Abstract: A rotating belt (10) is used to finish the edges (23) of glass sheets (11), such as, the thin sheets (e.g., 0.7 mm) used as substrates for liquid crystal displays (LCDs). The edge (23) of the sheet (11) engages the working zone (15) of the belt (10) along a line segment (17) whose included angle with the direction of motion (19) of the belt (10) is less than 10°. The working zone (15) is brought into contact with the edge (23) by a pressure sensitive platen (13) which can accommodate errors in the positioning of the sheet (11) at the finishing station (12).

Abstract: A system for selectively disabling use of at least selected features of a stand-alone electronic device under a predetermined set of conditions. The system establishes a state of the set of conditions as being satisfied or unsatisfied, communicates the state to the electronic device, and disables the selected features if the state is satisfied. In one embodiment, the system may be advantageously be used to prevent vehicular accidents by at least partially disabling non-emergency use of a wireless telephone in a moving vehicle. In another embodiment, the system may be used to disable features of an electronic device within a predetermined area having a boundary that is independent of a communications network cell.

Abstract: An audio amplifier drives a load in the form of a sound producing loud speaker exhibiting a frequency variable impedance characteristic over a range of audio frequencies. Voltage and current feedback circuits respectively establish a minimum voltage feedback and a discrete feedback characteristic. A presence feedback circuit coupled to ground reduces feedback in discrete steps with increasing frequency above a selected level and a resonance feedback circuit coupled in parallel with the amplifier circuit coupled in parallel with the amplifier reduces voltage feedback in discrete steps with decreasing frequencies below a selected level. The controls are responsive to a digital interface for providing discrete settings.

Abstract: A method for edge finishing glass sheets. Glass sheets are separated into desired sizes, after which the edges of the glass sheets are finished using first grinding wheels to grind the edges, followed by polishing wheels to round off the ground edges by contacting and moving the edges of the glass sheet against stationary rotating grinding and polishing wheels which are each oriented approximately parallel to the major surface of the glass sheet.

Abstract: An audio amplifier drives a load in the form of a sound producing loud speaker exhibiting a frequency variable impedance characteristic over a range of audio frequencies. Voltage and current feedback circuits respectively establish a minimum voltage feedback and a discrete feedback characteristic. A presence feedback circuit coupled to ground reduces feedback in discrete steps with increasing frequency above a selected level and a resonance feedback circuit coupled in parallel with the amplifier circuit coupled in parallel with the amplifier reduces voltage feedback in discrete steps with decreasing frequencies below a selected level. The controls are responsive to a digital interface for providing discrete settings.

Abstract: A glass sheet is separated by propagating a crack in the glass sheet by moving a laser beam across the surface of the glass sheet along a desired line of separation and then streaming coolant at the glass sheet at a predetermined distance behind the laser beam. By altering the profile of a laser beam used to score glass, and by changing the distance between the spot where the laser beam impinges on the glass and the spot struck by the stream of coolant, the penetration depth of the resultant median crack can be controlled.

Abstract: A wire manager for cables to electronic equipment on a table work surface. A bin with a removable cover is secured along an edge of the work surface. A bin divider defines longitudinally extending front and rear channels for power and data cables. Holes in the rear wall of the bin and in the cover adjacent the rear wall allow cables to be directed from the bin to electronic equipment on the work surface. The divider has a horizontal section spaced above the bottom wall of the bin to shield the data cables from power cables passing above the horizontal section to an opening and the work surface. The wire manager is mounted on bin supports secured to the underside of the work surface.

Abstract: A water heater is protectively packaged for shipment and handling by respectively inserting upper and lower end portions thereof in recesses in facing padded sides of upper and lower end assemblies having, on their opposite sides, spaced pluralities of parallel support rail members. The water heater and associated end assemblies are enclosed within a cardboard box having a vertical side wall portion spaced horizontally outwardly from the water heater, and vertically elongated reinforcing members extend along interior corner portions of the box between the upper and lower end assemblies and form therewith a vertical load path facilitating the stacking of water heaters packaged in this manner.

Abstract: An enclosure has one or more loud speakers therein adjacent the front of the enclosure; and the back of the enclosure defines an opening. A pair of tilt members are mounted on inner surfaces of the enclosure at opposite sides thereof for sliding and rotating movement with respect to the enclosure. The tilt members each include an elongated straight portion and an offset portion at one end of the straight portion. The tilt members are stored completely within the enclosure and may be adjusted to extend through and rearwardly of the opening at the rear of the enclosure to engage a support surface. A locking member locks each tilt member in adjusted position. Electronic means for operating the loud speakers may be disposed within the enclosure at the top thereof.

Abstract: A wheeled folding gateleg table having a frame member, table top and a pair of gatelegs. Each gateleg includes a foot and at least one wheel on one foot for rolling movement of the upright table.

Abstract: A hybrid male coupling member adaptable to couple with at least two types of female coupling members includes a one piece integrally molded housing having a front engagement wall, a fluid path being defined by an inner wall. The inner wall has an engagement section disposed proximate a front end of the housing. The male coupling member further includes a first groove being disposed around an outer wall of the housing and a second groove being disposed in the first groove. When the male coupling member couples with the first female coupling member, the engagement section of the male coupling member engages with a spring-biased poppet of the first female coupling member and forces the poppet toward a back end of the first female coupling member so as to allow the fluid to flow therethrough, a plastic clip being received in the first groove to latch the male coupling member and the first female coupling member together.

Abstract: In a power amplifier, a control device employing a dual ganged potentiometer is connected in the feedback circuits of successive amplifier stages to increase the gain of the front end stage while simultaneously reducing the gain in a subsequent stage when the control is turned down. A distortion circuit, such as a tube compression circuit, is coupled between the stages. When the control is turned down, the compression circuit is activated at a lower level that effectively reduces the output power of the second stage. Presence and resonance controls may be provided to tailor high and low frequency damping factor of the second stage and function until the compression circuitry is activated. A ripple reduction filter is provided in a filtered supply for the drivers in the second or power amplifier stage.

Abstract: A multi-stage solid state amplifier emulates the distortion associated with grid current flow in a multi-stage tube amplifier by means of a clipping device in the circuit between each series connected stage. In a particular embodiment, each stage includes a field effect transistor (FET) and the clipping device is a diode.

Abstract: A multi-stage solid state amplifier emulates the distortion associated with grid current flow in a multi-stage tube amplifier by means of a clipping device in the circuit between each series connected stage. In a particular embodiment, each stage includes a field effect transistor (FET) and the clipping device is a diode. In another embodiment, each stage includes a Darlington connected pair of transistors. An input diode and a multilevel biasing circuit emulates a tube circuit input.

Abstract: In a container for dispensing viscous food product having viscosity such as of ketchup, mustard, melted cheese or the like, is a housing for a pump, a dispenser, and valves. The housing has a pumping chamber and dispensing chamber, with first and second valves associated with the pumping and dispensing chambers, respectively. The pump chamber is sized to receive part of a pump. The dispensing chamber is sized to receive part of a dispenser, which can include a base. An angled flow passage connects the pump chamber to the dispensing chamber. The first and second valves can both include a ball. Structure is provided for checking the upward movement of the first and second valves during pumping and dispensing strokes and to hold the dispenser to the housing, which in a preferred embodiment comprises a U-shaped pin which passes into the dispensing chamber and engages the dispenser, and into the pump chamber. A notch in the side of the housing permits easy grasping of the U-shaped pin.

Abstract: Disclosed is a plastic boat hull and a method for making a plastic boat hull by roto-molding a thermoplastic material in a mold cavity. The resultant boat hull in a preferred embodiment has an upper hull portion which is identical to the lower hull portion. The forebody, in a preferred embodiment is identical to the afterbody except that one is rotated 90.degree. with respect to the other about the longitudinal axis of the hull. The boat hull shape provides for minimal weight, windage and surface area. The vessel has a wave-piercing bow which creates an asymmetric water plane even though the forebody and afterbody are conceptually identical. The asymmetric water plane reduces pitching of the hull in rough water. In a preferred embodiment, two smaller hulls and one larger hull are combined with cross beams to form a trimaran sailboat.

Abstract: The present invention employs gain compensation such that when the amplifier is in the clean mode, the gain is at a selected level and when the amplifier is in the lead mode gain is decreased. In one embodiment a selectable brightness control is employed to raise the high frequency response in the clean mode. In another embodiment, a selectable gain boost control is employed to increase the gain in the lead mode. At least one frequency selectable means is provided in a post distortion stage output circuit for varying the frequency response of the output in the lead mode.

Abstract: An amplifier using vacuum tubes is mounted in a housing with a speaker in such a way as to minimize microphonics by having the speaker axis and all vacuum tube axes parallel.