Abstract: An apparatus and method for improving batting a baseball is provided. The apparatus includes at least one hollow tube and at least one substantially solid tube, both formed with openings at opposing ends. A handle is removably attachable to one end of the tubes. A plug is insertable into one opening in the tubes for eliminating bat deformation from ball-to-bat impacts. A cap is included in the other end of the tubes for controlling acoustics, thus providing a sound on ball-to-bat impact comparable to that of conventionally dimensioned wood bats. A grip knob is provided at one end of the handle for restraining hands during swinging. A compressible sleeve is slidably engageable with the handle for providing a hand grip. The apparatus and method for improving batting is used in combination with a training regimen to improve batting skills.

Abstract: Methods of refinishing differently configured brakes are disclosed that include constructing a reversible flange plate by forming a body with a hollow bore extending through the center of the body, installing rings adjacent a hollow bore in the body, and manipulating the body in such a way as to allow the body to be mounted on a brake lathe to refinish differently configured brakes.

Abstract: A adapter assembly for refinishing a hubbed rotor is provided. The adapter assembly for a hubbed rotor includes an adapter drum and a self-centering bearing mechanism sleeve mountable on a brake lathe arbor to secure a hubbed rotor during a refinishing operation.

Abstract: The specification and drawing figures describe and show a drumstick system that includes a percussion member from which a tubular body extends. The percussion member includes a plug connectable to a drumhead contact tip is attached. One end of a hollow cylindrical tube having a sleeve or color coating is connected to the percussion member. The other end of the hollow cylindrical tube is attached to a neck. Metal spacers are mountable on the tubular body and neck. Mufflers are inserted into the tubular body and neck. A plurality of sleeves is provided for replaceably mounting on the drumstick system or on any drumstick made of any materials.

Abstract: A reversible flange plate for refinishing differently configured brakes on a brake lathe adapter is provided. The reversible flange plate includes a body formed with a hollow bore extending substantially through the center of the body. Opposing rings adjacent the bore are provided for holding a brake during operation of the brake lathe. Opposing lips are provided that extend inwardly from the bore from the peripheral edge of the reversible flange plate, and include a ledge that is engageable with a plane of the brake during operation. In addition, an annular disc is provided with a ledge, between the opposing rings and the opposing lips, for further engagement with a plane of the brake during operation. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure, but this abstract is not to be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of any claim. See 37 CFR 1.72(b).

Abstract: A reversible flange plate for refinishing differently configured brakes on a brake lathe adapter is provided. The reversible flange plate includes a body formed with a hollow bore extending substantially through the center of the body. Opposing rings adjacent the bore are provided for holding a brake during operation of the brake lathe. Opposing lips are provided that extend inwardly from the bore from the peripheral edge of the reversible flange plate, and include a ledge that is engageable with a plane of the brake during operation. In addition, an annular disc is provided with a ledge, between the opposing rings and the opposing lips, for further engagement with a plane of the brake during operation. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure, but this abstract is not to be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of any claim.

Abstract: A hubbed rotor adapter plate for refinishing a hubbed rotor is provided. The hubbed rotor adapter plate includes an adapter drum and a self-centering bearing mechanism sleeve mountable on a brake lathe arbor to secure a hubbed rotor during a refinishing operation.

Abstract: A tool for refinishing a workpiece such as a brake drum includes an arm for a user to grasp the refinishing tool during operation. A pivotal swivel member is connectable to the arm. The swivel member is formed with an asymmetrical shoulder for compressively and rigidly fixing the swivel member and arm in a fixed linear alignment coincident with a longitudinal axis through the arm and swivel member during a refinishing operation. The asymmetrical shoulder also orients the swivel member in any angular position within a continuous range between zero degrees and forty-five degrees in one direction from the fixed linear alignment. A coupler is formed in the arm and in the swivel member to removably connect the swivel member and the arm. A plurality of demountable locking devices is included for variably positioning the swivel member in relation to the arm. A cutter is detachably mountable on the swivel member, and is adapted to refinish the rotating workpiece on a lathe.

Abstract: The specification and drawing figures describe and show an ergonomic durable drumstick that includes a percussion member from which a tubular body extends. The percussion member includes a plug having annular rings protruding from the outer surface of the plug on which a drumhead contact tip is attached. One end of a hollow cylindrical tube having a sleeve or color coating is connected to the percussion member. The other end of the hollow cylindrical tube is attached to a neck. Spacers are mountable on the tubular body and neck. Mufflers are inserted into the tubular body and neck.

Abstract: A self-aligning arbor nut system is disclosed. The self-aligning arbor nut system, according to the present invention, includes a body formed with a duct substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of the body. A substantially circular ring known as a swivel also is provided. The ring is engageable with either end of the duct. An o-ring is included. The o-ring is engageable with a groove in the wall of the ring, and with a slot formed on the inner surface of the duct at both ends of the duct to reverse engagement of the nut with an arbor. The swivel is engageable with at least one end of the body, and in fact is engageable with both ends of the body. When mounted on an arbor, the swivel aligns and helps prevent a bent or distorted arbor. A circumferential depression may be formed around the outside surface of the body. One or more bores is formed in the circumferential depression for manipulation with a key.

Abstract: A housing and hub for an apparatus for securing a workpiece to a rotatable machine member are provided. The machine may include a lathe. The workpiece includes a rotor such a brake rotor. The apparatus includes a hub slidably engageable with a rotatable driven shaft of the lathe. The hub is formed with a first banded channel. Also included is a centering device axially positionable on the shaft. A spring having a distal end demountably insertable in the hub, and a proximal end connectable to the centering device, is included. The apparatus also includes a retaining ring attachable to the hub for retaining the centering device in the hub. A housing is provided that is freely movable axially on the shaft for securing the rotor substantially vertically on the shaft. The housing is formed with a second banded channel. A locking nut is included to secure the components of the apparatus on a machine member.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for improving batting a baseball is provided. The apparatus includes at least one tube formed with a substantially uniform cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tube. Also included is a handle removably attachable to one end of the tube. A grip knob is provided at one end of the handle for restraining hands during swinging. A compressible sleeve is slidably engageable with the handle for providing a hand grip. The apparatus and method for improving batting is used in combination with a training regimen to improve batting skills.

Abstract: A self-aligning arbor nut system is disclosed. The self-aligning arbor nut system, according to the present invention, includes a body formed with a duct substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of the body. A substantially circular ring known as a swivel also is provided. The ring is engageable with either end of the duct. An o-ring is included. The o-ring is engageable with a groove in the wall of the ring, and with a slot formed on the inner surface of the duct at both ends of the duct to reverse engagement of the nut with an arbor. The swivel is engageable with at least one end of the body, and in fact is engageable with both ends of the body. When mounted on an arbor, the swivel aligns and helps prevent a bent or distorted arbor. A circumferential depression may be formed around the outside surface of the body. One or more bores is formed in the circumferential depression for manipulation with a key.

Abstract: A removably mountable cleat. The cleat includes a plate. One end of a shaft is connected to the plate. The shaft may be connected substantially to the center of the plate. The other end of the shaft is formed with threads for removably mounting the cleat on footwear. The plate and shaft are inserted into a mold containing a compressively yieldable elastomeric material which forms a body around the plate and the shaft. The elastomeric body also is formed with a lower surface that comes in contact with turf or other facilities and equipment associated with a sport and athletic activity. The lower surface of the elastomeric body that may be in contact with turf or other facilities and equipment associated with a sport and athletic activity is formed to include one or more concentric annular rings. The lower surface of the elastomeric body also is formed with a hemispherical chamber within the smallest of the concentric annular rings.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing harmonics and vibrations of a rotatable base piece, such as a brake rotor to be resurfaced or refinished, is provided. A plurality of interconnected chain links are included. The plurality of chain links are sized for maximum contact with the rotatable base piece. The plurality of chain links are interconnected to form a belt assembly open at the ends. One or more demountably selectively attachable connectors for securing the belt assembly to the rotatable base piece also are included. In a preferred embodiment, the one or more demountably selectively attachable connectors is a spring member. Each spring member includes a nonidentical length arm extending monolithically from the ends of the spring member. In addition, a semi-circular hook members is provided on one end of the nonidentical length arm. No other mechanical structural elements are included.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing harmonics and vibrations of a rotatable base piece, such as a brake rotor to be resurfaced or refinished, is provided. A plurality of interconnected chain links are included. The plurality of chain links are sized for maximum contact with the rotatable base piece. The plurality of chain links are interconnected to form a belt assembly open at the ends. One or more demountably selectively attachable connectors for securing the belt assembly to the rotatable base piece also are included. In a preferred embodiment, the one or more demountably selectively attachable connectors is a spring member. Each spring member includes a nonidentical length arm extending monolithically from the ends of the spring member. In addition, a semi-circular hook members is provided on one end of the nonidentical length arm. No other mechanical structural elements are included.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing harmonics and vibrations of a rotating base piece. The apparatus includes a plurality of chain links. The plurality of chain links are interconnected to form a belt assembly open at the ends. The belt assembly has a leading end and a following end. The chain links are interconnected between the leading end and the following end. An apparatus for reducing harmonics and vibrations of a rotating base piece also includes a spring member. The spring member is connectable to the leading end and the following end of the belt. The belt may be attached to a rotating base piece for reducing harmonics and vibrations of a rotating base piece during rotation of the rotating base piece.

Abstract: A housing and hub for an apparatus for securing a workpiece to a rotatable machine member are provided. The machine may include a lathe. The workpiece includes a rotor such a brake rotor. The apparatus includes a hub slidably engageable with a rotatable driven shaft of the lathe. The hub is formed with a first banded channel. Also included is a centering device axially positionable on the shaft. A spring having a distal end demountably insertable in the hub, and a proximal end connectable to the centering device, is included. The apparatus also includes a retaining ring attachable to the hub for retaining the centering device in the hub. A housing is provided that is freely movable axially on the shaft for securing the rotor substantially vertically on the shaft. The housing is formed with a second banded channel. A locking nut is included to secure the components of the apparatus on a machine member.

Abstract: An apparatus for securing a workpiece to a rotatable machine member. The machine may include a lathe. The workpiece includes a rotor such a brake rotor. The apparatus for securing a workpiece to a machine member includes a hub slidably engageable with a rotatable driven shaft of the lathe. Also included is a centering device axially positionable on the shaft. A spring having a distal end demountably insertable in the hub, and a proximal end connectable to the centering device, is included. The apparatus also includes a retaining ring attachable to the hub for retaining the centering device in the hub. A housing is provided that is freely movable axially on the shaft for securing the rotor substantially vertically on the shaft. A locking nut is included to secure the components of the apparatus on a machine member.

Abstract: An article of display removably attachable to an object includes a base having an outer surface and an inner surface. Two or more rods each having a proximal end and a tapered distal end are mounted on the inner surface of the base. One or more notches may be formed in each rod. Each notch is disposed between the proximal end and the tapered distal end of each rod. The article of display is attached to an object by applying pressure against the outer surface of the base.