Abstract: A safety shaving assembly for attachment to a razor handle has optimised shape and dimensions for body shaving, especially the regions of the underarm. The shaving assembly has an elongate blade with a linear sharpened edge, and a skin contacting surface whose length is 1 to 4 times the width, preferably 1 to 2.8 times the width, has a large footprint area of at least 450 mm2, preferably at least 600 mm2, and a circularity (as herein defined to relate the area enclosed by the perimeter to the length of the perimeter) of not less than 70%. The shaving assembly is substantially inflexible over a major longitudinal dimension in use. In preferred embodiments the circularity is about 80%. A preferred shape is an oval resembling a rectangle with semi-circular ends. The forward and rearward skin-engaging surfaces in front of and behind the blade edge each can have a skin contact area of at least 140 mm2, and their combined areas is preferably at least 400 mm2.

Abstract: A submersible fabric tub is floated in a swimming pool or other body of water, the tub having an upper floatation collar from which the flexible fabric structure of the tub is suspended. The tub has a pair of opposed bench seat portions with a deeper leg well located between them, and with enclosing end walls. A pair of access ports in an end wall connect by way of connecting hoses with an external heating or cooling water supply, by which the temperature of the water within the tub structure may be conditioned to a desired extent. The flexible floatation collar can be readily locally depressed, enabling users of the tub to readily enter or leave the tub for the surrounding body of water by swimming over the collar. The bench seat portions incorporate plastic reinforcing beams.

Abstract: A submersible fabric tub is floated in a swimming pool or other body of water, the tub having an upper floatation collar from which the flexible fabric structure of the tub is suspended. The tub has a pair of opposed bench seat portions with a deeper leg well located between them, and with enclosing end walls. A pair of access ports in an end wall connect by way of connecting hoses with an external heating or cooling water supply, by which the temperature of the water within the tub structure may be conditioned to a desired extent. The flexible floatation collar can be readily locally depressed, enabling users of the tub to readily enter or leave the tub for the surrounding body of water by swimming over the collar. The bench seat portions incorporate plastic reinforcing beams.

Abstract: A method of processing information in a tire pressure monitoring system includes the steps of: establishing a reference temperature; determining a pressure warning threshold at the reference temperature; measuring gauge pressure and gauge temperature within a tire cavity; correcting the gauge pressure to a filtered pressure value at the reference temperature using the Ideal Gas Law; and comparing the filtered pressure value against the pressure warning threshold to determine the necessity for a warning signal. In an advanced form of the invention, the method includes determining a pressure leak rate; predicting the time interval that the filtered pressure value will cross the pressure warning threshold at the leak rate and generating progressive warnings to the driver over the time interval. Fuzzy logic is used to quantify the probability of a warning state for each data point, allow for measurement error; and report the state of maximum probability to minimize the occurrence of false warning.

Abstract: A latch mechanism is provided for a door which includes a rotatable latch which is rotated into and held in an open position to allow the door to open, and is released from the open position only when a sensing mechanism provided as a part of the latch mechanism, held in the door, senses the door frame upon a closing of the door. The latch is held in an over center engaged position which it is moved into due to a lost motion connection among some, but not all, elements of the latch mechanism.

Abstract: A system and method for direct digital recording of input media such as audio, video, and/or images for easy access and editing are disclosed.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention a projectile sensor comprises a support means, a lens means and a photocell comprised of multiple parallel photosensitive elements interposed by one or more diagonal photosensitive elements on or of a substrate disposed so as to provide changes in their electrical response when objects passing linearly through the sensor's field of view form an image through a lens upon the photosensitive elements in sequence. In its simplest embodiment, the photosensitive elements of the sensor substantially form a forward or reversed English letter “N” shape, such that a projectile's image passing over the photosensitive elements produces a series of electrical responses, where the ratios of the times between such changes relate to the velocity and position of the object.

Abstract: A laminated article is provided which is particularly well adapted for use as an automotive sidelite. The laminated article includes a first ply, a second ply and an interlayer located between the two plies, with the two plies and interlayer dimensioned such that the laminated article has a total thickness of about 4.0-6.0 mm, more preferably of about 4.0-5.0 mm. The plies are preferably heat strengthened glass in the thickness range of about 1.0-3.0 mm. The interlayer is preferably a plastic material, such as polyvinyl butyral, and has a thickness in the range of about 0.50-0.80 mm. A coating, such as a solar control coating or electroconductive coating, can be formed or deposited on one or more surfaces of the plies and/or interlayers. A method and apparatus are also provided for producing a laminated sidelite of the invention.

Abstract: A door closer comprising a housing, a member for driving engagement with a door, the member being rotatable relative to the housing in a door opening direction and in a door closing direction, a spring apparatus within the housing providing a resilient bias, the resilient bias being increased by rotation of the member in the door opening direction and a check device for controlling rotation of the member in the door closing direction and hence closure of the door under the action of the spring apparatus, the door closer having a back check comprising a piston member movable in a cylinder from an initial position against resistance of a fluid medium by rotation of the rotatable member in the opening direction.

Abstract: A latch mechanism is provided for a door which includes a rotatable latch which is rotated into and held in an open position to allow the door to open, and is released from the open position only when a sensing mechanism provided as a part of the latch mechanism, held in the door, senses the door frame upon a closing of the door. The latch is held in an over center engaged position which it is moved into due to a lost motion connection among some, but not all, elements of the latch mechanism.

Abstract: Clutch handle apparatus for opening doors and the like includes a torque limiting clutch subassembly which selectively disengages the handle from a spindle to prevent damage. The clutch subassembly includes a slip clutch removably coupled to a spindle pin allowing corotation of the handle and the spindle below the application of a predetermined torque, and free rotation of the handle with respect to the spindle by uncoupling the pin and the slip clutch at and above the application of a predetermined of torque to the handle.

Abstract: A razor blade unit for safety razor has optimized shape and dimensions for body shaving, especially the regions of the axillae. The blade unit has an elongate blade with a rectilinear sharpened edge, and a skin contacting surface at which the length is 1 to 4 times the width and not greater than 60 mm, preferably 40 to 45 mm. The skin contacting surface has a footprint area of at least 450 mm2, preferably 600 to 750 mm2, and a circularity which is not less than the lower of (i) 65%, and (ii) the circularity of a rectangle with the same length and width as the skin contacting surface and with corner radii of 30% of the width. In a plane perpendicular to the blade edge the skin contacting surface is convex and shaped to make at least three point contact with an imaginary circumscribing circle with a radius of 15 to 70 mm, preferably 25 mm. Guard cap surfaces in front of and behind the blade edge each have a skin contact area of at least 140 mm2, and their combined area is preferably at least 400 mm2, e.g.

Abstract: An enclosure for a circuit on a printed circuit board consisting of two boxes fastened to the opposite sides of the printed circuit board. The boxes each have one open side which faces the printed circuit board and seals against it by means of a gasket, creating protected areas under the boxes on both sides of the printed circuit board. The boxes are offset so that protected areas on one side of the board are directly opposite both protected and unprotected areas on the other side of the board. This allows the top sides of connectors, terminals, and feed-through fittings installed on the board to be unprotected and accessible, while their solder sides are protected as are all components of the circuit and interconnecting wiring on both sides of the board.

Abstract: Clutch handle apparatus for opening doors and the like includes a torque limiting clutch subassembly which selectively disengages the handle from a spindle to prevent damage. The clutch subassembly includes a slip clutch removably coupled to a spindle pin allowing corotation of the handle and the spindle below the application of a predetermined torque, and free rotation of the handle with respect to the spindle by uncoupling the pin and the slip clutch at and above the application of a predetermined of torque to the handle.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for banding a wrapped silverware arrangement with a two-sided segment of banding material bearing a treatable adhesive on one side thereof utilizes a pair of jaw members which are movable between open and closed conditions for capturing a wrapped silverware arrangement and a clamp assembly for releasably holding an end of a banding material segment. With an end of the banding material segment held by the clamp assembly and the jaw members being disposed in an open condition, the jaw members are lowered onto a wrapped silverware arrangement so that the banding material segment is draped across the wrapped silverware arrangement and so that subsequent movement of the jaw members to the closed condition captures the silverware arrangement between the jaw members and positions the banding material segment in an inverted U-shaped orientation about the wrapped silverware arrangement.

Abstract: A razor blade unit for a safety razor has optimised shape and dimensions for body shaving, especially the regions of the axillae. The blade unit has an elongate blade with a rectilinear sharpened edge, and a skin contacting surface at which the length is 1 to 4 times the width and not greater than 60 mm, preferably 40 to 45 mm. The skin contacting surface has a footprint area of at least 450 mm2, preferably 600 to 750 mm2, and a circularity which is not less than the lower of (i) 64%, and (ii) the circularity of a rectangle with the same length and width as the skin contacting surface and with corner radii of 30% of the width. In a plane perpendicular to the blade edge the skin contacting surface is convex and shaped to make at least three point contact with an imaginary circumscribing circle with a radius of 15 to 70 mm, preferably 25 mm. Guard and cap surfaces in front of and behind the blade edge each have a skin contact area of at least 140 mm2, and their combined areas is preferably at least 400 mm2, e.

Abstract: A linear actuator includes a stationary stator and an external armature moving with a coil moving within a magnetic structure. A linear bearing including a stationary track fastened to the stator and a moving track fastened to the armature extends on each side of the magnetic structure. In each linear bearing, balls rotate between the stationary and moving tracks with movement of the armature. During the process of manufacturing the linear actuator, the moving track of each linear bearing is loosely mounted to the armature, a pre-load force is applied to the moving track using a tool fastened to the armature, and the moving track is clamped in place so that the pre-load force is subsequently maintained.

Abstract: A novel soybean cultivar, designated 96-061870, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 96-061870, to the plants of soybean 96-061870 and to methods for producing a soybean plant by crossing the cultivar 96-061870 with itself or another soybean variety. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds and plants produced by crossing the cultivar 96-061870 with another soybean cultivar.

Abstract: A novel soybean cultivar, designated 96-060167, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 96-060167, to the plants of soybean 96-060167 and to methods for producing a soybean plant by crossing the cultivar 96-060167 with itself or another soybean variety. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds and plants produced by crossing the cultivar 96-060167 with another soybean cultivar.

Abstract: A novel soybean cultivar, designated 97-CX690, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 97-CX690, to the plants of soybean 97-CX690 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing the cultivar 97-CX690 with itself or another soybean variety. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds and plants produced by crossing the cultivar 97-CX690 with another soybean cultivar.