Abstract: Disclosed are cooling materials for clothing and other body gear that may use a discontinuous pattern of highly absorbent polymers coupled to a base fabric that has a low resistance to moisture spread (e.g., a high wicking rate) and lower absorption properties compared to the highly absorbent polymer elements, to manage moisture (e.g., sweat) and body heat. The absorbance of the highly absorbent polymers is greater than that of the base fabric, such as at least two times greater, and the highly absorbent polymer elements may be non-endothermic.

Abstract: Disclosed are cooling materials for clothing and other body gear that may use a discontinuous pattern of highly absorbent polymers coupled to a base fabric that has a low resistance to moisture spread (e.g., a high wicking rate) and lower absorption properties compared to the highly absorbent polymer elements, to manage moisture (e.g., sweat) and body heat. The absorbance of the highly absorbent polymers is greater than that of the base fabric, such as at least two times greater, and the highly absorbent polymer elements may be non-endothermic.

Abstract: The described embodiments relate to slotted substrates. One exemplary method forms a feature into a substrate, at least in part, by directing a laser beam at the substrate. During at least a portion of said directing, the method supplies a conductive material proximate the substrate.

Abstract: A method of laser machining a substrate is provided. The method comprises directing laser energy at a first surface of the substrate, while providing an assist medium at the first surface of the substrate at least at approximately the area at which the laser energy is being directed. The assist medium is no longer provided prior to completion of formation of a feature in the substrate created utilizing the laser energy.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment of a firearm cartridge clip is disclosed, in which the clip has an elongated housing extending from an open top end to an enclosed bottom end defining an elongated cartridge storage chamber. The clip has a cartridge support seat mounted in the chamber above a separate elevator element. A chamber compression spring is mounted in the chamber between a base at the bottom end and the elevator element to urge the elevator element upward. A separate movement-restraining means is associated with the cartridge support seat to resist downward movement of the seat from the opening at the top end. The clip has a loading facilitating means for selectively rendering the compression spring ineffective to urge the seat upward to thereby reduce the manual effort required to load the clip.

Abstract: An apparatus, according to the invention, detects the relative speed of the apparatus with respect to the fluid into which it extends. The apparatus includes a streamlined body portion having an upper end, a lower end, a front edge, a back edge, and a pair of sides. A conduit extends through the body portion and is exposed to the fluid at an orifice located beneath the fluid line. The other end of the conduit is coupled to a pressure transducer which produces an output proportional to the pressure acting on the orifice and thus proportional to the speed of the apparatus relative to the fluid. This apparatus can be connected to an appropriate speedometer and is particularly useful for measuring the speed of a watercraft to which the apparatus is mounted.

Abstract: A marine speedometer system is disclosed which utilizes a short pitot tube or air column. The speedometer system includes an inlet having a short air column, a transducer, a control circuit, and a display. The electric signal from the transducer is representative of the pressure in the short air column. The control circuit preferably utilizes a microprocessor and a look-up table to generate a display signal in response to an electric signal from the transducer. The look-up table includes T-Buoy values and count values. The count values are used to drive a frequency signal for an air core meter. The display provides a needle and a metered background which is easy to read. The microprocessor is coupled to receive calibrate up and calibrate down signals. The microprocessor causes the needle to jump when it receives a signal to provide feedback to the driver. The microprocessor includes an auto zero subroutine which automatically calibrates the speedometer at start up.