Abstract: A cabin heater for a vehicle includes a frame with spaced apart longitudinal supports to locate a common electrical return and a power input. Pluralities of heating units extend between the supports and attach to the return and input. Each unit has a ceramic heater and one or more positive temperature coefficient (PTC) elements. The ceramic heater quickly and directly heats air and helps lower the inrush current of each PTC element upon initial powering. The power input also includes conductive rails spaced apart and electrically isolated from one another to individually supply power to either the ceramic heater or the PTC elements, but not both. Conductive extensions pass through the rails and fold into contact to power either the heater or the PTC elements. The electrical return commonly attaches the PTC elements and the heater, including a spring connection.

Abstract: A heater for a passenger cabin includes a body for holding fluid coolant. A top and bottom lid cover the body and at least one heater module resides between the lids to heat the fluid coolant. The heater module has a base substrate with a longitudinally extending resistive trace and conductor to apply an external voltage to the trace for heating. Glass overlies the trace. Various embodiments teach substrates of alumina, aluminum nitride, and four heater modules parallel to one another. The modules mount parallel, perpendicular, or angled to a fluid inlet of the body.

Abstract: A cooking device according to one example embodiment includes a base having a cooking vessel for retaining food for cooking. A lid is movable relative to the base between an open position and a closed position. A heater assembly is positioned on the lid for supplying heat to a surface of the lid that covers the opening of the cooking vessel when the lid is in the closed position. The heater assembly includes a heater having a ceramic substrate. The ceramic substrate has at least one electrically resistive trace thick film printed on the ceramic substrate and at least one electrically conductive trace thick film printed on the ceramic substrate. The heater is configured to generate heat when an electric current is supplied to the at least one electrically resistive trace.

Abstract: An ice maker includes an ice mold having an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface of the ice mold is configured to retain water for forming ice cubes in the ice mold. The ice mold includes a plurality of ice lobes each shaped to form a respective ice cube in the ice mold. A heater assembly is positioned on the outer surface of the ice mold. In some embodiments, each of a plurality of heating elements of the heater assembly is aligned with a corresponding lobe of the plurality of lobes for supplying heat to ice cubes formed in the lobes for releasing the ice cubes from the ice mold. In some embodiments, the heater assembly includes a heater having a ceramic substrate and one or more electrically resistive traces and electrically conductive traces thick film printed on the ceramic substrate.

Abstract: A fusing apparatus includes a substrate having a first surface and a second surface, the second surface being opposite the first surface on the substrate, a first resistive trace and a second resistive trace, the first and second resistive traces being disposed adjacent each other along the first surface of the substrate in a length-wise direction thereof. A resistance of the first resistive trace is less than a resistance of the second resistive trace.

Abstract: A cabin heater for a vehicle includes a frame with spaced apart longitudinal supports to locate a common electrical return and a power input. Pluralities of heating units extend between the supports and attach to the return and input. Each unit has a ceramic heater and one or more positive temperature coefficient (PTC) elements. The ceramic heater quickly and directly heats air and helps lower the inrush current of each PTC element upon initial powering. The power input also includes conductive rails spaced apart and electrically isolated from one another to individually supply power to either the ceramic heater or the PTC elements, but not both. Conductive extensions pass through the rails and fold into contact to power either the heater or the PTC elements. The electrical return commonly attaches the PTC elements and the heater, including a spring connection.

Abstract: A sleeping apparatus includes a pad section configured to allow a user to lay on the pad section. The pad section includes padding of a predetermined thickness. The sleeping apparatus includes a blanket section coupled lengthwise to one side of the pad section, and configured to fold onto, and substantially cover at least a portion of the user and the pad section. A pocket is permanently coupled to the pad section. The pocket includes an opening. Other portions of the sleeping apparatus are configured to fold into the pocket and be held in the pocket by friction when the opening of the pocket is in a downward position.

Abstract: A hair iron according to one example embodiment includes a first arm and a second arm movable relative to each other between an open position and a closed position. A contact surface is positioned on an exterior of the first arm for contacting hair during use. The hair iron includes a heater having a ceramic substrate and an electrical resistor material thick film printed on a surface of the ceramic substrate. The heater generates heat by applying an electric current to the electrical resistor material. The heater is positioned to supply heat to the contact surface.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure generally provide polishing pads having a composite pad body and methods for forming the polishing pads. In one embodiment, the composite pad body includes one or more first features formed from a first material or a first composition of materials, and one or more second features formed from a second material or a second composition of materials, wherein the one or more first features and the one or more second features are formed by depositing a plurality of layers comprising the first material or first composition of materials and second material or second composition of materials.

Abstract: Disclosed are metal organic framework materials (MOFs), comprising an extra-framework NO releasing compound within the internal pores and/or channels of the MOF, the NO-releasing compounds and their preparation and uses. The MOFs and NO-releasing compounds are capable of releasing NO on application of an external stimulus and may provide materials with multiple modes of antibacterial and/or drug action.

Abstract: A cup handle connector is described. In some examples, the cup handle connector can include a sleeve portion having a surface that substantially conforms to an exterior profile of a cup and an intermediate portion attached to the sleeve portion. The cup handle connector can also include a handle attachment portion attached to the intermediate portion, with the handle attachment portion constructed to attach a weapon handle.

Abstract: A polishing article manufacturing system includes a feed section and a take-up section, the take-up section comprising a supply roll having a polishing article disposed thereon for a chemical mechanical polishing process, a print section comprising a plurality of printheads disposed between the feed section and the take-up section, and a curing section disposed between the feed section and the take-up section, the curing section comprising one or both of a thermal curing device and an electromagnetic curing device.

Abstract: Incontinence management systems, methods, and sensors are provided that alert the caregiver when a patient's brief has been soiled. A resonant circuit includes a polyaniline/carbon black (PANI/CB) composite chemiresistor which undergoes a large impedance change upon exposure to the vapor or ‘smell’ of urine or feces. Due to the impedance change of the PANI/CB resistor, characteristics of the resonant circuit change when the sensor is exposed to urine or feces vapor. The sensor responds to an interrogating signal with a signal based least in part on the sensor's impedance and indicates the condition of the brief as soiled or clean.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure generally provide polishing pads includes a composite pad body and methods for forming the polishing pads. One embodiment provides a polishing pad including a composite pad body. The composite pad body includes one or more first features formed from a first material or a first composition of materials, and one or more second features formed from a second material or a second composition of materials, wherein the one or more first features and the one or more second features are formed by depositing a plurality of layers comprising the first material or first composition of materials and second material or second composition of materials.

Abstract: A cup handle connector is described. In some examples, the cup handle connector can include a sleeve portion having a surface that substantially conforms to an exterior profile of a cup and an intermediate portion attached to the sleeve portion. The cup handle connector can also include a handle attachment portion attached to the intermediate portion, with the handle attachment portion constructed to attach a weapon handle.

Abstract: A polishing article manufacturing system includes a feed section and a take-up section, the take-up section comprising a supply roll having a polishing article disposed thereon for a chemical mechanical polishing process, a print section comprising a plurality of printheads disposed between the feed section and the take-up section, and a curing section disposed between the feed section and the take-up section, the curing section comprising one or both of a thermal curing device and an electromagnetic curing device.

Abstract: Disclosed are metal organic framework materials (MOFs), comprising an extra-framework NO releasing compound within the internal pores and/or channels of the MOF, the NO-releasing compounds and their preparation and uses. The MOFs and NO-releasing compounds are capable of releasing NO on application of an external stimulus and may provide materials with multiple modes of antibacterial and/or drug action.

Abstract: The instant disclosure relates to ductile iron alloy compositions and articles that can maintain desired microstructural and mechanical properties even when cast to make thin-wall samples. Particularly, the compositions herein may maintain hardness and ductility and minimize carbide formation even when cast in samples as thin as about 1 mm to about 6 mm. In particular, the instant disclosure relates to a cast iron alloy composition including nodular or spheroidal graphite domains comprising an iron content of at least about 90% by weight, a remaining alloy content of less than about 10% by weight, about 0.65% to about 0.85% by weight copper, about 3.6% to about 4.2% by weight silicon, and about 3.4% to about 3.8% by weight carbon.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the synthesis of a variety of metal organic frameworks (MOFs) using low temperature and solvents which are considered to be not particularly harmful to the environment. There is also provided novel MOFs which may be made by the desired processes.