Abstract: In a position detecting apparatus, electric power of a position pointer is turned on only when the position pointer is put within a particular range from a tablet to minimize consumption of a battery disposed in the position pointer. When the position pointer is brought close to the tablet, a control signal transmitted from the tablet is detected by a resonant circuit of the position pointer, and MOSFETs serving as a power switch are turned on by the detected signal. In response, electric power is supplied from a battery via the MOSFETs to circuit elements of the position pointer, and thus an operation of the position pointer starts.

Abstract: A percussion instrument, such as a shaker, has a first disc-shaped member having an outer annular flange defining a first outer perimeter and a second disc-shaped member defining a second outer perimeter different than the first outer perimeter. The first and second disc-shaped members are directly interconnected to form a cavity therebetween. A plurality of sound producing particles is disposed within said cavity defined by the first and second disc-shaped members. The instrument also includes a mounting system for mounting to a vehicle such as a tambourine, hi-hat, cymbal etc. for causing movement of the shaker instrument.

Abstract: An improved head ornamentation such as a mask, cap, hat or headdress which is designed to be supported by a wearer's head and is moveable relatively thereto by the wearer's body movements or a mechanical device controlled by the wearer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a UV-C sterilizing lamp for the treatment of a medium with UV-C radiation in order to kill the microorganisms contained therein by means of at least one UV-C emitter (2). The emitter has an elongated emitter foundation (3) and at least one electrical connection (4), and a base (5) holding the UV-C emitter (2). The at least the emitter foundation (3) of the UV-C emitter (2) is surrounded by a flexible protective cover (6), which is radiolucent to UV-C radiation. The invention furthermore relates to a sterilizing system with at least one UV-C sterilizing lamp of the invention.

Abstract: A transfer device is disclosed for transferring a plurality of stacks of disk-like objects such as frozen hamburger patties, from a plurality of first trays having bottom walls angled with respect to horizontal to a horizontal support platform spaced from the trays. The transfer device includes a support frame having wheels that is movable between first and second ends of a guide track and a pivotal frame pivotally attached to the support frame which pivotal frame supports upper and lower grippers for engaging the upper and lower sides of a plurality of stacks of objects and securely holding the stacks of objects as they are moved between first and second positions.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of controlling an edger device, and a machine programmed to edge a lens blank. A lens blank and an edger are provided. The edger device is capable of forming a groove in a peripheral edge of the lens, and forming at least one hole extending from a first major surface of the lens to a second major surface. A CPU is provided, which is operably associated with the edger device for controlling operation of the edger device. Processing instructions are transmitted from the central processing unit to the edger device. The processing instructions comprise: forming a groove in a peripheral edge of a lens blank; and forming at least one hole in the lens blank extending from the first major surface to the second major surface.

Abstract: A drive system designed to use a vehicle's existing hydraulic system to operate a controllable limited slip differential assembly. The limited slip differential assembly may be associated with the front axle, the rear axle, or the driveline between the front and rear axles. The differential assembly may also be used in combination that includes front, rear, or intermediate differential assemblies. The drive system further includes a friction clutch assembly for selectively engaging and disengaging an input member with an output member of the differential assembly, a fluid clutch actuator for selectively frictionally and variably loading the clutch assembly, and a fluid pump that is a common source of pressurized fluid for the fluid clutch actuator and the existing hydraulic system of the motor vehicle other than the fluid clutch actuator of the drive system. The fluid clutch actuator is actuated by fluid pressure generated by the fluid pump.

Abstract: Processes and apparatus for manufacturing an engineered-composite combining rigid flat-rolled sheet metal continuous-strip and selected polypropylene thermoplastics, which are formulated into dual polymeric coating layers for extrusion deposition, as distinct layers, on a single surface at a time, of continuous-strip, traveling in-line at ambient temperature. Steps for forming a uniform thickness of polymeric layers across strip width, and attraction to an activated metallic surface which provides enhanced adhesion. Solidification of the polymeric layers is augmented by strip temperature during continuous-in-line travel; final dual-surface finishing provides for complete bonding of the polymeric layers on both metallic surfaces.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a machine programmed to edge an ophthalmic lens blank. The machine includes an edger device for forming a bevel in a peripheral edge of the lens blank, a central processing unit operably associated with the edger device for controlling operation thereof, and a computer program stored on a medium in communication with the central processing unit. The computer program includes a first instruction set operably causing the edger device to form a bevel in a peripheral edge of a lens blank. A second instruction set operably causes the edger device to form a step in the peripheral edge intermediate an apex of the bevel and an interface between the peripheral edge and a major surface of the lens blank. A method of controlling an edger device for edging an ophthalmic lens blank and a computer program are also disclosed.

Abstract: A water sanitization apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a power unit, a housing with inlet and outlet openings for permitting the passage of water containing a bromide salt into the housing and water containing a free bromine and a sanitizing metal ion out of the housing, respectively, and first and second electrodes electrically connected to the power unit. The first electrode has a graphite or carbon substrate doped with copper, silver, and/or zinc. When operated as an anode, the first electrode converts bromide salt to free bromine and oxidize doped metal to sanitizing metal ion. Also provided are related water treatment systems and methods.

Abstract: A torque-coupling device comprising a hydraulically actuated friction clutch pack and a gerotor pump provided for generating hydraulic pressure actuating the friction clutch pack. The gerotor pump is selectively actuated by a device external to the gerotor pump and the friction clutch pack, such as an electric motor, friction brake, electro-magnetic clutch, friction mechanism utilizing a magneto-rheological fluid, electro-magnetic brake, etc. The externally driven gerotor pump may be further provided with torque-multiplication gearing, and/or an electronic controller to modulate the actuation of the pump in order to provide flexible control of the hydraulic pressure generated by the gerotor pump.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel assembly comprises a wheel having a central axis, an annular rim portion having outboard and inboard bead seats for mounting a pneumatic tire thereon and disk portion including a central hub portion provided with a plurality of lug mounting apertures. The rim portion defines an annular outboard and inboard rim flanges extending radially outwardly from the outboard and inboard bead seats, respectively. The outboard rim flange has an annular inner peripheral surface facing the inboard rim flange and an annular outer peripheral surface disposed opposite the inner peripheral surface and facing away from the inboard rim flange. The outboard rim flange has an annular retention groove formed on the outer peripheral surface of the outboard rim flange concentrically to the central axis. The wheel assembly further comprises an annular transition member mounted in the annular retention groove in the outboard rim flange of the wheel.

Abstract: A flexible tube 10 of the present invention is disposed downstream of a exhaust path from an engine E, and formed of an outer bellows 3 as an outer tube and an inner bellows 4 as an inner tube; pleats 4c,4c of the inner bellows 4 are smaller in depth and pitch than the pleats 3c of the outer bellows 3, and the buffering space S is provided with a gap t between the pleats bottoms of the outer bellows 3 and the pleats tops of the inner bellows 4, and further, a partition 17 that splits the exhaust path is disposed in the inner bellows 4. For this reason, sound insulation effect is improved, and the lowering of the temperature of the exhaust gas is suppressed, leading to quick temperature rise of the exhaust gas to be fed into the catalytic converter, thereby promoting the activation of the catalysts and improving the capability to purify exhaust gas, and the exhaust efficiency can be improved thereby increasing output performance of the engine.