. The trailing edge of the cover is anchored inside the vehicle when the cover is disposed onto the vehicle. The storage means is affixed firmly inside the trunk or other rear compartment of the various vehicles, such as for example, sedans, hatchbacks, and vans so as to locate part of the over assembly within a locked compartment. The cover is deployed by being taken out of the storage means and fed from the trunk through the opening which is created between the raised closure member for the compartment and the body of the vehicle.

Abstract: A solar electric conversion unit and system includes substantially increased efficiency with reduced losses and increased acceptance angles. The system employs a short focal length fresnel lens extruded to further include depending side walls. The free edges of the sides carry a heat sink supporting a photovoltaic cell. The extruded side walls function as light pipes for carrying light directly to the photovoltaic cell. The walls are reflective inwardly of the unit to further avoid loss of stray light.

Abstract: A golf simulating apparatus having a driving simulator and an actual green area adjacent thereto for simulating a complete game of golf, comprising apparatus for generating signals indicative of the velocity, trajectory and spin of a hit golf ball. A computer apparatus connected to the generating apparatus is provided for receipt of the signals and for processing the signals to determine the distance and location of the hit golf ball would have travelled on a golf course, the computer apparatus calculating the lie of the ball on a simulated hole. Also, display apparatus controlled by the computer apparatus is provided for projecting the simulated hole of golf so that as a golfer moves down the fairway the view of the hole from the golfers vantage point is displayed.

Abstract: A storable cover for covering the cabin portion of a vehicle carries storage means secured thereto to be disposed in the trunk of the vehicle or other suitable compartment in a manner anchoring the trailing edge of the cover when the cover is disposed onto the vehicle. The storage means is affixed firmly inside the trunk of the vehicle so as to locate part of the cover assembly within a locked compartment. The cover is deployed by being taken out of the storage means and fed from the trunk through the opening which is created between the raised trunk lid and the rear windshield or body of the vehicle.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for accurately balancing a wheel/tire assembly. The assembly is mounted onto a shaft of a dynamic wheel balancer to rotate therewith. The shaft and wheel/tire assembly are spun while the balancer senses and stores a first set of information (readings) indicating imbalance. Next, the wheel/tire assembly is released and reoriented at a different angle, for example 180 degrees, on the shaft of the balancer, followed by respinning the wheel/tire assembly while the balancer takes a second set of readings indicating imbalance under these changed conditions. The values of both sets of readings are stored and then compared to note the difference therebetween. The difference represents a measure of the aggregate actual and "apparent" imbalance. For example, if the reorientation is 180 degrees, then the difference will be twice the actual imbalance. If the reorientation is less than 180 degrees, then the difference will be proportionately less than twice the actual imbalance.

Abstract: A light weight, low speed, low cost dynamic balancing machine useful for wheel balancing includes a light weight base, sensors for detecting unbalanced signals and attendant noise, and a low energy drive employing a small electric motor driving elastic belts for rotating the body to be balanced.

Abstract: A wheel alignment and ball joint wear monitoring system employs a diagrammatic pictorial video display of the chassis of the vehicle being aligned and pictorial diagrams of alignment parameters associated with each of the wheels of the chassis. The region of each wheel when separately enlarged carries a chassis diagram indicating which wheel portion of the diagram has been enlarged. The system permits successive measurements of camber and of toe to be used to determine ball joint wear in the vertical and horizontal planes.

Abstract: A system and method for forming a custom-made resilient insert for a given person's shoe in which the contour of the support surface of the insert conforms to the contour of the undersurface of a person's foot.

Abstract: A drive shaft mounting assembly for dynamic wheel balancing machines includes force sensors supporting bearings at axially spaced positions of the shaft. The assembly further includes rods extending between the bearings in a manner absorbing the forces of run-out created at each bearing.

Abstract: A relatively lightweight base assembly for a dynamic wheel balancing machine is stabilized by filling a pliant plastic bag carried by the base assembly with a sufficient volume of pourable material, such as water, to provide a free form body of ballast. Also, a plurality of bags of a type to receive pourable sand can be filled with sand, as desired, for supplying ballast and for damping machine movements.

Abstract: A wheel alignment system and method for determining the thrust line of a vehicle and employing the thrust line when positioning the steerable wheels of the vehicle to a plane parallel to the thrust line as well as during the determination of set-back between laterally spaced wheels.

Abstract: A wheel balancing system for measuring imbalance forces derived from rotating an unbalanced wheel employs a stable pedestal of heavy, rigid material such as concrete or steel and a balancing assembly arranged to insure that all of the imbalance forces of a rotating unbalanced wheel and tire assembly will be directed via strain gauges in predetermined planes. A wheel balancing assembly measures imbalance forces acting in a given plane at a plurality of spaced positions disposed in spaced parallel planes with respect to a plane of rotation of the wheel.

Abstract: A transducer mount for a wheel balancer having a shaft and a drive belt which approaches the shaft from a given direction. A bearing block for the end of the shaft adjacent the drive belt is supported by a passive mount aligned with the given direction and an active mount spaced from the passive mount so that vibrations in the belt drive produce no moments about the passive mount that are sensed by the active mount. The wheel/tire assembly is attached to the end of the shaft remote from the belt drive, and there is a bearing block adjacent the wheel/tire assembly which is supported by an active mount and a passive mount that are spaced from one another by a distance greater than the space between the active mount and the passive mount for the bearing block adjacent the belt drive, thereby to increase the amplitude of forces applied to the active mount that is spaced farther from the wheel/tire assembly.