Abstract: An acoustic transmission line speaker enclosure with concentric cylindrical structures establishes acoustic coupling between a rear-traveling sound wave and a surrounding air mass. Inherent rigidity or high bending resistance of the cylindrical structure allows use of very thin walled cylinders without a massive and large overall enclosure. According to one aspect of the invention, an outer-most one of said cylinders includes wall structures adapted for coupling the rear-traveling sound wave therethrough to the surrounding air mass in phase with a forward-traveling sound wave from said speaker enclosure. An audio amplifier tunable to a listening room removes very low narrow frequency band components of an audio signal. Listening room cavity resonance is measured by injecting a frequency-varying sound wave into the listening room while detecting peak sound energy within the room. The filter the eliminates from the audio signal frequencies associated with listening room cavity resonance.

Abstract: A golf putting training controls golf ball momentum into a delivery site by first absorbing momentum of indeterminate magnitude and thereafter allowing the ball to move along a controlled or sloped path under influence of gravity. As a result, the ball enjoys consistent momentum and alignment upon arrival at the delivery site. The delivery site can be a kick-back device operating more consistently when receiving a ball moving along a consistent approach path and with consistent momentum. The delivery site can also be a golf ball return area whereat a golf ball is desirably returned consistently to a given region thereof.

Abstract: An annular collar-clamp attaches to a vertical post at selected height and radial orientation and includes an annular pattern of upper and lower dovetail mount sites receiving a bifurcated component mounting assembly having a corresponding inter-fitting pattern of semi-annular dovetail mounts whereby the mounting assembly engages the collar-clamp at a selected discrete position thereon. By use of discontinuous or non-concentric surface engagement in such orientation and pattern to lock together the collar-clamp and the associated mounting component assembly, better load distribution and overall strength results while retaining an ability to position a component at any selected radial orientation relative to the post.

Abstract: A pick and place device includes a lift head and a build platform. Both the lift head and the build platform include flexible aprons. An item layer is constructed on the build platform and the lift head is moved into position over the build platform. By slipping the lift head apron under the layer while concurrently pulling from under the layer the build platform apron, support for the layer passes from the build platform to the lift head. The lift head then moves to a place site and the lift head apron is pulled from under the layer and the layer falls from the lift head onto the place site. Under one form of the device, the layer may be constructed directly upon the lift head apron and then moved to a place site and deposited thereat by pulling the lift head apron from thereunder. Tower configurations illustrated define a vertical column of space including a layer pre-build table, layer transport and layer stacking occurring therewithin.

Abstract: A transparent fishing hook is shown and described as being integrally formed of a material capable of passing images therethrough. In this manner, the hook becomes less visible against a given visual environment. The hook is shown in several embodiments including several flesh engaging configurations and line attachment configurations. Selection in index of refraction relative to a given body of water in which the hook is to be used enhances the “invisibility” of the hook when used in that body of water. A transparent urethane coating is applied to the transparent fishing hook to improve its resistance to deformation when engaging a fish in use thereof.

Abstract: An air brush is shown and described including a replaceable, rotatable, nozzle head including a media port and a needle arrangement. Media contamination of the air brush is limited to the removable nozzle head, thereby making the air brush body free of media contamination. By rotatable mounting of the nozzle head, a variety of media sources are made available, ranging from gravity fed devices such as media top and side cups to suction fed devices such as media jars. The trigger arrangement of the present invention presents an actuator shaft movable longitudinally in response to trigger movement for engagement of the needle of the nozzle head. Mechanical coupling between the air brush body and nozzle head is limited to structural coupling for mounting the nozzle head and an abutment relationship between the actuator shaft and the needle. This allows rotational freedom of movement for the nozzle head relative to the body, and also ease of dismounting by simply separating the nozzle head from the air brush body.

Abstract: An exhaust manifold for a dental handpiece system receives at an inlet thereof return air flow provided by a dental handpiece. A unidirectional valve couples the inlet to a common manifold space which in turn couples to ambient air by way of a filter. By applying filtration on the backside of the unidirectional valve, air entering the common manifold space cannot thereafter reenter the return air conduit and thereby contaminate the same handpiece or other handpieces in a multiple handpiece system. A replaceable filter unit avoids accumulated debris and promotes better sanitary conditions.

Abstract: A ceiling module perimeter seal establishes an air-tight seal between modules forming a ceiling structure. The seal includes a groove about the perimeter of modules and aligned relative to a corresponding groove of an adjoining module. Aligned grooves in adjacent ceiling modules establish an enclosure between modules and apertures fluidly couple the enclosure with gel sealant troughs of the ceiling structure. Gel sealant flowing in the troughs enters the enclosure and thereby establishes an air tight seal between adjoining ceiling modules.

Abstract: Digital product execution control as disclosed contemplates production of a final version of a digital product and subsequently imposing execution control on that digital product. The manufacturer of the original digital product need not incorporate execution control features into the final version of the product. Execution control programming attaches to an executable file of the digital product to create a controlled executable file. The resulting operating environment when loaded is insufficient for the original executable file, and control programming determines whether or not execution will be allowed. If allowed, control programming creates the necessary operating environment for the digital product, i.e., as would be provided by the operating system if loaded normally, and allows execution of the digital product only under controlled conditions. Further security measures identify an executable portion of the digital product and a plurality of sub-portions of the executable portion are encrypted.

Abstract: A top-picking palletizer and de-palletizer moves pallet layers along a fixed path by use of a single-dimension actuation system and top-picking lift head. The illustrated system includes an actuation assembly operated by a single reversible motor moving drive chains selectively in first and second directions. In a first direction, the lift head moves along the fixed path towards a first pick and place site and in the second direction moves along the fixed path toward a second pick and place site. By selectively engaging and disengaging the lift head, layers of items to be stacked or unstacked may be moved from one site to the other site, i.e., such as by palletizing and de-palletizing operations.

Abstract: A digital certificate includes framing characters defining a protected area. The protected area contains a selected set of components, including text-based components and binary-based components, and the certificate serves as a transport container for such components. A message digest or hashing algorithm applied to the protected area provides consistent results despite modifications to the certificate outside the protected area. A digital signature provides authentication of source and content integrity. Digital certificates under the present invention may be applied to a variety of purposes including but not limited to proof of ownership, gift certificates, upgrade purchases, and other applications where verification of source and content integrity are desirable.

Abstract: A floating chain tensioner includes a pair of opposing sprockets with at least one sprocket in slidable relation relative to the other. A pair of elastomer tensioning bands urges the slide-mounted sprocket towards the other sprocket. The floating chain tensioner captures a drive chain between the sprockets to establish tension therein. The tensioning sprockets enjoy some freedom of movement relative to one another while maintaining tension against the drive chain during operation of an associated chain-driven mechanism.

Abstract: A integrated transport system includes automated mass mailing material handling. An infeed accepts material directly the output of a folder, applies an address to each article, and outputs the addressed articles on a collection table. Because the infeed is adaptable across a variety of configurations, the integrated transport system receives a flow of mass mailing material from a variety of heights and machine sources. Overall, the present invention facilitates more automated, more accurate, and more productive manipulation and handling of mass mailing material in preparation for submission to the postal service.

Abstract: A drop foot brace includes an upper support bearing against the rear lower leg and a lower support bearing against the rear heel. A springed hinge couples the upper and lower supports and biases the upper and lower supports against the rear of the user's leg and rear of the user's heel, respectively. A shoe maintains the springed hinge against the rear of the user's leg in the vicinity of the user's ankle whereby the user experiences a lifting force in opposition to drop foot. The brace needs no coupling to the body and includes sufficient flexibility to facilitate comfort when not in use while still providing aid against foot drop. One form of the foot brace includes the heel or foot support integrally formed within a shoe and including a slot formation receiving the remaining portions of the brace whereby the brace may be easily removed from the shoe when not needed.

Abstract: Elongate metal roof panels with interlocking edge formations combine to establish a roof system. A center panel having matching edge locking formations and positioned at a mid-point on a planar roof section couples to a first series of elongate metal roof panels extending leftward and couples to a second series of elongate metal roof panels extending laterally rightward. Members of the first and second series of panels are similar in structure and include complimentary locking edge structures, but couple in opposite orientation.

Abstract: Digital product execution control as disclosed contemplates production of a final version of a digital product and subsequently imposing execution control on that digital product. The manufacturer of the original digital product need not incorporate execution control features into the final version of the product. Execution control programming attaches to an executable file of the digital product to create a controlled executable file. Upon loading and execution of the controlled executable file, the resulting operating environment is insufficient for the original executable file, and control programming determines whether or not execution will be allowed. If allowed, control programming creates the necessary operating environment for the digital product, i.e., as would be provided by the operating system if loaded normally, and allows execution of the digital product only under controlled conditions, e.g., such as under an evaluation use of the digital product.

Abstract: An attachment to an airbrush provides fine line detail with relatively slow movement of the airbrush and attachment. The attachment couples to the nose of an airbrush and receives the atomized media spray from the airbrush within a chamber. The chamber couples to atmosphere through a relatively large bypass orifice and through a relatively small fine line detail nozzle orifice. A majority of the media passes from the bypass orifice, however the media emerging from the attachment fine line detail nozzle orifice and applied to a workpiece to produces fine line detail work without requiring rapid movement of the airbrush relative to the workpiece.

Abstract: A machine lubrication system monitor collects lubricant pressure, flow rate, and temperature information and calculates as a function thereof a substantially constant magnitude signal representing normal machine operation. Deviation therefrom indicates abnormal and potentially damaging machine operation. As a result, variation in lubricating oil viscosity, excess operating temperature, or change in oil flow path, e.g. leakage, in a pressurized lubricating fluid supply may be detected and machine damage avoided.