Abstract: A hollow handle portion and a hollow barrel portion communicate with each other in a hollow housing. A first detent in the barrel portion has a first relationship for retaining a chalk in the barrel portion and a second relationship for releasing the chalk from the barrel portion. The detent is operable to the first and second relationships by a control member externally disposed on the barrel portion. A rotatable reel and a second detent are disposed in the handle portion. The second detent has a first relationship for preventing the reel from rotating and a second relationship for providing for the reel rotation. The second detent is operable to the first and second relationships by a second control member externally disposed on the handle portion. A string wound on the reel extends at a free end through an opening in the handle portion to a position external of the handle portion.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a conductive casing and a conductive probe disposed within the casing. The probe may be in a concentric relationship with the casing. The probe is insulated from the casing as by a first insulating sleeve which may be disposed in a concentric relationship with the casing and the probe. A first electrical assembly such as a first printed circuit board has an opening for a disposition of the casing in the opening in the board in an insulated relationship with the board. A first end of the probe may pass through an opening in the first sleeve for connection to a terminal external to the connector. A second end of the probe may pass through an opening in a second insulating sleeve disposed in the casing and then may pass through an opening in a second electrical assembly such as a second printed circuit board in an insulated relationship to the casing. A plug may be disposed within the casing to position the second insulator fixedly within the casing.

Abstract: A member (e.g. baseball bat) including a switch manually operable to obtain the transmission of signals by a transmitter in the member to an apparatus for propelling an element (e.g. ball) toward an individual holding the member. The element is propelled by a propulsion mechanism in the apparatus toward the individual holding the member so that the individual can practice receiving the element (e.g. hitting the ball). The apparatus propels the element upon the receipt of the transmitted signals and prepares for the next element in the apparatus to be propelled upon a receipt of subsequent signals from the transmitter.

Abstract: A pet carrier, expandable to hold a pet and collapsible to suitcase size, includes a pair of platforms and first and second pairs of spaced walls. The first walls (e.g. front, rear) are pivotably attached at opposite ends to the platforms and are hinged at intermediate positions for collapsing or opening the carrier. The second walls (e.g. side) are pivotable toward an individual one of the platforms, with the platform as a fulcrum, to collapse the carrier and are pivotable toward the other platform to open the carrier. Resilient members at the bottom of the first walls releasably engage the second walls for maintaining the carrier open. The resilient members are constrained to provide for a pivotal movement of the second walls to the carrier's open relationship.

Abstract: A plurality of panels preferably made from a heat insulating material define an enclosure for a pet shelter. One of the panels has an opening for the pet to enter or exit the enclosure. The panels are disposed on a base member. Detents (e.g. hooks) on the panels are removably disposed in detents (e.g. openings) in the base member to position the panels in a particular relationship on the base member. The panels may be integral with one another or may be separate. When separate, the panels may be tilted inwardly to dispose the ends of adjacent pairs of the panels in a contiguous relationship. After being tilted, the panels are joined by locking rails, each engaging the contiguous ends of a different pair of adjacent panels and each removable to disengage the panels. A top cap on the panels defines a roof for the enclosure. When the panels are integral with each other, the top cap may be integral with the panels.

Abstract: An article irradiation system includes (1) a radiation source for scanning a target region with radiation, (2) a conveyor system including a process conveyor positioned for transporting articles in a given direction through the target region, and (3) radiation shielding material defining the walls of a chamber containing the radiation source, the target region and a position of the conveyor system. The radiation source is disposed inside a loop defined by a portion of the conveyor system and is adapted to scan the articles in the chamber in a plane transverse to the given direction of the transport by the process conveyor. A shield (e.g., an intermediate wall) of radiation shielding material positioned within the loop supports a radiation shielding ceiling of the chamber, inhibits photons emitted from a beam stop in one of the chamber walls from impinging on the outer walls of the chamber and restricts flow in the chamber of ozone derived in the target region from the radiation source.

Abstract: Articles are transported by a conveyor system in a loop from a loading area past a target region to an unloading area adjacent the loading area. A first side of the article is irradiated by a radiation source in the target region during the article movement through the target region. The radiation source may be substantially parallel or perpendicular to the conveyor system. The loop has curved portions and straight portions between the curved portions. Radiation shielding material substantially fills the space within the loop. The conveyor system and the radiation source are disposed within a chamber made from a radiation shielding material (e.g. concrete). The shielding material inside and outside the loop defines a radiation-free loop portion having straight portions with a relatively close spacing. A bridge having no radiation shielding and a relatively short length is disposed in this radiation-free area as are the loading and unloading areas.

Abstract: A primarily polycrystalline but partially amorphous electrical insulator can hermetically seal first and second spaced electrical terminals, one made from an anodized aluminum and the second made from a beryllium copper or Kovar or an alloy of beryllium, copper, nickel and gold. Nickel may be diffused into the beryllium copper and a noble metal may be deposited on the nickel. The insulator provides a flat meniscus to abut a corresponding electrical insulator in a cable. The insulator may provide an electrical impedance of approximately 50 ohms, an electrical resistivity greater than approximately 1018 ohms and a dielectric constant of approximately 6.3. The insulator operates satisfactorily in a frequency range to approximately 40 gigahertz.

Abstract: Closure members are provided at the opposite ends of a hollow casing. Shock absorbers are confined within the casing by the closure members. A weight is disposed within the casing between the shock absorbers. The weight may be defined by a plurality of granules confined within an enclosure in the casing between the shock absorbers. Alternatively, the weight may be defined by a solid member. The casing may be in the shape of a baseball bat. Alternatively, a tube may be disposed within the casing and may be closed by the end caps. The shock absorbers and the weight may be confined within the tube by the end caps. The arrangement described above may also be provided in different types of balls. For example, end caps may be provided at the opposite ends of a hollow main body shaped to define the central portion of a football. Shock absorbers may be disposed with the hollow main body at positions interior to the end caps. A weight may be disposed within the hollow main body between the shock absorbers.

Abstract: An article irradiation system includes a radiation source for scanning a target region with radiation; a conveyor system including a process conveyor positioned for transporting articles in a given direction through the target region; radiation shielding material defining a chamber containing the radiation source, the target region and a portion of the conveyor system; wherein the radiation source is disposed along an approximately horizontal axis inside a loop defined by a portion of the conveyor system and is adapted for scanning the articles being transported through the target region with radiation scanned in a plane transverse to the given direction of transport by the process conveyor; and an intermediate wall of radiation shielding material positioned within the loop and transverse to the approximately horizontal axis.

Abstract: A robotic arm assembly in a transport module is expansible to have an effector at its end receive a substrate in a cassette module and is then contracted and rotated with the effector to have the effector face a process module. Planets on a turntable in the process module are rotatable on first parallel axes. The turntable is rotatable on a second axis parallel to the first axes to move successive planets to a position facing the effector. At this position, an alignment assembly is aligned with, but axially displaced from, one of the planets. This assembly is moved axially into coupled relationship with such planet and then rotated to a position aligning the substrate on the effector axially with such planet when the arm assembly is expanded. A lifter assembly aligned with, and initially displaced from, such planet is moved axially to lift the substrate from the effector. The arm assembly is then contracted, rotated with the effector and expanded to receive the next cassette module substrate.

Abstract: A visual (e.g. liquid crystal) screen displays a sequence of graphics presentations and a specific event. The graphics sequence (e.g. visual representations of products in a market) has a display priority except when the specific event occurs. The specific event may be in graphics or alphanumeric form and related or unrelated to the graphics sequence. When the specific event has been displayed, the graphics sequence has priority again. In one embodiment, the specific event may be products identified and priced at a checkout counter by a bar code scanner or a keyboard. This information is processed alphanumerically. The processed information is displayed on the screen until the transaction completion (e.g. total purchase price is displayed). After a designated (e.g. 30 seconds) time following the purchase price display, the sequence of graphics presentations resumes display priority.

Abstract: A member (e.g. toy vehicle) is powered at first times and depowered at second times. The member includes a plurality of switches having first and second terminals defining open and closed states, the switches being normally open and actuatable to the closed state in a pattern defining the member's address. A vehicle battery provides an energizing voltage to the first terminals of the address switches. A vehicle microprocessor is operative in the vehicle depowered state with at least one of the address switches closed to open an additional switch, thereby preventing the battery voltage from being applied to the address switches in the vehicle. The microprocessor is operative, with the vehicle powered and with at least one of the address switches closed, to close the additional switch thereby providing for the introduction of the battery voltage to the addressing circuit for the vehicle and for the vehicle operation. Each address switch may form a circuit branch with an impedance (e.g.

Abstract: To compress a digitized medical image, a first wavelet including quadrants respectively having LL, LH, HL and HH frequencies is provided, preferably in parallel. L and H respectively represent low and high frequency ranges. L and H representations may be respectively provided by averaging, and taking the difference between, two (2) successive pixels values. The first and second letters in each quadrant respectively refer to the frequency range in a pair of co-ordinates. A second wavelet may include, in the first wavelet LL quadrant, quadrants respectively having LL, LH, HL and HH frequency ranges. Successive wavelets may be similarly provided. Each wavelet is provided from the LL quadrant of the previous wavelet because most of the frequency information resides in the LL quadrant. Individual compressions may be provided in parallel of the representations in the LH, HL and HH quadrants in the first wavelet, preferably on a lossy basis (e.g. discrete cosine transform and then Huffman coding).

Abstract: An article irradiation system includes a radiation source for scanning a target region with radiation; a conveyor system including a process conveyor positioned for transporting articles in a given direction through the target region; radiation shielding material defining a chamber containing the radiation source, the target region and a portion of the conveyor system; wherein the radiation source is disposed along an approximately horizontal axis inside a loop defined by a portion of the conveyor system and is adapted for scanning the articles being transported through the target region with radiation scanned in a plane transverse to the given direction of transport by the process conveyor; and an intermediate wall of radiation shielding material positioned within the loop and transverse to the approximately horizontal axis.

Abstract: An article irradiation system includes a radiation source for scanning a target region with radiation; a first conveyor system for transporting articles from a loading area though the target region to an unloading area; and radiation shielding material defining a tunnel closely encompassing portions of the conveyor system extending away from the target region toward the loading and unloading areas for shielding the loading and unloading areas from radiation derived from the radiation source. The first conveyor system is disposed in a path having curved turns of such degree between the target region and the loading and unloading areas that the closely encompassing radiation shielding material precludes a direct line of sight between the target region and the loading and unloading areas and thereby facilitates a compact embodiment in which the first conveyor system may be included in an assembly line.

Abstract: A remotely-controllable motorized toy vehicle having a highly-maneuverable skid steering system driven by single or dual motors, having a separately motorized lift device pivotally secured to the chassis of the vehicle operative to lift and transport transportable elements, and also having an automatic tow hitch mechanism. The lift and hitching mechanism is coupled to a motorized lift gear train which provides for the sequential actuation of the lift for lifting and transport of the transportable elements and acutation of the hitch mechanism for hitching and unhitching towed vehicles. The vehicle is constructed with a particular wheel track to wheel base ratio providing improved skid steering as well as enhanced manueverability and stability. The mechanisms and gear trains have proper ratios and dimensions providing for the proper sequence of hitch actuation during upward and downward movement of the lift device whereby the hitch is operative only upon extended upward operation of the lift.

Abstract: A remotely-controllable motorized toy vehicle having a highly-maneuverable skid steering system driven by single or dual motors, having a separately motorized scoop loading device pivotally secured to the chassis of the vehicle operative to load transportable elements into a automatically dumpable hopper mounted on the vehicle, having an automatic tow hitch mechanism with both the hopper and the hitching mechanism coupled to a motorized scoop gear train. The mechanical arrangement of the scoop gear train provides for the sequential actuation of the scoop for loading transportable elements into the hopper and both the hopper for dumping and the hitch mechanism for hitching and unhitching towed vehicles or trailers. The mechanisms and gear trains have proper ratios and dimensions preventing interference between the scoop and the hopper during forward and reverse actuation.

Abstract: Electrons moving in a first direction are concentrated (e.g. magnetically) in a beam within a first tube. A converter converts the electrons to x-rays for movement to a particular position (e.g. tumor) in a patient. A fluid (e.g. water) flowing past the converter through a second tube co-axial with the first tube cools the converter. Microwave energy passes in the first direction through a third tube co-axial with the first tube. The third tube is open at the end near the converter so that the microwave energy will pass to the particular position in the patient. A second fluid (e.g. air) passing through a fourth tube coaxial with the first tube cools the tissue in direct contact with the x-ray needle. The second, third and fourth tubes may respectively have diameters of approximately 2, 3 and 4 millimeters. The microwave energy may pass into the third tube from a fifth tube transverse to the third tube. The microwave energy impedance may be approximately 50 .OMEGA.

Abstract: A thermoplastic composite material is formed from a fabric, preferably woven, impregnated and preferably covered with a thermoplastic material (e.g. acrylic) constituting a monomer solvent and polymer mixture preferably in an approximately 2:1 ratio. The monomer changes the polymer viscosity to wet the fabric. The mixture contains small amounts of an initiator (e.g. benzoyl peroxide) for promoting the monomer polymerization and an inhibitor (e.g. hydroquinone) for preventing premature curing. Plastic sheets on the thermoplastic composite material inhibit the curing. An activator (e.g. tertiary amine) preferably applied to the material surface initiates the material curing at ambient temperatures when the plastic sheets are removed. To reproduce an article from a three-dimensional mold, the mold is disposed on a platform. After removing the plastic sheets, the thermoplastic composite material is disposed on the mold. A shroud (e.g.