Abstract: A method of adjusting the position of a first object relative to a second object, the first object being releasably secured to the second object by a bolt. The method includes providing a precision movement tool comprising an L-shaped bracket having a base portion and a flange portion extending substantially perpendicularly from the base portion adjacent one end thereof, the base portion having an aperture adjacent an opposite end thereof, and a threaded adjustment bolt extending through a threaded aperture in the flange portion. The bolt is removed and the base portion of the precision movement tool is positioned so that the aperture in the base portion is aligned with apertures in the first and second objects from which the bolt has been removed. The precision movement tool is also positioned so that the flange portion overlies the first object such that the adjustment bolt can engage the first object.

Abstract: A hockey stick handle has an inner shaft member which provides flexing characteristics and an outer tubular member in which the inner shaft member is fitted and which provides protection for the inner shaft member.

Abstract: An annular co-extrusion die for extruding multi-layer tubular plastic film has inner die members stacked one upon another and having radially outwardly extending surfaces forming radially outwardly extending helical passages between respective pairs of inner die members. An annular outer die member surrounds the stacked inner die members and forms a longitudinally extending annular passage therebetween for conveying plastic material from the radially outwardly extending helical passages to an annular extrusion orifice. A lower inner die member has a first feed passage extending from a lower surface thereof to a substantially horizontal upper surface thereof at a position spaced from a central longitudinal axis of the longitudinally extending annular passage, the substantially horizontal upper surface having a first groove extending from the upper end of the first feed passage to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A surface acoustic wave sensor or identification device has a piezoelectric material, and an interdigitated transducer (IDT) input/output mounted on the piezoelectric material for receiving a radio frequency (RF) signal and propagating a corresponding surface acoustic wave along a surface of the piezoelectric material. An IDT finger electrode array is mounted on the piezoelectric material and is operable to communicate with the IDT input/output for transmission of a modified RF signal from the device. The IDT finger electrode array has at least one finger electrode segment whose propagating characteristics are controlled to control the nature of the modified RF signal. A biolayer is mounted on the piezoelectric material and is associated with the finger electrode segment, and a fluidic chamber is associated with the biolayer.

Abstract: A dental hygiene accessory for cleaning a dental scaler or similar dental instrument has a platform member with a multitude of bristles upstanding from a central area of the platform. An annular body of soft dental debris retaining material is carried by the platform and surrounds the bristles. The accessory also has a retainer extending downwardly from the platform and engageable with a hygienist's finger to retain the accessory thereon.

Abstract: A SAW RFID tag or sensor has an antenna for receiving and propagating an RF signal, an input/output IDT electrically connected to the antenna, and a dual track reflective IDT having a first track and a second track located adjacent and acoustically coupled to the input/output IDT. An RF signal received from the antenna by the input/output IDT is transformed by the input/output IDT into an acoustic way which is propagated to the dual track IDT. One track of the dual track IDT is in-phase with the phase reference of the input/output IDT and the other track is in quadrature phase with said phase reference. The input/output IDT receives two orthogonal complex modulated acoustic waves reflected from the first and second tracks and transforms them to a modulated orthogonal complex RF signal which is propagated from the antenna.

Abstract: A harness for horse racing has a back-engaging tree with an arched body shaped to fit across a horse's back, a pair of laterally-spaced fork members projecting downwardly from opposite sides of the arched body so as to extend downwardly on opposite sides of the horse's body when in use, and a pair of laterally-spaced independently resiliently deflectable spring members extending rearwardly from the arched body and shaped to confirm with the shape of a horse's back. A girth strap assembly is attached to the back-engaging tree, the girth strap assembly having shaft attachments on opposite sides thereof below the back-engaging tree for attaching the shafts of a sulky thereto.

Abstract: A surface acoustic wave sensor or identification device has a piezoelectric substrate, an interdigitated transducer (IDT) input/output mounted on a substrate for receiving a radio frequency (RF) signal and propagating a corresponding surface acoustic wave along a surface of the substrate. An IDT reflector array is mounted on the substrate and operable to receive a surface acoustic wave and reflect the surface acoustic wave in modified form back to the IDT input/output for transmission of a corresponding modified RF signal from the device. The IDT reflector array has at least one reflector segment whose reflectivity characteristics are controlled to control the nature of the modified RF signal.

Abstract: An electrical connector has an elongated metal base portion, a releasable cable clamp at each opposite end of the base portion, and a connector block of electrical insulating material secured to the base portion between the cable clamps. The connector block has at least one passage therethrough extending from one end of the connector block to an opposite end thereof. A metal connector tube in each passage receives end portions of wires of two electrical cables to effect an electrical connection therebetween, each cable clamp being operable to clamp a respective cable to the connector.

Abstract: A group of SAW RFID tags or sensors each has a transducer with interdigitated fingers, a different set of fingers in each tag or sensor being reversed in phase to cause the tag or sensor to provide a unique identifier in a returned impulse response produced by the tag or sensor when interrogated by an interrogation signal.

Abstract: Water-insoluble violet benzimidazolone monoazo pigments of the formula: wherein R1, R2 and R3 each represent hydrogen, chlorine, bromine, methyl, methoxy, ethoxy, nitro or a group of the formula —COOR with R being hydrogen, methyl or ethyl, and R4 represents hydrogen, chlorine, bromine, methyl, methoxy, ethoxy or nitro group. Due to the presence of two 5-membered heterocyclic rings in the molecule, these pigments display very high thermoresistance and excellent fastness to migration.

Abstract: A truck axle assembly has a pair of transversely spaced longitudinally extending swing arms each attachable adjacent one end to a truck chassis for pivotal movement relative thereto about a transverse axis. Each swing arm has an axle mounting bracket detachably secured thereto adjacent an opposite end thereof, and each axle mounting bracket has a transverse portion extending across the swing arm and a pair of transversely spaced attachment portions extending from the transverse portion on opposite sides of the swing arm and detachable secured thereto. An axle extends transversely across the swing arms adjacent the opposite ends thereof and detachably secured to the mounting brackets. Each axle mounting bracket also supports a brake actuating member for a brake mechanism mounted on an adjacent end of the axle.

Abstract: A method of opening and closing a bag having a front and a rear and an opening at the top includes feeding the bag to a machine which holds an upper end of the front of the bag, moves the upper end of the rear of the bag rearwardly to partially open the bag clamps each opposite side of the bag while the bag is in the partially open configuration, and moves the clamped opposite sides of the bag and the rear of the bag rearwardly to a fully open position.

Abstract: A lock for preventing one member from moving relative to another member has a housing securable to one member, and a plunger unit mounted in the housing. The plunger unit has a sleeve, a plunger slidably mounted in the sleeve, and a spring acting between the plunger and the sleeve to resiliently bias the plunger to a locking position in which a free end portion of the plunger projects from one end of the sleeve. The plunger also has a manually operable portion projecting from an opposite end of the sleeve. In the locking position, the free end portion of the plunger projects from the housing to extend into an aperture in the other member, when the housing is secured to the one member, and thereby prevent relative movement between the members. The plunger also has an unlocking position in which the free end portion thereof is withdrawn from the aperture in the other member by pulling the manually operable portion against the action of the spring.

Abstract: A pole climbing and safety device has a flexible strap which in use is passed around the pole on the opposite side thereof to a climber, and a pair of handles each adjacent a respective opposite end of the strap and grippable by the climber's hands, each handle being pivotally connected to the respective opposite end of the strap for pivotal movement relative thereto about an upright axis. The device also has a pair of harness attachment arms each adjacent an opposite end of the strap and to which left and right harness members of a harness worn by the climber are respectively attached when in use, each harness attachment arm being pivotally connected to the adjacent end of the strap for pivotal movement relative to the strap and to the adjacent handle about the same upright pivotal axis.

Abstract: A basketball return net assembly is attachable to a basketball hoop support having a post extending upwardly from the ground and carrying a basketball hoop adjacent an upper end thereof. The return net assembly includes a flexible foldable return net and an elongated rigid net-carrying member extending along the upper end of the net to enable the net to be supported in a latterly-extending configuration. The upper end of the net and the net-carrying member can be suspended from an upper portion of the hoop support behind the hoop, and an attachment bracket is connected to opposite lower corner portions of the net and is adjustably securable to the post to enable the bracket to be adjusted relative thereto.

Abstract: An air purged shaft seal assembly has a seal housing fixedly securable to a stationary support and having a circular aperture through which a shaft can pass. The seal housing has an internal annular surface defining the circular aperture, the internal annular surface having a first annular portion for engaging an outer surface of an annular sealing member and a second annular portion shaped to partially form an air receiving chamber. The seal housing has a passage for supplying air under pressure from an external source thereof to the air receiving chamber. A sleeve mountable on the shaft for sliding movement therealong, the sleeve having an external peripheral surface with a first peripheral portion co-operable with the first annular portion of the internal annular surface of the seal housing to receive the annular sealing member therebetween and a second peripheral portion co-operable with the second annular portion of the internal annular surface of the seal housing to form the air receiving chamber.