Abstract: A method of determining at least one fuel characteristic of a fuel provided to a gas turbine engine of an aircraft includes making an operational change, the operational change being effected by a controllable component of a propulsion system of which the gas turbine engine forms a part, and being arranged to affect operation of the gas turbine engine, sensing a response to the operational change; and determining the at least one fuel characteristic based on the response to the operational change.

Abstract: A seat cushion includes a flexible base having a pandurate shape symmetrical and foldable along the centerline thereof. An undulant pattern of cells is disposed on one side of the base and extend outwardly from each side of the centerline to a base perimeter with each of the cells being defined by a fabric adhered to the base in the undulant pattern. A gel is provided which fills each of the cells.

Abstract: Cycle pants include a body portion having a waist opening, a crotch portion and a seat portion along with a breathable cushion attached to an inside surface of the body portion which includes a perineal portion covering the crotch portion and the buttocks portion covering the seat portion. The buttocks portion has a width greater than the perineal portion and includes two spaced apart lobes for providing flexible anatomical support.

Abstract: A method for making a resilient material includes providing a particulate polymer, discrete pieces of foam, a foaming agent and a plasticizer. The polymer, foam pieces and plasticizer are mixed and disposed in a mold. The mold is heated to cause melting of the polymer without melting of the foam. After coating of the melted polymer, a heterogeneous resilient cushion is formed with gelated polymer surrounding the discrete foam pieces.

Abstract: A seat cushion includes a pair of generally flat pads for supporting a user's buttocks and a handle disposed between the pads for carrying the seat cushion. Arms, interconnecting the pads and the handle are provided for holding the pads in both a spaced apart relationship and enabling grasping of the handle by a user. The arms are flexible for enabling the pads to be oriented in both a planar relationship for supporting the user's buttocks and a coplanar relationship for enabling transport of the seat cushion by the handle.

Abstract: A baseless cushion includes a pad with a layer of stable elastomeric block polymer gel with a pad having an opposite top and bottom surfaces, opposite longitudinally extending sides and opposite longitudinally spaced ends. A frame is provided for supporting the pad only along the, spaced ends or sides thereof.

Abstract: A resilient cushion includes a base sheet and a cover sheet sealed to the base sheet along spaced apart strips to form a matrix of sac like areas therebetween. A gel fills each of the sac like areas and a plurality of openings through the base and cover sheets along the strips are provided for enabling the passage of a fluid therethrough. The resilient cushion may include sac like areas disposed on both sides of a base layer and the use of gels of different resiliency may be utilized to provide a tailoring of overall cushioning resiliency.

Abstract: A cushion includes a formed or stretchable sheet, or cover, and a core. The core includes individual and separate particulates and an oil for enabling lubricated movement of the particulates within the core in response to an outside force applied to the sheet. Particulates may include a combination of polymers and foam materials particularly open celled foam materials that may be partially filled with the oil upon forming of the cushion.

Abstract: A method for making a resilient cushion includes providing a particulate polymer, discrete pieces of foam and a plasticizer. The polymer, foam pieces and plasticizer are mixed and disposed in a mold. The mold is heated to cause melting of the polymer without melting of the foam. After coating of the melted polymer, a heterogeneous resilient cushion is formed with gelated polymer surrounding the discrete foam pieces.

Abstract: A method for making a resilient material includes providing a particulate polymer, discrete pieces of foam and a plasticizer. The polymer, foam pieces and plasticizer are mixed and disposed in a mold. The mold is heated to cause melting of the polymer without melting of the foam. After coating of the melted polymer, a heterogeneous resilient cushion is formed with gelated polymer surrounding the discrete foam pieces.

Abstract: A breathable cushion includes a base sheet having a circumference in a matrix of openings therethrough along with a cover sheet having a matrix of openings aligned with the base sheet openings and sealed to the base sheet along the base sheet circumference. A gel is disposed between the base and cover sheets with the gel being continuous between the base sheet and the cover sheet openings. The cover sheet is sealed to the base sheet or on each of the base sheet openings for forming a matrix of pockets with each pocket surrounding a sheet opening.

Abstract: A decorative elastic cushion is manufactured with an elastomer having the physical properties of flexibility and compressibility in a range of flexibilities and compressibilities of stable elastomeric block polymer gels. A film is provided for encapsulating the elastomer and the film includes physical properties of flexibility to enable uninhibited flexure and compression of the elastomer by a user. Decorative printing is disposed on a film interior side facing the elastomer in order to provide photo-like logos and decorations to the cushion, while having a film exterior surface resistant to abrasion and enabling cleaning thereof without affecting the decorative pattern. Printing of the film is effected by heat contacting the film with a printed paper.

Abstract: A bicycle saddle system includes a plurality of molded bottom shells, each having a different resiliency, a plurality of molded top shells, each having a different resiliency and rails for attaching the bicycle saddle to a bicycle. Grooves in the top and bottom shells are provided for releasably fixing the rails therebetween and a cushion is removably attached to one of the top and one of the bottom shells. Selection of top and bottom molded shells provides for tailoring resiliency of the bicycle saddle.

Abstract: An elastomer film laminated cushion includes an elastomer having the physical properties of flexibility and compressibilities in the range of flexibilities and compressibilities of stable elastomer block polymer gels. A film is provided for encapsulating the elastomer with the film having physical properties of flexibility to enable uninhibited flexure compression of the elastomer by a user. A compatibilizing layer is provided for laminating the film to an exterior of the elastomer. The compatibilizing layer also has physical properties of flexibility to enable uninhibited flexure and compression of the elastomer by the user.

Abstract: A method for making a resilient material includes providing a particulate polymer, discrete pieces of foam, a foaming agent and a plasticizer. The polymer, foam pieces and plasticizer are mixed and disposed in a mold. The mold is heated to cause melting of the polymer without melting of the foam. After coating of the melted polymer, a heterogeneous resilient cushion is formed with gelated polymer surrounding the discrete foam pieces.

Abstract: A decorative elastic cushion is manufactured with an elastomer having the physical properties of flexibility and compressibility in a range of flexibilities and compressibilities of stable elastomeric block polymer gels. A film is provided for encapsulating the elastomer and the film includes physical properties of flexibility to enable uninhibited flexure and compression of the elastomer by a user. Decorative printing is disposed on a film interior side facing the elastomer in order to provide photo-like logos and decorations to the cushion, while having a film exterior surface resistant to abrasion and enabling cleaning thereof without affecting the decorative pattern. Printing of the film is effected by heat contacting the film with a printed paper.

Abstract: A bicycle saddle hanger and packaging device, for use with a bicycle saddle having a pair of converging mounting rails, is provided. The device generally includes a display card, a pair of arms for slidably bracing a rail of a bicycle saddle, and a tapered tongue, extending between the display card and arms, for stabilizing a saddle suspended from the device during display. The device may further include a pair of shoulders for abutting the rails during the display. Between the shoulders and the arms, a pair of V-shaped slots may be provided for enabling the sliding of the display card and arms along the rails in order to facilitate stacked packaging of a plurality of such saddles on top of one another. The entire hanger and packaging device may be comprised of a single planar member. In addition, the invention provides a package of stacked bicycle saddles, each including such a hanger and packaging device.

Abstract: An elastomer film laminated cushion includes an elastomer having the physical properties of flexibility and compressibilities in the range of flexibilities and compressibilities of stable elastomer block polymer gels. A film is provided for encapsulating the elastomer with the film having physical properties of flexibility to enable uninhibited flexure compression of the elastomer by a user. A compatibilizing layer is provided for laminating the film to an exterior of the elastomer. The compatibilizing layer also has physical properties of flexibility to enable uninhibited flexure and compression of the elastomer by the user.