Abstract: A hitting system for sports training includes a ball attached to a flexible mast. The flexible mast may be mounted to a base with more than five sidewalls, which inhibits movement of the system in any one direction after the ball is struck by the user. The mast may project upward from the base. Some embodiments include a weighted basket, which may be filled for example with a plurality of the same type of ball mounted to the flexible mast. Some embodiments may be configured for training with lightweight balls, for example pickle balls. The mast may include a securing mechanism which attaches around one of the pre-existing holes of the ball's shell. In some embodiments, the mast may be modular including a mechanism to detach from and reattach to the basket at the user's will. When detached, the mast becomes a hand-held hitting system.

Abstract: A hitting system for sports training includes a ball attached to a flexible mast. The flexible mast may be mounted to a base with more than five sidewalls, which inhibits movement of the system in any one direction after the ball is struck by the user. The mast may project upward from the base. Some embodiments include a weighted basket, which may be filled for example with a plurality of the same type of ball mounted to the flexible mast. Some embodiments may include an adjustable mount assembly which allows the user to adjust an angle of the mast relative to the ground so that the ball may be hit at different lateral and elevational positions. In some embodiments, the mast may be modular including a mechanism to detach from and reattach to the basket at the user's will. When detached, the mast becomes a hand-held hitting system.

Abstract: A hitting system for sports training includes a ball attached to a flexible mast. The flexible mast may be mounted to a base with more than five sidewalls, which inhibits movement of the system in any one direction after the ball is struck by the user. The mast may project upward from the base. Some embodiments include a weighted basket, which may be filled for example with a plurality of the same type of ball mounted to the flexible mast. Some embodiments may be configured for training with lightweight balls, for example pickle balls. The mast may include a securing mechanism which attaches around one of the pre-existing holes of the ball's shell. In some embodiments, the mast may be modular including a mechanism to detach from and reattach to the basket at the user's will. When detached, the mast becomes a hand-held hitting system.

Abstract: A hitting system for sports training includes a ball attached to a flexible pole. In some embodiments, the flexible pole may be mounted to a base with more than five sidewalls, which inhibits movement of the system in any one direction after the ball is struck by the user. The pole may project upward from the base. Some embodiments include a weighted basket, which may be filled for example with a plurality of the same type of ball mounted to the flexible pole. Some embodiments may include a clamping system to mount the pole and ball to a fence so that the ball is parallel to the floor.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward an automation control device including a base having a module slot, a functional module including communication and control circuitry configured to communicatively couple with the base via the module slot, a terminal block configured to communicatively couple the base and the first functional module with field wiring, a first power bus configured to transmit a first power to the functional module, and a second power bus configured to transmit a second power to the functional module.

Abstract: An exercise weight comprises a plate having a width, a length and a thickness. The length is substantially greater than the width, and the width is substantially greater than the thickness. The plate has opposed longitudinal edges and opposed end edges, and has opposed lengthwise grip apertures adjacent respective longitudinal edges and opposed end grip apertures adjacent respective end edges. The grip apertures cooperate with their respective edges to form lengthwise handgrips and end handgrips. A barbell comprises a main support portion for receiving exercise weights and which includes at least one mounting projection adapted to be received in a corresponding aperture in one of the exercise weights to support the exercise weight on the barbell. Opposed lifting handles extend outwardly from opposite ends of the main support portion and an elongated lifting bar is carried by and spaced from the main support portion.

Abstract: An exercise weight comprises a plate having a width, a length and a thickness. The length is substantially greater than the width, and the width is substantially greater than the thickness. The plate has opposed longitudinal edges and opposed end edges, and has opposed lengthwise grip apertures adjacent respective longitudinal edges and opposed end grip apertures adjacent respective end edges. The grip apertures cooperate with their respective edges to form lengthwise handgrips and end handgrips. A barbell comprises a main support portion for receiving exercise weights and which includes at least one mounting projection adapted to be received in a corresponding aperture in one of the exercise weights to support the exercise weight on the barbell. Opposed lifting handles extend outwardly from opposite ends of the main support portion and an elongated lifting bar is carried by and spaced from the main support portion.

Abstract: An exercise weight comprises a plate having a width, a length and a thickness. The length is substantially greater than the width, and the width is substantially greater than the thickness. The plate has opposed longitudinal edges and opposed end edges, and has opposed lengthwise grip apertures adjacent respective longitudinal edges and opposed end grip apertures adjacent respective end edges. The grip apertures cooperate with their respective edges to form lengthwise handgrips and end handgrips. A barbell comprises a main support portion for receiving exercise weights and which includes at least one mounting projection adapted to be received in a corresponding aperture in one of the exercise weights to support the exercise weight on the barbell. Opposed lifting handles extend outwardly from opposite ends of the main support portion and an elongated lifting bar is carried by and spaced from the main support portion.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward an automation control device including a base having a module slot, a functional module including communication and control circuitry configured to communicatively couple with the base via the module slot, a terminal block configured to communicatively couple the base and the first functional module with field wiring, a first power bus configured to transmit a first power to the functional module, and a second power bus configured to transmit a second power to the functional module.

Abstract: A system and/or method for synchronizing one or more modules of an industrial controller relative to a common time base. A module may be programmed and/or configured to employ an activation interval for controlling periodic activation for sampling one or more inputs and/or applying data at outputs of the module. The module synchronizes its activation interval based on a coordinated time base signal.

Abstract: A spring forming machine is provided with closed-loop feedback from sensors which monitor dimensions of the coils and heads of the spring being formed, servo motors which control wire feed speed, coil radius and pitch forming elements, and coiling direction. Video cameras form pictorial images of the spring being formed. The images are digitized and fed to a central computer, along with images from similar machines forming similar springs, which compares the signals, such as photometric images, from the different machines, which represent actual spring dimensions, with a single stored image relating to the desired dimensions, such as head shape, coil diameter, and the positions and angles of bends. Discrepancies are correlated with causation data, such as feed roll slippage or material hardness variations, and adjustment signals are sent to the machines. Machines producing errors are interrogated more frequently by the computer. Large errors or failures to respond to adjustments triggers an alarm.

Abstract: A modular bedding system which comprises a rigid non-resilient platform having depressions formed in the top surface thereof for the reception of resilient cushions, and a relatively thin mattress supported atop that platform and the cushions. In one preferred embodiment, there is a depression and one cushion located beneath the shoulders of a person reclining atop the mattress of the bedding system and a second cushion located beneath the hips of a person reclining atop the system. In another preferred embodiment, there is a single cushion located in a single depression of the bed but the cushion extends beneath the shoulders to beneath the hips of a person reclining atop the mattress and has a zone of increased firmness located beneath the waist of that person.

Abstract: A method of maintaining spinal alignment of a person reclining atop an air mattress which has a plurality of isolated zones along the length of the mattress inflatable to different preset pressures, which method comprises filling each zone of the mattress with air at a predetermined initial prefill pressure and then locating a person in a reclining position atop the mattress so as to cause the pressure in the individual zones of the mattress to change to the preset pressures previously established as appropriate to achieve spinal alignment of the person reclining atop the mattress.

Abstract: A housing containing an air pump and an air pressure supply system for supplying air to a body support, such as an air mattress. The housing contains, in addition to the air pump, diaphragm type pressure regulators and diaphragm type surge check valves, as well as passageways and pressure chambers for interconnecting the pump to the pressure regulators and surge check valves.

Abstract: An air bed comprising an air mattress having a plurality of interconnected rows and columns of air cells divided into longitudinally isolated zones, and an airflow control system for supplying air at differing pressures to the zones such that a person reclining atop the mattress is supported and maintained in spinal alignment at subischemic applied pressures.

Abstract: A spring interior comprising a plurality of transversely extending bands of springs disposed side by side and connected together by longitudinally extending helical lacing wires in the top and bottom faces of the bands. Each band of springs comprises a single length of wire formed into a plurality of substantially vertical coil springs interconnected by interconnecting segments of wire located alternately in the top and bottom faces of the bands. The spring interior is characterized by sections of differing firmness or height throughout the length of the spring interior, which differing firmness or height sections are created by either having the wire from which the bands of coil springs differ in physical characteristics or by having the coil springs of the differing bands differ in height when in the relaxed state.

Abstract: A spring interior comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending bands of springs disposed side by side and connected together by helical lacing wires in the top and bottom faces of the bands. Each band of springs comprises a single length of wire formed into a plurality of substantially vertical coil springs interconnected by interconnecting segments of wire located alternately in the top and bottom faces of the bands. The endmost coil springs of each row are interlaced for the length of the coil with the next adjacent coil of the same row such that the axes of the last two coils in each row are substantially coaxial.