Abstract: The head covering includes a skull portion, a visor and an expandable section for connecting the visor and the skull portion. The expandable section is moveable between an expanded position and a retracted position to move the visor between a generally horizontal position to shade the eyes and a generally vertical position to protect the back of the neck. The expandable section is interposed between and connects the skull portion and the visor. The expandable section is formed of flexible material that is easily folded.

Abstract: A plastic material sheet for use in vacuum thermoforming is formed of polymer material. Electrically conductive resistance elements, at least a portion of which are situated within sheet, conduct electrical current to heat the sheet. The elements are generally parallel to each other. They may be straight, have a generally zigzag configuration, a generally serpentine configuration, an arcuate configuration, or a grid-like configuration. The elements may each have a section that extends substantially beyond the edge of the sheet. They may be frangible. They may be embedded deeply within the sheet or may be situated proximate a surface of the sheet.

Abstract: The end of the elongated tubular element of the appliance that is designed to be inserted into a body cavity or vessel is formed entirely of soft, compliant material. That end carries an inflatable balloon formed in its fully inflated shape. The balloon is inflated to a predetermined low pressure level to prevent pressure necrosis in the adjacent tissue. A method and apparatus for introducing the soft end of the appliance into the body cavity are also provided. The introducer apparatus includes rigid core surrounded by a soft, compliant sleeve. The sleeve extends beyond the rigid core to form an invertable section. The soft end of the appliance is situated adjacent the apparatus, the balloon is wrapped around the apparatus, and the sleeve section is inverted over the appliance, compressing the balloon and forming a soft, rounded insertion tip. The unit is then introduced into the body cavity. After the appliance is separated from the apparatus, the apparatus is withdrawn.

Abstract: This method of processing multimedia content description data sets to deliver a plurality of output data sets (141, 142, . . . , 14n) from a single input data set (10), the method being characterized in that it comprises the following steps: allocating priority coefficients (16) to at least some of the description data in the input data set (10); associating priority coefficient thresholds (18) with a predetermined number of output data sets (141, 142, . . . , 14n); and distributing the data to the output data sets (141, 142, . . . , 14n) as a function of the priority coefficients (16) allocated to the elements of the input data set and as a function of the thresholds (18) associated with each of the output data sets.

Abstract: The security system determines if the cargo area of a vehicle may have been opened in transit between a loading location and a destination location. The vehicle has an enclosed cargo area with a cargo door and lock. The system includes a digital counter which displays a number set thereon after the cargo area has been secured by locking the cargo door lock or by closing the cargo door. If a magnetic reed switch senses the unlocking of the cargo door lock or the opening of the cargo door after the cargo area has been secured, it causes the number on the counter to change. The set number is forwarded to the destination location by entering it on the shipping documents or transmitting it electronically. At the destination location, it can be determined if the cargo area may have been accessed in transit by comparing the set number forwarded to the recipient by the shipper with the number displayed on the counter when the vehicle reaches the destination location.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a pulse emitter and at least one line fiber for conveying at least one pulse in the line fiber. A spreader module for linearly spreading pulses is provided including a propagation medium that is dispersive and linear. The propagation medium presents accumulated chromatic dispersion that is high enough to lower the peak power of the pulse to below a predetermined threshold, where a signal above the threshold is subjected to non-linear distortion in the line fiber. The spreader module is disposed between the emitter and the line fiber.

Abstract: The field emission device includes: a front substrate and a rear substrate which are disposed at a certain distance and opposite to each other; at least one or more cathode electrodes formed on the rear substrate; at least one or more gate electrodes formed to be distant from the cathode electrodes and to be insulated with the rear substrate; emitters formed on the upper surfaces of the cathode electrodes; an anode electrode formed on the front substrate toward the rear substrate side; a fluorescent layer formed on the anode electrode; a first voltage application circuit for applying an AC voltage to the anode electrode; and a second voltage application circuit for applying an AC voltage to the gate electrode, wherein the AC voltages being applied to the anode electrode and the gate electrode are synchronized.

Abstract: A calibration element (1) serves for calibrating the magnification ratio of a camera (3). The calibration element (1) has at least one calibration region (4) in which at least one perforation (5) or indentation is provided. The perforation (5) or indentation can be detected by the camera. The calibration element (1) is sufficiently slight in the calibration region (4) that the detection of an upper edge or lower edge of the perforation (5) or indentation produces only negligible differences. In order to determine the dependence of the magnification ratio on the thickness, the calibration element (1) additionally has at least one support foot (8), whose length (9) is selected in such a way as thereby to produce a variation in the measured magnification ratio of the camera image that can be evaluated.