Abstract: An improved method and an apparatus for the ion implantation of spherical surfaces are disclosed. The method includes the provision of a revised fixture by which a plurality of spherical workpieces are presented to a large area ion beam in a way that their entire respective spherical surfaces are uniformly ion implanted to improve their surface characteristics. The fixture includes a disc mounted for motion about two axes normal to each other, a plurality of holes formed in a the disc loosely to accommodate therein a plurality of spherical workpieces, each of the plurality of holes formed with a spherical bottom and having a cleaning orifice, cooling means disposed on one side of the disc, a thermocouple operatively mounted in association with the disc, and a cover plate mounted on a second side of the disc and provided with a plurality of apertures concentric with the plurality of holes formed in the disc.

Abstract: An improved fastener for releasably securing bicycle accessories to a bicycle frame is disclosed. The fastener is formed with an integral body of a hard resilient polymer including a pair of opposed retainer portions and a medial portion therebetween. One retainer portion has an opening defined by a flexible pair of jaws with inner surfaces presenting a curved seat for snugly receiving a part of a bicycle frame ranging in diameter from one to about 11/2 inches. The medial portion acts as a buffer for mechanically and flexibly isolating the pair of retainer portions from each other and features a cusped opening. The other retainer portion is formed with a cross sectional opening including circular, rectangular, oval, crescent-shaped, pentagonal, hexagonal and octogonal. The pair of jaws are secured to the bicycle part by either a bent bolt, a straight bolt or a sex bolt.

Abstract: An improved photovoltaic cell and a process of making it are disclosed. Essentially, the process merges the technology of ESB with the phenomenon of total internal reflection to provide a photovoltaic cell of improved conversion efficiency and comprising a solar cell formed of a semiconductor material and provided with a front contact, a cover plate formed of a glass having a thermal expansion coefficient matching that of the semiconductor material, with the back surface of the cover plate provided with a plurality of V-grooves overlying the front contact and being electrostatically bonded to the solar cell. The V-grooves serve both as clearance slots for the front contact and its converging facets as reflecting surfaces to direct incident light onto the cell's surfaces in between the front contact grid lines.

Abstract: An improved process of making a ferroelectric electronic component, such as a non-volatile RAM or an electro-optic switching array, is disclosed. The process essentially includes the separate formation of two subassemblies and then connecting them by placing one on top of the other. Electrical contacts are made by "bumping" or other "flip chip" techniques.

Abstract: A seat for disabled driver or passenger at the door of an automotive vehicle, the door moving between closed and open positions at a doorway through which the seat is accessible. The seat comprises a seat cushion including a stationary cushion component remote from the doorway and a lift cushion component adjacent to the doorway, the lift cushion component being constrained for movement in a path between a retracted position and an extended position. The lift cushion component, when in extended position, is located upwardly of its retracted position. The lift cushion component is controlled by an operational system that includes a manual actuator for maintaining movement between the retracted position and the extended position when under constant manual control. The actuator is accessible to constant manual control at the window sill of a front door of the automotive vehicle.

Abstract: An improved bicycle lock, featuring a U-shaped shackle, a cross bar and means for securing one to the other, is disclosed. The means for securing the shackle to the cross bar also functions as a fulcrum, permitting a tilting movement between the two parts, required in assembling and dissassembling them. The means further includes a locking mechanism removably mounted in the cross bar in between the shackle's legs, and features a dead bolt. The cross bar extends beyond the shackle's legs less than twice the diameter of one of those legs, resulting in a compact and sturdy design. A plastic cover encloses at least the cross bar and is preferably formed of two parts slidably fitted over the cross bar, with means for securing the two parts to one another. Preferably, an environmental protection means is provided for the locking mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide, for use on a limited site, an integrated architectural structure comprising particular personal occupancy space, particular automotive vehicle parking space, and particular access space communicating therebetween, all intimately juxtaposed. The personal occupancy space contains a plurality of personal occupancy units, i.e. apartments or offices, and at least one personal occupancy elevator and stairwell. The vehicle parking space contains one or more elevator lifts of specific design, namely, a lift that is movable only vertically and that includes a vertical array of levels, each level of which includes a horizontal array of automotive vehicle locations. Movement of this parking lift to selected vertical positions is such that selected levels of the vertical array communicate with the access level at selected times for vehicle storage or vehicle retrieval.

Abstract: An improved method and an apparatus for the ion implantation of spherical surfaces are disclosed. The method includes the provision of a revised fixture by which a plurality of spherical workpieces are presented to a large area ion beam in a way that their entire respective spherical surfaces are uniformly ion implanted to improve their surface characteristics. The fixture includes a disc mounted for motion about two axes normal to each other, a plurality of holes formed in a the disc loosely to accommodate therein a plurality of spherical workpieces, each of the plurality of holes formed with a spherical bottom and having a cleaning orifice, cooling means disposed on one side of the disc, a thermocouple operatively mounted in association with the disc, and a cover plate mounted on a second side of the disc and provided with a plurality of apertures concentric with the plurality of holes formed in the disc.

Abstract: The present invention enables visualizing, identifying and ordering speed reduction gearing configurations, particularly enclosed worm gear configurations, by a system comprising a mechanical display and a digital computer, which cooperate in a novel manner. The mechanical display includes sequences of adjustable slide media, each having at least a stationary base component and a rotatable disk component of sufficiently large size for convenient visual and manual access. The digital computer includes a host computer and a plurality of dedicated terminals that communicate with the host computer through telephone lines. Each of the terminals contains a programmed read only memory which guides the terminal user, through a sequence of inquiries, to automatically telephone the host computer, to transmit input data from the mechanical display to the host computer, and to display the result data received from the host computer for confirmation or rejection by the user.

Abstract: A motility scanner and method are disclosed for characterizing the motion of sperm, bacteria, particles suspended in flowing fluids and the like. The motility scanner preferably is mounted as a portable unit in a container and includes an optical system, a source of illumination for the system, a heated specimen support disposed in the system, ratiation sensing means coupled to the system, signal processing means for analyzing signals generated by the radiation sensing means, and a front panel disposed on the container and featuring an output screen, a printer and controls required for operating the motility detector, including a power switch. A disposable specimen holder of unique design allows external loading thereof and its positioning on the heated specimen support. The source of illumination can be a conventional filament lamp or one or more LED's. Power for the motility scanner can be self contained by incorporating a battery pack within the container or it can be derived from a conventional 110 V.A.C.

Abstract: An improved motility scanner is disclosed for characterizing the motion of sperm, bacteria, particles suspended in flowing fluids and the like. The motility scanner includes an improved optical system, a source of illumination for the system and radiation sensing means including electronic image reversal means coupled to the system. A disposable specimen holder allows external loading thereof and its positioning on a heated specimen support. The illumination source functions as a collimator in directing all of the emanating illumination onto the specimen. Both directly transmitted light and light scattered by the specimen are received by an imaging lens and are both focussed thereby onto pixels of a light sensitive device. A movable plate provided with a retarding member is designed to be located at the plane conjugate to the plane of the small source aperature. The directly transmitted light is transmitted through the retarding member and/or the attenuating member.

Abstract: An improved fluid waste transporter is disclosed designed temporarily to receive and hold and, when full, to transport and unload hot waste oils and the like into a main disposal tank. The improved fluid waste transporter is essentially a hollow elongated wheeled container provided with a chute. It features a baffle screen between the container the chute. The baffle screen is removable in one embodiment and is both removable and pivotable in another embodiment. Preferably, a side of the chute incorparates a fill shot. Preferably, the wheels of the elongated container are secured thereto on axles that are non-rotatably mounted in flanges projecting from the container. The transporter has two handles, one at each of its ends. A first handle adjacent the chute preferably is of circular construction and made of wood, plastic and/or natural or synthetic rubber. A second handle, disposed at the wheeled end, preferably is secured to the container via a pair of flanges attached thereto.

Abstract: The present invention provides a floor lamp of novel design in which a particular forwardly extending illuminator assembly is positioned above a particular forwardly extending base assembly by a particular telescoping tube assembly in association with a particular touch responsive electrical system. The arrangement is such that manually accessible parts of the base assembly, the illuminator assembly, and the telescoping tube assembly all are composed of metal, particularly brass or chrome plated metal. The designs of all of the these assemblies are consistent with the lamp's simplicity of construction, and communicate with each other electrically to permit touch switching of the DC electronic circuit that controls the AC electrical power input to the lamp.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for the ion implantation of spherical surfaces are disclosed. The method essentially includes the provision of a fixture by which a plurality of spherical workpieces are presented to a large area ion beam in a way that their entire respective spherical surfaces are uniformly ion implanted to improve their surface characteristics. The fixture basically includes a solid disc mounted for motion about two axes normal to each other, a plurality of cages formed in a first surface of the disc loosely to accommodate therein a plurality of spherical workpieces, cooling means disposed on a second surface of the disc, and a cover plate and/or mask mounted on the first surface of the disc and provided with a plurality of apertures concentric with the plurality of cages formed in the disc.

Abstract: An improved toe guard for footwear and footwear so made are disclosed. The toe guard is non-metallic, reducing thereby risks associated with electrical shocks and the detonation of land mines. Preferably, the final composite from which the toe guard is molded is produced from an intermediate composite that is extruded while molten in strips from a die at the same time that fibers are advanced through the die together with and enveloped by the extruded strips. These strips are cut into predetermined lengths and the resulting sections are mixed and compacted in their molten state to provide the composite for the toe guard, this composite being such that the fiber is distributed in groups, adjacent increments of the strands of a given group being substantially parallel, but the strands of different groups being at random angles with respect to each other. Preferably, the toe guard is formed with a long top portion to provide protection extending beyond the toes.

Abstract: A sputter enhanced ion implantation process is disclosed that uses to advantage the ion beam sputtering phenomenon to deposit layers of coatings on surfaces of interest simultaneously with ion implanting that surface, and that without the use of a separate evaporation system. The process can be applied to almost any workpiece of varied geometries. The process can be used for the deposition of hard coatings as well as ion implanting soft solid lubricants into various substrates. The process is particularly suitable for improving the physical and chemical properties of workpieces exposed to excessive wear, erosion, corrosion and fatigue and workpieces benefitting from a reduced coefficient of friction, such as ball bearings, gears, toolings, orthopaedic surgical implants and the like.

Abstract: The invention concerns a paper transport device with cylinders to guide the continuous form paper towards and away from printing devices in which a cylinder pulling the paper into, a cylinder guiding the paper out and a cylinder pulling tight the paper are deposited revolvingly in parallel of their axis, whereby the cylinder pulling the paper in and the cylinder guiding the paper out are installed in some distance and at the same time working together and the spindle of the cylinder guiding the paper out is to be driven by means of power transmitting devices of the spindle of the cylinder pulling the paper in.

Abstract: A radioactivity detection system including a crystal detector formed of a unitary body and having two sensing heads. Each sensing head defines a specific address location in a sensing array having a plurality of detectors. A number of detectors are superposed on the sensing array such that activity in one sensing head activates two adjacent detectors, one more than the other. The system further includes means for mounting the detectors for relative motion with respect to a subject and processing means coupled to the detectors. Preferably, the mounting means is operatively connected to an exercising means for stress analysis. Preferably, the mounting means is secured on a movable platform and is connected to the exercising means by a quick connect-disconnect mechanism. In a further embodiment, a detector assembly is designed for rotation about the subject.

Abstract: A stack of improved bracket table cover sheets for use by dentists is disclosed. The sheets have ridges throughout their peripheries. The outer edges of the ridges extend downwardly. The ridges are designed to fit snugly over the peripheral ledges of the bracket table or of a separate backing designed to be positioned on the bracket table. Preferably, one of the raised edges is provided with an integral flap. The improved bracket table cover sheet of the stack comprises a paper component and a water and organic solvent impervious component. In one form, the impervious component is wax that impregnates the paper component. In another form the impervious component is a polymeric coating. Each bracket table cover sheet of the stack is characterized by a drape, hand, and feel that permits it to be easily folded and wrapped into a disposable pack.

Abstract: A metal shelf lock, formed of metal for extra strength, and of improved construction is disclosed for securing shelves both vertically and horizontally in cabinets and the like. The shelf lock includes a unitary body formed of stainless steel, tempered steel, heat treated steel, spring steel, aluminum, brass or the like into essentially an L-shaped frame. The frame features an upright section and a horizontal section, with a flexible portion depending at an angle from the upright section and terminating in a tab. A hollow peg is formed in the upright section at about midway thereof and in operative association with the tab. The peg extends from the upright section in a direction opposed yet parallel to the horizontal section and at a distance less than the horizontal section. The hollow peg frictionally retains the metal shelf in a wall socket and is designed to receive the tab when the flexible portion is flexed by a shelf toward the upright section.