Abstract: A retractable and collapsible shading device for attachment to a chair having a tubular frame for accommodating a canvas screen or the like. The tubular frame can be adjusted as to length and width. A tubular mid-frame section attached to the tubular frame widthwise allows the frame to pivot. Two vertical supports are connected to the tubular mid-frame section and are snap fitted to the chair. A horizontal support arm is connected to the two vertical supports. A spring-loaded support arm is connectable to the tubular frame and is pivotally connected to the horizontal support arm.

Abstract: A method is provided for growing a diamond thin film on a selected substrate. First the substrate is prepared by scratching the surface thereof with diamond paste. The substrate is then confined in an enclosed space which includes high purity hydrogen and high purity methane gasses under relatively low pressure. The substrate is then irradiated with microwave energy to subject the substrate to a plasma exhibiting a first predetermined power density for a first period of time sufficient to form, on the substrate, diamond-like ball structure particles. The power density of the plasma to which the substrate is exposed is then effectively increased to a second predetermined power density and the substrate in exposed to the plasma for a second period of time sufficiently long such that (100) diamond faces grow on top of the ball structure particles.

Abstract: A tool for tensioning safety cable to a predetermined tension limit and for automatically terminating the cable when the cable has been tensioned to the predetermined limit. The tool includes apparatus for grasping and pulling the cable to the predetermined tension limit and apparatus for automatically crimping a ferrule onto the cable when the predetermined tension limit is reached. The crimping apparatus is operative to sever a free end of the cable concurrently with crimping of the ferrule.

Abstract: An apparatus for severing a material mass having a pair of movable shears. An outrigger is secured to the shearing and extended across the path of one of the movable shears. The outrigger supports the material mass when severed and transfers torque from one shear to urge it toward the other shear.

Abstract: Apparatus for launching a football on a predetermined trajectory comprises a receptacle for holding a football in an axial alignment such that each end of the football is substantially aligned on an initial arc of a predetermined trajectory. The receptacle is coupled to a piston of a pneumatic cylinder for rapidly accelerating the receptacle along the predetermined trajectory for a preselected relatively small distance from a loading point to a release point. A threaded shaft is positioned between the piston and receptacle and driven through a nut for effecting a relatively rapid spin of the receptacle about an axis coincidental with the initial arc of the trajectory during acceleration over the relatively small distance. The football is released from the receptacle at the release point by suddenly stopping movement of the receptacle.

Abstract: An innovative teaching process for instruction of the proper placement of the hands on the grip of a golf club using a sequence of golf grips of increasingly greater numbers of flat, longitudinal surfaces incorporates successively less detectable, yet consistently located tactile feedback producing ribs on the golf grip. Teaching starts with a maximum biomechanical feedback grip with ribs that are pronounced. As the golfer develops sufficient proficiency with locating the hands on the grip and maintaining this proper hand positioning through the swing, the maximum biomechanical feedback grip is replaced with a new grip with less pronounced ribs, typically, with the same spacing as the first used grip. This process is repeated until the golfer has advanced from a maximum feedback grip to a minimum biomechanical feedback grip, i.e., to a substantially circular grip as accepted for USGA golf play. In one form, the grip, generally circular in nature, has from five to nine internal ribs.

Abstract: A decoder/encoder apparatus is provided which can be programmed to decode data and to encode data. To encode data, a memory within the apparatus is preloaded with a first memory map which is descriptive of a selected tree-based binary code. The first memory map is a reverse tree representation of the selected tree-based binary code. Data is then provided to the apparatus and is processed as specified by the first memory map thus generating encoded data. To decode data, the same memory is preloaded with a second memory map which is descriptive of the same selected tree-based binary code. The second memory map is a tree representation of the same selected tree-based binary code. Encoded data is then provided to the apparatus and is processed as specified by the second memory map thus generating decoded data.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an apparatus for cooling liquid held in a vessel having an externally extending handle. The apparatus comprises a double-walled container having an inner wall and an outer wall radially spaced apart. The inner wall and outer wall are sealingly attached to a generally flat base member. Each of the inner and outer walls extend generally arcuately about the base member and defines a slot extending substantially perpendicular from the base member. The ends of the inner wall are sealingly connected to the ends of the outer wall adjacent the slot and edges of the inner and outer walls distal from the base member are sealingly attached one to the other for defining a closed space between the inner and outer walls. A refrigerant coolant is disposed in the closed space for maintaining the container at a predeterminately cool temperature for a determinable time interval. The vessel is removably positionable in the container with the handle extending through the slot.

Abstract: A windshield for use on a boat has a pair of stationary sections with a removable section mounted therebetween. The removable section has a set of open hinges for pivotal association with a hinge pin on one of the stationary sections. A plurality of cam sets on the removable section are releasibly engaged with the hinge pin to releasibly retain the open hinges against displacement from their pivotal associations with the hinge pin.

Abstract: An artillery simulator apparatus is provided including a gun tube which is swingably mounted to a rotatable cab. During simulator recoil and counter-recoil, the gun tube is held in fixed position while the breech moves under computer control from an "in battery" position to a recoil position and then back to the "in battery" position. Breech recoil speed and stroke are controlled to simulate actual M109 breech performance based on propelling charge, type round, and gun tube elevations. A double acting hydraulic cylinder is attached to the breech to drive the breech in the recoil and counter-recoil directions. During recoil and counter-recoil, the hydraulic cylinder is positively driven by fluid from the same hydraulic source. The simulator includes sensors for determining the type of round placed in the breech, the round fuse type and run time setting, the firing primer, as well as the level of propelling charges in the breech.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling light attenuation through a light transmissive panel uses polarized film sheets positioned on opposing surfaces of the panel. The film sheet comprises alternating strips or fields of film of different polarization so chosen that light passing through strips of different polarization is significantly attenuated whereas light passing through strips of the same polarization is only attenuated to a preselected degree. The film sheets are oriented on the opposing surfaces of the panel such that light passing through within a preselected range of incidence angles passes through strips of common polarization. Light impinging on the panel at other incidence angles passes through strips of different polarization and is significantly polarized or may have varying polarization in order to provide an attenuation within step changes.

Abstract: A flush pin gauge for checking the position of a center pin in a coaxial connector includes a housing, a fitting on one end of the housing for attaching to a coaxial connector, and a gauge pin slidingly restrained within the housing for engaging the center pin of the coaxial connector. When the gauge is inserted over the conductor spring within the coaxial connector, the gauge pin engages the center pin and causes it to be moved and causes it to be moved longitudinally of the housing. At an opposite end of the housing, there is provided a gauging apparatus which determines from the position of an end of the gauge pin extending through the housing the depth of the pin below the top of the conductor spring. The gauging apparatus comprises a marker which has a width corresponding to the tolerance allowed for the depth of the center pin so that if the end of the gauge pin falls within the marker width, the conductor is acceptable.

Abstract: A data collection method is provided for use on a computer system including a host processor which is coupled to a plurality of programmable logic controllers (PLCs) via a communications bus. Each PLC is coupled to a respective controlled machine to gather Boolean alarm point information from several alarm points associated with that machine. The alarm point information from all the controlled machines is stored in a random access memories (RAM) in a respective PLC. The alarm points are grouped in memory such that a predetermined number of alarm points are stored in a trigger point register in the RAM. The host scans the trigger point registers of all the PLCs to determine if the value of any trigger point has changed since the last time such trigger point was scanned. If such a change of value in a particular trigger point is found, then the host requests that the value of each alarm point within that particular trigger point be transmitted to the host. An appropriate alarm is then annunciated to the user.

Abstract: A calibration tool comprises two relatively movable elements. A compression spring is operatively positoned between the first and second elements for resisting closure of the elements with respect to each other. Displacement of the first element is determined with respect to the second element when the spring is compressed by a predetermined pressure. A connecting element, such as a band, is coupled to the calibration tool and to the tensioning apparatus such that actuation of the tensioning apparatus causes the band to effect relative movement of the first and second elements whereby the force exerted by the tensioning apparatus is determined.

Abstract: A wall mountable free-standing storage rack for compacts disks comprises an open framework forming a plurality of adjacent rectangular receptacles, each being sized to accept a compact disk when the disk is oriented with one of the disk's largest surfaces facing outward of the rack. At least one releasible latch is integrated into each of the receptacles for releasible retaining a disk therein. Each of the rectangular receptacles is formed from four elongated side members releasible joined to four corner members. Preselected ones of the corner members are connectable to other elongated side members for forming the adjacent receptacles. The corner members also include a pin and socket arrangement on a rear surface for attaching a mount to an assembled rack. The rack may be wall releasibly mounted using the mount in one form or be coupled to other racks in various angular orientations using the mount in other forms.

Abstract: A foot strap system for surfboards that allows the surfer to lie upon the strap in a prone paddling position without discomfort yet allows the easy insertion of the foot as the surfer stands. The system comprises a collapsible foot strap having an integral, arch shaped, resilient reinforcement and a surrounding pad which creates a recess into which the strap will collapse. The body of the strap is wide relative to its thickness. The flat, curved reinforcement member within the body of the strap imparts to the strap a curved shape. The reinforcement is sufficiently flexible to allow the strap to be substantially flattened, yet resilient enough to return the strap to its naturally curved form. When mounted to the surfboard, one end of the strap is secured with its curved, reinforced portion very near the mounting to create a flexible "hinge" with sufficient rigidity to hold the strap in an upright "open" position.

Abstract: An earth surface surveying system uses an IR camera to obtain IR images of a selected area. A video camera operates in association with the IR camera to obtain video images in geographic and time sequence with images obtained by the IR camera. A processor allows split-screen viewing of the IR and video images so that areas of interest in the IR image can be identified from the video image. The system also includes apparatus for overlaying earth surface coordinates on the images from a global navigation system to enable identifying the location of areas in the images.

Abstract: A new and distinct plant variety of the fern family that appeared as a mutation of the plant Asplenium antiquum. The present plant differs from the parent in having simple and foliaceous fronds with circinate venation and with leaves erecto-patent at the time of emergence becoming patulous with age, with a short stipe, and with mature blades being reflexed, entire, and regularly undulate along their margins.