Abstract: A golf putter having an alignment aid for aligning the player's head relative to the ball and the putter head. In addition to providing alignment along the usual X and Y axes, the alignment aid of the invention allows precise and repeatable head positioning in the fourth and fifth axes as well. A pair of vertically-aligned pins protrude from a back surface of the putter head, substantially perpendicular to the putting face of the club. The diameter of the upper pin is less than the diameter of the lower pin. In addition, the length of the upper pin may be slightly shorter that the length of the lower pin. Typically, the pins are made in contrasting colors such as black and white. In operation, a golfer sights down at the pins and establishes a uniform border of the lower pin visible around the upper pin.

Abstract: A method of forming a temporary hermetic seal for an OLED device. The method includes the steps of providing a first glass substrate having at least one OLED device disposed thereon, providing a second glass substrate having one or more frit walls disposed thereon, disposing sealant grease about a periphery of the first or second substrate and joining the first substrate to the second substrate to form an hermetically sealed glass envelop containing at least one OLED device.

Abstract: A spray nozzle comprises a cap 38 having an outlet orifice 41 formed therein for producing an atomised spray, the cap 38 having an outer surface 62, and further fluid outlet means 70 whereby a curtain of fluid can be directed over at least part of the outer surface 62.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an actuator comprises a stationary guide, a carriage movable along the guide, and a piezoelectric motor operatively coupled to the carriage and pushing on the guide such that the motor when energized moves with the carriage along the guide.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for elevated storage of articles including application of a spring clutch winch to provide the required lifting and holding forces. In preferred embodiments, the apparatus includes a spring clutch winch, one or more elongate elements payed out from and, alternatively, wound onto the winch, at least one rotational support supporting each elongate element and a hanger secured to an elongate element end. The article to be stored can be raised by winding each elongate element onto the spring clutch winch and can be lowered by unwinding the line from the spring clutch winch. Use of a spring clutch winch for this storage application provides a highly effective yet simple and cost effective manner of raising and lowering the article and securely holding the article in an elevated position.

Abstract: There is provided an improved putting training apparatus and method wherein a golfer may observe, analyze, and record their putting swing. A putter supports two detachable, vertically aligned lasers, each adapted to selectively cast a beam towards a target disposed substantially perpendicular to the face of the putter. A first laser is momentarily illuminated when the putter head address the golf ball. The second laser is illuminated continuously both during the preparation for and during the putt. The second laser records on the target a complete transition of the club head during the time it is illuminated. A camera connected to a computer records the first and second laser traces on the target and provides feedback to the golfer regarding his putting swing. Putter head velocity is thereby easily determined. The lowest point in the arc may be readily compared to the actual point of impact with the ball.

Abstract: A golf putter having an alignment aid for aligning the player's head relative to the ball and the putter head. In addition to providing alignment along the usual X and Y axes, the alignment aid of the invention allows precise and repeatable head positioning in the fourth and fifth axes as well. A pair of vertically-aligned pins protrude from a back surface of the putter head, substantially perpendicular to the putting face of the club. The diameter of the upper pin is less than the diameter of the lower pin. In addition, the length of the upper pin may be slightly shorter that the length of the lower pin. Typically, the pins are made in contrasting colors such as black and white. In operation, a golfer sights down at the pins and establishes a uniform border of the lower pin visible around the upper pin.

Abstract: A development system has a preparation tool (2) which generates an XML configuration document (1) by automatically parsing a source database. Alternatively, or in addition, a conversion tool (3) generates the document (1) by automatically applying a conversion process. An editor tool (10) allows user editing of the XML configuration document. A framework tool generates program code strings and an architecture using the document 1. A forms tool (20) automatically generates GUI forms. A deployment tool (25) integrates the source database, the target progarm code, the target architecture and the target forms to provide a complete target system.

Abstract: A compact chain cutting apparatus for automatically shearing and opening a chain link of a selected thickness in one operation is disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing, a first shearing member, a second shearing member, and an electro-hydraulic actuator system. The first shearing member is mounted to the housing. The second shearing member is pivotally mounted to the housing for movement to exert, in cooperation with the first shearing member, shearing and bending forces upon the chain link. The electro-hydraulic actuator system cooperates with the second shearing member to move automatically the second shearing member to shear and to bend the chain link, thereby defining an opening in the chain link greater than the thickness of the link.

Abstract: A hybrid polypeptide composed of an identification peptide and a desired functional protein are produced by recombinant DNA techniques. A DNA expression vector is constructed that includes segments of DNA coding for the identification peptide and the desired functional protein. The identification peptide consists of a specific sequence of amino acids that has the desired affinity for a non-antibody capture protein. This peptide maybe linked to either the amino or carboxyl terminal of the functional protein. The identification peptide may or may not contain a sequence of amino acids that can be fragmented by sequence specific proteases or chemical agents to yield the native protein. The hybrid polypeptide produced by either cell or cell-free based expression systems is now suitable for further processing. This fusion protein can be purified by affinity chromatographic techniques using an immobilized non-antibody capture protein that has the desired affinity for the identification peptide.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling print media is disclosed. In one example embodiment, the apparatus includes a support and cups mounted on the support, the cups being disposed different distances from the support.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an actuator comprises a stationary guide, a carriage movable along the guide, and a piezoelectric motor operatively coupled to the carriage and pushing on the guide such that the motor when energized moves with the carriage along the guide.

Abstract: A compact chain cutting apparatus for automatically shearing and opening a chain link of a selected thickness in one operation is disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing, a first shearing member, a second shearing member, and an electro-hydraulic actuator system. The first shearing member is mounted to the housing. The second shearing member is pivotally mounted to the housing for movement to exert, in cooperation with the first shearing member, shearing and bending forces upon the chain link. The electro-hydraulic actuator system cooperates with the second shearing member to move automatically the second shearing member to shear and to bend the chain link, thereby defining an opening in the chain link greater than the thickness of the link.

Abstract: An antenna including a feed network; four or more helical radiating elements, and four or more impedance matching stubs each coupling a respective radiating element to ground in parallel with the feed network. The shunt stubs provide a reactance in parallel with the radiating elements to rotate the desired frequency locus about a constant admittance curve. Specifically, the shunt stubs rotate the desired frequency locus from a low resistance, capacitive impedance to 50 ohms purely resistive. The length of the stubs can be adjusted to control the inductance.

Abstract: An N-port signal divider/combiner for dividing and/or combining signals in N?1 frequency bands, including a common line; and N?1 signal ports each coupled to the common line by a respective transmission line, each transmission line having one or more stubs extending from the transmission line, each stub having a length selected so that the stub acts as a notch filter at a respective rejection wavelength, wherein at least one of the stubs is a short-circuit stub, and at least one of the stubs is an open-circuit stub. A first one of the stubs has a length n?1/4 selected so that the stub acts as a notch filter at a first rejection wavelength ?1, a second one of the stubs has a length m?2/4 selected so that the stub acts as a notch filter at a second rejection wavelength ?2, and n and m are different integers.

Abstract: A putting device and system for analyzing how a golfer addresses and strokes a golf ball. The putting device includes a plurality of lasers that are mounted on the putter. The laser project beams of light at the ball, at a target, and at a proximate side screen to show the accuracy and trueness of a putting swing.

Abstract: The Modular Aquaculture Filtration System (“MAFS”) employs small modular filtration units which may be linked together to form larger filters of a particular type or combined to form filtration systems with various types of filters. In essence, two or more modular filtration units are interlocked together to form a single cell system for processing water from aquaculture tanks. The modular units are each comprised of a housing, which includes a means for rigidly attaching/interlocking one housing to another housing, and a one or more of several different types of filtration techniques. Thus, the modular filtration units act as the building blocks for constructing larger filters of a particular type, by interlocking several MAFS of the same type together, or for constructing filter systems that employ several different filtration techniques. The modular approach of the MAFS provides a level of flexibility heretofore unavailable for filtration systems in the aquaculture industry.

Abstract: An low cost stacked microstrip antenna and low cost method of making the same are disclosed. By using specially designed bandwidth and directivity parameters in conjunction with lower cost dielectric, materials economies of production are realized. In particular, dielectric support layers made from fine cell foam sheet material that is mass produced for primary purposes other than electrical insulation materials, are used to reduce cost. A stackable design used in conjunction with a capacitively coupled feedline connector reduce assembly costs as well.

Abstract: A golf putter is described whose club head has visual indicator guides for aligning the golfer's head relative to the club head, the ball, and the cup of the putting green. The visual indicator guides are provided by distinguishable, colored surfaces of the club head that project the appearance of two alignment lines to the eye of the golfer, despite the fact that no actual markings exist. Thus, the indicator lines provide a head alignment aid, while conforming to USGA rules.

Abstract: An accessory device for portable telephones which provides simultaneous functionality of a hands-free accessory device and a data-in-voice modem enabling a portable telephone to be used in a vehicle such that the driver can be engaged in a hands-free conversation at the same time as data (such as GPS position information) is being sent over the same cellular voice channel.