Abstract: A golf club shaft and a golf club using such a golf club shaft are achieved, wherein the golf club shaft is capable of suppressing variations of various parameters at impact by reducing the difference in rigidity between the layers of the shaft body. The golf club shaft includes full-length bias prepregs provided only as a plurality of pairs thereof and as full-length layers that extend over an entire length of the shaft body, wherein fiber directions of each pair of the full-length bias prepregs are inclined at an angle within a range of 22 degrees through 28 degrees relative to a longitudinal direction of the shaft body, respectively.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present disclosure describe an arrangement for mounting basketball goal support arms to a support pole. The arrangement includes an attachment assembly that has a bolt piece, spacers, and a locking portion. The bolt piece includes a medial portion and bolt ends. The medial portion may be permanently attached to the support pole of a basketball goal. The bolt ends may receive a spacer, a support arm, and a locking portion.

Abstract: A training device, including: at least two respective response target (7); at least two elastic holder cords (6), each holding said at least one respective response target, wherein each said elastic holder cord (6) is located, in a taut state, between at least one attachment point above a training area and a floor attachment, wherein said at least two holder cords (6) are placed at a distance from one another, with response targets (7) placed thereon, and are connected by a momentum coupling.

Abstract: A training bat having an elongated barrel of a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape, a relatively short tapered section and a handle section with knob, wherein the hitting surface is substantially flat with rounded edges and is of a lesser width front to back than each side of the barrel and provides a relatively longer than the hitting surface of a standard bat having a standard cylindrical shaped barrel. The hitting surface and is oriented relative to the grain of a wood embodiment such that the grain of the bat will be perpendicular to the ball at contact. The elongated barrel and short tapered section create a longer sweet spot which extends further toward the handle than a standard bat. The barrel has uniformly perpendicular sides extending from the tapered section to the top of the bat.

Abstract: A row boat for rowing training includes a hull including a bottom and four sidewalls, and a pair of oars connected to opposing sidewalls, each oar including a handle and an oar scoop disposed as an end of the handle, wherein the oars are configured to rotate about a first axis of rotation to move the oars during a pull phase and a flex phase of a rowing stroke, and wherein the oars are configured to rotate about a second axis of rotation to change an angular orientation of the oar scoop in water during the pull phase and the flex phase.

Abstract: A board paddling training apparatus for assisting in improving a user's paddling technique and strength. In particular, the board paddling training apparatus includes a buoyant board, such as a board adapted for surfing, bodyboarding, paddleboarding, or other board-related sport that entails paddling, and includes a resistance mechanism that creates drag or resistance against a user's paddle stroke. Some implementations of the resistance mechanism can be adjustable in order to create a variety of resistance against the user's paddle stroke and board movement.

Abstract: A golf training device comprised of a planar quadrilateral-shaped adjustable frame having vertically extendable sway bars that assists a golfer to establish a proper stance and “body turn” during a golf swing is disclosed. The device can be easily setup and transported to permit repetitive use, is relatively easy to manufacture, and cost-effective. The adjustable frame, designed to be placed on the ground, consists of a first pair of linear telescoping members coupled at each end by a second pair of linear telescoping members, thereby allowing the user to expand the adjustable frame to increase or decrease the total square area of the frame according to the preferences and stance of the golfer. Furthermore, each top side of the first pair of linear members include vertically extendable sway bars to alert the golfer if he/she is “swaying” rather than turning on the back swing or follow-through.

Abstract: A pole-mounted individual safety restraint system that incorporates a self-retracting lanyard, suitable for installation and use in vehicles so as to allow exercise or other activity on the vehicle while the vehicle is in motion.

Abstract: A safety fence support device with flexibility may be provided. More particularly, a safety fence support device with flexibility may be provided which is simply installed on a safety fence used in various sports facilities, e.g., a baseball field, an ice hockey rink, a ski slope, etc., causes the safety fence to be tilted backward even when players playing a game or people enjoying the sports in the sports facilities collide with the safety fence at various angles, thereby preventing injury by mitigating impact applied to a human body through the safety fence, and is used in various sports facilities regardless of the kind of the safety fence by controlling the degree of flexibility for mitigating the impact in accordance with the impact strength.

Abstract: The measuring system makes it possible to correct a finish time for an athlete in a running race. The system comprises a personalized transponder module placed on an upper part of the athlete's body and a base station. The transponder module comprises a signal receiver unit, a data, measurement or command processing unit, and a data and/or measurement and/or command signal transmission unit, and a motion sensor for providing measurement signals to the processing unit. The motion sensor may be a gyroscope connected to the processing unit in the transponder unit and configured to determine an angle of inclination of the athlete's body with respect to a vertical or horizontal direction upon crossing the finish line for correction of the race finish time.

Abstract: An Internet of Thing (IoT) device includes a camera coupled to a processor; and a wireless transceiver coupled to the processor. Blockchain smart contracts can be used with the device to facilitate secure operation.

Abstract: An Internet of Thing (IoT) device includes a body and sensors including a camera and an accelerometer; a processor; and a wireless transceiver coupled to the processor.

Abstract: Various powered wheeled board vehicles are disclosed. In some embodiments, the vehicle includes a deck having a forward portion and a rearward portion. At least one front wheel can be connected with the deck under the forward portion. The front wheel can be configured to swivel about a first axis and rotate about a second axis. A powered wheel can be connected with the rearward portion. In some configurations, the rear wheel comprises a hub motor.

Abstract: A skateboard riser is described. The skateboard riser housing and a camera assembly disposed in the housing. A skateboard is also described. The skateboard includes a skateboard deck, a truck, and a riser coupled between the skateboard deck and the truck. The riser includes a camera assembly and a digital video recorder.

Abstract: A playing card shuffling device includes a visual display in information communication with the playing card shuffling device. At least one processor is programmed to provide displayable information to the visual display indicative of an amount of time remaining or time expired in a procedure performed by the playing card shuffling device.

Abstract: A method including, manufacturing individual playing cards; shuffling, using a shuffling machine with multiple pockets, a multiple number of decks of the playing cards at random in a factory utilizing at least a first card feeding step and a second card feeding step; detecting, using an imaging device and an image processing unit, a rank and a suit of each of the cards; counting, using the image processing unit, the number of each rank and each suit; inspecting, using the image processing unit, during or after the shuffling of the decks of playing cards, but before packaging, whether or not there is an excess or deficiency in the number of the rank or the suit contained in the multiple number of decks of the playing cards; and, after the inspecting step, packaging a set of the shuffled decks of the playing cards in an individual package.

Abstract: A system includes a first gaming system communicatively coupled to a second gaming system via a communication network. The first gaming system receives the data from the second gaming system and displays on a first display device of the first gaming system one or more viewing modes associated with a game being rendered at the second gaming system. The viewing modes, herein correspond to plurality of views of a user associated with the second gaming system.

Abstract: A game apparatus as a handheld information processing apparatus includes a CPU, and when the game apparatus is closed, the CPU shifts to a sleep mode. When a user carries the game apparatus in the sleep mode, a micon measures step counts according to a magnitude of accelerations indicated by acceleration data from an acceleration sensor. When a main power of the game apparatus is turned on to display a main menu screen, the step counts are converted into earned coins, for example. In each of a plurality of applications to be executed by the game apparatus, a special item is purchased, or game playing on a special course is permitted by utilizing the earned coins.

Abstract: An elongated member such as a bar includes spaced-apart infrared light illumination ports at opposite ends thereof. Exemplary spacing between the two spaced-apart light ports may be 20 centimeters or more. Each light port comprises an array of plural light sources. The plural light sources in each array may be directionally aimed to as to provide different illumination directions. The plural light sources in each array may emit different colors or frequencies of light. Example applications include targeting or marking capabilities for a video game or other system handheld pointing device.

Abstract: A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, a processor that performs operations including detecting a first depression range of a button that includes an electro-mechanical sensor for detecting the first depression range, comparing the first depression range to a first actuation threshold, and asserting a first actuation state when the first depression range is at or exceeds the first actuation threshold. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A hand operated game controller for controlling a game console. Multiple push buttons are arranged on the surface of the game controller. The push buttons are placed in an arrangement that approximately matches the natural position of the fingers of the user's hands. As the user presses the buttons, control signals are sent from the buttons to the game console via wiring.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a unique interactive game that connects both physical and virtual play environments and includes multiple dynamic layers in which a participant may complete a variety of challenges and/or tasks. For example, the participant may obtain a physical gaming item such as a toy from a retail phase that is usable in an interactive entertainment phase that provides virtual play via computer animation. The interactive entertainment phase may include multiple interrelated layers such that progress in one or more layers may affect the participant's experience in one or more other layers. The participant may also receive training on how to use and improve the physical gaming item to help achieve one or more special effects or complete one or more adventures and/or quests.

Abstract: Methods and systems for adjusting a weight of a peripheral device while presenting content to a head mounted display are disclosed. One method includes processing instructions for rendering a virtual reality scene in the head mounted display. The virtual reality scene includes a virtual object. The method also includes receiving pairing of the peripheral device for use with the head mounted display for rendering the virtual reality scene and determining a movement of the virtual object. The method causes sending of instructions to the peripheral device for execution by a controller of the peripheral device to move a weight in the peripheral device. The weight is moved to provide a correlation to the determined movement of the virtual object.

Abstract: First placement information for placing a first virtual object based on a first reference is transmitted, and the first virtual object is displayed in a first captured image based on the first reference and the first placement information. On the other hand, the transmitted first placement information is acquired, and the first virtual object is displayed in a second captured image based on a second reference and the first placement information.

Abstract: A virtual space is provided to users via client computing devices. Device information related to a client computing platform used by a user to interact with the virtual space may be obtained. Customized in-game capabilities available for the user may be determined based on the device information, which may include a description of or otherwise identify the client computing platform. The device information may include or otherwise by used to obtain device capabilities such as hardware, software, network, and/or other specifications. Different users using different client computing platforms may be provided with different in-game capabilities such as user roles, content items, levels, and/or other content or actions available for the user in the virtual space based on the client computing platform used by the users to access the virtual space. The device information may be used to facilitate enhanced party formation between users of the virtual space.

Abstract: Embodiments of the systems and processes disclosed herein can use procedural techniques to calculate reactionary forces between character models. In some embodiments, the system can calculate a change in momentum of the character at the time of impact and simulate the reaction of the character model, using momentum-based inverse kinematic analysis. Procedural animation can be used to dynamically generate a target pose for the character model based on the inverse kinematic analysis for each rendered frame.

Abstract: A game system includes a character setting section that sets a plurality of characters selected by a player from among a plurality of characters possessed by the player to be battle characters, a game processing section that executes a battle between the characters that have been set to be the battle characters and an enemy character that appears in a stage selected by the player, and an information presentation section that, when a number of times that the player failed to clear the stage has reached a predetermined number, extracts a plurality of characters recommended to be the battle characters from among the characters possessed by the player when the number of times that the player failed to clear the stage has reached a predetermined number, determines whether or not the player can clear the stage when the extracted characters are set to be the battle characters, and presents information that corresponds to the determination result to the player.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for playing a video game in which a user is associated with a particular gaming level in a plurality of gaming levels and is subjected to one or more challenges. The user responds to the challenges. The user is provided with a first mechanism for acquiring a first subpart, from among a plurality of subparts, at a time when the user has collected none of the subparts. The subparts collectively define a virtual composite item that has functional value within the game and the subparts do not have functionality within the game until the user has collected the entire plurality of subparts. Subsequently, the user is provided with a second mechanism for acquiring a second subpart from among the plurality of subparts. Use of a virtual composite item is enabled when the user has collected all the subparts of the composite item.

Abstract: An avatar or avatar environment to visualize data may be provided within a social networking system or service, for example as part of the Internet, and/or within a desktop widget, panel, gadget, or the like. The avatar may further evolve or alter its appearance, animation, or other visual or audio characteristics in response to the data or other input such as athletic activity performed by a corresponding user. In particular, the avatar of an embodiment may respond to and provide visualization of athletic or sport performance data.

Abstract: A computer game system in which real-world financial investment by the player of the computer game is incentivized, and such real-world financial investment is realized as a secondary benefit of game play.

Abstract: Game client, game server, Web application server, and database server including database with data representative of a virtual world. Game client or server, or both, includes motifs, motif manager, character manager, scenes-a-faire manager, and display manager coupled to display, all in communication with game manager, and pseudorandomizer, which can instigate changing of a motif. Motifs are representative of a game character or environment. A user interface has mass sensor, accelerometer, haptic device, first device for visual input, output, or both, second device for audio input, output, or both, and tactile sensor, effector or both. Included may be automatic translator, or TTS/STT module. The online game can be virtual world representative of at least two of a northern continent, a western continent, a southern continent, a central continent, and an eastern continent. Methods provide game client, game server, and a database that manipulate character or environment motifs and scenes-a-faire.

Abstract: An apparatus for recording game history is coupled between a game host and a game console and performs a game history recording and interaction method. The apparatus communicates with the game host through a first wireless unit, and communicates with the game console through a second wireless unit, to receive game operation information generated from operations of the game console. The apparatus receives a video signal outputted by the game host through a video input port. The processing module is coupled to the wireless units and the video input port respectively and is used to obtain the game operation information from the wireless units and generate operation information images corresponding to the game operation information. The processing module superimposes the operation information images on the video signal correspondingly to form game history video data and outputs the superimposed game history video data to a display device for display.

Abstract: An assembly play equipment for children has bases comprising of a pair of end plates which are made vertical in shape and face each other, are formed at top parts of facing surfaces with open windows, are connected at center parts by a seat surface member, are connected at bottom parts by reinforcing members, and are provided at the center parts with pluralities of first connecting holes for connection use which form rotation preventing parts, and one or plural such bases have a step climbing stand, slide, twisted slope, climbing slope, arcade bridge, arch balustrade net bridge, corridor bridge, bulging bridge, wave bridge, or ring tunnel suitably selected and assembled together with the one or plural such bases by connecting the second connecting holes and the first connecting holes with connecting pieces.

Abstract: A flight simulator, motion simulator or orientation simulator for the spatial movement of at least one person, and in particular for the simulation of acceleration sequences, has a holding device for holding a person in a region of the center. The holding device is mounted on a carriage via a movement device. The carriage can be displaced, in particular linearly, along a horizontally oriented main carrier. The main carrier is rotationally driven about a vertically oriented major axis of rotation and the center is displaceable between a first outer maximum position and a second outer maximum position by moving the carriage along a trajectory on the main carrier. A normal distance between the first outer maximum position of the center and the major axis of rotation is greater than the normal distance between the second outer maximum position of the center and the major axis of rotation.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a hand-held yo-yo ball capable of manually storing energy, comprising two rotating bodies and a connecting shaft, where each rotating body comprises a disk body and a shell; one disk body is internally provided with a clutch mechanism, the other disk body is internally provided with an energy storage mechanism; two ends of the connecting shaft are respectively connected with the clutch mechanism and the energy storage mechanism; the rotating body at the end where the clutch mechanism is located is manually rotated, energy is stored in the energy storage mechanism, then the meshing state of the clutch mechanism is manually removed, so that the energy storage mechanism releases the energy to drive the two rotating bodies to rotate synchronously. In this way, the yo-yo ball can be rotated without throwing a ball body of the yo-yo ball by a rope.

Abstract: A wheel for a prefabricated toy using a chain block is provided. The wheel is formed by assembling a wheel assembly, and a drum into which an assembling piece of the chain block is inserted and assembled, and in which the drum has a sill formed at a cylindrical body such that the drum and the wheel assembly are assembled to spin with no traction while the drum is inserted into and assembled to a mounting hole of the wheel assembly, coupling parts having a polygonal shape are formed at both surfaces of the cylindrical body of the drum so as to be simply assembled regardless of an assembling angle of the assembling piece and the wheel, and the wheel itself is utilized as the assembling piece or the drum embedded in the wheel is separated to be utilized as the assembling piece.

Abstract: A model vehicle control device and method to realize section block control with high extensibility, which can flexibly support various layouts. A section determination unit determines whether a preceding vehicle exists in a section that a vehicle is about to enter. An entry condition determination unit determines, when the vehicle is about to enter a section with constraint, whether a current state in the section satisfies an entry condition. When the current state of the section with constraint does not satisfy the entry condition, a section control unit does not allow entry of a target vehicle to the section, regardless of a determination result of the section determination unit, until the section becomes a state that satisfies the entry condition.

Abstract: Toy train track segments of non-magnetic metals and a toy train track comprised of the non-magnetic track segments and a system of magnetic elements configured to be magnetically inter-connected with each other in varying positions and configurations for building up of environmental structures for a train track layout The toy track segments are configured for magnetic coupling with each other to provide the toy train track, with each segment having at least one edge for abutted coupling to an edge of another track segment wherein each abutted edge has at least one magnet imbedded therein and the imbedded magnet or magnets being positioned to be aligned with a magnet or magnets of another abutted edge to effect the magnetic coupling. The environmental magnetic elements include imbedded magnets around the peripheries thereof or at designated points of magnetic attachment.

Abstract: A projectile for launch in a body of water is described herein. The head of the projectile may be soft, the projectile may have a total specific gravity greater than about 0.95, the center of gravity may be located nearer the front end of the projectile as compared to the rear end and/or the length of the projectile relative to the maximum diameter may be greater than about 7:1. Methods of launching the same are also described herein.

Abstract: A hand sewn toy kit includes a plurality of first panels, a plurality of second panels and a plurality of third panels. A selected one of the first panels is selectively positioned between a pair of the second panels to simulate a slice of a food item. Additionally, a selected one of the first panels is selectively positioned between a pair of the third panels to simulate a slice of bread. A selected number of the food items are positioned between a pair of the slices of bread to simulate a sandwich for playing. A sewing kit is provided for stitching the second panels corresponding to the food item together and for stitching the third panels corresponding to the slice of bread together.

Abstract: A system comprising a self-propelled device and an accessory device. The self-propelled device includes a spherical housing, and a drive system provided within the spherical housing to cause the self-propelled device to roll. When the self-propelled device rolls, the self-propelled device and the accessory device magnetically interact to maintain the accessory device in contact with a top position of the spherical housing relative to an underlying surface on which the spherical housing is rolling on.

Abstract: A building brick base assembly includes a plate having a top side, a bottom side and a perimeter edge. The top side is planar and the plate has an opening extending therethrough. A plurality of male interconnection members is integral to and extends upwardly from the top side. A plurality of female interconnection members is integral to the bottom side of the plate. The male and female interconnection members are configured to releasably engage bricks from a building brick system. A panel has a perimeter edge and the panel is pivotally coupled to the plate adjacent to the opening. The panel is positionable in a closed position closing the opening or a deployed position exposing the opening.

Abstract: [Problem] To provide an educational toy which allows an observed action to be experienced artificially. [Solution] A toy system (900) is used by bringing a magnifying-glass type hand-held instrument (930) into contact with a page (912) of a main body portion (910) having a picture portion (914). The magnifying-glass type hand-held instrument (930) captures an image of the picture portion (914), and determines the location, within the image in said picture portion, that has been captured. From pre-stored image data of a picture image that is the same as the picture portion (914), image data for a part (a partial image) corresponding to the location being captured are then read out and are displayed on a touch panel (942). If the location being captured fulfills certain location conditions, one image element from image elements W41 to W49 is also selected as a special image and is displayed superimposed on the partial image.

Abstract: The solar cooling and water desalination system is a roof-mounted system having a refrigeration unit driven by electricity produced by solar panels to chill water, which is stored in a first tank and used to cool living spaces. Seawater is preheated in a first heat exchanger by waste heat from operation of the refrigeration unit, and heated further in a second heat exchanger by hot distilled water. A field of solar collectors heats oil, which is stored in a hot oil tank and then powers a first boiler to produce high pressure and temperature steam for a steam ejector vacuum system connected to a desalination water boiler that desalinates the seawater, which is condensed by a condenser and stored in a distilled water tank, where it is stored at about 80° C.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an evaporation system for wastewater wherein the staging tank is utilized to pretreat the wastewater to strip hydrocarbons from the staging tank before sending to the evaporator by sparging the wastewater in staging tank with air from the blower and or hot gases from the combustion utilized in the evaporation system.

Abstract: In order to separate and concentrate a liquid component from a liquid multi-component mixture formed of several liquid components with different boiling temperatures, e.g. an ethanol-water mixture, a concentration apparatus (3) is proposed, with its separation section and concentration section designed as separate columns (5, 7) with different operating energy requirements. The column (7) with the higher operating energy requirements is designed for a lower temperature difference between the boiling temperature of the top of the column (29) and the boiling temperature of the bottom of the column (21) than the column (5) with lower operating energy requirements. Separate mechanical vapour compressors (15, 27) are assigned to the two columns (5, 7), said vapour compressors compressing the vapours from the top of the associated column (5, 7) and supplying the operating energy to the bottom region (11, 21) of the respective column (5, 7) by means of separate sump evaporators (9, 23) which act as, reboilers.

Abstract: A system for recovering water from air includes a base plate having an upper surface having a substantially non-reflective surface to absorb heat energy from the sun. A column is positioned on the base plate and has at least one wall through which heat energy from the sun may pass to the base plate to heat the base plate, and the base plate heats air in the column. An upper thermally conductive plate is secured at an angle between horizontal and vertical within an upper end of the column. A lower plate is secured within the column parallel to and spaced beneath the upper plate to define a flow channel between the upper plate and the lower plate. A thermoelectric cooler is connectable to a power source for cooling the upper plate. An accumulator is positioned for collecting and accumulating water that condenses on and flows through the flow channel.

Abstract: Systems and methods for enhanced separation of H2S and NH3 in an H2S stripper using carbon dioxide and/or an inert gas.

Abstract: A device for the contact of a gas phase with a liquid medium, and a method for operating the device. The liquid medium here is directed into the device and some of it is raised by means of a conveying device. The liquid medium raised is distributed over a rotating brush by way of a distributing means. At least one gas inlet and a fan here generate a gas stream from a lower portion of the device to an upper portion of the device. The liquid medium distributed over the upper surface of the brush is directed back by way of the brush, counter to the gas stream, into the lower region.

Abstract: A solution treatment apparatus connected to a supply nozzle that supplies a treatment solution to a substrate, includes: a supply pipeline connecting a treatment solution storage container and the supply nozzle; a filter apparatus provided in the supply pipeline; a pump on a secondary side of the filter apparatus; a circulation pipeline connecting a discharge side of the pump and an intake side of the filter apparatus; a supply control valve provided in the supply pipeline on a secondary side of the pump; a circulation control valve provided in the circulation pipeline; and a control unit, wherein the control unit opens the circulation control valve and drives the pump when supply of the treatment solution from the supply nozzle to the substrate is stopped by closing the supply control valve, to thereby circulate the treatment solution between the supply pipeline having the filter apparatus and the circulation pipeline.