Abstract: A golf club handgrip elevation device is provided which maintains the handgrip of the golf club off of the ground when the club is placed on the ground. The invention includes an opening in a receiving section into which the club is placed and includes a gripping section for holding golf club end. The gripping section may include brushes, flexible ribs, or fingers. A contact section is provided to contact the ground after the handgrip has been placed into the receiving section. The contact section is wide enough, such that it does not damage the surface of the golf course. A grip section or grip ring is provided adjacent the contact section which does not touch the ground and allows the golfer to pick up the golf club and remove the device without touching the ground or the contact section. Thus, there is no transfer of moisture from the ground to the golfer's hand.

Abstract: A point of sale document transaction system (“POSDTS”) provides a wholly contained system for authenticating users and payment methods for the authorization and charging of document output via industry standard methods of Electronic Funds Transfer. The POSDTS provides self service payment and collection at an output device without need for additional back end or server systems and integrates directly into industry standard financial interfaces. POSDTS operation can be extended to include any series of production devices that can be controlled via electronic means, network protocols, or embedded software.

Abstract: Socket for alternatively creating an electrical plug-in connection having a first plug (1), especially in the form of an XLR plug, or having a second plug constructed in the form of a jack connector (7), whereby the socket comprises a locking arm (22) with a locking protrusion (23) that engages, in the plugged-in state of the first plug (1), into a locking recession (6) in the plug housing (5) of the first plug (1), and an actuation unit (24), that in an active position keeps the locking protrusion (23) disengaged from the locking recession (6) of the first plug (1). The socket also has a locking device for the jack connector (7) that comprises a locking extension (37) that in the plugged-in state of the jack connector (7) engages in a constriction (12) of the contact tip (10) of the jack connector (7), and a blocking part (38) that has a contact surface (39) that in a blocking position of the blocking part (38) rests against an opposite contact surface (40) of the socket.

Abstract: A system comprising a plurality of methods for measuring surfaces or wavefronts from a test part with greatly improved accuracy, particularly the higher spatial frequencies on aspheres. These methods involve multiple measurements of a test part. One of the methods involves calibration and control of the focusing components of a metrology gauge in order to avoid loss of resolution and accuracy when the test part is repositioned with respect to the gauge. Other methods extend conventional averaging methods for suppressing the higher spatial-frequency structure in the gauge's inherent slope-dependent inhomogeneous bias. One of these methods involve averages that suppress the part's higher spatial-frequency structure so that the gauge's bias can be disambiguated; another method directly suppresses the gauge's bias within the measurements. All of the methods can be used in conjunction in a variety of configurations that are tailored to specific geometries and tasks.

Abstract: A golf bag carrying system, in the form of a triple strap carrier, includes a first and a second strap secured to the golf bag to define first and second shoulder openings, respectively. The first strap second end and the second strap first end are attached to a first ring, and the second strap is led through a second ring at a central (second) location at a mid-portion of the bag. The other ends of the first and second straps are secured to the golf bag longitudinally on opposite sides of the second location at first and third locations, respectively. A third strap is attached to the first ring and to the bag at a fourth location below the third location. The mounts for securing the straps to the bag, and the straps themselves, preferably are selectively adjustable to balance the bag in single-shoulder and dual-shoulder carrying modes.

Abstract: A modular stand-alone shelving system comprising left and right vertical support members, each having front and rear corner posts connected by a welded grid of horizontal and vertical rods. A plurality of shelves formed of sheet metal are disposed between the vertical support members, each shelf including hook elements formed near the corners thereof for engaging and resting on horizontal rods of the grid. A back member extends between the vertical support members and also includes hook elements formed near the corners thereof for engaging and resting on horizontal rods in the grid. Upper corners of the back member include first and second hooks disposed in planes spaced apart by the thickness of the vertical rods. When installed, the hooks rest on horizontal rods and straddle a vertical rod, preventing motion of the back member and rhombic distortion. The back member prevents rhombic distortion in the X and Z directions.

Abstract: An antikink device for an electrical cable (1) which is connected to an electrical device, in particular, an electrical connector, or an electrical appliance, and which exhibits electrical conductors (13, 14) and a cable sheath (16) that forms the outer insulation of the cable (1), is formed by an antikink segment (9) of the cable (1), over which the thickness (E) of the cable sheath (16) or the thickness (D) of an antikink layer (17) arranged within the cable sheath (16) increases in the direction toward the cable end (18) that lies nearer to the antikink segment (9).

Abstract: A system for non-contact measurement of thickness of a test object. A laser beam is split into two identical directly opposed input beams. A calibration object of known thickness causes beams to be reflected from sides of the test object. Each reflected beam passes through sensing means including a pinhole aperture and a photodiode sensor. Maximum sensor output defines first and second focal points a known distance apart. The calibration object is removed, and the test object is inserted into the path of the input beams, creating focus position intensity curves for the reflected beams. By determining the deviation, at maximum photodiode output, of the positions of the test object reflecting surfaces from the positions of the calibration object surfaces, the test object thickness can be readily and accurately determined.

Abstract: A system for non-contact measurement of thickness of an object. A laser beam is split into two identical input beams that are directly opposed. A calibration object of known thickness causes beams to be reflected from sides of the test object. Each reflected beam passes through auto-focus means including a quad sensor coupled to focusing means on the input beam, causing each input beam to be focused on the calibration object, thereby defining first and second focal points a known distance apart. The focus is locked and focus error data are generated for each beam. The calibration object is removed, and the test object is inserted into the path of the focused input beams, creating focus error signals for the reflected beams. By determining the deviation of the positions of the test object reflecting surfaces from the positions of the calibration object surfaces, the test object thickness can be readily and accurately determined.

Abstract: A dimmer fixture has a ballast board 10, a main board 40 and switch 70. The ballast board and main board have no inductors so the fixture may be used for fluorescent and incandescent lamps. The ballast board 10 has two bridge circuits 14, 16 and two dc voltage regulators. A delay circuit 24 prevents the VCO 26 for operating for long enough to allow fluorescent lamps to warm up. The main board has four power MOSFETS or IGBTs. One of devices Q1 and Q2 is always on. One of devices Q3, Q4 completes the drive to the lamps. Control signals on ballast board 10 operate the power devices Q1-Q4.

Abstract: A solid state sub-nanometer-scale electron beam emitter comprising a multi-layered structure having a nano-tip electron emitter and tunnel emission junction formed on substrate, an initial electron beam extraction electrode, a “nano-sandwich Einzel” electrode, and a topmost protective layer.

Abstract: In a secondary cell charging apparatus and secondary cell charging method, an internal power supply circuit of a personal computer is used as a power supply for performing a charging operation on a secondary cell. The personal computer uses a charging processing operation program and displays information relating to the charging operation.

Abstract: A bulkhead door for watertight closing of a bulkhead opening of a naval vessel, comprising a composite outer shell and inner shell, a chamber therebetween, and a channel along the door margin for retaining a gasket without adhesive. The chamber may be filled with a material such as a rigid foam to increase door strength and rigidity. The outer shell includes hinge blades spaced apart by a standard distance and spaced equally from ends of the door, so that each door may be used for either a right-hand or left-hand bulkhead hinge pin orientation. Metal strikers are bonded to the outer surface of the door for engaging closure dogs in use. A door may be provided without any strikers, and the strikers then bonded to the door at appropriate locations during installation of a door to a specific bulkhead opening location.

Abstract: A latch system for a watertight bulkhead door for closing a bulkhead opening. A plurality of surrounding shield elements are translated by an articulated mechanism into and out of locking engagement with the bulkhead door. A continuous wedged striker along the periphery of the door surface is engaged by wedged surfaces on the shield elements when the shield elements are translated into locking relationship with the door, causing a gasket in the door to be compressed against a collar surrounding the bulkhead opening. The shield elements abut each other in closed position, forming a continuous frame around the door to shield the gasket from fire and to provide a small radar cross-section. Preferably, the exterior shield elements are mounted to a prior art articulated dogging mechanism disposed on the interior of the bulkhead. A plurality of translatable inner bulkhead shields is also provided to cover the articulated mechanism for safety.