Abstract: A flexible diver's snorkel is disclosed having a mouthpiece fluidly connected to a plurality of flexible interconnected linked passages having plural joints for orientation of the linked passages in X Y and Z directions with respect to the passages of the multiple links. The snorkel can be configured to conform to the side of a user's face and has an arcuate upright section with an extension for extending behind a user's head.

Abstract: A dispenser brush applicator which may be used advantageously for applying a liquid and powder combination acrylic to nail surfaces. The applicator comprises a plastic squeeze bottle having an open end enclosed by a brush member. The brush member has a cap terminating in a conically-shaped bristle holder that is generally hollow and is plugged at its base end with a channeled plug. A passage in the plug meters a controllable amount of liquid out of the squeeze bottle. The other end of the holder has a staple through which a plurality of bristles are looped, their free ends extending through the holder at a reduction aperture, the free ends generally terminating at a common plane a selected distance from the bottle. When the bottle is partially or completely filled with a liquid, the bottle may be squeezed thereby forcing the liquid through the plug and into contact with the bristles.

Abstract: The conventional rails of a standard computer chassis are removed and elongated heat sink members, having substantially the same general dimensions as the rails, are substituted for the rails to provide highly conductive heat transfer from the hard disk drive to which the heat sink members are connected. Moreover, the heat sink members are provided with channels along their entire length through which air flow can be directed to provide additional heat removal by convection. Air flow is preferably facilitated by use of small fans located at the ends of the heat sink members, at least one such fan for each such heat sink member which fits within the width and height outline of the disk drive/heat sink member combination thereby requiring minimal space and no alteration to existing computer chassis dimensions.

Abstract: A water bottle cage for bicycles with pivoting bands that automatically capture and lock a water bottle upon insertion into the cage. The cage allows easy installation and removal of the water bottle using one hand. The cage has three components molded from a resilient, substantially rigid polymeric material including an elongated base portion with a half round band with a mating hinge at each end portion, a quarter round band with an extended curved leg at one end, a mating hinge generally in the middle and locking grooves at the other end, and a quarter round band with an extended curved leg at one end, a mating hinge generally in the middle and a locking member at the other end. The cage also includes two hinge pins and two torsion springs. The configuration allows the user to choose between a left or right side for the water bottle to be installed and removed.

Abstract: In the preferred embodiment, an encrypted GPS signal is down-converted from RF to baseband to generate two quadrature components for each RF signal (L1 and L2). Separately and independently for each RF signal and each quadrature component, the four down-converted signals are counter-rotated with a respective model phase, correlated with a respective model P code, and then successively summed and dumped over presum intervals substantially coincident with chips of the respective encryption code. Without knowledge of the encryption-code signs, the effect of encryption-code sign flips is then substantially reduced by selected combinations of the resulting presums between associated quadrature components for each RF signal, separately and independently for the L1 and L2 signals. The resulting combined presums are then summed and dumped over longer intervals and further processed to extract amplitude, phase and delay for each RF signal.

Abstract: A contact configuration between boot and binding for snowboarding. Contact pins are provided on opposing sides of the boot at both the heel area and the toe area. This 4-point contact configuration assures heel and toe stability and reliable side boot restraint. Concave mating receptacles at matching locations on the binding assure easy and simple interconnection which is also secure and reliable. A release mechanism is provided to selectively retract the pins using a simple pull cord arrangement. Gear operated strap linkages permit more convenient tightening and loosening of the boot straps.

Abstract: An addition device which permits a user of a close proximity electrical discharge weapon to modify his or her weapon by providing an improved short range capability as well as a long range capability which can be added as an after-market improvement. The invention is an apparatus designed to be mechanically and electrically attached to the device and provides a wire-tethered dart cartridge which extends above the weapon and gives the user the additional capability of contacting long range targets. The apparatus permits easy and convenient replacement of spent cartridges as well as easy and convenient connection to the close proximity device. The apparatus also improves short range performance by widening the separation of contact electrodes and by increasing the penetration voltage to increase effectiveness.

Abstract: A suitable support device for newborns including premature babies comprises a doughnut-shaped structure having a gel-filled GORE-TEX casing of about five to six inches outer diameter with a central aperture of about two to three inches in diameter. The structure provides an annular tube having about a 1 to 2 inch diameter. The tube is preferably circular in cross-section at the rear or head region and preferably flattened to provide a generally oval cross-section at the front or neck region. The case is filled with a cohesive gel mass such as silicone gel or silicone elastomers with sufficiently cross-linked polysiloxane networks to substantially retain a selected shape despite the force of a limited incident weight.

Abstract: An interactive television system that renders on-demand interactive multimedia services for a community of users. The interactive multimedia is delivered to each user on a TV or on a LAN-node (Local-Area-Network) computer through an "interactive TV channel" created and controlled by a Channel-processor, which can be implemented as either a PC or a high-end workstation. The system employs a direct-access on-demand workgroup server. It is equipped with the primary on-demand multimedia data base stored on a hard disk subsystem that is connected directly to the Channel-processors through an internal workgroup link. Using a no-overhead server technology, the connected workgrouped Channel-processors can all concurrently retrieve and process the data directly from the hard disk subsystem without resorting to a stand-alone server system for data retrieving and downloading.

Abstract: A tamper evident file holder especially suited for use in containing hanging files in a file cabinet drawer. The file holder is normally a full enclosure pouch configured for holding a plurality of files with one access portal such as a zippered closure or the like. In the preferred embodiment disclosed herein, the enclosure is made of a heavy fabric such as leather, vinyl, canvas, nylon or other tear resistant material. The zipper is locked in the closed position by a locking device comprising a disposable element in the form of a plug and stem which must be fractured to permit unlocking the locking device to open the zipper and gain access to the interior of the pouch. By coding each disposable element with a unique and indelible code, one can readily ascertain that the zipper has been unlocked to permit access to the files within the pouch. The pouch is preferably configured with hanger rods to permit hanging the file holder on a standard pair of file cabinet drawer rails.

Abstract: A suction assembly employs an air induction tube to induct air into the recirculating water pump to cause the pump to cease pumping operation when the front face of the assembly is blocked. The induction tube is connected to a bleed path formed between the induction tube and a surrounding coaxial face tube extended into the assembly from the front face. When the face is blocked by hair or the like, water in the induction tube bleeds into the main chamber of the assembly and empties the induction tube. Air is then pulled into the pump, causing the pump to lose prime thereby reducing pump pressure to zero and allowing the hair or other blocking material to be removed. In a preferred embodiment, the induction tube is connected to the air inlet of at least one venturi-type hydromassage jet assembly. The suction assembly employs a spring-loaded induction stem which bears compressively against the interior face of the suction cover, thereby permitting use of conventional suction covers.

Abstract: A pump comprises a pair of coaxial pistons, one slidably positioned in the other for simultaneous compression causing similarly directed air flow, independent passages and valves for permitting air flow from each piston into the pump head for increased air flow, and a switching device for selectively opening one passage to ambient to decrease the air flow into the pump head. The pump thus has two modes, namely a high volume mode when the two pistons operate simultaneously to direct combined air flow and a high pressure mode when the passage is opened to ambient to direct air flow from only one of the two pistons.

Abstract: A fabrication process for producing thick film electrical components wherein capacitive and RC components may be provided with extremely low impedance by minimizing inadvertent inductance. The process relies on the use of thick film technology to deposit a plurality of distinct overlying flat layers of appropriate size, shape and materials on an underlying substrate. Use of relatively large area conductive films to form plates of a capacitor, results in a highly precise capacitance with virtually no inductive component. The process employs a series of print, dry and fire steps for each layer of screening on a substrate. The magnitude of the fabricated capacitance is based on the number of capacitor plates screened as well as the area of the plates, the thickness of the dielectric plate between the capacitor plates and the dielectric constant of the dielectric plate.

Abstract: A simplified wiring system for an electronically controlled vending machine of the type capable of vending multiple products out of columns, trays or other queuing means, wherein by employing DC motors and various novel circuits, one may reduce controller complexity and assembly time. Selector button sensing and motor drives are connected in a matrix configuration. Sold-out switches are connected in series with the motors. Home switches are connected in series and only momentary continuity interruption is sensed. Separate sold-out switch outputs are eliminated. Interconnect wiring is reduced by mounting both the Home switch and Sold-out switch for each motor on a motor interface board permitting operation of up to 16 motors from a 10-wire ribbon cable.

Abstract: A pigmented silicon nitride composition suitable for hot pressing into near shape articles of manufacture having a cosmetically uniform color. The composition comprises high purity, sub-micrometer, alpha silicon nitride powder mixed with a sintering aid and a pigmenting material. In a preferred embodiment the pigmenting material comprises molybdenum carbide, although carbides of other elements are applicable as well. The resulting hot pressed article is cosmetically superior to non-pigmented silicon nitride. Such articles are especially useful for processing semiconductor components where appearance in the form of color uniformity is a strict requirement for the manufacturer and the customer.

Abstract: A method for packaging a full set of snorkel components and a resulting package. Swim fins are arranged in an overlapping configuration. A mask including its strap, surrounds the two overlapping fins with the mask positioned about halfway between the ends of the fins and facing in the same direction as the foot aperture of the front-facing fin. A snorkel tube is positioned on the edge of the overlapping fins in a direction generally parallel to the length of the fins. The snorkel tube may be attached to the mask strap and the mouthpiece of the snorkel tube is placed between the mask and the foot aperture. This assembled set of snorkel components is placed in a clear plastic, zippered bag having a narrow end and a wider end. An optional cover carton may be added to cap the respective ends of the zippered bag, provide added structural support and provide surfaces for some limited graphics.