Abstract: A hanging pad or pod is provided as an instrument mounting fixture for marine instruments, in which the pad or pod is suspended from the arch of a pedestal guard such that the instrument is upwardly inclined for easy viewing by presenting navigational data within the arch of the pedestal guard in the line of sight of the helmsman. The proximity of the pad or pod to the helmsman permits data entry within easy reach of the helmsman.

Abstract: A universal multi-function tool in the form of a painter's knife is provided in which the tool includes a slender pivoted, elongated element with a sharp tip for puncturing caulking tubes and an integral pusher bar specially adapted for contacting glazing points to serve as a glazing point setter for forcing the toothed portions of the glazing point into corresponding window and door frames. The tool is also provided with a paint can opener and both phillips head and flat head screwdrivers to permit storm window screw removal as well as light fixture plate removal. A knife is also provided for removal of the caulking tube tip, thereby eliminating the necessity of a razor knife, although a detachable razorblade holder is provided as an optional feature for cleaning windows. All of the tool elements are pivoted at respective ends of the tool, with the subject painter's knife providing no sharp objects protruding into the painter or his pocket.

Abstract: A microwave system is provided for the broadcast of multiple channels of audio programming to a wide listener base, in which noise-free transmission of multiple audio channels is accomplished through microwave transmission followed by down converting the received signal to television band frequencies, accomplished in one embodiment through the use of a single MDS channel.

Abstract: A switch plate labelling assembly is provided by a label holder which includes a unitary frame having an apertured base plate in which the frame, in one embodiment, is attached over a standard switch plate utilizing a screw normally used to anchor the switch plate to the switch. In one embodiment, the aperture is provided with a frustoconical portion projecting rearwardly from the back surface of the base, with the aperture being offset downwardly from the center of the base to permit the frame and the label it carries to provide a maximum amount of labelling area and still remain within the confines of the switch plate. The label holder may be used for switches, plugs, or other electrical apparatus which are fastened to outlet boxes in which a covering device is employed and secured in place with screws.

Abstract: A compact system specially adapted for optical scanning in microscopes, substantially eliminates vibration associated with scanned elements which are rapidly reciprocated through relatively large angular arcs at substantial distances from a pivot axis by providing a counterrotating counterbalancing element and a second counterbalancing element rigidly connected to the scanned element in which the centers of mass of both the counterrotating counterbalance and the counterbalanced scanned element are placed on a single rotational axis about which the two counterbalanced systems oppositely rotate, thereby eliminating unbalanced momentum vectors to reduce transmission of vibration to the stationary supporting structures.

Abstract: A magnetometer is desclosed in which a gas cell containing atomic vapor is pulse pumped at one of the transitions of the gas in the cell. After the pulse has passed through the gas cell, thereby causing alignment of all the individual atomic moments along the propagation direction of the pulse, a probe beam reads out the Larmor precession frequency of the freely precessing atoms in terms of the frequency of the amplitude modulation of the probe beam caused by the free precession within the gas cell. The system is suitable for laboratory measurements of the absolute value of a magnetic field and for packaging in an expendable battery powered water-born buoy becuase of the low power consumption of the subject system.

Abstract: A knotmeter impeller eliminator system is provided which includes a circuit that simulates the pulsed output of an impeller-type transducer system by generating pulses having a pulse repetition rate corresponding to speed, with the speed being derived from a navigation unit such as a LORAN, GPS, SAT/NAV or OMEGA unit which provides as an output thereof a standardized NMEA 0183 coded signal corresponding to calculated speed. In one embodiment, a switching system is provided which switches the knotmeter input between either the impeller output or the simulated output to provide a speed indication regardless of whether or not the impeller is jammed by seaweed, eel grass, or other debris.

Abstract: A unitized assembly for control of ram-actuated stair climbing type exercise equipment provides rigidly connected ram cylinders in a unitary structure which includes a pair of castings, in which the castings eliminate the necessity of individually mounting discrete ram cylinders while at the same time eliminating the necessity for over 20 parts as compared to piston type hydraulic systems assembled from discrete components. The top casting accommodates two rams, one for each pivoted stair step. The bottom casting includes two chambers and the passageways that connect them with the rate valve that controls exercise speed. The passageways also connect to the fluid volume valve which controls step height and lost fluid replacement. As a feature for pivoted arm machines, the tops of the rams are not pivotally attached to the stair step arms, but rather contact rollers on the arms so that the rams and associated housings need not swivel with movement of the arms during exercise.

Abstract: A continuous graphical display of barometric data includes an electronic trace of barometric pressure across a display in which the display including the trace, grid and axis labels are scrolled horizontally, with the display being updated from stored data on a continuous basis so that an entire week of uninterrupted barometric data can be presented, with preceding data being dropped off in a first in, first out scroll. Additionally a temporal history of temperature may be displayed as an electronic trace.

Abstract: A shoulder pad/chest protector combination is provided for use in lacrosse or other sports in which the individual's arm is raised above shoulder level. The shoulder pad is pivoted to the chest protector by a lacing arrangement and is adjustable down the length of the arm by adjustment of the pivot point on the chest protector, with the shoulder pad being made to pivot with the arm by strapping the distal end of the pad to the arm. In one embodiment, the pivotal motion is provided by virtue of the twisting of the laces between the chest protector portion and the overlying shoulder pad. In another embodiment the shoulder pad includes a cuff for securing the distal end thereof to the arm of the individual. In one embodiment, lateral adjustment of the pivot point is made possible by providing laterally running lacing apertures at the top of the chest protector over the shoulder, with the lace passing through two apertures in the chest protector and four apertures in the shoulder pad.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for extending the range of portable RF transceivers and for providing a select-call system includes a hybrid remote control system to extend the range of a portable transceiver and to permit the operator of a vessel or vehicle to communicate hands-free through the utilization of his own full power base station and antenna, in which a modified full duplex system is used to control transmit and receive cycles from the portable unit so that the system can operate regardless of interference on the channel to which the base station is timed. Also provided is a selective calling system in which a recipient's transceiver is turned on by the transmitting transceiver through punching in the recipient's call letters or at least its address. As an added feature, the transmitting station automatically transmits its own call letters which are displayed at recipient's receiver. This system thereby quiets all receivers until the particular transceiver is digitally addressed.

Abstract: Batting skills are improved by a practice routine in which a pneumatic ball projection system projects a ball upwardly to a position at which the batter can hit the ball, with the upward projection providing the batter with means for improving his timing. The subject system replaces those systems in which a ball is placed on top of a tee, and also replaces pneumatic systems which merely suspend the ball in mid air at an appropriate batting position. In one embodiment, a plurality of balls are loaded into a chute within a housing, with the chute being angled downwardly. A foot-actuated switch or other timing mechanism removes a barrier at the end of a chute to permit the ball to roll down into a steeply angled conduit which makes an angled connection with a projection tube or barrel having a blower at one end and having an exit nozzle at the other end, with the exit nozzle pointing upwardly such that the initial horizontal ball direction is redirected along a vertical path.

Abstract: For gasketing slip joint applications, a method is disclosed for clean pipe laying involving shrink wrapping the bells and spigots of pipes and conduits prior to their installation in the field and circumferentially cutting an aperture in the shrink wrap at the end of the pipe to permit insertion of the end of a mating pipe. The above procedure provides a clean environment so that contaminants do not enter the pipe and eliminates the cleaning step normally necessary when joining or connecting water, sewer, or drainage pipe in an excavated trench. In the case of water, sewer, or drainage pipe, the O-ring seal of the bell is lubricated and then this end of the pipe is shrink wrapped, as is the mating tapered pipe to be inserted into the bell. The shrink wrap prevents contaminants from the excavation or otherwise from entering into either of the pipes to be joined, thereby eliminating joint failure due to contamination during installation as well as pipeline contamination in general.

Abstract: An emergency vessel or vehicle location system (EVLS) is provided with a protected mayday switch for controlling the transceiver or module to which it is attached, so as to permit activation of the emergency vessel location system by use of a switch, in one embodiment, on the same microphone used for two-way communication. The protection of the mayday switch is provided by a specialized transparent latch in which the latch is spring loaded over the mayday switch such that accidental depression of the mayday switch is prevented, while permitting viewing of the switch legend through the transparent latch. The protected switch may be used on the microphone, on an auxiliary unit, or on the transceiver itself.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for providing labelling of small items through the use of microlabels having colored bar codes with the microlabel being on the order of 1 mm.times.1 mm in overall size. In one embodiment, the label consists of a number of colored lines or bars similar to a black/white bar code, with each bar having a distinct color or hue, the width of the bars being in the 5-120 micron range in terms of width, the bars being either contiguous or separated by a thin bar of distinct color. One method of making ultra thin labels includes cutting or skiving an edge of a layered sheet, with different layers carrying different colors, and with the cut layers having a thickness on the order of 0.1 mm.

Abstract: A three-step process is combined with an edge-lit system to provide a self-contained, maximally-compact holographic display. In one embodiment, a hologram is affixed to an upstanding transparent support plate mounted through the top of a housing in which the hologram is edge-illuminated with white light from a source in the housing immediately beneath the plate to generate brilliant, sharp and deep multi-color images which straddle the hologram plane. In another embodiment, the transparent support plate is mounted in a frame which carries the edge-illumination source. All displays may either be free-standing or wall-mounted, as desired.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for both making microlabels and for using these labels to provide a unique system for identifying an integrated circuit (IC) die on a wafer, in one embodiment, by applying a color bar encoded microlabel, small enough to be placed on the surface of the die, with the microlabel being on the order of 2 mm.times.2 mm in overall size. In one embodiment, the label consists of a number of colored lines or bars similar to a black/white bar code, with each bar having a distinct color or hue, the width of the bars being in the 5-120 micron range in terms of width, the bars being either contiguous or separated by a thin bar of distinct color. The microlabels, whether color bar or black/white coded, are applied preferably at the wafer probing stage of manufacture, wherein each die is labelled with the bar code best expressing the parameters the manufacturer is desirous of using for further processing and/or ultimate sales and/or use.

Abstract: Multiple remote appliance status modules are provided one each per apartment or condominium in a complex to indicate the status of, for instance, the washing machine or dryer, with AC wiring utilized to transmit the status information in parallel to all remote modules, and with the remote module being pulled into an AC socket within each appartment or condominium. In order to identify the washing machine by floor, transmitting apparatus at each washing machine is provided with a predetermined code transmitted to all remote modules. All remote indicating modules associated with the given washing machine are provided with decoding apparatus for the predetermined code of the associated washing machine such that only remote indicating modules associated with a particular washing machine are activated to indicate its status or use.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for extending the range of portable RF transceivers and for providing a select-call system includes a hybrid remote control system to extend the range of a portable transceiver and to permit the operator of a vessel or vehicle to communicate hands-free through the utilization of his own full power base station and antenna, in which a modified full duplex system is used to control transmit and receive cycles from the portable unit so that the system can operate regardless of interference on the channel to which the base station is timed. Also provided is a selective calling system in which a recipient's transceiver is turned on by the transmitting transceiver through punching in the recipient's call letters or at least its address. As an added feature, the transmitting station automatically transmits its own call letters which are displayed at recipient's receiver. This system thereby quiets all receivers until the particular transceiver is digitally addressed.