Abstract: A skate blade sharpening system includes a blade retention mechanism that holds a skate blade to be sharpened, and a rotating shaft configured to have a grinding wheel mounted on it, where the grinding wheel contacts the skate blade during sharpening. An arbor on the rotating shaft is of a heat-conducting material and has a heat-conducting mating with the grinding wheel when the grinding wheel is mounted on the rotating shaft. The arbor includes a set of vanes contributing to fan-like air flow about the arbor and grinding wheel for convective heat dissipation during the sharpening operation.

Abstract: A blade holder tool for inserting a loose skate blade into a sharpener unit for sharpening includes blade-engaging features that engage blade retention features of the skate blade, and a spacing component providing user-controlled variable spacing of the blade-engaging features to hold skate blades across a range of sizes. The tool may include an elongated tool body having a bottom portion configured to receive the skate blade, the tool body supporting the blade-engaging features and spacing component. The blade-engaging features may include a pair of biased-closed housing members engaging the retention features of the skate blade, and a separate tool body may not be required. A spring or elastic member is connected between housing members to bias closed the blade-engaging features. Mechanical and/or graphical features may be used for positioning and orienting the skate blade to the blade holder tool, and/or the blade holder tool to the sharpener unit.

Abstract: A skate blade sharpening system includes a chassis and an elongated slot for receiving a skate blade, and a skate blade retention mechanism to retain the skate blade in the sharpening position. A grinding wheel moves along the slot including the lower edge of the skate blade during sharpening. One or more slot covers are mounted to the chassis at respective ends of the slot. The slot covers are movable between covering and non-covering positions. In the non-covering positions the slot covers uncover the slot sufficiently to permit insertion and removal of the skate blade. In the covering positions, the slot covers cover end portions of the slot adjacent the ends of the skate blade to avoid exposing the user and mechanical components of the sharpening system to unsafe operating conditions.

Abstract: A skate blade sharpening system includes a chassis having a slot for receiving a skate blade, and a skate blade retention mechanism for retaining the skate blade in a sharpening position. The skate blade retention mechanism includes an actuator and a pair of jaws on respective sides of the slot, the jaws being coupled to the actuator and configured for symmetrical opening and closing movements about a centerline of the skate blade. The jaws are secured to the chassis by guide blocks extending though corresponding guide slots of the jaws. The guide blocks have respective angled surfaces contacting corresponding angled surfaces of the jaws permitting the jaws to slide on the guide blocks when the jaws are open. The angled surfaces are oriented in a manner urging the jaws upward against a surface referenced to the chassis as the jaws are urged to a closed position by the actuator.

Abstract: A skate blade sharpening system includes a chassis and an elongated slot for receiving a skate blade, and a skate blade retention mechanism to retain the skate blade in the sharpening position. A grinding wheel moves along the slot including the lower edge of the skate blade during sharpening. One or more slot covers are mounted to the chassis at respective ends of the slot. The slot covers are movable between covering and non-covering positions. In the non-covering positions the slot covers uncover the slot sufficiently to permit insertion and removal of the skate blade. In the covering positions, the slot covers cover end portions of the slot adjacent the ends of the skate blade to avoid exposing the user and mechanical components of the sharpening system to unsafe operating conditions.

Abstract: A skate blade sharpening system includes a chassis having a slot for receiving a skate blade, and a skate blade retention mechanism for retaining the skate blade in a sharpening position. The skate blade retention mechanism includes an actuator and a pair of jaws on respective sides of the slot, the jaws being coupled to the actuator and configured for symmetrical opening and closing movements about a centerline of the skate blade. The jaws are secured to the chassis by guide blocks extending though corresponding guide slots of the jaws. The guide blocks have respective angled surfaces contacting corresponding angled surfaces of the jaws permitting the jaws to slide on the guide blocks when the jaws are open. The angled surfaces are oriented in a manner urging the jaws upward against a surface referenced to the chassis as the jaws are urged to a closed position by the actuator.

Abstract: A skate blade retention mechanism for retaining a skate blade in a sharpening position to be sharpened includes a pair of elongated jaws configured for symmetrical jaw opening and closing movements about a centerline of the skate blade in the sharpening position. A biasing mechanism is configured and operative to apply a bias force to symmetrically bias the jaws toward a closed position with sufficiently high force to retain the skate blade in the sharpening position when the skate blade is located between the jaws as so biased. An actuator is configured to actuate the jaws against the bias force to an open position under user control to permit insertion and removal of the skate blade.

Abstract: A grinding wheel for use in a skate blade sharpening system includes a metal grinding ring having an abrasive-coated outer surface for contacting a skate blade to be sharpened during sharpening, and a generally disk-shaped hub to which the grinding ring is fixedly mounted. The hub and grinding ring are configured for mating with an arbor on a rotating shaft of the skate blade sharpening system. Generally the hub is of a less expensive and lower-density material than the grinding ring. In one embodiment, the hub is of a lightweight material such as thermoplastic.

Abstract: A grinding wheel assembly for use in a sharpening system includes a grinding wheel configured to be mounted in the sharpening system to carry out sharpening operations in which the grinding wheel removes material from a blade to be sharpened, such as the blade of an ice skate. The grinding wheel assembly further includes an identification tag attached to the grinding wheel, the identification tag having (1) secure memory including a usage location for persistently and securely storing a usage tracking value, and (2) interface circuitry for engaging in communication with a transceiver of the sharpening system to enable electronic circuitry of the sharpening system to both read from and write to the usage location to track usage of the grinding wheel for sharpening operations. The memory may also store other data including user-specific system parameters usable to customize operation, and fault information usable to diagnose fault conditions.

Abstract: A skate blade sharpening system includes a blade retention mechanism that holds a skate blade to be sharpened, and a rotating shaft configured to have a grinding wheel mounted on it, where the grinding wheel contacts the skate blade during sharpening. An arbor on the rotating shaft is of a heat-conducting material and has a heat-conducting mating with the grinding wheel when the grinding wheel is mounted on the rotating shaft. The arbor includes a set of vanes contributing to fan-like air flow about the arbor and grinding wheel for convective heat dissipation during the sharpening operation.

Abstract: A blade holder tool enables a user to insert the skate blade into a sharpener unit for sharpening. The skate blade is a user-removable skate blade having a central portion and endward portions that include blade retention features that engage a user-controlled blade retention mechanism of a skate to secure the skate blade in the skate. The blade holder tool includes an upper portion graspable by a user to hold the blade holder tool and place it in an inserted position in the sharpener unit. It further includes a lower blade-engaging portion that grasps the central portion of the skate blade and locates the skate blade in a sharpening position in the sharpener unit. Because it grasps skate blade in a central portion, the blade holder tool has a universal quality enabling it to be used with skate blades of a variety of sizes or lengths.

Abstract: A skate blade sharpening system includes a clamp for retaining a skate blade in a sharpening position during a sharpening operation, with a centerline of the sharpening position having a first predetermined location relative to a first visual reference feature. A grinding wheel contacts the skate blade during sharpening and is mounted for rotation on a motor arm. A centerline of the grinding wheel has a second predetermined location relative to a second visual reference feature carried by the motor arm. An adjustment mechanism is used to move the motor arm transversely during an alignment operation to vary relative position between the grinding wheel and the sharpening position across a range that includes an aligned position in which the centerline of the grinding wheel is aligned with the centerline of the sharpening position. The aligned position is indicated by alignment of the first visual reference with the second visual reference feature.

Abstract: A skate blade sharpening system includes a chassis and an elongated slot for receiving a skate blade, and a skate blade retention mechanism at an underside of the chassis to retain the skate blade in the sharpening position. A grinding wheel moves along the slot including the lower edge of the skate blade during sharpening. A pair of slot covers are mounted at a top surface of the chassis at respective ends of the slot. The slot covers are movable between covering and non-covering positions. In the non-covering positions the slot covers uncover the slot sufficiently to permit insertion and removal of the skate blade. In the covering positions, the slot covers cover end portions of the slot adjacent the ends of the skate blade to prevent insertion of objects through the end portions of the slot during sharpening.

Abstract: A device for sealing a cervical opening includes a support structure, and a seal coupled to the support structure, the seal having a surface for abutting against tissue next to the cervical opening, wherein the seal is tiltable relative to the support structure. A device for sealing a cervical opening includes a support structure, and a member coupled to the support structure, wherein the member is inflatable to create a seal for abutting against cervical tissue. A device for sealing a cervical opening includes a seal having a surface for contacting tissue next to the cervical opening, an opening formed on the surface of the seal, and a vacuum port, wherein the opening is in fluid communication with the vacuum port.

Abstract: Embodiments of luer-type needle-free valve devices are disclosed. One of the novel aspects of the invention is its ability to transform from an open state to a closed state. The open position eliminates the potential for a differential pressure to exist between the volume connected to the inlet and outlet of the valve fitting. The closed position enables the device to maintain a differential pressure between the volume connected to the inlet and outlet of the valve fitting. The invention is useful in manufacturing sterile medical devices by allowing all surfaces to communicate with the sterilizing agent when the valve is in an open configuration when it is in a closed position.

Abstract: Embodiments of luer-type needle-free valve devices are disclosed. One of the novel aspects of the invention is its ability to transform from an open state to a closed state. The open position eliminates the potential for a differential pressure to exist between the volume connected to the inlet and outlet of the valve fitting. The closed position enables the device to maintain a differential pressure between the volume connected to the inlet and outlet of the valve fitting. The invention is useful in manufacturing sterile medical devices by allowing all surfaces to communicate with the sterilizing agent when the valve is in an open configuration when it is in a closed position.

Abstract: A device for sealing a cervical opening includes a support structure, and a seal coupled to the support structure, the seal having a surface for abutting against tissue next to the cervical opening, wherein the seal is tiltable relative to the support structure. A device for sealing a cervical opening includes a support structure, and a member coupled to the support structure, wherein the member is inflatable to create a seal for abutting against cervical tissue. A device for sealing a cervical opening includes a seal having a surface for contacting tissue next to the cervical opening, an opening formed on the surface of the seal, and a vacuum port, wherein the opening is in fluid communication with the vacuum port.

Abstract: An all-weather housing for outdoor microwave radio nodes arranged in a network, each node capable of directing or receiving a beam of microwave energy in a selected direction, the housing including a shroud enclosing a transceiver, antenna, switches, and utilities. Each shroud has a radome projecting from the shroud in line of sight relation to other radomes in the network. A microwave radio transceiver is disposed within the shroud, operating on a scheduled transmission and reception basis in accordance with a schedule provided in a control channel amidst data. A ball-shaped microwave refractive lens is located adjacent to the radome, inside of the shroud, with a curved array of feed ports and switches, with the feed ports communicating microwave energy between the transceiver and the radome through the lens in multiple selected directions.

Abstract: The junction box of the present invention allows a user to couple multiple electronic devices to a primary electronic device. The junction box includes a housing assembly made up of an upper housing and a lower housing. The upper housing fits over the lower housing so as to form an enclosure. A seal assembly forms a seal between the upper housing and the lower housing. The upper housing extends outward on one side so as to form an overhanging portion and an opening. The overhanging portion, along with the seal assembly prevents fluids, dust and foreign particles from entering the enclosure. A circuit board is disposed in the enclosure that is coupled to a primary electrical cable. The primary electrical cable connects to the back of a primary electronic device. Electronic devices that are to be coupled to the primary electronic device are coupled to the junction box via cables that connect to each electrical device and connect to the circuit board.