Abstract: An adjustable golf putter provides configurable characteristics of striking face-to-shaft lateral alignment, center of gravity, shaft-to-head longitudinal alignment, head-to-shaft angle, total weight, weight distribution, and targeting. In a preferred embodiment, a golf club has a shaft attached to a putter head, the head having a hosel assembly and weight assemblies clamped between opposing face plates.

Abstract: A notebook computer is provided with a collapsible keyboard structure having keys supported on scissored linkage arm assemblies in which, in response to closing of the computer housing lid, key return spring portions of the keyboard are shifted away from their normal underlying relationships with the keys, and the scissored linkage arm assemblies and keys are forcibly retracted to a storage/transport orientation in which the overall thickness of the keyboard structure is reduced by an amount essentially equal to the stroke distance of the keys. When the lid is subsequently opened, the key return spring portions are shifted back to their normal underlying relationships with the keys, and the keys and scissored linkage arm assemblies are forced outwardly by the return spring portions to their extended, operative orientations above the return spring portions.

Abstract: An automatically controlled water spray-based air purification system having a humidification portion and a dehumidifying portion is operatively installed in an air handling unit used to recirculate air within a conditioned space. A blower within the air handling unit housing operates to draw return air into the housing, flow the air across the entire air purification system, and then discharge the purified and humidified air back into the conditioned space. Upon sensing an excess humidification of the air, a humidistat operates a supply air/return air damper system to cause a portion of the air interiorly traversing the housing to bypass the humidification portion of the purification system to thereby reduce the moisture content of the air discharged from the unit. A water spray portion of the purification system is served by a pump forcing water from a sump structure through a filter, with the spray water draining back into the sump after cleansing air traversing the purification system.

Abstract: A water spray-based air purification system having a humidification portion and a dehumidifying portion is operatively installed in an air handling unit used to recirculate air within a conditioned space. A blower within the air handling unit housing operates to draw return air into the housing, flow the air across the entire air purification system, and then discharge the purified and humidified air back into the conditioned space. A water spray portion of the purification system is served by a pump forcing water from a sump structure through a filter, with the spray water draining back into the sump after cleansing air traversing the purification system. Upon a sensed demand therefor, an additive injector adds suitable chemical treatment material to the sump water, and a water pollutant monitor structure operates to backwash the filter upon sensing an undesirable pump back pressure increase or a buildup of particulate and gaseous pollutants in the sump water.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed to control Yankee hood profile along the cylinder surface so as to provide a structurally stable hood having controlled impingement distances at operating temperatures. Radial support of the hot hood internals are located at or near the extremities of the hood wrap and the internal profile along the cylinder wrap is on an adjusted cold shape so that the profile is even when operating temperatures are reached. Thus, the hood is "deformed" (not pre-strained) when cold but, when the operating temperature is reached, it assumes the desired configuration.

Abstract: Track laying apparatus and associated methods are provided for installing rails on blocks. In a preferred embodiment, a track laying apparatus has an installation portion for installing the blocks to the rails at predetermined lateral and longitudinal spacings, relative to the lengths of the rails, and a positioning portion for propelling and steering the apparatus and lifting and laterally spacing the rails.

Abstract: A method of making a personalized children's storybook using preprinted books with textually blank areas on various ones of their pages, and adhering transparent stickers with personalized text thereon to the textually blank page areas to create a personalized story line in the book.

Abstract: A digital driver for an ink jet printhead and an associated method for selectively applying voltage to a piezoelectric sidewall actuator of the ink jet printhead. The digital driver includes positive and negative voltage sources, a first switching element having a first control input, a first voltage supply input connected to the positive voltage source, and a first output, and a second switching element having a second control input, a second voltage supply input connected to the negative voltage source, and a second output connected to the first output to provide a single output connected to the piezoelectric sidewall actuator. By asserting the first control input for a first time period, the first switching element generates a positive voltage pulse at the single output to displace the sidewall actuator from a rest position to a first position.

Abstract: A longitudinally central portion of a weaponry support plank is secured to the cabin area floor of a McDonnell Douglas 500/530 helicopter using a support and reinforcing system associated with forwardly and rearwardly disposed pairs of stiffening ribs anchored to the top side of the floor. Opposite end portions of the front and rear rib pairs are removed and are laterally enclosed in and anchored to elongated reinforcing structures each having opposite ends generally aligned with the opposite ends of its associated shortened rib. End members are anchored to the floor at the opposite ends of each pair of shortened ribs and are also anchored to the opposite ends of their associated reinforcing structure. Two front support strut members have upper sides fixedly secured in a spaced relationship to a front side edge of the central plank portion, and two rear support strut members have sides fixedly secured in a spaced relationship to the rear side edge of the central plank portion.

Abstract: A compact notebook computer, when opened, exposes a keyboard structure in a folded storage and transport orientation in which opposite end segments of the keyboard are inwardly pivoted onto a central segment of the keyboard, and the keys are in fully retracted, inoperative positions. To use the keyboard its end segments are outwardly pivoted to a use orientation in which they project outwardly beyond opposite ends of the computer base housing and are vertically aligned with the central keyboard segment. A top side portion of the keyboard structure is then horizontally shifted in a first direction relative to a base portion thereof. Via an interaction between cammed portions of scissored linkage arm assemblies that movably support the keys, and resilient key return members adjacent thereto, this shifting automatically raises the keyboard keys to fully extended operative positions thereof, thereby readying the keyboard for typing thereon.

Abstract: The top side wall of a portable computer base housing portion has a rectangular opening therein that complementarily receives a keyboard assembly. The keyboard assembly has a rear side edge portion from which a spaced plurality of mounting tabs outwardly project, and a spaced plurality of latch structures are captively retained on a front side edge portion of the keyboard assembly. Each latch structure includes a tab member that is slidable relative to the balance of the keyboard assembly between a forwardly extended position and a rearwardly retracted position, and a cap portion pivotally retained on the tab member.

Abstract: A method for film coated passivation of individual grooves or channels in an array of closely spaced grooves or channels of a workpiece, for example, ink channels in a printhead employed in an ink jet printer device; includes the steps of placing the workpiece on a rotation plate having a rotational center, securing the workpiece to the rotation plate with the grooves directed radially outward from the rotational center of the rotation plate, placing resin upon the workpiece in the vicinity of the grooves, and spinning the rotation plate to cause the resin to migrate along the surfaces of the grooves and thereby coating them.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a liquid dispensing apparatus such as those used in the application of liquid chemicals to a lawn. The liquid dispensing apparatus is comprised of a first wall, which can also serve as a handle, with a first inlet portion for receiving a pressurized fluid from an outside source, a first outlet portion for dispensing fluid into a container, a second inlet portion for receiving fluid from the container and a second outlet portion for dispensing a fluid from the liquid dispensing apparatus. An attachment on either or both ends of the first wall allows the apparatus to be removably attached to an external pressurized fluid supply source and an external dispensing apparatus such as a lawn sprinkler. Included in the first wall is a means for removably attaching the liquid distribution system to the exterior of a container through an opening or openings within the exterior of the container.

Abstract: Disclosed are an ink jet printhead and method of manufacturing the same.

Abstract: An article storage system for supporting at least one article thereon and mountable to a support frame. The article storage system includes a tray structure having first and second portions, a clamping structure which mounts the tray structure to the support frame and attachment structure for attaching the tray structure to the clamping structure. The first portion of the tray structure includes a first sidewall which defines a first, open-topped, receptacle and the second portion of the tray structure includes a second sidewall which defines a second receptacle and a lid structure rotatably affixed to the second sidewall.

Abstract: A notification system for reporting events occurring within a defined area being monitored thereby. The notification system includes a plurality of sensors installed at selected locations within the defined area and a sensor interface coupled to each of the sensors. The sensor interface periodically polls the sensors and stores status information received therefrom. Coupled to the sensor interface is a computer system for receiving and analyzing the stored status data. Upon determining from the status data that an event requiring issuance of a notification has occurred, the computer system issues a series of notifications for which each recipient of a notification receives a selected message regarding the event.

Abstract: A centrifugal air blower has a housing with an inlet side wall through which a circular air inlet is formed. A cylindrical electric drive motor coaxially extends through the inlet opening and is drivingly coupled to a centrifugal impeller rotatably disposed within the housing. The motor is supported on the inlet side wall by a mounting system including a plurality of metal mounting rods each having an inner end, an outer end, and an elongated intermediate portion. The inner rod ends are welded to circumferentially spaced locations of a belly band structure coaxially clamped to the drive motor, and the outer rod ends are connected to resilient support assemblies arranged in a circumferentially spaced array on the outer side of the housing inlet side wall around the blower inlet opening.

Abstract: A notebook computer has a keyboard structure with a flexible top side portion disposed along the top side of its base housing to which the computer lid portion is secured for movement between a closed position in which the lid portion extends across and covers the top side of the base housing and the keyboard structure, and an open position in which the lid portion is generally transverse to the base housing and uncovers the keyboard structure. The flexible top side portion of the keyboard structure is linked to the computer lid portion in a manner such that when the lid portion is closed the top side portion of the keyboard structure is essentially flat and parallel to the bottom side of the base housing, and when the lid portion is opened, the top side portion of the keyboard structure is resiliently bent to an upwardly and rearwardly sloped orientation and concavely curved in an upward direction to thereby emulate the slope, curvature and typing feel of a sculpted desktop computer keyboard.