2275results about "Ski bindings" patented technology

A disclosed device provides a trajectory detection and feedback system. The system is capable of detecting one or more moving objects in free flight, analyzing a trajectory of each object and providing immediate feedback information to a human that has launched the object into flight, and / or one or more observers in the area. The feedback information may include one or more trajectory parameters that the human may use to evaluate their skill at sending the object along a desired trajectory. In a particular embodiment, a non-intrusive machine vision system that remotely detects trajectories of moving objects may be used to evaluate trajectory parameters for a basketball shot at a basketball hoop by a player. The feedback information, such as a trajectory entry angle into the basketball hoop and / or an entry velocity into the hoop for the shot, may be output to the player in an auditory format using a sound projection device. The system may be operable to be set-up and to operate in a substantially autonomous manner. After the system has evaluated a plurality of shots by the player, the system may provide 1) a diagnosis of their shot consistency, 2) a prediction for improvement based upon improving their shot consistency and 3) a prescription of actions for improving their consistency.

A sports tracking and analysis system includes a RFID tag implanted onto an item associated with a player and at least one RFID tag implanted on a game ball. The tags and reader are arranged to transfer data such as the time and location of player and ball to each other for readers positioned throughout the field. The readers communicate the data to a computer system designed to process the data and generate player performance statistics including real-time measurements of many characteristics and, over time or based on input data, historical performance statistics. A method of tracking and analyzing the performance of a sports game is also included.

An automatic ground marking apparatus including a carriage (1) responsive to carriage control signals for traversing the ground (5), the carriage having a controllable steering and drive system, a controllable marking system and a position determining system (6) arranged to determine the position of the carriage. The ground marking apparatus further includes a processor (8) responsive to the position determining system and operatively executing a software product for generating said carriage control signals to cause the carriage (1) to mark out a predetermined sign (14) on the ground. The position determining system (6) suitably employs a laser beam (4) and reflective tracking prism (2), and the predetermined sign may be defined by data points stored in a file (9) accessed by the processor (8).

Magnetic circuit that has (a) a source of magnetic flux which includes an electromagnet or one or more permanent magnets, (b) at least two oppositely polarisable pole extension bodies associated with the magnetic flux source, the bodies being disc, wheel, roller or similarly shaped with an outer circumferential surface and held rotatable about respective axes of rotation, and (c) a ferromagnetic counter body which is arranged to cooperate with the pole extension bodies such as to provide an external flux path for the magnetic flux when in magnetic proximity or contact with the circumferential surface of the pole extension bodies, which is characterised in that the magnetic flux source is held stationary relative to the rotatable pole extension bodies.

A snowboard binding has a support structure with a base plate and side plates that project from the base plate. Tension cables, which hold a single instep element, are attached to the side plates. The instep element extends from a toe region of the boot up to at least its instep region. A single tensioning device for the tension cables is independent of a pivoting position of a heel element.

A disclosed device provides a trajectory detection and feedback system. The system is capable of detecting one or more moving objects in free flight, analyzing a trajectory of each object and providing immediate feedback information to a human that has launched the object into flight, and / or one or more observers in the area. The feedback information may include one or more trajectory parameters that the human may use to evaluate their skill at sending the object along a desired trajectory. In a particular embodiment, a non-intrusive machine vision system that remotely detects trajectories of moving objects may be used to evaluate trajectory parameters for a basketball shot at a basketball hoop by a player. The feedback information, such as a trajectory entry angle into the basketball hoop and / or an entry velocity into the hoop for the shot, may be output to the player in an auditory format using a sound projection device. The system may be operable to be set-up and to operate in a substantially autonomous manner. After the system has evaluated a plurality of shots by the player, the system may provide 1) a diagnosis of their shot consistency, 2) a prediction for improvement based upon improving their shot consistency and 3) a prescription of actions for improving their consistency.

A ride surface for water ride attractions and the like is provided. The ride surface is fabricated from a reinforced membrane material tensioned over a supporting framework. The tensioned membrane ride surface serves the dual role of providing structural support for water flow and riders thereon while at the same time providing an impact safe surface that is non-injurious to riders who may fall thereon. The tensioned membrane can be adjusted actively and / or passively in order to accommodate different and varied ride experiences. Optionally, the shape of the membrane ride surface can be changed either dynamically or passively by special tensioning techniques and / or by using auxiliary support structures such as air bladders, pressure / suction, foam supports or / or the like.

An autonomous ground maintenance vehicle is provided with maintenance equipment for performing a ground maintenance operation, such as mowing and storing grass, a marking device that includes a delivery structure for applying a marking material to the ground, a guidance mechanism for guiding the ground maintenance vehicle, and a position sensor for determining the position of the vehicle. The marking device is controlled in response to the position of the vehicle according to the position sensor.

A contact configuration between boot and binding for snowboarding. Contact pins are provided on opposing sides of the boot at both the heel area and the toe area. This 4-point contact configuration assures heel and toe stability and reliable side boot restraint. Concave mating receptacles at matching locations on the binding assure easy and simple interconnection which is also secure and reliable. A release mechanism is provided to selectively retract the pins using a simple pull cord arrangement. Strap linkages permit more convenient tightening and loosening of the boot straps. A strap / yoke configuration provides improved interconnection between the boot and the user's foot. The pull cord is routed within the sole of the boot and upward along the ankle area of the boot for more convenient access. The pull cord is connected to retract linkages at both heel and toe areas, both of those linkages being spring loaded to provide normally extended pins. A variety of pin receptacle configurations are shown for facilitating boot-to-binding step-in connection.

A substrate for use in a flooring system which has a subfloor and a decorative upper layer. The substrate is made in a continuous sheet which has a bottom surface, a top surface, side surfaces and end surfaces. The top surface and the oppositely facing bottom surface are essentially parallel to each other and are spaced apart by the thickness of the substrate. Voids are provided in the substrate, the voids are provided between particles of rubber or other similar material. When the substrate is positioned between the subfloor and the decorative top layer, the particles of rubber provide the strength required to prevent deformation of the substrate in the direction of the thickness and the voids contribute to the sound dampening characteristics required to provide decibel reduction across the thickness of the substrate.

The present invention describes a synthetic turf having super absorbent materials in order to keep the synthetic turf cooler than conventional synthetic turfs. The present invention also provides for synthetic turf infill cooling particles comprising a layer of water-absorbing material coating a foundation comprising a core substrate. In one embodiment, the cooling particle is comprised of a core particle or substrate, which is coated with a water-absorbing material. In one embodiment, the water-absorbing material is a super absorbent polymer.

A ladder strap (150) is made by joining—for example, by co-molding—a first, relatively supple material, defining a lower strap portion (155) with a second, relatively hard material defining an upper strap portion (165). The teeth (167) of the ladder strap are comprises substantially of the harder, second material. In a preferred embodiment, the first and second materials are thermoplastic urethanes, and the co-molding is done using an injection molding process. The co-molding process may be accomplished with co-injection, wherein the two materials are injected at about the same time, or the first material may be injected into a first mold cavity and allowed to partially set, after which the cavity is modified to accommodate the second material.

A snowboard binding (100) is disclosed having a base plate (102) with a highback (120) pivotally attached. A locking lever (130) is disposed on the back of the highback for locking the highback in a generally upright position with a desired maximum forward lean. A flexible member such as a strap (140) or a panel (202), cord guide (204), and cord (206) attached to the highback and to the locking lever to facilitate moving the lever between an open position and a locked position. In an embodiment of the invention, the base plate includes a pair of oppositely-disposed, pivotable sidewalls (104) and the highback is attached to the base plate with a heel loop (112) that pivotably engages the sidewalls, such that straps (108, 110) mounted to the sidewalls move to engage the boot (90) when the highback is moved to an upright position.

Selected patterns of lights are displayed on a recreational conveyance such as a snowboard according to the motion of the board. A selection of patterns is stored in a processor memory, the motion of the board is measured (for example with accelerometers) and a pattern is selected from memory based on the measured motion. Then lights on the board are blinked on and off in the selected pattern. Accelerometer inputs are analyzed and a series of states is derived for each accelerometer axis. A series of states can be analyzed as a set to select a different pattern. Also, the magnitude of the states (such as duration, speed, or intensity) may affect the pattern selected. The process may be adaptive, so that the analyzing step further analyzes user weight or past snowboarding style to set adaptive thresholds for selecting patterns.

A variable stackable ramp system for forming ramp assemblies for providing challenging obstacle courses including ones for aerial lift for sport jumping with skateboards, inline skates, bicycles and the like. The ramp system includes ramp modules of at least two different configurations with one being an inclined ramp module having an inclined upper riding or support surface and a straight ramp module having a generally horizontal straight upper riding or support surface. The ramp modules are adapted to be interconnected horizontally and vertically in a variety of orientations to provide ramp assemblies of selectively different overall configurations.

Gliding board devices and methods of making gliding board devices wherein at least a portion of the device is formed of a bulk amorphous alloy material are provided. The gliding board device including an upper reinforcing element that covers at least the upper surface of the device; a lower reinforcing element; a sliding element; a pair of running edges; and a core of filler material disposed between the upper and lower elements, wherein at least one of the upper reinforcing element, lower reinforcing element and pair of running edges are formed from an amorphous alloy.

A cover assembly for temporarily covering areas such as an ice rink, to support people or other items thereon. The assembly comprises a number of components (10) which can be engaged with other such components (10) placed adjacent thereto-on the surface to be covered. The components include upper and lower parts (12, 16) with a gap (20) being provided between such parts to provide insulation from the underlying area. Adjacent components (10) are retained together by locking means (22) which are provided on two adjacent sides of each component (10). and are selectively engageable in recesses (32) on adjacent components (10).

A device for mastering skate board tricks and maneuvers comprises a frame. The frame has a top and the frame is adapted to rest on a support surface. A spring board is suspended from the frame by stretchable straps. A foot deck is rotationally secured to the spring board and is secured to the spring board to limit or eliminate relative vertical motion between the spring board and the foot board.

This invention allows for remote monitoring of the skier / skiing performance. The system consists of a various MEMS sensors embedded in skier clothing and equipment. These sensors measure instantaneous changes in acceleration in x / y / z axis and changes in earth magnetic field—relative to the skier position, to provide six degree of freedom in calculation of skier position as well as moments applied to the ski edge and forces experiences by the skier body. These sensors communicate with the monitoring application residing in the user wireless terminal (call phone) over the PAN wireless network. The instantaneous measurements are analyzed either locally or remotely and when the system is configured in an active mode, a corrective response to the MEMS actuators embedded in the ski or ski bindings may be send does changing the parameters of the run or provide enhanced safety.

The invention relates to an assembly digital field based on a flexible array pressure sensor and a method for training gait. Parameters of an athlete including action time sequence, action frequency, position calibration, stress center point, stress time and flight time can be acquired through acquiring information including pressure of foot soles of the athlete contacted with the flexible array pressure sensor unit in the assembly digital field. The digital field and the method have the advantages that the requirement of real time can be met in longer distance; the module of the assembly digital field can be disassembled and assembled arbitrarily, and can extract gait characteristics on multiple sports training events; and the athlete can correctly recognize the training effect of the athlete self through a sports effect evaluation system and an expert system, and adjust the training plan in real time. The digital field and the method can also be applied in the field of mode recognition.

A skate having a skate boot with a non-lasted boot shell, the shell having a first non-lasted three-dimensional sub-shell and a second non-lasted three-dimensional sub-shell, the second sub-shell being interior to and adjoining the first sub-shell, the first sub-shell comprising a first material having a first density and the second sub-shell comprising a second material having a second density, the second density being less than the first density, the shell being shaped so as to have a heel portion, an ankle portion, a lateral portion, a medial portion, and a sole portion; and a ground-engaging assembly disposed on an underside of the skate. Additional sub-shells are possible. Methods of manufacturing the skate boot shell, including molding and build-up, are also disclosed.

A liftable support structure for a turf system, the support structure comprising a skeletal framework having an open based structure with upstanding sides and at least two parallel spaced cross beams, the framework defining open subsections, each subsection having a base defining a ledge structure, each subsection supporting a latticework panel that sits on the ledge structure, the framework having a plurality of spaced lifting points and the cross beams defining access to forklift tines. A pallet for natural or artificial turf comprising a structure moulded in foamed plastics to have a closed planar top surface supported by a lattice work of mutually perpendicular walls defining a flexible open base, the structure defining a pair of elongate spaced parallel channels extending across each side to facilitate forklift tine entry.

An automatic ground marking apparatus including a carriage (1) responsive to carriage control signals for traversing the ground (5), the carriage having a controllable steering and drive system, a controllable marking system and a position determining system (6) arranged to determine the position of the carriage. The ground marking apparatus further includes a processor (8) responsive to the position determining system and operatively executing a software product for generating the carriage control signals to cause the carriage (1) to mark out a predetermined sign (14) on the ground. The position determining system (6) suitably employs a laser beam (4) and reflective tracking prism (2), and the predetermined sign may be defined by data points stored in a file (9) accessed by the processor (8) (FIG. 1).

A skate boot for receiving the foot, the ankle and adjacent leg section of an intended user. The skate boot includes an upper. The upper defines a dorsal upper section and a substantially opposed plantar upper section, a rear upper section extending outwardly from and substantially peripherally to the plantar upper section and an opening allowing the user to insert the foot within the skate boot. The upper includes a deformable region for facilitating the elastic dorsiflexion of the upper between an initial upper configuration and a dorsiflexed upper configuration wherein the dorsal upper section is closer to the rear upper section than in the initial upper configuration, the deformable region being substantially more elastically deformable than adjacent upper portions of the upper and providing an elastic force biasing the upper towards the initial configuration upon dorsiflexion of the upper.

A durable and wear resistant synthetic sports transition turf field having at least two strips with a plurality of fibrillated polypropylene strands tufted within a backing material. The strands are tufted in a wide variety of pile heights, patterns, gauges, and stitch patterns depending upon end use. The backing material consists of at least two layers of a woven material, with the bottommost one coated with a secondary coating used to contain the ends of the plurality of strands. The strips are placed onto a shock layer and coupled together using a hook and loop fastening system. The field is covered with an infill preferably consisting of resilient particles. The field is easily installed and removed and is ideal for use in indoor, multiuse sports and entertainment facilities that require a multitude of different flooring surfaces.

A skate boot for receiving the foot, the ankle and adjacent leg section of an intended user. The skate boot includes an upper. The upper defines a dorsal upper section and a substantially opposed plantar upper section, a rear upper section extending outwardly from and substantially peripherally to the plantar upper section and an opening allowing the user to insert the foot within the skate boot. The upper includes a deformable region for facilitating the elastic dorsiflexion of the upper between an initial upper configuration and a dorsiflexed upper configuration wherein the dorsal upper section is closer to the rear upper section than in the initial upper configuration, the deformable region being substantially more elastically deformable than adjacent upper portions of the upper and providing an elastic force biasing the upper towards the initial configuration upon dorsiflexion of the upper.

An article of footwear comprising a molded unitary support structure preferably constructed of substantially continuous fibers aligned in one or more defined orientations disposed within a hardened resin matrix and methods of manufacturing is disclosed. The unitary support structure comprises a plurality of wall structures including a sole that extends generally from a front end region configured to underlie the toe region of the foot to a back end region configured and side wall structures that extend from the sides of the sole. The wall structures are partitioned from one another to facilitate flex and provide structural and functional independence between partitioned regions. The vertical and longitudinal locations of the partitions are configured to coincide with defined locations relative to the foot so as to facilitate natural movement bending in the foot while also providing the needed support as well as the desired flexibility in attached ground engaging structures. An upper portion overlies and conforms to the wall structures of unitary support structure and extends from its perimeter regions to further encapsulate the foot and provide comfort, fit and performance traditionally obtained from lasted articles of footwear. A preferred method of manufacture includes the steps of forming a male mold, overlaying it with plies of substantially continuous groups of aligned fibers oriented in defined directions to form an uncured pre-form construct of the unitary support structure, which is then cured in a female mold, partitioned and incorporated into an article of footwear. Regions of the wall structures including the sole may be formed to include variations in strength, flexibility and / or elastic modulus in one or more directions.