Abstract: An underground agriculture system, comprising: a vertical farming shaft extending downwardly from an aperture on a surface of a body of land to a predetermined depth below the surface of the body of land; mounting apparatuses attached proximate to an edge of the aperture; retractable growing modules attached to the one or more mounting apparatuses and extending downwardly into the void of the vertical farming shaft; a nutrient delivery system comprising a tank and one or more feeding tubes connecting the tank to the one or more retractable growing modules; a lighting module extending downwardly into the void of the vertical farming shaft; a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system extending into the void of the vertical farming shaft; and an irrigation system comprising a reservoir at a distal end of the vertical farming shaft and a pump operatively connected to the reservoir.

Abstract: Described is an electronic connector. The electronic connector has a substrate body for housing electronic pins and a cable. The substrate body is fabricated from a first material, such as hard plastic and has at least one passage from its exterior to its interior. The overmold is fabricated from a resilient material having a lower melting point than the first material. The resilient material is overmolded onto the substrate body and flows through the at least one passage in the substrate body and forms a gasket on the connecting surface of the substrate body.

Abstract: Described is an electronic connector. The electronic connector has a substrate body for housing electronic pins and a cable. The substrate body is fabricated from a first material, such as hard plastic and has at least one passage from its exterior to its interior. The overmold is fabricated from a resilient material having a lower melting point than the first material. The resilient material is overmolded onto the substrate body and flows through the at least one passage in the substrate body and forms a gasket on the connecting surface of the substrate body.

Abstract: A strain relief for a cable and its method are provided. A strain relief for a cable, includes: a first member including: a main body having an opening for receiving a cable and a locking member, and a second complementary member including: a main body having an opening for receiving the cable; and at least one flexible finger having a finger body extending from the main body of the second complementary member, an inner barb formed at an inner end of the finger body for engaging into the outer jacket of the cable upon insertion of the complementary second member into the main body of the first member, and an outer barb formed at an outer end of the finger body for snapping into the locking member.

Abstract: The invention relates to a window for an optical scanning device comprising a panel having a pair of oppositely directed light transmitting surfaces. A PTC heater wire preferably of a diameter less than the width of the smallest permissible indicia of a barcode is used to regulate the temperature of the panel. A conductive layer comprising carbon nanotubes is also provided for regulating the temperature of the device window. A window intrinsically comprising carbon nanotubes is also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a window for an optical scanning device having a panel having a pair of oppositely directed light transmitting surfaces. A heater wire of a diameter less than the width of the smallest permissible indicia of a barcode is embedded between the first and second light transmitting surfaces. The heater wire being entirely contained within the perimeter of the optical scanning device window except for a length of both of its extremities.

Abstract: The invention relates to a window for an optical scanning device comprising a panel having a pair of oppositely directed light transmitting surfaces. A heater wire of a diameter less than the width of the smallest permissible indicia of a barcode is embedded between the first and second light transmitting surfaces. The heater wire being entirely contained within the perimeter of the optical scanning device window except for a length of both of its extremities.

Abstract: There is disclosed a hoist for lifting a fire hydrant from its underlying upright feeding pipe. The hoist comprises an inverted L-shaped post with a manually-operated cable winch. The post is supported on a semi-circular base collar which fits the top coupling flange of the feeding pipe. This collar has top and bottom inwardly extending flanges for embracing the above-noted coupling flange. A toggle lever clamp locks the collar in position. The collar has a lateral extension on which the post is mounted to clear the fire hydrant. The post can be rotated to swing the fire hydrant laterally of the feeding pipe to facilitate access to the interior of the same. A latching mechanism latches the post in any of a plurality of rotated positions.