Abstract: An orthopedic seat cushion for placement on a seat for supporting the weight of an occupant includes an envelope comprising an upper sheet and a lower sheet sealed together to define an interior volume. The interior volume is subdivided into a plurality of depressible cells wherein adjacent cells are in fluid communication with one another. The envelope has an opening penetrated through the upper sheet and lower sheet, wherein the opening has a front end and a back end and is configured to allow clearance for a sensitive area of the occupant. At least one cell has a height dimension that inhibits the sensitive area from contacting the seat when the at least one cell is depressed by the weight of the occupant.

Abstract: An automated brazing system by which an apparatus is conveyed along a path defined through a brazing zone is provided and includes first and second sets of burners disposed within the brazing zone at first and second opposing sides of the path, respectively, to heat the components of the apparatus substantially uniformly at the first and second sides and to heat the components of the apparatus substantially uniformly along the brazing zone, such that each side of each of the components is heated to a substantially similar temperature as each side of each of the other components.

Abstract: A system and method for evaluating characteristics of an S-cam are provided. The inventive method includes the step of obtaining angle values and displacement values indicative of an angle of rotation of the S-cam and displacement of a cam follower caused by rotation of a lobe of the S-cam. The method further includes the step of determining a profile for the lobe of the S-cam responsive to the angle values and the displacement values. The method further includes the steps of computing a deviation of the profile from a desired profile for the lobe of the S-cam and determining a rate of change in the deviation of the profile. In addition, the system and method may evaluate characteristics such as the concentricity of the S-cam and power transfer characteristics of the S-cam.

Abstract: An automated brazing system by which an apparatus is conveyed along a path defined through a brazing zone is provided and includes first and second sets of burners disposed within the brazing zone at first and second opposing sides of the path, respectively, to heat the components of the apparatus substantially uniformly at the first and second sides and to heat the components of the apparatus substantially uniformly along the brazing zone, such that each side of each of the components is heated to a substantially similar temperature as each side of each of the other components.

Abstract: An orthopedic pet bed including an upper sheet and a lower sheet coupled together so as to define an interior volume subdivided into a plurality of cells, of which adjacent cells are in fluid communication with one another. The cells may be substantially shaped as hexagons, triangles, parallelograms, or any combination thereof.

Abstract: A brazing ring is provided and includes ring material including an aluminum-zinc-silicon alloy having a first melting point and flux material contained within the ring material having a second melting point, which is substantially lower than the first melting point, the ring material being formed such that the flux material is exposed outwardly to a heat source and such that, upon heating, flux material melts before the ring material.

Abstract: A method of lubricating an interior of a tube includes applying a lubricant including a mixture of an additive and a solvent into an interior of a tube. A flow of drying agent is injected into a first end of the tube to force the solvent from the interior of the tube via a second end of the tube thereby leaving a coating of additive at the interior of the tube. The drying agent is heated to remove additional solvent from the interior of the tube via evaporation.

Abstract: An expansion bullet for a heat exchanger tube includes a leading edge face, a trailing edge face, and a bullet body insertable into a tube of a heat exchanger to expand the tube. The bullet body extends from the leading edge face to the trailing edge face and has an outer profile defined by a single radius. An expansion mechanism for a tube of heat exchanger includes a bullet driving device and an expansion bullet drivable by the bullet driving device. The expansion bullet includes a leading edge face, a trailing edge face, and a bullet body insertable into a tube of a heat exchanger to expand the tube. The bullet body extends from the leading edge face to the trailing edge face and has an outer profile defined by a single radius.

Abstract: A method of forming a tube for a heat exchanger includes advancing an expansion tool into a tube a first time and engaging the expansion tool with the tube to expand the tube diametrically at least partially along a length of the tube. The expansion tool is at least partially retracted from the tube. The expansion tool is advanced into the tube one or more subsequent times thereby engaging the expansion tool with the tube one or more subsequent times to further expand the tube at least partially along the length of the tube.

Abstract: An automatic fluxing machine is provided and includes a dispensing section including a surface having through holes formed therein through which flux material is dispensable toward a braze joint and a plugging section disposed below the braze joint to prevent downward flow of dispensed flux material.

Abstract: A system and method for evaluating characteristics of an S-cam are provided. The inventive method includes the step of obtaining angle values and displacement values indicative of an angle of rotation of the S-cam and displacement of a cam follower caused by rotation of a lobe of the S-cam. The method further includes the step of determining a profile for the lobe of the S-cam responsive to the angle values and the displacement values. The method further includes the steps of computing a deviation of the profile from a desired profile for the lobe of the S-cam and determining a rate of change in the deviation of the profile. In addition, the system and method may evaluate characteristics such as the concentricity of the S-cam and power transfer characteristics of the S-cam.

Abstract: An orthopedic pet bed including an upper sheet and a lower sheet coupled together so as to define an interior volume subdivided into a plurality of cells, of which adjacent cells are in fluid communication with one another. The cells may be substantially shaped as hexagons, triangles, parallelograms, or any combination thereof.

Abstract: A scaled down version of a toroidal radio frequency (RF) ion trap mass analyzer operating with RF trapping voltages on the order of 1 kVp-p yet despite the reduced dimensions, retains roughly the same ion trapping volume as conventional 3D quadrupole ion traps, wherein the curved geometry enables construction of a compact mass analyzer and easy interface with conventional electron multipliers.

Abstract: An integrated diversity antenna solution is presented that positions multiple antennas within the digital device case. The integrated diversity antenna solution works equally well with diversity radios, such as 802.11, and non-diversity radios, such as Bluetooth. The non-diversity radios are supported via a power splitter attached to the antennas that give the necessary directional coverage. The integrated antenna array solves the main problem associated with wireless communication on laptop computers, specifically, that laptops perturb the radiation pattern because of the influence that laptop components have on standard antennas and the presence of interfering objects, most notably the laptop user, in the surrounding environment.

Abstract: A communication card includes a retractable connector that is smoothly extendable and retractable. A torsion spring is positioned within a slot that receives the retractable connector and the torsion spring assists the extension of the retractable platform and counter forces that may otherwise cause the platform to bind as it extends and retracts. A flexible circuit is attached to the torsion spring and it allows electrical communication between the retractable connectors and the communication card. The flexible circuit is preferably attached to the retractable connector and the communication card by zero insertion force connectors. Because the flexible circuit is bonded to the torsion spring, the movement of the circuit is constrained and that helps protect the circuit from damage.

Abstract: An antenna system for a communication card provides wireless or radio frequency (RF) communication with other networks or communication systems. The antenna system includes an antenna attached to a retractable platform that is selectably movable between an extended position and a retracted position. When wireless communication is desired, the retractable platform is located in the extended position and the antenna is substantially disposed outside of the body of the communications card. When wireless communication is not desired, the retractable platform and antenna are stored inside the body of the communications card in the retracted position. Desirably wireless communication is automatically available when the retractable platform is in the extended position, and wireless communication is automatically unavailable when the retractable platform is in the retracted position.

Abstract: This invention relates to plastic additives which are useful as nucleating agents and which are especially useful for improving the optical properties of polymeric materials. More particularly, this invention relates to certain bis-halogen-alkyl-benzylidene alditol acetals and polymer compositions thereof which are useful as materials for food or cosmetic containers and packaging. These bis-halogen-alkylbenzylidene alditol acetals are also useful as gelling agents for organic solvents, particularly those used in the preparation of antiperspirant gel sticks.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a removable and/or retractable extension for an electronic apparatus which is connected to the apparatus with a physically independent electrical connector which enables the extension to be retracted, extended, removed and replaced without connection or disconnection of wires, cables, plugs, jacks, flex connectors and similar devices which physically restrain the extension. Preferred embodiments of the present invention include longitudinally extensible conductors or leaf-spring conductors to provide a physically independent electrical connection between the retractable and/or removable extension and its host electronic apparatus. The extensions of some embodiments of the present invention include antennas, physical/electrical media connectors and similar electrical and electronic devices.

Abstract: A hinged or rotatable antenna working in conjunction with a ground plane element which discloses a coaxial cable connection that maintains electrical contact between the ground plane element and the coaxial cable shielding through the use of a compression retainer block or plate. Some embodiments of the present invention also disclose channel geometry for establishing and maintaining an electrical connection between cable shielding and a ground plate element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an antenna which is configured to plug into a retractable connector on an electronic apparatus. Some embodiments of the present invention may be configured to plug into common RJ-11 or RJ-45 jacks allowing devices equipped with these jack to utilize external antennas to increase range and functionality. Further, some embodiments of the present invention comprise at least a partial ground plane located in the antenna plug which connects to a jack. The present invention also comprises connectors such as RJ jacks which comprise ground plane elements which may be used to improve antenna range and efficiency.