Abstract: An apparatus having a holster to receive an appliance in slidable engagement, an engagement apparatus to hold the appliance in engagement with the holster, a clip sized and shaped to attach to the article of clothing, and a retainer assembly configured to releasably attach the holster to the clip, the clip having a body with a proximal end, a tongue extending from the proximal end to engage with the article of clothing, and a receiver that receives the projection on the holster, the receiver having a through-opening and structured to position the projection against the tongue as the projection is engaged with the receiver to preload the tongue and apply pressure to the article of clothing in response to positioning the article of clothing between the tongue and the projection and thereby retain the clip in positive engagement with the article of clothing.

Abstract: An apparatus having a holster to receive an appliance in slidable engagement, an engagement apparatus to hold the appliance in engagement with the holster, a clip sized and shaped to attach to the article of clothing, and a retainer assembly configured to releasably attach the holster to the clip, the clip having a body with a proximal end, a tongue extending from the proximal end to engage with the article of clothing, and a receiver that receives the projection on the holster, the receiver having a through-opening and structured to position the projection against the tongue as the projection is engaged with the receiver to preload the tongue and apply pressure to the article of clothing in response to positioning the article of clothing between the tongue and the projection and thereby retain the clip in positive engagement with the article of clothing.

Abstract: The holster includes a solid basically flat rectilinear shape. In one embodiment, a horizontal slot through the thickness of the base receives a strap that is wrapped around the portable device, while a second strap, vertically oriented, is fixed in a keyway in the bottom of the base and threaded through a vertical slot in the thickness of the base and is brought upward over the horizontal strap. In a second embodiment a pair of horizontal straps are set in keyways and are wrapped around a portion of the portable device, holding it in place. All straps having a webbing having one side covered by the hook portion of a hook and loop fastening system and the other side covered by the loop elements of a hook and loop fastening system, allowing opposite sides, or faces, of any single strap to be fastened to itself.

Abstract: The holster includes a solid basically flat rectilinear shape. In one embodiment, a horizontal slot through the thickness of the base receives a strap that is wrapped around the portable device, while a second strap, vertically oriented, is fixed in a keyway in the bottom of the base and threaded through a vertical slot in the thickness of the base and is brought upward over the horizontal strap. In a second embodiment a pair of horizontal straps are set in keyways and are wrapped around a portion of the portable device, holding it in place. All straps having a webbing having one side covered by the hook portion of a hook and loop fastening system and the other side covered by the loop elements of a hook and loop fastening system, allowing opposite sides, or faces, of any single strap to be fastened to itself.

Abstract: In ice scraper includes a scraper head that is pivotally mounted onto a handle has at least one, but preferably, four different scraping edges. When the scraper edge encounters accumulated ice, the scraper head pivots forward, transmitting more of the force applied to a downward force vector, causing the scraper head to pivot into a position that increase the angle of the scraper head and edge to the ice, thereby more readily removing ice.

Abstract: The holster includes a solid basically flat rectilinear shape. In one embodiment, a horizontal slot through the thickness of the base receives a strap that is wrapped around the portable device, while a second strap, vertically oriented, is fixed in a keyway in the bottom of the base and threaded though a vertical slot in the thickness of the base and is brought upward over the horizontal strap. In a second embodiment a pair of horizontal straps are set in keyways and are wrapped around a portion of the portable device, holding it in place. All straps having a webbing having one side covered by the hook portion of a hook and loop fastening system and the other side covered by the loop elements of a hook and loop fastening system, allowing opposite sides, or faces, of any single strap to be fastened to itself.

Abstract: An ergonomic ice scraper includes a handle with a contact surface at one end and a scraping blade at an opposite end. The blade includes a scraping edge formed by intersection of a scraping surface with a base surface at an angle such that when the contact surface and the scraping edge are placed in contact with a coated surface to be scraped, the scraping surface is oriented at substantially a right angle to the coated surface. The blade may include a pair of scraping edges at opposite ends thereof and be rotatably mounted in the handle in such a manner as to enable positioning a selected scraping edge in a scraping position relative to the handle.

Abstract: In ice scraper includes a scraper head that is pivotally mounted onto a handle has at least one, but preferably, four different scraping edges. When the scraper edge encounters accumulated ice, the scraper head pivots forward, transmitting more of the force applied to a downward force vector, causing the scraper head to pivot into a position that increase the angle of the scraper head and edge to the ice, thereby more readily removing ice.

Abstract: A device for guiding a boat onto a trailer, the trailer having at least two longitudinal side rails, the device including a mounting assembly for attachment to a side rail to provide for transverse adjustment relative to the side rail's longitudinal axis and a bumper assembly attached to the mounting assembly and having at least one bumper mechanism that moves between an engaged position in which the device guides the boat into an aligned position on the trailer and a disengaged position in which the bumper mechanism is moved away from the boat to avoid contact with the boat.

Abstract: A device for guiding a boat onto a trailer, the trailer having at least two longitudinal side rails, the device including a mounting assembly for attachment to a side rail to provide for transverse adjustment relative to the side rail's longitudinal axis and a bumper assembly attached to the mounting assembly and having at least one bumper mechanism that moves between an engaged position in which the device guides the boat into an aligned position on the trailer and a disengaged position in which the bumper mechanism is moved away from the boat to avoid contact with the boat.

Abstract: A boat centering device for a trailer, the device having a lever arm with a contact member mounted on one end and an outrigger mounted on the other, the lever arm adapted to rotate towards the center of the trailer when the contact member is contacted by a boat. The outrigger urges the boat to the center of the trailer and does not contact the boat once the boat is centered. Matched pairs of lever arms are attached at various points on the trailer to cooperate in centering the bow and stern of the boat.

Abstract: A system for processing an optical signal into a plurality of optical output signals includes a laser for generating an optical signal along an optical signal path. An optical splitter receives the optical signal and includes an input optical fiber and a stepped, optical splitter circuit formed from a plurality of laser ion doped optical waveguides branching into a plurality of output optical signals. An optical pump source pumps an optical pump signal through the stepped, optical splitter circuit and excites the erbium to distribute gain throughout the optical splitter.

Abstract: A method for applying a protective coating to an electro-optical component includes positioning the electro-optical component in a chamber and applying a coating composition to at least one surface of the electro-optical component to form the protective coating thereon. The coating composition may include fluorinated poly(phenylene ether ketone) and an anti-reflection agent. The anti-reflection agent may include at least one of an inorganic salt, an organofunctionalized additive, and an erbium dopant, for example.

Abstract: A multi-fiber ribbon-coupled multi-channel, optical amplifier architecture has a very compact form factor that facilitates one-for-one alignment with and coupling to each optical fiber of a multi-fiber ribbon. A physically compact, focusing and coupling structure couples into respective light amplifying waveguide channels of a substrate, to which the fibers of the multi-fiber ribbon are coupled, the optical pumping energy emitted by multiple pumping energy sources that are arranged generally transverse to the optical waveguide amplifying channels. The pumping energy coupling structure may include a prism, GRIN lens array or a spherical lenslet array. The number of GRIN lenses or lenslets corresponds to the number of pumping source elements, to provide one-for-one collimation or focusing of the light beams generated by the pumping energy emitters into the optical waveguide channels.

Abstract: A system for processing an optical signal into a plurality of optical output signals includes a laser for generating an optical signal along an optical signal path. An optical splitter receives the optical signal and includes an input optical fiber and a stepped, optical splitter circuit formed from a plurality of laser ion doped optical waveguides branching into a plurality of output optical signals. An optical pump source pumps an optical pump signal through the stepped, optical splitter circuit and excites the erbium to distribute gain throughout the optical splitter.

Abstract: A method for applying a protective coating to an electro-optical component includes positioning the electro-optical component in a chamber and applying a coating composition to at least one surface of the electro-optical component to form the protective coating thereon. The coating composition may include fluorinated poly(phenylene ether ketone) and an anti-reflection agent. The anti-reflection agent may include at least one of an inorganic salt, an organofunctionalized additive, and an erbium dopant, for example.

Abstract: A multi-fiber ribbon-coupled multi-channel, optical amplifier architecture has a very compact form factor that facilitates one-for-one alignment with and coupling to each optical fiber of a multi-fiber ribbon. A dual substrate structure contains a first substrate having a signal transport core laminated with a second substrate having an associated pumping energy-receiving, pseudo-cladding layer. This use of separate substrates prevents dopant material of the signal transport core from intruding into the pseudo-cladding material. The bulk layers are polished and laminated so that the signal transport core is in intimate face-to-face abutment with the pseudo-cladding layer. The back side of the bulk containing the pseudo-cladding material is lapped and polished to expose pseudo-cladding material, and provide a generally planar surface that facilitates coupling of the pseudo-cladding layer (and its abutting core) with a pumping energy source.

Abstract: A multi-fiber ribbon-coupled multi-channel, optical amplifier architecture has a compact form factor for coupling to a multi-fiber ribbon. A single clad fiber is pulled to a prescribed diameter based upon the geometry and dimensions of the inner clad of a clad-pumped fiber. The single clad fiber is affixed in a V-shaped groove in a waveguide substrate, by optical fiber bonding epoxy back-filled in the groove, and which wicks around the single clad fiber. After the epoxy cures, any fiber and epoxy above the substrate are removed down to its surface.

Abstract: A multi-fiber ribbon-coupled multi-channel, optical amplifier architecture has a compact form factor for coupling to a multi-fiber ribbon. A single clad fiber is pulled to a prescribed diameter based upon the geometry and dimensions of the inner clad of a clad-pumped fiber. The single clad fiber is affixed in a V-shaped groove in a waveguide substrate, by optical fiber bonding epoxy back-filled in the groove, and which wicks around the single clad fiber. After the epoxy cures, any fiber and epoxy above the substrate are removed down to its surface.

Abstract: A multi-fiber ribbon-coupled multi-channel, optical amplifier architecture has a very compact form factor that facilitates one-for-one alignment with and coupling to each optical fiber of a multi-fiber ribbon. A dual substrate structure contains a first substrate having a signal transport core laminated with a second substrate having an associated pumping energy-receiving, pseudo-cladding layer. This use of separate substrates prevents dopant material of the signal transport core from intruding into the pseudo-cladding material. The bulk layers are polished and laminated so that the signal transport core is in intimate face-to-face abutment with the pseudo-cladding layer. The back side of the bulk containing the pseudo-cladding material is lapped and polished to expose pseudo-cladding material, and provide a generally planar surface that facilitates coupling of the pseudo-cladding layer (and its abutting core) with a pumping energy source.