Abstract: A drill head for an apparatus for directional boring includes a bit having a cutting portion for use in steering, such as a gage tower mounted with carbide studs, suitable for cutting both hard and soft rock, a holder for a device for detecting angular orientation of the bit, and a pneumatic hammer connected head to tail with the bit at the front end. The valve in the hammer initiates reciprocation of the hammer in response to rearward movement of the bit, such as in response to a pushing force exerted by the drill string. The drill string components are preferably keyed to one another so that the orientation of the cutting portion of the bit used for steering is automatically matched to the position of the sonde. The sonde may project laterally so that its mass centroid is on the opposite side of the cutting portion of the bit used for steering to provide better cutting action. Such a drill head is suited for drilling in soil, soft rock and hard rock conditions.

Abstract: A passive discharge mechanism for discharging articles from a trolley at selected locations is disclosed. The trolley may be equipped with on-board intelligence for communicating with an external controller, monitoring the trolley's location, and signaling actuation of a moveable member for engaging the passive discharge mechanism as the trolley reaches a selected destination for an article conveyed by the trolley. In one aspect the passive discharge mechanism comprises a transverse conveyor; in another aspect the passive discharge mechanism includes a tilt-type tray. A trolley for conveying articles along a monorail having arcuate portions includes a rigid frame having a longitudinal axis and opposed ends is also disclosed.

Abstract: In a process for sorting mail pieces according to the invention using a priori or first sort pass derived information, a sorting machine is used having a first array of pockets and a second array of pockets physically separate from the first array of pockets. The first and second arrays are swept of mail pieces by separate sweepers. The number of mail pieces sorted to each array are equalized in order to equalize the volume of mail pieces swept by each sweeper. In particular, where each pocket corresponds to a destination code and a total number of mail pieces per destination code is known in advance for each sort scheme to be carried out on the sorting machine, the equalizing step involves assigning destination codes to specific pockets to different sweeper zones in a manner that equalizes the volume of mail pieces swept by each sweeper. Mail is then swept from the pockets to trays stored on a vertically and horizontally extending rack having rows and columns of compartments containing trays.

Abstract: The invention provides an orthodontic bracket having a base portion configured for attachment to a mounting device such as a bonding pad that is directly secured to the tooth of a patient. A central portion of the bracket adjacent the base portion has a pair of sides that taper to a minimum diameter at a midline of the central portion, preferably giving the bracket an hourglass shape. A pair of single tie wings extend in gingival and occlusal directions respectively from the central portion, which tie wings define outer end portions that are wider than the central portion and have undersurfaces positioned for mounting archwire retaining bands therein. An outwardly opening archwire slot elongated in the mesial direction is formed in the central portion, which slot extends at an acute angle relative to an imaginary line extending in a buccal-lingual direction such that the slot opens closer to the gingival tie wing than the occlusal tie wing.

Abstract: A trolley car for conveying articles along a monorail having arcuate portions includes a rigid frame having a longitudinal axis and opposed ends.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring the weight of a moving object is disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a platform for supporting the moving object to be weighed, means for permitting the object to move smoothly over the platform, a weight sensor for measuring a force applied to the platform by the moving object and generating a weight sample that reflects the measured force value, a detection sensor that generates a signal upon detecting the moving object on the platform, a processor having a memory, which processor receives samples from the weight sensor and stores weight values based on the samples; and means for calculating the weight of the object using a succession of the stored values when the detection sensor generates its signal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for providing a user with task-specific information that includes a portable instruction system that may be worn by a user, and includes, a computer sufficiently lightweight and designed to be worn by a user to which a memory has been connected. The system includes a display device that can receive display signals from the computer for visual display to the user and an input device by which the user enters commands to the computer. An instructional program is provided that the computer accesses and stores in memory in response to a user command and displays information concerning a task to be performed by the user on the display device in response to commands from the user.

Abstract: An adjustable dynamic, removable, mechanical foot leverage orthotic system is disclosed having a plate member positioned on top of one or more fulcrum member that are placed inside of a shoe. The plate is free to move within the shoe about the fulcrum to provide the wearer with mechanical improvement of abnormal, functional and associated foot pathology and can directly and indirectly effect the entire gait cycle. The foot leverage system can be integrated into the shoe design or can be inserted within a conventional shoe to create a foot leverage system. Methods of use and treatment are disclosed for the treatment of pes planus, pes cavus and tendonitis. The foot leverage system may also be used with the disclosed foot mapping system and method.

Abstract: A bi-directional shock absorbing apparatus for attenuating undesirable dock movement, wherein two independent rods, one associated with a dock and the other with a fixed object, receive forces from the raising and lowering of the dock and transfer these forces to the respective ends of a coiled spring providing a balanced, bi-directional dampening affect.

Abstract: Storage and cleaning apparatus for dentures comprising a plastic bag, the plastic bag including two ends, a top end and a bottom, and two side edges, a first side edge and a second side edge, and the plastic bag also including a triage of reusable seals, the triage being located near the top end and including an upper seal, a middle seal, and a lower seal, each of the seals including a male portion and a female portion, each of the seals extending parallel to each other and located approximately 1 centimeter to ½ inch from each other. In addition, the apparatus includes a cleaning agent assembly, the assembly being located on the inside of the plastic bag. The apparatus also includes a release valve incorporated into a side edge of the plastic bag, and includes pleating located on the lower half of each side edge of the plastic bag.

Abstract: A trenching machine having independently driven wheels. Trenching machine comprises digging chain that moves between a raised position and a lowered position, a housing that is carried by a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear casters, a motor that independently drives front wheels to propel housing, and a guide wheel that aligns trenching machine with trench upon a second pass. Trenching machine also has a front plow and a rear plow that collect and deposit the dirt surrounding the trench into the trench. A method of gardening/landscaping wherein a trench is dug by a first pass, soil amendments are added to the trench, and then on the second pass, the excavated dirt is plowed back into the trench and then mixed with the amendments. A method of gardening/landscaping wherein vegetation cover between trenched rows is maintained thus utilizing only the ground area that is needed for planting.

Abstract: An internal lacing system wherein a plurality of lace guides having rotatable rollers are strategically positioned throughout a shoe to facilitate the securing of the foot within the shoe. First and second elongated laces are internally channeled through the respective lace guides and then exit the internal of the shoe at the inner side of the shoe. One end of the first elongated lace is secured within the shoe proximal to the toe area, and the other end of the first elongated lace exits the internal of the shoe at lower inner side portion of the shoe proximal to the sole of the shoe. One end of the second elongated lace is secured within the shoe proximal to the exit location of the other end such that the second elongated lace wraps around the heel of the shoe and thus around the user's ankle. To tighten the shoe, a user simply pulls on the exposed second ends of the first and second laces thereby allowing the laces to roll along each respective roller positioned within each lace guide.

Abstract: An improved drill bit for directional drilling includes a housing or headpiece having means at a rear end thereof for mounting the bit on a trailing component of a drill head, and passages for ejection of drilling fluid into a borehole. A first axle is mounted to extend forwardly from a front end of the housing, and a first roller is rotatably mounted on the first axle. The first roller has cutting projections such as carbide studs thereon and extends outside of the outer diameter of the housing by a distance which defines the size of the borehole when the drill bit is rotated over 360 degrees. A second axle is mounted to extend from the front end of the housing, and a second roller is rotatably mounted on the second axle at a position offset from the first axle. The second roller extends slightly outside of the outer diameter of the housing, but by a distance less than the distance the first roller extends outside of the housing.

Abstract: A device for retrieving an object that is submerged in a fluid. A first member, preferably formed in the shape of a cylinder, has an open top end and a bottom wall. The bottom wall has a hole therethrough that provides an inlet that allows the object to be retrieved to come within the device. A second member, also preferably formed in the shape of a cylinder, has an open top and a passageway therethrough that is in fluid communication with the hole in the bottom wall of the first member. The passageway has a first portion positioned above the hole and a second portion that extends to the top of second member. First portion is preferably perpendicular to second portion so that the object to be retrieved is trapped within first portion. In use the open top end of second member is covered. Next, the device is submerged in the fluid so that the hole is aligned over the object to be retrieved. In order to trap object in the first portion of passageway, simply uncover the top end of second member.

Abstract: An improved jaw for a rod gripping device is provided including a front, rod engaging face with a plurality of teeth or studs made of a material harder than the jaw body, such as tungsten carbide, with the studs positioned to engage an outer rounded rod surface. In one embodiment, the studs are oriented radially inward toward a longitudinal axis defined by the rod engaging surface. The rod engaging face of the jaw may have a concave shape in its lengthwise direction, thus being adapted to grasp a cylindrical member such as a rod or pipe section. A tool for gripping a rod including a pair of jaws is also provided.

Abstract: A method is provided for removing an expander from a ground piercing tool of the type having an elongated tubular tool body with a front nose and a striker disposed for reciprocation within an internal chamber of the body to impart impacts to an impact surface for driving the tool forwardly through the ground. The expander is tightly fitted onto the nose of the tool body. The method of the invention uses a pulling device comprising a pair of arms ending in hooks and mounted at ends opposite the hooks to a yoke having a threaded hole therethrough, and a screw including a threaded stem inserted through and threadedly coupled with the hole. Suitable means are provided for engagement with a device for turning the screw.

Abstract: A bandage dispensing device having a handle portion and a head portion. The handle portion comprises a plurality of finger indentions formed on the exterior front portion of the handle to facilitate the gripping of the device. The head portion, attached at the upper portion of the handle, comprises a clip formed on the rear exterior of the head to removably attach the device to a portion of a person's clothing. To incrementally advance a bandage assembly, the interior of the head portion generally comprises a rotatable spool of a bandage assembly strip, a drive belt, and a means for advancing said drive belt incrementally. The strip of bandage assembly comprises spaced apart bandages carried by a nonadhering carrying strip having preferably one throughhole formed between each bandage, wherein pins perpendicularly extending from the drive belt engage within a plurality of the throughholes.

Abstract: A package substrate suitable for use with a ball grid array according to the invention includes an electrically and thermally conductive heat sink having a top surface and a bottom surface, the heat sink having a slot formed therethrough which opens onto the top and bottom surfaces. A dielectric layer is formed on the bottom surface of the heat sink proximate the slot, preferably directly thereon without an intervening adhesive layer. A circuit is selectively formed in a circuit pattern on the dielectric layer. An electrically resistive soldermask is disposed on the dielectric layer and the circuit, which soldermask has openings therethrough which expose bond pads of the circuit. Such a substrate according to the invention permits the integrated circuit die to be mounted over the slot in the manner of a lead-on-chip package, but provides bond pads to which solder balls can be mounted in order to form a ball grid array.

Abstract: An impact boring tool according to the invention suitable for using with a directional boring machine has a tubular housing and a head mounted at a front end of the housing. The head preferably includes a chisel configured for breaking loose rocks and stones encountered in soil. A striker is disposed within the housing for delivering an impact force to the head, either directly or through one or more intervening parts. A trigger mechanism causes the striker to deliver an impact to the head and chisel only when an external force exerted on the impact tool in its lengthwise direction exceeds a predetermined level. This predetermined level generally coincides with a maximum effective amount of pushing or pulling force for moving the tool through the ground exerted by an external device such as a directional boring machine.