Abstract: A shared directional multichannel for efficiently transmitting k=( log.sub.p n choose (p-1) concurrent, non-interfering transmissions from a set of m.gtoreq.k source stations, each having p transmitters, to a set of n destination stations, each having one receiver, without active repeater components. The multichannel architecture permits implementation of an efficient single-hop multichannel system using optical star couplers in a manner that limits the power spreading loss to the n/p value known for bus-oriented networks instead of n.sup.2 /p. Several coupling stages are employed, each stage having a plurality of identical substantially-square directional couplers, to obtain channel concurrency k, which is an improvement over the concurrency p available in bus-oriented networks, without the higher power spreading loss normally arising from the larger number of connections between each source station and every destination station.

Abstract: Disclosed is a base plate assembly for use in mounting a die-stone dental replica, the assembly including a base plate that has a configuration commensurate with at least one dental quadrant, and having a planar upper surface characterized by an array of transverse elongate rectangular sockets. A plurality of mounting blocks are assembled in side-by-side relationship along the plate planar surface, each block having a downward projection adapted to frictionally and releasably hold the block on the base plate, and extending from the tops of the blocks are anchoring tabs designed to be embedded in the wet positive mold of a dental impression and affixed therein when the mold material cures. In a preferred embodiment, the base plate has a modular configuration and is interconnectable with an identical modular unit to form a combined base plate having a configuration commensurate with full bilateral upper or lower dental quadrants.

Abstract: Dental cements and abrasives are provided which are polymerizable with visible light. Such adhesives. may be applied in thinner films than heretofore possible and demonstrate superior physical properties. Processes employing such materials are disclosed wherein the polymerizatioa of the adhesive is accomplished by transmmitting visible light through tooth or other structures to effect the sdhesion.

Abstract: An automated system is disclosed for folding vehicle air bags so that a small folded-bag profile and a desirable bag deployment pattern results. A machine having numerous moveable arms is controlled by a controller. An edge folding assembly (EFA) of the machine has five arms, including a center arm, two outer blades, and two outwardly facing U-channel forks, which reside between respective outer blades and the center arm. The EFA moves forward so that all of its five arms engage an unfolded air bag. The forks then raise upward to a level at which the outer blades are aligned with a gap between tines in the forks. The outer blades mesh with this gap causing two pleats to be formed in the edge of the bag. Pleat clamps then move inwardly sideways to engage the two pleats and form a third pleat. Then, the EFA is removed from the bag. The pleat clamps clamp top and bottom sections of the bag together while tightly gripping the pleats.

Abstract: A protective headgear assembly for use by personnel required to use sighting devices in which a close-fitting helmet carries impact-resistant, energy-absorbing material over that portion covering the wearer's nape, crown and side head portions over the ears but which is free of such material in the frontal portion which covers the wearer's forehead to permit the wearer to bring his eye into close proximity with a sighting device. A separable body of impact-resisant, energy-absorbing material is removably positioned over the helmet frontal portion by detachable fasteners which secure the body to a soft cover on the helmet where the wearer desires only bump protection or by a separable part of a two-part ballistic shell attached to the helmet where the wearer desires both bump and ballistic protection. The helmet can be adapted for use by non-sighter personnel by using either a unitary soft cover or a unitary ballistic shell to position the separable body on the helmet.

Abstract: A cap with sleep posture alarm comprising a cap adapted for receiving a user's head; alarm circuitry for generating an alarm signal when electrically energized; at least one speaker for transmitting an alarm based upon receipt of an alarm signal; a power source for providing electrical energy to the alarm circuitry; a first switch having an enabled orientation for energizing the alarm circuitry and a disabled orientation for de-energizing the alarm circuitry; and a second switch coupled to the cap and having a biased orientation when tilted forwards and backwards for allowing an alarm signal to be transmitted to the speaker and an unbiased-orientation for preventing such transmission; whereby when the first switch is enabled, and when the second switch is placed in an engaged orientation such as when a user's head falls forwards or backwards when nodding out in sleep, an alarm is transmitted.

Abstract: The toilet ventilation system has an intake member located directly adjacent the toilet bowl of a toilet. The intake member is coupled to a manifold supported by the toilet which permits odors from the toilet to be transferred from the intake member and manifold to a ventilation pipe located adjacent the toilet. A fan is located at a remote end of the ventilation pipe for drawing odors through the intake member, the manifold, and the ventilation pipe, and expelling the odors into a ventilation area. The intake member is removably coupled to the manifold through a manifold inlet and may be removed from the manifold. The ventilation pipe is removably coupled to the manifold by way of a manifold outlet. The manifold may be rotated about the ventilation pipe or moved out of the way when the intake member has been removed from the manifold inlet, for cleaning purposes.

Abstract: A plunger for clearing a drain pipe, the drain pipe terminating in a drain fitting, the plunger including an elongated cylinder having a first end and a second end, an elongated chamber disposed within the elongated cylinder, a piston disposed within the elongated chamber, a piston handle attached to the piston and projecting from a first end of the elongated cylinder, the piston being slidable in a reciprocal fashion within the elongated chamber by movement of the piston handle, a channel extending from the elongated chamber to the second end of the elongated cylinder, the channel terminating in an opening provided in the second end of the elongated cylinder, the opening being of a substantially smaller transverse dimension than the elongated chamber, the channel tapering inward as it extends from the elongated chamber to the opening, and a collar member substantially surrounding the opening, the collar member including a substantially flexible material.

Abstract: The features of a surgical slush machine are augmented by supplemental basins for surgical liquid to thereby permit simultaneous availability of warm and/or chilled liquid and/or surgical slush. The basins are disposed in close sequential adjacency, and a common sterile drape is disposed over and contoured to all of the basins to provide separate sterile receptacles in the drape for the various sterile media. Basin centering indicia on the drape facilitate deployment of the drape relative to the basins and selectively removable covers insulate and protect the sterile medium between periods of use. Cooling and heating of the respective basins is effected independently with individual power controls.

Abstract: A finger wash basin that can be attached to an existing toilet without major modifications. The basin consists of a container which is mounted adjacent or on the existing toilet and has a water supply pipe which is connected to the existing water supply pipe for the toilet bowl. The container also has a drain pipe which leads used water back to the toilet bowl. A gasket is attached to the top of the toilet tank and has a top surface which will securely mount the toilet tank lid. The gasket can be provided with openings that will allow the water supply pipe and the drain pipe to pass through the gasket between the top of the toilet tank and the toilet tank lid.

Abstract: A convertible furniture unit has two platforms rotatably joined to each other such that the convertible furniture unit functions as a bed when the two platforms are horizontal and the convertible furniture unit functions as a couch when the two platforms are perpendicular to each other. A removable horizontal surface may be attached to the back of the couch such that a counter-couch is formed.

Abstract: A parturition bed having a lying surface (1) transversely divided into two mutually adjustable parts has a main supporting part (2) and a leg supporting part (3) that may be adjusted from a common lying plane into planes approximately parallel to the lying plane located at different heights with respect to each other. The leg supporting part (3) can be moved when in a lowered position in relation to the main supporting part (2)in the longitudinal direction of the parturition bed into a free space located below the main supporting part (2), at least in the pelvis supporting area of the latter.

Abstract: A wash water draining device for washing patients in bed has a mattress base, which is formed, for example, by inflatable chambers and is disposed underneath a waterproof bed mattress and slopes the bed mattress from the sides to the center and from the head end to the foot end. A waterproof mattress pad is placed over the mattress and a mattress compressing device is attached centrally to the foot end of the mattress such that a drainage socket of the waterproof mattress pad can be embedded into the resulting and stabilized depression of the bed mattress.

Abstract: A stretcher includes a patient support portion vertically movably supported on a wheeled base by a lift arrangement. Two pivot members are supported on the support portion for pivotal movement about respective vertical axes, and each support a respective arm for pivotal movement about a respective horizontal axis between a position in which the arms lie in a common horizontal plane and a position in which an outer end of each arm is offset from the plane. The outer end of each arm is movably coupled to a transfer board. A link arrangement effects synchronous movement of the arms about the horizontal axes without movement about the vertical axes and about the vertical axes without movement about the horizontal axes. In a retracted position, the entire transfer mechanism is disposed physically within and has an overall vertical height less than that of the patient support portion.

Abstract: A detachable coupling is provided to interconnect a horizontally disposed bed support rail to an upright bedpost. The ends of the bedrail are provided with vertically oriented, channel-shaped feet or pegs. Each such downward projection has a web extending transversely across the end of the bedrail and side walls secured to both sides of the bedrail. The foot depends from the bedrail end and the width of the side walls diminishes with distance from the bedrail, whereby the side walls are not quite rectangular, but are actually of trapezoidal shape. A vertically oriented, channel-shaped pocket is secured to the bedpost at each of the detachable coupling positions. The pocket has a web spaced outwardly from the bedpost and side walls secured to the bedpost. The pocket has a draft that conforms to the shape of the foot so as to snugly receive the foot therewithin. A transverse locking screw engages both the foot and the pocket so as to immobilize the foot within the pocket.

Abstract: A wall bed apparatus (10) including a stand alone bed unit (11) including a bed frame (21) equipped with a pair of rocker panels (50) which support the bed frame (21) and associated mattress (100) in a vertically upright position and an enclosure unit (12) which partially surrounds the lower portion of the bed frame (21) in the vertical orientation and assists in maintaining the bed frame (21) and mattress (100) in the upright position.

Abstract: A system for supporting a bed ridden patient while that patient uses a bed pan includes a body-supporting section and a foot-supporting section which co-operate with each other to maintain a proper and desired relative orientation among the patient's legs, hips and spine. The body-supporting section is inflatable, and the fully-inflated height of the body-supporting section is greater than the height of the foot-supporting section to provide versatility to the system. The body-supporting section is coated with lubricant to facilitate sliding that section under a patient.

Abstract: A torso and lumbar support and position stabilizing pillow for a lateral recumbency position comprising a substantially planar base member, a main body and a lumbar support member, the main body having a top surface, a bottom surface, an outside surface and an inside surface. The main body is shaped such that the bottom surface is planar and attached to the base member, while the outside surface of the main body is also planar and perpendicular to the base member, with the inside surface of the main body being opposite the outside surface and disposed at an acute angle with respect to the base member. Optionally, the inside surface can be concave to accommodate the natural curve of the spine, allowing room for the protrusion of a person's shoulder and buttocks areas. In use, the pillow is placed in firm contact with a person's back and side to provide lumbar support when a person is lying in lateral recumbency, on their side.

Abstract: A health pillow which emits the fragrance of wood and induces a pleasant mood leading to peaceful sleep. A plurality of cylindrical, hollow wood sections improve air circulation in the pillow while at the same time emitting a fragrance which lasts for a long time. Wooden sheets which include a plurality of half-cylindrical shaped pieces are fastened together to form a sheet of wooden tubes. This sheet is cut into individual tubes which are cut into pieces ranging in length from several millimeters to fifteen to sixteen millimeters, thus producing numerous small tubular pieces of wood. These small tubular pieces of wood are used to fill the interior of the pillow.

Abstract: A seat cushion assembly has a lower layer of resilient shape-retaining material with an upper surface having a pair of adjacent parallel channel-shaped recesses extending rearwardly from a front end of the cushion assembly and shaped to conform to the undersides of the thighs of a sitting person. The upper surface also has a rear recess in a rearward and intermediate area positioned to be beneath the buttocks of the sitting person. An insert of relatively firm deformable material is located in the rear recess of the lower layer, and an upper layer of soft material covers the lower layer and the insert. The upper layer has channel-shaped recesses conforming with the channel-shaped recesses in the lower layer and a buttock-receiving recess over the insert. The insert serving to accommodate ischial tuberosities of the sitting person and prevents the ischial tuberosities from bottoming out through the cushion assembly. The insert also provides an even distribution of forces over these bony areas.

Abstract: A dock leveler includes a ramp movable between a raised position and a lowered position in response to selective inflation of an inflatable member disposed between the ramp and a support located below the ramp, and an improved mounting arrangement for securing the airbag in position below the ramp. The improved mounting arrangement includes a flap extending from the airbag, which preferably consists of extended portions of the airbag walls extending outwardly from an edge defined by one or more internal airbag cavities. The flap is folded and preferably sealed about a rod, and a clamping arrangement is engageable with the flap between the rod and the airbag internal cavities for securing the airbag to a mounting surface, such as a surface defined by the support with which the airbag is engageable.

Abstract: A dock leveler including a ramp is movable to a raised position by inflation of an inflatable member, such as an air bag assembly. One or more filler members are located within an internal cavity defined by the air bag assembly, to occupy void volume therein. The filler members expedite inflation of the bag assembly when an inflating device is operated to introduce air under pressure into the bag assembly. The filler members also function to maintain the bag assembly in an engaged condition with the underside of the ramp, and to prevent the air bag assembly from fully collapsing in order to prolong bag life.

Abstract: A toothbrush comprises an elongate element with a brushhead on each end. The elongate element (10) is composed of a first curved portion (10a, 10b) on one end and a corresponding second curved portion (10b, 10a) on the other end. Each curved portion further comprises an outer section (14) and a holder section (12) integrally connected by a goose-neck shaped middle section (13), with the brushhead attached to the free end of the outer section such that the longitudinal axis of the brushhead (20, 30) is disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the adjacent outer section (14) of the element (10). The toothbrush is pivotally fitted with a rotatable cover-cum-handle that allows either brushhead-carrying curved portion (10a, 10b) of the elongate element to be exposed and concealed in turn.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus comprising a handle and a base member having a first surface and a second surface. The handle is coupled to the first surface and a brush portion is attached to the second surface. The cleaning apparatus further includes an absorbent material portion attached to the second surface of the base member proximate the brush portion, whereby a generally continuous cleaning surface is formed on the second side of the base member by a combination of the brush portion and the absorbent material. A wringer is mounted for pivotal movement with respect to the base member. The wringer can be pivoted from a first, storage position, generally parallel with the handle, to a second position, in which the wringer is substantially parallel with the base member. The wringer is configured to substantially engage and squeeze moisture from the absorbent material without engaging the brush portion.

Abstract: A finishing trowel comprised of a blade, a mounting and a handle, wherein the handle is hollow and has a square mounting hole for receiving a square mounting surface. A plastic handle is comprised of a durable inner core material and a grippable outer member. The handle's inner core includes deformable ribs which axially line the mounting hole and provide a secure, lash-free fit onto the mounting surface over a broader range of manufacturing tolerances for the parts. The handle also includes an endcap which cuts into and seals the endcap against an outer grippable material upon tightening of a flanged nut onto the mounting. A lip extends from the handle and encompasses a portion of the mounting to facilitate increased torque transfer from the handle to the mounting and blade. The replaceable handle can also be formed of other grippable materials such as wood.

Abstract: A wiping mirror assembly for trucks and other motor vehicles employs a wiper carrier coupled to an off-the-shelf multiple start, high lead screw that is driven by a reversing motor via a belt. A magnetic switch positioned adjacent each end of the screw senses the approaching wiper carrier and reverses its direction of travel by reversing the motor. The assembly includes nozzles in a mirror housing for wetting the mirror.

Abstract: A wiper refill element for a wiper blade and a method for the assembly of the wiper refill element to the wiper blade. The spring bars are held in lateral grooves of a wiper rubber squeegee body and are secured by frangible holding clamps lapping over the squeegee body of the wiper rubber wherein during the assembly with the supporting yoke system of a wiper blade the clamps are pried off of the refill element.

Abstract: An improved rotary brush carpet cleaning apparatus provides superior cleaning performance both by more efficiently dispensing shampoo onto a scrubbed portion of a carpet and by more effectively holding an extraction ring against the surface being cleaned and thereby better extracting dirt and used shampoo. The apparatus includes an arrangement of two springs (instead of the one spring used in the prior art) biasing the extraction ring downward from a chassis onto the carpet being scrubbed. The improved apparatus also minimizes operator fatigue by: a) reducing the overall weight of the cleaning machine; b) supporting the weight of a shampoo feed tank with the spinning brush, rather than on the operator's arms: and c) providing an improved mechanical advantage for resisting torques and imbalances arising from the spinning brush in a way that does not also compromise the maneuverability of the machine.

Abstract: A blower vacuum unit for selective operation in a blower mode and in a suction mode, comprises: a housing having means forming an air inlet and means forming an air outlet; a motor carried within the housing, an impeller rotatably driven by the motor and positioned for drawing air into the housing through the air inlet and discharging the air from the housing through the air outlet; a debris collection conduit one end of which conduit is an operating end and the other end of which conduit is adapted for attachment to a debris collection container and means for generating an entrained air flow, using the air discharged through the air outlet, at the operating end of the debris collection conduit into the debris conduit. The housing and the debris collection conduit comprise separate components and the conduit is adapted to be releasably mounted on the housing so that the operating end of the conduit is located for co-operation with the air outlet of the housing.

Abstract: Handling apparatus for a casket has a first member for applying a laterally inwardly directed force to a wall of the casket, a second member for applying laterally outwardly and upwardly directed forces to a lower edge of the casket, a third member interconnecting the first and second members, and a handle connected to one of the first, second and third members. When the handling apparatus is placed in contact with the casket lower edge and wall and the handle lifted upwardly a couple is applied to the apparatus and hence the casket thus retaining the apparatus in contact with the casket and enabling the casket to be lifted and transported with the apparatus. The apparatus is quickly removed by simply removing upward force from the handle. Alternatively, a clamp in the form of the threaded bolt can be included in the apparatus for clamping the casket edge between the second member and the bolt for semi-permanent installation of the apparatus on the casket.

Abstract: A fluid proof hinge has a first hinge part and a second hinge part connected by a metal pin. The first hinge part has an integral flange of an elastomeric material adjacent to the hinge area, the flange extends along the length of the hinge and protrudes towards the second hinge part. The second hinge part has a receiving portion for the flange also extending along the length of the hinge. The two hinge parts are connected together by the metal pin so that the flange of the first hinge part contacts the receiving portion of the second hinge part to provide a fluid seal on one side of the hinge. The fluid-proof hinge is useful in many applications, specifically as a hinge for a fluid flow control plate in a fluid passageway such as in a passageway from a feed box to a sieve bend.

Abstract: A hinge comprising two hinge parts rotatably connected to each other by support walls, on each of which a support arm of a suspension device for a control device or the like is disposed. The hinge axis extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the support arms. Simplified assembly of the hinge and the simple installation of cables or the like is achieved where the hinge parts, which respectively are at right angles to each other, have a support arm fastening wall and a support wall, both of which are provided with a cable passage. The support arm fastening wall and the support wall of one hinge part are connected to each other in one piece by lateral walls which terminate even with the free end of the support arm fastening wall and the free end of the support wall and form an assembly chamber behind the support arm fastening wall and the support wall which is accessible through an opening.

Abstract: A carding machine includes a main carding cylinder; a doffer cooperating with the main carding cylinder for removing fiber material therefrom; a stripping roll cooperating with the doffer for removing a fiber web therefrom; upper and lower cooperating crushing rolls together defining a nip for grasping the fiber web running from the doffer and the stripping roll; and a fiber web supporting and guiding body stationarily positioned underneath the stripping roll. The body has a length dimension extending generally parallel to the rotary axis of the stripping roll and an upper surface for supporting and guiding thereon the fiber web. The upper surface has a width extending generally horizontally and transversely to the stripping roll axis and oppositely located first and second longitudinally extending edge zones.

Abstract: A variable gripping jam cleat has an input end and an output end. A V-shaped groove extends longitudinally between the ends of the jam cleat. The V-shaped groove has a longitudinal axis and opposed side walls. The side walls have a number of frictional elements that provide frictional engagement with a line laid in the V-shaped groove. The frictional elements define the V-shape of the V-shaped groove with the angle of the V decreasing from the input end of the jam cleat to its output end.

Abstract: A device is provided for engaging and disengaging any two baby strolling devices consisting of two components spaced apart and coupled by a snap release connector. When mounted between the frames of any two baby strolling devices (given that it can rotate at any angle), Instandem allows any one person to operate the two strolling devices simultaneously as well as disengaging them as needed.

Abstract: A strap of stretchable material that is adapted for engagement with one end of a flashlight, wrapping around the handlebar of a bicycle, and further engagement with the other end of the flashlight, thereby securely strapping it to the handlebar. The strap includes two pairs of holes, one pair at each end, each pair including an inner hole and an outer hole. The back portion of the flashlight is first inserted through the outer and inner holes of the first pair of holes in the strap; the light is then positioned against the handlebar, the strap is wrapped around it and stretched to permit the insertion of the front portion of the flashlight into the inner hole of the second pair of holes, thereby securing the light to the handlebar. The strap is then stretched again along the length of the flashlight to insert the back portion of the light into the outer hole of the second pair of holes in the strap.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for assembling an electronic component, such as a ladder-type filter, having a plurality of parts being held under pressure and stored in a case. First, the parts such as elements and terminal plates and the case are carried into a working area of a chuck unit. Next, the parts are chucked by the chuck unit and assembled in an assembly jig so as to be aligned along a direction of thicknesses thereof. Then, all parts in the assembly jig are compressed in the direction of thickness, and simultaneously inserted into the case. Thus, automatic assembly of an electronic component is realized so as to highly improve working efficiency.

Abstract: A machine tool apparatus having a burnishing head assembly coupled directly to a hollow, tubular output shaft of the motor of the apparatus. The tubular output shaft is coupled to the armature of the motor and allows a cylindrical workpiece or part inserted into the burnishing head assembly to be received and fed coaxially through the motor. The burnishing head assembly is coupled to the motor such that rotation of the tubular output shaft of the motor causes a corresponding rotation of a plurality of rolls of the burnishing head assembly. When the rolls come into contact with a surface of the workpiece or part, they bear against the surface to effect a roller burnishing of the surface. In the preferred embodiment the rolls are set at a helix angle which causes the rolls to draw the workpiece or part through the tubular output shaft of the motor and burnishing head assembly once contact with the rolls is made, to thereby obviate the need for an individual to manually feed in the part.

Abstract: An operator sequentially inserts into an automated system for making armatures for electrodynamic machines loaded magazines containing a required number of hairpin conductors for an armature to be made, an armature core comprising a plurality of substantially aligned laminations preassembled to form the core and a commutator, and removes armatures completed by assembling these components. All the insertion and removal steps are performed from an operator's position such that operation of the system embodying the present invention is easily and conveniently performed even though the components and completed armatures can be of substantial weight. The use of a hairpin magazine, including the hairpin conductors required for an armature, permits simultaneous transfer of all the hairpin conductors into upper twist tooling wherein upper ends of the hairpin conductors adjacent end turn portions of the conductors are moved apart relative to one another.

Abstract: A ferrite plate and a ceramic plate are joined to each other by a glass layer interposed therebetween. The ferrite plate and the ceramic plate thus joined to each other by the glass layer serve as a trailing core in the form of a composite for use in a magnetic head. Only the ferrite plate is exposed on a slidable surface to prevent the trailing core from being deformed or cracked. The trailing core has low inductance for high-density recording to prevent the magnetic head from causing recording/reading errors.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell having high charging efficiency over wide temperature range including low temperature, high energy density and superior charge and discharge cycle life, provided with a negative electrode manufactured with mesophase graphite particles obtained by a process to carbonize and then fully graphitize with pulverizing process added before or after the carbonization.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for centering and aligning a semi-rigid material, preferably a vehicle headliner, relative to a centering apparatus, is disclosed for mounting thereon a locating feature about the actual center line of the headliner. The method and apparatus is also suitable for use with an automotive backwall, shelf panel or carpeting. The apparatus includes a support, a centering device comprising a rack and pinion assembly driven by a low air pressure drive means, a sensor including a limit switch or the like to detect when the headliner is aligned relative to the apparatus, and a hinged arm and nest assembly for placing the locating feature on the vehicle headliner.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically causing the end face of a self-piercing nut (N) to function as a punch for piercing a metallic panel (P) laid on a caulking die (1) so that the nut is fixed to the panel. The apparatus has a pair of gripping fingers (31, 32) attached to the opposite sides of the lower end of a striking punch (2), and has a workpiece butting leg member (25) extending in parallel with a vertical bore (4) formed through a slide guide (3). The leg member (25) is attached to and depends from the bottom surface of the slide guide (3), so that the punch (2) holding the nut (N) by means of the gripping fingers (31, 32) will penetrate the slide guide (3) and then descend along the leg member (25), until the nut punches and is secured to the metal panel (P). Thus, the self-piecing nut (N) can be fixed to any bent bottom of or any narrow recess in the metal panel (P).

Abstract: A laser positioning system for a wire cutting and stripping apparatus. Insulated wire having an outer layer of frayable insulation is fed in a downstream path in increments of length by a feeding and measuring unit. A wire burning unit is located upstream of the feeding and measuring unit and includes two pair of cooperating heated dies, which serve to burn a pair of short lengths of the insulation and provides spaced areas of exposed bare wire. A cutting and stripping unit is located downstream of the burning unit and includes a pair of cooperating cutting blades and two pair of cooperating stripping blades which are located on either side of the cutting blades. A laser sensing unit is disposed adjacent the cutting and stripping unit, and generates a laser beam curtain that senses a change in diameter of the wire.

Abstract: An electrostatic chuck (113) having grooves (130, 132, 134) to uniformly distribute a heat transfer medium, e.g., a gas, and a method of fabricating such an electrostatic chuck. Specifically, a grooved layer (112) is formed upon a surface (110) of a conventional chuck body (111). Typically, a conventional chuck body contains a substrate (100) having one or more electrodes (104, 106) deposited thereupon and a first layer (108), typically formed of an insulating material, disposed over the electrodes and a surface of the substrate which supports the electrodes. A second layer (112), typically formed of an insulating material, is formed by screen printing a paste of insulating material over a surface of the first layer. The paste is applied in a pattern which includes at least one gap. After curing the paste into a hard layer, the second layer contains the gap or gaps defined by the screen pattern.

Abstract: An improved surface mount package and method of making such a package is provided. A conventional surface mount package is modified by fabricating a U-shaped via around the lead via to form a quasi-coaxial transmission line through the insulating substrate. This permits the electrical impedance in the conductive elements of the surface mount package to be controlled to reduce insertion loss and return loss, and to improve isolation. The surface mount package includes a lead frame, and a gold plate to which an integrated circuit in the package is attached. The package is sealed with a ring-frame and a lid. Ground vias connecting the lead-frame to the plate through the substrate may also be included. The present package is designed by modelling the various elements of the package as a coaxial transmission line, a co-planar waveguide, and a single lead in a trough transmission line in combination.

Abstract: The punching face of a punch for coining is set smaller than the bonding pad surface of a lead frame to which wire bonding is applied and coining is applied to only a portion necessary for the wire bonding to be effected on the bonding pad surface.

Abstract: A method for refurbishing or restoring a turbine vane or other airfoil to restore a desired flow area includes the steps of: providing a plate to be used to restore the flow area on the airfoil; cutting the plate into a desired shape; machining a series of tapers into the cut plate so that the cut plate has a single region with a substantially uniform thickness; overlaying a surface of the airfoil with the pre-cut, pre-shaped plate so that the substantially uniform thickness region is positioned over that part of the airfoil where the flow area is to be restored; and attaching the pre-cut, pre-shaped plate to the airfoil. The refurbishment or restoration method further includes heat treating the pre-cut, pre-shaped plate so that the plate softens and conforms to the shape of the airfoil surface.

Abstract: A box opener comprising a blade having a cutting edge; a holder with blade, including a handle, and a terminal on the handle retaining the blade with the blade edge protruding; and a shield carried by the holder proximate the terminal, for movement between extended position in which the blade is protected, and retracted position in which the blade edge is exposed for cutting.

Abstract: A nail clipper having a first jaw and a second jaw in a spring biased relationship, wherein said jaws are displaced toward each other to cut a nail which is placed between a cutting blade of the jaws. An arcuate leaf member is present between the jaws and is displaced by one of the jaws toward the remaining jaw, wherein said leaf contacts the nail before the nail is cut so that the leaf directs the nail, such as directing the nail into a receptacle.