Abstract: Provided is a method of laminating a surfacing film to an article. The method includes disposing a cutting filament onto a peripheral edge of the article, thermoforming a surfacing film onto the article with the cutting filament, peeling the cutting filament away from the peripheral edge of the article to separate a first portion of the surfacing film from a second portion of the surfacing film, and peeling the first portion of the surfacing film away from the second portion of the surfacing film. Significant benefits include simplification of the trimming process and reduced costs by eliminating need for custom trimming tools and/or laser trimming equipment.

Abstract: An earplug dispensing mechanism defining a longitudinal axis, and including separator and index assemblies. The separator assembly includes a platform, a guide wall and bores. The guide wall projects from the platform to define a well for receiving earplugs. The bores each extend from an entrance opening to an exit opening. The index assembly is rotatably coupled to the separator assembly, and includes a handle, a plate, and a mixing body. The plate is connected to the handle and defines a dispensing aperture. The mixing body has an upper end, a lower end, and an exterior surface defined by a cone portion and a paddle portion. The cone portion tapers in diameter. The paddle portion projects radially from the cone portion at the lower end. The exterior surface is asymmetrical to encourage earplug mixing within the well, and to impede earplugs from entering a bore open to the dispensing aperture.

Abstract: A lighting device (30) comprises a side-light light guide 1? located in a support (2) that has an elongate opening for the passage of light emitted by the light guide. The support (20) is shaped to provide contact edges (24) and the only physical engagement between the support and the light guide is along those contact edges. The support also has planar surfaces internal positioned adjacent, and parallel to, planar surfaces (15) in the light guide to retain the light guide in the required orientation in the support. To enhance the flexibility of the support, in some embodiments only part of the support is continuous along the whole length of the support.

Abstract: The present invention provides an intraoral imaging and illumination apparatus comprising a rear portion and a front portion removably connected to the rear portion. The front portion is formed as a light guide. The rear portion comprises an imaging device and an illumination device. The illumination device is adapted to couple light into the front portion and towards a leading end of the front portion opposite the rear portion so as to illuminate a first object. The imaging device is adapted to image the first object.

Abstract: A manually operable dispenser for dispensing earplugs is provided. An exemplary dispenser includes a first dispensing mechanism portion and a second dispensing mechanism portion that interacts with the first dispensing mechanism portion during rotation of the handle. Interaction between the first dispensing mechanism portion and the second dispensing mechanism affects a rotational resistance (?) at the handle such that rotational resistance (?) varies between a maximum rotational resistance (?max) and a minimum rotational resistance (?min) as the handle is rotated by a user.

Abstract: A lighting device (30) comprises a side-light light guide 1? located in a support (2) that has an elongate opening for the passage of light emitted by the light guide. The support (20) is shaped to provide contact edges (24) and the only physical engagement between the support and the light guide is along those contact edges. The support also has planar surfaces internal positioned adjacent, and parallel to, planar surfaces (15) in the light guide to retain the light guide in the required orientation in the support. To enhance the flexibility of the support, in some embodiments only part of the support is continuous along the whole length of the support. (FIGS. 14 to 19).

Abstract: An earplug dispensing mechanism defining a longitudinal axis, and including separator and index assemblies. The separator assembly includes a platform, a guide wall and bores. The guide wall projects from the platform to define a well for receiving earplugs. The bores each extend from an entrance opening to an exit opening. The index assembly is rotatably coupled to the separator assembly, and includes a handle, a plate, and a mixing body. The plate is connected to the handle and defines a dispensing aperture. The mixing body has an upper end, a lower end, and an exterior surface defined by a cone portion and a paddle portion. The cone portion tapers in diameter. The paddle portion projects radially from the cone portion at the lower end. The exterior surface is asymmetrical to encourage earplug mixing within the well, and to impede earplugs from entering a bore open to the dispensing aperture.

Abstract: An earplug dispensing mechanism defining a longitudinal axis, and including a separator assembly and an index assembly. The separator assembly includes a platform, a guide wall and bores. The guide wall projects from the platform to define a well for receiving earplugs from a container. Each bore is open to the well at an entrance opening. The guide wall forms a close, compound curve shape in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and surrounding the entrance openings. The index assembly is rotatably coupled to the separator assembly, and includes a handle, a plate, and a mixing body. The plate is connected to the handle and defines a dispensing aperture. The mixing body is connected to the plate opposite the handle. Rotation of the handle selectively aligns the dispensing aperture with individual ones of the bores, with the guide wall shape funneling earplugs in the well toward the bores.

Abstract: The present invention provides an intraoral imaging and illumination apparatus (10) comprising a rear portion (12) and a front portion (14) removably connected to the rear portion (12). The front portion (14) is formed as a light guide (29). The rear portion (12) comprises an imaging device (16) and an illumination device (18). The illumination device (18) is adapted to couple light into the front portion (14) and towards a leading end (30) of the front portion (14) opposite the rear portion (12) so as to illuminate a first object (66). The imaging device (16) is adapted to image the first object (66).

Abstract: A manually operable dispenser for dispensing disposable earplugs. The dispenser includes a housing, an index body, and a plate. The housing forms an opening for receiving earplugs from a container. The index body includes a handle and a hub. The hub forms an upper major face, a lower major face, and a plurality of circumferentially arranged bores. Each of the bores is open to the major faces and is defined by a wall surface extending through a thickness of the hub. At least a portion of the wall surface of each of the bores has an anti-bonding construction. The hub is rotatably mounted within the housing. The plate is connected to the housing, and forms a dispensing aperture. A manually-applied rotational force at the handle selectively aligns respective ones of the bores with the dispensing aperture. The anti-bonding construction promotes sliding, low friction interface with individual earplugs.

Abstract: A manually operable dispenser for dispensing disposable earplugs. The dispenser includes a housing, index body, and plate. The housing forms an opening for receiving earplugs from a container. The index body includes a handle, hub, guide cone and shield. The hub forms opposing major faces and a plurality of circumferentially arranged bores. The guide cone projects from the upper major face, tapering in diameter to a leading end. A base of the shield is disposed above the leading end opposite the upper major face. A wall of the shield projects radially outwardly to an edge having a diameter greater than a diameter of the leading end. The shield and the handle are rotationally affixed. The hub is rotatably mounted within the opening. The plate is connected to the housing and forms a dispensing aperture. A manually-applied rotational force at the handle selectively aligns individual ones of the bores with the dispensing aperture.

Abstract: A manually operable dispenser for dispensing disposable earplugs. The dispenser includes a housing, index body, and plate. The housing forms an opening for receiving earplugs from a container. The index body includes a handle, hub, guide cone and shield. The hub forms opposing major faces and a plurality of circumferentially arranged bores. The guide cone projects from the upper major face, tapering in diameter to a leading end. A base of the shield is disposed above the leading end opposite the upper major face. A wall of the shield projects radially outwardly to an edge having a diameter greater than a diameter of the leading end. The shield and the handle are rotationally affixed. The hub is rotatably mounted within the opening. The plate is connected to the housing and forms a dispensing aperture. A manually-applied rotational force at the handle selectively aligns individual ones of the bores with the dispensing aperture.

Abstract: A manually operable dispenser for dispensing disposable earplugs. The dispenser includes a housing, an index body, and a plate. The housing forms an opening for receiving earplugs from a container. The index body includes a handle and a hub. The hub forms an upper major face, a lower major face, and a plurality of circumferentially arranged bores. Each of the bores is open to the major faces and is defined by a wall surface extending through a thickness of the hub. At least a portion of the wall surface of each of the bores has an anti-bonding construction. The hub is rotatably mounted within the housing. The plate is connected to the housing, and forms a dispensing aperture. A manually-applied rotational force at the handle selectively aligns respective ones of the bores with the dispensing aperture. The anti-bonding construction promotes sliding, low friction interface with individual earplugs.

Abstract: A lighting device (30) comprises a side-light light guide 1? located in a support (2) that has an elongate opening for the passage of light emitted by the light guide. The support (20) is shaped to provide contact edges (24) and the only physical engagement between the support and the light guide is along those contact edges. The support also has planar surfaces internal positioned adjacent, and parallel to, planar surfaces (15) in the light guide to retain the light guide in the required orientation in the support. To enhance the flexibility of the support, in some embodiments only part of the support is continuous along the whole length of the support.

Abstract: A connector adapted for use in an illumination system comprising at least one optical element, such as an optical fiber. is disclosed. The connector comprises a housing dimensioned so that internally it retains at least one end portion of at least one optical element, and externally substantially follows the shape of the end portion(s) of the optical element(s). This forms a join between the ends of the optical element(s). A light source is also contained within the housing and positioned so as to illuminate the end portions of at least one optical element. Electrical connection means adapted to connect the light source to an external power supply are provided. The electrical connection means being moveable relative to the housing. The electrical connection means may be carried by a flexible substrate, or may be formed by slideable contacts within a light guide rail.

Abstract: A lighting device (30) comprises a side-light light guide 1? located in a support (2) that has an elongate opening for the passage of light emitted by the light guide. The support (20) is shaped to provide contact edges (24) and the only physical engagement between the support and the light guide is along those contact edges. The support also has planar surfaces internal positioned adjacent, and parallel to, planar surfaces (15) in the light guide to retain the light guide in the required orientation in the support. To enhance the flexibility of the support, in some embodiments only part of the support is continuous along the whole length of the support.

Abstract: A lighting device (30) comprises a side-light light guide 1? located in a support (2) that has an elongate opening for the passage of light emitted by the light guide. The support (20) is shaped to provide contact edges (24) and the only physical engagement between the support and the light guide is along those contact edges. The support also has planar surfaces internal positioned adjacent, and parallel to, planar surfaces (15) in the light guide to retain the light guide in the required orientation in the support. To enhance the flexibility of the support, in some embodiments only part of the support is continuous along the whole length of the support (FIGS. 14 to 19).

Abstract: A lighting device (30) comprises a side-light light guide 1? located in a support (2) that has an elongate opening for the passage of light emitted by the light guide. The support (20) is shaped to provide contact edges (24) and the only physical engagement between the support and the light guide is along those contact edges. The support also has planar surfaces internal positioned adjacent, and parallel to, planar surfaces (15) in the light guide to retain the light guide in the required orientation in the support. To enhance the flexibility of the support, in some embodiments only part of the support is continuous along the whole length of the support (FIGS. 14 to 19).

Abstract: A lighting device (30) comprises a side-light light guide 1? located in a support (2) that has an elongate opening for the passage of light emitted by the light guide. The support (20) is shaped to provide contact edges (24) and the only physical engagement between the support and the light guide is along those contact edges. The support also has planar surfaces internal positioned adjacent, and parallel to, planar surfaces (15) in the light guide to retain the light guide in the required orientation in the support. To enhance the flexibility of the support, in some embodiments only part of the support is continuous along the whole length of the support.

Abstract: An illumination system incorporating an optical element such as an optical fibre is disclosed. The system comprises at least one light source and an optical element configured to emit visible light from a series of emission points located along its length when coupled to the light source. Each end of the optical element and the light source are held within a sleeve such that the optical element forms a continuous light guide. The optical element is further adapted to fit within a housing and to be held in tension within that housing, such that the optical element sits within the housing in a preferred orientation. Preferably, the light source is a light emitting diode.