Abstract: The chin strap assembly for use with an athletic helmet includes a chin cup member having a flexible strap on each side of the chin cup member, each flexible strap passing through a plurality of slots formed in the chin cup member.

Abstract: A traffic violation processing method is disclosed, which includes the steps of monitoring a vehicle; determining whether the vehicle is in violation of a traffic violation and recording the image of the vehicle on a camera when the vehicle is determined to have violated a traffic violation; providing a digital image of the vehicle; recording and storing deployment data corresponding to the violation, wherein the deployment data includes an identifier associated with the traffic violation; assigning the identifier to the digital traffic image; storing the digital image of the vehicle, together with the identifier, on a storage medium; matching the deployment data with the stored digital image by correlating or matching the identifier associated with the deployment data with the identifier associated with the stored digital image; and generating a traffic document that includes the stored digital image and the deployment data.

Abstract: Wet processed friction materials are disclosed wherein the components thereof include blends of a) fibrillated, organic, synthetic polymer, b) organic, synthetic polymer staple and c) organic, synthetic soluble polymer particles.

Abstract: Frequency domain processing is used to determine rapidly whether false signals are present, and to improve the accuracy of speed measurements by rejecting speed measurements that could be inaccurate due to the presence of false signals. A Doppler signal responsive to speed of a moving vehicle is generated by a Doppler radar transceiver. A digital computer transforms the Doppler signal into a frequency domain signal such as an energy spectrum, and the speed of the moving vehicle is computed from the weighted arithmetic mean of the energy spectrum. The mean value, however, is rejected as an indication of speed if the variance of the energy spectrum from the mean exceeds a threshold, or if a differential of the spectrum with respect to frequency exceeds a threshold.

Abstract: An adjustable-width panel assembly for the construction of fences, walls, and other structures incorporating panels, which minimizes the need for separate fasteners to inter-connect successive panel members.

Abstract: A plurality of expandable and deformable intraluminal vascular grafts are expanded within a blood vessel by an angioplasty balloon associated with a catheter to dilate and expand the lumen of a blood vessel. The grafts may be thin-walled tubular members having a plurality of slots disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular members, and adjacent grafts are flexibly connected by a single connector member disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular members.

Abstract: A method for making a dry blend for use in the preparation of a friction material, a dry blend per se and dry friction materials is disclosed wherein the components thereof include a) fibrillated, organic, synthetic polymer, b) organic, synthetic polymer staple and c) organic, synthetic soluble polymer particles.

Abstract: A method for producing wet processed friction materials are disclosed wherein the components thereof include blends of a) fibrillated, organic, synthetic polymer, b) organic, synthetic polymer staple and c) organic, synthetic soluble polymer particles.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for pressure testing valves utilizes a seal plate having a mounting plate disposed on one of its ends and a sealing surface on its other end, and a mounting plate cradle is provided for releaseably securing the mounting plate to a cradle support plate, whereby the seal plate may be readily installed within a valve testing machine without the necessity of screwing or bolting the seal plate within the valve testing machine.

Abstract: An oven with high power radiant cooking elements which are capable of operating at different intensities is disclosed for cooking food quickly with infrared radiation. The conduction of this infrared radiant energy varies substantially from food to food. Accordingly, the user of the oven must develop a unique data base or recipe for each food. A recipe consists of a number of stages each of which defines the output intensity of each cooking element for a period of time. A method is disclosed for the real time development of a recipe by varying the intensity of the cooking elements during the cooking cycle, optimizing the developed recipe to reduce the number of stages, storing the optimized recipe in memory and retrieving the optimized stored recipe for future use.

Abstract: An improved tubular lining hose for use in softlining pipe rehabilitation which includes the novel use of a layer of reinforcing fibers to reinforce the lining hose. In a preferred embodiment, a layer of reinforcing fibers, such as fiberglass, is encapsulated between layers of resin absorbing material saturated with resin. The saturated resin absorbing layers form a protective veil around the reinforcing fibers and protect the reinforcing fibers from water and other corrosive materials.

Abstract: A composition including polyalphaolefins that function as drag reducing agents and a process for the preparation of polyalphaolefins that function as drag reducing agents are disclosed. The process includes contacting alphaolefin monomers with catalyst particles in a polymerization mixture that includes a hydrocarbon solvent. The polymerization of the alphaolefin monomers produces polyalphaolefin drag reducing agents having an inherent viscosity of at least 10 dL/g. During polymerization of the polyalphaolcfin monomers, localized micelles compromising high molecular weight polyalphaolefin polymer are formed in micellar zones around the catalyst particles. The polymerization is conducted in the presence of a viscosity reducing agent that includes a substantially hydrophobic dispersant. The viscosity reducing agent is present in an amount sufficient to reduce the viscosity of the reaction mixture and disperse the localized micelles.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing individual pre-formed bags from a stack of pre-formed bags has a body part and an anchor part for the stack of bags. The anchor part includes a catch means for engaging the stack, whereby the stack of bags depends from the catch means, and may be grasped for removal. A stack restraining member bears against the stack to restrain the stack of bags, but can be deflected against a gravitational restoring force when one side of the first bag of the stack is drawn past it to open the first bag for loading prior to removal from the stack.

Abstract: A single deck dual tape path videocassette recorder/playback system enabling near simultaneous multiple functions with respect to a broadcast or cable communicated television signal. The system consists of standard elements which allow the receipt of a videocassette, the extracting and return of video tape from and to the videocassette, and the recording of a broadcast or cable communicated signal. The system also consists of two tape path assemblies and a videotape compartment consisting of a tape feed channel, a storage assembly, and a vacuum system. All elements are included within a single housing utilizing a common power supply, tuner, controls, and switching and control circuitry enabling simultaneous multiple functions using both tape paths, as well as additional function selections.

Abstract: A power syringe (10) for use in medical procedures, such as angiography, delivers air or fluid, such as contrast medium, to a patient at operator controlled rates and pressures. In one embodiment, mechanical advantage is created by first and second arms (22, 26) which are interconnected with each other, the base, and the plunger (20). The proximal end of the syringe contains a track (44) that the plunger follows in normal fashion in and out of the reservoir. The track is bevelled from proximal to distal end to create a path with variable resistance. A mechanical stop (42) is at the proximal end of the track to control the length of travel of plunger and secondary mechanical arm. Markings (18) on reservoir (12) indicate the volume of fluid or air in the reservoir. Mechanical arm length, tracking length, and distance to plunger stop will vary with size of syringe to generate appropriate flow and power.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selectively producing fluids from multiple lateral wellbores that extend from a central wellbore. The apparatus comprises a fluid flow assembly with a selectively openable and adjustable flow control valve in communication with a production tubing, located in the central wellbore between packers, and a lateral wellbore, and a selectively openable access door located adjacent the lateral wellbore allowing and preventing service tool entry into the lateral wellbore. The valve and door are individually controlled from the earth's surface.

Abstract: An adjustable inflatable catheter having a shaft, two or more inflatable portions disposed on the shaft and means for adjusting the position of at least one of the inflatable portions relative to the shaft while the catheter is disposed within a body passageway, and a method for adjusting the position of at least one inflatable portion of a catheter relative another inflatable portion of the catheter while the catheter is located in a body passageway.

Abstract: An apparatus for repairing a body passageway, includes a catheter having first and second inflatable portions, a prosthesis having first and second ends, and a first securing member associated with the first end of the prosthesis and disposed on the second inflatable portion of the catheter. A method of assembling the apparatus for repairing a body passageway, a method of repairing a body passageway, and a method for implanting a prosthesis are also described.

Abstract: A chin protector for helmets, such as football helmets, includes an inner member and an outer member, and a suspension arrangement for at least partially suspending, in a spaced relationship, a portion of the outer member from a central portion of the inner member with a gap formed between the inner and outer members, whereby upon an impact force striking the outer surface of the outer member, the force transmitted to a wearer's chin may be attenuated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mounting a plurality of military medals on a uniform includes a ribbon bar member which is received within a ribbon bar clamp member, whereby the ribbons are clamped between the ribbon bar member and the ribbon bar clamp member.