Abstract: The present invention provides a long-lasting hair colourant composition comprising an intimate admixture of a dye with a phsiologically acceptable compatible solid base. The stick has a hardness which is sufficiently high to provide substantial dimensional stability under light to moderate manual pressure under ambient temperatures and sufficiently low to allow easy gliding of the stick over a mass of damp hair and transfer of stick material thereto under light to moderate manual pressure. The stick also contains an effective lathering component and is substantially free of alkaline soap material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coating the surface of a substrate suspends a coating material above the surface of the substrate and irradiates both the coating material and the underlying surface of the substrate. By irradiating both the coating material and the underlying surface of the substrate, a first portion of the coating material is melted to form an at least partially molten droplet of coating material. In addition, at least a second portion of the coating material is ablated to thereby create an ablation plume which propels the at least partially molten droplet of coating material toward the substrate. Thus, a metallic powder can be suspended within a carrier and can be directed along the substrate so as to be irradiated by a pulse of laser energy.

Abstract: In a system for in-situ delamination detection in composites, the invention employs a system which evaluates the mechanical vibration response of composite material structures. The damping characteristics of the composite structure are extracted from the detected wave properties generated by imbedded piezoelectric ceramic actuators and received by imbedded high strain sensitive fiber optic sensors. Such a sensor system is simple to operate for real-time non-destructive strain and displacement monitoring and delamination detection, without the need to remove the tested surface from operation.During the routine structural integrity monitoring operation, mechanical vibration pulses are launched into the composite from one actuator. The strain signal's propagation patterns are measured in real time by the fiber-optic sensors at different grating locations. Different travel times are computed dependent on the location of the receiving gratings.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus for serially dispensing plastic bags from a wound roll of continuous flexible plastic bags joined along perforated severance lines. A container is provided which is adapted to receive the wound roll of plastic bags. The container has a bottom, a pair of opposed sides having an inwardly facing flange extending therefrom, and a separating tongue projecting outward from the bottom. The flanges define a self-threading slide for threading the plastic bags from the wound roll along a predetermined path onto the separating tongue. The separating tongue separates the plastic bags from the wound roll as the plastic bags engage the separation tongue along a predetermined path of travel.

Abstract: There is disclosed a communications cable having a cable jacket and a first pair of twisted wires disposed within the jacket, each wire thereof having a conductor surrounded by a first insulating material. A second twisted pair of wires is disposed within the jacket and has a twist lay length different from that of the first twisted pair. Each wire of the second twisted pair has a conductor surrounded by an insulating material. The insulating material of the first twisted pair differs in a physical property from the insulating material of the second twisted pair, the physical property of the insulating material of the second pair being correlated with the physical property of the insulating material of the first twisted pair and with differences in twist lay length of the first and second twisted pairs so that the phase delay of the twisted pairs is matched. There is also provided a communications cable having more than two twisted pairs.

Abstract: A power source for a plasma cutting tool includes first and second power switching circuits and a controller. Each power switching circuit includes a switch for switching electrical power to a respective output, and the outputs of the power switching circuits are connected in parallel. The controller controls the switches in response to a desired output for the power source. The controller also includes a synchronizer for synchronizing the first and second switches so that both of the switches switch electrical power at a common duty cycle. The synchronizer can also maintain a 180 degree phase relationship between switching of the first and second switches. Related methods are also discussed.

Abstract: A suction grip for holding a pneumatic power tool to the surface of sheet material for drilling and counterboring holes contains a plate and a releasibly fastened cylindrical member. The plate contains a shallow region on a front face that abuts the work surface and serves as a vacuum region. The cylindrical member contains a hollow passage that receives, alternately, an alignment tool to center that passage over a locator hole in the worked material and to support a self collating pneumatic drill for drilling the worked material. A collection of collars which may be interchanged on the plate serves as a kit, permitting use with different drills.

Abstract: Inflatable packaging cushion (100).According to the invention, the inflatable cushion includes:an external peripheral edge (101) adapted to the shape and to the dimension of a packaging receptacle,at least one internal opening (102, 102') capable of receiving at least one object to be packaged,a plurality of recesses (103, 103') extending from each internal opening towards the peripheral edge, the recesses delimiting in pairs wedging parts (104, 105, 106, 107, 104', 105', 106', 107') capable of coming into contact with the object, zones for preferential pivoting (108) of the wedging parts being defined between the recesses and the peripheral edge, the wedging parts being able to pivot during the inflating about the preferential pivoting zones in order to vary the size and/or the shape of each internal opening and to adapt it to objects of different sizes, whilst exerting a holding pressure on the object or objects.Application to the packaging of objects of different sizes and/or shapes.

Abstract: An elongate drainage channel capable of receiving runoff from an athletic surface is provided which includes a bottom wall and a pair of sidewalls extending upwardly from the opposed sides of the bottom wall. The drainage channel also includes a projection extending transversely outwardly from the exterior of at least one of the sidewalls and spaced at a predetermined distance below the open top for defining a height to which a subsurface layer is applied adjacent to the drainage channel. The projection is also fracturable from the sidewall so as to act as a mechanical fuse to prevent vibratory or tamping machinery from damaging the drainage channel. In another embodiment of the invention, an elongate channel section is provided which has a bottom surface which includes end portions which are shaped as generally planar reference surfaces.

Abstract: Dates stored in symbolic form in a database are reformatted to permit easy manipulation and sorting of date-related information. Each date in M.sub.1 M.sub.2, D.sub.1 D.sub.2, and Y.sub.1 Y.sub.2 format is converted to C.sub.1 C.sub.2, Y.sub.1 Y.sub.2, M.sub.1 M.sub.2, and D.sub.1 D.sub.2 format. To accomplish the conversion, a 10-decade window starting on Y.sub.A Y.sub.B is defined that encompasses all dates in the database. The value of C.sub.1 C.sub.2 is determined by the relative values of Y.sub.1 Y.sub.2 and Y.sub.A Y.sub.B. The reformatted date information is particularly useful when the reformatting is in C.sub.1 C.sub.2 Y.sub.1 Y.sub.2 M.sub.1 M.sub.2 D.sub.1 D.sub.2 format, because sorting by date is accomplished using a pure numerical-value sort.

Abstract: A composite structure and related fabrication method is provided which has a plurality of composite material layers and at least one embedded shape memory alloy component for providing controlled structural deformation. The shape memory alloy component includes a shape memory alloy tendon having a relaxed shape at temperatures below a predetermined transition temperature and a contracted shape at temperatures above the predetermined transition temperature. The shape memory alloy component also comprises a pair of electrically insulating opposing face sheets adhered to opposite sides of the shape memory alloy tendon to electrically isolate the shape memory alloy tendon from the surrounding composite material layers.

Abstract: A seal (12) that provides visual evidence if the seal is forced open or cooled below a breakdown temperature. The seal (12) includes a plastic strip (20), a layer of ink (22) printed on a surface of the plastic strip (20), and a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive (24). The seal (12) can be incorporated into a bag (10) for sealing the bag (10) closed. When the bag (10) is sealed closed, the ink layer (22) is sandwiched between the plastic strip (20) and the adhesive layer (24), and the adhesive layer (24) is adhered to a back wall (18) of the bag (10). If the seal (12) is forced open, the ink layer (22) visibly delaminates from the plastic strip (20). The adhesive layer (24) and the plastic strip (20) are chosen to have different rates of shrinking when cooled, so that when the seal (12) is cooled below its breakdown temperature, the ink layer (22) delaminates. In an alternative embodiment of the plastic strip (20'), two layers (60, 62) of ink are printed onto the plastic strip (20').

Abstract: An antenna which is adapted to have multiple fundamental resonances includes an outer conductor electrically connected to a feed network and having a generally tubular portion opening through one end to define an internal cavity therein. The antenna also includes an interior conductor electrically connected at a first end to a portion of the outer conductor within the internal cavity. The interior conductor extends through the opening defined in the outer conductor to a second end to thereby define an extended conductor portion which extends beyond the outer conductor. The antenna also includes decoupling means for electrically decoupling the extended conductor portion of the interior conductor from the antenna for signals having frequencies within the upper frequency band. In one embodiment, the internal conductor portion has a predetermined electrical length equal to an odd multiple of a quarter wavelength of a signal having a frequency in the upper frequency band of the antenna.

Abstract: Vehicle cranking management systems and methods are provided for a vehicle preferably including a tractor mechanically connected to a trailer. Electrical energy is enabled to transfer from a battery of the vehicle to an electrical accessory load, when a battery output voltage signal is above a first predetermined threshold voltage, but is inhibited from transferring from the battery to the electrical accessory load if the battery output voltage signal is below a second predetermined threshold voltage. The first and second predetermined threshold voltages may be determined responsive to a sensed temperature of the vehicle engine, preferably a sensed temperature of oil present in the engine. In addition, electrical energy is enabled to transfer from the battery to a starter which cranks the vehicle's engine if a cranking command signal to crank the engine is asserted for less than a first predetermined time interval.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method are disclosed for making a polymer foam cushioning element. The method comprises advancing a pair of sheets of plastic film material in parallel face-to-face relationship; injecting foam precursors between the advancing plastic sheets; sealing the sheets together to form a plastic bag containing the foam precursors; forming the bag into the shape of a panel; and thereafter maintaining the bag in the panel shape until the foam precursors have substantially finished expanding into foam to thereby form a foam cushion panel.

Abstract: A RF data communications system for remotely collecting data and a method of developing applications for such a system are provided. The RF data communications system preferably has a first computer including at least a first microprocessor, a first screen display, and a first data screen file positioned representing a first predetermined screen display format. A first RF data transceiver is positioned in electrical communication with the first microprocessor of the first computer for transmitting and receiving RF data, and a second RF data transceiver is positioned remote from the first RF data transceiver and the first computer for transmitting RF data to and receiving RF data from the first RF data transceiver. A second computer is positioned in electrical communication with the second RF data transceiver and remote from the first computer.

Abstract: The multi-channel fiber amplification system and associated method includes a fiber amplifier which solves problems with power poaching by simultaneously amplifying a pair of optical signals in a similar manner even if the fiber amplifier is saturated. The fiber amplifier, has greater absorption than emission for wavelengths immediately less than a reference wavelength and greater emission than absorption for wavelengths immediately greater than the reference wavelength. The multi-channel fiber amplification system also includes a pump source having a Stokes band which includes at least some wavelengths greater than the reference wavelength of the fiber amplifier. The multi-channel fiber amplification system further includes first and second signal sources for providing first and second signals, respectively, having first and second wavelengths, respectively.

Abstract: A process for removing thiocyanate and other anions from Type II strong base anion exchange resins with an alkali metal hydroxide is disclosed. The process is particularly beneficial to the regeneration and/or reclamation of alkanolamine solutions laden with heat stable salts, especially thiocyanate.