Abstract: The present invention provides improved footwear that overcomes many of the limitations of the prior art. A shoe according to the present invention, includes a sole member with an upper surface for receiving a user's foot and a lower surface for contacting a support surface. The sole member has a first sidewall and a second sidewall that are spaced apart and extend between the upper and lower surfaces. The sole member also has a slot defined therethrough, with the slot extending between the first and second sidewalls. A strap has a pair of opposed ends and a midportion therebetween. The midportion is designed to be received in and retained by the slot. The slot also has a closure member for joining the opposed ends. When the midportion of the strap is received in the slot and the closure member joins the opposed ends, the strap and the sole cooperate to form a shoe upper for receiving the foot.

Abstract: A latch extender with a quick-release mechanism for a vehicle of the type with a window having a U-shaped hasp that engages with a hasp-locking mechanism on the vehicle when the window is closed. The inventive device is configured to mount between the hasp and the locking mechanism to keep the window in a partially opened condition for ventilation purposes. The device preferably includes a body having first and second ends, the first end of the body including a substitute hasp for engaging with the hasp-locking mechanism on the vehicle, and the second end of the body including an opening for receiving the U-shaped hasp of the window. In contrast to existing devices, the body further includes a quick-release mechanism for engaging the U-shaped hasp of the window, the quick-release mechanism including a manually operated control on the body for releasing the U-shaped hasp of the window. In the preferred embodiment the manually operated control is a spring-biased pushbutton.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved composite material structure having large portions of additive material aligned over a substantial width of a material structure and occupying a larger percentage of the structure volume. The material structure includes a resilient substrate layer or conventional decking having a plurality of elongated rods arranged on a surface of the substrate layer to form at least one rod layer. The spaces between rods are filled with a slurry material which is allowed to set causing the component elements to bond together to form a lightweight durable and high strength composite material structure.

Abstract: A multiphase composite material having utility as an electrochemical electrode or catalyst includes a first active phase which is an amorphous, electrochemically active material; and a second, stabilizer phase which includes one or more of: metals, carbon, ceramics, and intermetallic compounds. The stabilizer phase is configured as a plurality of spaced apart regions having the active phase disposed therebetween. The active phase may comprise one or more of: Sn, Sb, Bi, Pb, Ag, In, Si, Ge, and Al. The stabilizer phase may include one or more of: Fe, Zr, Ti, and C. Also disclosed are electrodes and batteries which include the material as well as methods for manufacturing the material by using a mechanical alloying process.

Abstract: A system and method of intelligent navigation with collision avoidance for a vehicle is provided. The system includes a global positioning system and a vehicle navigation means in communication with the global positioning system. The system also includes a centrally located processor in communication with the navigation means, and an information database associated with the controller, for identifying a location of a first vehicle and a second vehicle. The system further includes an alert means for transmitting an alert message to the vehicle operator regarding a collision with a second vehicle. The method includes the steps of determining a geographic location of a first vehicle and a second vehicle within an environment using the global positioning system on the first vehicle and the global positioning system on the second vehicle, and modeling a collision avoidance domain of the environment of the first vehicle as a discrete state space Markov Decision Process.

Abstract: The present invention provides a capacitive sensing apparatus having utility in object detection security applications whereby the object detection field generated by the apparatus is made steerable. The apparatus includes a power source having a ground connection in communication with at least one sensing circuit operative to detect an object moving within the sensing field. At least one conductive element is provided in communication with electrical ground. To steer the direction of the sensing field, the relative position and distance between the conductive element and the sensing circuit is adjusted such that a desired sensing field pattern is obtained.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved footwear that overcomes many of the limitations of the prior art. A shoe according to the present invention, includes a sole member with an upper surface for receiving a user's foot and a lower surface for contacting a support surface. The sole member has a first sidewall and a second sidewall that are spaced apart and extend between the upper and lower surfaces. The sole member also has a slot defined therethrough, with the slot extending between the first and second sidewalls. A strap has a pair of opposed ends and a midportion therebetween. The midportion is designed to be received in and retained by the slot. The slot also has a closure member for joining the opposed ends. When the midportion of the strap is received in the slot and the closure member joins the opposed ends, the strap and the sole cooperate to form a shoe upper for receiving the foot.

Abstract: A head restraint for use with a seat assembly of an automotive vehicle includes a rigid frame and a plate. The rigid frame has spaced apart and generally upright side members. Each of the side members has an upper end and a lower end. The rigid frame includes a cross member that extends between the upper ends of the side members. The plate is fixedly secured to the side members. The plate is positioned adjacent the lower ends.

Abstract: The present invention uses multivoice coil drivers in conjunction with the small satellite speakers of multichannel surround sound systems to achieve an overall linear response between 100 Hz to above 15 KHz. The multivoice coil drivers are designed to respond only to frequencies that fall between conventional upper base and lower midrange crossover frequencies which typically extend between 75 Hz and 225 Hz. The invention relies on the characteristics of human hearing which limits the listener's ability to localize the source of sound approximately to the wavelength of the sound being heard. The system may be incorporated in existing front and rear center speakers or separate enclosures to supplement the overall surround sound system.

Abstract: A surgical instrument with near-axial geometry includes a linearly elongated handle portion having a handle axis defined along its length. The handle portion is joined to a linearly elongated working portion by an offset portion. The working portion includes a working axis defined along its length, and the working axis and handle axis intersect at an angle which is no greater than 5 degrees. In a specific embodiment, the base of the working tip of the working portion falls within 4 millimeters of the vertex of the angle.

Abstract: The present invention provides a control knob assembly for a register that is used in a blower of an HVAC system of an automobile. The assembly includes a knob portion having an open side for receiving a vane of the register in snap fit engagement. The vane of the register includes a notched portion disposed on a rear edge thereof. A compressively resilient pad is disposed in the notched portion and extends outwardly beyond the rear edge to contact an inner surface of the knob portion and provide a snug fit between the vane and the knob portion. During manipulation of the vane by the user, the compressively resilient pad does not compress resulting in a consistently stable and robust feeling experienced by the user.

Abstract: Horseshoe-like hoof pad lining configuered as an essentially flat plate comprised of flexible plastic material which can be placed within the space defined by the hoof plate between the hoof plate and the hoof sole in order to avoid adhesion of especially snow and ice on the hoof sole, wherein the hoof pad lining is provided with a tube-like hump defining at least partly the enclosed space, which hump comprises a hollow space at least partly filled with air, wherein moreover the hump stands upright on the plastic material plate and extends internally up to the upper end of the hoof pad.

Abstract: A centralizer 10 for mounting on a tubular member such as a section of casing, together with one or more stops 42, 48 for retaining the centralizer thereon. The stops 42, 48 are provided with profiles for engaging the centralizer to restrict rotation thereof. The centralizer 10 may be selectively permitted or restricted from rotation by selection of appropriate stops, and by relative movement of the stops and centralizer on the tubular. Certain embodiments of the centralizer 10 may also include blades 14 on the body thereof, the blades being formed such that the velocity and kinetic energy of fluid flow across the blades is altered, so reducing settling of drill cuttings within the bore and on the centralizer.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for driving multiple output stages with a single switching amplification modulator reduce system cost and complexity. The technique also addresses applications wherein one or more of several output stages of potentially differing output powers are desired at one time. That is, the switching drivers and loads can be the same or different.

Abstract: A multi-channel, reconfigurable fiber-coupled Raman instrument uses fiber optic switches for laser and calibration light routing to facilitate automated calibration, diagnosis and operational safety. The system allows wavelength axis calibration on all channels; laser wavelength calibration (including multiple and/or backup laser options); fiber coupling optimization; fault detection/diagnosis; and CCD camera binning setup. In the preferred embodiment, dedicated calibration channels surround data channels on a 2-dimensional CCD dispersed slit image implemented using a unique cabling architecture. This “over/under” calibration interpolation approach facilitates quasi-simultaneous or sequential calibration/data acquisitions. CCD binning between sequential calibration and data acquisitions enables higher density multi-channel operation with tilted images based upon a multiplexed grating configuration.

Abstract: Actuators, and corresponding methods and systems for controlling such actuators, provide independent lift and timing control with minimum energy consumption, while supplying sufficient supplemental energy to overcome friction. In an exemplary embodiment, an actuation cylinder in a housing defines a longitudinal axis and having first and second ends in first and second directions. An actuation piston in the cylinder, with first and second surfaces, is moveable along the longitudinal axis. First and second actuation springs bias the actuation piston in the first and second directions, respectively. A first fluid space is defined by the first end of the actuation cylinder and the first surface of the actuation piston, and a second fluid space is defined by the second end of the actuation cylinder and the second surface of the actuation piston.