Abstract: An athletic protector cup is provided including a rigid cup-shaped base member and an impact resistant resilient body which is fixedly attached to an exterior surface and around a periphery of the base member. The resilient body includes a flange extending beyond portions of the base member edge and having a geometry for providing additional impact resistance.

Abstract: A device for monitoring traffic is designed as a portable hand-held device and includes a measuring unit for measuring a traffic state such as speed of a vehicle, a microphone and a language or voice recorder. Furthermore, the device has a language generator which acoustically outputs the measuring result of the measuring unit. The acoustically output measuring result is also recorded by the language or voice recorder. This permits acoustic documentation of the measuring procedure and its circumstances.

Abstract: An inflatable evacuation slide for use in aircraft, watercraft, buildings, and other structures, includes a first inflatable tubular member, a second inflatable tubular member spaced from the first inflatable tubular member, and a floor extending between the first and second inflatable tubular members. At least one adjustable deceleration tube is connected to the floor. The at least one deceleration tube is adjustable in height in response to the distance between the exit opening and ground. With this arrangement, the rate of descent of an evacuee descending the evacuation slide can be regulated based on the height of the exit opening.

Abstract: The invention relates to a housing for electronic units having printed circuit boards and heat sinks attached to said printed circuit boards. The housing comprises side walls formed by a first and a second u-shaped-section each having a central portion and a first and a second side cheek extending perpendicularly to the central portion. The u-shaped-sections extend into each other with clearance along longitudinal edges of the side cheeks. The central portions of the u-shaped-sections are connected to opposite end faces of the heat sinks. This results in an inexpensive construction with stability in dimensions. The heat transmission between the heat sinks and the housing is good.

Abstract: A laser device for use in a surgical procedure including a housing forming a part of a handpiece and including interior and exterior regions. A laser cavity extending within the interior region of the housing. A cooling arrangement generating a stream of a first coolant. A precooling unit containing a second concentrated coolant.

Abstract: A hand exercise device comprises a hollow housing with a plurality of apertures extending through its outer wall. Exercise rods extend from the interior of the housing and through the apertures. The rods may have an enlarged section with a cross dimension that is greater than a cross dimension of the apertures for retaining the rods in the housing. Filler material is located within the housing interior. The filler material comprises a plurality of solid particles in frictional engagement with the portion of each rod within the housing to thereby resist sliding movement of the rods when they are either pushed or pulled by a user. Several different embodiments of the hand exercise device are disclosed.

Abstract: A display device resembling neon tubing includes a transparent substrate with one or more elongate, continuous grooves formed in the substrate from a rear surface thereof. The groove is shaped to represent an informational image, such as a letter, symbol, character or design, for communicating a message to a viewer. A layer of a roughness is formed within an arcuate groove surface of substantially constant diameter along the length of the groove to thereby uniformly disperse light that may be incident on the groove toward the front surface of the substrate in an arcuate path. A blocking layer covers the rear surface of the substrate adjacent the groove for permitting the transmission of light only through the groove to thereby create a sharp contrast between light incident on the groove and the blocking layer. The diameter of the groove is preferably approximately equal to the diameter of conventional neon tubing.

Abstract: An inflatable structure comprises an inflatable tubular member that is constructed of an elongate, flexible strip of woven fabric that is impervious to air and water. The elongate strip has a first elongate edge and a second elongate edge and is spiraled into a tubular shape such that the first elongate edge is adjacent the second elongate edge to thereby form a spiral seam. A first elongate tape member is thermobonded to an inner surface of the tubular member along the length of the spiral seam for sealing the spiral seam from inside. A second elongate tape member is thermobonded to the outer surface of the tubular member along the length of the spiral seam for reinforcing the spiral seam.

Abstract: An emission treatment system for removing oxides of nitrogen (NOx), from flue gases includes in the pretreatment portion a continuous plasma reactor receiving and modifying the gaseous effluent by applying a plasma discharge thereto. The plasma discharge, upon application to the gaseous effluent, decomposes the majority of the gaseous effluent to nitrogen and oxygen and oxidizes nitric oxide to nitrogen dioxide. A preconditioning section is also provided for further modifying the gaseous effluent by washing the same with a mildly alkaline solution for removing ozone and lowering the process temperature. A continuous chemical scrubber uses an absorbent medium to substantially eliminate the nitrogen dioxide from the effluent and releases nitrogen and oxygen to the atmosphere.

Abstract: An articulated prosthetic ankle joint is adapted for connection between a pylon and a prosthetic foot for moving the foot between dorsiflexed and plantarflexed positions during human locomotion. The prosthetic ankle joint includes a base member adapted for connection to the prosthetic foot, a bracket member adapted for connection to the pylon and pivotally connected to the base member, a recumbent bar pivotally connected to the bracket member, and an upright bar having a lower end pivotally connected to the base and an upper end pivotally connected to the recumbent bar. The bracket member together with the base member, the recumbent bar and the upright bar form a four-bar linkage assembly with a deformable interior space. An elastomeric block is captured within the interior space. Pivotal movement of the base member with respect to the bracket member between dorsiflexed and plantarflexed positions causes deformation of the interior space, and thus deformation of the resilient block.

Abstract: A scanning antenna with ferrite control comprising a waveguide consisting of top and bottom ferrite layers and an intermediate layer. An array of radiating dipoles situated at the upper surface of the top ferrite layer. A horn structure containing first and second horn elements extending longitudinally along both sides of the array of radiating dipoles. Each horn element has an engaging part, a spacing part, and an inner wall. The spacing parts extending along and spaced from the top ferrite layer forming respective gaps therebetween. Dielectric spacers are provided at both sides of the array of dipoles and placed within the respective gaps. Each horn element is formed with at least one groove extending inwardly from the respective spacing part and longitudinally along the axis of the waveguide. The longitudinal grooves and the dielectric spaces restrict excitement of the parasitic modes in the waveguide and reduce power losses in the antenna.

Abstract: A modular rack assembly includes a plurality of interconnected support modules sandwiched between a pair handle modules with a pair of elongate fastener assemblies securing the modules together. The length of the rack assembly may be adjusted by adding or taking away modules. Each module is of I-beam construction and is preferably integrally molded of a relatively stiff plastic material. The modules may be pigmented to provide rack assemblies of different colors for distinguishing between articles supported thereon.

Abstract: A device facilitating operation of a doorknob, comprising a tubular body member having a continuous wall with an outer gripping surface and an inner surface defining bore adapted for receiving the doorknob. A plurality of resiliently deformable projections extend inwardly from the inner surface of the wall. A distance between opposing projections before installation of the device on the doorknob is smaller than a cross dimension of the knob. Each projection has a pair of spaced end portions formed integrally with the inner surface of the wall. The outer gripping surface of the continuous wall includes a generally curved section between each pair of spaced end portions before the device is installed on the knob. Deformation of the projections upon installation of the device on the knob causes the spaced end portions of each projection to spread apart and embrace an outer periphery of the doorknob.

Abstract: An adjustable support apparatus for facilitating movement of a person from one position to another includes one or more upright support units and an adjustable frame assembly for connecting or mounting the support unit(s) to a structure. Each support unit includes a compartment with a hollow interior and a handle connected to the compartment. A pocket with an opening is formed in the compartment for providing access to the hollow interior. The handle includes an elongate bar spaced from the compartment portion and sized to be grasped by the hand of a person. Two or more upright support units may be arranged in tandem and/or opposite each other. The distance between the support units is adjustable through the frame assembly.