Abstract: A system and method for mounting fishing reels on a mounting surface. The system employs a base member having retaining walls and detent members. The base member is mounted on the mounting surface. Tangs on the reel are held by the detent members against the retaining walls to hold the reel in place. A stop member is formed on an inner surface of one of the retaining walls to reduce the likelihood that the reel will become inadvertently dislodged. The base member is designed to be injection molded as a single part.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to enable practicing of a putting stroke on an actual green surface. A putting cup post is positioned upright in the putting cup, and a stabilizing post is put into the green surface so as to be upstanding therefrom adjacent to a putting location. An alignment cord is extended from an upper end of the stabilizing post to the upper end of the putting cup post, and an alignment cord is extended between the two posts. For a breaking putt, an alignment post is positioned to provide an initial alignment section of the cord that is aligned with the initial path of travel of the ball from the putting location along the intended putting path. The ball is placed at a putting location near the stabilizing post, and the golfer uses proper putting techniques to strike the ball, using the initial portion of the alignment cord to putt the ball in the proper direction.

Abstract: A removable and collapsible barricade post assembly for the restriction of vehicular traffic. The barricade post assembly has a novel base assembly that allow the post assembly to be removed from its mounting bracket which is normally permanently affixed to the ground. Alternatively, the post assembly can remain attached to its mounting bracket while being lowered to allow the passage of vehicular traffic. The barricade post assembly has a number of security features to restrict the unauthorized removal or collapsing of the barricade post. A cover assembly to enhance security and to provide weather protection for the barricade post assembly is also described.

Abstract: A tunnel boring machine particularly adapted to operate at substantial depths below the earth's surface. The machine comprises a head section comprising a cutter head that is rotatably mounted to a support structure. There is a plurality of gripper shoes spaced circumferentially around the support structure, and these are operated to grip the tunnel wall and be selectively operated to advance the machine in the tunnel as the tunneling operation progresses. Also, there is a roof shield positioned immediately behind the cutter head. There is also a pair of support shoes supported from the support structure by links having curved bearing surfaces to maintain the machine at the proper distance above the tunnel invert. There is a beam structure having a forward end connected to the support structure by a universal connection, and the beam structure is supported by a rearwardly positioned gantry.

Abstract: Systems which have an integrated unit (or module) that allows information retrieved from an onboard information storage device to be presented in visual, audio, or visual audio form via output devices such as CRT screens and audio speakers. When the system is turned on, the disc player is checked to see if a disc has been loaded. If a disc is found, a message identifying the type of disc that has been loaded and a message prompting the user to activate a control which will cause the disc to be played are displayed on the integrated unit screen. If a disc is not found, the system user is prompted to load a disc. Once this is done and the disc is detected, the step of ascertaining the type of disc, displaying a disc type message, and prompting the user to start the disc playing are carried out.

Abstract: Encoded data storage devices with stored data corresponding to: (a) information for coaching a user in accomplishing one or more steps of a specified task in a learn-then-perform way, and (b) an instruction set which enables the user access to access the information on a user-selected step of the task. Methods of providing and employing encoded data storage devices of the character just described.

Abstract: A practice device for improving batting, pitching, and fielding skills. The device includes a backstop which can be adjusted at different angles to the vertical to return balls striking the backstop on the ground or in the air. With the device configured for batting practice, a ball is positioned at a selected height above and at a selected location across the span of a home plate by a suspension system which includes a cantilevered arm fixed to the backstop, a tether, and a motion damping arrangement which almost instantaneously brings the tethered ball to rest after the ball is struck and rebounds to its rest position. The components of the practice device can be and quickly folded or otherwise positioned against the backstop to provide a compact, easily stored package. The practice device can also be easily configured as a wheeled cart easily moved from one location to another along with ball bags and other equipment stowable on the cart.

Abstract: A transducer for nondispersive infrared radiation (NDIR) gas analysis and a passive device for verifying the calibration of the transducer. The calibration verification device can be mounted on a cable by which the transducer is attached to an associated signal processing-control-display unit (SPCDU) or monitor. Calibration parameters for the transducer are stored in a plug at the monitor end of the cable. The transducer includes an integrated subassembly of an infrared radiation source unit, an infrared radiation detector unit, and a flex connector and may be employed with an airway adapter preferably maintained by a thick film heating element at an above-dewpoint temperature to ascertain the concentration of a specie potentially present in gases flowing through the adapter. The transducer may also be employed for other purposes.

Abstract: A restricted access computer system. The system comprises a general purpose computing platform and a control system comprising a control hardware device and a control software program. The control hardware device is connected to the computing platform and to an access-status device such as a coin hopper or the like. The control software program runs on the computing platform and, in a secure mode, replaces the graphical user interface portion of the operating system of the general purpose computing platform. The control hardware device and control software program interoperate to allow access to application software programs on the computing platform only when certain conditions are satisfied. The control hardware device resets the computing platform if the control software program fails to communicate therewith. The control hardware device also restricts operation of the user keyboard and display monitor to reduce the possibility of unauthorized use of the computer system.

Abstract: Ventilation panels for boxes and cartons and methods and apparatus for manufacturing those panels at production levels. The ventilation panels include a pest barring, gas transmitting screen trapped between two segments of the material from which the panel is made.

Abstract: A power supply for generating an uninterruptible AC power signal. The power supply utilizes leakage inductance in its transformer to eliminate the need for an output inductor. In standby mode, the AC power signal is generated from a battery by a switching circuit. Certain components of the switching circuit are also used to charge the battery when the power supply is operating in line mode.

Abstract: A method of entombing a nuclear reactor where the reactor with its bio-shield remains intact. An access shaft, several lateral adits, and several chambers below the reactor location are excavated to provide access at underground locations below the reactor. A main cavern is excavated and lined with a lower base, surrounding sidewall, and a roof structure which has thermal plate at its lower surface. Freeze/thaw pipes are erected vertically in the cavern, and these extend through the earth strata below the cavern into a lower operating chamber. The cavern is filled with water which is then frozen, and the earth strata immediately below the reactor and are isolated from the surrounding earth strata and structure. The upper surface of the ice block is melted by the thermal plate in a controlled manner to lower the reactor, after which concrete and other material is used to fill all of the man made cavities and thus entomb the reactor.

Abstract: A cable TV distribution system in which an AC power signal is generated according to the following steps: (a) generating an AC power signal having at least a positive half-cycle, where the positive half-cycle comprises a rising portion, a falling portion, and a central portion; and (b) limiting the slew rate of the AC power signal within the rising portion to a range of 30 V/ms and 50 V/ms inclusive. Preferably, the slew rate of the AC power signal within the falling portion is limited to the range of -30 V/ms and -50 V/ms inclusive.

Abstract: A power supply system that allows a user to standardize on one or two battery types and use these supported types to power electronic devices designed to use other, non-supported battery types. A battery sleeve is provided to convert the form factor of one battery to that of another battery. The system may also include a battery pack assembly that allows batteries of a supported type to be used to power electronic devices designed to use a conventional, proprietary battery pack design. Such battery pack assemblies allow dedicated, single use battery chargers sold with a given electronic device to be used to charge consumer capped batteries that may be used in other electronic devices. A universal charger/power supply unit may be provided that can used to charge a variety of rechargeable batteries and provide power to a variety of electronic devices.

Abstract: A fluid dispensing device having a housing assembly, a conduit assembly, and a shut-off valve assembly. The conduit assembly engages the housing assembly to form a first valve assembly that prevents fluid material from reaching a mixing location in a closed configuration and allows fluid material to reach the mixing location in an open configuration. The shut-off valve assembly comprises a valve housing and a valve member disposed within a valve chamber defined by the valve housing. When the conduit assembly is in the closed configuration, pressurized air within the valve chamber forces the valve member into a closed position against the valve housing to prevent pressurized air from reaching the mixing location. When the conduit assembly is in the open configuration, it displaces the valve member into an open position in which pressurized air can flow from the valve chamber, through the conduit assembly, and to the mixing location.

Abstract: Pulse propagation analysis to ascertain whether an anomaly such as surface corrosion exists on a section of conductive member such as pipe. Anomalies such as surface corrosion result in localized velocity changes of pulses, due to inherent nonlinearities, propagating along a conductive member. These localized velocity changes exhibit themselves in changes in waveform, rise and fall time, amplitude, and time delay of a pulse with respect to a fixed time reference. To allow such anomalies to be located, two pulses are generated such that they intersect at intersecting locations along the conductive member. The resulting modified pulses are analyzed for perturbations indicative of localized velocity changes.