Abstract: A backlight assembly is disclosed having a light pipe and at least one light source located at an edge of the light pipe. The light pipe has a back surface and a front surface opposite the back surface. The light pipe also has one or more light directing, diffusing, turning, or brightness enhancing film layers adjacent the front surface. The light pipe also has an integral surface diffuser microstructure molded, embossed, or otherwise replicated in the front surface of the light pipe.

Abstract: A method for EFM demodulation is provided which includes a fuzzy logic-based ROM look-up conversion table capable of correcting data errors caused by invalid EFM bit patterns. The ROM look-up table contains the conversion data of valid EFM 14-channel bit patterns to 8-bit digital values. In addition to the valid pattern conversion, the ROM look-up table also includes fuzzy logic-based conversion of all invalid EFM 14-channel bit patterns to 8-bit digital values. The conversion of invalid EFM 14-channel bit patterns to 8-bit digital values allows error correction to begin during EFM demodulation using the inventive method. The invention improves the depth of the overall error correction system by correcting many of the data errors caused by invalid 14-channel bit patterns and most of the simple “off by one clock period” invalid patterns.

Abstract: A wire-tethered dart cartridge for electrical discharge weapons wherein the sudden force needed to propel the darts toward a remote target is derived from a source of energy other than expanding gas. The propulsive force is derived from potential energy stored in at least one coiled spring having an arm which impacts the dart with sufficient force to propel the dart a desired distance toward a remote target. In a preferred embodiment disclosed herein, the spring is formed on two interconnected coils, each end of the spring wire extending from a respective coil and forming an impact arm for striking the back of a dart. The arms are maintained in a tensioned configuration by a retention bracket which is connected to a piston pyrotechnic device. When an electrical voltage is applied to the pyrotechnic device, the ignition forces the piston to move the retention bracket to suddenly release the arms.

Abstract: A depilatory wax stick which is simple, low cost and easy to use, particularly on facial and neck surfaces and other small areas and even in delicate areas where very fine wax deposition is required. In a preferred embodiment disclosed herein, the wax stick is generally cylindrical and is about 10 cm long and has a slightly tapered shape with a 1.8 cm diameter base and a 1.5 cm diameter free end which is rounded to form about a 1.0 cm application tip. Because there is no required flow of wax through an aperture or passage or onto a roller, the stick may be shaped in virtually unlimited ways to facilitate extremely fine application control. In its simplest form, the base of the stick is held in a tapered plastic cap which provides a stable flat surface. An external housing may be provided to promote convenient storage and to prevent contamination of the wax between uses.

Abstract: A swim mask having a buckle that slides in a curved groove in the mask frame. The buckle has a virtual pivot point that is much farther forward than any prior art swivel mask buckle. In fact, the virtual pivot point could be infinitely in front of the mask if the groove were straight. The embodiment shown has a pivot point that is slightly in front of the mask lens. The preferred embodiment is also extremely simple to manufacture and assemble. It also has a means for being easily locked into any of several positions by the user. It is also aesthetically pleasing and allows easy strap adjustment. The preferred embodiment also has a means to attach to the mask frame such that it is extremely secure and cannot be accidentally detached and it also has only three components per buckle.

Abstract: A display packaging assembly for swim masks and goggles which have corrective lenses. In a first preferred embodiment for a mask and a second preferred embodiment for a pair of goggles, the product is contained in a transparent plastic shell and is located on a mannequin face or face portion in a configuration which simulates how the product would be worn by a swimmer. The opposing surfaces of the shell and the simulated eye portions of the mannequin are open at the lenses of the product. These openings permit a prospective purchaser to look through the corrective lenses without opening the package and without removing the product. Because the mannequin face or face portion is curved to provide a generally concave surface, the prospective purchaser may place the lenses of the mask or goggles in close proximity to his or her eyes without necessarily touching the package to the face and without touching any portion of the product itself.

Abstract: A one-hand operated strap buckle capable of withstanding high forces and yet simple to operate and easily connected to a post and disconnected from a post. In a preferred embodiment, the buckle comprises upper and lower cases, the latter forming a slot for receiving a post with a flat head. When connected to a post, the buckle is secured to the post by a pair of swing arms terminating at locking hooks. The position of the swing arms is normally closed, but may be readily altered to an open position by a pair of opposed spring-loaded release tabs which when compressed toward one another, open the swing arms and separate the locking hooks. The buckle of the invention also comprises a strap release which is spring-loaded and normally engages the teeth of a strap by employing a spring-loaded catch which can be rotated away from the strap with tilting of the strap release around a fulcrum bearing.

Abstract: A valve packing system uniformly distributes the radial packing load in a valve stuffing box. In one embodiment the cylindrical wall of the stuffing box is tapered with a flat bottom. In other embodiments the cylindrical wall of the stuffing box is straight with a tapered outbound bottom, the bottom of the packing ring is tapered at the same outbound angle to match the outbound taper at the bottom of the cylindrical stuffing box, the cylindrical wall of the stuffing box is straight with a tapered inbound bottom, the bottom of the packing ring is tapered at the same inbound angle to match the inbound taper at the bottom of the cylindrical stuffing box, and the cylindrical wall of the stuffing box is straight with a male “V” x-section at the bottom of the stuffing box to accept a packing ring having a female “V” groove on the bottom.

Abstract: A hosel interface device for interconnection of the golf club shaft and the golf clubhead, the device having a portion which is made intentionally bendable to provide any desired extent of variation in lie angle and face angle in virtually an infinite number of increments. The invention employs a bending region along a portion of an otherwise straight exterior hosel interface or coupling. The hosel interface is configured to be inserted into the typical hosel area location of a golf club head such as a wood or iron head. The hosel interface also provides an elongated receptacle for receiving the clubhead end of a shaft. The bending region is between the clubhead insertion region and the shaft receptacle region of the hosel interface.

Abstract: A mixer converts input power at high-frequency RF into output power at a different and much lower frequency IF, with the assistance of another high-frequency oscillator (LO). Typically, a very low IF frequency requires an LO that approximates the RF frequency. However, a subharmonic mixer facilitates low IF with LO frequencies significantly lower than the RF frequency. This balanced odd-subharmonic mixer consists primarily of a four-port BALUN and a pair of diodes. The diodes terminate two ports of the BALUN connecting in series and in anti-parallel to the remaining external BALUN ports. The external BALUN ports constitute the RF and the LO high-frequency mixer ports. The mixer's lower-frequency IF port also connects to the diodes, comprising a separate channel that is co-linear with one BALUN external port, and coupling capacitively to the other. All three mixer ports meet at a mixing chamber (part of the BALUN) where the diodes are located.

Abstract: An interactive method of visualization and graphical analysis of functions considered in multi-dimensional domain is provided. The inventive method substitutes continuum objects represented by one or more functions by discrete approximation represented by a set of multi-dimensional points, to analyze the dataset graphically.

Abstract: Phase and free spectra range adjustable reflectors, referred to herein as nano tuner (NanoT) reflectors, provide building blocks for the manufacturing of passive and active devices used for dense wavelength division multiplexing applications. Specifically, NanoT can be used to fabricate interleavers, multichannel filters and dispersion compensators, optical spectrum synthesizers and other valuable devices. Various embodiments are disclosed. Each provides at least one hermetically sealed optical cavity connected to a tuning device through a channel. The tuning device permits modification to the density of an optical medium contained in the cavity. In the preferred embodiments disclosed, the optical medium comprises one or more selected gases which determine the index of refraction in the cavity. The cavity is formed between two optical windows having facing surfaces coated by partially or wholly reflective coatings. The facing surfaces are separated by a selected distance by a precise spacer.

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: An apparatus for maintaining culinary knifes, the apparatus having a handle assembly formed of a handle portion and a knife guide. An elongated tubular burnishing member is connected to the bottom end of the knife guide portion. A rubber friction tip is inserted into the bottom end of the tubular burnishing member. An elongated honing member is also coupled to the bottom end of the handle assembly and mounted in the interior of the tubular burnishing member. The burnishing member therefore performs a second function, that of being a protective sheath for the honing member.

Abstract: A snorkel with a unique strap hook and snorkel tube arrangement which permits both selective release and adjustment of the strap hook, but only when release or adjustment is desired and not by inadvertence. In a preferred embodiment, the snorkel tube is provided with a hook slide region enclosed along the tube surface by an elongated border. Inside each side of the border there is a recess for receiving rails of a strap hook having dove tail cross-section rails. The dove tail relationship between the recesses and the rails prevents inadvertent release of the strap hook from the snorkel tube. However, an opening at one end of each such recess, permits selective removal of the strap hook from the snorkel tube.

Abstract: An addition device which permits a user of a close proximity electrical discharge weapon to modify his or her weapon by providing a long range capability which can be added as an after-market improvement. In a preferred embodiment illustrated and described herein, the original close proximity device is a hand-held plastic device having a pair of extending contact probes for disabling a nearby perpetrator. The invention is an apparatus designed to be mechanically and electrically attached to the device and provides an unchambered 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 and disconnection from the close proximity device.

Abstract: Live loaded valve stem packing wherein grafoil packing is molded into a metal cap that prevents extrusion of the packing, and has live loading built into the metal cap. This metal cap can be conventional flat spring materials (17-7PH S.S. or 302 S.S.) or a Shape Memory Alloy (commonly known as SMA materials, e.g. Ni—Ti (Nickel-Titanium alloy) or Fe—Si—Mn (Iron-Silicon-Manganese alloy). The cap is designed with a singular hump, entirely along its top surface. On this hump there are two slots through the hump, 180 degrees apart, for ease of removing the packing. Upon assembly of the packing box, the hump is elastically flattened out due to axial loading through the fasteners. As the packing consolidates during service (optionally if the cap is SMA, during temperature increases) the hump deflects to maintain a relatively constant or enhanced axial load on the packing to enhance sealing, even during a fire.