Abstract: An inductive spool displacement sensor for determining the position or displacement of a spool within a particular hydraulic valve including a sensor housing having a cavity formed therein adapted for mounting within the hydraulic valve, the sensor housing being positioned such that at least a portion of the valve spool is disposed to enter the sensor cavity during certain operations of the valve. The sensor further includes a sensing coil wound about the housing cavity and a reference coil wound about the housing and spaced from the sensing coil, the inductance of the sensing coil being responsive to movement of the spool within the cavity and the inductance of the reference coil being responsive to the temperature of the fluid passing through the hydraulic valve. Based upon eddy current principles and because eddy currents are a function of material conductivity, the sensing coil, when energized, generates a signal indicative of that portion of the spool present within the housing cavity.

Abstract: A new and distinct variety of peach tree (Prunus persica); its novelty consists of the following unique combination of features that are desirable in a new variety. The following features of the tree and its fruit are characterized with the tree budded on Nemaguard rootstock, grown on Hanford sandy loam soil with Storie Index rating 95, in USDA Hardiness Zone 9, near Modesto, Calif., and with standard commercial cultural fruit growing practices, such as, pruning, thinning, spraying, irrigation, and fertilization:1. Heavy and regular production of large, white flesh fruit.2. Fruit with good handling and shipping quality.3. Mild, sub-acid, sweet fruit with excellent flavor and eating quality.4. Relatively uniform size fruit throughout the tree.5. Having a vigorous, upright growth habit.6. Attractive fruit with a red blush over a yellowish white ground color.

Abstract: An early to mid-season apple tree variety, Malus Pumila Mill. var., domestica, bearing medium to large fruit which is red overall, easily coloring to the calyx end, and having slightly coarse flesh which is sweet and juicy with many water cores at maturity.

Abstract: Poinsettia `846` is a new cultivar, distinguished by large dark red, flower bracts, dark green foliage, self-branching characteristics, 81/2-week flowering response time. The new plant produces a very desirable branched flowering pot plant for the early to mid-season holiday market. Poinsetta `846` is resistant to epinasty after being confined to shipping containers. The post-production foliage and bract retention is excellent even under low light intensities in the consumer's home.

Abstract: A method for producing inflated dunnage on the site of use, comprising providing, in web form, a plurality of preformed plastic bags, each of the bags comprising two plastic sheets in facing relationship and sealed along three edges with one edge remaining open. Air is blown toward each of the open edges in sequence, causing each bag to inflate, and the open edge of each inflated bag is sealed, the bag being empty except for the air. A plurality of sealed inflated bags is separated from the web and placed in a carton to serve as dunnage. The bags have a slip resistant outer surface which causes the bags to interlock in the carton and better protect object therein from shock.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating material surfaces using a repetitively pulsed ion beam. In particular, a method of treating magnetic material surfaces in order to reduce surface defects, and product amorphous fine grained magnetic material with properties that can be tailored by adjusting treatment parameters of a pulsed ion beam. In addition, to a method of surface treating materials for wear and corrosion resistance using pulsed particle ion beams.

Abstract: A variable transfer rate coding apparatus codes moving picture signals of groups of pictures (GOPs). The picture signals are quantized under control of quantization step width and coded. A first code amount per GOP and a second code amount of picture data included GOP are obtained from the coded picture signals. In response to the first code amount, a total code amount of the picture signals of the GOPs are calculated and the total code amount is compared with a reference total code amount, to decide a first target code amount per GOP in order that the total code amount becomes a maximum amount within the reference total code amount. Further, in response to the first target code amount and the second code amount, a second target code amount of the picture data included in each GOP is determined in accordance with the maximum amount. The quantization step width is varied on the basis of the second target code amount.

Abstract: A protective eyeglasses construction includes a frame portion comprising a lense frame piece and a pair of temple frame pieces, and a lense portion on the lense frame piece. The temple frame pieces are pivotally attached to the lense frame piece about vertical pivot axes, and they are adapted to be pivotally adjusted about horizontal pivot axes and longitudinally adjusted to different lengths. The lense frame piece includes an upper frame section and brow bar which is attached to the lense frame piece so that the central portion of the brow bar is spaced rearwardly from the central portion of the upper frame section and resiliently deflectable toward the upper frame section for cushioning the forehead of a wearer against physical shocks delivered to the lense frame piece.

Abstract: In a digital video tape recorder (VTR) which reproduces digital video and audio signals from a magnetic tape, a copy protect bit in the reproduced digital video signal is detected, and on the basis of the copy protect bit, a code is generated and inserted into the vertical blanking interval of the reproduced video signal. When a video signal (which may be in analog or digital form) having the code in the vertical blanking interval is received in a digital VTR, the code is detected and recording of the video signal and an associated audio signal is inhibited if the code indicates that the received video signal is copy protected.

Abstract: A device for removing obstructions from vessels or small openings in the body, comprising a rotatable ablator tip which is guided to the obstruction in a reduced diameter configuration, expanded and rotated to remove the obstruction, and contracted to remove the device from the body. The variably expandable abrasive tip coil in one embodiment of the invention is actuated by a piston means disposed within the coil. A pair of collars is attached to the ends of the coil, and the piston effects relative longitudinal axial movement of the collars and, hence, the respective ends of the coil tip. When the ends of the coil tip are so moved with respect to one another, expansion and contraction of the diameter of the coil tip results. In another embodiment of the invention, the expansion tip coil is actuated by an expandable and contractible bellows means disposed within the coil, instead of the piston means.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting and treating atrial fibrillation. In response to detecting atrial fibrillation, the device derives an escape interval based on one or more preceding intervals between ventricular depolarizations. The escape interval is initiated in response to a ventricular depolarization, and in response to the expiration of the escape interval, an atrial cardioversion pulse is delivered. In one embodiment of the invention, the cardioverting pulse is delivered immediately upon expiration of the derived escape interval. In a second embodiment of the invention, a ventricular pacing pulse is delivered on expiration of the escape interval, with an atrial cardioversion pulse following after a short delay.

Abstract: A breakpoint apparatus incorporated in a single chip microprocessor. The apparatus permits breakpoints on specific references to either program instructions or data. The width of the breakpoint address can be varied, the apparatus includes a logic circuit for determining if the reference represented by the breakpoint address overlaps the current virtual address.

Abstract: A sun visor for wear on the head of a user to shade the face, the ears, and back of the neck of the user. The sun visor includes a panel with a fold dividing the panel into front and back portions. The panel has a head hole therethrough.

Abstract: The apparel protector kit comprises an extended bib having cuffed sleeves and a free bottom edge having fasteners thereon with cooperating fasteners elements being provided for engaging the bottom edge to a food tray. Alteratively, fasteners may also be provided for engaging lateral edges of the bib to arms of a chair as well.

Abstract: A weighted vest capable of comfortably conforming to the body of the wearer. A top loaded vest is provided which extends over the wearer's thorax but terminates entirely above the wearer's abdomen so that full body movement is permitted and breathing is not restricted. Stretchable shoulder harnesses, or straps, are utilized so that the vest is supported comfortable on the shoulders of the wearer and so that the vest can conform to the body during various full range body movements. A pair of securement straps gird the wearer's chest to ensure that the weights and vest do not bounce or shift during exercise.

Abstract: A sport sleeve holder for releasibly retaining a sleeve atop a user's shoulder comprises a strap of material, having two sides and two ends, the strap being sufficiently flexible so that one end of the strap may be positioned adjacent the opposite end of the strap. Preferably, the strap comprises polypropylene web material. The sport sleeve holder has a fastening mechanism coupled to each end of the strap at opposite sides thereof. The fastening mechanism preferably comprises cooperating hook and loop fastener fabric. The sport sleeve holder may also have a label coupled to the upper side of the strap, which label may contain graphics or other logos. Preferably, the label comprises a textile which is 70% cotton and 30% nylon. A method of using the sport sleeve holder comprises inserting the sport sleeve holder through either the sleeve opening or the neck opening of a shirt so that the upper side of the sport sleeve holder faces the user's shoulder.

Abstract: An expandable shirt collar has one or more transverse reinforced cuts or openings in the neckband which spread apart or open when a longitudinal force is applied to the neckband to effectively elongate the neckband to compensate for shrinkage of the shirt collar or an increase in neck size of the wearer. In one form of the invention, a vertically oriented button hole at one end of the band may serve as the cut or opening, either alone or in combination with additional cuts or openings spaced from the ends of the band. In another form of the invention, a piece of expandable pleated material may be sewn into the cut or opening. Also disclosed are a button having an elongate oval shape, and/or a notched periphery, to facilitate placement of the button through a button hole.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a puncture resistant glove simplifies the manufacturing process and produces a glove which minimizes the likelihood that protective pads in the glove will absorb bodily fluids to contact the skin of a person wearing the glove.

Abstract: A thin elastomeric glove with enhanced gripping surfaces molded into the gripping surfaces of the glove is described. Preferably, the enhanced gripping surface is molded into each of the finger and thumb tips and body portions of the gloves. The enhanced gripping surface may be comprised of a plurality of concave indentations molded into the gripping surfaces of the glove. Alternatively, the enhanced gripping surface is comprised of a plurality of suction cups molded into the gripping surfaces of the glove. The glove may be constructed of any natural or synthetic rubber latex or blends or combinations thereof and has a thickness between about 0.004 to about 0.012 inches, an elongation greater than about 200%, a tensile strength between about 1500 to about 5000 psi and a 500% modulus between about 300 to about 2000 psi.

Abstract: A protective helmet having an impact-resistant outer shell with an impact liner disposed within. The impact liner encloses a substantial portion of a wearer's head. A fan assembly having at least one fan and preferably a fan cowling is disposed between the impact liner and the outer shell. In operation, the fan assembly is connected through a connecting assembly to a source of power. The connecting assembly may optionally include power conditioners. When connected, the fan assembly extracts air or other respiration gases from around a wearer's head, through channels in the impact liner, and exhausts it out of the helmet through vents. The vents and the outer shell feature covering the fan assembly are designed for shell integrity and resistance to impacts and entry by flames or foreign objects. A gas inlet connector may optionally be provided for connecting an external source of respiration gases to the helmet, as may ducting to guide such gas to a wearer's face for respiration.

Abstract: A pair of pants includes a closure system in which the first end of a belt is fixed to the waistband of the pants at the first flap of the fly opening. The belt extends circumferentially around the waistband and is adjustably connected to the second end of the waistband near the underlapping flap of the fly opening, without spanning the fly opening between the overlapping and underlapping flaps. The belt length may be adjusted. Because the belt does not span the fly opening the fly may be opened and closed in a standard fashion without the need to disconnect or reconnect the belt each time the fly is opened. The belt length need be set only once.