Abstract: A helmet, sized and shaped to receive the head of a wearer, includes a ballistic shield that is pivotally movable between a raised position for spanning and protecting the frontal area of the face of the wearer and a lowered position for spanning and protecting the mandibular area of the face of the wearer. Detent means interacting between the helmet and the shield releasably retain the ballistic shield in the lowered position and in the raised position.

Abstract: A platen packer assembly mounted in a refuse collection truck is disclosed. The refuse collection truck has a semi-cylindrical hopper, with a vertical axis and a horizontal radius, constructed to receive collected refuse and an enclosed body in communication with the hopper for receiving refuse from the hopper. The packer assembly includes a vertical mounting shaft extending within the hopper coaxial with the vertical axis of the hopper. A wedge-shaped platen has an end affixed to the shaft for rotation about the vertical axis and a refuse contacting major surface extending horizontally from the end slightly less than the radius of the hopper and slanted upwardly at an angle to the horizontal to provide an upward packing force component. The packer assembly is removably mounted through a removable portion of the floor for installation, repair, or replacement.

Abstract: Optical component mounting and interconnect apparatus includes a base formed of at least one layer of insulating material defining first and second opposed major surfaces. A plurality of vias extend through the base. The vias include a signal via and two spaced apart ground vias parallel with and on opposite sides of the signal via. The two ground vias are connected to ground to form a transmission line with the signal via. An optical component is mounted on the first major surface of the base with an electrical terminal affixed to one end of the signal via and a flex circuit is affixed to the second major surface of the base with an electrical connection to the opposite end of the signal via.

Abstract: Disclosed is a weighing system that is capable of continually sensing load against a conveyor and a calibration system for the weighing system that is capable of applying a reference load to the weighing system without interrupting the ability of the weighing system to sense load against the conveyor.

Abstract: A flow control device to be coupled to the intake of a pump including a base, an outlet plate having an outlet formed therein generally opposing the base, and a plurality of annular baffles carried between the base and the outlet plate. The annular baffles are spaced apart to define a plurality of inlets. Each of the plurality of annular baffles has an inner diameter, the inner diameters defining an interior void.

Abstract: An adjustable-depth crankbait fishing lure for use in catching fish at user-selectable depths. The crankbait fishing lure is made of a buoyant yet hard body having the shape and general appearance of a bait fish. Attached to the body are at least one fish hook and a means to attach the body to a fishing line. Pivotable lateral fins are located at each side of the body and are user adjustable for either water surface operation or operation at varying depths. A means is provided, substantially enclosed within the body, for allowing both the user to select the desired fin pitch corresponding to a specific water depth, and in some embodiments, for automatically returning the fins to the original pitch setting if the pitch setting is disturbed due to underwater snags or fish strikes. In addition, the fishing lure is designed so that the means for changing the fin pitch is protected against inadvertent changes due to fish strikes, snags, or other underwater menaces.

Abstract: A protective cover for protecting a read side of an optical disk, including a circumferential frame for receiving and engaging the optical disk and a shield. The frame includes a continuous end wall, an annular base extending radially inwardly from a lower edge of the end wall and a plurality of spaced apart tabs extending radially inwardly from an upper edge of the end wall for engaging an upper surface of an optical disk. The shield is transparent and has an inner edge defining a central opening, an outer edge and a generally planar annular surface extending between the outer edge and the inner edge. The shield is carried by the annular base for receiving and covering the read side of the optical disk.

Abstract: An optoelectronic package includes a supporting structure with a surface, an opposed surface, and at least one side, at least one conductive interconnect extending through the supporting structure from the surface to the opposed surface of the supporting structure, wherein the at least one conductive interconnect is substantially flush with the opposed surface of the supporting structure.

Abstract: An optoelectric module includes a cylindrical ferrule defining an optical axis and having a first end constructed to receive an optical fiber aligned along the optical axis. A TO-can is positioned within the ferrule and has a first end with an optical element therein for conducting light therethrough. A base is affixed to the second end of the TO-can and to the second end of the ferrule. A laser is mounted within the TO-can so that light generated by the laser is directed through the optical element along the optical axis. A laser driver is mounted on the base and electrically connected to the laser. External connections to the laser driver are completed by either electrical traces on a surface of the base, vias through the base, or flexible leads mounted on the base.

Abstract: Light source monitoring apparatus includes a light source having drive electronics for supplying drive current to the light source. A monitor diode is connected to the drive electronics for controlling the amount of drive current supplied to the light source. A lens system is positioned to receive the beam of light from the light source and transmit substantially all of the beam of light along an optical axis to a light terminal. The lens system includes a first lens element positioned along the optical axis and adjacent the light source and a second lens element positioned along the optical axis and adjacent the light terminal. A light reflecting surface in the lens system is positioned along the optical axis to reflect a portion of the beam of light at an angle to the optical axis onto the monitor diode.

Abstract: A tailgate advertising assembly includes a tailgate and a billboard. The tailgate is for attachment to a rear of a vehicle so as to be moved between a closed position and an open position as for loading and unloading, and has an upper extremity, a lower extremity, opposing side extremities, an inner face, and an outer face. The billboard is engaged to the tailgate, and overlies the outer face of the tailgate. The billboard supports advertising indicia.

Abstract: An adjustable pliers wrench including a fixture having a handle and an opposing stationary jaw, a co-acting jaw pivoted to the fixture and a lever pivoted to the co-acting jaw. A guide is attached proximate the handle and a locking element is arranged on the guide for reciprocal and canting movement. At least one attached biasing element urges the locking element toward the stationary jaw. An arm is pivoted to the lever and a cam is pivoted to the arm and to the locking element so as to be movable between a first condition permitting the locking element to reciprocate along the guide and a second condition bearing against the guide and canting the locking element into frictional engagement against the guide.

Abstract: A method of forming a hermetically sealed MEMS package includes a step of providing a supporting GaAs substrate with at least one contact for the MEMS device on the surface of the supporting substrate and forming a cantilever on the surface of the supporting substrate positioned to come into electrical engagement with the contact in one orientation. A metal seal ring is fixed to the surface of the supporting substrate circumferentially around the contact and the cantilever. A cavity is etched in a silicon chip to form a cap member. A metal seal ring is fixed to the cap member around the cavity. The package is hermetically sealed by reflowing a solder alloy, positioned between the two seal rings, in an inert environment without the use of flux.

Abstract: A misting nozzle includes a nozzle body defining a conduit with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet end. The nozzle also includes an aperture member having an opening therethrough with an aperture at one end. The opening is designed to receive the fluid outlet end therein. External threads on the nozzle body and mating internal threads in the opening releasably attach the aperture member to the nozzle body. A circumferentially extending surface is formed on the nozzle body adjacent the outlet end so as to abut a mating surface in the opening of the aperture member to prevent fluid flow between the fluid outlet and the aperture. Offset slots extend between the mating surfaces to provide fluid flow and are positioned to impart turbulence to the fluid prior to flowing through the aperture.

Abstract: A camera supporting chassis has attached clamp wheel assemblies. The clamp wheel assemblies secure opposing supports, and a camera is attached to the chassis. The chassis carries a brake capable of securing the chassis in place. The clamp wheel assemblies not only secure the chassis to the supports but also permit rollered movement of the chassis along the supports, allowing panning camera shots with the camera attached to the chassis.

Abstract: Ambulatory apparatus includes a framework mounted to a chassis for movement between sitting, standing and reclining conditions. Leading, trailing and intermediate wheel assemblies are attached to the chassis for supporting the chassis in a first wheeled condition including the leading and intermediate wheel assemblies engaged for wheeled movement against a support surface and a second wheeled condition including the trailing and intermediate wheel assemblies engaged for wheeled movement against a support surface. The chassis and the framework define a center of gravity that is centered at the intermediate wheel assembly in each of the sitting and reclining conditions of the framework, and that is centered at the leading wheel assembly in the standing condition of the framework.

Abstract: A pipe joint including a first pipe segment having a belled end and an annular gasket carried within the belled end, a second pipe segment having an end inserted into the belled end, passing through the annular gasket, and a beveled attachment carried by the end of the second pipe segment for facilitating the insertion of the end of the second pipe segment into the belled end of the first pipe segment passing through the annular gasket.

Abstract: A protective cover for protecting a read side of an optical disk, the protective cover including a substantially planar body being transparent and having a center hole, an outer edge and a generally planar annular surface extending between the outer edge and the center hole. A circumferential engagement structure is coupled to the outer edge of and completely encircles the planar body for engaging an outer edge of the optical disk.