Abstract: Apparatus and methods for producing ultrashort optical pulses are described. A high-power, solid-state, passively mode-locked laser can be manufactured in a compact module that can be incorporated into a portable instrument. The mode-locked laser can produce sub-50-ps optical pulses at a repetition rates between 200 MHz and 50 MHz, rates suitable for massively parallel data-acquisition. The optical pulses can be used to generate a reference clock signal for synchronizing data-acquisition and signal-processing electronics of the portable instrument.

Abstract: This invention is directed to mechanical staging for use in the construction of a building.Normally, in the construction of a frame building, there is used staging and which staging is made from wood. This invention is directed to the use of mechanical supports for wooden cants and wooden planks.There is a stud gripper. The stud gripper can be placed on studs in a wall and a cant supported on the stud gripper. With two spaced apart walls and having stud grippers for supporting cants it is possible to place planks on the cants. A workman can stand on the planks and be supported for further work in the building.In conjunction with the stud gripper there can be used an adapter bracket. The adapter bracket is supported on the stud gripper. Cants can be supported on the adapter bracket. With spaced apart walls it is possible to have stud grippers and adapter brackets on the studs of the walls and to run cants between the stud grippers and the adapter brackets.

Abstract: An impact tool of the type including an elongated handle and an elongated transverse head on one end of the handle is provided. The head includes structure on a first end portion thereof, spaced inwardly of the outermost end, defining a seat surface facing along a path extending outwardly of the first end portion of the head for abuttingly engaging the head end of the nail thereagainst. The first end portion of the head further includes structure defining, outwardly of the seat surface, a pair of opposing elongated wedge surfaces generally paralleling the handle, disposed on opposite sides of the aformentioned path and divergent and convergent, respectively, toward and away from the other end of the handle. The convergent end portions of the wedge surfaces define a crotch in which to wedgingly receive the midportion of a nail disposed along the aforementioned path and having its head seated against the seat surface.

Abstract: An upstanding body is provided having front and rear sides and the upper end portion of the body includes downwardly facing abutment surface portions spaced slightly outwardly of the rear side of the body while the lower end portion of the body includes lower upwardly facing abutment surface portions spaced outwardly of the front side of the body. The lower end portion of the body defines an upwardly opening generally horizontal channel forwardly of and extending across the front side of the body and in which to embracingly receive a lower marginal edge portion of a siding member. The upwardly facing abutment surface portions are disposed within the channel and comprise the upper peripheral portions of a roller journaled from the body within the channel for rotation about a horizontal axis extending in a front to rear direction relative to the body.

Abstract: A pair of scaffold lumber clamps are provided. A first of the clamps includes a pair of elongated generally parallel strap members with adjustable clamp structure connected between corresponding ends thereof for drawing the strap members toward each other for clamping lumber pieces therebetween. The opposing sides of the strap members include pointed projections projecting outwardly therefrom. The second clamp structure includes an angle member having a pair of elongated upstanding and generally right angularly disposed integral flanges. The angle member may embracingly engage a corner of an upright piece of lumber and an elongated bar member generally parallels the outer side of a first flange of the angle member and first clamp structure is connected between that flange and the bar for drawing the bar toward the flange.

Abstract: An elongated channel-shaped body is provided including a pair of opposite side longitudinal flanges and an elongated bight portion extending between and interconnecting one pair of corresponding longitudinal edge portions of the flanges. One of the flanges is rigid with and thus fixed relative to the bight portion and the other flange is pivotaly supported therefrom for oscillation about an axis extending longitudinally of the body along the adjacent marginal edges of the pivoted flange and the bight portion. The pivoted flange is oscillatable between a closed position with the adjacent sides of the flanges substantially parallel and an open position with the free longitudinal edge of the pivoted flange swung away from the free edge of the rigid flange.