Abstract: A take-up reel for winding and storing an elongate hose or electrical cable comprises a reel supported by a stationary support shaft and urged in a first direction by a torsional spring. A viscous clutch assembly comprising multiple disks housed in a chamber filled with a viscous fluid is coupled to the reel to provide a retarding force that is proportional to velocity. The velocity proportional retarding force causes the rewind velocity of the reel to stabilize at a constant velocity. A one-way clutch is provided to decouple the viscous clutch from the reel when the hose or cable is being payed-out thereby permitting the hose or cable to be payed-out without resistance from the viscous clutch. By providing a unidirectional viscous clutch that acts to retard only the take-up velocity of the hose reel, it is possible to provide an apparatus that permits the hose to be payed-out at any speed while providing the substantial safety benefits of a viscous speed governor during take-up.

Abstract: A power assisted combination shear used for forming structural louvers in the crimped seam of structural steel decking comprises a frame supporting a pair of jaws which are opened and closed by means of an operator-controlled pneumatic cylinder. One jaw terminates in a blade, the other jaw has a corresponding die member. The blade and die have undercut reliefs in the root portions, which permit the louver to be formed without breaking through to the edge of the seam. The louver comprises a sheared portion in the form of a bowed tab bridging a corresponding window formed in the seam by the shearing of the tab. The interference between the louver and window provides a substantial increase in the lateral resistance (shear strength) of the crimped seam, thereby obviating the need to additionally weld or screw the seam to provide the necessary shear strength for even the highest stress applications.

Abstract: The watchband or jewelry bracelet with articulated links and flexible fittings comprises links (1, 2, 3, 4) articulated with each other. Each link comprises a lower part (6), side walls and upper shoulders (5) constituting a receptacle (7) in which a flexible fitting is to be mounted. At one end of each link, the side walls have a convex semicircular portion (11), and at the other end, they have a concave semicircular portion (10). At said other end, rings (8) having a thread (9) are mounted on the lower part (6) of the link and in the receptacle (7). The links are assembled together by screws (15, 16) cooperating with threads of the rings. The concave and convex semicircular portions are intended to cooperate with each other in this assembly position.

Abstract: A method of modifying the polarization state of light exiting a Liquid Crystal Display that is effected without altering the optical image of the display comprises reducing the select voltage to the LCD cell to less than the saturation select voltage. In one embodiment of an apparatus incorporating features of the present invention, a color LCD display is constructed using two or more LCD cells that are aligned to produce an optimum image through the display optics. One or more of the LCD cells are then driven to the dark state at a select voltage that is less than the saturation select voltage for that cell. By operating the LCD cell at less than the saturation select voltage, the polarization state of the light exiting a dark selected pixel compensates for the misalignment between the saturation voltage polarization axis of the display and the system polarization axis of the optics. Accordingly, the selected pixel appears darker than would the same pixel driven at the saturation voltage.

Abstract: An improved hybrid airbag inflator comprises a container for storing a compressed gas having a rupturable wall defining an exit opening. A pyrotechnic gas generator has an output directed into the container for adding heat and mass flow to the compressed gas in the container. A single initiator ruptures the rupturable wall and initiates the gas generator, preferably via a pyrotechnic delay train which initiates combustion of the gas generator after a predetermined delay, to provide for delayed onset of the high pressure gas generator input. The initiator is preferably an electric detonator that produces a self forging fragment to rupture the rupturable wall and initiate the pyrotechnic delay. The pyrotechnic generator may also have a second output directed into a manifold leading from the container to the airbag and entering the manifold downstream from the inlet nozzles that restrict the flow of compressed gas into the manifold.

Abstract: A batting glove incorporating a leather palm portion, a leather wrist portion including a hook and loop fastener, a leather finger portion including separate finger members having spaces therebetween and a leather thumb portion. Disposed between the palm and finger portions is a leather sheath housing an elongated raised rubber pad having inner and outer edges bounding a concave upper surface therebetween configured to cradle a bat handle. When the glove is worn by the batter, the outer edge is configured to be substantially aligned with the distal interphalangeal joints of the batter's hand and the inner edge is configured to be substantially aligned with metacarpal interphalangeal joints of the batter's hand.

Abstract: A passive dot matrix liquid crystal display having improved visibility comprises plural column electrodes on a first plate interconnected by a plurality of electrode bridges to form groups of interconnected column electrodes, wherein the number of electrodes in each electrode group is equal to or less than the inverse of the multiplex ratio of the display. The display also comprises plural row electrodes interconnected by a plurality of electrode bridges to form groups of interconnected row electrodes, wherein the number of groups of interconnected row electrodes is equal to the multiplex ratio of the display. By grouping the row and column electrodes into such groups, the multiplex ratio of the display can be reduced to levels substantially below the multiplex ratios of conventional passive dot matrix Liquid Crystal Displays, thereby significantly enhancing visibility of the display.

Abstract: An optical docking station comprises an optical frame and a detachable virtual image display module. The display module comprises a low power light source such as a light emitting diode, one or more beam splitters, polarizers, a liquid crystal display panel and an imaging lens. When the display module is detached from the optical frame, the light emitting diode provides the primary illumination for the image formed by the liquid crystal display panel. The image thus formed is a magnified virtual image of the liquid crystal display panel. When the display module is attached to the projector frame, however, a more powerful light source mounted to the optical frame provides the primary illumination. The more powerful light source forms a real image of the liquid crystal display module, which is capable of being projected onto a screen.

Abstract: A batting glove is provided incorporating a leather palm portion, a leather wrist portion including a hook and loop fastener, a leather finger portion including separate finger members having spaces therebetween and a leather thumb portion. Disposed along the palm portion is a leather sheath housing an elongated raised rubber pad having lower and upper surfaces bounding a concave outer surface therebetween configured to cradle a bat handle. The pad preferably has a hardness greater than that of cellular polystyrene, more commonly known as Styrofoam.RTM.. When the glove is worn by the batter, the raised pad outer surface is configured to be substantially aligned with the distal ends of the metacarpals of the gloved hand.

Abstract: A striding exerciser comprises a pair of pedals or platforms, each suspended from a frame by a linkage such that the pedals move back and forth through an arc to simulate a natural walking or striding motion. Preferably the linkage is a triangulated four bar linkage, which permits the pedals to move freely back and forth while providing substantial lateral rigidity to resist side-to-side motion. In one embodiment of the invention, a pair of handles are pivotally attached to the frame behind and to the side of a user standing on the platforms. Each of the handles is connected to the corresponding four bar linkage, such that motion of a platform is translated into motion of the corresponding handle. In another embodiment the triangulated four bar linkages share a common pivot shaft and are acted on by a common resistance mechanism such that equal resistance is applied to both platforms.

Abstract: Ski apparatus with two outer skis and a third ski, located between the two outer skis, coupled to the outer skis by four cranks, connected as a front pair and a rear pair. Each crank has a gear on one end and a free end. The free end of a crank is attached to a journal box on an outer ski to permit the crank to rotate freely. The gear of the crank from one outer ski meshes with the gear of a crank attached to the other outer ski, coupling the cranks in pairs and causing the cranks to rotate in opposite directions. The gears from each pair are contained in a gearbox attached to the third or middle ski. In one embodiment, the journal box may be slidably attached to the ski, to permit the ski to move forward and backward relative to the journal box, thereby permitting the user to alternately advance and retreat the skis relative to each other.