Abstract: A cycle saddle assembly includes a stem unit having a saddle stem. A pneumatic suspension member is supported by the stem unit. A saddle seat is supported at least in part by the pneumatic suspension member for movement relative to the saddle stem. Whereby the shock omnidirectionally transmitting from the rider and the frame of the bicycle during riding will be absorbed by such a cycle saddle assembly.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture accesses a dataset using an unsupported access method. A first request to access a dataset is intercepted. The first request is associated with a first data structure that specifies a first access method. The first data structure is replaced with a second data structure that specifies a second access method which is different from the first access method. The dataset is accessed in accordance with the second access method of the second data structure.

Abstract: A system and method for grouping products for packaging, including a metering station in which a line of products is engaged by a series of metering lugs. The metering lugs urge the products into off-set positions to form multiple lanes of products. Selected ones of the products are then engaged by a series of selector lugs at a selector station to urge the products together to form product groups for packaging.

Abstract: A mass transfer imaging element comprising a substrate having a surface colourant layer containing a pigment to be imagewise transferred, wherein said colourant layer comprises a fluorocarbon additive in an amount to provide a fluorocarbon additive:pigment weight ratio of at least 1:20.

Abstract: A device (6) for attachment to a pipe (7) to be installed in the ground has load cells (17) for detecting a pulling force applied to the pipe (7), as the latter is pulled through the ground, an inclinometer (18), for detecting the inclination of the device (6), and a pressure transducer (20) for detecting the pressure surrounding the device. Data representative of the pulling force, inclination and pressure is stored in the device (6) and protected against unauthorised access by a security code or procedure, so that a verifiable record of the pipe installation process is available.

Abstract: An in situ training system for displaying simulation and/or real images includes a microprocessor for generating at least one simulation image, at least one display for displaying said simulation image, at least one periscopic device each with a viewing window for receiving the simulation and/or real images, and a controller for controlling the simulation and real images to be received by said periscopic device interchangeably or simultaneously.

Abstract: A coin wrapper for wrapping coins comprises a coin input region for receiving the coins, a coin queuing mechanism for receiving the coins from the coin input region and moving each of the coins away from the coin input region, a coin stacking region for receiving coins from the coin queuing mechanism and stacking the coins on at least one stacking element to created a coin stack, and a coin wrapping region for receiving the coin stack on the stacking element from the coin stacking region. The coin wrapping region includes a plurality of rollers for rotating the coin stack and a paper feed mechanism for introducing paper to be wrapped around the coin stack.

Abstract: A mass transfer imaging element comprising a substrate having a surface colorant layer containing a pigment to be imagewise transferred, wherein said colorant layer comprises a fluorocarbon additive in an amount to provide a fluorocarbon additive:pigment weight ratio of at least 1:20.

Abstract: A device (6) for attachment to a pipe (7 to be installed in the ground has load cells (17) for detecting a pulling force applied to the pipe (7), as the latter is pulled through the ground, an inclinometer (18), for detecting the inclination of the device (6), and a pressure transducer (20) for detecting the pressure surrounding the device. Data representative of the pulling force, inclination and pressure is stored in the device (6) and protected against unauthorised access by a security code or procedure, so that a verifiable record of the pipe installation process is available.

Abstract: This invention discloses ink jet receptor coatings and processing conditions to provide a transferable receptor with controlled gloss properties to a receiving substrate. Image graphics produced under these conditions are significantly and unexpectedly improved with minimal coalescence of and “mudcracking” of ink jet images. The ink jet receptor on a temporary carrier web has one or more layers where one layer is a top-surface-providing layer that is weakly bonded to a temporary carrier web. The top-surface-providing layer becomes the exposed surface on a receiving substrate.

Abstract: A mass transfer imaging element comprising a substrate having a surface colourant layer containing a pigment to be imagewise transferred, wherein said colourant layer comprises a fluorocarbon additive in an amount to provide a fluorocarbon additive:pigment weight ratio of at least 1:20.

Abstract: An inkjet receptor medium wherein the medium is microporous and has on one major surface an imaging layer comprising a coating of a mixture of amorphous precipitated and fumed silicas and binder. Dot diameter of pigmented inkjet inks can be controlled using the receptor medium, which is advantageous for inks delivered in small picoliter volumes. Methods of making and using the medium are also disclosed.

Abstract: A display for soft proofing an image to be reproduced using a set of selected printing colors includes a plurality of display elements each for displaying a color substantially spectrally matched to one of a set of printing colors.

Abstract: This invention relates to an ink jet printing sheet having a particle filled ink receptor layer and a particle filled protective penetrant layer. The particles from both the ink receptor layer and protective penetrant layer cause protrusions from the protective penetrant layer.

Abstract: A colour sheet suitable for use in peel-apart colour imaging comprising a substrate bearing a layer of pigmented photopolymerizable material overcoated with a hydrophilic barrier layer and an outer layer of an adhesive.

Abstract: A foundation unit which can be relaxed in a compact configuration for shipping and which can be then elevated to an expanded state for completion. The foundation unit includes a rectangular grid wire top bearing structure, a rigid bottom substructure, and a series of spaced, parallel intermediate rows of wire supports. The wire supports are oriented in pairs, with the bottom attachment segments of the wire supports being adjacent one another and secured to the bottom substructure. The top attachment segments of the wire supports are spaced from one another such that the wire supports of each pair form a generally V-shaped configuration. The wire supports are sandwiched between spaced longitudinal grid wires of the top bearing structure so that, prior to being secured to the bottom substructure, the wire supports are pivotally secured to the top bearing structures so that the foundation unit can be selectively relaxed for storage or shipping.

Abstract: A wire support member for a foundation unit, the resulting foundation unit, and a method of fabricating the foundation unit. The wire support member comprises a pair of parallel wire elements arranged in mirror image with a transverse link extending between and joining the wire elements. A dimple is formed in the top of each of the wire elements to form an engagement location to accommodate and seat a grid wire extending transverse to the wire support member. The foundation unit is comprised of a series of the wire support members installed in a flat grid wire top bearing structure and affixed to a rigid bottom substructure. The foundation unit is formed by inserting a wire support member at an oblique angle to the grid wire top bearing structure with the wire elements straddling a pair of longitudinal grid wires and with one wire element being located on one side of a transverse grid wire and with the other wire element being located on the other side of the transverse grid wire.

Abstract: Compounds having a utility as photosensitive dyes in photocurable polymer based imaging systems having a nucleus of general formula (I): ##STR1## wherein: n is 1 or 2,Y is selected from the group consisting of 0 and ##STR2## Z is selected from the group consisting of 0.sup..crclbar. and ##STR3## M.sup..sym. is a cation.

Abstract: A pants presser having two flat members with facing surfaces, a heatable sheet covering at least one of the members, and a flexible pad proximate with the heatable sheets. A gripping bar is proximate with the bottom of one of the flat members for gripping the bottom of a pair of pants by pressing the pants against the other flat member, the gripping bar being movably mounted to retract substantially linearly and transversely to the plane of the member with which it is proximately mounted. A latching bar is pivotally mounted proximate with one of the members such that it latches to the other member, the latching bar having at least three detents, a full open detent for freely installing a pair of pants thereon, a half-closed detent in which the bottoms of the pants are securely held while the remainder of the pants are free and a closed detent in which the pants are tightly pressed between the flat members.

Abstract: The invention is a new telescopic optical system that comprises a concave primary reflector and a retro-directive reflector for reflecting light from the primary reflector and forming an erect real image at a plane within the system. In the preferred embodiment the retro-directive reflector is a corner reflector and no intermediate inverted image is found.