Abstract: A fastener placing tool (11) for placing fasteners of the breakstem blind rivet type incorporates a force/stroke monitoring device (22) which comprises an assembly body (24) detachably mounted on the tool between the latter and the anvil (18), a load-cell sensor (33) carried by the assembly body (24) for sensing the force applied by the hydraulic piston (16) to the jaw assembly 17 with respect to the anvil (18), and a non-contact stroke-sensor (35) carried by the assembly body (24) for sensing the position of the jaw assembly (17) relative to the anvil (18). The stroke-sensor (35) operates without physical contact with the jaw assembly (17) or any part of the tool moving therewith. To this end the jaw assembly (17) is connected to the hydraulic piston (16) by means of an adaptor tube (23) which has a conical tapering outer surface.

Abstract: A first reference position C1 constituting a middle point is calculated by measuring positions of left and right damper attaching holes 22 in a white body 12. A second reference position C2 constituting a middle point is calculated by measuring positions of left and right hubs 44 in a suspension assembly 20. A position of the suspension assembly 20 is adjusted by a slide table 56 such that the first reference position C1 and the second reference position C2 are coincident with each other. The suspension assembly 20 is moved up by a lift mechanism 59 and is attached to the white body 12.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a walk-in bathtub. The method involves heating an acrylic sheet, wherein the outer perimeter of the sheet is heated to a higher temperature than the center of the sheet. The heated acrylic sheet is then placed over a vacuum mold that is shaped like a bathtub, including a seat and a foot well, and drawn into the mold by the vacuum. Vacuum pressure is manually reduced when the acrylic reaches the top of the seat in the mold, and the vacuum is shut off when the acrylic is approximately two inches from the bottom of the foot well of the mold. The acrylic is removed from the mold, reinforced with fiberglass and secured to a support frame. A door space is cut in the side of the tub and a pre-hung door assembly is then installed in the door threshold.

Abstract: A method of assembling a composite structure is disclosed. An illustrative embodiment of the method includes receiving and positioning at least two composite structure subassemblies on a structure assembly table by operation of at least one first device and at least one second device and compacting the at least two composite structure subassemblies into a composite structure by operation of a third device.

Abstract: A method of using a rail clip assembly to connect a horizontal fence rail to a vertical fence post. The rail clip assembly includes a housing that is slidably engaged with at least one mounting spacer and a first leg of an L-shaped mounting bracket until a second leg of the bracket abuts the underside of the housing. A first fastener is screwed through the first leg and mounting spacer and into the side wall of the fence post. An end of the rail is inserted into the housing and a second fastener is screwed through the second leg, the housing and the end of the rail. The rail clip assembly aids in preventing the rail from disengaging from the housing when a lateral force is applied to the rail.

Abstract: A mounting system is disclosed for mounting a bearing assembly or other mechanical element to a shaft. The mounting system uses a tapered sleeve mechanism to secure the bearing assembly on the shaft. Specifically, a plurality of screws point load the tapered sleeve and drive it from a pre-assembled position to an initial position. Once the initial position has been reached a plurality of fasteners then drive the sleeve from the initial position to a final position. The difference between the initial position and final position determined by the width of a removable spacer used in the mounting system. The system also incorporates a jack screw mechanism used to dismount the bearing assembly from the shaft.

Abstract: A fastener assembly is configured for use in an associated fastener driving tool for driving a fastener from the assembly into an associated substrate. The assembly includes a row of fasteners, each having a shank, arranged substantially parallel to each other. A collation system is formed from a plastic material that is molded onto and adhered to the fasteners. The plastic material is molded to define a collar portion substantially encircling the fastener shank and a connecting portion extending between and connecting adjacent collar potions. The plastic material is formulated from an adhesive polymer. When the fastener is driven from the driving tool, the collar portion remains adhered to the fastener such that the collar portion penetrates the substrate with the fastener.

Abstract: A drive tool that may be attached to a driven tool which has a drive head, a shank, a tool body, and a longitudinal slot in the drive head whose upper end portion is sloped to provide a ramp, the drive tool being adapted to be pushed downward into a hollow end of the driven tool to then become locked in place relative to the driven tool, both rotationally and longitudinally, so that the driven tool can then be driven forward and concurrently driven in either a clockwise or a counterclockwise rotation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of fabricating a crystal oscillator with pedestal for surface mounting, which is provided on a base surface of a crystal oscillator from which a pair of lead wires extends and which is formed by injection molding using a mold with a liquid-crystal polymer as raw material; wherein protrusions that follow the shape of said mold are provided on at least a corner around the outer periphery of the surface of the oscillator pedestal facing said base surface of said crystal oscillator; a non-defective product is assumed to be one in which the upper surface of each of said protrusions is a flat surface, but a defective product is assumed to be one in which the flat surface of said protrusion is ridged; and only a non-defective product is mounted onto the base surface of the crystal oscillator. This makes it possible to provide a method of fabricating a crystal oscillator by which reliability is increased while the strength of the oscillator pedestal is maintained.

Abstract: A stator of a rotary electric machine having secured core slot insulators includes a multi-phase stator winding, having a plurality of slot segments that are adapted to be radially inserted into a plurality of circumferentially spaced axially-extending core slots in a surface of a cylindrically-shaped stator core. The stator winding includes the plurality of slot segments alternately connected at the first and second ends of the stator core by a plurality of end loop segments to form the winding. The plurality of core slots house an insulator to electrically isolate the slot segments from the core slots. The insulator is secured to the sides of the core slot prior to the process of radial inserting the plurality of slot segments into the plurality of core slots of the cylindrically-shaped stator core.

Abstract: In a method, a first electrode is moved to contact with first paired ends of first paired conductor segments. Next, a second electrode is moved opposing the first paired ends Electric conduction is established between the first electrode and the second electrode via the first paired ends of the first paired conductor segments to weld the first paired ends of the first paired conductor segments based on the electrical conduction therebetween. Next, the second electrode is moved opposing second paired ends of second paired conductor segments while the first electrode is kept in contact with the first paired ends. Electric conduction is established between the first electrode and the second electrode via the welded first paired ends and the second paired ends to thereby weld the second paired ends of the second paired conductor segments based on the electrical conduction therebetween.

Abstract: A rotor assembly or other rotating device having a stack of laminations or laminates that are chemically bonded together. Chemical bond of the laminates may have a strength that approaches the strength of the material of metal laminates. Chemical bonds may be effective in holding the laminates at temperatures when subject to rigorous mechanical operations such as high rotation speed and vibration.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a broadband antenna, such as applicable for a low radar cross-section ground penetrating radar. A conductive film is deposited along a dielectric member, such as by sputtering, in such a manner that the impedance of the conducting film is a continuous function of length along the dielectric member. A sampling circuit is then coupled electrically to the feedpoint.

Abstract: A transformer and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The transformer includes a coil assembly mounted to a leg of a core. The coil assembly includes a low voltage coil and an insulation spool disposed over the low voltage coil. The insulation spool is composed of an insulating material and includes a plurality of guide strips defining a plurality of series of aligned notches. A high voltage coil is mounted to the insulation spool and includes a plurality of disc windings disposed in the series of aligned notches, respectively. Each of the disc windings comprises alternating concentric conductor layers and insulating layers. The conductor layers each have a width to thickness ratio of greater than 20:1.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a magnetic head that is effective for the suppression of thermal protrusion. The magnetic head includes SiO2, Si nitride, or Si oxide as a coil insulator having a low coefficient of thermal expansion and high workability. The coil insulator is arranged at a position away from the air bearing surface and the air bearing surface is made of alumina, making slider processing easy.

Abstract: A method for constructing a magnetic write head using an electrical lapping guide to carefully control critical dimensions during a lapping operation used to define an air bearing surface. The lapping guide is photolithograhically patterned in a common photolithographic step with another write head structure so that special relation between the lapping guide and critical dimensions of the write head structure can be carefully maintained. The electrical lapping guide can be patterned in a common photolithographic step as the write pole so that the location of the flare point can be carefully controlled with respect to the location of the lapping guide. A stitched flare structure can also be built together with the electrical lapping guide, then a self-aligned shield can be further built over this stitched flare structure so that both flare point and shield throat can be controlled tightly together by this electrical lapping guide during lapping process.

Abstract: A method for making a perpendicular magnetic recording write head that has a write pole, a trapezoidal-shaped trailing shield notch, and a gap between the write pole and notch uses a reactive ion beam etching (RIBE) process in CHF3 that removes filler material at the side edges of the write pole and thus widens the opening at the side edges. The gap is formed of a nonmagnetic mask film, such as alumina, a nonmagnetic metal protective film and a nonmagnetic gap layer. The nonmagnetic metal film is substantially less reactive to CHF3 than the filler material and protects the underlying mask film and write pole during the widening of the opening. The gap layer and trailing shield notch are deposited into a widened opening above the write pole, so the sides of the notch diverge to cause the generally trapezoidal shape.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a magnetic write head having a wrap around magnetic shield. The method allows a highly accurate short wavelength such as 193 mm photolithography to be used to accurately define the placement and critical dimension of wrap around magnetic shield. The method includes the formation of a magnetic write pole, top gap, and side gap and the deposition of a RIEable fill layer thereover, and CMP to planarization. A 193 nm photolithography and ion milling is used to form a mask over the RIEable layer and one or more reactive ion etching processes are performed to pattern the RIEable layer through 193 nm photolithography mask. A wrap around shield can then be electroplated into the opening formed in the RIEable layer.

Abstract: A variable resistance device comprises a resistive member having a resistive resilient material. A first conductor is configured to be electrically coupled with the resistive member at a first contact location over a first contact area. A second conductor is configured to be electrically coupled with the resistance member at a second contact location over a second contact area. The first contact location and second contact location are spaced from one another by a distance. The resistance between the first conductor at the first contact location and the second conductor at the second contact location is equal to the sum of a straight resistance component and a parallel path resistance component. At least one of the first location, the second location, the first contact area, and the second contact area is changed to produce a change in resistance between the first conductor and the second conductor.

Abstract: A semiconductor device has a leadframe with a structure made of a base metal (105), wherein the structure consists of a chip mount pad (402) and a plurality of lead segments (403). Covering the base metal are, consecutively, a nickel layer (301) on the base metal, and a continuous layer of noble metal, which consists of a gold layer (201) on the nickel layer, and an outermost palladium layer (202) on the gold layer. A semiconductor chip (410) is attached to the chip mount pad and conductive connections (412) span from the chip to the lead segments. Polymeric encapsulation compound (420) covers the chip, the connections, and portions of the lead segments. In QFN devices with straight sides (501), the compound forms a surface (421) coplanar with the outermost palladium layer (202) on the un-encapsulated leadframe surfaces.

Abstract: A tamper-proof cap adapted to be mounted on a large assembly for shielding a selected area of the large assembly is disclosed. The tamper-proof cap comprises a laminate stack-up structure wherein at least one open chamber is formed. The stack-up structure comprises at least two layers wherein tamper-proof layers are formed on top of the open chamber. A plurality of vias are disposed around the open chamber, forming with said tamper proof layers a tamper-proof structure around said open chamber. The vias are adapted for connecting the tamper-proof layers to the large assembly when the tamper-proof cap is mounted. In a preferred embodiment, the tamper-proof cap further comprises a shielding layer on top of the tamper-proof layer that are preferably done using conductive ink.

Abstract: A method for creating an electrical earth contact to electrically couple a contact shoe to an electrical contact stud using a polymeric material cap nut includes creating an external thread on a shank of the stud. A contact flange is fixed to the stud such that the contact flange faces the shank. The cap nut is selected from a non-conductive polymeric material and from a plurality of sizes of cap nuts. The cap nut is threaded onto the shank until the cap nut engages the contact flange. A torque is applied to the cap nut, the torque selected from a torque range operating to prevent pullout of the shank to electrically engage the contact shoe between the cap nut and the flange.

Abstract: A twist-on wire connector containing a mass of a cohering gel in a gel state therein for forming a protective covering over a wire connection in the twist-on wire connector with the gel thereon removal from the twist-on wire connector and peelable from the wire connection to enable one to quickly form a further wire connection without having to wipe off the wire connection.

Abstract: A linear compressor and a method of producing the linear compressor which do not generate eddy currents in an inside stator of a linear motor thereof, thus preventing an eddy current loss, caused by an electrical contact between a plurality of thin metal sheets of the inside stator. The linear compressor includes a cylinder having a piston therein, a magnet arranged around the cylinder to actuate the piston, and the inside stator arranged around the cylinder to be placed inside the magnet. The inside stator has the thin metal sheets arranged in a cylindrical arrangement, and a holder which is made of a nonconductive resin material and to which the thin metal sheets are insert-molded to be held in positions thereof in the cylindrical arrangement. Due to the nonconductive holder, the thin metal sheets are prevented from being in electrical contact with each other, and the linear compressor does not generate any eddy currents in the inside stator, and prevents an eddy current loss.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rocker arm manufacturing method capable of improving the durability and excellent in productivity. In the method according to the present invention, an intermediate product 13 having both side walls 20 extended in a predetermined direction and arranged in parallel with each other and one end side connection wall 30 connecting lower ends of a longitudinal one end of both the side walls is obtained. Next, both side walls 20 formed at the one end of the intermediate product 13 are inwardly bent. Thereafter, ironing dies 60 are pressed down against outer surfaces of both the inclined side walls 20 from an upper side to a lower side to execute ironing of outer surface portions of both the side walls 20 to downwardly plastically fluidize the constituent material of both the side walls 20 to thereby form valve stem guide walls 35 at both sides of the one end side connection wall 30 in a downwardly protruded manner.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing an integrally bladed disk for a turbomachine rotor by friction welding is disclosed. The manufacturing process includes arranging a plurality of blades in the form of a ring in a mold having symmetry of revolution; casting a degradable material, preheated to a temperature above its melting point, onto the ring of blades in the mold; extracting the molded ring which is obtained after the degradable material has solidified; welding the molded ring onto a disk; and eliminating the degradable material.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a liquid container, the liquid container including a liquid containing chamber in which a liquid can be contained, an air communicating passage allowing the liquid containing chamber to communicate with air, a liquid supply port for supplying the liquid contained in the liquid container to an outside, a valve mechanism disposed in the liquid supply port, a liquid flow passage allowing the liquid container and the liquid supply port to communicate with each other, and a differential pressure valve which is disposed in the liquid flow passage, which is normally urged to be a closed state, and which is changed from the closed state to an opened state when a differential pressure between a side of the liquid supply port and a side of the liquid containing chamber is equal to or more than a predetermined value, the method includes: removing at least a part of the valve mechanism; inserting a jig from the liquid supply port; forcibly opening the differential pressure valve using the jig ag

Abstract: An equipment engine mounting system/method for mounting an equipment engine to an equipment frame. The equipment engine mounting system includes a first engine mount disposed between the equipment engine and the equipment frame, including a first engine mount nonextensible inner member having an outer bonding surface. The first engine mount including a first engine mount nonextensible outer member, the first engine mount nonextensible outer member having an inner bonding surface. The first engine mount includes an intermediate elastomer between the first engine mount nonextensible inner member and the first engine mount nonextensible outer member, the first engine mount intermediate elastomer bonded to the first engine mount nonextensible inner member outer bonding surface and the first engine mount nonextensible outer member inner bonding surface.

Abstract: A disposable safety razor having an integral shaving conditioner dispenser includes a neck to which a blade cartridge is affixed at a top end thereof and a handle extends downwardly therefrom. The handle is ergonomically shaped and has an exterior wall that defines a pressure cavity therein for receiving a shaving conditioning compound and a pressurized dispensing gas. The handle has an opening at its bottom and a valve received in the opening. The valve is configured to dispense the shaving conditioning compound downwardly through the valve with the razor held upright. A dispensing cap covers the valve and is engaged therewith such that movement of the dispensing cap causes release of the shaving conditioning compound downwardly through the valve and out from a discharge opening in the cap while holding the razor upright with the blade cartridge and neck positioned higher than the handle bottom and dispensing cap.

Abstract: A shaving system includes a safety razor and a base station spaced apart from one another. The base station has a reservoir adapted to contain a shaving aid material capable of fluid flow. The base station is linked to the safety razor by an umbilical to provide fluid communication between the reservoir and an applicator of the safety razor to deliver the shaving aid material to the skin surface of a user during a shaving operation. A pump can be provided to propel the shaving aid material. A sensor can be provided to initiate operation of the pump. The reservoir can be refillable or replaceable.

Abstract: A trimming machine according to the present invention has a pair of blades each of which has a plurality of cutting edges along a longitudinal direction of the blades and which are reciprocated along the longitudinal direction relative to each other by a rotary power unit. The trimming machine further has a substantially cylindrical eccentric cam eccentrically rotated by the rotary power unit, and a connecting rod having an annular larger end part slidably fitted around the eccentric cam, a smaller end part pivotally attached to one of the blades, and a connecting rod axis passing through a central axis of the smaller end part and a central axis of the larger end part. The larger end part has a bearing portion for bearing load from the blade, and the bearing portion is located on the connecting rod axis when the connecting rod axis is aligned with the longitudinal direction, and is deformable along the connecting rod axis when the bearing portion is subjected to a load.

Abstract: A carpet trimmer including a base, a pair of posts mounted on said base and a handle mounted on said base. A number of spacers are inserted over the posts and secured by fasteners. A blade holder holding a pair of blades and including a blade holding face and a wall runner is inserted between two of the spacers, such that the posts fit into groove on the blade holding face. Throat adjustment holes on said spacers receive dimples on the blade holder to allow throat adjustment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hand held cutter (11) utilizing auxiliary wheels (9) individually performing two working modes including cuts along a rectilinear path and a desired curved path. By switching a control, a pair of auxiliary wheels (9) shifts the cutter (11) from one working mode to one another. According to the unique design of the present invention, a circular disk-shaped cutting blade (14) mounted on the side edge of the pair of auxiliary wheels (9) can produce a stable and versatile cutting effects under the guidance of the auxiliary wheels (9). The application and breakthrough of technologies reduce the size of the hand held cutter (11) so that the cutter 11 can be conveniently carried around.

Abstract: A machine alignment system is disclosed that includes a support member. A workpiece is supported by the support member during a machine operation. A robot includes a tool that is spaced from the support member. A laser is associated with the tool and is configured to provide a laser beam. An alignment tool is arranged on the support member. The laser and alignment tool cooperate to ensure alignment of the tool relative to the workpiece. The alignment tool includes an aperture. An adjustment member is associated with one of the tool and the support member. The adjustment member is configured to adjust a relative position between the tool and the support member to enable the laser beam to pass through the aperture and onto a target surface during an alignment procedure.

Abstract: A prism pole has a tubular housing having an open top, a flange at the open top, a bottom portion for contacting ground soil, a height-adjustable rod insertable into the tubular housing with an outer diameter less than inner diameter of the tubular housing to provide a slidable friction fit therebetween for positioning the height-adjustable rod with respect to the tubular housing, a lip at the top of the rod, a laser sensor mounted on the tubular housing for emitting a laser toward the lip to measure distance between the laser sensor and the lip, an electronic control unit in electrical communication with the laser sensor for receiving height measurements and providing height reference data corresponding to the height measurements, an electronic display in electrical communication with the electronic control unit for receiving the height reference data and displaying the height reference data, an audio device in electrical communication with the electronic control unit for emitting an alarm in response to rec

Abstract: A coordinate transformer that includes foldable horizontal and vertical members utilizes GPS provided map coordinates to assist with location determination on a handheld map. Typically, GPS receivers provide accurate location information but their display size, memory and battery life prohibit the amount of topographic information that can be displayed in context, to a user. Through the use of the coordinate transformer, an ambulatory user is provided with an accurate location indication displayed within the context of a large portion of an actual topographic map, and the user is also able to determine the coordinates of a location of interest on the map for transfer to an internal or external unit.

Abstract: A ruler has a base, a design paper and a cover. The base has a ridge, a first inclined sheet, a second inclined sheet, a first horizontal tab and a second horizontal tab. The first inclined sheet is formed on the ridge. The first horizontal tab is formed on the first inclined sheet and has a top surface and multiple scales. The scales are formed on the top surface or the bottom surface. The second inclined sheet is formed on the ridge. The second horizontal tab is formed on the second inclined sheet. The design paper is mounted on the base. The cover is transparent, is mounted detachably on the base and covers the design paper. The design of the ruler can be replaced and the scales are not abraded easily.

Abstract: A mesoscale calibration artifact, also called a hybrid artifact, suitable for hybrid dimensional measurement and the method for make the artifact. The hybrid artifact has structural characteristics that make it suitable for dimensional measurement in both vision-based systems and touch-probe-based systems. The hybrid artifact employs the intersection of bulk-micromachined planes to fabricate edges that are sharp to the nanometer level and intersecting planes with crystal-lattice-defined angles.

Abstract: In a machine tool having an on-board measuring machine and controlled by a numerical controller, a method of measuring a shape of a workpiece presets a reference point for temperature drift correction on the workpiece, moves a probe to the reference point, resets a coordinate system of the probe to correct a temperature drift of the probe, and carries out shape measurement of the workpiece along a first measuring path. Next, the method moves the probe to the reference point again, resets the coordinate system of the probe to correct a temperature drift of the probe again, and carries out shape measurement of the workpiece along a second measuring path. Thereafter, similar temperature drift correction is carried out for each measuring path until the shape measurement of the workpiece is carried out along the last measuring path.

Abstract: A probe head having a probe head base and a stylus is provided for contacting a surface point on a workpiece. The stylus is moveable relative to the probe head base and has a defined rest position relative to the probe head base. For the contacting, the probe head is moved relative to the workpiece until the stylus touches the surface point with a defined contacting force. A correction data record representing a hysteresis behavior of the stylus with respect to the rest position is provided, and the contacting force is determined using the correction data record.

Abstract: A linear measuring arrangement for measuring a relative position of two objects. The linear measuring arrangement includes a unit having a housing and a scale in the housing and a scanning unit, which can be shifted relative to the unit in a measuring direction, wherein the scanning unit is arranged inside the housing and includes a heat-generating electrical component. The arrangement further includes a mounting piece, which is fastened to the scanning unit by a coupling, which is rigid in the measuring direction and resilient transversely thereto, and which extends to a mounting area arranged outside of the housing. The arrangement further includes a heat-conducting element, which is designed for transferring heat generated by the heat generating electrical component to the mounting piece and permits relative movements between the mounting piece and the scanning unit at least transversely to the measuring direction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a drying apparatus equipped with linear drive mechanisms to drive spray nozzles in the direction perpendicular to the direction in which a wet object is transferred in the drying box. Each spray nozzle has a long discharge slit elongated in the direction in which the wet object is transferred. Two opposed nozzles are provided at each of the entrance and exit of the drying box. Each nozzle has an elongated slit traversing the width of the wet object in the direction perpendicular to the transporting direction, the opposed surfaces of the nozzles being so inwardly oblique that the gap between the opposed surfaces is larger at the inner edge than the outer edge.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enhancing the ability of a human to run and jump with comfort comparable to running barefoot on a trampoline and with control comparable to that of the unaided human form, yet with freedom from ankle-turning roll moments associated with substantial ground contact member (GCM) extension downwardly away from the sole of the foot, including a resiliently urged GCM constrained to two degrees of freedom: translation away from the sole of the user's foot and rotation about a longitudinal axis at ground level. The apparatus relates flexure of a GCM toe pressure member to comparable flexure of user's toes at the metatarsal joints. The apparatus also incorporates lower leg to ankle pivot bracing, and extends the GCM in downward direction parallel to the lower leg while mimicking user ankle articulation with parallelism-maintaining rotation about a downwardly resiliently urged transverse pivot axis similar to the user's own ankle joint for extended travel.

Abstract: A shoe for improving use efficiency through reduction of neuromuscular fatigue. The shoe comprising a midsole with a suspension element and a hinge.

Abstract: A shoe, in particular a sports shoe, includes an inner sole and an outer sole the heel part of which, hollowed out with an opening oriented upwards, includes an internal shock-absorbing element, which is preferably formed as a single block with the outer sole. This shock-absorbing element has a hollow tubular open configuration, the annular section of which is not of constant thickness over all of its height, locally presenting a zone of reduced thickness, from which preferably the deformation by flexing of the shock-absorbing element occurs. Preferably, it has an outer wall that is perpendicular to the general pressure plane of the outer sole and an inner wall with a concave curvature.

Abstract: Various embodiments of this invention disclose a dynamically responsive shock attenuation system for footwear that comprises two or more materials with different, narrowly prescribed physical properties, which, when used together, produce a dynamic, continuous, and proportional response over a wide range of impact forces. In various embodiments of the invention, the two materials comprise a first material that exhibits generally Newtonian behavior to impact forces and a second material that exhibits generally non-Newtonian behavior to impact forces.

Abstract: An article of footwear including a mesh disposed on the outsole and an insert of the outsole is disclosed. The outsole includes tread elements that extend farther from the outsole than the mesh, providing protection to the mesh. Additionally, the mesh on the insert preferably helps reduce hyperextension of the front of the insert and the article of footwear.

Abstract: An active shoe cleat system with a shoe having a processor in the shoe operably connected to cleats on the bottom of the shoe, at least one sensor that measures at least one parameter pertaining to ambient conditions on the shoe, a projection within the cleats that are deployed in response to control signals from the processor generated in response to data from information provided in part by the sensor, and means for urging the projection outward from within the cleat. In a preferred embodiment, the cleat may be activated by hydraulics or pneumatics or have a direct motor driven cable, gear or shaft work system. The sensors may monitor a variety of ambient conditions such as speed, torque, acceleration, force, water presence or other factors affecting traction and performance.

Abstract: A snow pusher attachment for use in conjunction with a straight blade angle-type snow plow mounted to a work vehicle. This pusher allows a work vehicle to capture, contain, and relocate large amounts of snow very quickly and efficiently. The attachment consists of side panels, connected by horizontal members between. This pusher attachment is secured to the snow plow by bracket assemblies, attached to the upper edge of the snow plow that engage hooks on the upper, rear portion of the pusher attachment. The attachment does not require the operator to exit the work vehicle to secure or release it from the snowplow. Accordingly, the attachment allows the quick and repeated conversion of a snow plow into a snow pusher box and visa versa.

Abstract: An excavation retention assembly is provided for mounting a tooth to an excavating apparatus. The assembly in one embodiment includes a tooth and an adaptor end of a working member of an excavating apparatus. The tooth includes a cavity for mating with an end of the adaptor, an opening for receiving a fastening member and a fastening receptacle in the cavity opposite the opening in the tooth for receiving the fastening member. The adaptor includes a passage which aligns with the opening in the tooth and the fastening member. The fastening member passes through the aligned opening of the tooth, the passage of the adaptor and into the fastening receptacle for securing the tooth to the adaptor.