Abstract: An electronic pen-like device 1 including a handheld barrel 3 with a stylus member 4 slidingly reciprocatable between an outwardly biased projecting position and a fully retracted position relative to the barrel on being depressed against a surface; a movement tracking apparatus 16 for tracking sideways movement of the stylus member across tge surface when depressed thereagainst to a partially retracted position between the extreme positions; and a sensor 28 for sending the arrival of the stylus member at the fully retracted position.

Abstract: Inclination measurement apparatus includes an indexable clinometer bearing turntable rotatable in a single plane between a pair of precisely reproducible diametrically opposite orientations with respect to the desired measurement axis for respectively issuing inclination measurements V0 and V180 responsive to the inclination of a surface with respect to a desired measurement axis, and a reference clinometer for enabling uninterrupted accurate bias corrected inclination measurements of the inclination of the surface with respect to the desired measurement axis by virtue of its inclination measurements being employed for calculating bias corrected inclination measurements.

Abstract: Inclination measurement apparatus includes an indexable clinometer bearing turntable rotatable in a single plane between a pair of precisely reproducible diametrically opposite orientations with respect to the desired measurement axis for respectively issuing inclination measurements V0 and V180 responsive to the inclination of a surface with respect to a desired measurement axis, and a reference clinometer for enabling uninterrupted accurate bias corrected inclination measurements of the inclination of the surface with respect to the desired measurement axis by virtue of its inclination measurements being employed for calculating bias corrected inclination measurements.

Abstract: Inclination measurement apparatus for measuring the inclination of a surface to the horizontal. The apparatus includes (a) a base plate for mounting the apparatus on the surface; (b) a ball bearing with i) a housing washer rigidly mounted on the base plate, and having a flat upper bearing surface, ii) a ball and cage thrust assembly set on the upper bearing surface, and iii) a shaft washer having a flat lower bearing surface set on the ball and cage thrust assembly, and being rotatable thereon between a first pair of diametrically opposite orientations defining a first measurement axis on the horizontal to the local gravity vector prevailing at the location of the apparatus; and (c) a first clinometer mounted on the shaft washer for obtaining an inclination measurement in each of the first pair of diametrically opposite orientations whereby the true inclination of the surface to the horizontal along the first measurement axis is determinable from the difference between the pair of measurement inclinations.

Abstract: Inclination measurement apparatus for measuring the inclination of a surface to the horizontal. The apparatus includes (a) a base plate for mounting the apparatus on the surface; (b) a ball bearing with i) a housing washer rigidly mounted on the base plate, and having a flat upper bearing surface, ii) a ball and cage thrust assembly set on the upper bearing surface, and iii) a shaft washer having a flat lower bearing surface set on the ball and cage thrust assembly, and being rotatable thereon between a first pair of diametrically opposite orientations defining a first measurement axis on the horizontal to the local gravity vector prevailing at the location of the apparatus; and (c) a first clinometer mounted on the shaft washer for obtaining an inclination measurement in each of the first pair of diametrically opposite orientations whereby the true inclination of the surface to the horizontal along the first measurement axis is determinable from the difference between the pair of measurement inclinations.

Abstract: A needle assembly for passing a needle through an aperture formed in a plate placed between the needle assembly and a body to be pierced by the needle, the needle assembly including a needle having a needle point, and a sleeve associated with the needle, wherein at least a portion of the sleeve has elastic properties in a generally longitudinal direction and is adapted to take up a generally extended state when the assembly is in a non-operative orientation so as to surround a portion of the needle including the needle point, and is further adapted to take up a compressed state when the assembly is in an operative orientation so as to expose a portion of the needle including the needle point, the needle point passing through the aperture in the operative orientation, and wherein the sleeve comprises an aligning device for aligning the needle point with respect to the aperture.

Abstract: Apparatus for piercing skin including a skin contact surface arranged to contact a portion of skin to be pierced, a skin piercing needle arranged to pierced the skin within the region and a cooling assembly providing cooling of the skin contact surface thereby cooling the portion of skin prior to and during piercing thereof by the skin piercing needle.

Abstract: Apparatus for piercing skin including a skin contact surface arranged to contact a portion of skin to be pierced, a skin piercing needle arranged to pierce the skin within the region and a cooling assembly providing cooling of the skin contact surface thereby cooling the portion of skin prior to and during piercing thereof by the skin piercing needle.