Abstract: A modular toggle mechanism assembly has a housing assembly, a toggle handle pivotally mounted in the housing assembly and movable between a first position and a second position, biasing means for selectively biasing the toggle handle in the first position or the second position, and an actuator arm connected to the toggle handle and capable of selectively actuating an external switching device as a function of the position of the toggle handle. The modular toggle assembly also includes an external switching device in selective association with the toggle handle. The housing assembly includes an upper housing and a lower housing configured to be secured together, wherein a portion of the toggle handle extends from an opening in the upper housing for user operation of the handle.

Abstract: System and method for opening and temporarily supporting a section of a generally tubular organ, the system includes a dilation catheter, the dilation catheter includes an integrally connected shape memory catheter tip, the shape memory catheter tip, is made of a shape memory alloy, wherein said shape memory catheter tip assumes a first shape at a first temperature and a second shape at a second temperature.

Abstract: An arc fault detector comprised as a stand alone unit and in combination with a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) functions to provide protection from potentially dangerous arc fault conditions. When combined with a GFCI, the combination arc fault/ground fault circuit interrupter (AFCI/GFCI) provides protection from both arc fault and ground fault conditions. A single transformer is used to detect faults between neutral and ground and arc faults. An impedance splits the current flow into two portions so as to generate differential current proportional to the current flowing through the conductors. An early arcing detector periodically tests the AC line for high impedance between the device and a main breaker panel. The AFCI/GFCI device detects both AC line frequencies and high frequencies associated with arcing. Both average and instantaneous values of both AC line frequency and high frequency arcing signals are processed to generate an arc fault signal.

Abstract: An electrical control system including a plurality of electrical devices communicates over a network and interfaces and works with non-protocol devices and signals that only send/receive an on/off digital signal or send/receive one of numerous analog signals. The devices communicate with one another over a network implemented using different types of media. The system includes the necessary user interfaces, network management system interfaces and displays to provision, administer, operate and maintain the electrical device network. The system is particularly suited for lighting control applications to control the lights and/or other electrical loads within an office, building, room or home by motion detection, ambient light sensing, switching functions, dimming functions, temperature sensing functions and humidity sensing functions. Most devices are equipped to put the device in an ON, OFF, or AUTO mode.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of inhibiting and overriding the normal operating mode of an input device connected to a communications network function within an electrical network made up of input devices, with a group of the input devices being capable of commanding an electrical control device to apply and remove electrical power from an electrical load. The input devices or nodes communicate with the electrical control device over the communications network. When one of the input devices is turned off, the normal operating mode of all of the other input sensors is inhibited. The electrical control device remains inhibited until all of the input devices are no longer in the off position. Thus, electrical power to the load controlled by the electrical control device remains disconnected until all input devices are in the on position. Local and remote signaling, control, and indication diagnostic and monitoring functions are also performed.

Abstract: An air sensitive input device is capable of use in a variety of environments which include, without limitation, toys, computer and video games, consumer appliances, musical instruments, and devices which assist the disabled. A housing having an intake port and an exhaust port includes therein a switching mechanism configured to change between open and closed positions in response to air flow entering the intake port.

Abstract: Resettable circuit interrupting devices, such as GFCI devices, that include a reset lock-out mechanism are provided. The reset lock-out mechanism prevents the resetting of electrical connections between input and output conductors if the circuit interrupting mechanism used to break the connection is non-operational or if an open neutral condition exists.

Abstract: There is provided a system for opening and temporarily supporting a section of a generally tubular organ. The system includes a dilation catheter which has an integrally connected shape memory catheter tip. The shape memory catheter tip is made of a shape memory alloy. The shape memory catheter tip assumes a first shape at a first temperature and a second shape at a second temperature. Accordingly, the shape memory catheter tip is inserted into the body of the patient, while being in a narrow shape and expands within the body of the patient.

Abstract: An apparatus for and a method of compressing the forwarding decision for a frame within a network device. A forwarding decision is compressed yielding a forwarding pointer that occupies far less memory space than the corresponding output port vector. The compressed forwarding pointers are stored in a forwarding table that is accessed using a hash function. A forwarding CAM is used to resolve conflicts in the hash table. The output port vectors are stored in an output port vector table that comprises a relatively small number of possible combinations of the port vector. A forwarding decision is made for each received frame by a forwarding processor in the device. The forwarding decision is represented by a compressed forwarding pointer that is stored in a table and associated with the received frame. At some later point in time, the frame is output to one or more destination ports in accordance with a corresponding output port vector.

Abstract: A data surge protection module can be added to data and control networks not having such surge protection. The use of quick connect/disconnect connectors allows for the rapid installation and/or replacement of such modules. A built-in ground plate and a braided low impedance conductor offer alternative grounding for the module. The module employs two or more diode steering bridges and uses a diode as a surge suppression element.

Abstract: An arc fault detector, as a stand alone device or in combination with a circuit interrupting device such as a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), protects from potentially dangerous arc fault conditions. The device utilizes line side and load side pickup coils to distinguish between arc faults occurring on the line or load side. An arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) circuitry portion of the device shares components from the GFCI circuitry portion, and utilizes the electromechanical power carrying portion of the GFCI, including AC line disconnect circuitry and a power supply. The AFCI employs quantitative detection using variable gain control in combination with either a load disconnect or audible/visual alarm indication. The device also includes a timer circuit, which permits the user to temporarily inhibit or disable the arc detection, and selective frequency filtering permitting arc detection in the presence of power line carrier communications.

Abstract: A bow resistant connector for coupling frame components at right angles to each other includes a pair of legs extending from an apex, the legs being disposed at right angles to each other. The lateral side edges of the legs include fingers the outer surfaces of the fingers being formed with barbs for locking the leg to a respective frame member. The fingers are separated from the main body of the legs by slots. A boss is deflected from the body of the leg outwardly to provide a reinforcing rib, the boss being located between and in general alignment with the fingers. A secondary boss or rib member is formed adjacent the lead edge of the leg the secondary boss extending to the opposite side of the leg from the main rib or boss. The secondary boss engages a surface of the frame to provide additional stability to the connection between the connector leg and the frame component.

Abstract: A four function electrical rocker switch has two single pole, single throw on/off sections having their movable contact arms coupled to a single electrical line and their fixed contacts connected to individual circuits. The two switch sections are independently operated. A third rocker switch is a single pole, double throw switch with a center-off position. The third switch can be operated to either of two positions to operate either one of two independent circuits or can be left in the center-off position not engaging either circuit. A five function electrical rocker switch can be made up of one section having a single pole, single throw on/off switch and two sections with single pole, double throw switches which each have a center-off position.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a convertible glove assembly adapted to be configured as a conventional, hand encompassing glove unit or as a partial hand encompassing unit wherein the fingers of the wearer (excepting the thumb) are exposed. The device includes a palm portion terminating in four tubular extensions and a finger portion having four finger encompassing sacs adapted to be folded into registry with the tubular extensions of the palm portion. A flap or band on the finger portion overlaps extensions of the palm portion to provide full leak resistant closure. In accordance with a first embodiment, Velcro Brand Fastener components may be interposed between the flap and palm. In a further embodiment the back of one or more of the finger sacs and the back of the palm portion adjacent the cuff are provided with complemental Velcro Brand Fastener connections whereby the finger sacs are maintained in a folded back condition.

Abstract: A surgical mask of the type worn about the nose and face and tied about the head or ears. To the inner surface of the mask, a nasal dilator, in the form of two attachment devices, each with a base upon which two layers of pressure sensitive adhesive is applied using one of the adhesive layers. The mask is pinched in towards the sides of the nose and the adjacent portions of the face to attach the mask to the nose and adjacent portions of the face. When the pinch in forces are removed the mask attempts to return to its initial position and outwardly moves the skin and muscles of the sides of the nose and adjacent face portions to expand the nasal passages of the nose. The attachment devices cover muscles which control the lower valve and the inner valve of the nose and are attached with ⅔ of their area on the nose and ⅓ of their area on the face.

Abstract: A mounting strap device can be configured to mount a number of different types of wallplates of decreasing length. A central body portion has removable tabs which engage a wallplate of a first length and a first type. The removable tabs can be removed to expose pairs of removable members at the strap device ends which contain flexible latch pawls to mount a second, shorter type wallplate. The removable members can be removed to allow the mounting strap device to be fixed to a shorter length, third type wallplate by means of threaded fasteners.

Abstract: A modular electrical component for electrical wiring systems is provided. The modular electrical component includes a removable electrical device, a base unit that fits within a junction box in the electrical wiring system and a mounting strap used to secure the base unit to the junction box. Typically, the removable electrical device has a plurality of power contacts that extend from a rear cover of the device, and the base unit has a plurality of terminal connections. The power contacts electrically connect to the terminal connections, when the replaceable electrical device is mated with the base unit. The removable electrical device may be, for example, a receptacle or switch. Preferably, the removable electrical device is a circuit interrupting device, such as a ground fault circuit interrupting device.

Abstract: A system for sensing and maintaining the light level within an area. The invention comprises multiple lux sensor readers that function to measure the current light level within an area. One or more controllers are used to control the dimming level of each light source in accordance with the readings received from the plurality of lux sensors. The readings are averaged such that over time any extreme readings are averaged out. The light level of the plurality of light sources is adjusted in accordance with the averaged readings. This virtually eliminates areas in the room where the light is too dim or too bright and serves to average out any manufacturing and component tolerance differences between devices. In addition, the invention comprises the optional assignment of a weight factor to each reading or average to further provide the ability to give more importance to certain regions in the room over others thus further assisting in eliminating areas where the light is either too dim or too bright.

Abstract: A rotary seal assembly is comprised of a collar adapted to be fixedly mounted on a shaft, the collar including a plurality of through going apertures parallel to the axis of the shaft. Drive fingers are slideably mounted within the bores of the collar, an inner end of the fingers being fixed to a pusher ring shiftable toward and away from the collar. The outer end of the fingers extend through complemental apertures formed in a containment ring into a rotary seal component. Springs are biased between the containment ring and drive collar to urge the fingers axially into aligned bores formed in a rotary seal member.

Abstract: A fabric grounding tape and method of making same is disclosed. In accordance with the method the tape is woven on a needle loom using polyester and stainless steel warp yarns. The yarns are maintained under tension during and after the weaving process and are subjected to a heat setting procedure while still under tension. The resultant tape has the hand or feel of a conventional all polyester tape and a low ohmic resistance, i.e. 10 ohms or less per inch. The tape can sustain a multiplicity of laundering cycles without significant increase of resistivity.