Abstract: An ambidextrous pistol carrying device of conveniently and inexpensively fabricated modular design includes a mainframe member of non-leather composition, an elongated spring member and a guard strap member connected to the mainframe member, and components for removably connecting a shoulder harness. The mainframe member includes a muzzle retainer portion that extends across and abuts the muzzle of a pistol, a bore-engaging protrusion on the muzzle retainer portion that extends at least partially into the bore, and left and right arm portions that extend from the muzzle portion along the sides of the pistol to positions above the trigger guard. The spring member extends across the rearward portion of the pistol between the left and right arm portions to spring bias the pistol toward the muzzle retainer portion.

Abstract: A snack table includes a lower top, a set of legs connected to the lower top for supporting the lower top above a horizontal support surface, and an upper top disposed above the lower top for providing a table top surface. A mounting component connected to the upper and lower tops rotatably mounts the upper top on the lower top in order to enable a user to rotate the upper top relative to the lower top about a generally vertical axis of rotation. The mounting component is configured to place the axis of rotation off center so that rotating the upper top 180-degrees moves it from an overlying position in which the upper top overlies the lower top to an extended position in which the upper top extends laterally beyond the lower top. A horizontally extending member connected to two legs in the set of legs is included for providing a stabilizing structure upon which the user's feet can bear for table stabilizing purposes.

Abstract: A device for draining a nickel cadmium or other battery prior to recharging the battery includes first and second input terminals for connecting the device to a battery to be discharged, and first and second circuits coupled to the input terminals for draining current from the battery for deep cycle discharge purposes. The first circuit has sufficient resistance to drain current from the battery without damage to the battery when the battery has an output voltage above a predetermined threshold level (e.g., 3.3 volts), and the second circuit presents a low resistance in order to drain current from the battery when the battery has an output voltage no greater than the threshold level. The device includes a relay coupled to the input terminals for decoupling the second circuit from the battery when the battery has an output voltage greater than the threshold level.

Abstract: A portable shade system includes a shade member for shading a user from the sun, an elongated member having proximal and distal end portions for supporting the shade member on an object, and a clamp attached to the proximal end portion of the elongated member for removably mounting the elongated member on the object. The shade member is arranged to fold from an open configuration to a closed configuration and to removable mount on the distal end of the elongated member to enable the user to remove the shade member. In one version, the shade member includes a suction cup member for enabling the user to mount the shade member on a car window apart from the elongated member. The shade member may include a sheet of foldable material (e.g.

Abstract: A surface-mount LED device includes a base, an LED chip, and two terminal pads. The base has a first side, the LED chip occupies a position on the first side, and each of the two terminal pads is electrically connected to the LED chip. The two terminal pads occupy positions on the first side to enable surface-mounting on a circuitboard surface in a position such that the first side faces the circuitboard surface. A surface-mount LED carrier tape includes a carrier tape defining a plurality of spaced-apart component cavities for enabling automated placement of devices contained in the component cavities, at least one of the surface-mount LED devices in one of the component cavities, and a cover tape affixed to the carrier tape over the surface-mount LED device. The surface-mount LED device is disposed within one of the component cavities so that the first side of the base, the LED chip, and the terminal pads face the cover tape.

Abstract: A method of turning off the receiver of a radio controlled model includes the step of providing a speed controller with control circuitry for receiving setpoint information from a receiver that represents manipulation of a throttle trigger on an R/C transmitter unit and for automatically turning the receiver off upon the occurrence of a predefined pattern of setpoint information. The method proceeds by monitoring the throttle trigger setpoint information with the control circuitry, detecting with the control circuitry the occurrence of the predefined pattern of the throttle trigger setpoint information, and turning off the receiver with the control circuitry upon the occurrence of the predefined pattern of throttle trigger setpoint information.

Abstract: A suspension for a wheeled vehicle includes a chassis, left and right hub carriers, and left and right support members for supporting the left and right hub carriers on the chassis in opposite positions relative to a reference axis through the chassis that is vertical when the chassis is level and for enabling the hub carriers to individually move up and down relative to a reference plane that is perpendicular to the reference axis. Left and right linkages are provided for cooperating with the left and right support members in order to control chamber as the left and right hub carriers move up and down relative to the reference plane. The suspension also includes differential camber control components for controlling the camber of the left and right hub carriers according to any difference in the positions of the left and right hub carriers relative to the reference plane in order to offset for chassis roll.

Abstract: A method of trapping a field in a block of superconductor material, includes providing (i) a block of material defining a bore, (ii) a high permeability core within the bore that defines a low reluctance path through the bore, (iii) a high permeability external structure on the exterior of the block of material that defines a low reluctance path between opposite ends of the core, and (iv) an electromagnet configured to apply a magnetic field around the high permeability core. The method proceeds by energizing the electromagnet to produce an applied magnetic field around the high permeability core, cooling the block of material sufficiently to render the block of material superconducting, de-energizing the electromagnet to result in a trapped magnetic field, and at least partially removing the low reluctance path defined by the core and the external structure in order to increase the magnetic flux density of the trapped magnetic field.

Abstract: An automatic feeder includes a computerized dispenser for dispensing different programmed quantities of food for each meal (e.g., 1-10 cups of dry food) to an animal at up to ten programmed times. The computerized dispenser includes food-dispensing components for dispensing food and, preferably, water-dispensing components for dispensing water. The computerized dispenser also includes a programmed microcomputer and integrated control circuitry operatively coupled to the food-dispensing components for automatically controlling the food-dispensing components in order to dispense different programmed quantities of food for each meal at programmed times. According to a major aspect of the invention, the integrated control circuitry includes components (e.g., a digital voice circuit) for recording and playing audio in order to enable an owner to record a message (e.g., a 30-second message) for automatic playback at preprogrammed times, normally just ahead of feeding time.

Abstract: A switching circuit constructed according to the invention includes an input node, an output node, a reference node, a switch, and a feedback control circuit for cycling the switch in a series of cycles of variable switch duty ratio in order to produce a chopped signal at the output node. One form of the feedback control circuit integrates the chopped signal during each cycle in order to produce a feedback signal indicative of the average value of the chopped signal during each cycle. A comparator circuit produces a control signal indicative of an occurrence of a condition in which the level of the feedback signal equals the level of the reference signal, and a switch control circuit varies the switch duty ratio according to the occurrence of that condition in order to maintain the average value of the chopped signal linearly related to the reference signal.

Abstract: A blood oxygenation system includes an oxygenator for oxygenating blood and a heat exchanger for regulating blood temperature. The heat exchanger includes a heat exchange coil that provides a flow path for a heat exchange media, the heat exchange coil is configured to define a heat exchange zone, and the oxygenator is disposed in heat transfer relationship with the heat exchange zone in order to transfer heat between the heat exchange coil and the oxygenator. The heat exchange coil may at least partially circumscribe the oxygenator and, preferably, be helically shaped and disposed coaxially over a membrane oxygenator. In one embodiment, single or multiple hollow fiber strands are wound onto a small diameter center core so that the fiber segments provide spiralling helical blood-flow pathways which increase oxygen/carbon dioxide exchange by secondary flow paths.

Abstract: A speed controller with an audible feedback signal capability includes a receiver line, first and second battery lines, and a motor line. A drive circuit is provided for switching between an ON state coupling the first battery line to the motor line and an OFF state decoupling the first battery line from the motor line. Microprocessor circuitry for switches the drive circuit between the ON state and the OFF state according to setpoint information received by the control circuit from a receiver connected to the receiver line.

Abstract: A satellite communications system includes an orbiting communications satellite for relaying communications to and from a plurality of ground stations, and a network management center for making connections via the satellite between the ground stations in response to connection requests received via the satellite from the ground stations, the network management center being configured to provide both open-end service and closed-end service. The network management center of one embodiment is configured to provides both types of service according to a predefined channel access protocol that enables the ground stations to request the type of service desired. The channel access protocol may be configured to adaptively allocate channels to open-end service and closed-end service according to changes in the traffic pattern and include a free-access tree algorithm that coordinates collision resolution among the ground stations.

Abstract: A stitchery light includes an arm for supporting a lamp and a base member for supporting the arm on a stitchery implement. The arm extends from a proximal end portion of the arm to a distal end portion, the arm includes a lamp socket on the distal end portion, and the proximal end portion of the arm is mounted pivotally on the base member. The base member includes a capsular component to which the arm is pivotally mounted, a downwardly extending bracket molded integrally with the capsular component in unitary one-piece construction, and a clamping member adjustably mounted on the bracket to work in opposition to the capsular component.