Abstract: A transponder and sensor apparatus with on-board power supply is mounted in or on a vehicle tire. A pressure sensor, a temperature sensor and a tire rotation sensor are mounted in a housing along with the transponder, the power supply and an antenna. Upon receiving an interrogation signal from a remote interrogator, the transponder activates the sensors to sense tire pressure and temperature and then backscatter-modulates the radio frequency signal from the interrogator with the tire condition parameter data from the sensors to return the backscatter modulated signal to the interrogator.

Abstract: A luminaire especially suited for sports and roadway applications. The reflector of the luminaire has a modified parabolic shape wherein a true parabolic curve has been tipped inwardly to produce a tipped parabolic reflector having a circle of focal points centered on the focal point of the original true parabolic curve. The lamp comprises a double-ended arc lamp which is positioned transversely of the central axis of the reflector with the arc of the lamp generally tangent to top dead center of the focal point circle. The luminaire further includes a vertical black partition positioned within the reflector below and forwardly of the lamp and a specular insert in the upper front region of the reflector.

Abstract: A combination shipping and packing list label includes a face stock having a front face and a back face. The front face has an exposed, printable, generally planar surface. The printable surface is divided into a first printable are a and a second printable area separated from one another by a common edge along one side thereof. The face stock has a border area substantially surrounding at least three sides of the first printable area. An adhesive layer is disposed on at least a portion of the back face of the face stock for allowing the face stock to be adhesively applied to any desired supporting surface. A backing layer includes a carrier strip with a non-stick surface. The backing layer removably covers the adhesive layer connected to the back face of the face stock.

Abstract: A magnetostrictive wire waveguide type position measuring system wherein the wire waveguide is mounted within a small diameter brass tube which, in turn, is mounted by way of resilient suspension components within a rigid outer tube affixed to a position reference frame. The suspension system prevents relatively high frequency shock inputs characteristic of rough environment applications from reaching the waveguide. The position signal is derived from output signal quantities generated by the propagation times of sonic disturbances from a first reference magnet held in a fixed position relative to the outer housing and a second user magnet which moves relative to the outer housing with the element or quantity being monitored.

Abstract: A holding device and a transmission shift interlock mechanism employing the holding device. The holding device is intended to immobilize a cable and includes a generally cylindrical electromagnet with a central passageway extending therethrough and a holding assembly comprised of a ferromagnetic body joined to a tubular non-magnetic stem. The ferromagnetic body and stem have a passageway therethrough and the stem passes through the central passageway of the electromagnet. The cable passes slidably through the stem and a stop collar is secured to the cable immediately forwardly of the stem for abutting coaction with the forward end of the stem.

Abstract: A thermal blanket for flowing temperature controlled air upon a patient wherein the blanket is inflated with air and orifices within the blanket permit the air to flow upon the patient. The improvement includes the locating of the air inlet at a central blanket location in the patient's chest region to permit the highest air temperature to be available over the chest region, and the air flow direction produces optimum distribution. The locating of the air hose upon the blanket upper side permits the inflated blanket to insulate the hose from the patient, the portion of the blanket placed over the patient's head is perforated to facilitate forming a head receiving opening, and a transparent barrier may be affixed to the blanket upper side to cover the patient's face during respiration.

Abstract: A bumper system for vehicles having a bumper beam formed from ultra high strength steel rolled formed into a tubular body having a generally D-shaped cross-section. The D-shaped cross-section has a top and bottom flat surface area and a parabolic center area therebetween.

Abstract: A mobile device suitable for permitting banking transactions and a material for constructing such units. The mobile banking device includes a housing mounted on a platform extending upward therefrom. The outer housing defines an interior area sufficient to accommodate ingress and egress of appropriate service personnel. The device includes at least one customer transaction interface unit such as an ATM device mounted in one of the walls and accessible from the exterior of the outer housing. The mobile device also includes at least one set of wheels attached to the platform and extending downward therefrom and a suitable device for emitting discernable evidence of unauthorized breaches in the outer security of the housing such as an audible or inaudible alarm. The outer housing can be constructed from a material first and second planar layers composed of a polymeric resin positioned a spaced parallel distance from one another and an intermediate polymeric sheet interposed between the two planar layers.

Abstract: A horizontal top brush for a vehicle laundering or finishing plant wherein a brush rotated by an hydraulic motor is mounted between the free ends of pivot arms carried by spaced vertical stanchions flanking a vehicle lane. Counterweight arms on the left and right sides of the wash lane have an axis of rotation which is spaced from the axis of rotation of the brush pivot arms. The counterweight arms are mechanically interconnected with the brush arms by sector gears, an arrangement which permits all of the brush and counterweight arms to lie on one side of the vertical support stanchions. The brush arms are slotted to permit the counterweight arms to pass through them. Brush position relative to the vehicle is varied as a function of brush motor reaction which in turn is a function of brush contact pressure or depth.

Abstract: A method for playing a card game having a dealer and at least one player, wherein the dealer deals two cards facing up to each player and at least two cards to the dealer, one card dealt face up and the other card or cards dealt after the playing of the players' hands. Each player arranges his cards within a boxed-in area located in front of the player having four rectangles therein. The four rectangles define two rows and two columns to provide four lines of chances for matching a winning number. The winning number is determined by the addition of the dealer's two cards and may also include a second winning number determined by the difference of the dealer's two cards. The game provides conditions for a second chance game for players who do not win with the dealer's first two cards.

Abstract: A nut-cracking method and apparatus is disclosed, the apparatus comprising at least first and second spaced-apart impact members and a nut-dispenser. The nut-dispenser operates to dispense at least one nut at a sufficient velocity along a first path of travel towards the first impact member, whereupon the at least one nut is redirected by the first impact member at a sufficient velocity along a second path of travel between the first and second impact members. The at least one nut is then cracked on one of the at least first and second impact member. According to the inventive method, at least first and second impact members are provided in spaced-apart relation. At least one nut is dispensed at a sufficient velocity along a first path of travel towards the first impact member such that the at least one nut impacts the first impact member.

Abstract: A portable, lightweight apparatus for moving a splice body with respect to a cable includes a first clamp member for engaging the cable, a second clamp member for engaging the splice body and a mechanism for moving the first clamp member and the second clamp member with respect to one another. The moving mechanism can include at least one gear rack extending between the first and second clamp members, and a pinion gear operably engageable with the rack. Sheathing can be provided for the rack between the first clamp member and the second clamp member to prevent entry of foreign material into teeth of the rack. In addition, an enclosure can be provided for housing a portion of the elongated rack extending outwardly beyond the first or second clamp members to prevent entry of foreign material into the teeth of the rack.

Abstract: A method for decorating a composite fiber/resin ski pole, by applying a pre-printed transfer sheet of sublimation ink graphics in a conforming fit around the resin surface of the shaft, heating the transfer sheet to transfer the graphics from the sheet to the surface of the ski pole shaft, and subsequently removing the decorated shaft. In a preferred form, the transfer sheet is a sleeve having a pole-receiving slot whose inner surface contains the sublimation ink graphics and which conforms to the surface of the ski pole shaft when the shaft is inserted in the slot. In a most preferred form the sleeve defines multiple slots so that multiple poles can be inserted and simultaneously decorated by placing the sleeve in a suitable heating die.

Abstract: An improved quick connect coupling and an improved spring clip for use in the coupling. The coupling comprises a female member defining a passage defining an annular seat, a male member sized to fit in the passage, and a spring clip positioned in the annular seat. The spring clip comprises a thin walled spring steel tubular member capable of being compressed for seating within the annular seat and including a first plurality of circumferentially spaced finger portions for engagement with a trailing abutment surface on the male member and a second plurality of circumferentially spaced finger portions for engagement with an annular shoulder defining one end of the annular seat. In one embodiment the finger portions for engagement with the abutment surface on the male member have a T configuration with the head portions of the fingers coacting to define a large circumferential surface for engagement with the male member abutment surface.

Abstract: In a metallic gasket in which a plate member having at least one flexible metal plate has a hole, a flat portion formed at the periphery of the hole and a bead disposed concentrically with the hole to the outside of the flat portion is sandwiched between joining faces, an annular stopper is secured to the plate member at a position corresponding to the flat portion on the side of the hole. The stopper is made of a metal material different from the plate member and formed to an increased thickness at a portion for a larger gap, and formed to a decreased thickness at a portion for a smaller gap depending on the difference of the size of the gap between the joining faces.

Abstract: A magnetostrictive wire waveguide type position measuring system wherein the wire waveguide is mounted within a small diameter brass tube which, in turn, is mounted by way of resilient suspension components within a rigid outer tube affixed to a position reference frame. The suspension components isolate the waveguide from relatively high frequency shock inputs characteristic of rough environment applications. The position signal is derived from output signal quantities generated by the propagation times of sonic disturbances from a first reference magnet held in a fixed position relative to the outer housing and a second user magnet which moves relative to the outer housing with the element or quantity being monitored.

Abstract: A horizontal top brush for a vehicle laundering or finishing plant wherein a brush rotated by an hydraulic motor is mounted between the free ends of pivot arms carried by spaced vertical stanchions flanking a vehicle treatment location. Counterweight arms on the left and right sides of the wash lane have an axis of rotation which is spaced from the axis of rotation of the brush pivot arms. The counterweight arms are mechanically interconnected with the brush arms by sector gears, an arrangement which permits all of the brush and counterweight arms to lie on one side of the vertical support stanchions. The brush arms are slotted to permit the counterweight arms to pass through them. Brush position relative to the vehicle is varied as a function of brush motor reaction which in turn is a function of brush contact pressure or depth.

Abstract: An indexing conveyor apparatus is driven with respect to a press having a reciprocal ram and bolster plate. An elongated conveyor is connectible to the press for moving material with respect to the press. The conveyor includes an endless conveyor belt disposed about a drive pulley at one end and an idler roller at an opposite end. A flexible member is connectible between the conveyor and the reciprocal ram for converting reciprocating movement of the ram into indexing movement of the endless conveyor belt through the drive pulley. The flexible member preferably includes a webbing material wound about a spool. The spool is spring biased to rewind the webbing on the spool while the ram is driven toward the bolster plate. As the ram is moved away from the bolster plate, the spool acting through a clutch drives the drive pulley to index the endless conveyor belt.

Abstract: A rotary vane internal combustion engine wherein the section of the rotor housing where ignition takes place is formed in the shape of a circular arc matching the curvature of the rotor, with the balance of the housing periphery being composed of a series of tangent arcs to define an elliptical shape that is continuously concave and has no drastic changes in curvature. The rotor and housing are "stretched" along their axial dimensions so that each combustion chamber has an axial measurement substantially greater than its circumferential measurement, and each segment of the rotor surface between adjacent vanes has formed therein a plurality of combustion chamber pockets spaced from one another along the axial dimension of the rotor and each provided with a spark plug.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine has an annular rotor (2) arranged to rotate around a stator (6). The stator has a pair of combustion cylinders (19) extending therethrough with each cylinder containing a slideable piston (18). The pistons are coupled to a central rotating shaft (4) which produces antiphase motion of the pistons in their respective cylinders. Combustible fluid is fed into each of the cylinders (19) in turn to be compressed by the action of the pistons (18). The rotor (2) has a first angular section (16) which provides for an air/fuel mixture to be drawn into the cylinders during retraction of the pistons, a second angular section (40) which provides for sealing an opening in the end of the cylinders when the pistons are extending to compress the air/fuel mixture, and a third angular section (42) which has a number of turbine blades which are arranged to be driven by combustion products exiting from a cylinder when compressed fluid therein is ignited.