Abstract: A mug that is normally too large to fit into a vehicle cup holder is fitted with a hollow base member that is appropriately sized. When the elements are combined, the resulting mug can be conveniently carried in a vehicle cup holder. The base member can be used to carry beverage accessories such sugar, sweetener, creamer, or tea or cocoa. It is also possible to store liquids in the base member, such as extra coffee if the user wishes more than the mug can hold. Gaskets can be used to prevent leakage and cover members can be provided to close the base member when not connected to the mug.

Abstract: An optical chassis utilizes optical couplers to convert the radial optical distribution of tube-shaped lamps into a more uniform optical distribution on planar illuminated surfaces. An optical chassis designed as an illumination source for emergency exit signs has two lamps and two optical couplers spaced apart on the optical chassis with a voltage converter disposed between the optical couplers. Illumination efficiency and uniformity is improved so that the optical chassis satisfies Underwriter's Laboratory standards for emergency exit sign retrofit kits.

Abstract: A load cell assembly for use in measuring the level of a liquid in an airplane waste tank includes a lower member, a spherical bearing placed in the lower member, an upper member, in contact with the spherical bearing, and a fastener to couple the lower member, spherical bearing and upper member together, the lower member having pockets formed therein and including a strain gauge device within each of the pockets.

Abstract: A novel shawl type garment is fabricate to simulate a sweater worn as a shawl or mantle and includes a main body panel and a pair of ties that simulate sweater arms. The garment may be made of woven or knitted fabric and may be either single or double layered. The garment is cut to minimize cupping at the bottom edge and can include trim buttons and button holes to simulate a cardigan sweater in an alternative embodiment.

Abstract: A lamp control circuit for use in a flashlight having a power supply and a light bulb. The lamp control circuit includes oscillator means selectively applying power to the light bulb for turning the bulb on and off at one of a plurality of a selectable frequencies, voltage indicator means coupled to the power supply for indicating to a user when the voltage level of the power supply falls below a pre-determined level and dimmer means coupled between the light bulb and the power supply for reducing the amount of electrical current supplied to the light bulb. The control circuit is mounted on a circuit board which is configured to indicate to the circuit the number and voltage of the batteries which are used to power the flashlight. An alternative embodiment may also include a light emitting diode for use when the battery voltage is insufficient to meet the threshold voltage of the bulb.

Abstract: This invention provides a mounting structure 10 for releasably securing an auditorium seating unit to the floor. The mounting structure includes a bracket support 12 which is a rectangular casing 32 equipped with openings 40 & 42 interconnected with a pathway slot 46. The mounting structure includes a plate member 16 that is permanently part of the leg or stanchion of the seating unit. The plate member has a stud fastener 52 and a nut/bolt arrangement 62 that depends from the plate member and are received in the openings 40 & 42. The stud 52 and the nut/bolt arrangement 62 are received in the pathway slot 46 and the fasteners 52 & 62 are guided into the openings 40 & 42. The stud 52 and nut/bolt 62 secure the seating unit to the bracket support 12. Cover plates 114 serve to cover the exposed bracket support 12 absent the seating unit 28. The plate member is equipped with a guide element 102 to facilitate locating the openings when restoring the seating unit to this auditorium.

Abstract: An integrated dual day night backlight includes a flat channel light source with an auxiliary night light source suitably filtered to remove infrared components from the illumination. In alternative embodiments, the night light can be a separate bulb or it can be separate light channels within the flat channel source. The night illumination is directed through the edge of the light transmissive face plate that covers the main or day channel. The light directing means can be an inner reflecting surface of the face plate or can be a separate reflective element that redirects the illumination from the night channel through the edge of the transmissive face plate.

Abstract: A digital address filter is provided which converts straight-line and arc analog stroke data into digitized images which comply with Bresenham raster display criteria and can be displayed on a raster scanned monitor or LCD. Data collected over a preselected (M pixel.times.M pixel) spatial window are repetitively matched against a set of pixel template patterns permitted by the Bresenham criteria. After each full-frame iteration, the display pixel(s) corresponding to the best-fit templates are lighted.

Abstract: A scanning probe microscope is provided with a piezo-ceramic tube to carry the sensitive probe at its free end to translationally move the probe in the X and Y directions. Large stationary surfaces can then be scanned by probe tip motion. The tube is also capable of movement in the Z direction so that the tip can follow the contours of the surface. Optical detection means track the motion of the probe tip and generate signals corresponding to and representative of surface contours. In one mode of operation, the signals are used in a feed back loop to keep constant the spacing between the tip and the surface, in which case the error or control signals represent the contours.