Abstract: A plastic T card holder formed from molded plastic pieces permanently united face to face and defining between them a pocket which will snugly receive a thin rectangular card. The pocket has a long upper opening through which a card may be introduced and a narrow lower opening through which a knife blade, a stiff card or the like can be inserted to dislodge the card upwardly. The card holder has considerable advantages of economy of manufacture and provides improved protection of the card and is resistant to breakage as compared with the conventional card holders.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the production of ultrafine powders using a microwave plasma apparatus and chemical synthesis technique. Microwaves generated by a magnetron (1) are passed through waveguides (2) before they arrive at the head of a plasmatron (3). These high energy microwaves ionize a plasma gas, thus releasing large amounts of energy. The energy thus released is utilized to initiate and sustain chemical reactions between the desired elements being pumped in a spiral pattern into the plasmatron (3). The reaction products are quenched rapidly in a reactor column (4) into ultrafine powders.

Abstract: A method and system for creating an interactive virtual community of famous people, or those people who wish to attain the status of a famous person, in a field of endeavor, such as arts, accounting, animal rights, business, education, engineering, entertainment, financing, government affairs, human rights, legal, medical, philanthropy, politics, religion, research, science, sports, etc. The virtual community of the present invention is unique in that the members of the virtual community can update, modify or revise their individual profile, and interact with other members of the virtual community, as well as the non-members of the virtual community.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a data protective receptacle with the power saving function to accomplish the power saving by getting a sub-receptacle to be automatically controlled so that it may be on or off by a main receptacle. Since this invention can get the power for driving peripheral appliances automatically to be off when the main power for the computer system gets to be off, it can reduce the consumption current thereof while it stands by. Also, this invention gets both alternating-current (AC) power lines to be off when the main system gets to be off, and thereby, it can cut off any leaking current flowing between one power line and the ground line so that the power consumption may be reduced while the system stands by.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the preparation of &agr;-amylase useful for starch saccharification from a novel plant source Tinospora cordifolia Miers belonging to Menispermaceae group of plant.

Abstract: A method of antagonizing inhibition effects of alcohol on cell adhesion, includes contacting a cell-adhesion molecule expressing cell with an effective amount of a compound, wherein the compound comprises an alcohol with five or more carbons. More particularly, the compound comprises 1-pentanol, 1-octanol, and structural derivatives thereof.

Abstract: A shipping container reusable as a hanging file folder container includes a base panel, first and second laterally spaced side panels extending upwardly from the base panel, and third and fourth laterally spaced side panels extending upwardly from the base panel and extending between the first and second side panels. Each of the first, second, third and fourth panel includes inside and outside surfaces and a top edge portion, and together define an interior recess of the container. A first spacer member removably engages one of the first, second, third and fourth panels. The first spacer member has a predetermined width to maintain a clearance between one of the first, second, third and fourth panels and an article being shipped in the container. The first spacer member includes a channel for engaging the top edge portion of one of the panels.

Abstract: A diagnostic method and apparatus includes a pressure gauge member having an enclosed housing, an anode plate, a pair of cathode plates sandwiching the anode plate, an anode connector at an external surface of the gauge, and a lead connecting the anode plate to the anode connector. Each of the anode plate, pair of cathode plates, and lead are confined within the gauge housing. A power supply is provided for supplying power to the anode connector, the power supply including a positive terminal and a negative terminal. A resistor is connected to each of the positive terminal of the power supply and the anode connector of the gauge member. A pair of electromagnets are positioned adjacent the gauge member, each electromagnet having a pole piece formed therein for completing a magnetic circuit outside of the gauge.

Abstract: Apparatus and method of evaluating and installing a wireless system, and is suited for a radio frequency identification (RFID) system. The apparatus determines the suitability of a particular site for use with specific RFID tag types. The apparatus comprises a tag evaluation module having a drobe, a wireless transmitter, and a processor. The probe is coupled to a tag under evaluation and information, such as tag power and data, is collected and stored by the processor. The information may be processed into logs which are transmitted to a computer for further processing. The tag evaluation apparatus may be utilized as a site survey tool before installation of a RFID system, or after installation as a diagnostic or performance optimizing tool.

Abstract: A one piece molded push-on tamper resistant closure suited for reusable bottles such as milk bottles comprises a cap portion and a latch ring portion connected thereto by frangible tabs. Ruptures of the tabs serves to detach the cap portion to permit its removal from the bottle, while simultaneously opening the latch ring portion to permit it to be removed laterally from the neck of the bottle. The closure includes a latch ring removal tab disposed on the latch ring portion to provide a levered force for rupturing the frangible tabs.

Abstract: An automatic combustion putting-out apparatus for a room heater, includes wick case with a turning shaft to raise or lower a wick, a torsion-spring biased ratchet, a lever pivotally mounted in a frame for releasing or arresting the ratchet, a shutting-off knob and a safety weight for actuating the lever to release the ratchet for putting-out a combustion, a bracket on one side of the frame, a blocking plate pivotally mounted on the bracket and provided with an actuating piece to be in contact with a bottom surface of the lever, a coil spring for actuating the blocking plate by returning to its original shape when the room temperature rises beyond a predetermined value to interrupt combustion, the coil spring being connected to the blocking plate and the bracket by opposite ends of the spring, and a bias spring for boosting the force of the coil spring when the coil spring is initiated at beyond the predetermined room temperature value, the bias spring being connected to the blocking plate and the bracket by o

Abstract: A stringed musical instrument including a soundbox. The soundbox has a back, a side adjoining the back to define a hollow interior, a soundboard covering the hollow interior, and a soundboard support structure including a plurality of kerfing members for securing the soundboard on the side opposite the back to cover the hollow interior and a plurality of bracing members for reinforcing the soundboard. The soundboard support structure includes a plurality of adjoining members selected from the group consisting of the plurality of kerfing members and the plurality of bracing members. The plurality of adjoining members are integrally formed as a single piece of polyurethane containing a plurality of half inch glass fibres.

Abstract: An antenna for a transceiver. The antenna is switchable between a receive and a transmit mode. In receive mode, the antenna is configured to provide increased sensitivity for improved inductive pickup of signals. In transmit mode, the antenna is configured to provide efficient power output without undue losses. The antenna coil comprises a plurality of conductor bundles. In receive mode, the conductor bundles in series to increase the number of effective turns in the antenna coil and thereby increase the inductive pickup of the coil for receiving signals. In transmit mode, the conductor bundles are configured in parallel. The parallel configuration of the conductor bundles reduces the AC and DC resistance of the antenna coil, and therefore the power loss, to allow the antenna to be driven efficiently to transmit signals.

Abstract: A method for preparing a food compound, and particularly a salad dressing with a unique flavor and improved taste, includes providing preselected quantities of a tomato-based product and a vegetable oil, combining the tomato-based product with the vegetable oil and heating to a temperature of about 100°-160° F., stirring the combined mixture substantially simultaneously with heating while making certain it does not come to a boil, adding sugar to the heated combined mixture and blending thoroughly until the sugar is dissolved, refrigerating the mixture so obtained for about 2-5 hours at a temperature of about 36°-46° F., adding preselected quantities of vinegar, a vegetable-based sauce, and onion to the refrigerated mixture and mixing for about 15 seconds to 4 minutes, and refrigerating the mixture again at a temperature of about 36°-46° F. The food compound is prepared from a unique blend of natural and healthy ingredients.

Abstract: An adjustable health improvement device for modifying a daily behavior by reminding a person to take medication includes a generally vertical housing for removably holding an instrument, such as a toothbrush, for use in a daily activity. A second adjoining member is operably connected to the housing member and defines therebetween a recess for retaining a container for holding a material, such as medication, to be taken by the person. The second member is movable relative to the housing for adjusting the size of the recess to accommodate various sizes of, for example, medicine bottles. When a person reaches to use the toothbrush, for example, the person is reminded to take the medication due to its close proximity.

Abstract: A bracket for an electric pole includes a fixing part formed to connect with a fixing device installed on an electric pole, a body integrally formed with the fixing part, and a connection pin which is inserted into at least one insertion hole of the body so that it is connected to optional electric members such as a coupling insulator, wherein the bracket installs vertically in the down direction of a fixing device for fixing high-tension wire of an electric pole by the fixing part.

Abstract: An apparatus for bonding a particle material to near theoretical density, includes a chamber, a punch and die assembly for supporting a particle material, plungers for applying shear and/or axial pressures, and a power supply for applying a current. In the first stage, a pulsed current of about 1 to 20,000 amps., is applied to the particle material for a predetermined time period, and substantially simultaneously therewith, a shear force of about 5-50 MPa is applied. In the second stage, an axial pressure of about less than 1 to 2,000 MPa is applied to the particle material for a predetermined time period, and substantially simultaneously therewith, a steady current of about 1 to 20,000 amps. is applied. The apparatus may be used to bond metallic, ceramic, intermetallic and composite materials to near-net shape, directly from precursors or elemental particle material without the need for synthesizing the material.

Abstract: An apparatus for cooling an insulation product. The apparatus includes an in-line series of cooling stations, transport means, and cooling fluids supply means. The in-line series of cooling stations includes a first cooling station for receiving the insulation product into the in-line series of cooling stations, and a last cooling station for discharging the cooled insulation product from the in-line series of cooling stations. Each cooling station in the series of cooling stations except for the first cooling station has an associated previous cooling station. Each cooling station in the series of cooling stations except for the last cooling station has an associated next cooling station. The transfer means is for moving the insulation product through each station in the series of stations.

Abstract: A health improvement device for modifying a daily behavior by reminding a person to take medication includes a generally vertically upstanding housing. The housing includes first and second adjoining sections. The first section is provided to removably hold an instrument, such as a toothbrush, for use in a daily activity. The second section is provided for holding a material, such as medication, to be taken by the person. When a person reaches to use the toothbrush, for example, the person is reminded to take the medication due to its proximity in the second section.