Gravity powered electrical energy generators, particularly for producing lighting is disclosed. The apparatus has a support frame (1, 30) in which a series of gears and a gear-driven generator (20) are mounted. The power to drive the most upstream gear (2) is provided by a weight suspended from a point to one side of the axis of rotation of gear (2). The drive gear of the furthest downstream gear has no teeth so that the final contact between the drive gear and the shaft of the generator (20) is frictional. The gear ratio of the final downstream gear is at least 25. When used for lighting, the apparatus may include one or more high brightness LEDs (40) mounted on the housing (30). By suitable choice of gear ratios, the device may produce thirty minutes of illumination while allowing a 10 kilogram weight to fall through a distance of 1.8 meters.

A printing device includes: a main body having an attachment surface; first and second mounting sections formed in the attachment surface respectively for detachably receiving first and second cassettes; first and second print parts; a body cover having an opposing surface; first and second pressing parts protruding from the opposing surface respectively toward the first and second mounting sections; first and second engaging parts provided at the main body; and third and fourth engaging parts provided at the body cover and engageable with the first and second engaging parts. A first center of gravity of load that the mounted first cassette applies to the first pressing part and a second center of gravity of load that the mounted second cassette applies to the second pressing part are located within a specific area on the opposing surface defined by virtual lines passing through locations on the third and fourth engaging parts.

A printing device includes a roller; a stepper motor; a head; and a controller, The roller is for conveying a printing medium in a conveying direction. The stepper motor is configured to rotate in synchronization with a pulse signal and rotate the roller. The head is configured to perform printing on the printing medium conveyed by the roller. The controller is configured to perform: decelerating the stepper motor from a first speed to a second speed; identifying a rotational speed of the stepper motor during deceleration of the stepper motor; performing synchronous printing in which the head is driven at timing in synchronization with the pulse signal when the rotational speed is greater than or equal to a prescribed speed; and performing timer printing in which the head is driven at a prescribed period when the rotational speed is less than the prescribed speed.

Disclosed is a device for encoding information written on a readable surface, the device including a device housing containing at least one ink reservoir, an ink dispensing tip in communication with said at least one ink reservoir; and ink stored in the at least one ink reservoir and configured to flow from the ink dispensing tip, the ink being encodable to include supplemental encoded information, the supplemental encoded information being detectable by at least one detecting sensor when dispensed on the readable surface, wherein the readable surface is any surface that will accept the ink.

Disclosed is a device for encoding information written on a readable surface, the device including a device housing containing at least one ink reservoir, an ink dispensing tip in communication with said at least one ink reservoir; and ink stored in the at least one ink reservoir and configured to flow from the ink dispensing tip, the ink being encodable to include supplemental encoded information, the supplemental encoded information being detectable by at least one detecting sensor when dispensed on the readable surface, wherein the readable surface is any surface that will accept the ink.

The invention provides dispersed inorganic mixed metal oxide pigment compositions utilizing a carboxylic acid, containing dispersant and a mixed metal oxide pigment. The metal oxide pigment is of the type used to colour ceramic or glass articles. The dispersant, in addition to at least one carboxylic acid group, comprises at least one 300-3000 g/mole solubilizing chain of repeating units from hydrocarbylene or repeating units from C3 or C4 alkylene ethers or mixtures of said ethers. A milling process using beads is also described to reduce the mixed metal oxide particle size to the desired range. A method of using the mixed metal oxide dispersion to digitally print an image on a ceramic or glass article using the dispersion jetted through a nozzle and firing the coloured article is also described.

A carboxylated polyurethane useful as milling and dispersing agent for ceramic inkjet inks and a method for decorating glass substrates and green or fired ceramic bodies by the use of inkjet printing.

An object is to improve a user's convenience. There is provided a control unit for use in a liquid ejecting apparatus using a tank containing a liquid and a storage material attachable to and detachable from the liquid ejecting apparatus, and storing an amount of the liquid in the tank. After the storage material is not mounted on a predetermined place, the control unit receives an answer for a question to ask whether or not the liquid is injected to the tank.

In one or more embodiments, a control unit reads image data and date information of a main image from a memory card into a RAM. When a watermark printing is set, the control unit combines characters of the date information having a high gradation value with overcoat layer data having a mixture pattern in which pixels having a high gradation value and pixels having a low gradation value are located randomly or alternately in rows and columns to generate overcoat layer print data and stores the data in an overcoat layer data storage area. The control unit generates CMY print data from the image data of the main image to print it on image-receiving paper by using a print processing section. After printing of the main image, the control unit prints the overcoat layer print data so that it is superimposed on the main image on the image-receiving paper.

An ultralight suitcase comprises a case framework, case material, pull rods, wheels and supporting legs. The case framework comprises upper connectors, lower connectors, upper corner connectors and lower corner connectors; the bottom parts of the lower corner connectors are connected with the supporting legs; the upper connectors and the lower connectors are connected through supporting connectors; the upper corner connectors and the lower corner connectors are connected through supporting connectors; the upper connectors are connected through supporting connectors; the lower connectors are connected through supporting connectors; the upper corner connectors are connected through supporting connectors; the lower corner connectors are connected through supporting connectors; the whole framework of the case is firmer through the buckling connection between the upper corner connectors and the upper connectors and between the lower corner connectors and the lower connectors, and the total weight of the suitcase remains unchanged.

Luggage, duffel bags, travel bags and travel covers including travel covers for sporting goods such as, but not limited to, golf bags, skis, snowboards, baseball equipment, soccer equipment, and tennis equipment, and travel covers for tradeshow or conference displays or graphics, product samples, tents (collectively, “travel covers”), for example, are commonly used for conveniently transporting and protecting large objects during travel by walking, car, train and/or airplane. The travel covers may have a handle that my rotate or swivel to adjust to an ergonomic position for pulling or pushing the travel cover.

A carrying case with a first enclosure ad at least one additional enclosure which includes a substantially rigid, and selectively removable protective compartment which must be oriented at a predetermined position for both insertion and selective removal. The selectively removable protective compartment may be adapted for isolated and secure storing of delicate or fragile items.

The sports bag with chair device provides a rigid front connected to a pliable rear, a top spaced apart from a bottom, and a pair of spaced apart sides, a top handle disposed within the top pliable rear, a pair of spaced apart wheels disposed on the rigid front bottom, the wheels extended forwardly from the front, an upper compartment disposed within the pliable rear top, a lower compartment disposed rearwardly and downwardly within the pliable rear, a closure selectively closing each compartment, a recess disposed about midway within the rigid front, a pivoted chair disposed within the recess, the pivoted chair selectively positioned within and without the recess, and a pair of spaced apart telescopic legs pivotally affixed forwardly and downwardly on the pivoted chair.

In one embodiment of the present invention, an expandable suitcase comprises: a front portion; a back portion; a plurality of side panels, each side panel aligning with one of a top, a bottom, a first side, and a second side of the suitcase, and each side panel having a primary board, at least a first side board rotatably connected to the primary board about a common edge therewith, and a first side flap rotatably connected to the first side board about a common edge opposing the common edge with the primary board; and a plurality of hinges disposed at an intersection of two side panels, each hinge comprising a first hinge panel attached to one of the side panels and a second hinge panel connected to the other side panel, wherein the hinge remains in a substantially planar position in a rested state.

An apparatus for containing sports equipment includes: a wall defining an enclosure and a closeable opening in the enclosure, the wall being see-through at the closeable opening; and divider members configurable to an expanded configuration defining compartments within the enclosure and configurable to a substantially planar collapsed configuration, each compartment being dimensioned for receiving sports equipment, the divider members being removably insertable into the enclosure when in the expanded configuration and in the collapsed configuration. The sports equipment includes soccer balls or other types of balls, marker cones, a first aid kit, cooler for ice and pinnies. A lower section of the apparatus has a see-through front cover and a drain. An upper section may be watertight. The apparatus may include a rigid cylindrical compartment for containing marker cones. A kit may include the apparatus and sports equipment contained within the apparatus.

A piece of luggage has a body with a surface. A weight scale has a top surface and is disposed in the body of the luggage. The top surface of the weight scale is coplanar with the surface of the body of the luggage. The weight scale determines a weight of the piece of luggage when in an operating state. When the weight scale is in a non-operating state it is stored safely within the body of the luggage. Most importantly the weight scale does not stick out from the body of the luggage so as to be susceptible to damage during transport of the luggage.

A case for a portable electronic device such as cell phones, cameras, MP3 players and PDAs wherein said case includes material at the corners to provide protection to the electronic device. To reduce bulk at the corners and allow the material forming the case to conform with the contours of the device, the protection at the corners includes strips of material defining apertures there between. The apertures provide reduction in bulk and allow the case to conform to the corners of the device therein. Alternately, the protection at the corners can be provided by other structures co-molded into the corners of the cases. Such structures include material that is of a reduced thickness than other material used in the case, or structures that are formed to conform to the corners of the case. Such structures can be joined to the material forming the panels of the case by co-molding.

An apparatus that includes a suitcase and integrated support arrangements that are transformable from an extended state to provide support for a person to lie down and a stored state for ease of transport.

The present invention relates to a pocketbook system that allows to easily mix and match how many pocketbooks, other carriers, and/or straps will suffice for that day or evenings' use while this pocketbook system is easy to use and inexpensive to manufacture. More particularly, the pocketbook system has a primary pocketbook for carrying contents, one or more removably attached secondary carrier for carrying contents, a device(s) for removably attaching the secondary carrier(s) to the inside or outside of the primary pocketbook, or for attaching the primary pocketbook and secondary carrier together, and preferably has at least one removable flexible strap(s) and a device(s) for removably attaching the strap(s) to the primary pocketbook and/or secondary carrier. The user makes use of the pocketbook system by attaching, detaching, re-attaching, exchanging, and switching different parts and/or elements to form a suitable pocketbook structure for a particular use at a particular time.

A portable suitcase tabletop system features a suitcase with a u-shaped telescopic handle located on a suitcase top surface. The telescopic handle slides out and away from the suitcase top surface when extended. The suitcase features a plurality of wheels located on a suitcase bottom surface. The system features a planar table pivotally located on a suitcase rear surface or a suitcase front surface. A U-shaped bar is slides out from the suitcase rear surface or the suitcase front surface next to a table bottom surface. The bar supports the table. The table and the bar are located in a zippered pouch. A telescopic front support slides out from a front support cavity located in the suitcase rear surface or the suitcase front surface close to the suitcase bottom surface.

The unique element of this tackle box can also be applied to a toolbox, sewing box, or any other type of utility box used for carrying various supplies. That unique element is the handle itself and the way that it automatically secures the top lid of the box when it's being carried and in the fact that the handle itself is attached to lower portion of the box and not attached to the lid, as is the case for most prior inventions that are similar. By attaching the handle to the lower portion of the box and not the lid, this invention solves the problem that occurs when the user commonly forgets to secure the lid (as required in prior related inventions with this design flaw) resulting in accidental spillage of its contents.

A suitcase comprising a body with an edge adapted to be coupled to a space of a connection means for a partition adapted to divide the internal space of the suitcase into a smaller space and a larger space, the connection comprising a raceway adapted to be slidingly coupled to a sliding element which is complementary to the raceway and fixed to a support element with which the partition is integrally associated, the connection includes an internal portion of the body made of soft material, at the extremity of which the raceway which is made of rigid material is fixed, and an external portion of the body made of soft material, the sliding element being made of rigid material fixed to the support element which is made of soft material.

A travel case for elongate items such as skis, golf clubs, snowboards, or the like comprises an elongate bag having a pair of hard sided end sections longitudinally spaced from a hard sided center section. Between each end section and the center section is a respective soft sided intermediate section. The hard sided end and center sections provide protection for the case contents at the vulnerable locations of those contents. The soft sided intermediate sections, made of collapsible and supple material, provide the advantage of reducing the weight of the overall case, and the suppleness permits the end sections to be folded in on the center section when the case is open along its length to educe the length and the required storage space for the case when not in use.

Luggage includes an upper panel portion which has a receptacle. The receptacle enables a user to insert a portion of a tablet computer into the receptacle and the receptacle retains the tablet computer at a convenient angle for operation.

A protective cover for handbags and like objects is provided, which comprises a portable and self-contained storage pouch. The protective cover can be attached to the exterior of a handbag by various mechanisms and can comprise one or more carrying straps. The protective cover can be made from a durable, water resistant and germ resistant material capable of preventing dirt, moisture and harsh chemicals from reaching the handbag. This protective cover can also prevent germ contamination of the handbag or other surfaces by removing it from the handbag and washing it after use.

An expandable item carrying device facilitates carrying items such as groceries and the like. The device includes a container having a bottom wall and a perimeter wall coupled to and extending upwardly from a perimeter edge of the bottom wall defining an interior space. A top edge of the perimeter wall defines an opening into the interior space. The perimeter wall has a pair of opposed ends sides and a pair of longitudinal sides extending between the opposed end sides. The longitudinal sides and the bottom wall are compactable along a longitudinal axis of the bottom wall. A primary handle comprises opposed ends coupled to a first one of the longitudinal sides of the perimeter wall.

Inertial unit for the measurement of accelerations and/or rotations comprising four sensors, spread out on two intersecting axes, each sensor comprising two inertial masses, each inertial mass comprising a moveable excitation part and a moveable detection part, the moveable excitation parts of a sensor being separate from those of the other sensors, said unit also comprising means for exciting the excitation parts of the sensors and means for detecting the movement of the detection parts, the two inertial masses of each sensor) being mechanically coupled, the four sensors being coupled by elastically deformable mechanical coupling means and able to transmit the excitation vibrations from one axis to the other.

Disclosed herein is an angular velocity sensor including: first and second mass bodies; a first frame provided at an outer side of the first and second mass bodies; a first flexible part connecting the first and second mass bodies to the first frame in a Y axis direction, respectively; a second flexible part connecting the first and second mass bodies to the first frame in an X axis direction, respectively; a second frame provided at an outer side of the first frame; a third flexible part connecting the first and second frames to each other in the X axis direction; and a fourth flexible part connecting the first and second frames to each other in the Y axis direction, wherein the first frame has a thickness in a Z axis direction thinner than that of the second frame.

A method and apparatus for inspecting a composite structure. A response sound signal to a sound signal sent into the composite structure at a location on the composite structure is detected. An attenuation is identified in the response sound signal detected in response to the sound signal sent into the composite structure at the location on the composite structure. An indication of whether additional evaluation of the location is needed based on a comparison of the attenuation in the response sound signal to a baseline attenuation value for porosity for the location on the composite structure is generated.

A method for ultrasonically inspecting components with wavy or uneven surfaces. A multi-element array ultrasonic transducer is operated with a substantial fluid layer, such as water, between the array transducer and the component surface. This fluid layer may be maintained by immersing the component in liquid or by using a captive couplant column between the probe and the component surface. The component is scanned, measuring the two dimensional surface profile using either a mechanical stylus, laser, or ultrasonic technique. Once an accurate surface profile of the component's surface has been obtained, data processing parameters are calculated for processing the ultrasonic signals reflected from the interior of the component that eliminate beam distortion effects and reflector mis-location that would otherwise occur due to the uneven surfaces.

A system is provided for inspecting a workpiece that includes a workpiece defect and a workpiece surface. The system includes a laser pointer connected to an ultrasonic inspection system. The ultrasonic inspection system includes an ultrasonic transducer that directs sound waves to the workpiece defect, where the sound waves contact the workpiece surface at a workpiece surface location. The laser pointer directs a laser beam against the workpiece surface to visually annunciate the workpiece surface location.

A pressure transmitter has a pressure sensor, an isolator diaphragm, and a fill tube. Interior passages in the pressure sensor module body are filled with isolator fluid and provide fluid connections. The isolator fluid couples pressure from the first isolator diaphragm assembly to the pressure sensor. A first crimp portion of the fill tube radially narrows into a substantially solid circular cylindrical cross section to form a first primary seal that is resistant to high pressure cycling.

A method, apparatus and system for testing the self-sealing properties of a concrete sample. The method may include providing an apparatus for creating a consistent and reproducible crack in a concrete sample and creating a consistent and reproducible crack in the concrete sample with the apparatus. The method may further include providing a fluidic delivery system that provides a consistent flow of fluid for testing the self-sealing properties of the concrete sample and testing the self-sealing properties of the concrete sample with the system.

The invention relates to a method for determining the fatigue capital of a cable supporting a civil engineering structure, the method including: a measuring step (S1, S2) during which the normal tensile stress in the cable and the bending stress in the cable are measured in a synchronized manner so as to obtain the compound stress in the cable; a counting step (S3) during which a count of the number of stress cycles, depending on the amplitude of the stress, is carried out from the measured compound stresses; and a step (S4) of assessing the fatigue capital of the cable during which the fatigue capital of the cable is determined by comparing the count, carried out in the counting step, with a pre-set Wohler curve for the cable.

A compression fitting includes a housing, a compressible seal, a follower and a driving member. The housing includes an axial cavity having a lateral sidewall that includes an axial keyway therein. The cavity terminates at a first end portion thereof at a seat. The compressible seal may receive a signal transmitting lead therethrough, and is disposed within the cavity and seated on the seat. The follower is axially movable within the cavity for selective engagement with the seal for axially compressing the seal against the seat, the sidewall of the cavity and the signal transmitting lead. The follower includes an integral key that extends laterally outward therefrom and is received within the keyway, and an axial bore for accommodation therewithin of the lead. The driving member is rotatably mounted on the housing and engageable with the follower such that rotation of the driving member causes an axial translation thereof.

An integrated circuit includes a pulse generator to provide an excitation pulse to an output terminal and a comparator to receive a signal in response to the excitation pulse and for comparing the signal to a threshold to produce a comparator output signal corresponding to oscillations in the signal. The integrated circuit further includes a counter to count pulses in the comparator output signal and a discriminator circuit to compare a count value of the counter to a damping threshold and for providing an output signal having a first value when the count value is equal to or exceeds the damping threshold and otherwise having a second value.

Apparatus configured detect a physical quantity, for example a density, of a flowing fluid, the apparatus including: a sensor body (2) configured to extend into the flowing fluid, the sensor body comprising a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) of a fiber Bragg grating sensor (3, 7, FBG), for generating a detector signal relating to vibration of at least part (2B) of the sensor body (2); anda processing unit, configured to process the detector signal, and to determine the physical quantity based on detected vibration at a mechanical eigenfrequency of the flexible part (2B) of the sensor body (2).

Downhole tool fluid flow control apparatus including a first fluid valve between a first portion of a first flowline and a second portion of a second flowline. The first and second flowlines are adjacent each other. A second fluid valve is between a second portion of the first flowline and a first portion of the second flowline. The first and second fluid valves are controllable to cause fluid flow between the first portion of the first flowline and the second portion of the second flowline or between the first portion of the second flowline and the second portion of the first flowline.

Remotely readable valve position indicators and related methods are described. An example apparatus in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure includes a valve body, a valve stem and a fluid flow control apparatus coupled to the valve stem. The fluid flow control apparatus is longitudinally displaceable between a first position and a second position to control fluid flow through a flow aperture of the valve body. The apparatus also includes a valve position indicator including an identifier device coupled to the valve stem. In the first position, the wireless identifier device associated with a first value indicative of the first position of the fluid flow control apparatus. In the second position, the wireless identifier device associated with a second value indicative of the second position of the fluid flow control apparatus.

A control and measurement system for a coriolis flowmeter having a flowtube, a driver adapted to vibrate the flowtube, and a pair of sensors adapted to generate signals indicative of movement of the flowtube when it is being vibrated by the driver, wherein the sensors are positioned relative to one another so the signals from the sensors are indicative of a mass flow rate of fluid through the flowtube. A digital drive signal generator is adapted to generate a variable digital drive signal for controlling operation of the driver. The digital drive signal generator can be adapted to cause the driver to resist motion of the flowtube during a first time period and amplify motion of the flowtube during a second time period. The digital drive signal generator can also be adapted to initiate motion of the flowtube by sending one or more square wave signals to the driver.

The monitoring apparatus includes vibration sensors that detect vibration accompanying machining, a rotation detector and a rotation detection section that detect rotation of a main spindle, and a stability limit and vibration distribution calculation section that creates, on the basis of vibration information obtained from the vibration sensors and a rotation speed of the main spindle detected by the rotation detector and rotation detection section, both a stability limit diagram illustrating a relationship between the rotation speed and a stability limit of the machining and a vibration distribution diagram illustrating a relationship between the rotation speed and the vibration, and displays the created diagrams on a monitor in a vertical arrangement.

A flotation system for a recreational board such as a stand up paddleboard includes an elongated substrate that is sized and shaped to releaseably wrap around the perimeter of a recreational board. The elongated substrate is constructed of a buoyant material such as foam, and defines a plurality of apertures that can be used to store items such as beverages and personal belongings. The elongated substrate is releaseably attached to the board by a variety of fastening means, and serves to increase stability and buoyancy of the board, and to protect the board.

An apparatus including a fairing having a tail portion and an end portion capable of suppressing a vortex-induced vibration of a tubular. The apparatus further including a stabilizing member attached to the end portion of the fairing, the stabilizing member dimensioned to increase a thickness of the end portion of the fairing and a flange member attached to the stabilizing member, the flange member dimensioned to increase a chord dimension of the fairing so as to improve a stability of the fairing.

Disclosed is a drillship having a vortex suppression block with a recessed flow stabilizing part in a moon pool. The flow stabilizing section is formed so that a bottom of the vortex suppression block that protrudes from a bottom of a hull toward a stern in the moon pool is recessed in an upward direction of the hull to stabilize a flow in the moon pool and reduce a variation in resistance of the drillship. The flow stabilizing section (30) is formed by partly recessing the bottom of the vortex suppression block toward an upper portion of the hull. The drillship having this configuration provides resistance performance improvement and flow stabilization of the drillship.

An arrangement and a method for implosion mitigation, and in particular a structural arrangement of a water vessel and a method thereof for mitigating implosion loads. The water vessel includes first and second end portions connected by a middle portion, with one portion structurally weaker than the others so that when the vessel experiences an overmatching load, only the structurally weaker portion of the vessel fails. The vessel may further include energy absorbing structures.

A hull robot is disclosed for operation on a surface of a hull of a vessel. The robot can include a drive subsystem onboard the robot for driving and maneuvering the robot about the hull. A sensor subsystem onboard the robot can sense an attachment state of the robot to the hull. The attachment state can include at least one of attached and detached. A signal generation subsystem onboard the robot can emit a distress signal when the attachment state is detached.

A keel pad is provided for a hull of a boat. The keel pad contains a main body and two fingers extending from the main body in a direction of a front of the hull. Due to curved shape of the fingers, drag is reduced allowing the boat better planing properties and greater fuel efficiencies.

The present invention provides an improved height adjustable tower with integrated cargo rack apparatus for wakeboard boats. The inventive apparatus enables the adjustability of the height of the cargo rack/bimini which is accomplished by lowering or raising the lower tower legs with an actuator after releasing a locking mechanism. The apparatus also includes a displacement mechanism which allows the cargo rack to be simultaneously translated and rotated. The benefit to the user is the ability to control the amount of shade/sun for the people in the general cockpit area. It also allows a user to achieve a higher walk-through height for ease of maneuvering in the boat and provides easy access to items stored on top of the cargo rack.

An air vent that passes from the deck of a surfboard through to its bottom. The vent may have a wide variety of shapes. The trailing boundary of the vent's lower portion is preferably inclined forward toward the surfboard's nose. The inclination serves to prevent water flowing upward. Instead, air is entrained by the water flowing across the vent's bottom exit and pulled downward. A portion of the entrained air flows rearward out of the bottom exit along the surfboard's bottom. This entrained air forms an air film between the board's bottom and the surrounding water, thereby reducing friction.

An oil spill clean-up apparatus and method, and more specifically to a self-contained oil spill clean-up vessel with ice displacement capabilities. One preferred oil spill clean-up system includes a vessel subsystem, an ice displacement subsystem, and an oil spill skimming subsystem. Preferred oil spill clean-up systems may include at least one storage subsystem. Preferred oil spill clean-up systems may include an oil/water separation and removal subsystem.