Other

Acf Industries, Incorporated

Emerson Electric Company

J Joseph Muller

John R Wootton

Gary E Horst

Gary Ciluffo

Richard D Doerr

William A Green

F Maury Matthews

Harrison J J Hawkins

Harness for euphonium musical instrument

A golf practice aid () for establishing a circular pattern about a golf cup (C) includes a disk () sized to fit into the mouth of the cup. Radial lines () formed on the disk are evenly spaced about the disk and extend from the center to an outer edge thereof. A cord () of a predetermined length is tethered to the disk and is extendible outwardly from the disk to be sequentially drawn along each line, with a a marker (M) placed adjacent the outer end of the cord when the cord is fully extended. By extending the cord successively along each radial line, a circular pattern of a defined radius is formed by the markers placed about the cup, the circular pattern assisting golfers in practicing their putting, chipping, pitching, and bunker pay skills in accordance with a method of the invention.

Golf practice aid for improving a golfer's putting and short game skills

A practice aid for use by a golfer practicing hitting a golf ball (B) out of a sand trap. A disc (D) of predetermined diameter is placed on the top of the sand (S) with its leading edge either touching the underside of the golf ball or resting slightly behind it. When practicing a bunker shot, the golfer swings their club so it enters the sand immediately behind the trailing edge of the disc and passes through the sand beneath both the disc and the golf ball. The force imparted to the sand by the club causes the ball to fly out of the bunker on a cushion of sand. The disc provides an indication to the golfer as to how far behind the golf ball their club should enter the sand in order to hit the golf ball out of the sand trap.

Golf practice aid

Golf practice aid target disc

Apparatus () and a method for rendering a weapon () incapable of use unless authorized by a specified individual. More than one person may be authorized to use the weapon, however only one person may be authorized to use it at any one time. Each authorized person carries a badge () or other device which includes an rf transmitter (TAU) capable of transmitting a coded signal to a receiver (REU) installed in the weapon in response to a coded query from a unit (EU) installed in the weapon. If a properly coded transmission is received by the weapon, it becomes capable of being fired by the person who authorized its use. However, the weapon will not fire unless the person using the weapon is also standing behind the weapon. This prevents the weapon from being turned on the person authorized to use it. The apparatus stores details of the weapon's use (e.g., who, when, and where). This information is released upon receipt of an authorized code.

Apparatus and method for user control of appliances

A method for controlling the current profile for current supplied to each phase of a poly-phase switched reluctance motor when a respective phase of the motor is active. The interval each motor phase is active is determined as a function of motor operating conditions, as is a desired profile of current flow into and out of a phase winding (W) associated with the phase. The current profile has an initial portion (Z1) in which current flows into the winding from an initial value current value to a peak current value (I.sub.p). It also has a terminal portion (Z3) including current cut-off to the winding with current in the winding being either stored or dissipated prior to the phase becoming inactive. There may also be an intermediate portion (Z2) occurring between attainment of the peak current and the beginning of the terminal portion of the current profile. Current flow to the winding starts at the beginning of the initial portion of the phase, and current flow to the phase winding is cut-off prior to the end of the phase. Termination of current flow to the phase winding normally causes ringing in the motor because of the abrupt transition in current flow which occurs at current cut-off. However, according to the invention, current flow to the phase winding is now controlled throughout the active portion of the phase in accordance with the predetermined current profile. This includes determining the slope of current ramp-up during the initial portion of the profile until the peak current level is achieved; and, curvature of the current profile subsequent to cut-off of current flow to the phase winding. The current profile is controlled such that the slope of curvature of the profile immediately prior to current cut-off corresponds to the slope thereof immediately after cut-off. As a result, there is no transition in the current profile at current cut-off, and no ringing is produced in the motor by terminating current flow to the phase winding.

Noise reduction in a switched reluctance motor by current profile

Apparatus (10) for launching spherical and disc-shaped objects (O) used in the practice or play of a sport. A launcher assembly (12) includes a constantly rotating arm (14) rotatable about a center pivot (P). An object to be launched is loaded into an inlet end (16) of the arm adjacent the pivot for the object to be drawn outwardly by centrifugal force toward an outer end (18) of the arm from which the object is released. The velocity of the object when it is launched is a function of the length of the arm and the speed at which the arm is rotating. A feed assembly (20) holds a number of homogeneous objects. A feed mechanism (100) of the feed assembly is selectively operable to feed the objects into the inlet end of the arm. A control panel (148) enables a user to remotely control operation of the apparatus, to control individual launches, or to preset an interval at which objects are automatically launched. A drive unit (24) includes a motor (26,26') for constantly rotating the arm. The motor's speed is controllable to rotate the arm over a range of speeds so to control the velocity of the object when it is launched.

Launcher apparatus for spherical and disc-shaped objects

An improvement for a controller (C) for controlling the idle speed of an engine. A logic circuit (1) is responsive to the position of switches (S1, S2) and the direction in which an extendible and retractable member (T) is to be driven by a motor (M) to energize the motor. The logic circuit includes logic gate (3) responsive to both switches being open when the member is at its extreme extended position and the member is to be retracted to energize the motor to retract the member. The logic circuit also includes a logic gate (5) responsive to both the switches being open when the member is at its extreme retracted position and the member is to be extended to energize the motor to extend the member. The motor is thus energized to move the member in the appropriate direction even though a switch which should be closed is open due to dust or debris preventing switch closure.

Idle speed controller improvement

Apparatus for controlling the idle speed of an internal combustion engine. A contact arm contacts a throttle lever to limit movement of the lever in one direction and to move the lever in the opposite direction so to control the position of a carburetor throttle valve. A vacuum operated unit maintains the contact arm at one position and moves it from one position to another. The vacuum pressure at which the vacuum unit operates is controlled by an electrically operated variable position solenoid which controls flow of bleed air to the vacuum unit. When the solenoid is maintained at one position, the contact arm is maintained at a particular position by the vacuum unit. The contact arm is moved to a new position when a change in the solenoid position changes the vacuum pressure in the vacuum unit to a different level.

Growing community of inventors

St. Louis, MO, United States of America

J Joseph Muller