Abstract: A supporting member in a sole for an article of footwear including at least a vertical sub-member extending in both a vertical direction and a longitudinal direction that extends along a toe region to a heel region of the sole. Located within or adjacent to a cushioning member, the vertical sub-member has a curvature along the longitudinal direction wherein the curvature is configured to reduce flexion of the cushioning element and/or improve the durability of the supporting member. The supporting member further includes a horizontal sub-member extending from a sidewall of the vertical sub-member in a latitudinal direction of the sole and being angled away from the vertical sub-member and at least a portion of the vertical sub-member being coextensive with the vertical sub-member.

Abstract: A shoe fit measuring device, comprising: a replica human foot portion; pressure sensors; and distance gauges. The pressure sensors and distance gauges are configured to determine whether shoes being fit tested are the correct size. The replica human foot and the sensors may be configured to be inserted into the shoes being fit tested so that fit measurements may be taken.

Abstract: A supporting member in a sole for an article of footwear comprising at least a vertical sub-member extending in both a vertical direction and a longitudinal direction that extends along a toe region to a heel region of the sole. Located within or adjacent to a cushioning member, the vertical sub-member has a curvature along the longitudinal direction wherein the curvature is configured to reduce flexion of the cushioning element and/or improve the durability of the supporting member. The supporting member further comprises a horizontal sub-member extending from a sidewall of the vertical sub-member in a latitudinal direction of the sole and being angled away from the vertical sub-member and at least a portion of the vertical sub-member being coextensive with the vertical sub-member.

Abstract: A shoe fit measuring device, comprising: a replica human foot portion; pressure sensors; and distance gauges. The pressure sensors and distance gauges are configured to determine whether shoes being fit tested are the correct size. The replica human foot and the sensors may be configured to be inserted into the shoes being fit tested so that fit measurements may be taken.

Abstract: A shoe traction testing and measuring device, comprising a base frame, a rear leg assembly, a front leg assembly, a hip joint, and a piston. The piston is connected to the base frame and the rear leg assembly. A lower portion of the rear leg assembly is connected to the base frame and an upper portion of the rear leg assembly is connected to an upper portion of the front leg assembly at the hip joint. The front leg assembly comprises an articulating ankle and a replica foot, which is configured to don a shoe to be tested. When the piston actuates forward, the upper portion of the rear leg assembly tilts forward, which causes the front leg assembly to move forward and downward, simulating a step of a human, which causes the shoe on the replica foot to contact a force plate or a surface that is on top of the force plate.

Abstract: A shoe traction testing and measuring device, comprising a base frame, a rear leg assembly, a front leg assembly, a hip joint, and a piston. The piston is connected to the base frame and the rear leg assembly. A lower portion of the rear leg assembly is connected to the base frame and an upper portion of the rear leg assembly is connected to an upper portion of the front leg assembly at the hip joint. The front leg assembly comprises an articulating ankle and a replica foot, which is configured to don a shoe to be tested. When the piston actuates forward, the upper portion of the rear leg assembly tilts forward, which causes the front leg assembly to move forward and downward, simulating a step of a human, which causes the shoe on the replica foot to contact a force plate or a surface that is on top of the force plate.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a reinforced membrane-seal assembly includes: (i) providing a carrier material; (ii) providing a planar reinforcing component having one or more first regions including pores and a second region including pores, the first regions being patches and non-continuous and the second region surrounding the first regions and being continuous; (iii) depositing an ion-conducting component; (iv) drying the ion-conducting component; (v) depositing a seal component; (vi) drying the seal component (vii) removing the carrier material. In embodiments, ion-conducting component fills the pores in the first regions and seal component fills the pores in the second region; steps (ii), (iii) and (v) can be carried out in any order; step (iv) is carried out subsequent to step (iii); step (vi) is carried out subsequent to step (v); and steps (iv) and (vi) are carried out subsequent to step (ii). Also disclosed is an assembly prepared by such process.

Abstract: Disclosed is a reinforced membrane-seal assembly, the reinforced membrane-seal assembly including: an inner region and a border region and wherein the inner region includes ion-conducting component and the border region includes seal component; wherein first and second planar porous reinforcing components each extend across the inner region into the border region and wherein the pores of each of the first and second planar porous reinforcing components in the inner region are impregnated with ion-conducting component and the pores of each of the first and second planar porous reinforcing components in the border region are impregnated with seal component is disclosed. Also disclosed is a catalyst-coated reinforced membrane-seal assembly, a reinforced membrane-seal electrode assembly and an electrochemical device including the reinforced membrane-seal assembly.

Abstract: A reformate clean-up reactor. The reactor takes a reformate stream and passes it through multiple subreactors that are integrated into a common reactor housing to reduce reformate stream by-product concentration prior to use of the reformate in a fuel cell. The reactor includes a gas shift subreactor to promote the conversion of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide, a gaseous diffusion membrane subreactor to provide a hydrogen-rich portion of the reformate stream, and a methanation subreactor to convert carbon monoxide into methane and water. In applications where space for a fuel cell system is limited, the integration of the clean—up devices into a common housing provides significant improvements in structural and volumetric efficiency. Moreover, in at least one embodiment of the present invention, the juxtaposition of the gaseous diffusion membrane and the gas shift reactor improves membrane robustness.

Abstract: A reformate clean-up reactor. The reactor takes a reformate stream and passes it through multiple subreactors that are integrated into a common reactor housing to reduce reformate stream by-product concentration prior to use of the reformate in a fuel cell. The reactor includes a gas shift subreactor to promote the conversion of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide, a gaseous diffusion membrane subreactor to provide a hydrogen-rich portion of the reformate stream, and a methanation subreactor to convert carbon monoxide into methane and water. In applications where space for a fuel cell system is limited, the integration of the clean-up devices into a common housing provides significant improvements in structural and volumetric efficiency. Moreover, in at least one embodiment of the present invention, the juxtaposition of the gaseous diffusion membrane and the gas shift reactor improves membrane robustness.

Abstract: In a heat pump, e.g. comprising two adsorbers (1, 2), the adsorbers are monoliths having a multiplicity of open cells capable of flow-through of gas or vapor, and having a coating of an adsorbent, e.g. zeolite, for a fluid such as water vapor. Waste heat, e.g. from a vehicle engine, is supplied to heater (3), which heats up a heat transfer fluid pumped around the system by a reversible pump (11). Heat is lost to the ambient air by a cooler (4), and air from ambient, or recirculated air, is cooled by passing over an evaporator (6) for adsorbate fluid such as water, before entering a vehicle passenger compartment.

Abstract: This invention provides, in an easy manner, a film-like moulded article which shows a selective reflection of a wavelength and circularly polarized light. A suitable environment for formation of a liquid crystalline phase is prepared by forming a moulded article (thin film-like moulded article) using a cellulose derivative which can form the liquid crystalline phase (e.g. a water-insoluble cellulose derivative such as ethyl cellulose), and allowing the moulded article to absorb a highly volatile organic solvent by contact with its vapour. After formation of the liquid crystalline phase, removal of the organic solvent provides the object moulded article. The thin film-like moulded article can be employed for an optical element of a circular polarized light-generator or a decoration material.

Abstract: A process for the improved conversion of NO.sub.x in the exhaust gases from a light diesel engine using lean NO.sub.x catalyst converter in the exhaust system. The process is characterized in that unburned hydrocarbons are adsorbed into an adsorbent in the catalytic converter at temperatures below 190.degree. C. during cooler parts of the operating cycle, and are desorbed in the temperature range of 198.degree. to 200.degree. C. during hotter parts of the operating cycle. The desorbed hydrocarbons are combined with unburned hydrocarbons in the exhaust to form a composition stream having a higher amount of hydrocarbons than either constituent stream which are then oxidized at the same time as at least a portion of the NO.sub.x is catalytically reduced to form N.sub.2.