Abstract: A printed circuit board stiffener is provided comprising a generally U-shaped elongated horizontal assembly having a substantially horizontal surface, an elongated vertical member extending downward from and rigidly coupled to one of the elongated horizontal assembly members opposite the assembly's curved edge and having a plurality of legs extending from the elongated vertical member, each such leg further comprising a flange extending substantially perpendicular to its respective plurality of legs in a direction toward the elongated horizontal assembly's curved edge. Each of said flanges are suitable for attachment to a surface of a circuit board. Further, such stiffener is capable of being moved, oriented, placed and mechanically bonded to the printed circuit board using existing SMT robotic assemblies.

Abstract: A back-lighted clipboard having a transparent writing surface, a light assembly, and power supplies held removably in place on a document storage container by a retaining clip. The writing surface is lighted from below from the light assembly which projects light into the storage container. The clipboard can be easily assembled for use and easily disassembled for storage or repair.

Abstract: An adjustable securement device is provided comprising a rod having a plurality of openings therein. Such rod has at least a first and a second opening therein at opposed ends thereof wherein such openings are generally parallel. A centrally located through-slot is provided for the passage of a securement ring. Such ring may easily traverse the length of the slot and at one end may be affixed to ensure the affixation of the securement device at a designated position along a supporting line. Finally, a groove is provided at one end of the rod to aid in securing an end of the support line to the rod.

Abstract: An apparatus for adapting a blower system to the dispersing of liquid material is partially housed within an extension tube of a portable blower and includes a pressurizing tub with an inlet for accepting airflow discharged by the blower. The pressurizing tube discharges into a liquid container thus increasing pressure within the container. An extraction tube exits the container and meets a Venturi tube that also accepts airflow discharge by the blower. A vacuum is created in the extraction tube through first and second apertures that allow fluid communication between the Venturi tube and the extraction tube. The vacuum created in the extraction tube extracts liquid from the liquid container and the liquid is drawn out of the extraction tube through the Venturi hole into the Venturi tube mixing with air flowing there through and discharging into airflow by-passing the spray adapter apparatus.

Abstract: A syringe tip for generating nonlaminar spiral flow to flush indwelling vascular access devices, eliminating the need for start-stop flushing. The nonlaminar spiral flow is generated by spiral elements on the inner surface of the syringe tip.

Abstract: An erbium-doped fiber amplifier, a flexible optical circuit and a method for fabricating the flexible optical circuit are described herein. Basically, the erbium-doped amplifier includes a laser diode, a multiplexer and a flexible optical circuit. The flexible optical circuit in one embodiment includes a predetermined length of optical fiber that is placed onto and secured to a partially flexible sheet of material. Several different embodiments of the flexible optical circuit are described herein. In operation, the erbium-doped amplifier receives an optical signal that is coupled by the multiplexer along with a light from the laser diode into the erbium-doped optical fiber which becomes excited by the light from the laser diode and outputs an amplified optical signal.

Abstract: An apparatus 10 for compacting and baling leaves, grass clippings, sticks, pine straw and other debris on lawns, yards, or fields is provided. The apparatus 10 may have diagonal brushes 26 to gather debris for processing though a crusher 28, a conveyor belt 30 to transport the crushed debris, and a baler 32 to compact and bale the debris. The baler 32 may compact the debris by rotating the debris in a continuous band 52, into which baling material 72 may be inserted to bale the debris. Alternatively, the debris may be gathered and feed into a crusher 28 that deposits the crushed debris directly into the baler 32 for compacting and baling. Further still, the apparatus 10 may gather the debris with brushes 26 and feed it onto a conveyor mechanism 30 that then introduces it into a crusher 28. The crushed debris may then be feed into a baling mechanism 32 that compacts and bales the debris for easy removal and disposal.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and apparatus for providing a strain relief for use in the assembly of an electrical connector on an end of an electrical conductor having at least an outer braided portion, which may be surrounded by an insulating cover. The methods and apparatus disclosed herein provide a low cost approach for installation using minimal tooling, while providing a precise and robust relief that ensures electrical performance.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for lifting, rotating, and positioning heavy objects using a toggle device attached to a prime mover. The toggle is vertical at rest and can be inserted into the opening in the side of a pipe. The toggle is rendered horizontal inside the pipe by the activation of a solenoid and the pipe can then be lifted by the prime mover. The pipe can be rotated to any desired fixed position by a hydraulic cylinder moving a piston through a piston sleeve having spiral grooves. The entire lifting and positioning of a heavy object with the toggle device can be completed by a single user operating from within the prime mover.

Abstract: A current mode coupler includes a unitary casing, a stub cable connector, a circuit board, a magnetic structure, a wire core holder, an enclosing lid and an E-core situated in a cavity in the unitary casing and an I-core affixed to the enclosing lid. When the enclosing lid is in a closed position, the E-core and the I-core contact, forming a transformer. When electrical current is present in a data bus that is situated within the E-core/I-core arrangement, the coupler magnetically couples the current mode doublets on the data bus to the circuitry enclosed in the unitary casing. The current mode doublets sensed on the data bus is then converted to voltage mode doublets and transmitted to the stub interface. The current mode coupler also receives voltage mode doublets through the stub interface, converts the voltage mode doublets to current mode doublets, and transmits the current mode doublets via the E-core/I-core arrangement.

Abstract: An apparatus for rapidly laying down or retrieving a ground cover while simultaneously laying down or retrieving heavy chains and the like used to secure the ground cover onto the ground. The apparatus of the present invention can lay down or retrieve 3,500 feet or more of ground cover and heavy chains at a rate of at least about 100 feet per minute or more.

Abstract: Described is a system and method for facilitating interaction with information or knowledge. In one aspect, a knowledge-building component captures knowledge or information and stores it in a knowledge module. The knowledge module is attached to either a Web site or individual Web pages or documents within the Web site. The content and structure of the knowledge module determines the interactive functionality provided to the end user of the Web site. In another aspect, a knowledge serving component facilitates interaction with the information or knowledge. The knowledge serving component provides a user machine with alternative interactions. The knowledge serving component uses selections made by the user machine and the content of the knowledge module to direct the user machine to a specific piece of knowledge or information contained within a site.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the sharpening of blades, particularly the blades of a lawnmower are provided. In the present invention, a blade sharpening apparatus with a supporting base comprises a blade retention and positioning mechanism, a blade sharpening mechanism and a guide rod for directing the blade sharpening mechanism laterally across the width of the apparatus. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the blade retention and positioning mechanism includes a hand operated crank for rotating the blade support means. Rotation of the blade support means allows for the proper positioning of the blade with respect to the sharpening mechanism so as to generate the correct sharpening angle for the sharpening of the blade. In such embodiment, the sharpening mechanism may be a lightweight, portable grinder mounted onto a supporting plate for movement along and rotation about a guide rod mounted to said supporting base of the apparatus.

Abstract: A marble sequestering skill game having transparent hollow vertical tube members attached to a base and to a nontransparent hollow tubular top member, and being filled with marbles, each marble having an identifying feature. The marbles can be moved from one vertical tube member to another through the tubular top member so that marbles can be sequestered by the identifying features into a selected vertical tube member by tilting and rotating the base.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for controlling an aircraft comprises providing an attitude error as a first input into a neural controller and an attitude rate as a second input into the neural controller. The attitude error is calculated from a commanded attitude and a current measured attitude, and the attitude rate is derived from the current measured attitude. The method also comprises processing the first input and the second input to generate a commanded servo actuator rate as an output of the neural controller. The method further comprises generating a commanded actuator position from the commanded servo actuator rate and a current servo position, and inputting the commanded actuator position to a servo motor configured to drive an attitude actuator to the commanded actuator position. The neural controller is developed from a neural network, wherein the neural network is designed without using conventional control laws, and the neural network is trained to eliminate the attitude error.