Abstract: A manual safety system for reducing the chances of inadvertent discharge of a linear striker fired semi-automatic or automatic pistol equipped with the system. An otherwise conventional pistol is modified by structural changes in the trigger mechanism housing and by the addition of a trigger bar guide, a manually movable safety lever, a pressure plate and a spring. The trigger bar guide and safety lever are mounted to the trigger mechanism housing for linear and pivotal movement, respectively. A portion of the conventional trigger bar, which must be moved in order to effect firing movement of the trigger, is engaged with and blocked by the trigger bar guide which in turn is engaged and blocked by a portion of the safety lever. In order to unblock and enable the firing system, the safety lever is moved by applying pressure to a tab serving as a thumb rest.

Abstract: The present invention contemplates a stump grinding wheel that provides a user of a stump grinder with visual access through the wheel. The wheel comprises first and second opposing surfaces joined by a common edge. The edge is shaped in the form of a polygon and includes several intermittently spaced apart gaps positioned between successively positioned extensions that protrude radially outwardly from the first and second surfaces. The wheel further comprises a first, conventional, centrally positioned hole formed through the first and second surfaces for coupling the wheel to a motor; a second set of holes for permitting cutting teeth to be mounted to the wheel; and a third set of holes formed through the first and second surfaces and positioned between the first hole and second set of holes. The third set of holes provides an additional window through which a user may visually inspect a stump while it is being machined.

Abstract: A wash mit assembly comprising a rigid or semi-rigid body, a hose coupling interconnected to the body, and a cloth removably connected to the body. The body includes an exterior surface that is generally concave in shape, a hose receiving recess formed in the exterior surface along its longitudinal axis, a strap extending transversely across the recess, and openings formed through opposing sides of the recess for receiving nozzles of the hose coupling therein. The cloth includes a drawstring stitched about its periphery and is removably connected to the body in complete covering relation to the body's inwardly facing surface. To connect the cloth to the body, the body is positioned on the cloth, and the drawstring of the cloth is pulled taut so that the edge of the body is encompassed within the edge of the cloth.

Abstract: The present invention broadly contemplates a co-axial cable stripping tool generally comprising: (a) an elongated main handle having a bored opening formed longitudinally therein; (b) an elongated shaft a portion of which is co-axially positioned within the bored opening and a portion of which extends co-axially away from the main handle; (c) an elongated main housing co-axially aligned with, and longitudinally spaced from the main housing, and securely engaged with a portion of the elongated shaft; and (d) a stripping housing rotatably co-axially positioned within the main housing, and including first and second openings formed through opposing surfaces thereof, wherein the stripping housing is rotatably movable between two positions, each of which exposes one or the other of the first and second openings towards the free end of the tool.

Abstract: An exterior covering for various types of medical equipment is disclosed to reduce some of the intimidation created by medical equipment. The covering is configured to receive the medical device and is shaped to portray an object, such as an animal, plant, vehicle, building, etc., and can include a removable figure. The cover has recesses and channels, such as a lens viewing channel, corresponding to the specific equipment to permit unobstructed use of the equipment. When the covering is for a stethoscope, the covering can extend along the ear tubes proximate the ear pieces, between the ear tubes and/or beyond the tubes. When used for a blood pressure cuff the covering is a sleeve that is dimensioned to receive an inflatable bladder, hook and loop materials to enable the cover to be secured to itself and a tube receiving hole to enable the bladder to be inflated.

Abstract: A retainer ring connector comprised of a ring situated between matching spokes on both the male and female members of a hose coupling. The ring is contained behind the outwardly extending spokes on the male member. When the male member is inserted into the female member, spokes on the inside of the female member pass between the spokes of the male member and are forced over the ring element which compresses sufficiently to allow the spokes to pass. After the spokes of the female member pass over the compressed ring member, the ring member expands and prevents the male and female members from disengaging and backing away from each other. The spoked retainer ring connector allows for complete rotational movement with preventing the male and female members from separating.

Abstract: The present invention provides an over-voltage surge protection device comprising a printed circuit board having a signal carrying conductive member having a plurality of nodes positioned therealong, and a conductive member running to ground also having a plurality of nodes positioned therealong. The nodes on the signal carrying member and ground member extend along a common path with corresponding ones of the signal carrying nodes positioned in adjacent, but spaced relation to the ground nodes. Preferably, the nodes are shaped in the form of triangles due to this particular geometry's favorable ability to accumulate and discharge voltage.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a device for engaging and holding two ferrules of respective optical fiber connectors in axial alignment for transmission of a beam from the fiber of one ferrule to the other. A pair of ferrules made to close tolerances and having no fibers in their central, axial passageways are inserted into a corresponding pair of cylindrical split sleeves in end-to-end relation, and a precision gauge in the form of an elongated wire having a diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the ferrule passageways is inserted therethrough. The two sleeves are then positioned and permanently fixed within a surrounding structure. In a first embodiment, the sleeves are placed in a mold cavity into which a potting agent is injected to surround the sleeves. When the potting agent hardens, it is removed, together with the sleeves, ferrules and gauge, from the mold.

Abstract: A compact drive mechanism for both driving a paper web and severing a printed receipt in a transaction or point-of-sales printer. Both driving the paper web and cutting the printed receipt is accomplished through a bi-directional stepper motor that is operative through a one-way clutch.

Abstract: The present invention provides an integrated semiconductor module comprising a chip, interposer, and substrate. The module is adapted to be mounted on a traditional circuit card carrying multiple other components. The chip of the present invention can be a conventional IC chip or chip package, including ball grid array packages, and will simply be referred to hereinafter as a “chip.” The interposer of the present invention is a conventional thin film interposer, such as those composed of a polyimide material and fabricated on a glass carrier plate. The substrate of the present invention is a conventional circuitized substrate, such as a BGA or laminate substrate, that is commonly employed in carrying a chip on a circuit card.

Abstract: A method for improving the image quality of a thermal print image uses preprocessed image and color matrices, in which special combinations of black dots and black dot patterns are filtered out. These patterns are then replaced with printer-friendly patterns. This altering technique improves the image quality and reduces halo effects.

Abstract: An amusement device comprising a modularized pod at least one of which are attached to each side of a carriage that travels along a track. The pods are each mounted to the carriage for 360° that are interconnected to the side walls of a carriage that rides along a track in a predetermined direction of travel. One or more riders sit and are restrained in the pods which are capable of spinning 360 degrees about a horizontal axis that extends transverse to the direction of travel. The riders may control the spinning of the pod, either forward or backward, by pressing buttons on the passenger's handgrips located inside the pod.

Abstract: A thermal print device comprising a plane support (1) of rectangular shape that is fitted on one of its faces, parallel to one of its longitudinally-extending edges (1a), with a resistive line (17) extending over conductor segments (14, 15) disposed perpendicularly thereto and extending alternately to one side and to the other side of the resistive line (17), one (14) of the series of segments coming from a common conductor which is constituted by a conductive layer covering the support, and in which the resistive line (17) and the conductor segments (14, 15) across which it extends are formed on an insulating layer (7) covering the conductive layer (3).

Abstract: The present invention contemplates a pedestal mounted taxidermy mannequin, and a mold for manufacturing same. Once molded, the taxidermy mannequin includes an elongated, bored hole formed in a bottom portion thereof, and a rigid block positioned in supporting relation to the bored hole, thereby providing structural reinforcement and integrity to the bored hole. A rod is inserted into the bored hole to mount the mannequin to a pedestal. The mold for manufacturing the mannequin is an injection mold into which an elongated rod is inserted after the polyurethane has been injected therein. Just prior to hardening of the polyurethane, the end is removed, thereby leaving a bored hold in the mannequin form.