Abstract: A single-handed reefing system for a sailboat including a sail, halyard, reefing line and winch mechanism. The reefing line is secured to the leach of a flexible sail approximately half the distance between the head and foot and passes alternately through rows of grommets spaced generally horizontally on the sail and fairleads secured on the boom and a turning block on the mast to a winch located at the cockpit. A sail halyard is secured to the head of the sail and passes upward through a turning block located at the upper end of the mast and then downward to a turning block on the mast and then to the winch which has two drums, each with an appropriate circumference to allow the halyard wrapped in one direction on the first drum to lower the upper portion of the sail a distance and rate generally coincident with the lowering and reefing of the lower portion of the sail by the reefing line wrapped in the opposite direction on the second drum.

Abstract: A sport shoe device which prevents dorsiflexion or plantar flexion of the ankle past a predetermined optimum angle, while permitting tightening on the instep during further flexion of the leg relative to a ski boot contact surface. The device is preferably used with a ski boot including a sole, a shell defining a foot section connected to the sole and cuffs defining a leg section connected to the shell for forward and rearward movement of the cuffs relative to the shell. Overlying the sole is a movable footbed. The footbed is operatively connected to the shell, cuffs and instep strap by a yoke and cable or spring. Movement of the leg and cuffs relative to the foot and footbed beyond a predetermined angle pivots the footbed, tightening the instep strap on the instep while maintaining the predetermined flexion angle during further flexion.

Abstract: A teaching device for a sports implement (3,30,75,110) is disclosed including an electro-mechanical or electronic sensing device (1,35,84,116) incorporated in the sports implement (3,30,75,110) which interacts with the thing sported (5,36,90,119) to sense the configuration or proper or improper operation of the implement during actual play and by means of a signal or alarm (27,56,106,119) provide feedback of the configuration status to the sports participant.

Abstract: A device for limiting dorsiflexion past a chosen, optimum angle while permitting further forward flexion of the leg relative to the sport shoe contact surface. The device is advantageously used with a sport shoe including a sole, a shell mounted to the sole for receipt of the user's foot and an upwardly extending movable tongue or cuff mounted to the shell. The sole includes an upper foot supporting surface. In one embodiment the tongue is positioned so that dorsiflexion of the user's leg causes the tongue to move forward. The tongue is coupled to the upper foot supporting surface so that dorsiflexion between an initial angle and an optimum angle is relatively unrestrained but further dorsiflexion past the optimum angle is minimized or eliminated by the concurrent lifting of the upper foot supporting surface. In another embodiment the sole is a unitary member and the upper foot supporting surface is a part of the sole. In this embodiment a tongue assembly stops dorsiflexion past an optimum angle.

Abstract: A shoe (1, 30, 6) is disclosed in which there is a provided sensing means (16, 45, 66) for transmitting the force of shoe-support surface impact from the bottom of the lower sole (2, 31, 61) to the upper shell (3, 32, 62) and foot as the foot is moved toward the bottom of the lower sole. Means are provided (17, 50, 65, 67) for varying the amount of force transmitted and length of time that the force is transmitted from the lower sole (2, 31, 61) to the upper shell (3, 32, 62) and foot.

Abstract: A walker brace for temporary tightening from a close fit position during the support surface contact phase of gait when the patient'weight is applied to the sole to stabilize the leg, ankle and foot from undesirable movement. A leg support assembly (2) of the brace has multiple straps (15, 16) connected to an arm (4) for nesting the leg. A foot support assembly (3) has multiple straps (31, 32) connected to a foot support shell (28) for nesting the foot. An arm (5) is connected to the foot support shell (28) and articulates relative to the arm (4) at a controlled motion ankle hinge (6). A leg strap tightening mechanism (18) includes a tightening rod (20) and a cable (22) for progressive and differential tightening of the straps (15, 16) to stabilize the leg. A foot strap tightening mechanism (44) includes a buckle loop (34) and a cable (41) for tightening of the instep strap (32) to stabilize the foot.

Abstract: A walker brace for temporary tightening from a close fit position during the support surface contact phase of gait when the patient's weight is applied to the sole to stabilize the leg, ankle and foot from undesirable movement. In a preferred embodiment, a leg support assembly (2) of the brace has multiple straps (15, 16) connected to an arm (4) for nesting the leg. A foot support assembly (3) has multiple straps (31, 32) connected to a foot support shell (28) for nesting the foot. An arm (5) is connected to the foot support shell (28) and articulates relative to the arm (4) at a controlled motion ankle hinge (6). A leg strap tightening mechanism (18) includes a tightening rod (20) and a cable (22) for progressive and differential tightening of the straps (15, 16) to stabilize the leg. A foot strap tightening mechanism (44) includes a buckle loop (34) and a cable (41) for tightening of the instep strap (32) to stabilize the foot.

Abstract: A dynamic support (1, 30) is disclosed in which there is provided a fitting system (2, 31) for engaging body parts articulated to each other, arms (4, 5) attached to and extending from the fitting system and movable in attachment to each other remote from the fitting system, and tightening cables (19, 45) attached to the fitting system for dynamically temporarily tightening and balancing the fitting system on the body parts in response to movement of one body part relative to the other body part.

Abstract: A sport shoe comprising a lower tongue for engaging a foot pivotably secured to an upper tongue for engaging a leg and a tightening member coupled to the upper tongue. The tightening member extends forwardly from the upper tongue to overlay and movably engage the lower tongue to dynamically tighten and loosen the fit of the tongue on the foot as the upper tongue is moved.

Abstract: A shoe having a dynamic fitting and shock absorption system. Disposed within the shoe is an insert defined by a sensing means including a U-shaped pivot bar that straddles a movable footbed. The bar has an upper end attached to a strap extending over the instep and forefoot. The opposite end of the strap is attached to the footbed. The bar is pivotally secured to the sides of the footbed. The lower end of the bar rests on the shoe sole. Movement of the footbed in a downward direction upon foot strike pivots the bar toward a position parallel to the footbed dynamically tightening the strap on the foot and distributing a portion of the shock load to the midfoot and forefoot.

Abstract: A dynamic support (1, 40) is disclosed in which there is provided fitting system (2, 3) for engaging body parts articulated to each other, arms (4, 5) attached to and extending form the fitting system and movable attached to each other remote from the fitting system, and tightening cables (14, 71, 21, 6, 25) attached to the fitting system and arms for dynamically and temporarily tightening the fitting system differentially and progressively on the body parts in response to movement of one body part relative to the other body part.

Abstract: An alpine ski binding releasable toe piece is provided for holding the toe of a ski boot on a ski that allows for unimpeded forward movement of the ski boot along the ski upon ski binding release. The toe piece comprises an upstanding holding member hinged to a baseplate for engaging the toe of a ski boot, a spring member to pivot the holding member from the inoperative to operative position and a holding member engaging rib that requires that a greater force be applied to the holding member to move the holding member from the operative position to the inoperative position than from the inoperative to operative position.

Abstract: A sport shoe is disclosed in which there is provided a foot engaging means, a leg engaging means, and an assembly for moving the foot and leg engaging means for increasing the tightness of the fit of the shoe on the foot when the leg is moved forwardly and rearwardly relative to the foot from the normal position of the foot relative to the leg.

Abstract: A support including cuff components for engaging body parts articulated to each other about a joint, arms attached to and extending from the cuff components and pivotably attached to each other remote from the cuff components and in substantial alignment with the joint, and tightening cables attached to the cuff components and arms for temporarily increasing the tightness with which the cuff components engage the body parts in response to movement of one body part relative to the other body part.

Abstract: A ski boot having a cuff movably mounted to a lower shell at two or more mounting points. The mounting points each include a protrusion guided along an elongate path to allow a combination of relative pivotal and linear movement between the cuff and shell. The paths, typically slots, are located and configured so that the lower leading edge of the cuff moves along a path generally parallel to the instep of the lower shell. A connector can be mounted to and between the lower shell and the cuff to limit rearward movement of the front cuff to one or more positions corresponding to optimum initial angles of the user's lower leg. The connector can also include a spring to resist forward movement of the cuff.

Abstract: In a ski binding 1 there is provided ski boot heel locating members 30, 31 for locating a ski boot mounted plate 3 between a pair of clamping members 16, 17. The plate member 3 is provided with curved lateral edges 4, 5 the forward edge of which is provided with a length and angle for moving the plate 3 and the ski boot 2 to which it is attached forwardly at a distance sufficient for the heel of the ski boot 2 to clear the forward edge of the heel locating members 30, 31 during a lateral release as the plate 3 and clamping members 16, 17 are engaged. The ski boot heel is provided with a wedge-shaped tab 36 extending rearwardly, while the heel locating members are notched 39, 40 to receive and retain the tab corners during lowering of the boot into the binding. Openings 41, 42 are located at the bottom of each notch to permit release of the tab in the forward direction when the boot is fully lowered against the ski.

Abstract: A shoe having a shock absorber therein. In one embodiment, the shock absorber includes an inflatable member having a hole placing the interior of the inflatable member in fluid communication with the atmosphere. The shock absorber is restrained by a stabilizing structure against lateral instability. The stabilizing structure is in the form of a box of any one of several configurations. During foot strike, air is forced out of the inflatable member to cushion the heel while the stabilizing structure keeps it stable in the shoe. During toe-off of the shoe and swing-through to the foot strike, atmospheric air enters the inflatable member and inflates the same so that the member is ready to cushion the foot during the next foot strike. Several embodiments of the shock absorber are disclosed.

Abstract: A toothbrush comprising an elongate, flexible, one-piece bristle 10 having a rounded end and textured with tooth cleansing elements 14 on the side of the bristle. A free end 18 of the bristle is thin enough to penetrate the space between the teeth and the gums. Opposite its free end, the bristle has a generally cylindrical stem 20. A toothbrush holder 50 is provided having a conventionally shaped handle end 52 and a tip end 54 defining a cylindrical opening 56. The cylindrical stem 20 of the bristle is rotatably engageable in the cylindrical opening 56 of the tip 54. In an alternative embodiment, the cleansing elements 14 are offset from and directed toward the toothbrush holder 50 pivot axis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to internal fitting systems for sport shoes in general, and in particular to a novel internal fitting system for a ski boot used for downhill skiing or the like.

Abstract: A step-in side-clamp safety ski release system includes an over-center mechanism having a lever member pivotally coupled intermediate its ends to a connecting member. When the lever member is pivoted in a first direction, it slidably engages a housing for moving the lever member and connecting member against a spring force for opening a pair of side-clamping members. Pivoting of the lever member in an opposite direction disengages the lever member from the housing, permitting the lever member and connecting member to move with the spring force for closing the side-clamp members. A means for receiving the tip of a ski pole is provided to pivot the lever member in a first direction to open the clamping members; means are also provided for receiving the heel of a ski boot to pivot the lever member in a second direction to close the clamping members.