Abstract: A ski boot comprising a rigid foot portion having a rigid base and a rigid upper for surrounding essentially a foot of a wearer, a rigid leg element for surrounding essentially a lower portion of a leg of the wearer including a pivot, the foot portion and the leg element being connected through the pivot to constitute a forward leaning retention position for the wearer, and a release and retention mechanism for changing the rigid leg element into a substantially vertical release stop position. The said release stop position is the result of a predetermined rearward force on the wearer's leg. The release mechanism comprises an upper arm linkage engaged to a lower arm linkage through a slot.

Abstract: The fiber optic cable assembly secures a fiber optic cable within an input port of a splice closure without extending significantly beyond the walls of the splice closure. In addition to a fiber optic cable, the fiber optic cable assembly includes a plug encasing a portion of the fiber optic cable such that the fiber optic cable extends both forwardly from the plug into the splice closure and rearwardly from the plug away from the splice closure. The plug typically has a predetermined shape and size which matches the predetermined shape and size of the input port. Since the end of the input port which opens into the splice closure is partially closed, the plug is retained within the input port and does not extend into the interior cavity defined within the splice closure.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing is employed to produce a size-reduced frequency control device (300), according to the present invention. A temperature compensation circuit (304) and an unsealed piezoelectric element (302) are disposed on a substrate (306) such that the compensation circuit and the unsealed piezoelectric element are electrically connected. A hermetic seal (318) is established between a lid (308) and the substrate such that the unsealed piezoelectric element and at least a temperature sensitive portion of the temperature compensation circuit occupy a sealed environment (320). In this manner, dimensions (322, 324) of the frequency control device are reduced.

Abstract: A computer controlled facility is provided to detect capacitance, and hence defective connections, between a group of wires in a telephone handset cord and terminal blades of plugs connected at both ends of the cord. The test depends upon ascertaining the capacitance between a properly connected terminal blade and wire and the other terminal blade and wire connections to provide exact indications of the terminal blades and wires which are not properly connected. Capacitance is detected by connecting a good wire and blade connection along with another wire and blade in a capacitance network associated with one stage of a free running multivibrator which produces an output wave in accordance with the capacitance between the connected pairs of wires and blades. A delayed pulse is cyclically generated to act in conjunction with the output wave to control a bank of indicator lights to provide an indication of any defective wire to blade connections.