Abstract: A light source of coaxially stacked volumetric light cells that can be used either in a lamp or a display. Each light cell is composed of high quantum yield nanocrystals in a silica aerogel matrix that is excited by a controlled ultraviolet light source. From these stacked cell assemblies visible light is emitted of a desired color or color temperature and brightness.

Abstract: The present invention provides seam-welded, air hardenable steel tubes, methods of manufacturing seam-welded air hardenable steel tubes, tube mills for practicing such methods and applications for using seam-welded, air hardenable steel tubing of the present invention.

Abstract: An inset panel fastener anchors into honeycomb substrates employed in the aircraft industry. The inset panel fastener provides significantly increased load carrying capabilities with a simple inexpensive construction. The inset panel fastener includes a plastic casing and a central floating fastener element. The casing includes a body, disk and cap. The body is generally barrel shaped including a central chamber for holding the fastener element which is preferably a female fastener. The disk radially projects from the top of the body and includes a fill hole and vent hole. Meanwhile, the cap engages and covers the bottom of the barrel shaped body. The cap is affixed in place using a weld, such as a sonic weld.

Abstract: A keyboard is provided having illuminating keys. The keyboard includes a light channeling membrane and key members constructed at least partially of translucent material so that light produced from a light source is channeled upwardly to the upper surfaces of the key members. The light source may include LED or LEC systems in adjoining relationship to the light channeling membrane or light pipe. In a preferred embodiment, the light source is constructed of a substantially planar illuminescent sheet which underlies the light channeling membrane. In an alternative preferred embodiment, a light pipe is constructed to illuminate light laterally along a portion of its length to illuminate a plurality of key members.

Abstract: A keyboard is provided having illuminating keys. The keyboard includes a light channeling membrane and key members constructed at least partially of translucent material so that light produced from a light source is channeled upwardly to the upper surfaces of the key members. The light source may include LED or LEC systems in adjoining relationship to the light channeling membrane or light pipe. In a preferred embodiment, the light source is constructed of a substantially planar illuminescent sheet which underlies the light channeling membrane. In an alternative preferred embodiment, a light pipe is constructed to illuminate light laterally along a portion of its length to illuminate a plurality of key members.

Abstract: A keyboard is provided having illuminating keys. The keyboard includes a light channeling membrane and key members constructed at least partially of translucent material so that light produced from a light source is channeled upwardly to the upper surfaces of the key members. The light source may include LED or LEC systems in adjoining relationship to the light channeling membrane or light pipe. In a preferred embodiment, the light source is constructed of a substantially planar illuminescent sheet which underlies the light channeling membrane. In an alternative preferred embodiment, a light pipe is constructed to illuminate light laterally along a portion of its length to illuminate a plurality of key members.

Abstract: A screw press is provided having a radial gate valve and supported longitudinally-extending screw shaft. The screw shaft includes a central shaft and helical threads which is driven by a drive package. The screw shaft is encapsulated within a housing including a hopper portion, transition portion, bearing portion and screen portion. A transition portion includes a radial gate valve which is angled such that the radial gate valve's axis of rotation is substantially parallel to the screw shaft threads. In addition, the screw shaft is supported by a first support at its proximal extremity and a second support towards its distal extremity. The support at its distal extremity includes one or more wear bearings which concentrically support the threads of the screw shaft in a frictional engagement manner. In operation, semi-solid materials are introduced to the screw press through the hopper portion inlet.

Abstract: An apparatus and methodology are provided for determining the proper set-up for a golfer. The methodology and apparatus set a golfer's hips parallel to his intended ball roll or flight line (target line) based upon his right or left hip rotation and shoulder width to determine his individualized stance address position to a golf ball. To this end, the apparatus includes a template “mat” placed on the ground which measures the width of a golfer's stance and rotation of a golfer's hips from the proposed path of the golf ball, also referred to as the “target line”, and an elongate bar affixed to a golfer's hips for visually indicating the golfer's hip rotation relative to the target line. The mat preferably includes a plurality of markings for measuring the width of a golfer's stance and for measuring the rotation of a golfer's hips.

Abstract: A roller skate having enhanced steerability and stability is disclosed. The skate includes a platform for supporting a skater's foot and front and rear wheel trucks secured to the underside of the platform. A pair of front wheels is rotatably mounted in transverse axial alignment on the front wheel truck and a pair of rear wheels is rotatably mounted in transverse axial alignment on said rear wheel truck. The pairs of front and rear wheels are also in parallel axial alignment with each other and mounted on their respective wheel trucks for resiliently controlled, tilting movement about downwardly inclined longitudinal axes. In addition, a fifth wheel is rotatably mounted on the front wheel truck between the pairs of front and rear wheels and in parallel axial alignment with the wheel pairs.

Abstract: The process for analyzing an ovine animal carcase comprises capturing an image of a dorsal view to generate color image data for the carcase (10). Predetermined anatomical points (21–24) of the carcase are identified to then derive dimensional measurements for the carcase. Also characterizing parameters such as yield and fat depth of the carcase are derived by processing color data included in the captured image data in conjunction with the derived dimensional measurements. The color data processed are the color data for predetermined selected surface areas, especially the chump, the loin and the shoulder areas (30–32) of the carcase (10) known or determined to have significant correlation to the characterizing parameter related to fatness. Desirably the tail (17) of the animal carcase is identified and its width determined since this is useful as a variable in a carcase yield predictive equation.

Abstract: High purity metal oxide products and byproduct hydrogen are manufactured by immersing sacrificial electrodes, formed of the metal moiety of the metal oxide product, in water and striking an electrical arc between the electrodes. The metal oxide product and hydrogen are formed at the electrical arc plasma zone between the electrodes.

Abstract: An automated tightening shoe with crisscrossed laces and a tightening mechanism which operates in one direction to cause automatic tightening of the crisscrossed laces to tighten the shoe about a wearer's foot, and which can be released easily so that the shoe can be removed from the wearer's foot.

Abstract: An automated tightening shoe where a tightening mechanism is actuated which operates in one direction to cause automatic tightening of the shoe about a wearer's foot and which releases to allow loosening of the shoe. Shoe laces are led to the interior of the tightening mechanism in the heel whereat the laces are operatively associated in a tightening or in a loosening direction with the tightening mechanism. The tightening mechanism includes a rotatable central shaft which may have drums mounted thereto, a ratcheted coupling collar or ratcheted cam disk, a ratcheted actuator spool, a compression spring, a return spring, a ratchet wheel, and a release lever including a pawl and a cam actuator bar, all of which extend along the central shaft and operate to tighten as well as to allow loosening of the shoe laces.

Abstract: Two seal rings are provided comprising an upper ring and a lower ring, the rings having a common axis, a common outer cylindrical surface, a common inner cylindrical surface, and a couple of facing surfaces. The facing surfaces form an engaging length in a radial section of the rings having a radially outer end and a radially inner end, and the facing surfaces and the common cylindrical surface define a first wedge-shaped gap with a radially inward leading edge at the outer end. The inward leading edge is provided with a first angle in a range of 10 seconds to 1 degree and 30 seconds, and the outer end is spaced more from the common cylindrical surface than from the common cylindrical inner surface.

Abstract: A parking control surveillance system is provided for monitoring vehicles within parking spaces for providing parking enforcement personnel information concerning authorized and unauthorized vehicles within the parking space. The parking control surveillance system includes a parking stop having dimensions substantially the same as traditional cement parking stops located at the rear of a parking space. The parking stop includes a video recorder for obtaining images of vehicles entering or exiting the designated parking space. The parking stop further includes a transmitter for transmitting images and information such as the time of parking transgression to vehicle enforcement personnel.