Abstract: Apparatus for providing passive protection against accidental needle-stick for a hypodermic needle extending from a hub. There is a tip protector comprising a cross-piece disposed transverse to the needle having an elongated first bore therethrough through which the needle passes and having a bell-shaped tip-guard extending from the cross-piece concentrically about the first bore and covering a tip portion of the needle with the tip protector in an extended position. The tip protector is slidably moveable along the needle supported by the elongated first bore between the extended position and a retracted position with the tip portion of the needle exposed for use. Guide apparatus guides the tip protector between the extended position and the retracted position. A coil spring biases the tip protector to the extended position. A releasable lock automatically and releasably locks the tip protector in the extended position when the tip protector moves to the extended position from a position retracted therefrom.

Abstract: Apparatus for releasably attaching an outrigger to a canoe so that the outrigger will release from the canoe rather than breaking the outrigger or the canoe. The inner ends of the outrigger yakus are attached to the canoe with a touch fastener material in shear so that the yakus are held firmly in place but will release under high shear forces on the touch fastener material.

Abstract: A combined backlighting panel, position determination system, and display for use in pen-driven computer systems. There is a panel of a transparent material divided into a plurality of illumination areas. Each of the illumination areas comprises a lensing structure on the bottom surface of the panel for directing entering light towards the top surface of the panel over the associated illumination area. A plurality of light-emitting diodes are disposed to direct light into the lensing structure of respective ones of the plurality of illumination areas. A substrate carries the grids of a digitizer tablet as well as the light emitting diodes. The panel is disposed on the substrate with the bottom surface adjacent the substrate. A display panel is disposed over the top surface of the panel.