Abstract: A sterile operating room video monitor and video monitor support device are provided to enable a surgeon to more easily conduct endoscopic procedures. A lightweight self-contained monitor module is provided to enable the surgeon to easily manipulate the image on the video monitor of a surgical area. A video support stand which secures the video monitor in the sterile operating field allows a surgeon to precisely place the video monitor at a desired position. The video support stand includes a monitor mount which may have a plurality of apertures communicating with a source of vacuum to hold a sterile drape tightly over the monitor module screen. Alternatively, the drape may be eliminated, and a close tolerance fit is made between the monitor mount and video monitor securing it in the sterile field. This invention allows positioning of the video monitor in the natural line of sight of the surgeon as he or she performs an endoscopic procedure.

Abstract: The shipping stand includes a cradle assembly mounted upon a frame assembly to which a jet aircraft is securable. The frame assembly includes a plurality of wheels for locomotive capability. A plurality of shock absorbers are operatively engaged between the cradle assembly and frame assembly to provide adequate shock protection to a loaded jet aircraft engine when the shipping stand is configured in a truck transport mode. A plurality of lifting mechanisms selectively raise the cradle assembly to a predetermined height creating gaps between upper transport flanges and lower transport flanges. The gaps correspond to the height of spacers positionable between the flanges in the truck transport mode. To place the shipping stand in an air transport mode, the lifting mechanisms are activated, the spacers are removed from between the flanges and the cradle assembly is lowered to eliminate the gaps between the flanges.

Abstract: A floor covering removal apparatus and method are provided. The apparatus includes a frame for supporting the apparatus and a pair of interlocking gears which selectively and controllably feed a desired width of floor covering through the apparatus. One of the gears is driven by a drive which causes the apparatus to displace over a floor surface as the floor covering is fed through the apparatus. Cutting blades are mounted to the frame which cut the floor covering prior to engaging with the interlocking gears. A locking handle is provided to positively lock the floor covering between the interlocking gears prior to displacement of the apparatus along the floor surface. A control assembly enables an operator to selectively control the direction in which the apparatus is displaced.

Abstract: A keypad is provided wherein the keys are sealingly mounted in keyholes provided in a housing by means of a key mount which centers each key and seals the space between each key and the edge of its keyhole. The key mount also provides an electrical contact which is brought into engagement with underlying circuitry in response to depression of a key. The key mount also resiliently mounts the key within the keyhole so after depression of the key the key mount returns the key to its initial position in which the contact is spaced from the circuitry.

Abstract: An improved endoscope has been provided which includes an elongated cylindrical shell housing with a transparent window at the distal end thereof. A removable core has an objective endoscope lens or optics at the distal end thereof and an image sensor mounted within the distal end of the core. A transmitting electronic cable with multiple conductors each has a distal end connected to the image sensor circuit board and a proximal end connected to a video control unit. Signals are transmitted from the control unit to the video monitor which displays the image. A sterile separable channel section, removably receives the core in a defined relationship and has at least one longitudinal channel for transmitting fluids or for receiving an operative instrument or carrying light transmitting fiber. A flexible tube is connected to the proximal end of the channel for supplying fluid or for manipulating the operative instrument from a remote location. The separable channel section is disposable after use on a patient.

Abstract: A golf putting training device has been provided which has a housing with a generally vertical planer front for sitting on a putting surface. A non-coherent light source is mounted in the housing for projecting a light from the front across the putting surface to the face of a golf putter head from a first location on the front of the housing. A receptor for receiving reflecting light from a specular reflecting surface mounted on a golf putter head is spaced laterally a predetermined distance from the desired golf ball impact point on the putter head. The receptor is vertically spaced from the first location. A target light is provided in the front of the housing which is laterally spaced from the first location a distance equal to the predetermined distance for aligning the putter head in proper orientation for putting a golf ball toward the target light.

Abstract: An apparatus applies dressing fluid to a bowling lane surface in a discrete pattern laterally across a plurality of zones on the bowling lane. A carriage, for movement along a bowling lane, has an applicator mounted thereon for applying the dressing fluid to the bowling lane surface. Dressing fluid is supplied from a reservoir by a plurality of pulse valves which supply the dressing fluid to a plurality of fluid dispersion chambers, each having an inlet connected to one of the pulse valves and having an outlet positioned to apply dressing fluid to the applicator. The outlet has a width equal to the width of one of the zones. A controller is provided for selectively activating each of the pulse valves to discharge a discrete amount of fluid dressing into each dispersion chamber. Each zone may be the width of one board across the bowling alley so that different discrete amounts of oil can be applied to each board.

Abstract: An air cleaner with separate ozone gas and ionized air outputs, and method of purifying air is provided. The air cleaner includes an exterior housing which houses an ozone generator component and a ionized air generator component. In operation, air is drawn through the air cleaner by means of a blower and is first passed through a multi-layered filter. The air then passes through an ionizer which ionizes the air and induces on it a net negative electric charge. As the ionized air is recirculated back into the device, the negatively charged air is electrostatically precipitated by the filter which maintains a net positive electric charge. The ozone generator component within the housing draws in air via an air pump which produces an output of pressurized air to the ozone generator. Within a mixing chamber of the ozone generator, the pressurized air is mixed with ozone produced therein and is then output through an independent ozone outlet tube.

Abstract: In a first embodiment, the toilet paper holder and dispenser includes a rod receiving section adapted to receive the dispenser rod of a common toilet paper dispenser. A peg attaches to the rod receiving section and protrudes away therefrom. A stabilizer is also attached to the rod receiving section to prevent the toilet paper holder from undesirably rotating and shifting when toilet paper is dispensed from the roll which is mounted over the peg. In a second embodiment, the peg may be adjustably positioned at a desired vertical angle. In a third embodiment, the toilet paper holder includes a recessed mounting bracket which is directly mountable to the recess formed in the wall which previously had mounted to it the common toilet paper dispenser. For any one of the embodiments, the distal end of the peg may include either a tip portion which is angled or bent away from the longitudinal axis of the peg or may include a retainer or cap to assist in retaining a roll of toilet paper mounted over the peg.

Abstract: A fan shipping frame includes a frame assembly for supporting a loaded fan section of a jet aircraft engine. A plurality of caster assemblies attached to the shipping frame provide locomotive capability and adjustable height positioning so that a loaded fan section may be transferred onto the appropriate transport aircraft or vehicle. Rail members mounted on the frame assembly are alignable with rail members of a fan dolly so that the fan section may be directly transferred from the fan dolly onto the shipping frame. A template bracket integral with the shipping frame enables the fan section to be mounted thereon. A platform assembly rotatably mounted to the shipping frame may be deployed to enable the fan section to be tilted from a vertical transport position to a horizontal transport position wherein, the shipping frame may be transported in either position. A storage container mounted on the shipping frame stores the removed fan blades of the fan section in either position.

Abstract: A static air mixing apparatus for mixing of air passing through a space of duct. The apparatus includes an inner enclosure at least partially traversing the duct, an outer enclosure surrounding the inner enclosure, a first plurality of radial vanes extending outwardly from a center of the inner enclosure to adjacent the inner enclosure, a second plurality of radial vanes extending from between the inner and outer enclosures, and a transition member forming a divergent retention region downstream of the enclosures for prolonging mixing of different temperature airstreams as they pass through the air mixing apparatus. Further, the apparatus is derived from an optimized depth ratio defined by the ratio of the depth of the enclosures to the minimum diameter of the outer enclosure which is between about 0.25 to 0.40, and a core ratio defined by the ratio of the area of the inner enclosure to the area of the outer enclosure including the area of the inner enclosure which is between about 0.55 to 0.65.

Abstract: An endoscope has a sterilizable, elongated, optical capsule section and a separable, disposable, sterile channel section. The capsule has a window at a distal end in front of an image sensor. Image transmitting electronic cables, connected to the image sensor, extend proximally from the capsule. Light transmitting fibers extend from the window proximally for transmitting light to a site under investigation from a remote light source. The cables and the fibers are housed in a common conduit connected to the proximal end of the capsule. The separable channel section has a distal end removably attached to the capsule and has plurality of longitudinal channels for transmitting fluids or for receiving an operative instrument. A flexible tube is connected to the proximal end of each channel for supplying fluid or for manipulating the operative instrument from a remote location. The separable channel section is disposable after use.

Abstract: An apparatus applies dressing fluid to a bowling lane surface in a desired lane dressing pattern laterally across a plurality of zones on the bowling lane and longitudinally along a predetermined length of each of the zones. Each zone may be the width or a selected fractional width of one board across the bowling lane so that different discrete amounts of lane dressing can be applied to each board along a predetermined length. The apparatus includes a plurality of metering devices which supply lane dressing to corresponding lane dressing dispersion units which in turn supply lane dressing directly to an applicator. The applicator applies the lane dressing to the bowling lane according to the desired lane dressing pattern. A method is provided to supply discrete amounts of bowling lane dressing at desired incremental locations laterally across and longitudinally along a bowling lane.

Abstract: A pet toy product with activatable scent is provided which includes sheet-like material that has applied to it a scent producing element. The scent is activatable and controllable in terms of intensity and duration. The sheet material may be formed into a desired shape, and a desired image may be applied to the sheet material as well. The pet toy product may be used by itself for stimulation of an animal or may be used in conjunction with a pet toy to enhance its effectiveness upon an animal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for decontaminating in-situ soil by use of solar energy is provided. A targeted area of contaminated in-situ soil is covered with a substantially sunlight-transmitting, nonporous covering that allows solar energy to penetrate said covering. A greenhouse effect subsequently occurs in which trapped solar energy heats the interior air within the covering and in-situ soil below the covering. As the in-situ soil is heated, contaminants found within the in-situ soil are vaporized. The structure comprises first and second side panels with attached first and second end panels. An exhaust vent is provided such that vaporized contaminants and air can escape the interior of the covering. An evacuating device can be utilized to further assist in removal of vaporized contaminants and air within the covering. A fresh air intake mechanism allows replenishment of air that is evacuated or vented with vaporized contaminants.

Abstract: A miniaturized electronic imaging chip has stratified layers wherein a base silicon layer has a peripheral edge defining an area and a thickness which allows passage therethrough of most UV, visible and IR light. A pixel layer is formed on the back side of this first silicon layer. At least one interconnect layer is bonded to the pixel layer. Electric leads are bump bonded to the bonding pads on the outermost interconnect layer and extend away from it within the area for attachment to means for sensing electrical signals generated by an image projected onto the pixel layer through the silicon layer. Preferably, the leads are perpendicular to the chip. A unique method of manufacturing the miniaturized electronic imaging chip from a standard CCD comprises the steps of shaving a silicon layer, having a peripheral edge defining a second area which is smaller than the first area, on the back side of the standard CCD to a thickness which allows passage of a light image therethrough.