Abstract: A pair of pants is modified to mimic a pair of fashionably patched pants except that the “patches” are panels which forms pouches on the seat of the pants. Each panel is provided with a vertical box pleat which allows the pouch, formed by securing the panel to the fabric of the seat, to be expanded sufficiently to hold a cushioning means located directly beneath the lower tuberosity of each ischium of the wearer. The cushioning means is typically a pad of chosen compressibility which can be inserted and removed from its pouch by the wearer while the pants are being worn. The protective pads are effective to provide cushioning for only the area under each ischium and not for any portion of the thighs or lower back.

Abstract: A method for determining a “safe-operation” point for a metal structural element subjected to repeated loading, the same or different, generating variable levels of strain and residual stress in the worked element; and, predicting the imminent failure of the structural element. The surface of the metal element is worked to provide a residual strain, for example, by shot-peening. Measurements of electrical conductivity are compared at various chosen frequencies corresponding to different depths in the “near-surface” of the element. Similar measurements are made in the near-surface of a “standard” and a first difference is computed between the conductivity of the shot-peened surface and the “standard” surface. This first difference provides a basis for comparison of the effects of residual stress after successive loadings of the shot-peened metal element.

Abstract: A method for determining a “safe-operation” point for a metal structural element subjected to repeated loading, the same or different, generating variable levels of strain and residual stress in the worked element; and, predicting the imminent failure of the structural element. The surface of the metal element is worked to provide a residual strain, for example, by shot-peening. Measurements of electrical conductivity are compared at various chosen frequencies corresponding to different depths in the “near-surface” of the element. Similar measurements are made in the near-surface of a “standard” and a first difference is computed between the conductivity of the shot-peened surface and the “standard” surface. This first difference provides a basis for comparison of the effects of residual stress after successive loadings of the shot-peened metal element.

Abstract: An active cover plate is provided for a standard electrical device such as a switch or receptacle which has a body unit-molded from a synthetic resin. The active cover plate is so termed because an active load is embedded within it. The exterior of the body is provided with at least a pair of terminals for connection to a building's current supply. A pair of opposed spring-strips embedded in the plate are positioned so as to protrude rearward from the plate and contact terminals on the device. The spring-strips are connected to terminals of the active load. Contact of the spring-strips against the terminals is good enough to provide the active load with the current it needs.

Abstract: An active cover plate is provided for a standard electrical device such as a switch or receptacle which has a body unit-molded from a synthetic resin. The active cover plate is so termed because an active load is embedded within it. The exterior of the body is provided with at least a pair of terminals for connection to a building's current supply. A pair of opposed spring-strips embedded in the plate are positioned so as to protrude rearward from the plate and contact terminals on the device. The spring-strips are connected to terminals of the active load. Contact of the spring-strips against the terminals is good enough to provide the active load with the current it needs. The active load may be an electroluminescent panel, or a radio transmitter, or receiver, or any other device which consumes less than about 25 watts, and the components of which can be sandwiched within the plate.

Abstract: A device for measuring residual stress in ferromagnetic and non-ferromagnetic metal objects. The device having four electrically identical induction coils which form a four terminal alternating current bridge circuit. There is a fine wire shield formed of fingers for shielding the coils from stray capacitance. The bridge having four coil terminals. Two diagonally opposite coil terminals are connected to a variable frequency constant voltage generator. The other two diagonally opposite coil terminals are connected to a low noise broad band preamplifier. The preamplifier amplifies any unbalance in the bridge. There is a double pole double throw switch connected to two coil terminals which are diagonally opposite each other. Connected to the preamplifier is an amplifier. The amplifier is connected to a phase detector which is connected to a computer. The phase detector detects in phase and quadrature component signals.

Abstract: A novel test method enables physical properties in ferromagnetic metals to be more reliably measured with induced eddy current flow. An adverse Barkhausen effect is prevented during the test measurements to enable detection of extremely small conductivity changes in the particular ferromagnetic metal object being tested.