Abstract: A tool base securing system for a rock bolter. One aspect of the invention provides a securing system for the tool base which is being advanced on a cradle along a feed shell. This system includes a forward latch which is pivotably attached to the forward section of the cradle base and has a tool base engaging lug. A mechanical linkage is provided to engage and disengage the front lug from the tool base as the cradle is advanced from and returned to a park position on the feed shell. In a preferred embodiment a rear latch is also provided which has a mechanical linkage for engaging and disengaging a rear lug. A second aspect of the invention provides a securing system which provides a mechanical interlock which immobilizes all tool bases which are off the cradle when the cradle is being advanced.

Abstract: The present invention is for touch activated electroluminescent lamps and displays having a flexible translucent or transparent substrate, a transparent electrode deposited onto the flexible transparent substrate, a phosphor layer over the transparent electrode, a dielectric layer over the phosphor layer, and a second electrode, which together form a lamp. A third electrode is separated from the second electrode by an insulating spacer having an open region configured to allow contact between the second electrode and the third electrode when pressure is applied to the flexible transparent substrate. For a touch activated display, a segmented second electrode is employed to allow selectively energizing regions of the display.

Abstract: A tri-fold knife is provided which has a blade having a tang and bifurcated handle. The handle has a main handle which has a forward end which is pivotably attached to the tang. The main handle terminates in a butt end. A tail handle is provided with a forward engaging end and a butt end coupling which pivotably engages the butt end of the main handle. The main handle is provided with a main handle slot and the tail handle is provided with a tail handle slot which connects with the main handle slot. When the main handle forward end engages the tail handle forward engaging end, a knife handle is formed. When the tail handle is end to end with the main handle, the slots form a sheath into which the knife blade can be pivoted. Preferably, locks are provided to hold the blade with respect to the main handle when the knife is opened and the blade is exposed. A lock is also provided to hold the blade in the closed position where the blade lies in the main handle slot and the tail handle slot.

Abstract: The present invention is an anchor formed by combining a pyramid with a shaft and an eye. The pyramid has a base and an apex displaced from the base by an apex separation distance D and projecting onto a central region of the base. The shaft, having a shaft length L, is mounted substantially normal to the base of the pyramid with a first shaft end attached to the base of the pyramid and substantially centered thereon. It is preferred that the shaft length L be less than or about equal to the apex separation distance D. The eye is formed on the second shaft end of the shaft. Preferably, the pyramid is four-sided and has a substantially square base with edges having a nominal edge length l. It is further preferred for the apex separation distance D to be about 1/2 of the edge length l.

Abstract: The present invention is for a futon frame which, in combination with a futon, will serve as a sofa or couch when in the closed position and a bed when in the open position. One embodiment of the futon frame has a base having a pair of base end serpentine slots. A back is provided which has a pair of back pivot pins which slidably engage the base end serpentine slots. A pair of back supports pivotably attach to the back and the base. A seat is pivotably attached to the back and a pair of seat supports pivotably attach to the seat and the base. Preferably, the seat is fitted with supplemental support legs which are automatically concealed within the frame during closing. In a second embodiment an additional pair of back pivot pins are provided which, in combination with an additional pair of base end serpentine slots, replace the back supports.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for setting rock bolts. The device employs a common element for affixing the end of a feed shell with respect to a rock surface, stabilizing the feed shell and providing a common centralizer for centering all subsequent bolt setting operations. The device also has a bolt delivery system which stores, advances and positions the bolts in line with a bolt driver. The bolt delivery system has a bolt magazine which, when in a work position, advances bolts along peripheral surfaces into a position where they are engaged by a bolt driver. The bolt so engaged is then advanced into the centralizer at which point the bolt magazine is rotated away from the engaged bolt to a park position where it will not interfere with the bolt driver as it continues to advance the bolt. The bolt magazine preferably also serves as a bolt plate magazine which accommodates bolt plates with which the bolts are engaged.

Abstract: A thick-film multi-color electroluminescent display (10) includes a transparent substrate (12), a transparent electrode (14) deposited on the substrate (12), a phosphor layer (16) deposited on the transparent electrode (14) having two regions (18, 20) having different compositions providing visually distinct spectra of light when placed in a common electric field, a dielectric layer (22) deposited on the phosphor layer (16), and a second electrode (24) deposited on the dielectric layer (22). In an alternate embodiment, the phosphor layer (16) is composed of a marbled ink having a mixture of a first phosphor ink and a second phosphor ink having different compositions providing visually distinct spectra of light when placed in a common electric field. In another alternate embodiment, the phosphor layer (16) is composed of at least two halftone screen prints corresponding to at least two phosphor compositions providing visually distinct spectra of light when placed in a common electric field.

Abstract: The present invention is for a conference system that provides microphones that are ceiling mounted and retract into the ceiling when not in use. The system has microphones that mount on wands with the wand and microphone forming a unit which is stored above the ceiling when not in use. In a preferred embodiment, the wand is connected to an automobile power antenna which is energized to raise and lower the antenna. The system is preferably activated by a proximity sensor, located in the cradle of a phone that senses the presence of a phone hand piece and activates the system when the phone hand piece is removed from the cradle.

Abstract: The present invention is for improved thick film electroluminescent lamps and displays which provide a moisture barrier for the phosphor layer of the electroluminescent lamp and allows all of the contacts for the lamp or the display to reside within the footprint of the lamp. The moisture barrier is provided without employing a pair of encapsulating polymer sheets. The resulting lamps and displays are provided with vias which allow leads to be attached to a front electrode and one or more back electrodes employed to provide a potential across a phosphor layer therebetween causing the phosphor to emit light. A second dielectric layer is deposited over the underlying architecture of the lamp or display and forms a seal with an exposed continuous phosphor free band of the front electrode, which surrounds the perimeter of the lamp and also seals with a phosphor free contact region at the bottom of the via which it passes down. The second layer also seals any passages provided which traverse the lamp or display.

Abstract: The present invention is for a bead breaking tool which can be used in combination with various tire stripping stands and benches to break a tire bead before a tire is stripped from its rim. The tool has sidewall engaging legs which depress the sidewall of the tire, opening pockets between the rim and the tire into which rim engaging jaws can be inserted. Providing the pockets reduces the likelihood of damage to the tire or rim during bead breaking. The tool is effective in removing rims which have a safety rib such as is employed for many of the rims which are intended for use with low pressure tires such as the tires for All Terrain Vehicles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for setting rock bolts. The device employs a common element for affixing the end of a feed shell with respect to a rock surface, stabilizing the feed shell and providing a common centralizer for centering all subsequent bolt setting operations. The device also has a bolt magazine which stores, advances and positions the bolts in line with a bolt driver.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for testing an engine designed to be run under the control of an engine control module. The system modifies the operation of the engine while maintaining the engine control module active so as to allow control of the engine to be transferred between the engine management system and the engine control module. The present invention allows an operator to alter the operation of the engine by varying the signals to the engine's injectors and ignition systems. While the engine is operating under user defined injector signals, a simulated exhaust gas signal is provided to the engine control module. This simulated exhaust gas signal allows the engine to be tested under operating conditions where the exhaust gas generated would cause correction by the engine control module making the test condition sought unsustainable.

Abstract: The present invention is for a remote drug injection device which is suitable for use with a standard hypodermic syringe. The device has a tube which has a front rim and rear rim and a tube axis. The tube has a syringe section having a longitudinal syringe engaging passage configured to grippably engage the syringe. The tube has a plunger section having a plunger passage with a cross section configured to accommodate the plunger. The tube has a rear section having a rear passage. The three tube passages are arranged so that their axis forms the tube axis. A syringe insertion passage passing through the syringe section of the tube is provided. The syringe insertion passage has an axis which intersects the tube axis. A bottom syringe passage opening extends form the front rim of the tube and joins the syringe insertion passage. Similarly, a top syringe passage opening is provided from the syringe insertion passage and extends to the plunger section.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an addressable electroluminescent display which eliminates ghost images resulting from leads used to energize the display. The addressable display has a polymer film substrate with a first electrode deposited onto the polymer film. A group electrode is provided which is spaced apart from the first electrode. The group electrode has segments so arranged that, when projected onto the first electrode, form a substantially continuous group electrode footprint. A phosphor layer is interposed between the first electrode and the group electrode. Preferably, a dielectric is also interposed between the phosphor layer and the group electrode. A group electrode insulating layer overlies the group electrode and has group electrode insulating layer passages therethrough. Group electrode leads overlay the group electrode insulating layer and are positioned such that their projection onto the first electrode lies within the group electrode footprint.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and a method which employs gas to position a resin sausage into a bolt hole drilled by a rock bolter. The system provides a controlled quantity of liquid into a resin sausage insertion chamber prior to supplying the gas to eject the sausage from the resin sausage insertion chamber. The liquid enhances the reliability and accuracy of the placement of the sausages in the bolt hole. Preferably, the system includes an expansion chamber through which the gas passes. The expansion chamber is provided so that the gas can be partially displaced by liquid and thereafter, liquid will be advanced into the resin sausage insertion chamber prior to the gas. The system can either have its own fluid supply or alternatively use a fluid supply of the rock bolter if one is provided for flushing the bolt holes.

Abstract: A construction framing tool is provide by an elongated body member and a pair of cooperative members at its opposite ends for assembling studs, joists and rafters between headers and footers. The tool includes a holder or cradle as part of one cooperative member and a shoulder as part of the other cooperative member.

Abstract: The present invention is for a futon frame which, in combination with a futon, will serve as a sofa or couch when in the closed position and a bed when in the open position. The futon frame has a base having a first end with a first base end slot and a second end with a second base end slot. A back is provided which has a first back side member and a second back side member. A first back pivot pin attaches to the first back side member and a second back pivot pin attaches to the second back side member, with the first back pivot pin slidably engaging the first base end slot while the second back pivot pin slidably engages the second base end slot. Preferably, the base end slots define a serpentine path. A first back support pivotably attaches to the first back side member and the base while a second back support pivotably attaches to the second back side member and the base. A seat having a first seat side member and a second seat side member pivotally attaches to the back.