Abstract: A system for restricting insertion removable disk drives in a computer to identified disk drives, having female connectors in the computer and male connectors on the disk drive. Each male connector has engaging members in recessed slots between conductive surfaces. Each female connector has spring-loaded contact members which are adapted to be engaged by the engaging embers. Each contact member has a first conductive area on one side which comes in electrical contact with a conductive surface of a male connector, and a second conductive area on an opposite side which is in electrical contact with the first conductive area. Contact connectors in the female connector are in continuous electrical connection to the computer. When an identified disk drive is inserted, the contact members are pushed back a predetermined distance so as to establish electrical contact between contact connectors and the second conductive areas.

Abstract: Kitchen storage unit having a body, a top, hollow vertical members around a perimeter of the body, with apertures for receiving containers in columns in each hollow vertical member, and pegs extending from the body between the vertical members. The body may be rotatably mounted on a base. An opening in the top provides access to a receptacle in the interior of the body.

Abstract: Assembly type packing device for decoration light strings comprises clamp structures for holding the lamp(s) or light(s), rack structures for supporting clamped lights; and linkage structures for linking together the rack structures into a package form. Optionally a base structure is provided to help maintain the racks erect so that a compact and orderly package for decoration light strings is achieved to facilitate storage, shipment and/or display.

Abstract: A necklace having a chain and a jewelry element has attaching members at each end of the chain and two pins extending from a rear surface of the jewelry element, with the pins disposed through the attaching members and bent back to the rear surface. A jewelry element having two L-shaped members, with a pin extending from an upright side of each and having an opposite end in close proximity to a base of each L-shaped member is disclosed. A jewelry element may have two pins attached at one end, terminating at the other end in a ball and disposed through attaching members, attached to ends of a chain. A method of making a necklace from a jewelry element having two pins extending from a rear surface thereof and a chain having attaching members at each end includes placing each attaching member over a pin and bending each pin back to the rear surface or heating each pin to form a ball at the end thereof.

Abstract: A deceleration zone in a linear motor in-track transit system is provided. The transit system includes a guideway and at least one vehicle carrying a linear motor secondary moveable along the guideway between a freight loading station and a freight unloading station. Linear induction motor (LIM) primaries are disposed along the guideway at spaced intervals to provide thrust to the vehicles. Deceleration zones are designated at certain segments of the guideway wherein reduced speed of the vehicles is required. The deceleration zones include a plurality of spaced permanent magnet decelerators located along the guideway adjacent the vehicle entrance end of the deceleration zone. The decelerators cause eddy currents to flow in the linear motor secondaries carried by vehicles passing thereover due to the magnetic interaction between the decelerators and the linear motor secondaries. The eddy currents result in a retarding thrust being supplied to the vehicles.

Abstract: A transit system implementing a reduced voltage braking scheme is provided. The transit system includes a guideway extending between freight loading and freight unloading stations. Freight carrying vehicles are moveable along the guideway between the stations. The guideway is divided into a number of blocks with each block including at least two linear motor primaries located along the guideway at spaced intervals. A controller is associated with each block and communicates with the linear motor primaries as well as with sensors positioned along the guideway within the block. The controller is in communication with the controllers in the adjacent upstream and downstream blocks and provides an occupied signal to the upstream block when a vehicle is detected in the block.

Abstract: Stopping zones in a linear motor in-track transit system are provided. The transit system includes a guideway and at least one vehicle moveable along the guideway between freight loading and unloading stations. Stopping zones are designated at certain segments of the guideway where it is necessary to stop a vehicle. The stopping zones include a primary brake in the form of a linear motor primary which is operable under normal conditions to stop the vehicle in the stopping zone at a designated stopping point when the vehicle enters the stopping zone. The linear motor primary is also operable to restart a vehicle it has stopped. A secondary brake is also provided along the guideway within the stopping zone and is spaced from the primary brake. The secondary brake typically remains inoperative but is also capable of stopping a vehicle within the stopping zone when the vehicle travels beyond the designated stopping point due to failure or malfunction of the primary brake.