Abstract: The invention is directed to a non-destructive method of detecting whether a coating or deposit (30, 34) of (a) SiOxCy or SiNxCy and/or (b) of SiOx is present on or near a surface of an article (12), such as a disposable thermoplastic medical article. The method includes impinging infrared light (216) having a wave number in at least a portion of a desired range onto at least a first surface being examined for the presence of the one or more coatings or deposits. At least a portion (224) of the infrared light impinged on the first surface is collected (at 222) and the response output, which may include for example the maximum intensity and/or peak area of the collected infrared light at an infrared spectroscopy peak, is used to indicate the presence of the one or more coatings or deposits.

Abstract: A liquid concentrate for use in a well that penetrates a subterranean formation comprising: a base liquid; and a strength retrogression additive, wherein the strength retrogression additive consists of particles of silicon dioxide containing crystalline regions, wherein the liquid concentrate has an activity of at least 40%.

Abstract: An electronic shifter can include a base, a shift lever assembly, a detent system and a clutch system. The shift lever assembly can include a pivot base having a coupling member. The detent system can include a biasing member and a detent member associated with the shift lever assembly. The biasing member can bias the detent member into engagement with a cam member. The clutch system can include a flexible clutch member and a bearing area having a bearing surface. The bearing area can be associated with the base and can receive the coupling member and clutch member to pivotably couple the shift lever assembly to the base. The detent system can apply a downward force onto the coupling member thereby forcing the clutch member against the bearing surface and providing frictional damping of the shift lever assembly during movement thereof proportional with a biasing force of the biasing member.

Abstract: Thermoforming apparatus and methods are described. To-be-formed polymeric material may be separated initially from a mold surface by a grid or support rail, avoiding the mold surface from drawing heat away from the material while it is being heated to forming temperatures. The grid may retract into the mold when no longer needed to support the material. Plugs or inserts about which material is formed may include skirts, allowing the formed material to be shaped so as to guide coins or other objects into cavities in which the coins or objects are held for presentation or display. Profile plates associated with the molds may include non-stick material on their sides intended to abut to-be-formed polymeric sheets in order to reduce possibility of transfer of printing from the sheets to the plates and reduce undesired transfer of heat from the plates to the sheets.

Abstract: An electronic shifter can include a base, a shift lever assembly, a detent system and a clutch system. The shift lever assembly can include a pivot base having a coupling member. The detent system can include a biasing member and a detent member associated with the shift lever assembly. The biasing member can bias the detent member into engagement with a cam member. The clutch system can include a flexible clutch member and a bearing area having a bearing surface. The bearing area can be associated with the base and can receive the coupling member and clutch member to pivotably couple the shift lever assembly to the base. The detent system can apply a downward force onto the coupling member thereby forcing the clutch member against the bearing surface and providing frictional damping of the shift lever assembly during movement thereof proportional with a biasing force of the biasing member.

Abstract: An electronic shifter assembly can include a shift lever assembly and a dual mechanical detent system. The shift lever assembly can include a shift lever and a pivot base that is pivotably coupled to a base of the electronic shifter assembly. The dual mechanical detent system can include first and second mechanical detent systems having respective first and second detent plungers biased into engagement with respective first and second detent cam members having first and second cam surface profiles. The first and second detent plungers can be coupled to the pivot base and can move relative to the respective first and second cam surface profiles with movement of the shift lever assembly. The first and second mechanical detent systems can each releasably retain the shift lever assembly in a selected one of a plurality of transmission gear selection locations.

Abstract: A poly-stable electronic shifter assembly can include a poly-stable shift lever, a shift knob, a park, reverse, neutral and drive (PRND) indication area and a flexible member. The shift lever can be coupled to a base proximate a first end of the shift lever. The shift knob can be coupled to a second end of the shift lever. The PRND indication area can be associated with the shift knob. The flexible member can be positioned about the shift lever between the shift knob and the base such that the flexible member covers the shift lever and conceals a physical location of the shift lever when positioned in one of a PRND gear selection location. The PRND indication area can be disassociated with the PRND gear selection locations such that the PRND indication area includes an absence of alignment with the shift lever in the PRND gear selection locations.

Abstract: A system and method for fluorescence spectral imaging of target material to detect the presence of a contaminant (such as aflatoxin in corn) is provided. An ultraviolet light source is coupled with a light-excluding compartment. The fluorescence from the UV excited target passes through a filter (liquid crystal tunable, acoustic-optic tunable, a filter wheel, or other wavelength splitting device) and a lens, to a spectral imaging camera. Fluorescence spectral image data from the camera are analyzed by a computer and presented in human-readable form. Aflatoxin detection in contaminated corn kernels is based on peak fluorescence and peak fluorescence shift in the spectral range from 451 nm to 500 nm. Aflatoxin contamination level within the target material is quantified based on peak fluorescence and peak fluorescence shift and computed corn kernel pixel statistics.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a ball including an outer shell formed from a first thermoplastic material and having an inner surface defining a cavity, outer details formed from a second thermoplastic material and disposed on at least a portion of the outer surface of the outer shell, and a core formed from a foamable polymeric material and disposed within the cavity of the outer shell. The ball may be produced by forming a pair of half shells having inner surfaces defining corresponding portions of the cavity of the outer shell, forming the outer details on the outer surface of at least one of the half shells, and foaming a polymeric material to form the core.

Abstract: The wheel also includes an opening in the third portion leading to a chamber in a hollow support of the wheel. A spring-biased knob is mounted on a shaft that also mounts the wheel. Both the knob and the wheel have axially align protrusions that may engage each other to allow the wheel to be rotationally adjusted to correct any jam or misalignment of the darts stored on the wheel. A flexible arm and a pusher structure are also included with the magazine apparatus and are connected to a constant force spring, where the flexible arm and a portion of the constant force spring are lodged in the chamber of the hollow support during a dart loading process of the wheel, and the constant force spring uncoils when the wheel is rotated during the loading process.

Abstract: A launcher apparatus for soft foam toy darts, the apparatus having a lock that operates momentarily during a cock and load cycle of the launcher apparatus to prevent an improper cocking operation. The launcher apparatus includes a barrel, a slide, a firing assembly and the lock. The launcher apparatus also includes three protrusions or surfaces for operative engagement with the lock to partially depress the lock, to fully depress the lock, and to disengage the lock to reset the launcher apparatus for the next cock and load cycle. During operation, one protrusion surface depresses the lock partially and momentarily, a second protrusion or surface fully depresses the lock to enable the lock to be maintained in the depressed state, and a third protrusion or surface causes the lock to be released.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a ball including an outer shell formed from a first thermoplastic material and having an inner surface defining a cavity, outer details formed from a second thermoplastic material and disposed on at least a portion of the outer surface of the outer shell, and a core formed from a foamable polymeric material and disposed within the cavity of the outer shell. The ball may be produced by forming a pair of half shells having inner surfaces defining corresponding portions of the cavity of the outer shell, forming the outer details on the outer surface of at least one of the half shells, and foaming a polymeric material to form the core.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a ball including an outer shell formed from a first thermoplastic material and having an inner surface defining a cavity, outer details formed from a second thermoplastic material and disposed on at least a portion of the outer surface of the outer shell, and a core formed from a foamable polymeric material and disposed within the cavity of the outer shell. The ball may be produced by forming a pair of half shells having inner surfaces defining corresponding portions of the cavity of the outer shell, forming the outer details on the outer surface of at least one of the half shells, and foaming a polymeric material to form the core.

Abstract: A system and method for fluorescence spectral imaging of target material to detect the presence of a contaminant (such as aflatoxin in corn) is provided. An ultraviolet light source is coupled a light-excluding compartment. The fluorescence from the UV excited target passes through a filter (liquid crystal tunable, acoustic-optic tunable, a filter wheel, or other wavelength splitting device) and a lens, to a spectral imaging camera. Fluorescence spectral image data from the camera is analyzed by a computer and presented in human-readable form. Aflatoxin detection in contaminated corn kernels is based on peak fluorescence and peak fluorescence shift in the spectral range from 451 nm to 500 nm. Aflatoxin contamination level within the target material is quantified based on peak fluorescence and peak fluorescence shift and computed corn kernel pixel statistics.

Abstract: A toy capable of interchangeably activating an electronic controller and a projectile launching component through the same trigger mechanism providing for a fun and interesting toy with a variety of play modes. A holder assembly including a receiving compartment is capable of accepting the electronic controller and the projectile launching component. The electronic controller includes at least one human user interface input button for controlling an electronic game, and the projectile launching component includes a mechanical actuator for launching a projectile. The trigger mechanism is in mechanical communication with the holder assembly for engagement with the human user interface input button for controlling the electronic game and the mechanical actuator for launching the projectile.

Abstract: A launcher apparatus for soft foam toy darts, the apparatus having a lock that operates momentarily during a cock and load cycle of the launcher apparatus to prevent an improper cocking operation. The launcher apparatus includes a barrel, a slide, a firing assembly and the lock. The launcher apparatus also includes three protrusions or surfaces for operative engagement with the lock to partially depress the lock, to fully depress the lock, and to disengage the lock to reset the launcher apparatus for the next cock and load cycle. During operation, one protrusion surface depresses the lock partially and momentarily, a second protrusion or surface fully depresses the lock to enable the lock to be maintained in the depressed state, and a third protrusion or surface causes the lock to be released.

Abstract: A toy dart magazine apparatus that includes a housing divided into a drum portion and a clip portion, and a wheel structure rotatably mounted to the drum portion. The wheel has four portions, two spaced apart portions having peripheral recesses for receiving the darts and storing them until they are “fired” by a launcher to which the dart magazine apparatus is mounted. A third portion having a smooth circumference and a smaller diameter than the two recess bearing portions wherein the third portion separates the two spaced apart portions. The fourth portion of the wheel has a larger diameter than the two recess bearing portions and is positioned adjoining one of the two recess bearing portions for aligning the darts relative to the wheel. The wheel also includes an opening in the third portion leading to a chamber in a hollow support of the wheel. A spring-biased knob is mounted on a shaft that also mounts the wheel.

Abstract: A communication portal configured to provide information regarding mortgage backed securities that have incoming cash flows backed by the excess servicing fees of the plurality of adjustable rate mortgages is described. The communication portal may be configured to display a user prompt to receive information regarding the excess servicing fees and reports regarding the mortgage backed securities that have incoming cash flows backed by the excess servicing fees of the plurality of adjustable rate mortgages. The communication portal can be accessible online.