Abstract: An asymmetrical dipole antenna is disclosed consisting of a planar conductor, matching network, and resonator. The antenna is compact, may operate on one or more frequency bands, and is suitable for high volume production. The antenna exhibits simultaneous dual linear polarizations and a unidirectional pattern in at least one of its operating frequency ranges when configured for multiple-band operation. Applications for the antenna include wireless communication devices such as cellular telephones or data devices.

Abstract: A method demonstrates a film-unloaded verifying camera in response to shutter button actuation. In the method, an electronic image is captured and the electronic image is shown to the user along with an indicator that film is not loaded. The film shutter can optionally be fired to provide a more complete experience of camera use. A camera provides these features.

Abstract: The invention provides a fungicidal composition comprising the compound 4-methyl-6-pentyl-2H-pyran-2-one and one or more suitable carriers, adjuvants and/or diluents. Also provided is a method of preventing or at least inhibiting the growth of fungi which comprises the step of applying the compound of the fungi or their locus. Further provided is a process for preparing the compounds.

Abstract: An asymmetric dipole antenna assembly is provided for wireless communications devices, and includes separate upper and lower conductor traces and a low impedance feedpoint at the junction of the conductor traces. The upper conductor trace may include a matching network and may be printed on a planar printed circuit board mounted proximate the top of the a hand-held wireless transceiver. The upper conducting trace provides ¼ wave resonance over a desired frequency range and a 50 ohm input impedance for the antenna. The lower conductor trace may be provided by the ground trace of the wireless device circuitry, requiring only a minimum effective trace length of ¼ wavelength at the lowest frequency of operation. Polarization of the antenna is determined by the orientation of the longest dimension of the lower conductor.

Abstract: A small antenna comprising an unequal current density center-fed dipole employing a conductive trace and a ground plane counterpoise positioned substantially perpendicular to each other. According to one embodiment, a conductive trace is etched onto a dielectric substrate to form a printed circuit. According to a further embodiment, the conductive trace has two sets of orthogonal components; one set of components captures the desired electric field polarization and the second set of components cancels out the undesired cross polarization. A portion of a signal received on the first set of components adds together to produce a desired resultant vector and a portion of the signal received on the second set of components adds together to cancel out the undesired vector.

Abstract: An applicator brush (9) for a fluid contained in a container (1) is provided with means (15, 18, 20) for cleaning deposits of the dried fluid from the neck (3) of the bottle (1), thereby maintaining the neck (3) substantially free of the deposits.

Abstract: A method for assembling windshield assemblies for vehicles includes a conveyor for delivering at least two plys of glass to an assembly station, a first robot for lifting one of the two plys from the conveyor, a second robot for gripping and removing at least one adhesive sheet from a stack of adhesive sheets and placing the removed adhesive sheet adjacent the other one of the two plys, whereby the first robot places the one of the two plys adjacent the removed adhesive sheet to assemble the windshield assembly. The step of removing a top adhesive sheet from the stack of adhesive sheets includes moving a knife along an edge of the top adhesive sheet to separate the edge of the top sheet from the next lower sheet in the stack. Alternatively, a blade is moved along a longitudinal length of the top sheet to separate it from the next lower sheet in the stack.

Abstract: A windshield assembly system for assembling windshield assemblies for vehicles includes a conveyor for delivering at least two plys of glass to an assembly station, a first robot for lifting one of the two plays from the conveyor, a second robot for gripping and removing at least one adhesive sheet from a stack of adhesive sheets and placing the removed adhesive sheet adjacent the other one of the two plys, whereby the first robot places the one of the two plys adjacent the removed adhesive sheet to assemble the windshield assembly. The apparatus includes a sheet edge separator such as a knife or blade movable along a longitudinal edge of the top sheet for separating at least a portion of the top sheet from the stack of adhesive sheets.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a glass sheet during a tempering process is provided in which a truss ring structure having a hot/cold ring and a plurality of shaped fingers having converging diagonal sides extending from the hot/cold ring supports the glass sheet. The apparatus further includes cushioning means which may include at least one layer of a composite mesh cloth, a fiberglass tube, or both. In a preferred arrangement, the composite mesh cloth is folded around the fiberglass tube and the shaped fingers to provide optimum cushion and quench air flow to the glass.

Abstract: A device that prevents female and juvenile crabs from becoming stuck in the upper portions of a crab trap is disclosed. In crab traps using angled tunnels, the upper portions of the trap provide a place for the young crab to hide from the larger males. Once in this area, however, the crab are difficult to remove. Many are often killed or injured during removal. To prevent this problem, a formed perforated shield is attached in the wedge-shaped area formed between the inside of the tunnel and the top of a crab trap. Two types of shields are disclosed. The first is an angled shield that conforms to the shape of the upper tunnel and the top of the trap. The shield fits into this wedge-shaped area to provide a smooth surface that makes it impossible for the crabs to find a place to secure a hold. The second device is simply a perforated, flat shield that fits across the space formed by the tunnel and the top of the trap. The shield has contoured ends to conform to the exact space being blocked.

Abstract: A beam hanger for attaching two beams at an included angle of about 5.degree.-45.degree., the hanger having two parallel side walls and a bottom wall to form a stirrup seat for the angled beam, each side wall having a step flange positioned at opposite ends of the respective side walls, and holes through said flanges for nailing it to its corresponding beam.

Abstract: A device for winding up collapsible tubes, having open and closed ends, to allow full expression of contents from the open end and to prevent the wound tube from unwinding. The device includes an elongated slot shaped opening in one member or mandrel for receiving the closed end of a tube, such as a toothpaste tube. After the tube has been inserted into that slot and some amount of tube contents has been expressed, a handle, pivotally attached to one end of the member containing the slot, is pivoted to an open position not overlying the slot and substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the mandrel and is used to wind the tube. After winding, the handle will be pivoted back to its closed position where it is horizontally offset from and overlies at least a part of the mandrel and will rest against the wound layer or layers of tubing therebetween. Because of the cooperative relationship of the handle and the mandrel, the tube is prevented from unwinding.

Abstract: A winding for a rotor in a pulse power AC generator has an electrical conductor extending along a closed loop path about an exterior periphery and first and second opposite ends of the rotor core. The conductor includes at least four side conductor portions having first and second opposite ends, and at least four end conductor portions interconnecting the side conductor portions to complete the closed loop path. The side conductor portions extend generally parallel to one another along generally linear portions of the closed loop path and are disposed along and angularly displaced generally ninety electrical degrees from one another about the rotor core exterior periphery. A first pair of the end conductor portions are disposed at the first opposite ends of the side conductor portions along the first end of the rotor core and interconnect respective adjacent pairs of the side conductor portions.

Abstract: A clip to maintain a selected spacing between abutting plywood sheets which comprises an I-shaped structure having parallel upper and lower webs joined at right angles to a connecting web perpendicular thereto and a spacing structure projecting outwardly from only one side of the connecting web which maintains the appropriate spacing between adjacent sheets.

Abstract: A unitary blank and a hanger for connecting a wooden joist to a header beam, including an elongated strap extending upwardly from a stirrup formed from two sidewalls the lower portion of the strap and a pair of partially overlapped flanges having aligned nail holes projecting inwardly from the sidewalls and forming the stirrup bottom. The sidewalls include elongated finger access openings, and the hanger strap has a keyhole for accurate hanging to permit passage of a pre-driven nail head through the large portion only of the keyhole, and a large bolt or screw hole adjacently below the keyhole.

Abstract: A high power, electrically excited laser is disclosed wherein a laser gas is caused to flow through an excitation region in which an electric discharge is established along a direction transverse to the direction of flow of the laser gas between an anode and a porous cathode disposed on opposite sides of the excitation region, and wherein an electron beam is introduced into the excitation region along a direction parallel to the direction of the discharge. A first quantity of an auxiliary gas (preferably helium) having a normal glow current density at least an order of magnitude less than that of the laser gas is introduced into the upstream end of the excitation region adjacent to the cathode and caused to flow across the cathode surface along a direction parallel to that of the laser gas. A second quantity of the auxiliary gas is "bled" through the porous cathode and gradually added to the auxiliary gas stream flowing across the cathode surface.

Abstract: A manual stock feeder apparatus for feeding stock to a machine for processing said stock, said manual stock feeder having a moveable carriage capable of engaging a length of linear stock and capable of sliding along a plurality of parallel linear guide members toward said machine while engaging such length of linear stock and thereby feeding such linear stock into the machine for processing said stock. The apparatus further includes a second stock engagement means for engaging and securing the stock while the carriage 4 is being repositioned to its initial starting place to resume the feeding of stock to the machine for processing said stock.

Abstract: A high power, cw, high pressure, electrically excited flowing gas laser is disclosed wherein a laser excitation transverse to the direction of gas flow is initiated by a uniform electron beam perpendicular to the gas flow direction. Laser gas supplied to a plenum chamber at a pressure substantially greater than atmospheric pressure is conditioned by a perforated plate nozzle to flow through the laser cavity in a uniform stream at the desired subsonic velocity. A variable angle diffuser is provided downstream from the laser cavity to decelerate and compress the laser gas before exhausting it into the ambient atmosphere such that at the downstream end of the laser excitation region the laser gas is maintained at a pressure slightly lower than atmospheric pressure.