Abstract: A trimmer line for use with a trimmer head having an outer diameter and defining an axis of rotation. The trimmer line may include an elongated body having a first end, an opposite second end, and a center between the first end and the second end. The trimmer line also may also include indicia formed on the elongated body and spaced from the center point a distance greater than or equal to about half the outer diameter.

Abstract: A trimmer head may include a housing rotatable about an axis; and a line holder supported by the housing. The line holder defines a first receptacle, a second receptacle separated from the first receptacle and an opening communicating with the first receptacle and the second receptacle. A line is supportable by the line holder, the line having a first end and an opposite second end, the line being folded to provide a first line section from the first end toward a folded portion and a second line section from the second end toward the folded portion, the folded portion being insertable into the opening, the first line section being received in the first receptacle, the second line section being received in the second receptacle.

Abstract: A trimmer line for use with a trimmer head having an outer diameter and defining an axis of rotation. The trimmer line may include an elongated body having a first end, an opposite second end, and a center between the first end and the second end. The trimmer line also may also include indicia formed on the elongated body and spaced from the center point a distance greater than or equal to about half the outer diameter.

Abstract: A trimmer head, a line holder and a method. The head may include a housing rotatable about an axis; a line holder supported by the housing, the line holder defining a first receptacle, a second receptacle separated from the first receptacle and an opening communicating with the first receptacle and the second receptacle; and a line supportable by the line holder, the line having a first end and an opposite second end, the line being folded to provide a first line section from the first end toward a folded portion and a second line section from the second end toward the folded portion, the folded portion being insertable into the opening, the first line section being received in the first receptacle, the second line section being received in the second receptacle.

Abstract: A trimmer head and a method for assembling a trimmer head. The trimmer head may generally include a housing rotatable about an axis; a receptacle in the housing to receive a portion of a trimmer line; and a locking member movable in a radial direction relative to the housing between a first position, in which the locking member engages the trimmer line to axially retain the trimmer line relative to the housing, and a second position, in which the trimmer line is movable relative to the receptacle.

Abstract: The present application describes an apparatus that includes a radar antenna device to acquire synthetic aperture radar data, radar receiver and transmitter equipment coupled to the radar antenna device, and a synthetic aperture radar processing device in communication with the radar receiver and transmitter equipment. This processing device includes a processor structured to process the synthetic aperture radar data, which is representative of a defocused image. The processor is further structured to define an image processing constraint corresponding to an image region expected to have a low radar return and generate one or more output signals as a function of the image processing constraint and the data. The one or more output signals are representative of a more focused form of the defocused image.

Abstract: An extended-wear chain for a chainsaw, for example, with the chain having a coating that improves one or more wear characteristics of the chain. The coating preferrably includes one or more of titanium, zirconium, a titanium compound, or a zirconium compound. The coating can be deposited by using a physical vapor deposition process, for example.

Abstract: A method for fabricating thin, flat carbon electrodes by infiltrating highly porous carbon papers, membranes, felts, metal fibers/powders, or fabrics with an appropriate carbon foam precursor material. The infiltrated carbon paper, for example, is then cured to form a gel-saturated carbon paper, which is subsequently dried and pyrolyzed to form a thin sheet of porous carbon. The material readily stays flat and flexible during curing and pyrolyzing to form thin sheets. Precursor materials include polyacrylonitrile (PAN), polymethylacrylonitrile (PMAN), resorcinol/formaldehyde, catechol/formaldehyde, phenol/formaldehyde, etc., or mixtures thereof. These thin films are ideal for use as high power and energy electrodes in batteries, capacitors, and fuel cells, and are potentially useful for capacitive deionization, filtration and catalysis.

Abstract: A guide bar coding system which permits a user to easily and correctly match a saw chain to a saw guide bar. The guide bar has a laminate or multi-layer structure, and includes a recessed surface that is colored or painted to define guide bar indicia which is indicative of characteristics of the guide bar. Replacement saw chains have saw chain indicia which indicate characteristics of the saw chain. A user selects an appropriate replacement saw chain by matching the saw chain indicia to the guide bar indicia.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of preparing carbon electrodes for use in electrochemical energy storage cells such as lithium ion batteries. The process involves a step of precipitating a polymer from a concentrated solution to yield a structure having at least a partially fractious morphology. The solvent from which the polymer has been precipitated (the "primary solvent") is then exchanged with another solvent (the "secondary solvent") in which the polymer is relatively insoluble. Thereafter, the secondary solvent is removed from the precipitated polymer and the dry polymer is contacted with a dopant such as phosphorous. Subsequently, the polymer with dopant is pyrolyzed to yield a carbon material which is assembled into an electrode.

Abstract: In a computer system including an input-output terminal and an application program having a vocabulary file of acceptable input words and keystroke characters associated with the input words, the vocabulary file and corresponding keystroke characters are automatically retrieved by an operator request through the action of a host application program. Prior to executing a speech recognition process, the retrieved vocabulary file and corresponding keystroke characters are automatically assembled by the same host application program into a syntax file according to syntax rules of a speech recognition program. The resulting vocabulary/syntax file then is compiled into a format useable by the speech recognition process program. The compiled vocabulary/syntax file is used to automatically prompt the operator to speak the various vocabulary words, causing an analog-to-digital conversion circuit to produce digital template codes that are assembled into a speech template file.

Abstract: Biofoam is a rigid, opaque microcellular organic foam made from organic materials derived from natural products and biological organisms. Typical organic materials are agar, agarose, gelatin, algin, alginates, gellan gum, and microcrystalline cellulose. The organic material is dissolved in a polar solvent, typically water, and the solution can be gelled immediately. The gel is frozen and freeze-dried to form the biofoam. Alternatively, a nonpolar solvent is added to the solution and emulsified. The resulting emulsion is then gelled, frozen, and freeze-dried. A variety of crystalline, fibrous, or metallic additives may be added to produce lightweight composite materials with enhanced strength and insulating properties. The amount of dilution of the organic material in the solvent(s) determines the density of the resulting biofoams, which ranges from about 1.0 mg/cm.sup.3 to about 500 mg/cm.sup.3.

Abstract: Biofoam is a rigid, microcellular organic foam made from organic materials derived from natural products and biological organisms. Starting materials include agar, agarose, gelatin, algin, alginates, gellan gum, and microcrystalline cellulose. The organic material is dissolved in a polar solvent, typically water, and the mixture is gelled. The water in the gel pores is replaced at least once with another solvent to reduce the pore size of the final biofoam. The solvent in the gel pores may be replaced several times. After the final replacement of solvent, the gel is frozen and freeze-dried to form a biofoam. Translucent biofoams are formed by selecting a final solvent that forms very small crystals. A variety of crystalline, fibrous, amorphous, or metallic additives may be incorporated into the foam structure to produce lightweight composite materials with enhanced strength and insulating properties.

Abstract: A polymeric foam precursor, wetted with phosphoric acid, is pyrolyzed in an inert atmosphere to produce an open-cell doped carbon foam, which is utilized as a lithium intercalation anode in a secondary, organic electrolyte battery. Tests were conducted in a cell containing an organic electrolyte and using lithium metal counter and reference electrodes, with the anode located therebetween. Results after charge and discharge cycling, for a total of 6 cycles, indicated a substantial increase in the energy storage capability of the phosphorus doped carbon foam relative to the undoped carbon foam, when used as a rechargeable lithium ion battery.

Abstract: A system for collecting data relating to medical specimens includes a hand-held terminal incorporating a bar code reader and a keyboard for receiving information for identifying a medical specimen and a medical specimen source, an internal memory within the hand-held terminal for storing information including information identifying medical specimens and corresponding medical specimen sources, and application software operating within the hand-held terminal responsive to the input devices and the internal memory for verifying that the medical specimen identified by the received information should properly be collected from the medical specimen source identified by the received information. An LCD display, LEDs and an audible signal indicate whether the medical specimen identified by the received information should properly be collected from the medical specimen source identified by the received information.

Abstract: A trailer swivel wheel assembly incorporating a gooseneck-shaped axle to carry a standard wheel rim and tire. The axle is removably received within a swivel housing pivotably mounted to the tongue bar of a trailer, and pivotable to position the wheel between raised position above the tongue bar, a lowered position below the tongue bar, and intermediate positions therebetween. The trailer swivel is secured at each position by a spring loaded locking pin carried on the swivel housing. The axle swivels within the swivel housing to permit the trailer to be maneuverably positioned while the trailer tongue is supported on the wheel rim and tire.

Abstract: In a turbine or compressor blade and supporting disk assembly in which the assembly is by tangential positioning of the blades, the cooperating blade root and groove in the disk have base surfaces that are held in spaced relation to each other by a rib on the blade root extending toward the base surface of the groove and into contact with it.