Abstract: A fan blade assembly includes a fan blade and a blade iron. The proximal end of the blade iron is configured for securement to a conventional, commercially available fan motor. An openwork defines the perimeter of the fan blade. A decorative cover spans and is secured to the openwork. The distal end of the blade iron includes a fixture for detachably receiving and holding the proximal end of the openwork.

Abstract: A strained transistor includes a silicon transistor, an encapsulating layer of silicon insulating material with an outer surface, and a stress inducing multilayer cap deposited on the outer surface of the encapsulating layer with at least two layers including a layer of rare earth oxide and a layer including silicon. The stress inducing cap can be designed to provide either compressive strain or tensile strain and virtually any desired amount of strain without producing dislocations, defects, and fractures in the structure.

Abstract: A hand guard assembly for a firearm including a barrel. The assembly includes a tubular unitary body mounted to surround a portion of the barrel substantially coaxially and in a transversely spaced relationship. The tubular body includes a plurality of air flow openings formed therethrough and at least one of a top rail formed as a unitary portion of the tubular body and extending rearwardly along an upper portion of a receiver of the firearm, side accessory rails formed as a unitary portion of the tubular body and on opposed sides of the tubular body, and a bottom accessory rail formed as a unitary portion of the tubular body and on a bottom surface of the tubular body. In the preferred method of fabricating the assembly, the body and any include accessory rails are extruded.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a double gate FET on a silicon substrate includes the steps of sequentially epitaxially growing a lower gate layer of crystalline rare earth silicide material on the substrate, a lower gate insulating layer of crystalline rare earth insulating material, an active layer of crystalline semiconductor material, an upper gate insulating layer of crystalline rare earth insulating material, and an upper gate layer of crystalline rare earth conductive material. The upper gate layer and the upper gate electrically insulating layer are etched and a contact is deposited on the upper gate layer to define an upper gate structure. An impurity is implanted into the lower gate layer to define a lower gate area aligned with the upper gate structure. A source and drain are formed in the active layer and contacts are deposited on the source and drain, respectively.

Abstract: An integrated circuit and method of fabrication including a non-semiconductor material substrate with a layer of single crystal rare earth deposited on the surface thereof. A layer of single crystal semiconductor material is grown on the layer of single crystal rare earth and an integrated circuit is formed in the layer of single crystal semiconductor material. In a preferred embodiment the single crystal semiconductor material is silicon and the integrated circuit is formed by standard semiconductor industry processes.

Abstract: An animal accommodation station includes a base positionable upon a selected surface and supporting a shaft in an upright position. A canopy is carried at the upper end of the shaft. At an intermediate location, a cantilevered beam extends radially from the shaft. Food receptacles are detachably carried by the beam. A collar, rotatably coupled with the shaft intermediate the base and the beam, supports a radially extending arm having a free end to which is attached an animal leash.

Abstract: A vehicle loader mechanism mountable on a vehicle having a cargo deck for lifting loads onto the cargo deck is disclosed. The vehicle loader mechanism includes a base mountable on the cargo deck of the vehicle and a lift mechanism movable between a lowered position and a raised position. A drive linkage is coupled between the base and the lift mechanism and movable between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration for lateral movement of the lift mechanism. A leveling linkage is coupled between the base and the lift mechanism for movement with the drive linkage and to prevent tilting of the lift mechanism during movement of the drive linkage between the extended configuration and the retracted configuration. A cylinder is coupled to the drive linkage for moving the drive linkage between the extended configuration and the retracted configuration.

Abstract: Refuse collection apparatus including a collection container grasping mechanism and a lifting and dumping mechanism. The grasping mechanism includes a pair of grasping arms mounted for movement between an at-rest position and a grasping position, springs attached to the grasping arms so as to bias the grasping arms into the at-rest position, and a first hydraulic cylinder attached to an activating element for moving the grasping arms from the at-rest position into the grasping position. The lifting and dumping mechanism is coupled to the grasping mechanism for moving the grasping mechanism from a refuse container grasping position to a dumping position. The lifting and dumping mechanism includes elongated linking arms and a driving hydraulic cylinder coupled in a four point movement for simultaneously lifting and rotating the grasping mechanism from the refuse container grasping position into the dumping position.

Abstract: A shoe includes a toe section fabricated of a plurality of ribs which are pivotally movable relative the sole and support a flexible panel. The toe section is movable between an extended position to enclose the toes of the foot of a wearer and wherein the several ribs are circumferentially spaced and a retracted position in which the toes of the foot are exposed and the ribs reside mutually adjacent. Also provided is a heel section including a plurality of ribs supporting a flexible panel and movable between an extended position in which the heel of the foot is at least partially enclosed and a retracted position in which the heel is exposed.