Abstract: A survival radio for use for transmitting and receiving information for search and rescue having an improved structural housing assembly for increased reliability to prevent moisture and water intrusion, while permitting use of the device in any ambient air pressure. The housing assembly includes a tongue and sealed groove connections joined by deforming the tongue in a pliable state, housing assembly apertures covered by a deformable flexible sealable plastic panel to permit manual actuation of internal switches and an air vent that has a porous plug permitting air pressure equalization between the inside and outside of the housing assembly, while preventing water intrusion.

Abstract: A hand-held strobe light which may be used in rescue or emergency operations in peacetime or in a combat zone. The light includes a watertight housing with a high intensity bulb which flashes white light. Interchangeable blue and infrared filters attached to a flash guard body can be used with the bulb for filtering various wave lengths of light spectrum in combat situations and for both 360 degree or line-of-sight transmission.

Abstract: An improved search and rescue transponder having an improved housing assembly that permits the device to be turned on or off by rotating one segment of the housing relative to the other for ease of use even with heavy or bulky gloves. In addition, the housing assembly exterior surface includes a plurality of longitudinal ridges for ease in gripping. The housing assembly includes an upper housing and lower housing joined by a retaining ring and O-ring seal, eliminating the need for fasteners for manufacturing efficiency. The lower housing includes quick disconnect that attaches to a mounting disk affixed to a ship or life raft. The mounting disk includes a plurality of resilient fingers which act in conjunction with cam surfaces on the flange of the lower housing, which when rotated together allow for a quick disconnect.

Abstract: A high rise fire escape mechanism uses a flat cable having notches to lower the victim. The cable is wound around a notched sprocket mounted inside a housing on a first axle. A second axle and an escapement mechanism mesh with the first axle to mechanically control the rate of descent of a victim to about four (4) feet per second.

Abstract: An EMI/RFI shielded housing for an electrical apparatus comprises a case member and a complementary cover member, each comprising an end wall portion and a side wall portion together defining substantially continuous and unbroken peripheral surfaces. The side wall portions of these members are respectively configured for an interference fit therebetween to define an assembled condition of the housing. This interference fit is defined by the side wall portion of the case member being received interiorally of the side wall portion of the cover member. Moreover, substantially the entire inner surfaces of the end wall portions of both case and cover member are electrically conductive, substantially the entire inner surface of the side wall portion of the case member is electrically conductive and major fractional portions of respective facing surfaces of the assembled and interference-fitted side wall portions are electrically conductive.

Abstract: The invention relates to photo-optical detection by coded aperture in which photo-optical keyboard apparatus includes a pattern arrangement of keys in rows and columns wherein each row is provided with a light source or generator optically couplable to a light receiver or receptor and including individual key stems each of which is provided with a light transfer attenuating, limiting or constricting element each element being arranged to pass or restrict a percentage of the light from source to receptor, key to key, by column to row effective to indicate the precise key position or location as a result of the actuation or depression of any key in the pattern arrangement. By electrically multiplexing the light signals a minimum circuit complex is required.

Abstract: A method of forming and attaching individual key tops to the key stems of a multi-key keyboard wherein each key top is formed of contrasting colors such that the key top indicia is clearly visually recognizable while also providing each key top with a bar code indicia for enabling a bar code reader to select a desired key top from among a random group of key tops and for enabling a transfer mechanism to selectably orient the selected key top with respect to a key stem for automatic attachment thereto.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel shift lock actuation mechanism useful, for example, in keyboard apparatus wherein a key stem supporting a key is shaped to mate with apertures in the keyboard supporting arrangements or as individual switches and as such contains oppositely disposed, inwardly deformable, flanged members for captivating the key stem within the key apertures and further includes a shift lock cam operably associated with a single turn C-shaped torsion spring member, one end of the C-shaped spring engaging key stem while the opposite end of the C-shaped spring is captivated by the cam, effective upon movement of the key stem to move the cam into one or the other of two positions effective to lock the key stem in a desired position so as to block or unblock light from light emitter-receptor apparatus indicating the position of the key.

Abstract: A keyswitch comprising a housing, a plunger which slides in a channel in the housing, a pair of crossed, opposing cantilever beams which have their fixed ends attached to the housing floor and which with their free ends make springing contact with the plunger, and a pair of electrical contacts each of which is attached to a respective cantilever beam. The keyswitch may also include a cam element to achieve switching and a third contact element to create a bounceless switch.

Abstract: The invention relates to a photo-optical keyboard having an improved keyboard housing and keys for the purpose of confining debris and liquid spills on the keyboard. The keyboard housing has a matrix of rows and columns of apertures for keys. The housing has recesses open to the top of the keyboard between the apertures. Further, there are structural supports between the apertures which separate the recesses and cause the recesses to be reservoirs. Multiple keys are positioned in the keyboard housing apertures. Each of the keys has an umbrella cap with edges extending over the recesses. Liquid or debris spilled on the umbrella cap will fall into the recesses to be contained.

Abstract: The invention relates to a photo-optical keyboard having an improved keyboard housing and keys to provide a tactile feel to the keyboard. The keyboard housing is a molded plastic piece having a matrix of rows and columnsof apertures for keys. Each of the apertures has ridges on the interior surface. The keys are each shaped to the apertures. Each key further has flexible fingers on its sidewalls. The flexible fingers have ridges thereon. The ridges on the flexible fingers make contact with the ridges on the inside surface of the aperture during the key depression to provide a tactile feel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a reconfigurable photo-optical keyboard having removable keys. The keystem of each key is shaped to the key apertures in the keyboard housing. At least one of the sidewalls of the keystem has one or more flexible fingers which have terminal ends at the bottom of the key. There are retainer flanges at the terminal ends. The retainer flanges lock beneath the bottom surface of the optical keyboard when the key is inserted. The flexible fingers are resilient enough to allow the flanges to release and the keys to be removed from the apertures with a strong pulling pressure. Thus, additional keys can be incorporated into an existing keyboard or unused keys removed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a photo-optical keyboard having an improved keyboard housing and keys. The keyboard housing is a molded plastic piece having a matrix of apertures for keys and a series of light channels passing between the apertures. The light channels open up to the underside of the keyboard housing. A spacing below the keyboard housing allows the keys in the apertures to overtravel and obstruct the light paths. Light isolation barriers beneath the keyboard housing prevent crossover of light between channels. The key is a molded plastic key with vertical slots to allow for passage of light in the undepressed state.

Abstract: The invention relates to a photo-optical keyboard having an improved keyboard housing and keys to provide an N-key rollover feature. The keyboard is comprised of a keyboard housing and keys, and may have a baseplate. The key has a pair of grooves oriented along the axis for both columns and rows to allow the passage of light regardless if the key is in the up position or the depressed position. The keyboard further contains a reset feature to synchronize keyboard logic if it becomes unsynchronized when partial key depressions are made.