Abstract: A modular battery pack assembly and method of making the same. Prismatic battery cells are placed along a stacking axis within a structural frame that is made of a polymeric material that includes foldable components made up of a top section disposed adjacent an edge of the stacked cells, and numerous side sections cooperatively coupled to the top sections to define an enclosure about the cells. In one form, apertures, protrusions and other features may be formed in or on the enclosure surface that faces or otherwise engages the cells, while in another form, built-in hinges permit selective latching between adjacent enclosure sections. A bottom section, which may be made of the same or similar material, may be secured to the remainder of the enclosure that is formed by the top and side sections such that the stacked cells are completely enclosed in a portable, modular assembly.

Abstract: A round counter assembly for a firearm is provided. The round counter assembly has a pin for connecting a barrel assembly to a receiver portion of the firearm, a housing connected to the pin, a sensor in the housing for detecting the firing of ammunition from the firearm by a user, and a data processor in the housing connected to the sensor for receiving and storing data related to the firearm. The data can include some or all of the following: a count of the number of rounds of the ammunition fired from the firearm, frequency of firing the firearm, time of firing, angle of firing trajectory, identity of the firearm, or identity of the user. The data can be collected wirelessly, for example via a handheld device brought into proximity with the assembly.

Abstract: A luminaire capable of selectively directing light from a lamp therein generally upwardly, downwardly, and outwardly, the combination comprising an electrical housing having a generally downwardly directed socket adapted to receive and support a generally vertically oriented lamp, and having a plurality of coupling members positioned around the socket; an upper reflector, coupled to the housing, and having at least a first portion located to reflect light from a lamp received in the socket; at least one reflector module; at least one fastener for coupling the at least one reflector module to at least one of said plurality of coupling members supported by the housing in a selected location to reflect light emitted from the lamp in a selected direction; and a refractor coupled to and extending downwardly from the housing, substantially enclosing the socket, upper reflector, and reflector module, and transmitting light from the lamp to the outside of the luminaire.

Abstract: A method by which consolidated articles can be produced from nanocrystalline materials to have mechanical properties that can be improved through thermal treatment. The method entails machining a body to produce polycrystalline chips having nanocrystalline microstructures, and then consolidating the chips to form a consolidated article having mechanical properties that exceed that of the body from which the chips were formed. In particular, consolidation of nanocrystalline chips formed by machining a supersaturated solid-solution body causes precipitation of a fine dispersion of precipitates in the consolidated article, with the potential for certain properties to even improve during consolidation or subsequent thermal treatment of the consolidated article.

Abstract: A method for producing articles containing nanocrystalline microstructures, and particularly to a method of controllably producing nanocrystalline chips with a desired shape and size. The method generally entails machining a body with a cutting tool to produce polycrystalline chips having nanocrystalline microstructures while superimposing modulation on the cutting tool so as to move the cutting tool relative to the body being machined and cause instantaneous and periodic separation between the cutting tool and the body at a point of contact between the cutting tool and the body, wherein each separation between the cutting tool and the body yields a chip. In this manner, the shapes and sizes of the chips are determined at least in part by the modulation cycle, and particularly the length of time the cutting tool is engaged with the body being machined.

Abstract: An accessory mounting rail for a firearm, which enables mounting of firearm accessories to the barrel of the firearm and reduces the potential for parallax error in mounted sights is disclosed herein. The accessory mounting rail is formed from a complementary pair of mounting bracket sides that are hinged together and have an aperture for receiving the barrel of the firearm. The accessory mounting rail is secured to the firearm through the use of a fastener to connect the complementary mounting bracket sides, which have provided upon them accessory rails.