Abstract: A paintball gun utilizing the Coanda effect in firing and/or loading paintballs. A Coanda chamber located in the bolt, feed tube, or barrel propels, loads, or spins a paintball. The Coanda chambers, which can be used in any combination include a port for receiving air, an inner cell, an outer cell and an annular ring defining a passageway between the cells. The chamber located in the bolt for propelling the ball includes walls in the outer cell. The air follows the sloped walls and hits the ball at its periphery, eliminating distortion and breakage of the ball. The chamber located in the feed tube forces the ball into the barrel and creates a vacuum to eliminate the ball blowing back up the feed tube. The annular ring in the chamber in the barrel is partially blocked, directing the air to put a spin on the ball.

Abstract: A method and system for failsafe recovery and upgrade of an operating system embedded within a peripheral or consumer electronic device. The method and system involves replacing current implementations that use ROM memory to store a copy of the embedded operating system, or critical portions thereof, with a disk-based ROM and redundant backup copies of the initial operating system kernel and the primary image required for booting the final embedded operating system. By maintaining critical files in read-only partitions, the robustness and reliability achieved using ROM memory in currently available devices can be achieved without expensive ROM memory via the disk-based ROM.

Abstract: A method for forming a nanolaminate structure is provided which comprises plating a substrate with layers of substantially a first metal and substantially a second metal using an electrolytic plating process and controlling the plating current to obtain a desired current density at the cathode, which is maintained within a predefined range.

Abstract: A wet-mateable electrical connector which does not use elastomer as a primary seal is provided. The wet-mateable electrical connector includes a female connector body having an internal central cavity and a female metal sealing surface at a forward end and a female contact housing disposed within the internal central cavity. The female contact housing includes a plurality of female contacts. A sliding pin is movably disposed within the internal central cavity. The wet-mateable electrical connector further includes a male contact pin which has a front end for engagement with a front end of the sliding pin. The male contact pin includes a plurality of male contacts, each of which engages with a respective one of the female contacts so as to establish an electrical connection. The male contact pin has a male metal sealing surface which sealingly engages the female sealing surface to form a metal-to-metal seal.

Abstract: A golf club caddy has a pair of standards, each of the standards having a ground supporting member projecting from a lower end. A plurality of U-shaped engagement members are fixed to opposite faces of each standard for receiving the shaft of a golf club. Spacing members are positioned between the pair of standards with a grip portion being centrally located between the ends of an uppermost spacing member for providing a comfortable grip for carrying the caddy. Releasable coupling members extend into the spacing members from each standard. Each of the coupling members includes a proximal and a distal wedge member received into the ends of the spacing members and having outer surfaces sized to engage an inner surface of the spacing members. A threaded member extends through the wedge members so that the proximal wedge is slidably arranged on the threaded member while the distal wedge member is engaged by the threaded member.

Abstract: A method for forming a nanolaminate structure is provided which comprises plating a substrate with layers of substantially a first metal and substantially a second metal using an electrolytic plating process and controlling the plating current to obtain a desired current density at the cathode, which is maintained within a predefined range.

Abstract: A merchandise display guard and seal system which uses a generally flat elongated flexible strip having a thickness and a pair of side edges defining a width, the width being substantially larger than the thickness. The strip includes a first fold line which is substantially parallel to one of the side edges and which provides a flexible section for dividing the strip into a sidewall section and a seal section; and a scored section, the scored section being at an angle to the first fold line and extending from one of the side edges, along the seal section towards the fold line, so that folding the strip along the first fold line and severing the scored section provides flexibility to the sidewall section, so that upon folding the sidewall section towards the seal section the sidewall section forms a concave boundary about the seal section.

Abstract: Provided is a method of operating a charge-pump, which may be implemented in IC devices such as digital signal processors (DSPs) and mixed signal analog circuits. The method includes the steps of charging a first capacitor, and then choosing between two switching sequences based on the relative values of the input voltage and the output voltage. When the input voltage is determined to be greater than the output voltage, the method applies a first switching sequence to discharge the first capacitor into a second capacitor by first partially discharging the first capacitor into the second capacitor, then fully discharging the first capacitor into the second capacitor. When the input voltage is determined to be less than or equal to the output voltage, the method uses a second switching sequence to prevent the discharge of the second capacitor into the first capacitor by electrically isolating the first capacitor.

Abstract: Provided is a linear voltage regulator and method of use thereof which controls the voltage input to an integrated circuit such as a digital signal processor (DSP) or a processor. The method includes the sequential steps of generating a first ramping voltage to a load connection when the load is in a start-up phase, and generating a second operating voltage to the load connection when the load is in an operational phase. The linear voltage regulator includes a control circuit and a regulation circuit that implements the method.

Abstract: Door structure particularly suited for closing garage doorways and a method of making same include top and bottom preformed, weather-resistant metal rails (16, 17) on a single-piece, preformed, weather-resistant panel (11), together with stiles (19) along the back of the panel fastened at the ends to opposed fastening flange sections of the rails to form a strong unitary structure that is readily joined by conventional hinges into a sectional garage door. Two or more of the above described doors are joined side by side by single top and bottom rails and a flexible cover molding (62) adjacent inner ends for closing wider garage doorways.

Abstract: A molded blister package for storing and dispensing a hydrophilic contact lens comprises a base portion which includes a cavity surrounded by a outstanding flange, and a cover sheet sealed to the flange to enclose the cavity. A portion of the side wall of the cavity is inclined to form a ramp to the flange. The cover sheet may be stripped from the flange to expose the cavity and inclined side wall whereupon the lens is readily removed by sliding up and out of the cavity along the inclined surface.

Abstract: An attachment for cleaning accumulated debris from a rake. An ejector member is pivotally mounted on the rake and a plurality of clearing members eject debris clogging the tines. A handle is connected to an actuating rod that is connected to the ejector member. A return spring is active between the handle and the actuating rod to return the handle to a nominal position.

Abstract: A system for evaluating members or a family of similar devices by comparing images of a model device to the image of the member to be evaluated is disclosed. An image of the model device is first produced and stored in a memory. An image of the member to be evaluated is produced as the stored image of the model device is simultaneously reproduced. The images of the model and the member being evaluated are compared to generate a comparison signal related to the differences therebetween. The comparison signal is sampled at a predetermined rate, to produce a digital signal indicating sample points where the comparison signal exceeds a predetermined value. Statistical techniques are used to analyze the digital signal to determine which portions of this signal correspond to significant differences between the images of the model device and the member being evaluated.