Abstract: An upper for an article of footwear includes an inner boot having an ankle opening and an instep region formed between the ankle opening and an anterior end of the upper and a cushioning member disposed over the instep region of the inner boot and including a first side fixed to a medial side of the upper and a second side tethered to a lateral side of the upper.

Abstract: Articles of wear having one or more textiles that include a low processing temperature polymeric composition and a high processing temperature polymeric composition, and methods of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The low processing temperature polymeric composition and the high processing temperature polymeric composition can be selectively incorporated into a textile to provide one or more structural properties and/or other advantageous properties to the article. The textile can be thermoformed to impart such structural and/or other advantageous properties to the article of wear. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

Abstract: An article of footwear is provided, which may include an upper and a sole structure. The upper may include an exposed outer layer forming at least a portion of an external surface of the upper. The upper may also include a polymer foam material selectively located on an inner side of the exposed outer layer and adjacent portions of the exposed outer layer, thereby forming padded portions of the upper. The padded portions of the upper may be located in areas of the article of footwear that correspond with predetermined bones of a foot of a wearer of the article of footwear.

Abstract: A spark plug is provided that ensures that a ground electrode is positioned in a predefined, precise orientation when installed in a spark plug hole of an engine head. The spark plug is configured for axial insertion into the plug hole, and has a non-axisymmetric ground shield that fits into the plug hole, wherein the ground shield has an outer shield surface with a non-axisymmetric shape and the plug hole is also provided with a complementary non-axisymmetric shape. The spark plug includes a central insulator, which has an inner end surrounding a central electrode and supporting the ground shield, which is mounted on the insulator to support a ground strap adjacent the electrode for forming a spark therebetween. The insulator and ground shield are axially slidable into the plug hole, and the spark plug includes a jamb nut which is rotatable to fix the spark plug in position in a predefined orientation.

Abstract: A spark plug is provided that ensures that a ground electrode is positioned in a predefined, precise orientation when installed in a spark plug hole of an engine head. The spark plug is configured for axial insertion into the plug hole, and has a non-axisymmetric ground shield that fits into the plug hole, wherein the ground shield has an outer shield surface with a non-axisymmetric shape and the plug hole is also provided with a complementary non-axisymmetric shape. The spark plug includes a central insulator, which has an inner end surrounding a central electrode and supporting the ground shield, which is mounted on the insulator to support a ground strap adjacent the electrode for forming a spark therebetween. The insulator and ground shield are axially slidable into the plug hole, and the spark plug includes a jamb nut which is rotatable to fix the spark plug in position in a predefined orientation.

Abstract: A spark plug is provided that includes an improved jamb nut configuration, which provides improved torque transfer and prevents inadvertent separation of the jamb nut from the remaining components of the spark plug, particularly during removal from the engine head. The spark plug is configured for axial insertion into the plug hole, and may have a non-axisymmetric ground shield that fits into the plug hole, wherein the plug hole is also provided with a complementary non-axisymmetric shape. The spark plug includes a central insulator, which has an inner end surrounding a central electrode and supporting the ground shield, which is mounted on the insulator to support a ground strap adjacent the electrode for forming a spark therebetween. The insulator and ground shield are axially slidable into the plug hole, and the jamb nut is rotatable to fix the spark plug in position in a predefined orientation.

Abstract: A water heater may be configured to detect a possible main gas valve non-closure condition in which the sensed water temperature continues to rise while a thermopile signal reaches a stable state. When the possible main gas valve non-closure condition is detected, the controller may be configured to toggle the main gas valve ON and determine whether the thermopile signal from the thermopile changes from the stable state or not by at least a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a first plate extending from a forefoot region of the sole structure to a heel region of the sole structure. The first plate has a first surface and a second surface formed on an opposite side of the first plate than the first surface. The sole structure further includes a second plate extending from the forefoot region to the heel region. The second plate has a third surface opposing the second surface of the first plate and a fourth surface disposed on an opposite side of the second plate than the third surface. The third surface is spaced apart from the second surface to define a cavity between the first plate and the second plate that extends from a medial side of the sole structure to a lateral side of the sole structure between the forefoot region and the heel region.

Abstract: An ultra-lightweight sole plate assembly can include a ground engaging outer shell, a structural component, and one or more cleat members. A method of making the outer shell includes thermoforming a foil material such as polyamide. Thermoforming the foil includes applying vacuum to the foil material. Excess foil material can be trimmed from the outer shell. The structural component can be made by injecting a molding material onto the outer shell. The cleat members can be co-molded with the shell during forming of the structural component. The resulting sole plate assembly has a reduced weight with the desired traction, strength and durability.

Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a midsole body having a proximal surface and a distal surface. Proprioceptive elements may extend in the hole in the midsole body, and translate toward the proximal surface in the holes upon a force directed along a central axis of the hole at a distal end of the proprioceptive elements. In various embodiments, the holes may angle relative to vertical from the proximal surface to the distal surface, the holes may be defined by perforations and the proprioceptive elements may be integral portions of the midsole body, or the midsole body may have a plurality of annular holes at the proximal surface, and a plurality of annular recesses in the distal surface, and a plurality of proprioceptive elements, each centered in a different annular hole of the plurality of annular holes. Methods of manufacturing articles of footwear are described.

Abstract: A water heater may be configured to detect a possible main gas valve non-closure condition in which the sensed water temperature continues to rise while a thermopile signal reaches a stable state. When the possible main gas valve non-closure condition is detected, the controller may be configured to toggle the main gas valve ON and determine whether the thermopile signal from the thermopile changes from the stable state or not by at least a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A chassis for an article of footwear may include a base and a frame attached to a top side of the base. The frame may include a network of interconnected walls defining a plurality of cells, each of at least a portion of the cells having a bottom at least partially closed by an underlying portion of the base. A bottom of the base may be fixed with respect to a plantar section of an upper. A sock liner may be indexed to the chassis or to another footwear support structure. The sock liner may have downwardly-extending tabs configured to rest in cells of the chassis or in other cavities of a support structure.

Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a midsole body having a proximal surface and a distal surface. Proprioceptive elements may extend in the hole in the midsole body, and translate toward the proximal surface in the holes upon a force directed along a central axis of the hole at a distal end of the proprioceptive elements. In various embodiments, the holes may angle relative to vertical from the proximal surface to the distal surface, the holes may be defined by perforations and the proprioceptive elements may be integral portions of the midsole body, or the midsole body may have a plurality of annular holes at the proximal surface, and a plurality of annular recesses in the distal surface, and a plurality of proprioceptive elements, each centered in a different annular hole of the plurality of annular holes. Methods of manufacturing articles of footwear are described.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes sensory elements. The sensory elements are embedded in an upper of an article of footwear, the upper having a first layer and a second layer. Sensory elements are proximally disposed toward a foot when contacted by an object. Sensory elements may partially protrude from the first layer and/or the second layer. Sensory elements may also be fully covered between the first layer and the second layer.

Abstract: A remote water heater monitoring system is configured to communicate with a plurality of client water heaters over a network. The system processes received data related to the operation of the plurality of client water heaters and identifies one or more baseline trends over time related to water heater performance and/or water heater reliability using the received data from one or more of the client water heaters and identifies one or more abnormalities in the operation of a particular one of the client water heaters based on the baseline trends. An alert is generated for one or more of the abnormalities in the operation of the particular one of the client water heaters and is associated with a corresponding client account.

Abstract: A footbed having the ability to fixedly secure the forefoot portion of the foot while allowing the heel portion to laterally move during activity is provided. The footbed can include a sock liner positioned thereon wherein the sock liner is more firmly secured to the footbed in the forefront region than in the heel region to allow lateral movement.

Abstract: A remote water heater monitoring system is configured to communicate with a plurality of client water heaters over a network. The system processes received data related to the operation of the plurality of client water heaters and identifies one or more baseline trends over time related to water heater performance and/or water heater reliability using the received data from one or more of the client water heaters and identifies one or more abnormalities in the operation of a particular one of the client water heaters based on the baseline trends. An alert is generated for one or more of the abnormalities in the operation of the particular one of the client water heaters and is associated with a corresponding client account.

Abstract: Articles of wear having one or more textiles that include a low processing temperature polymeric composition and a high processing temperature polymeric composition, and methods of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The low processing temperature polymeric composition and the high processing temperature polymeric composition can be selectively incorporated into a textile to provide one or more structural properties and/or other advantageous properties to the article. The textile can be thermoformed to impart such structural and/or other advantageous properties to the article of wear. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

Abstract: A wrench assembly for use in adjusting relative position between a first mechanical component and a second mechanical component in a mechanical system includes a lash adjuster, a lash indicator, and a measurement scale. The lash adjuster includes an adjuster axis. Additionally, the lash adjuster is configured to selectively rotate about the adjuster axis to adjust the relative position between the first mechanical component and the second mechanical component. Further, a relative position between the lash indicator and the measurement scale provides a precise visual indication of the relative position between the first mechanical component and the second mechanical component. One of the lash indicator and the measurement scale is fixedly secured to the lash adjuster such that rotation of the lash adjuster about the adjuster axis provides a corresponding rotation of the one of the lash indicator and the measurement scale about the adjuster axis.

Abstract: An article of footwear having a self-cleaning surface and a method of making an article of footwear are disclosed. The article of footwear may generally include a sole plate having cleats associated with resilient members. The resilient members may be disposed on a bottom surface of the sole plate in an area near the cleats. For example, a resilient member may be disposed in on the bottom surface of the sole plate in the peripheral area of a cleat. The resilient members may prevent mud from accumulating on the cleats and/or a bottom surface of the sole plate by compressing against a surface of the ground and then springing back, preventing mud from sticking to the resilient member.