Abstract: A skate blade sharpening system retains a skate blade in a sharpening position whose centerline has a first location relative to a first visual reference feature. A motor-driven rotating shaft has a wheel-mounting location for mounting a grinding wheel for sharpening operation. The shaft accepts an alignment wheel at the wheel-mounting location during an alignment, the alignment wheel having a second visual reference feature having a second location relative to a centerline of the grinding wheel when occupying the wheel-mounting location. An adjustment mechanism moves the shaft transversely during alignment to vary relative position between the wheel-mounting location and the sharpening position including an aligned position in which the centerline of the grinding wheel is aligned with the centerline of the sharpening position, the aligned position being indicated by alignment of the first visual reference feature with the second visual reference feature during alignment.

Abstract: A blade holder tool is disclosed for a user to hold a skate blade and insert the skate blade into a sharpener unit for a sharpening operation. The blade holder tool includes an upper portion graspable by a user to hold the blade holder tool and place the blade holder tool in an inserted position in the sharpener unit. It further includes a lower blade-engaging portion that grasps the skate blade and locates the skate blade in a sharpening position in the sharpener unit.

Abstract: An intrauterine device includes a central support member, first and second internal flexures and first and second external flexures. The first and second internal flexures each include a first section having a first stiffness, a second section having a second stiffness, and third section having a third stiffness, wherein the second stiffness is more flexible than the first and third stiffness and wherein the first section of each internal flexure is coupled to the central support member. The first and second external flexures are coupled to the central support member and coupled to the third sections of the first and second internal flexures, the first and second external flexures in combination with the first and second internal flexures being configured to extend from a collapsed position parallel to the central support member to a deployed position flexing away from the central support member.

Abstract: A grinding wheel assembly for use in a sharpening system includes a grinding wheel configured to be mounted in the sharpening system to carry out sharpening operations in which the grinding wheel removes material from a blade to be sharpened, such as the blade of an ice skate. The grinding wheel assembly further includes an identification tag attached to the grinding wheel, the identification tag having (1) secure memory including a usage location for persistently and securely storing a usage tracking value, and (2) interface circuitry for engaging in communication with a transceiver of the sharpening system to enable electronic circuitry of the sharpening system to both read from and write to the usage location to track usage of the grinding wheel for sharpening operations. The memory may also store other data including user-specific system parameters usable to customize operation, and fault information usable to diagnose fault conditions.

Abstract: A skate blade sharpening system retains a skate blade in a sharpening position whose centerline has a first location relative to a first visual reference feature. A motor-driven rotating shaft has a wheel-mounting location for mounting a grinding wheel for sharpening operation. The shaft accepts an alignment wheel at the wheel-mounting location during an alignment, the alignment wheel having a second visual reference feature having a second location relative to a centerline of the grinding wheel when occupying the wheel-mounting location. An adjustment mechanism moves the shaft transversely during alignment to vary relative position between the wheel-mounting location and the sharpening position including an aligned position in which the centerline of the grinding wheel is aligned with the centerline of the sharpening position, the aligned position being indicated by alignment of the first visual reference feature with the second visual reference feature during alignment.

Abstract: A skate blade retention mechanism for retaining a skate blade in a sharpening position to be sharpened includes a pair of elongated jaws configured for symmetrical jaw opening and closing movements about a centerline of the skate blade in the sharpening position. A biasing mechanism is configured and operative to apply a bias force to symmetrically bias the jaws toward a closed position with sufficiently high force to retain the skate blade in the sharpening position when the skate blade is located between the jaws as so biased. An actuator is configured to actuate the jaws against the bias force to an open position under user control to permit insertion and removal of the skate blade.

Abstract: A skate blade sharpening system retains a skate blade in a sharpening position whose centerline has a first location relative to a first visual reference feature. A motor-driven rotating shaft has a wheel-mounting location for mounting a grinding wheel for sharpening operation. The shaft accepts an alignment wheel at the wheel-mounting location during an alignment, the alignment wheel having a second visual reference feature having a second location relative to a centerline of the grinding wheel when occupying the wheel-mounting location. An adjustment mechanism moves the shaft transversely during alignment to vary relative position between the wheel-mounting location and the sharpening position including an aligned position in which the centerline of the grinding wheel is aligned with the centerline of the sharpening position, the aligned position being indicated by alignment of the first visual reference feature with the second visual reference feature during alignment.

Abstract: A skate blade sharpening system includes a blade retention mechanism that holds a skate blade to be sharpened, and a rotating shaft configured to have a grinding wheel mounted on it, where the grinding wheel contacts the skate blade during sharpening. An arbor on the rotating shaft is of a heat-conducting material and has a heat-conducting mating with the grinding wheel when the grinding wheel is mounted on the rotating shaft. The arbor includes a set of vanes contributing to fan-like air flow about the arbor and grinding wheel for convective heat dissipation during the sharpening operation.

Abstract: A blade holder tool for inserting a loose skate blade into a sharpener unit for sharpening includes blade-engaging features that engage blade retention features of the skate blade, and a spacing component providing user-controlled variable spacing of the blade-engaging features to hold skate blades across a range of sizes. The tool may include an elongated tool body having a bottom portion configured to receive the skate blade, the tool body supporting the blade-engaging features and spacing component. The blade-engaging features may include a pair of biased-closed housing members engaging the retention features of the skate blade, and a separate tool body may not be required. A spring or elastic member is connected between housing members to bias closed the blade-engaging features. Mechanical and/or graphical features may be used for positioning and orienting the skate blade to the blade holder tool, and/or the blade holder tool to the sharpener unit.

Abstract: Intrauterine devices and methods for facilitating deployment thereof using a bumper are disclosed. In one embodiment, an intrauterine device comprises a structure including a first central support member and a deployment mechanism coupled to the first central support member. The intrauterine device further comprises a bumper positioned at a distal end of a second central support member and at a more distal position relative to a distal end of the structure so as to prevent the distal end of the structure from contacting the fundus of the uterus of a patient during deployment of the deployment mechanism. In another embodiment, the intrauterine device comprises a bumper coupled to the deployment mechanism and configured to move from a more distal to a more proximal position relative to a distal end of the structure.

Abstract: A skate blade sharpening system includes a chassis and an elongated slot for receiving a skate blade, and a skate blade retention mechanism to retain the skate blade in the sharpening position. A grinding wheel moves along the slot including the lower edge of the skate blade during sharpening. One or more slot covers are mounted to the chassis at respective ends of the slot. The slot covers are movable between covering and non-covering positions. In the non-covering positions the slot covers uncover the slot sufficiently to permit insertion and removal of the skate blade. In the covering positions, the slot covers cover end portions of the slot adjacent the ends of the skate blade to avoid exposing the user and mechanical components of the sharpening system to unsafe operating conditions.

Abstract: A skate blade sharpening system includes a chassis having a slot for receiving a skate blade, and a skate blade retention mechanism for retaining the skate blade in a sharpening position. The skate blade retention mechanism includes an actuator and a pair of jaws on respective sides of the slot, the jaws being coupled to the actuator and configured for symmetrical opening and closing movements about a centerline of the skate blade. The jaws are secured to the chassis by guide blocks extending though corresponding guide slots of the jaws. The guide blocks have respective angled surfaces contacting corresponding angled surfaces of the jaws permitting the jaws to slide on the guide blocks when the jaws are open. The angled surfaces are oriented in a manner urging the jaws upward against a surface referenced to the chassis as the jaws are urged to a closed position by the actuator.

Abstract: Intrauterine devices and methods for facilitating deployment thereof using a bumper are disclosed. In one embodiment, an intrauterine device comprises a structure including a first central support member and a deployment mechanism coupled to the first central support member. The intrauterine device further comprises a bumper positioned at a distal end of a second central support member and at a more distal position relative to a distal end of the structure so as to prevent the distal end of the structure from contacting the fundus of the uterus of a patient during deployment of the deployment mechanism. In another embodiment, the intrauterine device comprises a bumper coupled to the deployment mechanism and configured to move from a more distal to a more proximal position relative to a distal end of the structure.

Abstract: A skate blade sharpening system includes a chassis having a slot for receiving a skate blade, and a skate blade retention mechanism for retaining the skate blade in a sharpening position. The skate blade retention mechanism includes an actuator and a pair of jaws on respective sides of the slot, the jaws being coupled to the actuator and configured for symmetrical opening and closing movements about a centerline of the skate blade. The jaws are secured to the chassis by guide blocks extending though corresponding guide slots of the jaws. The guide blocks have respective angled surfaces contacting corresponding angled surfaces of the jaws permitting the jaws to slide on the guide blocks when the jaws are open. The angled surfaces are oriented in a manner urging the jaws upward against a surface referenced to the chassis as the jaws are urged to a closed position by the actuator.

Abstract: A skate blade sharpening system includes a chassis and an elongated slot for receiving a skate blade, and a skate blade retention mechanism to retain the skate blade in the sharpening position. A grinding wheel moves along the slot including the lower edge of the skate blade during sharpening. One or more slot covers are mounted to the chassis at respective ends of the slot. The slot covers are movable between covering and non-covering positions. In the non-covering positions the slot covers uncover the slot sufficiently to permit insertion and removal of the skate blade. In the covering positions, the slot covers cover end portions of the slot adjacent the ends of the skate blade to avoid exposing the user and mechanical components of the sharpening system to unsafe operating conditions.

Abstract: A skate blade retention mechanism for retaining a skate blade in a sharpening position to be sharpened includes a pair of elongated jaws configured for symmetrical jaw opening and closing movements about a centerline of the skate blade in the sharpening position. A biasing mechanism is configured and operative to apply a bias force to symmetrically bias the jaws toward a closed position with sufficiently high force to retain the skate blade in the sharpening position when the skate blade is located between the jaws as so biased. An actuator is configured to actuate the jaws against the bias force to an open position under user control to permit insertion and removal of the skate blade.

Abstract: A grinding wheel for use in a skate blade sharpening system includes a metal grinding ring having an abrasive-coated outer surface for contacting a skate blade to be sharpened during sharpening, and a generally disk-shaped hub to which the grinding ring is fixedly mounted. The hub and grinding ring are configured for mating with an arbor on a rotating shaft of the skate blade sharpening system. Generally the hub is of a less expensive and lower-density material than the grinding ring. In one embodiment, the hub is of a lightweight material such as thermoplastic.

Abstract: A skate blade sharpening system includes a blade retention mechanism that holds a skate blade to be sharpened, and a rotating shaft configured to have a grinding wheel mounted on it, where the grinding wheel contacts the skate blade during sharpening. An arbor on the rotating shaft is of a heat-conducting material and has a heat-conducting mating with the grinding wheel when the grinding wheel is mounted on the rotating shaft. The arbor includes a set of vanes contributing to fan-like air flow about the arbor and grinding wheel for convective heat dissipation during the sharpening operation.

Abstract: A grinding wheel assembly for use in a sharpening system includes a grinding wheel configured to be mounted in the sharpening system to carry out sharpening operations in which the grinding wheel removes material from a blade to be sharpened, such as the blade of an ice skate. The grinding wheel assembly further includes an identification tag attached to the grinding wheel, the identification tag having (1) secure memory including a usage location for persistently and securely storing a usage tracking value, and (2) interface circuitry for engaging in communication with a transceiver of the sharpening system to enable electronic circuitry of the sharpening system to both read from and write to the usage location to track usage of the grinding wheel for sharpening operations. The memory may also store other data including user-specific system parameters usable to customize operation, and fault information usable to diagnose fault conditions.