Abstract: A method of determining a performance metric of an athlete is provided. The method includes receiving, with a processing system, data from at least one limb of the athlete, determining an orientation of the at least one limb, and applying the orientation to the received data. The method also includes generating the performance metric of the at least one limb based on received data and orientation of the at least one limb.

Abstract: A puffer jacket configured to provide improved temperature regulation through graduated venting. In one embodiment, the jacket includes a back panel with baffles and insulation arranged to provide reduced insulation and increased venting of heat and humidity toward the center of the back. The back panel may include an alternating arrangement of insulation baffles (containing insulation) and vent baffles (free of insulation). The insulation baffles and vent baffles may be formed by joining inner and outer layers of fabric with laterally extending lines of stitching. The lines of stitching may follow paths selected to progressively change the relative size of the vent baffles and the insulation baffles toward the center of the back. For example, the lines of stitching may give the insulation baffles a somewhat hourglass shape shortening toward the center of the back resulting in increasingly greater venting of heat and humidity toward the center of the back.

Abstract: A puffer jacket configured to provide improved temperature regulation through graduated venting. In one embodiment, the jacket includes a back panel with baffles and insulation arranged to provide reduced insulation and increased venting of heat and humidity toward the center of the back. The back panel may include an alternating arrangement of insulation baffles (containing insulation) and vent baffles (free of insulation). The insulation baffles and vent baffles may be formed by joining inner and outer layers of fabric with laterally extending lines of stitching. The lines of stitching may follow paths selected to progressively change the relative size of the vent baffles and the insulation baffles toward the center of the back. For example, the lines of stitching may give the insulation baffles a somewhat hourglass shape shortening toward the center of the back resulting in increasingly greater venting of heat and humidity toward the center of the back.

Abstract: A puffer jacket configured to provide improved temperature regulation through graduated venting. In one embodiment, the jacket includes a back panel with baffles and insulation arranged to provide reduced insulation and increased venting of heat and humidity toward the center of the back. The back panel may include an alternating arrangement of insulation baffles (containing insulation) and vent baffles (free of insulation). The insulation baffles and vent baffles may be formed by joining inner and outer layers of fabric with laterally extending lines of stitching. The lines of stitching may follow paths selected to progressively change the relative size of the vent baffles and the insulation baffles toward the center of the back. For example, the lines of stitching may give the insulation baffles a somewhat hourglass shape shortening toward the center of the back resulting in increasingly greater venting of heat and humidity toward the center of the back.

Abstract: A garment is provided including an overlap panel, an intermediate panel seamlessly joined with a first lower portion at an outer fold, the intermediate panel including an upper portion disposed above the first lower portion, and an inner panel seamlessly joined with the upper portion at an inner fold, the inner panel extending downward beyond the first lower portion of the overlap panel. The overlap panel, the intermediate panel and the inner panel form a unitary, continuous textile or body. At least one of the intermediate panel and the inner panel define a plurality of vent holes that are concealed by the overlap panel. The vent holes promote venting of air from an interior of the garment to an exterior of the garment or vice versa. A related method of manufacture also is provided.

Abstract: A puffer jacket configured to provide improved temperature regulation through graduated venting. In one embodiment, the jacket includes a back panel with baffles and insulation arranged to provide reduced insulation and increased venting of heat and humidity toward the center of the back. The back panel may include an alternating arrangement of insulation baffles (containing insulation) and vent baffles (free of insulation). The insulation baffles and vent baffles may be formed by joining inner and outer layers of fabric with laterally extending lines of stitching. The lines of stitching may follow paths selected to progressively change the relative size of the vent baffles and the insulation baffles toward the center of the back. For example, the lines of stitching may give the insulation baffles a somewhat hourglass shape shortening toward the center of the back resulting in increasingly greater venting of heat and humidity toward the center of the back.

Abstract: A garment is provided including an overlap panel, an intermediate panel seamlessly joined with a first lower portion at an outer fold, the intermediate panel including an upper portion disposed above the first lower portion, and an inner panel seamlessly joined with the upper portion at an inner fold, the inner panel extending downward beyond the first lower portion of the overlap panel. The overlap panel, the intermediate panel and the inner panel form a unitary, continuous textile or body. At least one of the intermediate panel and the inner panel define a plurality of vent holes that are concealed by the overlap panel. The vent holes promote venting of air from an interior of the garment to an exterior of the garment or vice versa. A related method of manufacture also is provided.

Abstract: A method of animating a computer generation of a head and displaying the text of an electronic book, such that the head has a mouth which moves in accordance with the speech of the text of the electronic book to be output by the head and a word or group of words from the text is displayed while simultaneously being mimed by the mouth, wherein input text is divided into a sequence of acoustic units, which are converted to a sequence of image vectors and into a sequence of text display indicators. The sequence of image vectors is outputted as video such that the mouth of said head moves to mime the speech associated with the input text with a selected expression, and the sequence of text display indicators is output as video which is synchronized with the lip movement of the head.

Abstract: A method of animating a computer generation of a head and displaying the text of an electronic book, such that the head has a mouth which moves in accordance with the speech of the text of the electronic book to be output by the head and a word or group of words from the text is displayed while simultaneously being mimed by the mouth, said method comprising: inputting the text of said book; dividing said input text into a sequence of acoustic units; determining expression characteristics for the inputted text; calculating a duration for each acoustic unit using a duration model; converting said sequence of acoustic units to a sequence of image vectors using a statistical model, wherein said model has a plurality of model parameters describing probability distributions which relate an acoustic unit to an image vector, said image vector comprising a plurality of parameters which define a face of said head; converting said sequence of acoustic units into a sequence of text display indicators using an text dis

Abstract: A drilling assembly for drilling pipe into a drilling surface using a drill bit. The drilling assembly comprises a power unit, a thrust frame, a means for moving the thrust frame, a rotary and carriage assembly and a microprocessor adapted to control the load on the drill based upon the level of mud pressure in the assembly. The drilling assembly is adapted to drill pipe at any angle relative to the drilling surface between substantially parallel to the drilling surface and substantially perpendicular to the drilling surface. The method comprises providing a such drilling assembly, placing a drill pipe onto the drilling assembly, moving the thrust frame to a desired drilling angle, moving the rotary and carriage assembly into direct contact with the drill pipe, applying rotational, thrust and pull-back forces to the drill pipe, drilling the pipe into the drilling surface and controlling the load on the drill bit.

Abstract: A method designed for printing a durable, abrasion-resistant image on a non-porous, non-planar polymer surface. The method includes providing a substantially non-planar, polymer substrate having a non-porous surface onto which an image is to be printed with an inkjet printer, activating the polymer surface so as to promote cohesive and chemical bonding interactions between the polymer surface and at least one inkjet ink, applying a layer of an opaque, white, UV-polymerizable primer ink to the polymer surface with the inkjet printer, overlaying an inkjet image on top of the layer of opaque, white primer ink with the inkjet printer, wherein the image comprises a mosaic of dots of a plurality of UV-polymerizable inkjet inks applied by the inkjet printer, and finally, the inkjet inks are cured or “dried” by polymerizing with a UV light source. Activating increases the surface tension of the polymer surface such that the inks are able to bond to the surface.

Abstract: A method to grain refine and deoxidize a precious metal alloy or a master alloy includes the steps of (a) forming a precursor melt consisting essentially of constituents of the precious metal alloy or master alloy and inevitable impurities; (b) dispersing a compound selected from the group consisting of boron containing metal hydrides, boron containing metal fluorides and mixtures thereof throughout the precursor melt; and (c) solidifying the boron containing precious melt alloy or master alloy. One suitable compound is solid sodium borohydride (sodium tetrahydroborate). To minimize evaporation of the boron on contact with the precursor alloy melt, the sodium borohydride may be wrapped in a metal foil formed from constituents of the precious metal alloy or master alloy. The cast precious metal alloy or master alloy has been found to have a reduced number of hard spots and reduced silicon contamination when compared to conventional casting methods.

Abstract: A method to grain refine and deoxidize a precious metal alloy or a master alloy includes the steps of (a) forming a precursor melt consisting essentially of constituents of the precious metal alloy or master alloy and inevitable impurities; (b) dispersing a compound selected from the group consisting of boron containing metal hydrides, boron containing metal fluorides and mixtures thereof throughout the precursor melt; and (c) solidifying the boron containing precious melt alloy or master alloy. One suitable compound is solid sodium borohydride (sodium tetrahydroborate). To minimize evaporation of the boron on contact with the precursor alloy melt, the sodium borohydride may be wrapped in a metal foil formed from constituents of the precious metal alloy or master alloy. The cast precious metal alloy or master alloy has been found to have a reduced number of hard spots and reduced silicon contamination when compared to conventional casting methods.

Abstract: A zipper pull for an invisible zipper includes a housing having a recess on an inner surface thereof. The recess is configured to receive at least a portion of a slider of a zipper. The pull remains stationary with respect to the slider when not in use. Leading and trailing ends of the housing have sloped surfaces that are configured to be grasped by fingers of a user.