Abstract: A tilt hinge comprises a fixing member composed of a fixing base fixed to a main body of a device and a bearing plate; a rotating shaft having a small diameter part rotatably born at the bearing plate of this fixing member; a first friction washer placed between a large diameter part of the rotating shaft and one side surface of the bearing plate with its small diameter part being inserted into and passed through its central part; a second friction washer arranged to be contacted with the other side surface of the bearing plate with the small diameter part being inserted through its central part; a pressing plain washer arranged to be contacted with this second friction washer with the small diameter part being inserted into and passed through its central part; wherein the end part of the small diameter part is press fitted to cause the first friction washer to be press contacted between the bearing plate and the large diameter part and the second friction washer to be press contacted between the bearing plat

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gripping device for a hand held article. The gripping device has an encasement assembly for fitting on a hand grip portion of the article. The encasement assembly contains a controllable fluid, such as magnetorheological and electrorheological fluids. The gripping device also has an activating assembly for selectively applying a field to the controllable fluid to change its Theological behavior, e.g., increasing its viscosity. Thus, the controllable fluid can maintain the shape of the encasement assembly until the activating assembly withdraws the applied field therefrom. The present invention further relates to a manual implement that has the above gripping device fitted thereon and a method for using a manual implement having the above gripping device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating kenaf into fiber and core uses a modified stick machine conventionally used in the cotton industry for removing trash from unginned cotton. Lengths of kenaf are delivered onto the periphery of a saw cylinder so the toothed wheels snag the fiber and draw the kenaf across a grate. Core is detached from the fiber, passes through the grate and is delivered to a core outlet. Fiber on the toothed wheels are removed by a doffing wheel and delivered to a fiber outlet. Multiple saw cylinder/doffing wheel assemblies are provided.

Abstract: A nonwoven lap of very fine continuous filaments, crimped or not, obtained by means of a controlled direct spinning process, with a weight between 5 g/m.sup.2 and 600 g/m.sup.2, and formed, after napping, of composite filaments separable in the direction of their length, characterized in that said composite filaments have a filament number between 0.3 dTex and 10 dTex and are formed, each, of at least three elementary filaments of at least two different materials and comprising between them at least one plane of separation or cleavage, each elementary filament having a filament number between 0.005 dTex and 2 dTex, the ratio between the cross-sectional area of each elementary filament and the total cross-sectional area of the unitary filament being between 0.5% and 90%.

Abstract: Buckling plates are provided at comers or sides of a base plate. Each bucking plate selectively buckles between a fixing position, at which a corner or side of a sheet placed on the base plate is fixed, and a release position, at which the corner or side of the sheet is released. This reduces the number of parts and simplifies the structure, thus reducing cost. Further, this simplifies operation and fixes the sheet on a flat surface of the base plate in a stable manner.

Abstract: A buckle located around a resilience strap and a method of manufacturing includes a resilient strap material provided on a continuous basis and having a particular width and thickness. The strap material is stretched to reduce the width and thickness of the strap material at a particular position. A mold member is provided to form a buckle and the buckle is molded around the strap at the particular position where the strap material is reduced in width and thickness to increase the friction between the buckle and the strap material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a component for fastening a profile washer to a edge strip of a sheet which is surrounded by a groove in the profile washer. When assembled, a resilient metal clamp (1) surrounds with two legs (2,3) the edge strip. An intermediate layer (6,26) of a lower level of hardness is provided between the metal bracket (1) and the edge strip. The distance between the legs (2,3) lessens in the end regions (4,5) thereof, and widens again at the ends thereof.

Abstract: A buckle for receiving and locking a tongue connected to a vehicle safety belt, the buckle comprising: a locking element for locking a tongue to the buckle; a sensor to sense locking of the tongue to the buckle; and an indicator arrangement actuable by an output of the sensor to indicate whether the buckle is in a locked or an unlocked condition.

Abstract: A snap closure with a male part whose male coupling surfaces have an enlarged closing head at a closing neck, with a two-part female part comprising a housing having an insertion hole for the male coupling surfaces, and with two plate-shaped slides which are identical in shape, spring-loaded in opposite directions, project out on opposite sides of the housing by their outer ends which serve for actuation, and can be pressed in against the spring loading in opposite directions relative to one another transverse to the insertion hole, wherein, on the one hand, the two slides have, in their mutual joint region, complementing closing parts for a common locking profile which engages behind the inserted closing head of the male part when coupling, and, on the other hand, are cut out and have a common release profile for decoupling the closing head, wherein each of the two slides which are made of elastic material are provided at their inner ends with a longitudinally elastic spring portion formed integral with the

Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and method for simultaneously biaxially stretching a film (e.g., a continuous web of film). The apparatus includes upper and lower rails, for guiding a pair of endless links that each has link units for grasping side edges of the film. The endless links have upper and bottom rollers for being guided by (e.g., rolling on) the rails. The upper and bottom rollers are guided respectively by the upper and lower rails in different zones of the apparatus, the endless links being lifted and guided by the upper rail in one zone and being supported and guided by the lower rail in another zone. Since rolling, rather than sliding, friction occurs during movement of the endless links, amount of lubricant needed is decreased and dirt in the system due to large amounts of lubricant used, can be reduced.

Abstract: A burial container comprising a seamless base unit of unitary construction having a bottom, opposing side walls and opposing end walls and a seamless lid unit of unitary construction, said base unit and lid unit being formed of a cured polyurethane resin.

Abstract: An electronically controlled sample warper having a yarn exchange mechanism is provided which is capable of extremely reducing yarn looseness possibly occurring during yarn exchange as compared with conventional methods, preventing large variations in yarn tension produced when a yarn is removed to improve the quality of warping and significantly improve the speed of yarn exchange, unlike conventional methods which do produce variations in yarn tension during yarn exchange to cause a degraded quality of warping, and eliminating the need for reducing a warping speed even during yarn exchange to largely reduce a warping time, as compared with the case where a conventional yarn exchange mechanism is used.

Abstract: A godet for heating an advancing synthetic filament yarn is provided, the godet comprising a plurality of stationary primary windings and, with respect thereto, a magnetically conductive, rotatably supported godet jacket. The godet jacket is coupled with the primary windings via a defined radial clearance extending between same and the side walls of the primary winding carrier for generating induced currents. The carriers are constructed such that their transformer sheets radially overlie each other in the region of their channel bottom, thereby shielding the magnetic flux outward, in particular toward the coil support.

Abstract: Either multiple open slot air jets 2 or multiple closed jets 102 interlacing yarn can be positioned side by side in abutting relationship so that the jets can be positioned in close proximity to decrease the centerline spacing for adjacent yarns. An open slot air interlacing jet 2 includes a yarn channel 20 and a threading slot 42 forming an opening on one side of the yarn channel so that yarn or yarn filaments can be inserted into the yarn channel. An air orifice 40 intersects the yarn channel and high pressure air injected through the air inlet or orifice 40 interlaces or intertwines the yarn or yarn filaments as they are drawn through the yarn channel 20. Thread guides 58, 60 located below the yarn channel axis and the tapered yarn channel sections permit the yarn to be drawn through the yarn channel 20 at an angle relative to the threading slot 42 so that the yarn cannot easily escape from the yarn channel 20.

Abstract: Method and line to roll strip and plate starting from thin slabs produced by continuous casting, whereby the cast product is subjected to at least one descaling operation followed by a roughing operation and by a finishing operation before being wound in coils, thin slabs being cast continuously at the same time by a continuous casting machine with at least one casting line (11), the thin slabs being then sheared to size to obtain segments of the desired length, the segments then undergoing a first descaling step and then being accelerated into the heating furnace (18) consisting of modules and then to a second descaling unit (21) and then through a roughing rolling mill stand (22), before being delivered to a tunnel furnace (24), a third descaling unit (27) and a finishing train (12).

Abstract: Porous inking members for impact printers and methods of making the same which control the ink transfer flow rate from the porous inking members to dot matrix or other impact print heads. One preferred embodiment of the porous inking members for impact printers and methods of making the same uses peptizer and liquid nitrile rubber as ingredients in the manufacturing process to produce porous inking members.

Abstract: The method of laying and clamping an elastic tubular covering on an element consists in using a rigid tubular support mounted on the element and previously provided with said covering expanded thereon. In the laying method and the corresponding assembly, flexible associated auxiliary means that are strong in traction and not stretchable are provided for temporarily mechanically securing the expanded covering on said support to said element on which said covering is thus mounted and positioned. The invention is applicable to use at an end of an electric cable or at a junction thereof.

Abstract: According to a precision assembly technique, a first subassembly is precisely aligned relative to a plurality of alignment features in an alignment fixture and at least three non-coplanar flexures having complementary alignment features are located with respect to corresponding alignment features on the alignment fixture and mechanically attached to the first subassembly. The first subassembly with the attached flexure sheets is removed from the alignment fixture and located with respect to a second subassembly having a plurality of alignment features identical to the alignment features in the alignment fixture using the alignment features on the second subassembly and the complementary alignment features on the flexure sheets to precisely align the first subassembly with the complementary alignment features on the second subassembly. The flexure sheets are then mechanically attached to the second subassembly, whereby the first and second subassemblies are aligned and rigidly connected to one another.

Abstract: The present invention provides a differential pressure apparatus that transports a component to a receptacle and activates a positive air flow that nutates component about the receptacle until properly aligned so that a negative air flow or gravity forces engagement of the aligned component into the receptacle. The present invention also provides a method of assembling a connector assembly using a differential pressure apparatus.

Abstract: A milling machine having a horizontal slide and a vertical slide. The horizontal slide is mounted for movement between a loading station and a milling area. The vertical slide is mounted on the horizontal slide for vertical movement. A chuck is mounted on the vertical slide and has jaws for gripping a workpiece at the loading station. Milling tools in the milling area mill a workpiece held by the chuck when the horizontal slide is moved to the milling area. The milling tools include a face mill, a semi-finish end mill and a finish end mill which are arranged in a straight line along the path of movement of the chuck when the horizontal slide is moved from the loading station to the milling area. All of the milling tools are mounted in a receptacle which is capable of positioning the milling tools offset from the center line of the workpiece.

Abstract: A brushless permanent magnet DC motor for use in a traction drive system has power density and high efficiency. The motor includes a multiple turn, fast insertion, double wave winding which does not have distinct interconnection wires between the coils (the interconnections are part of the coils), and the end turns are distributed on both sides of the stator core so as to minimize the size of the end turns. The housing is part of the stator and has integral, radially extending, circumferentially spaced cooling fins so that there is no thermal gap, or thermal contact, resistance between separate housing and stator components. The motor includes bearings mounting a shaft of the rotor of the motor, and structures for positively maintaining the bearings concentric with the stator to provide optimized service life.

Abstract: For producing a collector ring arrangement with a low radial thickness, a longitudinal portion of a shaft is coated with an insulating layer, than an electrically conductive layer is applied on the insulating layer, and the collector ring is fitted on the electrically conductive layer so as to be connected with the latter in an electrically conductive manner, for example by soldering. The length of the electrically conductive layer can be smaller than the length of the insulating layer. The process and the new collector ring arrangement reduce the material and time consumption during the manufacture and/or use the collector ring arrangement.

Abstract: A thin metal plate, which is a material for forming load beams, is integrally formed with carriages extending from flexures, VCM coil sections, and a support plate for a flexible substrate. The signal output lines from the magnetic heads, and the signal lines from the VCM coil sections are connected directly and integrally to the flexible substrate without a soldering connection.

Abstract: A tool, and associated method, for batch processing the definition of air bearing surfaces on rows comprising a plurality of sliders is disclosed. The tool has a main body member having a length defining a y-axis direction, a width defining an x-axis direction, and a thickness defining a z-axis direction. The main body member has a top surface defining an upwardly facing z-axis base surface. The main body also defines a y-axis alignment reference surface, and an x-axis alignment reference surface. The rows are positioned on the tool for processing, where the upper surface of the platform engages the lower surface of the plurality of rows to provide proper z-axis positioning on the tool. The y-axis alignment reference engages one longitudinal side of an anchor row to provide proper y-axis positioning, and the x-axis alignment reference surface abuts the second end of the plurality of rows to provide proper x-axis positioning. The top surfaces of the rows lie in a common plane.

Abstract: A monolithic thick film inductor is made by printing alternating conductive layers and dielectric layers above one another, using the same dielectric printing screen and the same conductor printing screen for printing each of the dielectric layers and the conductive layers respectively. Each of the coil printing screen and the dielectric screen are indexed to n different positions in order to print each of the n layers. The resulting inductor includes a plurality of helical coil segments stacked above one another and electrically connected to one another to create the desired number of coil turns.

Abstract: Stacking of a large number of delicate and easily damaged flexible lamina with highly accurate registration is automated by use of an alignment fixture having alignment pins and a stacking plate. The stacking plate is raised to and frictionally supported at a location near a tapered shoulder portion of the alignment pins on which each of a plurality of lamina is allowed to self-align. A floating head which may be used to transport lamina to the alignment pins is also self-aligned with the alignment pins and used to press the individual lamina over the alignment while maintaining precisely parallel orientation and motion of the lamina to the lamina stack and the stacking plate. The stacking plate is moved against the frictional support thereof to maintain a short effective alignment pin height or protrusion above the stacking plate or lamina stack to prevent binding or wiping motion between lamina and resultant damage of the lamina.

Abstract: A method of making an electrical subassembly and a subassembly formed by the method which includes the steps of providing a conductive member having a predetermined configuration and a housing for receiving the conductive member, connecting the conductive member to the housing, and removing a portion of the conductive member so as to separate it into a plurality of discrete contacts, each contact being connected to the housing and thereby providing a desired circuit path through the subassembly. The subassembly includes one or more electrical components mounted thereto and can be readily attached to a support and wired to a desired circuit without soldering while enabling removal and replacement of an electrical component as desired.

Abstract: A new electrical connector system employs two printed circuit board type connector components (1 & 3), each containing a plurality of plated-on metal lines (11 & 13) running along the board in parallel, and a replaceable contact element (9), termed an interposer, that is sandwiched between those printed circuit boards. The interposer contains malleable electrical contacts (15 & 17) on each side that extend electrically from one surface to the other and serves as a contact bridge for those connector contacts. The interposer is formed as a thin insulator strip and metal bumps on the top and bottom sides of the strip serve as the electrical contacts. Bridging connection for metal bumps on the top side with associated bumps on the bottom side is served with plated-through holes (16). The metal bumps are of Indium and Tin that is covered by a flash of Gold. Ancillary to the described connector, a new method for constructing an electrical connector is also presented.

Abstract: A method of effectively manufacturing various types of wire harnesses of complicated wiring structure in which a predetermined number of connectors necessary for a unit wire harness are arranged on a movable pallet. The pallet is then moved so that crimp-style terminal of one of the connectors can come to a crimp connecting position of a rotatable crimp connecting press. An end of an electric wire is fed to the crimp-style terminal at the crimp connecting position. The end of the electric wire is then connected to the terminal by the rotatable crimp connecting press. Then, the pallet is moved again, and the other end of the electric wire is connected to a crimp-style terminal of a predetermined connector by crimp connection. The series of motions are repeated until all terminals necessary for the unit wire harness are connected to the electric wires by crimp connection. According to this method, a rotatable crimp connecting press has a plurality of different crimp connecting blades.

Abstract: According to a production method for a structure of a contact point of a terminal piece, it is possible to heighten the durability of the terminal piece by thickening the contact point without raising material cost and processing costs. Materials for a copper plate (20) of a circumferential wall portion (18) of a contact point (16) are gathered and pressed toward substantially the center of a top portion (17). The materials are moved toward substantially the center of the top portion (17), so that the thickness of the top portion (17) becomes larger by a thickness of .alpha. than the thickness (T) of the copper plate (20). The top portion (17) is formed to be thicker than the circumferential wall portion (18).

Abstract: In a method for processing a rotor used for a supercharger and the like, a slanted rolling machine is used having rolls designed such that the rolls are arranged about a pass line along which a material to be molded advances. Each roll is of corn shape and has a plurality of spiral-shaped grooves formed on its side surface. A shaft member made from iron or a similar material is inserted into an aluminum alloy tube. The aluminum alloy tube with the shaft member inside it is continuously fed to the slanted rolling machine along the pass line. Then, the periphery of the aluminum alloy tube is rolled/spread by the rolls for forming spiral shaped teeth from the tube material and for metallurgically attaching the tube to the shaft member.

Abstract: A head gasket having a pair of armor assemblies with protective shim portions in the zones of adjacency of adjacent pairs of combustion openings. One armor's shim portions face one main surface of a main body of the gasket and the other armor's shim portions face the other main surface of the main body. The associated armors and the shims comprising the armor assemblies encapsulate the zone of adjacency and protect against degradation of that zone and enhance sealing thereat. A method of making the head gasket by applying the armor assemblies from opposite sides of the main body is also disclosed.

Abstract: A tappet made of Al alloy is used in a valve operating mechanism of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle. On the whole outer circumferential surface of the tappet, a helical projection and a helical groove are formed alternately to form an uneven surface. A plurality of uneven surfaces are formed on a ridge of the projection at regular intervals. The outer circumferential surface is coated with a wear resistant Fe film by thermal spraying. The uneven surfaces on the projection provide high adhesion strength of the film to the outer circumferential surface of the tappet to improve peel resistance, thereby increasing durability and reliability of the Al alloy tappet.

Abstract: A method of forming cylinder heads having bonded valve seat inserts. The method reduces the machining operations necessary to place the insert in place by forming the cylinder head casting with reference surfaces that are employed for determining the pressing axis and location for the valve seat insert.

Abstract: A pair of combined cutting and thinning shears is comprised of a pair of handles, a pair of cutting blades attached to respective front ends of the handles, and a pair of thinning blades attached to respective rear ends of the handles. The cutting blades are pivoted together at a position adjacent the handles. A guide tab on one of the thinning blades mate with the opposite thinning blade to ensure their proper alignment when closed. In a second embodiment, the handles include inside edges that are in constant engagement with each other throughout their entire range of movement to ensure alignment between the thinning blades. Both embodiments can be used to cut or thin hair by simply positioning hair between either the cutting blades or thinning blades.

Abstract: A hair trimmer that includes a main body extending between an upper end portion and a lower end portion and further includes a front side and a rear side. The main body defines a primary longitudinal axis that extends substantially linearly between the upper end portion and the lower end portion. A blade housing is rotatably attached to the upper end of the main body such that the blade housing is rotatable about the primary longitudinal axis with respect to said main body. The blade housing is defined by an attached side and a free side that is opposite to the attached side. An interface plane is defined between the main body and the blade housing. The interface plane extends at an interface angle that is oblique to the primary longitudinal axis. The present hair trimmer further includes a cutting mechanism that is removably seated upon the said free side of the blade housing. The cutting mechanism includes a cutting surface for engaging and severing hair.

Abstract: A tree pruner is composed of a fastening piece, a cutting piece, and two swivel pieces. The fastening piece is provided with a connection portion which is in turn provided with a pulley and is fastened with a bracing rod. The fastening piece is provide at one end thereof with a blade. The cutting piece is fastened pivotally with the fastening piece and provided with a toothed slot and a tool portion capable of cooperating with the blade of the fastening piece. The two swivel pieces are fastened pivotally with the fastening piece and provided with a control element which is put through the toothed slot and is linked with a spring. The cord such that the cutting piece is actuated to execute the severing of a tree twig in conjunction with the blade of the fastening piece.

Abstract: A cutter wheel type can opener includes a first handlebar and a second handlebar pivoted together, a lever pivoted to the first handlebar, a gear mounted on the first handlebar at one end, a cutter wheel mounted on the second handlebar at one end and rotated by the gear, a ratchet wheel mounted on the lever, and a stop plate mounted on the lever and retained in engagement with the ratchet wheel by spring means to limit the direction of rotation of the ratchet wheel, wherein continuously turning the lever up and down relative to the handlebars causes the cutter wheel to be continuously rotated in one direction in opening the lid of a can.

Abstract: A device for guiding alignment in trailer hitching with a trailer cup attachment and a towing vehicle attachment. The trailer cup attachment adjustably clips over the trailer cup on the drawbar of the trailer. The trailer cup attachment has at least one vertical rod and an alignment indicator equipped with guide lights and a sound generator to indicate when the ball on the towing vehicle is in hitching position relative to the trailer cup. The towing vehicle attachment has a mounting base for removable temporary mounting on the towing vehicle. Telescoping rods are rotatably mounted in the mounting base. At the end of the telescoping rods is a fluorescent colored activating ball which is positioned directly above the tow ball on the towing vehicle. The alignment guide and activating ball are positioned to be visible to the operator of the towing vehicle through a rear view mirror, rear window, or the like.

Abstract: A measuring device for measuring aquatic creatures such as fish, crustaceans and shellfish. The measuring device includes a planar element having an elongated body that extends between two ends. At least one marking disposed on said elongated body between the two ends. A predetermined distance exists between each marking and one of said ends. Each predetermined distance corresponds to the legal minimum length of at least one species of fish. Protrusions extend from the elongated body of the planar element. A predetermined distance exists between each protrusion and one of the ends of the planar element. The predetermined distance corresponds to the minimum acceptable length of either a crustacean or a shellfish. As such, the present invention measuring device can be utilized as a yes/no gauge for a plurality of different species of fish, crustaceans and shellfish without the need for adjustment.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting the presence of a wafer cassette, or pod, resting on an arrangement of pins allows cassette detection without interfering with insertion of a robotic paddle arm beneath the cassette to remove it for transport. A cassette resides on an arrangement of beveled pins which mate with corresponding receptacles on the underside. Pins supporting the cassette have a spring biased, hollow outer cylinder coaxially mounted around a center post. A cassette placed on the pins displaces the outer cylinder downward a sufficient distance to trigger a sensor. Upon removal of the cassette, the outer cylinder is displaced upwards, resetting the sensor.

Abstract: The present invention is designed to allow a user to dry and style hair using both hands while controlling the temperature and air flow using one or both feet. An electric hair dryer is mounted to a flexible arm. The flexible arm is connected to a floor stand such that the floor stand supports the flexible arm with the electric hair dryer mounting. A foot panel is electrically and mechanically connected to the foot control panel allowing foot operation of the invention. A button on the foot control panel allows a user to control hot or cool air for drying the head of the user and an air flow selection device is operated by a foot control device on the foot control panel which allows said user to chose a volumetric amount of air flow with a range of air flow starting from a low flow and gradually increasing to a high flow.

Abstract: A dryer duct assembly for connecting directing the exhaust air flow from a clothes dryer to an exhaust area, such as the exterior of a building. The dryer duct assembly comprises a rigid duct connected at one end to the rear of the dryer by an elbow connector and connected at another end to a flexible duct by a swivel sleeve connector. The rigid duct is of sufficient length such that its upper end is easily accessible to a worker standing at the front of the dryer, permitting the connection of the flexible duct to the rigid duct from the front of the dryer.

Abstract: The invention aims to provide a lumber drying method which can dry lumbers in a short period without causing cracks and a lumber impregnation method to permeate processing agents deep into the lumbers at a low cost. The lumber drying method comprises a process to place lumbers in an airtight container and to heat them, a process to vacuum the inside of the airtight container, and a process to restore the air pressure after the vacuuming process. And, the lumber impregnation method comprises a process to heat lumbers, a process to place the heated lumbers under a vacuumed pressure, a process to immerse the heated lumbers in processing agents under the vacuumed pressure, and a process to restore the pressure of the lumbers immersed in the processing agents under the vacuumed pressure to the air pressure, and to immerse the lumbers in the processing agents under the air pressure.

Abstract: An automated air filtration and drying system including an energy and environmental management system for controlling, monitoring and supervising the operation and performance of the air filtration and drying system, a capture apparatus for capturing and controlling overspray, and a drying/curing control module for rapidly drying a painted article using a continuously filtered and dehumidified flow of recycled air.

Abstract: A drier for broad articles such as plasterboard has a conveyor in entraining the plasterboard along a drying path in a transport plane and the nozzle boxes for contacting the plasterboard with the drying air have their orifice surfaces inclined to the plasterboard to achieve uniformity of drying in terms of residual moisture content.

Abstract: An active web stabilizer including a structure having a leading edge and a working surface coupled by a curved surface, the working surface being positioned proximate to a passing web. An internal pressurized air duct extends along the working surface orthogonally to the passing web. An air nozzle is provided at the leading edge and is in fluid communication with the air duct, the nozzle directing air flow around the curved surface and along the working surface. The air duct includes first and second chambers separated by a perforated baffle. An extension surface extends from the working surface and includes a trailing end which is angled away from the passing web. A comb is associated with the nozzle to promote web spreading.

Abstract: A shoe includes a rear sole support for receiving a replaceable rear sole to provide longer wear. The shoe may also include a flexible plate supported by the rear sole support between the heel and the rear sole to reduce midsole compression and provide additional spring. A mounting member secures the rear sole to the rear sole support, and a locking member prevents rotation of the rear sole relative to the rear sole support during use. The replaceable rear sole and the flexible plate allow the shoe to be adapted to different desired performance characteristics depending upon the intended activity and terrain or playing surface.

Abstract: An improved footwear closure system and composite liner are provided. The composite liner includes a first component that conforms closely to the upper in the area of the heel, toe and side portions of the upper, and a second, stretchable component that extends across and underneath the area between the split of the upper. The second, stretchable component may form an enlarged fold aligned generally with the centerline of the split of the upper. Both components of the composite liner are preferably constructed from a water-repellant or water-proof, breathable material. The composite liner cooperates with an improved closure system having two complementary strips mounted between the split of the upper and underlying the fasteners. When the closure system is drawn tight, any excess portion of stretchable component is collected between and outside the complementary strips, leaving a smooth surface on the inside of the upper in the area of the split and adjacent the instep.

Abstract: A rigid midsole structure for footwear extends from the metatarsal area to a rear-most portion proximate the heel of a wearer. The rigid midsole accepts any form of replaceable undercarriage structure, and includes means for attaching the undercarriage structure to the bottom side of the rigid midsole. The rigid midsole is preferably formed with an upper surface configured to conform with the bottom of a wearer's foot to provide sufficient rigidity and comfort.