Abstract: A belt drive configured to cooperate with a drive mechanism is disclosed. The belt drive includes a drive belt pulley reciprocally coupled to the drive mechanism such that the drive mechanism reciprocally translates between a power stroke and a return stroke, a driven pulley reciprocally coupled to the drive belt pulley via a drive belt such that the drive belt include a plurality of asymmetrical drive teeth configured to cooperate with a plurality of asymmetrical driven teeth disposed on the driven pulley, and an engagement mechanism disposed substantially adjacent to the drive belt and the driven pulley such that the engagement mechanism is configured to cooperate with the drive belt during the power stroke, and the drive belt substantially disengages the driven pulley during the return stroke.

Abstract: A dampening assembly includes an elongated plate, an elastomeric pad, and a series of bolts located along a centerline of the ski. The bolts are inserted through slots along the centerline of the plate and through openings in the elastomeric pad before being tightened into threaded nuts fixed to the ski. A rigid spacer is secured within each opening in the elastomeric pad. The spacers each include a raised portion with a hole defined within it to receive one of the mounting bolts. The raised portion is freely slidable within the slot of the plate when the plate is positioned on top of the pad. The pad is thus sandwiched between the metal plate and the ski to dampen vibration between them. Dampening of the plate is further assisted by the placement of a small elastomeric insert between the raised portion and one of the ends of the slot.

Abstract: A pressurizing cap for a conventional tennis ball container includes a sleeve that defines an internal sealing surface shaped to seal against a lip defined by the tennis ball container as the sleeve is moved axially along a stroke when the sleeve is applied to the container. The pressurizing cap includes an end panel sealed to a closed end of the sleeve and the cap defines an annular recess adjacent to the sealing surface near the end panel. This recess is shaped to receive the annular lip and to hold the cap releasably in place on the container. The cap can be placed on the container and then moved axially into position on the container without rotation. The sliding seal created between the lip of the container and the internal sealing surface causes movement of the cap toward the container to pressurize the container.

Abstract: A split rotary seal ring is cut from an integral workpiece by forming a kerf which is inclined at a constant angle with respect to axial faces of the workpiece, thereby cutting the workpiece into two mating seal ring segments. The kerf is shaped to provide a 360.degree. radial interlock between the two seal ring segments. The two segments are then moved axially with respect to one another to close the kerf, and one or both of the axial faces are then finished to provide the seal faces of the seal ring. This geometry and method result in a seal ring in which neither the inner nor outer cylindrical surfaces must be refinished after the original one piece workpiece has been split into the two seal ring segments.