Abstract: A device including: at least two electronic/electrical components; and a casing, the casing having at least a portion thereof acting as a communication bus for connecting the at least two electronic/electrical components.

Abstract: The cardiac assist device includes a sealed tubular housing for externally applying positive and negative relative pressure to a limb in counterpulsation with heart function. The applicator is assembled, in situ, to provide customized fit. It includes a fabric or sponge-like inner layer cut to size and situated around the limb. Initially deformable material is sized, sealed around the inner fabric layer and then secured by straps or the like to form a relatively rigid, non-expandable tubular shell. The shell may include an interior wall composed of a sheet of hard plastic or articulated sections of hard plastic or metal. The interior wall has a plurality of openings to the sealed shell interior. The exterior shell wall is positioned around the interior wall. The shell walls are spaced apart by radially and/or longitudinally extending spacer elements defining a multi-section air flow chamber between the walls. The interior shell wall and spacer elements may be integral.

Abstract: A manually operated rotatable impact tool including: a driven member having means for retaining and driving a fastener about an axis, the driven member further having at least one impact stop offset from the axis; a driving member rotatably connected to the driven member for driving the driven member about the axis to loosen or tighten the fastener; an impact mass movable along a path in communication with the impact stop; a spring disposed in the path for storing energy upon rotation of the driving member; and an energy releasing mechanism for releasing the stored energy and allowing it to be at least partially transferred to the impact mass such that the impact mass accelerates and strikes the impact stop upon the release of the stored energy.

Abstract: A manually operated rotatable impact tool including: a driven member for retaining and driving a fastener about an axis, the driven member further having at least one impact stop offset from the axis; a driving member rotatably connected to the driven member for driving the driven member about the axis to loosen or tighten the fastener; an impact mass movable along a path in communication with the impact stop; a spring for biasing the impact mass away from an abutment on the driving member; a movable stop plate biased into the path and movable out from the path; and a stop mover rotating with the driving member for engaging and moving the movable stop plate from the path upon a predetermined angular rotation of the driving member; wherein rotation of the driving member forces the impact mass to abut the movable stop plate and compress the spring until the stop mover moves the movable stop plate from the path when the driving member is rotated the predetermined angular rotation thereby releasing the impact mas

Abstract: A manually operated rotatable impact tool including: a driven member for retaining and driving a fastener about an axis, the driven member further having at least one impact stop offset from the axis; a driving member rotatably connected to the driven member for driving the driven member about the axis to loosen or tighten the fastener; an impact mass movable along a path in communication with the impact stop; a spring for biasing the impact mass away from an abutment on the driving member; a movable stop plate biased into the path and movable out from the path; and a stop mover rotating with the driving member for engaging and moving the movable stop plate from the path upon a predetermined angular rotation of the driving member; wherein rotation of the driving member forces the impact mass to abut the movable stop plate and compress the spring until the stop mover moves the movable stop plate from the path when the driving member is rotated the predetermined angular rotation thereby releasing the impact mas

Abstract: Apparatus for compensating for positioning, pointing and/or orientation errors caused by deflections of structural members and components of a high performance machine or device and/or for reducing vibration inputs to such machine or device and/or for micro-positioning such machine or device so as to improve the operational performance of such machine or device. The apparatus utilizes one or more active-type actuators, such as piezoelectric ceramic type actuators, which are arranged in a predetermined manner relative to the machine or device. A servo control device operating in accordance with a predetermined algorithm may be utilized for controlling the actuators or, alternatively, the apparatus may operate in an open loop manner.

Abstract: Apparatus for compensating for positioning, pointing and/or orientation errors caused by deflections of structural members and components of a high performance machine or device and/or for reducing vibration inputs to such machine or device and/or for micro-positioning such machine or device so as to improve the operational performance of such machine or device. The apparatus utilizes one or more active-type actuators, such as piezoelectric ceramic type actuators, which are arranged in a predetermined manner relative to the machine or device. A servo control device operating in accordance with a predetermined algorithm may be utilized for controlling the actuators or, alternatively, the apparatus may operate in an open loop manner.

Abstract: Apparatus for compensating for positioning, pointing and/or orientation errors caused by deflections of structural members and components of a high performance machine or device and/or for reducing vibration inputs to such machine or device and/or for micro-positioning such machine or device so as to improve the operational performance of such machine or device. The apparatus utilizes one or more active-type actuators, such as piezoelectric ceramic type actuators, which are arranged in a predetermined manner relative to the machine or device. A servo control device operating in accordance with a predetermined algorithm may be utilized for controlling the actuators or, alternatively, the apparatus may operate in an open loop manner.

Abstract: Apparatus for compensating for positioning, pointing and/or orientation errors caused by deflections of structural members and components of a high performance machine or device and/or for reducing vibration inputs to such machine or device and/or for micro-positioning such machine or device so as to improve the operational performance of such machine or device. The apparatus utilizes one or more active-type actuators, such as piezoelectric ceramic type actuators, which are arranged in a predetermined manner relative to the machine or device. A servo control device operating in accordance with a predetermined algorithm may be utilized for controlling the actuators or, alternatively, the apparatus may operate in an open loop manner.

Abstract: A plunger apparatus is presently disclosed that includes a housing, and a probe slidably supported by the housing. A damping assembly is supported by the housing and cooperating with the probe. The housing, preferably, has a proximal portion and a distal portion wherein the probe is slidably mounted within the housing and extending axially from the distal portion. The probe, desirably, has an increased diameter portion at a proximal end thereof and a penetrating tip adjacent a distal end thereof. A hammer mechanism is provided that is slidably supported by the housing and cooperatively engaging the probe and cooperating with the damping assembly. The housing may also include a handle assembly. A method for using the plunger apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A tuning system is described for automatically tuning a musical instrument having adjustment means for changing the frequency of a musical tone produced by a musical string of the musical instrument. The tuning system of the present invention is useful with respect to a wide variety of musical instruments, e.g., string instruments such as, guitars, harps, pianos, etc., and other instruments. A tuning system is operative to selectively tune a musical string of a stringed musical instrument to a user selected predetermined frequency value.

Abstract: Apparatus for compensating for positioning, pointing and/or orientation errors caused by deflections of structural members and components of a high performance machine or device and/or for reducing vibration inputs to such machine or device and/or for micro-positioning such machine or device so as to improve the operational performance of such machine or device. The apparatus utilizes one or more active-type actuators, such as piezoelectric ceramic type actuators, which are arranged in a predetermined manner relative to the machine or device. A servo control device operating in accordance with a predetermined algorithm may be utilized for controlling the actuators or, alternatively, the apparatus may operate in an open loop manner.

Abstract: Apparatus for compensating for positioning, pointing and/or orientation errors caused by deflections of structural members and components of a high performance machine or device and/or for reducing vibration inputs to such machine or device and/or for micro-positioning such machine or device so as to improve the operational performance of such machine or device. The apparatus utilizes one or more active-type actuators, such as piezoelectric ceramic type actuators, which are arranged in a predetermined manner relative to the machine or device. A servo control device operating in accordance with a predetermined algorithm may be utilized for controlling the actuators or, alternatively, the apparatus may operate in an open loop manner.