Abstract: A method of accounting for online Internet usage credit includes establishing an account identifier in a database for a selected user. A number of credit value block records are associated in the database with the account identifier. Each credit value block has a stored credit value amount, and at least a second stored property indicator. In response to a measured amount of consumption of services by the user, at least one of the credit value blocks is debited by a debit amount based on the measured amount and the second stored property indicator. The stored property indicator may be a rate multiplier, or other factor indicating a different cost mode of online service, connection or usage.

Abstract: A sabot for a muzzleloading firearm has a cylindrical body aligned with a bore axis. The body has a sleeve portion extending in a first direction adapted to receive a bullet. A post extends from the body in a second direction opposite the first direction. The post may have a cross sectional profile that has articulated surfaces, and which may define channels along the post. A powder pellet defining a bore may be closely received on the post, with an interference fit retaining the pellet on the post. The sabot may be employed to extract a pellet from a storage container, by inserting the post in the pellet bore to extract the pellet from the container. The sabot may be part of an assembly including a bullet and a pellet, which may be loaded into the muzzle of a rifle as a single unit.

Abstract: A medical imaging system with a base unit including an electronic display, and a remote imaging transducer connected to the display unit via a flexible cable. The cable includes a number of signal transmission lines, each of which includes a twisted pair of conductors for digital differential signal lines. Each conductor is connected at a first end to the transducer, and at a second end to the base unit. The signal transmission lines may be wrapped about a core, which may be an optical conduit communicating with a light source at the base unit.

Abstract: A bullet has a core with a leading end defining a cavity. A jacket surrounds the core and exposes the cavity. A nose element is at least partly received within the cavity. The nose element may be a plastic ball with an exposed nose surface that smoothly transitions to an adjacent portion of the jacket. The cavity may be a conically tapered cavity, and the nose element may enclose a chamber portion of the cavity. The core is formed of a ductile material, and may be a soft lead material of high purity.

Abstract: A cable includes a number of wires. Each of the wires has a number of signal conductors encompassed by a dielectric sheath, and the sheath is encompassed by a conductive shield. The wires are arranged side-by-side in a row at an end of each wire, where a termination element is connected. The termination element has opposed major faces, with an array of first contacts on a first face, and an array of second contacts on the opposed face, each of the first contact being electrically connected to a corresponding second contact. Each of the signal conductors of the wire elements is connected to a corresponding one of the first contacts. The signal conductors may be a pair of wires arranged in parallel, so that all signal conductors are in a common plane.

Abstract: A cable assembly has a number of wires each having a central conductor and a surrounding insulating layer. Each wire is unshielded from the other wires, so that the conductor is the only conductive portion of the wire. Each wire has a first end and an opposed second end. The first ends of the wires are secured to each other in a flat ribbon portion in a first sequential arrangement, and the second ends of the wires are secured to each other in the same sequence as the first arrangement, with indicia identifying a selected wire in the sequence. The intermediate portions of the wires are detached from each other, and a sheath having a braided conductive shield may loosely encompass the wires, permitting significant flexibility of the cable.

Abstract: A support module for interconnecting to like support modules serves to support a number of core elements for encapsulation within a concrete structure. The module has a planar frame defining a first cutout and a second cutout. Each cutout has an arc shape, such that the cutouts from different modules define a circular aperture for closely receiving one of the core elements. The frame has extending portions with connection elements that connect with other support modules to securely receive the core elements. The extending portions are located about the periphery of the frame so that they are able to connect to other support modules in four orthogonal directions.

Abstract: An illumination device for a firearm having a first hand grip position adjacent to a trigger and a second hand grip forward of the first grip position and having a gripping surface. The device has a first hand grip position adjacent to a trigger for a firearm with a second hand grip forward of the first grip position and having a gripping surface. An illumination source is connected to first the hand grip, and has an optical axis. The optical axis is positioned as an elevated level above a major portion of the gripping surface of the second hand grip, or above a horizontal plane defined by the axis of the barrel. The device may be a laser attached to an upwardly protruding portion of a protruding pistol grip, with an integral switch on the grip, or may be part of a conventional rifle butt stock, with the switch located on a narrowed portion of the stock.

Abstract: A cable assembly includes a cable having a core surrounded by a sheath. A cone element has an interior bore receiving the cable core, and has a tapered exterior surface. At least a portion of the cone is received within the cable sheath. A cup has a tapered bore receiving the sheath and the core. A portion of the sheath is captured between the exterior of the cone and the interior of the cup bore. Tension applied to the cable with respect to cup generates compression of the sheath between the cone and cup, and tension is thus transmitted by the sheath without application of radial force to the core. The sheath may include a strength member such as a braided metal wrap, and an elastic jacket, so that the wrap bears the tension, and the jacket returns the sheath to its normal length upon cessation of tension.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing wire from a conductor and a supply of thermoplastic insulating material. The method involves heating the insulating material, adding pressurized gas to the material, and extruding a sheath of the insulating material about the conductor to generate bubbles of the gas in the sheath. The method may operate by limiting the temperature of the material prior to extrusion, to increase viscosity to limit bubble expansion, and may provide a significant pressure drop on extrusion by limiting the gap between a wire-supplying guide and the extrusion die.

Abstract: A flexible interconnect cable is manufactured by a method that includes providing a core, and wrapping a conductive shield element about the core. An insulating sheath layer is extruded about the core to encompass the shield element, and a multi-wire cable component having ribbonized ends and detached intermediate portions is connected to an end of the core. The core is removed from the sheath to insert the cable component into the sheath. The resulting assembly has intermediate portions of the cable component that are loosely received within the shield and sheath.

Abstract: A rifle telescope has a scope body having an objective end and an eyepiece end. A front mount and a rear mount are spaced apart from each other and connected to the scope body. The front mount is connected more proximate to the objective end, and the rear mount is connected more proximate to the eyepiece. The scope body is axially fixed to the front mount while being pivotally connected to the front mount. The rear mount includes an adjustable suspension operable to establish a selected vertical and horizontal position of the scope body portion received within the rear mount. The scope body may include a ball portion that interacts with a socket portion of the front mount to provide pivoting, or may include a flange that is constrained by elastomeric rings on the front mount to provide pivoting, centering, and shock absorption. The rear mount may be split in two portions to open and permit removal of the scope body.

Abstract: A medical imaging system with a base unit including an electronic display, and a remote imaging transducer connected to the display unit via a flexible cable. The cable includes a number of signal transmission lines, each of which includes a twisted pair of conductors for digital differential signal lines. Each conductor is connected at a first end to the transducer, and at a second end to the base unit. The signal transmission lines may be wrapped about a core, which may be an optical conduit communicating with a light source at the base unit.

Abstract: A cable includes a number of coaxial wires. Each of the wires has a central conductor encompassed by a dielectric sheath, and the sheath is encompassed by a conductive shield. The wires are arranged side-by-side in a row at an end of each wire, where a termination element is connected. The termination element has opposed major faces, with an array of first contacts on a first face, and an array of second contacts on the opposed face, each of the first contact being electrically connected to a corresponding second contact. Each of the central conductors of the wire elements is connected to a corresponding one of the first contacts. An electronic device may include circuit boards at each end, with contacts arranged for compressive contact with the second contacts. The termination element may be captured between a clamp and the board, with an elastomeric spring maintaining compression, and pinned holes in the termination element and board ensuring registration of the contacts.

Abstract: A cable assembly has a number of wires each having a central conductor and a surrounding insulating layer. Each wire is unshielded from the other wires, so that the conductor is the only conductive portion of the wire. Each wire has a first end and an opposed second end. The first ends of the wires are secured to each other in a flat ribbon portion in a first sequential arrangement, and the second ends of the wires are secured to each other in the same sequence as the first arrangement, with indicia identifying a selected wire in the sequence. The intermediate portions of the wires are detached from each other, and a sheath having a braided conductive shield may loosely encompass the wires, permitting significant flexibility of the cable.

Abstract: A cable assembly includes a printed circuit board having a pattern of conductive traces on a major surface of the board. The cable has a number of conductors electrically connected to the traces, and a number of elongated spring contact elements are connected to the board. Each contact element has a sleeve oriented parallel to the major surface and connected to a first pad portion of a selected trace. Each contact element has an spring pin slidably received in the sleeve and extending beyond a first peripheral edge portion of the board.