Abstract: A firearm employing a cartridge magazine includes a laser sighting device or other electrical accessories attached to the firearm. A power supply is located in a housing in the lower end of the cartridge magazine. The housing has a hollow battery compartment in it with a pair of battery contacts in it. One contact is electrically connected with the cartridge magazine. The other contact is a spring-loaded contact coupled with a conductive lead to the laser sighting device or accessory. An on/off switch, preferably in the form of a push-button switch, is engaged by the user when the firearm is in use.

Abstract: One piece hollow airfoils are manufactured from molded carbon filament materials, with internal support structures integrally formed in a single closed mold operation. The outer skins and the internal reinforcement structure all are cured together as an integral unit. To accomplish this, a mold having a cavity defining the outer shape of the airfoil is opened. Precut, pre-preg fiber material and core material then is placed in the mold halves. At least two adjacent elongated resilient mandrels are placed in contact with the precut sheets of pre-preg fiber to press the sheets and core into contact with the mold upon subsequent closure thereof. An elongated web of pre-preg fiber material is placed between the adjacent mandrels, and in contact with them, to cause said edges of the web to contact the sheets of pre-preg fiber material on opposite sides of the mold cavity. The mold is closed; and heat is applied to cure the pre-preg fiber material and to bond the web with the precut sheets.

Abstract: A trailer hitch is designed to be inserted in a conventional square-shaped sleeve or receiver fixed to the back of a vehicle. The hitch includes a sleeve and an arm which is received by and pivots simultaneously with the sleeve.

Abstract: A test fixture for use in the testing of integrated circuit devices includes a metal conductive base plate mounted on a printed circuit wiring board. The base plate has holes extending through it between its upper and lower surfaces. An electrically conductive metal floating plate is resiliently biased upward to a normal position spaced a short distance above the upper surface of the base plate. The floating plate has holes through it which mate with and correspond to the holes through the base plate. Insulating sleeves, with spring pin connectors inside, are placed in the holes in the base plate and these sleeves extend upwardly above the surface of the base plate to a height not greater than the sum of the thickness of the base plate and of the thickness of the floating plate.

Abstract: A modular switch assembly comprises a multiple switch configuration operated by a single finger. The assembly consists of a base member with a push-button or plunger switch located on its top. Four upright switch operators extend above the surface of the push-button switch for contact by movement of a finger in any of four directions 90.degree. angularly offset from one another. These upright switch operators normally are magnetically biased to a first position, located near the push-button switch. They are operated by the finger to a second position, by rocking them outwardly from the first position. All of the parts snap fit together; and there are no mechanical springs or hinge assemblies to hold the various switch parts together.

Abstract: A combination handle and latching mechanism for sliding doors and windows includes a section of a first extrusion, in the form of an elongated base member which is secured to the frame. Two spaced angled slots are formed through the base member, with a first end near the frame and a second end located a greater distance from the frame when the base member is secured to the frame. A movable operating member overlies the base member and has rods therethrough and passing through the first and second slots to permit the operating member to be moved from a first position with the rods located in the slots at the end nearest the frame to a second position with the rods located in the slots at a greater distance from the frame to move the operating member from a position near the frame to a position away from the frame. An inwardly turned latching flange extends along one side of the operating member to overlie an outwardly extending flange adjacent the frame.

Abstract: A universal asthma and emphysema medication inhaler spacer comprises a cylindrical open-ended elongated chamber having a circular opening in the inlet end of a predetermined diameter and a predetermined depth. The outlet end of the chamber has an opening in it shaped to accommodate a human mouth. At the inlet end, the opening has opposed relief offsets on opposite sides to accommodate medication dispensers which have outlets of non-circular cross-sectional shapes, as well as circular shapes.

Abstract: A modular luminaire consists of a rectangular housing having a top, first and second sides and first and second ends, with an open light-emitting bottom. Elongated reflector members are located in a side-by-side relationship in the housing for independently reflecting the light from a compact fluorescent lamp from each of the reflector members out of the open bottom of the housing. The reflector members may be made as a single unit or as separate, independent individual units. The edges of the separate, individual reflector members are made to releaseably interconnect with one another; so that any desired number of reflector members and corresponding compact fluorescent lamps may be mounted in a side-by-side relationship in housings of different widths to provide the desired amount of light. Fixtures are designed to replace HID lamps and conventional, low efficiency fluorescent lamp luminaires.

Abstract: A sheet flatness measuring system consists of a frame carrying a structured illumination system for producing illumination beneath the frame in a periodic pattern of opaque and illuminated lines. A flat base or table, having a surface parallel to the structured illumination system, is placed beneath the structured illumination system to be illuminated by it. A sheet of reflective or semi-reflective material, the flatness of which is to be measured, is placed on the table. The reflection of the structured illumination is viewed from the sheet a by video camera, typically mounted in a central location above the center of the table on which the sheet is placed. The structured illumination pattern is moved to different positions, and multiple video images are digitized and compared in a computer to calculate the local slope at each point or pixel in the image of the sheet viewed by the camera.

Abstract: A method and system for programming vROM programmable memories using antifuses fabricated from undoped amorphous silicon as a high resistance link or layer between two metal layers. Whenever a programming voltage higher than a normal operating voltage is applied across the link between the two metal layers, the resistance of the link is reduced by transforming the insulating amorphous silicon into conducting polysilicon. This causes a closed or conductive link to be formed between the two metal layers. In the programming of the vROM, current is actively pumped to the link; and a current measurement or check is made prior to the application of the programming voltage to determine whether the link already has been programmed. Immediately following the application of the programming voltage, the current through the link again is checked to determine proper programming of the link.

Abstract: A line for a rotating trimmer has a plurality of longitudinal outwardly-extending cutting edges, spaced circumferentially about the main body portion of the line. A cross-sectional area of the main body portion is selected to be between 70 percent and 90 percent of the area of the space circumscribing the cutting edges to provide substantial bulk to the line to increase its wear, while retaining the advantages of the cutting edges for facilitating cutting of grass and the like.

Abstract: A leg assembly for leveling a device, such as an evaporative cooler or refrigeration unit, on a pitched roof, includes an elongated leg member having first and second ends and first and second perpendicular sides for attachment to the device to be leveled. A foot having an "L" shaped configuration has a base for placement on the roof; and an upright portion which is attached to the leg member. The leg member has a series of equally spaced holes extending along the length of at least one of the sides; and that side is located in a plane which is the plane of the pitch of the roof. The upright portion of the foot member is attached to the lower end of the leg member through a resilient vibration isolation damper. In some installations, a second vibration isolation damper is placed between the leg and the device to be supported, to act both as a spacer and as a vibration isolation member, to reduce the amount of vibrations transmitted to the roof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting pipe penetration by the bore head of horizontal boring machine utilizes acoustic and seismic sensors. A sensitive acoustic microphone is placed in the bottom of the nearest sewer manhole to the location of the bore head to detect acoustic signals transmitted through the ground by the bore head for producing a first output signal. A seismic pickup device is placed in the vicinity of the bore head to detect vibrations of the ground caused by the bore head, as it moves through the ground, to produce a second output signal. These first and second signals produced, respectively, by the microphone and the seismic pick-up device, then are supplied to a two-channel strip chart recorder, which provides an output indicia permitting simultaneous comparison of the two signals. Particular patterns of these detected signals are indicative of the penetration of a sewer pipe.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for locating light sensitive circuit design flaws on an integrated circuit chip comprises placing the integrated circuit chip on a load board, which is coupled electrically with a tester to supply operating power to the chip device. The current used by the chip device is continuously measured. A stereoscopic microscope is used to direct a spot of light through one of the eyepieces of the microscope onto the upper surface of the chip; and the spot of light is moved along a predetermined path to scan the surface of the chip. Through the other eyepiece of the microscope, the location of the spot of light is observed. When the measured current drain undergoes changes, as the spot of light impinges on the chip, the location is noted. The quadrant or other area of the chip, in which the change of current consumption occurred as a result of the spot of light, then is scanned a second time with a smaller spot of light; and the process is repeated.

Abstract: A knock-out pin for a bolt making machine used for cold forming the heads of steel bolts is constructed with a convex pad on the end of the knock-out pin. The convex pad functions to progressively receive the shock as the head of the bolt is formed in the machine using the knock-out pin.

Abstract: A bore sighting apparatus and method includes a light source contained within a housing, which is in the form of a stepped cylindrical insert placed in the firing chamber of the firearm. The housing is in the form of a series of interconnected stepped cylindrical portions corresponding to the firing chambers of different calibers of firearms, with the largest portion being located at the rear of the firing chamber. Light is projected from the housing through the bore of the barrel and through the muzzle to a target placed at a pre-established distance from the muzzle. Calibrated points are marked on the target; and the sights of the firearm are adjusted to the calibrated points to effect the bore sighting of the firearm for a specific range.

Abstract: A system for simultaneously lining and cleaning an existing sewer pipe, and for laying horizontal pipe without digging a trench, includes a planetary gear assembly mounted on a drilling rig. A liner pipe or outer pipe which is to be laid underground is placed over an inner auger, with the forward end of the liner pipe located behind the auger drill bit. The opposite end of the auger is attached to the sun gear of the planetary gear assembly; and the outer pipe is secured to the ring gear of the assembly. The auger is rotated in one direction, causing the outer pipe to rotate in the other direction; and the pipe and auger are pushed simultaneously through the pipe to be lined or through the soil. Once a section of auger and liner pipe have been pushed in place, the planetary gear assembly is disconnected from the auger and the liner pipe, new sections of auger and liner pipe are connected to the existing sections at one end, and to the planetary gear assembly at the other end.

Abstract: A circuit board extractor particularly suitable for extracting "burn-in" boards from a test fixture is attached to the front of the test fixture between the tester connector assembly and the burn-in board, or burn-in board frame rails, for movement of a movable member between first and second positions. The first position of the movable member occurs when the pin connectors on the edge of the burn-in board are inserted into corresponding pin receptacles on the front of the test fixture. Movement of the movable member from the first position thereof to its second position pushes the burn-in board away from the front of the test fixture to cause withdrawal of the pin connectors on the edge of the burn-in board from the pin receptacles on the edge of the test fixture without damaging the burn-in board or the test fixture.

Abstract: An elliptical path pedaling system uses two mutually perpendicular intersecting guideways with a circular drive member pivotally attached at its center to a follower, mounted for reciprocal movement within the first guideway. A second follower is pivotally attached to the circular drive member at a predetermined radial distance from the center of said drive member for reciprocal movement in the second guideway. A pedal crank is attached to the drive member to rotate it about the center. As the drive member rotates, the reciprocating movements of the two followers in the perpendicular guideways cause the drive member to move back and forth in the path of the first guideway. A pedal crank attached to the reciprocating drive member follows an elliptical path. A chain or other suitable drive transfer device is coupled between the drive member and a circular driven member, which is rotated about its center and is mounted in a fixed position relative to the guideways.