Abstract: A wearable haptic navigation system for obscured visibility environments, the wearable haptic navigation system including: a wearable haptic component, in one alternative a body covering suite; and a mapping data collector and processor in communication with the wearable haptic component; wherein the mapping data collector and processor collects data related to a path traversed by a user of the wearable haptic navigation system and generates at least one proprioception suggestion signal to the wearable haptic component providing the user with a suggested safe egress path and/or a suggested safe body position.

Abstract: A minimally invasive retractor system is shown which has a support frame having two opposing pairs of horizontally oriented sides. The sides of the frame can be adjusted to vary an interior space of the frame. Four retractor blades are mounted on the frame for engaging tissue within a surgical site. Each retractor blade has an elongate body portion with a length which is oriented perpendicularly to the frame in use. One of the retractor blades can be equipped with a light source and a suction source which are integral to the blade. The blade also has an integral power source for powering the light source. The blade can also house a tissue retractor such as a dural retractor for retracting the dural sack of a patient during spinal surgery.

Abstract: A Snubber is used to damp the swing of the door on an excavator bucket to prevent the door form being damaged by repeatedly slamming shut. The snubber has housing which mounts to an excavator bucket and a shaft pivotally mounted in the housing and connected to an excavator door. The shaft turns when the excavator door opens. The housing has a cylindrical cavity around the shaft. The cavity is divided into two volumes by a dam and a wiper arm on the shaft. The wiper arm forces hydraulic fluid to flow through an orifice between the volumes as the shaft turns. The wiper arm has end seals which seal against end walls of the cavity. The end seals are forced outwardly by hydraulic pressure when the door is closing. A one-way valve allows hydraulic fluid to bypass the orifice while the door is opening. The snubber requires less maintenance than previous friction snubbers.

Abstract: A lightweight, portable clamping device assists in holding and reforming pipes in piping systems. The clamping device comprises a pair of semicircular clamp halves which are placed on the abutting ends of out-of-round pipe. The clamp halves are drawn together by tightening bolts on either side to align and reform the ends of abutting pipes. The clamping device can also be used to shape and hold the end of a single piece of pipe. A plurality of access ports around the perimeter of the device allow a welder to tack weld the ends of abutting pipes prior to welding.

Abstract: A Snubber is used to damp the swing of the door on an excavator bucket to prevent the door form being damaged by repeatedly slamming shut. The snubber has housing which mounts to an excavator bucket and a shaft pivotally mounted in the housing and connected to an excavator door. The shaft turns when the excavator door opens. The housing has a cylindrical cavity around the shaft. The cavity is divided into two volumes by a dam and a wiper arm on the shaft. The wiper arm forces hydraulic fluid to flow through an orifice between the volumes as the shaft turns. The wiper arm has end seals which seal against end walls of the cavity. The end seals are forced outwardly by hydraulic pressure when the door is closing. A one-way valve allows hydraulic fluid to bypass the orifice while the door is opening. The snubber requires less maintenance than previous friction snubbers.

Abstract: A label marker for a confined area, such as between a stack of labels to be imprinted, and ink pad, and a closely disposed conveyor for articles to which the labels are to be affixed, has a print head which reciprocates between and ink pad and the exposed label in the stack of labels. The print head is mounted at the end of a shaft, above which is disposed a combination rotator and reciprocator for causing the shaft and the print head to execute a combined rotary and reciprocating motion between the ink pad and the label stack. In a sequence beginning with the print head disposed against the ink pad, the combination reciprocator and rotator causes the ink pad to move linearly away from the ink pad, execute a rotation of 180.degree., and again execute a linear motion toward the exposed label for imprinting thereon. After imprinting, a print head moves linearly away from the now-imprinted label, executes a 180.degree. rotation in the opposite direction, and again moves linearly toward the ink pad for re-inking.