Abstract: A vibratory gyroscope for detecting a turning angular rate of rotation applied to a vibrator, which vibratory gyroscope has the vibrator provided with a plurality of vibration pieces and a base part having the plurality of vibration pieces connected with it and is composed so as to obtain the turning angular rate on the basis of a detecting vibration excited in the vibrator according to the turning angular rate when giving a driving vibration to at least one of the vibration pieces, and makes the vibrator being supported in a domain where the detecting vibration is smallest in said vibrator, said domain being in the vicinity of the center of gravity of the vibrator.

Abstract: When green sheets are laminated and integrally fired for a window spacer plate formed with at least a plurality of windows, a covering plate for covering the windows, and a through hole plate having through holes, communicating with the windows, it is arranged to make a ratio t/w of thickness t of the green sheet for the window spacer place to length w of the through holes formed in the green sheet for the through hole plate, in its minor axis direction one or more, and to form a functional film actuator on the outer surface of the covering plate after firing. A gap (separation) is prevented from being generated in the interface between each ceramics plate in producing a ceramics substrate used for the functional film element.

Abstract: A kiln tool uses a fiber-composite material comprising a yarn aggregate in which yarn including at least a bundle of carbon fibers and a carbon component other than carbon fibers is three-dimensionally combined and integrally formed so as not to separate from each other; and a matrix made of Si--SiC-based fiber filled between the yarn adjacent to each other within the yarn aggregate. The kiln tool has good workability and working accuracy, and excellent durability.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reading and decoding one-dimensional (1D) bar code symbols. A 1D bar code symbol is imaged by an optical assembly which includes a cubic phase mask that causes the optical transfer function of the optical assembly to remain approximately constant over a range of distances between the apparatus and the symbol to be read. An electrical representation of the resulting image is converted to a smoothly varying analog image signal. A transition identifying circuit processes the analog image signal, without first applying a recovery function that takes into account the effect of the phase mask, and generates a binary signal which is used to decode the symbol.

Abstract: The invention concerns an oil-sealed vane-type rotary vacuum pump (1) with a rotor (3) and an oil pump (45, 46) whose suction chamber is fitted with feeds (64, 65) for gas and oil. In order to simplify the supply of a gas/oil mixture to the vacuum pump, the invention proposes that the gas and oil feeds (64, 65) are disposed in such a way that initially only oil and subsequently both oil and air are aspirated into the volume swept by the oil pump (45, 46) as it rotates.

Abstract: In the pressure cuff of the present invention, an end portion of a cuff comprises a pair of separable first and second tail sections, each having a coupling mechanism, such as sections of hook and loop type fastening material formed thereon. A complementary coupling mechanism is formed on the bladder section. When the cuff is wrapped about an arm having a nonuniform circumference, then the tail sections can be coupled at different lengths to the bladder section of the cuff, so that the bladder section, when inflated, supplies relatively even pressure across a substantial length of the brachial artery.

Abstract: A reel seat for a fishing rod, including a frangible outer longitudinal member adapted to receive the foot of a reel and an inner longitudinal member adapted to receive a portion of a rod body. The frangible outer longitudinal member has a bore extending axially therethrough from one end thereof. The inner longitudinal member is fixed within the bore of the frangible outer longitudinal member and has a bore, substantially coaxial with the bore of the frangible outer longitudinal member, extending from one axial end thereof. The inner longitudinal member has a machinability that is greater than the machinability of the frangible outer longitudinal member to allow easy diametrical enlargement of the bore formed through the inner longitudinal member. The same sized reel seat can be used with various fishing rods having different diameters due to the high machinability of the inner longitudinal member.

Abstract: A toric multifocal lens including a plurality of vision correction regions having centers on a common optical center axis, the plurality of vision correction regions providing respective different values of a spherical optical power, each of the plurality of vision correction regions having an optical power for correction of astigmatism, wherein the improvement comprises: at least one of a cylindrical optical power and a cylindrical axis orientation which determine the optical power for correction of astigmatism being different in at least two different vision correction regions of the plurality of vision correction regions, so that the at least two different vision correction regions have respective different values of the optical power for correction of astigmatism.

Abstract: A watercraft carrier is provided that rollably supports a watercraft for transit to a location on land. The watercraft carrier includes a cradle assembly that has a width adjustable and shape conforming sheet that supports the transported watercraft uniformly and distributing that support laterally along the hull. The cradle assembly also includes width adjustable, opposed, separately pivoting, pliant supports that wedge around the hull and secure the watercraft within the carrier. The cradle assembly fastens a watercraft to the cradle assembly as well with opposed gunwale straps that separately secure each opposing gunwale. The watercraft carrier includes a cradle assembly for supporting and securing a watercraft, a width adjustable frame assembly that detachably supports the cradle assembly, and a wheel assembly that is detachably connected to the frame assembly.

Abstract: A housing for physically and thermally isolating the evaporator section of an air conditioning unit that is mounted on the cabin roof of a trailer, van, or motor home. The housing is molded in two sections with the lower section being secured to the base pan of the unit over return air duct and the supply air duct formed in the pan. The housing is divided into a blower chamber containing the supply air duct and an evaporator coil chamber containing the return air duct. A converging nozzle is molded integrally into the housing which connects the evaporator coil chamber with the blower chamber. Elongated vertically disposed openings are provided in the side walls of the housing having guideways for contacting the tube sheets of an evaporator coil that is mounted in the evaporator coil chamber to prevent air from passing around said coil. Internal surfaces are provided within the housing for efficiently turning the air flow through the housing 180.degree..

Abstract: A soft polyurethane foam which has a rebound resilience percentage of not higher than 30% and whose temperature dependency of a compression force deflection that is represented by a difference between a 25%-compression force deflection value at -20.degree. C. and a 25%-compression force deflection value at +20.degree. C. is not larger than 0.030 kg/cm.sup.2.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for a heat pump operating in the heating mode controls the condenser air flow rate and the condenser exiting air temperature depending in a first embodiment on the evaporator ambient temperature, and in a second embodiment, the evaporator air temperature and alternatively the condenser air flow rate or the condenser exiting air temperature, to alleviate a cold blow condition. The apparatus and method operate by sensing the evaporator ambient temperature with a sensor positioned proximate to the evaporator, and when that temperature is below a threshold value indicating a cold blow situation, determining by circuit means a modified condenser air flow rate to achieve at the same time a slower air flow and a higher air temperature, so that the cold blow condition is terminated or at least alleviated.

Abstract: A filtration unit is provided with a self-cleaning mechanism which backflushes a screening element therein when it becomes blinded by solid material. A reservoir enables a head of screened liquid to be built up above the screening element. Upon blinding of the screening element, a subsequent rise in the pressure at the inlet of the filtration unit is detected by way of a rising fluid level in a vertically extending chamber. The above causes the opening of a discharge valve which enables a discharge flow to rapidly empty the reservoir through the screening element in a reverse direction, thereby clearing the screen. The clearing operation is carried out entirely hydraulically by the action of the screened fluid and thus no brushes, rakes or scraping devices are required.

Abstract: A combination boot and skate having an interfacing mechanism for releasably securing the plate of the skate to the sole of the boot. A rigid stirrup piece is rotatably mounted in the plate having a contour that complements that of the upper part of the boot. The stirrup is rotatable to a boot engaging position and held in that position by a releasable lock to restrain the boot against lateral and longitudinal movement when the skate is in use.

Abstract: A sectional closing door having a plurality of interconnected panels, where each panel of the sectional door, except the upper and lower panels, includes matching profiles which interlock and are guided on matching profiles of adjacent panels to form a swivel joint and that the guiding of the profiles relative to each other is obtained with an angulation such that, when one panel is positioned at 90.degree. relative to the adjacent panel, joining is insured with a component acting as a rider. The rider is designed with a U-shape that ensures it is connected to and integrated in one of the profiles of the end parts such that when one panel is swivelled to the maximum extent relative to another adjacent panel, the rider functions to insure a permanent joint and prevents the panels from becoming dislocated.

Abstract: Apparatus for rapidly changing the state of a device from an active state to an inactive state. The apparatus includes an inner member slidably contained in an outer member. The member is connected to an actuator and the other to a control for changing the state of a device. A latch mechanism normally holds the two members locked together so that the control means responds to the actuator. When a potentially dangerous situation is sensed, the latch mechanism is opened and the two members are rapidly forced apart by a heavy release spring thus rapidly changing the state of the device from an active state to an inactive state.

Abstract: A process for producing an optical waveguide substrate including a ridge-shaped structural portion containing at least an optical waveguide, which process including the steps of forming an optical waveguide-forming layer on a substrate body to prepare a substrate workpiece, and forming said ridge-shaped structural portion at said substrate workpiece by grinding.