Abstract: In a window treatment having vertical blind elements individually suspended from associated hanger elements, each of the vertical blind elements being connected by a connecting panel, an improved hanger is disclosed. The improved hanger includes a hanger body and a bonding portion located near a lower portion of the hanger body. The bonding portion is configured to receive the vertical blind element. Also included is an aperture for hanging the window treatment, the aperture being located near an upper portion of the hanger body, the aperture being spaced at a position substantially at a center of gravity of the vertical blind element with the connecting panel.

Abstract: A system is disclosed including a transponder and a shield. The transponder may be a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder and sends a signal to a reader. The shield selectively prevents the transponder from sending the signal. The transponder and the shield are selectively movable relative to each other to permit transmission of the signal from the transponder. A movement of the transponder and the shield relative to each other is indicated by the presence of the signal. Thus, when a signal is present, due to a change or increase of the movement of the shield relative to the transponder, the reader receives an indication of a disturbance or an intrusion.

Abstract: A cord-operated window covering is provided with means for equalizing the individual lift cord lengths to maintain a horizontal and level bottom rail, while avoiding the choking danger to small children presented by exposed cord loops that can become entangled with the child. A break-away coupling of the exposed cord ends is provided in the form of a shear-loaded, separable joint that is strong when subjected to shear-type forces in normal use, but which is weak when loaded in peel or tension perpendicular to the joint, as would occur in a potentially dangerous child-entangled situation. The joint is formed by surface-modifying products applied to the opposed abutting surfaces of the individual cordlock members. Also disclosed is an embodiment that utilizes a continuous lift cord loop that is frictionally gripped by a gripper member secured to the shade.

Abstract: A water management system for a fuel cell having an anode chamber including a fuel, a cathode chamber in fluid communication with an oxidizing agent, and a proton conducting membrane electrolyte separating the chambers. The system includes a gas plenum, a first valve for controlling a first flow of a gas from the anode chamber into the gas plenum, and a second valve for controlling a second flow of the gas collected by the gas plenum into the cathode chamber. The first valve is opened allowing the first flow while the second valve is closed between the gas plenum and the cathode chamber so that effluent gas is collected in the gas plenum. When the amount of the effluent gas in the gas plenum reaches a predetermined value, the first valve is closed and the second valve is opened to allow the second flow.

Abstract: An acoustic cooling device is provided. A coldhead and an acoustic power source of the acoustic cooling device are separated by way of a long tube connecting them to enable the cold tip to be installed in a remote location where a traditional unitary system would not fit, would generate too much vibration, or would be otherwise undesirable. The dimensions of the tube and the relevant parameters of the acoustic power source are selected to keep the system resonant at the desired drive frequency (e.g., 60 Hz) and to minimize the impact of the long tube on the system efficiency and capacity.

Abstract: A water management system for a fuel cell having an anode chamber including a fuel, a cathode chamber in fluid communication with an oxidizing agent, and a proton conducting membrane electrolyte separating the chambers. The system includes a gas plenum, a first valve for controlling a first flow of a gas from the anode chamber into the gas plenum, and a second valve for controlling a second flow of the gas collected by the gas plenum into the cathode chamber. The first valve is opened allowing the first flow while the second valve is closed between the gas plenum and the cathode chamber so that effluent gas is collected in the gas plenum. When the amount of the effluent gas in the gas plenum reaches a predetermined value, the first valve is closed and the second valve is opened to allow the second flow.

Abstract: A window treatment is described that includes at least one vane comprising a tube. The tube includes an upper surface and a lower surface. The tube causes the upper surface to be spaced apart from the lower surface and the tube may also be disposed inside a sleeve. The vanes may be assembled to form a shutter, a Venetian blind, a vertical blind or the like.

Abstract: A window covering is described having a carrier grid and a plurality of horizontal strips of fabric secured to the carrier grid. The strips are disposed in overlapping and vertically spaced relation to cover an area of a window.

Abstract: A window covering is described having a carrier grid and plurality of horizontal strips of fabric secured to the carrier grid. The strips are disposed in overlapping and vertically spaced relation to cover an area of a window.

Abstract: A jack (90) typically mounted in an aircraft seat is adapted for use with a variety of headset types. A jack has sockets (92, 93, 94) accepting any of several different types of plugs associated with different types of noise cancellation headsets or aviation industry headsets including one, two, or three pin types. The jack includes sensing components to correctly detect from the number of pins inserted, and the impedance and/or voltages sensed on those pins, the type of headset being used. With this identification, appropriate connections to the audio source as well as to noise cancellation circuitry may be made to enable the headset to function correctly.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for the production of oxygen-enriched liquid and purified gaseous oxygen from local atmospheric air. In one embodiment, the system includes an air mover for generating a local atmospheric air stream; a cryocooler including a cooling element thermally coupled to a condensing separator; a heat exchanger having a first path for receiving a cold gaseous exhaust stream from the condensing separator and a second path for chilling and removing readily-condensible contaminants from the local atmospheric air stream to form a purified gas mixture stream via heat transfer to the cold gaseous exhaust stream; and a receiver for the oxygen-enriched liquid that condenses from the purified gas mixture stream in the condensing separator, leaving the gaseous exhaust stream.

Abstract: A cord-operated window covering is provided with means for equalizing the individual lift cord lengths to maintain a horizontal and level bottom rail, while avoiding the choking danger to small children presented by exposed cord loops that can become entangled with the child. A break-away coupling of the exposed cord ends is provided in the form of a shear-loaded, separable joint that is strong when subjected to shear-type forces in normal use, but which is weak when loaded in peel or tension perpendicular to the joint, as would occur in a potentially dangerous child-entangled situation. The joint is formed by surface-modifying products applied to the opposed abutting surfaces of the individual cordlock members. Also disclosed is an embodiment that utilizes a continuous lift cord loop that is frictionally gripped by a gripper member secured to the shade.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to reciprocating electromagnetic devices, and more particularly to a construction of a reciprocating electromagnetic device for reducing secondary losses in magnetically-permeable elements, but without compromising manufacturability as required in prior art. The device provides for shaped pole faces to reduce local magnetic flux density and/or interruptions of electrically-conductive paths in the planes of the laminated layers of the stationary element of the device.

Abstract: A water management system for a fuel cell having an anode chamber including a fuel, a cathode chamber in fluid communication with an oxidizing agent, and a proton conducting membrane electrolyte separating the chambers. The system includes a gas plenum, a first valve for controlling a first flow of a gas from the anode chamber into the gas plenum, and a second valve for controlling a second flow of the gas collected by the gas plenum into the cathode chamber. The first valve is opened allowing the first flow while the second valve is closed between the gas plenum and the cathode chamber so that effluent gas is collected in the gas plenum. When the amount of the effluent gas in the gas plenum reaches a predetermined value, the first valve is closed and the second valve is opened to allow the second flow.

Abstract: An architectural covering is disclosed that includes at least one cord, a cord encapsulating member and a locking member connected to the cord. The locking member is selectively engaged with or disengaged from the cord encapsulating member to inhibit or permit movement, respectively, of the locking member and cord relative to the cord encapsulating member.

Abstract: A water management system for a fuel cell having an anode chamber including a fuel, a cathode chamber in fluid communication with an oxidizing agent, and a proton conducting membrane electrolyte separating the chambers. The system includes a gas plenum, a first valve for controlling a first flow of a gas from the anode chamber into the gas plenum, and a second valve for controlling a second flow of the gas collected by the gas plenum into the cathode chamber. The first valve is opened allowing the first flow while the second valve is closed between the gas plenum and the cathode chamber so that effluent gas is collected in the gas plenum. When the amount of the effluent gas in the gas plenum reaches a predetermined value, the first valve is closed and the second valve is opened to allow the second flow.

Abstract: A piston position drift control for a free-piston device. The control includes a passage connecting internal volumes of the device, the passage being substantially shorter than an acoustic wavelength of the device; and a check valve in the passage for controlling fluid communication between the internal volumes, the check valve having an opening pressure not less than approximately 20% of a maximum pressure differential of the device at a maximum stroke. The control is passive, requires no active control once in service, provides low susceptibility to damage or fouling, and is amenable to adjustment or repair if needed. In addition, the control is small and inexpensive, and functions across the entire operational range of a free-piston device it supports. A related free-piston device including the piston position drift control is also provided.

Abstract: A layered membrane or membrane electrode assembly for use with a direct oxidation fuel cell provides reduced water carryover and fuel crossover while maintaining a high total protonic exchange between anode and cathode. A layer of material which is substantially impermeable to water and fuel, but which is foraminous to allow contact between adjacent protonically conductive layers, is used to significantly increase the system's carryover resistance while only modestly increasing the total reaction resistance.

Abstract: A multicellular window covering is formed from a starting product in the form of a double-cell type of multicellular honeycomb structure. The individual cells of the starting product are defined by external pleated sides on the opposite faces of the structure and internal ligaments interconnecting the opposite faces at spaced intervals. Selected internal ligaments are severed, while leaving others of the internal ligaments intact, thereby eliminating a plurality of the original cells in various alternative patterns.

Abstract: In a reciprocating device having a moving element, a stator and a flexing suspension for coupling the moving element and stator and for maintaining the moving element on axis, the flexing suspension comprising: at least one flexing element locating the stator relative to the moving element by directly engaging features of the flexing element to mating features of the stator.