Abstract: A one piece molded vacuum tube holder is fitted with a one piece molded needle hub assembly. A needle protection device is further rotatably mounted to the neck of the one piece vacuum tube holder. One portion of a locking mechanism is provided at the neck of the one piece vacuum tube holder and a second portion of the locking mechanism is provided at the needle hub of the needle hub assembly, so that when the needle hub assembly is press fit to the vacuum tube holder, the two portions of the locking mechanism will coact to fixedly retain the needle hub assembly within the vacuum tube holder. The one piece vacuum tube holder is configured to have an elongate needle cover integrally extending from its neck. A finger grasp mechanism may be coupled to the needle cover.

Abstract: A one piece molded vacuum tube holder is fitted with a one piece molded needle hub assembly. One portion of a locking mechanism is provided at the neck of the one piece vacuum tube holder and a second portion of the locking mechanism is provided at the needle hub of the needle hub assembly. The needle hub assembly is press fit to the vacuum tube holder. The one piece vacuum tube holder is configured to have an elongate needle cover integrally extending from its neck. A tamper evident notched joint is provided at the junction where the needle cover is connected to the neck. The opening of the vacuum tube holder through which a conventional vacuum tube is inserted may be sealed for sterilization and transport of the device. A wingnut finger grasp mechanism may be coupled to the needle cover.

Abstract: A one piece molded vacuum tube holder is fitted with a one piece molded needle hub assembly. One portion of a locking mechanism is provided at the neck of the one piece vacuum tube holder and a second portion of the locking mechanism is provided at the needle hub of the needle hub assembly. The needle hub assembly is press fit to the vacuum tube holder. The one piece vacuum tube holder is configured to have an elongate needle cover integrally extending from its neck. A tamper evident notched joint is provided at the junction where the needle cover is connected to the neck. The opening of the vacuum tube holder through which a conventional vacuum tube is inserted may be sealed for sterilization and transport of the device. A wingnut finger grasp mechanism may be coupled to the needle cover.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically building an electronic form for presentation to a user during a data capture process segregates the data capture intent behind the form from the presentation and execution of the form to a data capture user. In this way, the data capture process, including generation of the form and display of user input prompts, can be carried out on any computing platform independent of the system used to generate a data capture definition file that specifies the intent of the data capture requirements. The specification of data elements required during data capture, each having a type specification and a logical relationship relative to other data elements in a hierarchical structure are defined in a data capture definition file in a predetermined format.

Abstract: A mining apparatus includes a miner, a conveyor unit and a steering unit connecting the miner and conveyor unit. The apparatus also includes a heading sensor and a controller responsive to the heading sensor. A first actuator is carried on the miner, the control unit or the steering unit. The first actuator is positioned to a first side of a midline of the miner. Further a second actuator is carried on one of the miner, the conveyor unit and the steering unit. The second actuator is positioned to a second opposite side of the midline of the miner. The first and second actuators are utilized to adjust a connection angle between the miner and the conveyor unit either side of parallel in order to maintain the miner on the desired directional heading.

Abstract: A launch vehicle (10) is provided for a continuous mining system including modular conveyor units (U) that are connected together to form a conveyor train. The launch vehicle (10) includes a main frame (12) for supporting a rearmost conveyor unit (U) of the conveyor train. The main frame (12) includes a first side over which additional conveyor units (U) are added to the conveyor train and a second side. A belly conveyor (14) is carried on the main frame (12). A drive assembly (42) is provided for selectively advancing and withdrawing the conveyor train. Further the launch vehicle (10) includes a canopy (18) overlying the main frame (12). The canopy (18) is mounted on at least one cantilever support (20) extending upwardly adjacent the second side of the main frame (12) whereby the first side is left open for adding additional conveyor units (U) to the conveyor train.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically building an electronic form for presentation to a user during a data capture process segregates the data capture intent behind the form from the presentation and execution of the form to a data capture user. In this way, the data capture process, including generation of the form and display of user input prompts, can be carried out on any computing platform independent of the system used to generate a data capture definition file that specifies the intent of the data capture requirements. The specification of data elements required during data capture, each having a type specification and a logical relationship relative to other data elements in a hierarchical structure are defined in a data capture definition file in a predetermined format.

Abstract: A one piece molded vacuum tube holder is fitted with a one piece molded needle hub assembly. A needle protection device is further rotatably mounted to the neck of the one piece vacuum tube holder. One portion of a locking mechanism is provided at the neck of the one piece vacuum tube holder and a second portion of the locking mechanism is provided at the needle hub of the needle hub assembly, so that when the needle hub assembly is press fit to the vacuum tube holder, the two portions of the locking mechanism will coact to fixedly retain the needle hub assembly within the vacuum tube holder. The one piece vacuum tube holder is configured to have an elongate needle cover integrally extending from its neck. A tamper evident notched joint is provided at the junction where the needle cover is connected to the neck.

Abstract: A baseball bat for striking a spherical or spheroidal projectile having strike surface roughening characteristics in the nature of macroscopic grooves and superimposed microscopic roughening which are adapted to enhance the tendency of the projectile to spin when struck off-center or struck a glancing blow by the bat. The promotion of such tendency to spin enhances the tendency of the trajectory of the ball, after being so struck, to deviate from the trajectory that would be expected if the tendency of the projectile to spin were not thus enhanced. Utilization of the bat with a ball having similar surface roughening characteristics further enhances the deviating nature of the trajectory of the struck ball.

Abstract: A spheroidal projectile with an aerodynamically roughened surface in the nature of intersecting grooves which give a high density of roughness elements. The grooves range in size between grooves of about 0.01 inch wide and deep, spaced about 1/32 of an inch apart for a "fine" degree of roughness to grooves which are 1/16 of an inch wide and deep, and spaced 1/16 of an inch. The projectile has a mass sufficiently low so that when launched at transltional and rotational speeds obtainable by hand, Magnus forces are enhanced by the roughness, and anti-Magnus forces are made to appear by this appropriate degree of roughness, the result of which is a trajectory with pronounced multiple curves. In accordance with the preferred embodiment, a surface speed of rotation of 8 feet per second is desirable and a ball of 15 grams having a 3 inch diameter would have a spin of about 10 revolutions per second. An acceptable ballistic (or linear) launch speed for the ball is about 55 feet per second.