Abstract: An inertia locking system for a vehicle seat is disclosed. The seat has a C-shaped leg portion. The inertia locking system includes a pedestal mounted on the vehicle floor. The pedestal has an oblique, upwardly facing U-shaped receiving port for receiving the leg portion. A U-shaped clip having a second opening is provided for also receiving the leg portion. The second opening faces obliquely upward and has a width slightly narrower than the diameter of the lower section of the leg portion. A latch having an inverted J-shape has a lower base portion, a curved upper portion, and a jaw portion. The latch is pivotally supported at the lower base portion to a side portion of the pedestal and spring biased away from the receiving port. The curved upper portion faces the receiving port and the jaw portion protrudes beyond an inner surface of the receiving port.

Abstract: A diamond transmission dynode and photocathode are described which include a thin layer of a crystalline semiconductive material. The semiconductive material is preferably textured with a (100) orientation. Metallic electrodes are formed on the input and output surfaces of the semiconductive material so that a bias potential can be applied to enhance electron transport through the semiconductive material. An imaging device and a photomultiplier utilizing the aforesaid transmission dynode and/or photocathode are also described.

Abstract: A flashlight battery charger has upper and lower receptacles for holding respective ends of a battery assembly therein securing against lateral forces. The battery charger structure is configured to be combined with a flashlight charger assembly and to form a common back plate therewith for securing mounting the combined assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for steering a nosewheel on an aircraft, or the like, while the aircraft is on the ground. The apparatus includes a steering shaft that engages a cluster of gears and transfers torque from a steering command to the gears. The steering shaft is rotatable from a centered position in response to steering torque. A centering mechanism imparts a counter-torque on the cluster of gears to restore the steering shaft to the centered position when steering torque is released. The gear cluster comprises two drive gears that accurately guide the steering shaft to the centered position under the influence of the centering mechanism. The gear cluster is configured to minimize and compensate for gear wear, permitting accurate and consistent centering of the main shaft each time a steering torque is released.

Abstract: A first waveguide holding member has a principal surface which confronts the principal surface of a second waveguide holding member. Each principal surface has a stepped configuration defined by an upper surface region, a lower surface region and a transverse region which separates the upper and lower surface regions. At least guide member guides the first and second waveguide holding members to operatively couple and decouple opposing ends of first and second optical waveguides which terminate at the transverse regions of the first and second waveguide holding members, respectively.

Abstract: A precipitation hardenable stainless steel having the following weight percent composition is disclosed. C 0.030 max. Mn  0.5 max. Si  0.5 max. P 0.040 max. S 0.025 max. Cr  9-13 Ni 7-9 Mo 3-6 Cu  0.75 max. Co  5-11 Ti  1.0 max. Al 1.0-1.5 Nb  1.0 max. B 0.010 max. N 0.030 max. O 0.020 max. The balance of the alloy is essentially iron and the usual impurities. One or more rare earth metals or calcium may be included in the alloy for removing and/or stabilizing phosphorus and sulfur. The alloy provides a unique combination of strength, toughness, and ductility. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is described a useful article such as an aircraft structural component or a golf club head that is formed, at least in part, from the aforesaid alloy.

Abstract: A plural output control station for operating electrical apparatus, such as model electric train engines and accessories. The control station employs a data processor for monitoring and controlling the signals generated at a plurality of transformer-driven power output terminals. An exemplary station includes two variable-voltage alternating current (AC) output channels (TRACK 1 and TRACK 2) and two fixed-voltage AC output channels (AUX 1 & AUX 2). The variable-voltage outputs are controlled by a data processor responsive to respective operator-controlled throttles for varying the AC output voltage and therefore the rate of movement and direction of electric train engines, typically three-rail O-gauge model trains. The variable-voltage outputs can also be offset by the data processor with positive and negative DC voltages for enabling engine functions such as horns, whistles and bells.

Abstract: The present invention provides promoter elements useful for stably transforming the plastids of higher plants. The constructs described herein contain unique promoters that are transcribed by both nuclear encoded plastid RNA polymerases, plastid encoded plastid RNA polymerases or both. Use of the novel constructs of the invention facilitates transformation of a wider range of plant species and enables ubiquitous expression of a transforming DNA in plastids of multicellular plants.

Abstract: A device for producing waves and body in hair comprising curling tongs having heatable leg elements. The heatable leg elements have a wave shape with decreasing amplitude. The amplitude decreases from a maximum at the scalp-contacting end of the heatable leg elements to substantially no amplitude at the other end of the heatable leg elements. Heat-reducing lips may extend from the scalp-contacting end of the device. In one embodiment, the heatable leg elements are arcuate and can pivot about an axis extending along each leg, respectively. A method of using the device to form waves and body in hair wherein the amplitude of the wave is greatest near the scalp and decreases along the length of the hair in the direction toward its tip.

Abstract: A corrosion resistant, soft magnetic, ferritic steel alloy, a useful article made therefrom, and a method of using the alloy are described. The alloy has the following composition in weight percent. C 0.005-0.040 Mn  1.0 max. Si  1.0 max. P 0.050 max. S 0.020 max. Cr  27.0-30.0 Ni  0.35 max. Mo  0.35 max. Cu  0.35 max. Co  0.25 max. N 0.010-0.05 The balance is essentially iron and the usual impurities found in similar grades of ferritic stainless steels. In accordance with another aspect of this invention, there is disclosed a magnetic component for a magnetically actuated device such as a solenoid valve wherein the magnetic component is formed of the aforesaid alloy. In accordance with a further aspect of this invention, there is disclosed a solenoid valve that incorporates a movable magnetic core that is formed of the aforesaid alloy.

Abstract: The Snail transcription factor has been identified as a repressor of the expression of E-cadherin. The expression of Snail induces invasive and metastatic capacity in tumor cells. This invention presents: a new target protein, Snail, for the identification of new antitumoral compounds and a new diagnostic tumor marker, indicative of tissue invasion and metastatic capacity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing mail is provided. The mail is serially fed from a stack of mail into a system transport. The system transport conveys the mail to an imaging station, which scans the mail to obtain image data corresponding to at least a portion of each piece. From the imaging station, the mail is conveyed to a buffer, which selectively maintains the mail while the address printed on the mail is determined. After the address for a piece of mail is determined, the piece is conveyed out of the buffer to a printer, which prints a POSTNET barcode onto the piece. The POSTNET barcode corresponds to the address that was determined for the piece. Optionally, the apparatus may include a labeler for applying a blank label onto the mail, and the POSTNET barcode can then be printed onto the label after it is applied to the mail. After the POSTNET barcode is printed on a piece, it is conveyed past a verifier, which scans the printed POSTNET barcode to ensure that the barcode was printed properly.

Abstract: A device is provided for mounting a light source to a gun and for alternatively attaching the light source to a second object. The device includes a clip and detachable mount. The clip connects to one of a variety of flashlights and is easily transported with the flashlight. The clip has a flexible clip arm that allows the flashlight to be clipped to a belt, a shirt pocket or other convenient location. The mount attaches to a gun, weapon, tool or other implement and cooperates with the clip arm on the clip so that the flashlight can be easily connected to the gun, weapon, tool or other implement when desired. The clip disconnects easily from the mount so that the flashlight and clip can readily be removed from the mount and clipped to another object.

Abstract: A method of producing surface features in a substrate includes steps of forming a film having a composition that varies in the direction of its thickness on the substrate, forming a mask on the heterogeneous film, etching the film to thereby pattern the film, and etching the structure that includes the patterned film to erode the film and correspondingly shape the substrate as the film is so being eroded. In this way, the pattern of the film is transferred to the substrate in a manner dependent on the selectivity of one or both of the etching processes as well as the thickness of the discrete mask layers, or in the case of a continuously graded film, the “slope” of the stoichiometric change with respect to position in the overall thickness of the film.