Abstract: A parking mechanism for an automatic transmission includes a manual control shaft rotationally supported by a transmission housing, the manual control shaft cooperating with a shift lever, a detent plate mounted on the manual control shaft, an annulus gear formed on a transfer gear of the transmission, and a sprag interposed between the detent plate and the annulus gear, the sprag pivoting a fulcrum shaft which is fixed to the transmission housing.

Abstract: A signpost assembly includes a spring-loaded connector designed for connecting a signpost to an anchor member, the signpost being designed to shear off when struck forcefully. The signpost has at least one opening. The connector has a bracket with at least a first support side defining an opening and a second support side, and a base connecting the support sides. The connector also has at least one pin which is spring biased. The pin has an alignment knob at one end. The spring biases the pin between a first compressed position and a second expanded position. The opening in the support side allows the alignment knob to protrude through. The assembled connector is held in place by the spring's tension against the spring side of the stop flanges.

Abstract: A locking unit includes a frame to permit extension of a bolt. An upper portion of a bracket is pivoted to left and right side walls of the frame. A linking member has a rear part connected to the bracket, and a front part formed with an arcuate slot through which the bolt extends. A stationary clamping seat is fixed on the right side wall. A movable clamping member is mounted on the bolt. An operating lever is pivoted to a C-shaped connector about a first pivot, and is pivoted to the right side wall about a second pivot. When the bolt is moved to a locking position, the linking member counteracts the clamping force, which results in a pulling force that pulls the C-shaped connector in a direction toward the left side wall along a horizontal line defined by the bolt and the operating lever is prevented from being turned upwardly by the pulling force.

Abstract: A long reach rotary drilling assembly comprises an elongated conduit extending through a bore in an underground formation, a drill bit for being rotated to drill the bore, a 3-D steering tool on the conduit for steering the drill bit, and a tractor on the conduit for applying force to the drill bit. The steering tool includes a telemetry section, a rotary section, and a flex section assembled as an integrated system in series along the length of the tool. The flex section comprises a flexible drive shaft to which a bending force is applied when making inclination angle adjustments. The rotary section includes a deflection housing which rotates for making azimuth angle adjustments. The telemetry section receives inclination and azimuth angle steering commands together with actual inclination and azimuth angle feedback signals for controlling operation of the flex section and rotary section to steer the drilling assembly along a desired course.

Abstract: A process for producing rapidly disintegrating pharmaceutical formulations containing an extract is provided. The process comprises providing a dry powdered extract and a lubricant, compacting the powdered extract with the lubricant, using between about 0.5-10% lubricant by weight. The compacting is done using a device that yields flakes. The flakes are then crushed into granules, and the granules are compressed with conventional excipients such as bulking agents, glidants, disintegrants, flow regulators and other additives into pharmaceutical formulations.

Abstract: A bi-directional steerable catheter comprising an elongated, tubular catheter body having at least one lumen, a tip section comprising flexible tubing having at least two lumens and fixedly attached to the distal end of the catheter body, and a control handle mounted to the proximal end of the catheter body. The control handle comprises a generally hollow handle housing, a generally tubular core extending longitudinally within the housing, and a generally circular spur gear rotatably mounted within the handle housing. First and second pistons are slidably mounted on the diametrically opposed sides of the spur gear and have puller wires attached to their distal ends. A longitudinally movable thumb control is fixedly attached to the first piston and accessible from outside the handle housing.

Abstract: A door locking apparatus of an automobile is provided wherein inner and outer handles mounted at a door of an automobile for releasing a latch transfer the manipulating force to the latch by an integrated link member, thereby shortening an assembly process of the tailgate by reducing the number of required parts and also reduce the manufacturing cost. The apparatus has an inner handle mounted inside of a door of the automobile, an outer handle mounted outside of the door of the automobiles, a locking device for releaseably locking the door, and link having a first movable member for receiving a manipulating force of the outer handle and a second movable member rotated by the first movable member and the inner handle to release the latch.

Abstract: A contactless, self-aligned local interconnect structure provides a continuous silicide film electrically coupling an upper silicon structure to a lower silicon structure. The upper silicon structure overlaps the lower silicon structure and is insulated from the lower silicon structure by an insulating layer formed between the structures. The continuous silicide film electrically couples the two structures by bridging the gap formed by the insulating layer in the overlap region. The associated process for forming the local interconnect structure includes forming a lateral edge of the upper silicon structure extending over the lower silicon structure, forming a blanket metal film, then heating the metal film such that the metal film reacts with the exposed silicon of the upper silicon structure and the lower silicon structure to form a continuous silicide film which bridges the gap formed by the insulating layer which is formed of a thickness chosen to be suitably low.

Abstract: A packet switch includes a multiple of bidirectional ports that are each connected by dedicated signal paths to a multiple of memory subsystems that in turn are connected to shared memory within the switch. The signal path from each port carries a fragment of a data stream between the port and each memory subsystem. The ports send and receive data stream fragments in parallel from the memory subsystems. This parallel action reduces the bandwidth required of a memory subsystem by dividing the port's data stream among the multiple memory subsystems. In storing data for forwarding to another port, each memory subsystem selects on a time division basis in parallel the data stream fragments from the same port and stores them in memory. In retrieving data from memory for a port, each memory subsystem selects on a time division basis in parallel the same port to receive the data stream fragments read from memory.

Abstract: Water-activatable acrylic polymers and image transfer constructions made therewith are provided. The polymers are non-tacky to the touch when dry, but become tacky when activated by water, such as the water in the ink of an ink jet printer. The polymers are acrylic copolymers prepared by emulsion polymerization of a monomer mixture that preferably includes at least one alkyl acrylate, methyl acrylate, vinyl acetate, methacrylic acid and acrylic acid. Image transfer sheets made with the water-activatable polymers include a flexible backing, at least one water-impermeable layer, at least one layer of water-activatable polymers, and a protective detack layer.

Abstract: A flexible container is provided for the storage and administration of medical solutions. The container incorporates a transparent front sheet made from a planar layer of a polymer and an opposing rear sheet. The rear sheet is made from a planar laminate layer. The front and rear sheets are sealed together along a common peripheral edge to form a volume enclosure. The volume enclosure is constructed of materials having high oxygen and moisture barrier properties which allows the container thermoplastic to be stored for extended periods of time without degrading the contents. The volume enclosure is then inflated with a pressurized gas to permanently stretch the front and rear sheets outwardly and to thereby increase the volume capacity of the container. An alternative embodiment of the container incorporates multiple compartments, separated by peelable seals, for containing a diluent and a medicament.

Abstract: A sprocket assembly for an automotive timing chain system includes a main sprocket, an auxiliary sprocket mounted onto one side of the main sprocket for assisting the main sprocket, and an elastic member elastically coupling the auxiliary sprocket to the main sprocket for generating an elastic force between the main and auxiliary sprockets.

Abstract: A new plant variety of chrysanthemum producing yellow flowers.

Abstract: A new plant variety of chrysanthemum producing flowers with white ray florets and cream disc florets.

Abstract: A new variety of Floribunda rose suitable for garden decoration, having flowers of yellow coloration.

Abstract: A new variety of Climbing rose suitable for garden decoration, having flowers of even medium red coloration.

Abstract: A new variety of Shrub rose suitable for garden decoration, having flowers of bright white coloration.

Abstract: A new variety of Hybrid Tea rose suitable for garden decoration, having flowers of ivory coloration slightly washed with pink.

Abstract: A new variety of Hybrid Tea rose suitable for garden decoration, having flowers of blended red-purple coloration.