1011results about "Ski bindings" patented technology

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).

A computerized sensor system for monitoring a ball game played with a game ball by several players on a court or field includes a game monitoring computer containing a sensor signal identifying and processing program; a central receiver for receiving sensor signals and relaying the sensor signals to the computer; a score display mechanism operationally linked to the game monitoring computer to display information sent by the computer; a ball transmitter secured to the ball broadcasting a ball sensor signal; a player sensor/transmitter transmitting a player sensor signal to the central receiver identifying the team of the given player and sensing the presence of the ball transmitter within a detection radius; and court or field sensors secured relative to the court or field and correspondingly positioning above the court or field for monitoring the location of the ball and of a player having the ball. The system preferably additionally includes a goal sensor/transmitter, sensing the presence of the ball transmitter within a detection radius and thereupon transmitting a goal sensor signal to the central receiver indicating that the goal was achieved.

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.

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.

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 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).

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.

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 water ride attraction is disclosed which utilizes a containerless riding surface to eliminate disadvantageous boundary layer effects. A sheet flow of water is directed up the incline to produce a simulated wave. The configuration and contour of the riding surface and the various flow parameters can be widely varied to produce numerous desirable wave conditions.

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 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. Gear operated strap linkages permit more convenient tightening and loosening of the boot straps.

A skate boot or other piece of footwear is provided with a flexible midfoot section that is not rigidly connected to either a sole and/or base of the boot, in order to adjustably tighten around the bottom, sides, and/or top of the wearer's midfoot to provide arch support and uniform snugness. The midfoot section is in a “hammock” type arrangement while the bail and heel portions of the wearer's foot rests on the footbed over the respective sole portions.

There is provided a method and a system for registration of real time position of tennis ball relatively to boundary lines on tennis court. The method and system comprise sensitive to near-infrared radiation at least one video camera, outputting video image of court and the method and system further include at least one point source of near-infrared radiation, illuminating tennis court and displaced relatively to the video camera. It is suggested a simple and inexpensive way of determining if a tennis ball bounces in or out of court by determining point of intersection of trajectories of the tennis ball and its shade from near-infrared radiation and comparing the position of the determined point of intersection with previously calibrated boundary lines of court.

The present invention relates to an improvement in the construction of water ride surfaces and comprises at least one layer of soft permeable material built into the padded substrate of a structurally supported ride surface. The permeable material connects to a drainage system and is preferably sandwiched between a slick skin upper waterproof membrane, and a supporting substrate beneath it. The advantage to this improvement is when water leaks through the waterproof membrane, the permeable material prevents water from building up inside the padded substrate, and allows the water to be drained out, rather than blistering and bubbling up under the waterproof membrane, thereby helping to preserve the integrity and longevity of the ride surface.

A Snowboard binding includes a baseplate intended to be mounted on a snowboard. A rear bow, is mounted on the baseplate (2) at two attachment points and a highback is mounted so that it can pivot with respect to the rear bow. Further included are means for independently modifying the vertical position of each point of attachment of the bow (3) to the baseplate (2).

A modular synthetic grass turf assembly includes a plurality of synthetic grass units which are transportable, adapted to be laid flat on a field and fit side by side to provide a flat and continuous synthetic grass surface for activities. Each unit includes a flexible base sheet preferably with drainage grooves and bores if it is for outdoor use. A synthetic grass turf with an infill layer of particulate materials disposed interstitially between synthetic grass fibers is superposed on the base sheet to provide a grass surface with a required quality, and be fixed thereto or simply retained in place by the weight of the infill. A number of units may have irregular shapes or can be painted with different colors to illustrate letters, marks or logos. The modular synthetic grass turf assembly is conveniently transported from a storage facility to a site.

An apparatus for attaching a shoe to a gliding element. The apparatus includes a blocking/anchoring mechanism of the shoe in an anchoring zone thereof extending substantially from the front end of the shoe to the area of the metatarso-phalangeal journal zone or in front thereof. The apparatus includes an arrangement for rocking the blocking/anchoring mechanism, this rocking arrangement being positioned in the anchoring zone of the shoe and being designed so as to allow for a predetermined angle of movement of the shoe assembly with respect to the gliding element. Preferably, the maximum angle of movement of the blocking/anchoring mechanism is between about 5° and 30°.

A goalie skate protective shell defines an interior cavity adapted for receiving a goalie ice skate boot. A holder is unitarily formed as part of a sole of the shell and has an open ended, lengthwise extending groove. At least two transversely extending bores are formed in the holder and receive fasteners which extend through the bores and apertures formed in a plurality of legs projecting from a blade mounted in the groove in the holder to removably affix the blade to the holder.

The invention relates to an electronic tracking system (1) for a combination of sporting articles (2) consisting of more than one sporting article and the potential applications thereof. At least two code transmitters (7) are provided, which are assigned to at least two structurally separate sporting articles. For the purposes of the invention, these code transmitters (7) or their data can be contactlessly detected by at least one separate control unit (6; 9). In another embodiment of the invention, a data transmission between the code transmitters (7) and a separate control unit (6; 9) via an encryption module (32) in a network can not be mistaken or account is taken of the fact that predefined sporting articles are designed beforehand as belonging to one another. In another embodiment of the invention, the control unit (6; 9) can record the codes of sporting articles belonging to a combination of sporting articles (2) and/or the code transmitters (7) of these sporting articles are assigned a code to designate that the various sporting articles belong to a combination of sporting articles (2). In yet another embodiment of the invention, the code transmitters (7) and/or at least one of the code transmitters (7) and the control unit (6; 9) are able to communicate up to a distance of 30 m.

A sportsboard having an ergonomic upper surface. The upper surface of the sportsboard includes at least one upwardly angled portion with respect to a center of the sportsboard adapted to contact the extremities of a rider, e.g., the feet, boots and/or bindings. Preferably, the angle is between about 1° and 20°, more preferably between about 4° and 14°, and most preferably between 5° and 12°. The angle preferably accounts for an amount of flex in the sportsboard when ridden, and thus may be, e.g., more preferably in a range of between about 4° and 7° in a flexible sportsboard. The extremity contacting sections may be laterally arcuate, may be laterally rotated, and/or may be tilted about a lengthwise axis of the sportsboard. In another aspect, to reduce stiffness in the sportsboard, a plurality of grooves are formed widthwise across the sportsboard, particularly across thicker portions of the sportsboard, to reduce the compression forces necessary to bend the sportsboard in a lengthwise direction.

A snow glider is provided having a design that facilitates gliding through snow rather than skidding. The snow glider has an extremely narrow waist width combined with an elevated binding assembly to promote positive engagement with a skiing surface during use. The glider body waist is between 25-44 mm at its narrowest point. A further embodiment of the snow glider ski has secondary edges for effecting multiple, changeable turning radii in a single ski.

A computer monitoring system includes a processor and sensors electrically thereto that are positioned beneath the playing surface directly below a boundary line. The sensors are connected in series to the processor such that each sensor is independently activated and generates an analog output signal when a predetermined weight limit is detected thereon. The sensors are positioned below a three-point and a free-throw line. An analog-to-digital converter is coupled to the processor and sensors that receives and converts the analog signals to digital signals. A memory includes programmable software instruction that cause the system to perform a series of operations. The processor generates and transmits audible and visual notification signals for each of the consecutive digital signals when the time span is greater than the threshold interval.

Provided is a net support structure comprising two pairs of leg members; two uprights; two joining members each including two opposite grooves pivotably secured to the leg members, a transverse socket, and a longitudinal channel pivotably secured to the upright; a hollow, multi-segment cross member, a hollow, staged flexible plug including an internal shoulder and having one end fastened in the socket and the other end fastened in either end of the cross member; an elastic cord passed through the cross member and having either end tied as an enlargement secured to the shoulder; two disc-shaped members each disposed proximate either end of the cross member and including a central hole with the cross member passed through, and peripheral grooves for securing to the leg members and the upright when the joining member is folded; and a net including two side sheaths sleeved on the uprights.