Abstract: A flexible plastic inflatable and collapsible medical dilatation balloon and balloon catheter wherein the internal surface of the balloon has been formed with a longitudinal geometry that prevents a flat collapsed configuration of the balloon. The internal surface of the balloon is imparted with a small raised rib configuration, which maintains a minimal contact with the internal surface of the balloon, so that the ribs remain in place along the length of the balloon. The geometry so formed on the internal surface of the balloon also increases the pressures the balloon would normally withstand when the balloon is inflated to dilate a vein or artery. The internal surface geometry can be manufactured by extrusion methods.

Abstract: According to the invention, the reactive lubricating product of carbon fibres for embedding in a resin which can be hardened by X or beta radiation according to a radical mechanism is constituted by a monomer having at least one functional group (F.sub.1) able to form a covalent chemical bond with the hydroxyl sites of the carbon fibres and an ethylene unsaturation (F.sub.2) able to crosslink with the resin during its hardening under irradiation.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a semiconductor device using local silicide interconnection lines make it possible to fabricate an integrated circuit having a plurality of electronic elements disposed on a semi-conductor substrate. The electronic elements are formed on the substrate such that they are grouped into a first region and a second region adjacent to the first region, each of these regions having predetermined conductivities. The first region has a layer of dielectric material disposed upon it with at least one capacitive element disposed on the dielectric layer. The capacitive element includes a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer. The second region has at least one double junction metal-insulator semi-conductor field effect transistor (MISFET) located therein. The MISFET includes at least three regions, a gate region and two active regions, a source region and a drain region.

Abstract: A Type II superconducting filament is formed by surrounding a Type II superconducting alloy ingot with layers of a fine grain Type II superconducting alloy sheet, a barrier layer and a copper extrusion can. The composite is then reduced to a filament by hot and cold working.

Abstract: A strip of fastener material adapted for securing to the surface of a foam bun during molding, carries on a first surface an area of outwardly extending fastening elements constituting one half of a touch fastening system. The first surface is arranged to be positioned so that it faces into a trough in a mold wall and this first surface is provided with a pair of elongated flexible sealing lips adjacent the edges of the are. Magnetizable means are also carried by the strip and the fastener strip has portions extending laterally beyond the sealing lips and beyond the edges of the trough in the mold wall. A strip of removable pressure sensitive tape covers the surface of the fastening elements and extends completely between the lips.

Abstract: A pre-pay fuel system having a fuel nozzle with automatic cutoff provisions when a full tank exists or unwanted tank pressure conditions are detected is also provided with a low fuel pressure controlled cutoff. The fuel pressure cutoff allows rapid response to permit fuel flow when high pressure exists in the nozzle and provides a nozzle flow cutoff after a predetermined time delay when low fuel pressure exists in the nozzle.

Abstract: A two-piece cutter member for mounting on a sickle bar has a rigid thin support element arranged for relatively permanent attachment to a sickle bar, and a flat planar pyramid-shaped spring metal blade. A portion of the blade provides at least one bridge or loop for encircling the support element and holding the blade on the support element. A section of either said the portion or the support element is displaced with respect to the support face to releasably hold the blade on the support when the blade is fully positioned on said support element. The spring metal blade is preferably formed of two thin sheet welded together near their edges.

Abstract: A high field superconductor is formed of an A-15 superconductor in the form of a layer thinner than 1000.ANG.. This layer is carried by a support layer formed of a normal metal, the support layer having a thickness less than 1000.ANG..

Abstract: A superconductor which is superconducting of a predetermined high field and low temperature is formed by combining a plurality of metal bodies to form a composite structure. The metal bodies are selected from transition metals such as niobium, tantalum, zirconium, hafnium and vanadium, and alloys of such metals, alternate bodies being formed of ductile alloys of the metals which are not superconducting at the predetermined high field. The alternate bodies of transition metals are reacted to form a ductile superconducting ternary alloy zone at the interfaces of these bodies. The extent of the reaction is limited so as to maintain areas of transition metal and transition metal alloys which are not superconducting at the high field. The composite structure is reduced sufficiently that each non superconducting zone is less than 1000A.degree. thick and serves as an artificial pinning site for each adjacent superconducting zone.

Abstract: In a process for manufacturing a rigid-flex printed circuit wherein a rigid insulating layer supports one portion of the printed circuit and a flexible insulator supports another portion thereof to furnish flexible leads for connection the printed circuit to an operative device, a first assembly is provided comprising a curable prepreg insulator layer having an opening for the flexible leads. A flexible sheet spans the opening, and the assembly is pressed with one surface in contact with a smooth hard surface while the other surface is supported by a flowable curable prepreg layer. The insulator and flowable layers are a release layer which prevents bonding between the prepreg layers throughout most of the areas while permitting bonding along the edges. The assembly is maintained under heat and pressure to partially cure both prepreg layers and bond the flexible sheet to the edges of the opening and bond the edges of the prepregs together to form a flat rigid sandwich.

Abstract: An orthotic device for preventing hyperpronation of a human foot has a deep heel seat to cup the calcaneous and maintain it in approximately 5 degrees of varus, and high medial and lateral flanges which prevent lateral transverse drift of the first and fifth metatarsals.

Abstract: A reclosable bag has an open end which is closed by a closure strip which can be repeatedly reclosed. The closure strip preferably comprises a hook and loop fastener means which can be brought into engagement and a frangible section running lengthwise of the closure strip. The closure strip is adhesively sealed to the ends of the bag by adhesive sections on opposite sides of the frangible section. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, any opening force applied to the closure by the bag contents places the hook and loop fastener under shear stress only.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for estimating the movement of a moving object relative to a reference object. A symbol is formed on the moving object, the symbol having a rectilinear contour with at least two parallel straight lines. The symbol is observed from the reference object and the movement is determined by means of successive projections along two axes having a relative rotary movement with respect to the recorded image of the symbol. The rotary motion is preferably at such a rate that it does not interfere with obtaining images of the straight lines.

Abstract: An outlet location device for marking the location of an outlet box or the like sealed behind a panel comprises a first plate and second plate slidably mounted to one another. Each plate carries a locator pin extending normally from one side of the plate, and a marking pin extending normally from the other side of the plate and opposite the locator pin. The first and second plates are slidably affixed to one another so that the distance between the first and second locator pins may be adjusted to fit into the cover plate mounting holes of an installed outlet box.

Abstract: Mixed silicates of yttrium and lanthanide and laser using monocrystals of these silicates. The laser has a laser cavity (2) containing as the light emitter a monocrystal (4), means (12,14) for amplifying the light from the monocrystal, means (14) for removing light from the laser cavity and optical pumping means (6), characterized in that the monocrystal is of formula (I):Y.sub.2-2x-2y M.sub.2x Yb.sub.2y SiO.sub.5 (I)in which M represents a lanthanide chosen from among erbium and thulium and x and y represent numbers such that 0<x.ltoreq.0.2 and 0<y.ltoreq.0.2.

Abstract: In a device for incorporating a separable fastener in a foamed seat cushion during formation of the cushion in a mold, includes a sheet having fastener elements constituting one half of a touch fastener. A foam wall surrounds the fastening surface, the wall having a height considerably greater than the height of the fastening elements. The fastener is held on a pedestal having a predetermined height extending into the mold volume and having a predetermined cross sectional dimension generally parallel to the interior mold surface as measured at a predetermined distance from said mold surface. The foam wall defines an opening which engages the sides of said pedestal with a force sufficiently strong to resist any removal force caused by tendency of the foaming action to lift the foam wall during creation of the cushion and bonding of the forming cushion to the foam wall.

Abstract: Device for linking two objects, one of these objects (1) bearing sections of mobile bayonets (3) connected by connecting rods (4) to enable them to be controlled simultaneously. The other object bears fixed bayonet sections. Mobile bayonet sections (3) are preferably composed of two concentric rings (7) and (9) connected by a freeable ratchet mechanism (12) for breaking up the movement into one phase for establishing the link by the bayonets and one wedge clamping phase. The rotation of the bayonets is only authorized if the action of a locking system (20) is interrupted. Application for the linking of portions of aeronautical, space or submarine vehicles.

Abstract: In a preferred form of the invention, a superconductor is produced by the steps of combining a plurality of layers of metal sheets to form a composite structure. The sheets are pure transition metals--niobium, titanium, zirconium, or vanadium, alternate sheets being formed of different transition metals. The resulting composite structure is mechanically reduced sufficiently so that each transition metal sheet is less than 1000 .ANG. thick. In the course of reduction, the composite is subjected to sufficient temperatures for sufficient times such that the transition metal layers are partially reacted to form a ductile superconducting material between the transition metal layers. Approximately one half by volume of the transition metal layers remain unreacted. These unreacted layers afford efficient flux pinning within the composite when the layers are reduced to the <1000.ANG. final size. In other embodiments, powders and filaments can be used instead of initial layers.

Abstract: A method for producing a superconductor includes the steps of combining a plurality of metal bodies to form a composite structure, metal bodies being selected from transition metals such as niobium, tantalum, titanium, zirconium, hafnium and vanadium, alternate bodies being formed of different transition metals to form triplets. The transition metals are reacted to form a ductile superconducting ternary alloy at the interfaces of these triplets of metals. The extent of the reaction is limited so as to maintain areas of pure or nearly pure transition metal along with the superconducting ternary alloy in at least one of each triplet of transition metals.

Abstract: A body is engaged with a sleeve by a direct sealing coupling. The sleeve has a flange at one end acting as a belleville spring. The flange has a sleeve sealing surface and a rear annular projection. The body has a body sealing surface at one end. The sleeve sealing surface has a conical angle and comes in contact with the body sealing surface by a female nut, a female thread of which is engaged with a male thread of the body, thereby applying fastening force onto the rear annular projection to form sealing between the body and the sleeve.