Abstract: A sportsboard such as a snowboard or wakeboard includes board structure having a handle structure defining a generally smooth surface to be grasped by at least a portion of a hand of the user such that (1) the user may remain in contact with the board structure when the bottom surface of the board structure is out of contact with the medium being ridden and (2) the board structure may be transported by hand more easily by the user. In one embodiment, an opening sufficiently sized to receive the forefingers of a rider's hand is formed in at least one end of the sportsboard. In another embodiment, at least two openings are formed on at least one end of the sportsboard, the two openings being on opposite sides of a lengthwise center axis of the sportsboard. In a third embodiment, at least one end of the sportsboard is rolled-up sufficiently to form a lip which can be grasped by the thumb or forefingers of a rider.

Abstract: An electronic shelf label mounting system which protects an electronic shelf label from damage. The mounting system includes a rail having rounded top and bottom surfaces and a channel containing an electronic display module. In the preferred embodiment, the channel is wider than the electronic display module. A cover protects the electronic display module from damage from causes such as contact with shopping carts. A hinge member pivotally couples the cover to the rail. In a second embodiment, the cover is hingeless. The preferred embodiment further includes wireless electrical connections between the electronic display module and the rail, including power and signal connections, and ground connections at a location sufficient to minimize static discharge between the ground connections and the power and signal connections. The preferred embodiment also includes a downwardly biased flexible locking pawl for locking the electronic display module in the channel which engages a groove within the channel.

Abstract: A wireless pointing device which sits in the palm of a user's hand. The palm mouse includes a first portion which includes a ball for generating pointing signals, a control circuit for processing the pointing signals, a top section having a top surface which is generally ovoid in shape, and a bottom section having a bottom surface which is generally flat in shape and which contains an aperture through which the ball protrudes. A second portion includes a J-shaped flexible member attached to the first portion for cupping the hand. A communication circuit includes a transmitter within the first portion, a first antenna within the J-shaped member, a power supply within the first portion, a receiver coupled to the computer, and a second antenna coupled to the receiver. A preferred embodiment of the palm mouse has at least one switch on the J-shaped member, which is activated by the user's thumb.

Abstract: A sports board (e.g., a snowboard, ski, or surfboard) has a sensor panel comprising a plurality of individual sensors on a surface thereof such that deflection or vibration of surface of the sports board due to contact with a surface of the medium being ridden (e.g. snow or water) causes the individual sensors of the sensor panel to detect such contact. Each sensor on the sensor panel may be a simple switch, piezoelectric sensor, strain gauge, or a variable resistance type sensor. The sensors are monitored so as to detect the points of contact of the lower surface of the sports board with the snow or water. Detailed information related to the contact between the sports board and the snow or water is processed so as to provide auditory, visual or training information.

Abstract: An electronic shelf label protective cover whose size is independent of the size of an electronic display module for displaying price information, and whose size is sufficient to contain a display tag containing information other than price.

Abstract: A portable bar code scanner includes a housing member having a pair of sloping supporting surfaces oriented at an angle to each other and a floor portion on which is mounted a reflecting mirror. One of the sloping supporting surfaces includes a transparent substrate. A source of scanning light beams such as a hand-held scanner is mounted adjacent the other sloping supporting surface for projecting a plurality of scanning light beams in the form of a scanning pattern at the reflecting mirror which reflects the scan pattern onto the transparent substrate over which a bar code label is passed enabling the scanning light beams to scan the bar code label. A number of embodiments are disclosed for mounting the hand-held scanner adjacent the other sloping supporting surfaces and include an embodiment of the housing member rotatably mounted for movement to a number of rotated positions.