Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a protective hood is provided for protecting a wearer's head and face from environmental elements. The hood includes a hood body, a lens, a nose cup disposed inside of the hood body and harness assembly. The harness assembly is attached to the outside of the hood body for securing the hood body and nose cup to the wearer's head and face. The hood further includes at least one nose cup link. Each nose cup link having a portion that is internal to the hood body, a portion that is external to the hood body and a mid-section portion that is connected to the hood body at a plurality of points along mid-section portion. The harness assembly is connected to the external portion of the hood cup link for adjusting the nose cup.

Abstract: A creeper is provided wherein the creeper has a main frame comprising a front and a rear; wheels attached to the main frame; a handle attached to the mainframe rearward of said wheels; a platform slidably attached to the main frame and rail engagement brackets attached to the mainframe forward of the wheels. Pressure is applied to the handle thereby lifting the front of the main frame thereby supporting the creeper on the wheels. The creeper is moved to a position under the railcar. Pressure is removed from the handle thereby allowing the front of the creeper to lower wherein the rail engagement brackets engage with rails of a track. The personnel lays on the platform and slides the platform under the railcar.

Abstract: A crossbar assembly for use in connection with a hatch on the upper surface of a container is disclosed. The crossbar assembly may include a main body and an adjustable body. The adjustable body is preferably slideably aligned with the main body and preferably includes an adjusting device attached to the main body and the adjustable body for transitioning the adjustable body between positions along the main body. Two extenders may be positioned extending outwardly from the main body and the adjustable body. The main body and adjustable body also may each include stops for securing the crossbar assembly within the hatch of the container so as to preferably prevent workers from falling into the hatch.

Abstract: A quick-connect fitting includes a polymeric first connector in fluid communication with a first component, and a polymeric second connector in fluid communication with a second component. The first connector is either a male fitting or a female fitting, and the other of the male fitting and female fitting is the second connector. The female fitting includes a longitudinal cylindrical cavity having therein a retaining ring retaining an o-ring, and the male fitting includes a cylindrical body and a tubular sealing element extending longitudinally therefrom positionable within the polymeric female fitting and o-ring in sealing engagement. The quick connect fitting includes a clip pivotably connected to the second connector moving between a first position connecting the female fitting to the male fitting when the male fitting is positioned within the female fitting and a second position in which the male fitting is removable from the female fitting.

Abstract: A process for providing an overmolded waterway comprising inserting a shaft portion of a sacrificial core into an end of a tube, the shaft portion having a first opening therein, the sacrificial core having a second portion comprising a second opening and a contact surface about the second opening, the second opening in fluid communication with the first opening and the inside of the tube, in a mold cavity inserting a core pin transverse to the tube end, the sacrificial core contact surface engaging a mating surface of the core pin closing the second opening, injection overmolding over a portion of the tube end and core pin forming an overmolded waterway having an outlet portion in fluid communication with the second opening and the inside of the tube, and removing the core pin from the second opening through the outlet portion and removing the overmolded waterway from the mold cavity.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to an overmolding process and apparatus for overmolding nonlinear profiles from rigid or semi-rigid polymeric material. Rigid polymeric materials are melted and overmolded onto an extruded profile, which is received by a mold having a mold cavity and core pin. The mold cavity and core pin have a radial angle of curvature (Rc). In the overmolding process, rigid polymeric material is injected around the core pin and cavity, and the overmolded article is removed from the mold. The core pin is removed from the overmolded article to form a non-linear overmolded article according to the present process and arrangement of parts.

Abstract: A creeper is provided wherein the creeper has a main frame having a front, a rear, a first side, and an opposing second side. The main frame also includes wheels attached at the front and rear of the main frame, a handle attached at the rear of the main frame, and a rotatable platform. Pressure is applied to the handle thereby lifting the main frame onto railway tracks positioned under a railcar so that personnel can obtain access under the railcar and perform maintenance and work to the underside of the railcar.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing safe access to the upper surface of a mobile container. The apparatus includes a pivoting handrail system having a walk surface, a first set of rails and a second set of rails both capable of being raised and lowered between a raised access position and a lowered stored position, a first pull for raising and lowering the first set of rails, a second pull for raising and lowering the second set of rails, and a support device for supporting the walk surface and attaching to the mobile container. An access such as a ladder may be attached to the pivoting handrail system to provide access to the pivoting handrail system.

Abstract: A creeper is provided wherein the creeper has a main frame comprising a front and a rear; wheels attached to the main frame; a handle attached to the mainframe rearward of said wheels; a platform slidably attached to the main frame and rail engagement brackets attached to the mainframe forward of the wheels. Pressure is applied to the handle thereby lifting the front of the main frame thereby supporting the creeper on the wheels. The creeper is moved to a position under the railcar. Pressure is removed from the handle thereby allowing the front of the creeper to lower wherein the rail engagement brackets engage with rails of a track. The personnel lays on the platform and slides the platform under the railcar.

Abstract: A method for enforcing physical access control and logical access control may include: (i) controlling access of a person to a physical location based on a physical access credential associated with the person provided to a physical access control system; (ii) controlling access of the person to an information system and an enterprise service based on a logical access credential associated with the person provided to a logical access control system; (iii) receiving information from the physical access control system regarding the physical access credential; (iv) receiving information from the logical access control system regarding the logical access credential; (v) determining an approximate location of the person based on the physical access credential and the logical access credential; and (vi) blocking unauthorized access between the physical access control system and the logical access control system by a first firewall.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a system for enforcing physical access control and logical access control may include a physical access control system, a logical access control system, a location detection system, and a convergence system. The convergence system may be communicatively coupled to the physical access control system, the logical access control system, and the location detection system and configured to: (i) receive information from the physical access control system regarding a physical access credential; (ii) receive information from the logical access control system regarding a logical access credential; (iii) receive information from the location detection system regarding a location of a location detection tag; and (iv) based on analysis of information regarding the physical access credential, information regarding the logical access credential, and the information regarding the location of the location detection tag, determine the approximate location of a person.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a protective hood is provided for protecting a wearer's head and face from environmental elements. The hood includes a hood body, a lens, a nose cup disposed inside of the hood body and harness assembly. The harness assembly is attached to the outside of the hood body for securing the hood body and nose cup to the wearer's head and face. The hood further includes at least one nose cup link. Each nose cup link having a portion that is internal to the hood body, a portion that is external to the hood body and a mid-section portion that is connected to the hood body at a plurality of points along mid-section portion. The harness assembly is connected to the external portion of the hood cup link for adjusting the nose cup.

Abstract: A new peach variety, Prunus persica, (hereinafter referred to as the MSUP8706 peach variety), which was developed by Amy Iezzoni and Bill Shane in a breeding program at the Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center in Benton Harbor, Mich., having the following number of unique and desirable features: 1. A fruit with excellent shipping and storage characteristics. 2. A fruit maturing at the same season as the Loring peach (an unpatented selection). 3. A generally round fruit with freestone, yellow flesh, and an attractive red blush.

Abstract: A hoist for a vehicle including a lower chassis (2) adapted for secure placement on and optional general movement about a floor, an upper platform (1) fitted to said chassis and movable between a first lowered position to a second raised position wherein said hoist is capable of placement underneath a vehicle when in said first position and said platform and chassis remain coplanar during movement between said first and second positions and both said platform and said chassis have a footprint sufficient to allow stable holding of a vehicle when mounted on said hoist characterized in that said hoist is fitted with a locking means for holding said upper platform in said raised position said locking means including an elongate locking arm (24) pivotally fitted to one end (52) of said chassis and telescopically passing through a collar (25) pivotally fitted to the other corresponding end (53) of said platform wherein said collar has a lock adapted to co-operate with said locking arm, to arrest said telescopic mov

Abstract: An integrated BEDC and PCB provided through a low cost, highly reliable interconnect system. The upper and/or lower half of the main insulation assembly of a BEDC is provided with a recess for accommodating at least an edge portion of the substrate of a PCB. The PCB is provided with apertures such as holes for receiving therethrough a buss wire and/or terminal slots through which terminals having wire slots are fixedly staked. The apertures on the PCB are arranged in a predetermined pattern so as to align with corresponding respective apertures in the form of corresponding holes and/or terminal slots on the BEDC at the recess thereof. Accordingly, with the PCB seated in the recess, as the buss wires are laid, they will pass through the holes in the PCB and/or pass through the wire slot of the terminals and thereby provide interconnection therebetween when the two halves of the main insulation assembly are united and the PCB is sandwiched therebetween.

Abstract: A new peach variety, Prunus persica, (hereinafter referred to as the MSUP8706 peach variety), which was developed by Amy Iezzoni and Bill Shane in a breeding program at the Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center in Benton Harbor, Mich., having the following number of unique and desirable features: 1. A fruit with excellent shipping and storage characteristics. 2. A fruit maturing at the same season as the Loring peach (an unpatented selection). 3. A generally round fruit with freestone, yellow flesh, and an attractive red blush.