Abstract: A tool and method for reloading source materials in a vapor phase deposition (VPD) environment is disclosed. The tool and method does not require the venting of the VPD environment in order to perform its functions. The tool may reload source material into effusion cells or electron beam cells of a molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) machine without venting the growth chamber.

Abstract: A method for linking data using permanent tokens is disclosed. The tokens may be used to link data pertaining to a consumer, a business, an address, an occupancy, or a household. The tokens are created in a central repository, which maintains an identification class for each entity. The identification class contains all available information concerning the entity. The tokens may be applied to a data storage system to allow real-time construction of a total customer view. The tokens may also be used to link the data storage system to a repository, such that the total customer view contains all available information concerning the customer. The total customer view may be used to formulate a response to customer input, such as a purchase or access to an Internet web page maintained by the data owner. By matching tokens instead of names and addresses, potential ambiguities and erroneous duplicates are eliminated.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for evacuating an anatomical fluid from a body cavity is disclosed. The disclosed apparatus and method is particularly useful in the performance of a pericardiocentesis procedure under emergency conditions. The apparatus consists of a needle and an integrated alarm that uses the needle tip as the probe for a current sensor. As the needle tip approaches conductive media, such as myocardial tissue, the audible alarm sounds, thereby warning the operator to stop the progress of the needle to prevent contact with such tissue.

Abstract: A sealed container comprising a cup and lid and a method for sealing such a container is disclosed. The cup has a lip with a raised sealing bead along its length. During sealing, the raised sealing bead compresses, thereby stretching the adhesive layer on the lower portion of the lid out of the way and forming a direct welded seal with the heat-resistant layer of the lid. The adhesive to either side of the sealing bead forms an adhesive seal between the lid and the remaining portion of the lip. This type of double seal is particularly effective in forming a durable, consistent seal when product is present on the lip of the container. The welded seal is also well suited to situations when the cup may be warped or the sealing bead is otherwise caused to be higher along some portion of its length than along other portions.

Abstract: A waste outlet device adapted for use with a urinal and comprising one-way valve means (12).

Abstract: A weight plate having rotatable handles is disclosed. By rotating, the handles provide a sure grip to the user, while allowing the user to perform various exercises without adjusting his or her grip on the device. The handles also facilitate the safe loading and unloading of the device on plate-loaded exercise equipment. The weight plate may thus be used as a stand-alone exercise device, as a weight plate loaded onto a barbell or dumbbell bar, or as a weight plate used on plate-loaded exercise equipment.

Abstract: A one-piece, collapsible lampshade is disclosed. The invention comprises an upper and lower ring, between which a shade is attached. Supports are permanently attached to one ring, with each support having a hinge part-way along its length. Receptacles are mounted on the opposite ring to receive the unattached end of the supports. The shade may be shipped and stored in the collapsed state by removing the unattached end of the supports from the receptacles and folding the supports flat. Because the shade is shipped and stored in one piece, it is easily and quickly assembled by the purchaser, without the risk of losing parts or of damage during shipment due to the movement of loose parts against one another.

Abstract: A cutting machine comprises first (10) and second (12) work piece support means, said means including opposed surfaces operable to grip a work piece and move it in a controlled manner in a first dimension, and first (14) and second (16) cutting tools disposed substantially between the first and second work piece supported means such that they are operable to approach and cut the work piece from opposite sides, wherein each cutting tool is movable in second and third dimensions that are substantially orthogonal to the first dimension and to each other.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the aerosolization of powders is disclosed. The invention includes a chamber in which a cloud of aerosolized powder is formed, the cloud having a relatively even distribution of powder particles. A Bernoulli tube may be used to extract powder from the powder cloud when the powder cloud reaches its equilibrium height. Adjustment of the air flow rate into the Bernoulli tube may be used to control the flow rate of powder out of the disclosed device.

Abstract: Method for generating foam for use in fire fighting having two plates housed in a chamber which respectively introduce pressurized air and a water/surfactant solution between the two plates where foam is generated and emitted from an aperture on the side of the chamber. The pressurized water/soap solution enters the chamber through an orifice in one plate. Pressurized air enters the chamber through a number of channels bored through the other plate, such channels appearing in an annular grove which circumscribes the water inlet. The plates are provided with surfaces which are brought together to form a restricted area therebetween. The restricted area balances the pressure between the incoming water and the incoming air by achieving an equilibrium at some particular radius out from the center of the two plates. This equilibrium radius moves in and out from the center as necessary to keep the two pressures balanced.

Abstract: A dual scent dispensing apparatus and method employing separate individually metered reservoirs for holding rutting buck scent and estrus doe scent is disclosed. The scents are dispensed dripwise from each reservoir, at a rate that may be set individually for each of the scents. The rate may be controlled by separate timers which activate separate solenoids, or may be achieved by pinching the drip tubes through which the scent is dispensed by means of a control button on the front of the apparatus enclosure.

Abstract: Apparatus for generating foam for use in fire fighting having two plates housed in a chamber which respectively introduce pressurized air and a water/surfactant solution between the two plates where foam is generated and emitted from an aperture on the side of the chamber. The pressurized water/soap solution enters the chamber through an orifice in one plate. Pressurized air enters the chamber through a number of channels bored through the other plate, such channels appearing in an annular groove which circumscribes the water inlet. The plates are provided with surfaces which are brought together to form a restricted area therebetween. The restricted area balances the pressure between the incoming water and the incoming air by achieving an equilibrium at some particular radius out from the center of the two plates. This equilibrium radius moves in and out from the center as necessary to keep the two pressures balanced.

Abstract: An exercise device having weighted heads is disclosed. The weighted heads are composed of a light shell with a heavy core. The combination of a durable but light shell material with a denser core material results in weighted heads with reduced bulk. The reduced bulk improves the user's control of the device during use, reduces anatomical stress to the users arms and hands, and allows the user to lift a greater amount of weight while maintaining control of the device.

Abstract: An improved dumbbell having a bar with permanently and securely attached weighted heads is disclosed. A pin passing through a bore in the weighted heads and each end of the bar holds the weighted heads securely in place. The weighted heads have a circumference of circular shape, and are coated with a resilient material. The exterior surface of the resilient material has a multi-sided circumference. The circular shape of the circumference of the weighted heads prevents the weighted heads from digging into the resilient coating when the dumbbell is in use or is dropped.

Abstract: Apparatus for generating foam for use in fire fighting having two plates housed in a chamber which respectively introduce pressurized air and a water/surfactant solution between the two plates where foam is generated and emitted from an aperture on the side of the chamber. The pressurized water/soap solution enters the chamber through an orifice in one plate. Pressurized air enters the chamber through a number of channels bored through the other plate, such channels appearing in an annular grove which circumscribes the water inlet. The plates are provided with surfaces which are brought together to form a restricted area therebetween. The restricted area balances the pressure between the incoming water and the incoming air by achieving an equilibrium at some particular radius out from the center of the two plates. This equilibrium radius moves in and out from the center as necessary to keep the two pressures balanced.

Abstract: A method for forming the outer surface of a breast prosthesis is disclosed. A digital, three-dimensional image is formed of a patient's breast using a computerized scanner. A computer-controlled milling machine utilizes the image to form a solid model of the breast. A sheet of flexible, moldable material having a uniform, precise thickness is then vacuum-formed over the breast model. A hard, two-piece mold is cast from the flexible sheet. A soft, curable material is then either poured or injected between the two pieces of the mold to form the breast prosthesis outer surface. The breast prosthesis outer surface is then turned inside out to form a shape that is a mirror image of the patient's breast.

Abstract: A powder spray gun, and method for using same, is disclosed. The powder gun includes a corona discharge tip and mesh screen within the passage for powder flow. A potential is applied to the corona discharge tip, resulting in an electric field between the corona discharge tip and mesh screen. This electric field efficiently charges powder particles passing through the spray gun, but the mesh screen blocks most of the free ions that are generated by the corona discharge tip. Any free ions that pass through the mesh screen are captured by a conductive end piece on the spray gun. A potential difference is applied between the end of the spray gun and the workpiece to guide the charged powder particles to the workpiece.

Abstract: A lidding machine and method for filling containers with a flowable food product is disclosed. Extraneous tabs extending from the container lids after the lids are cut apart are trimmed closely using knives with a blade curvature that matches the curvature of the edge of the containers. One or more "feet" are used to hold the lids in place during the cutting process. A two-layer lid may be used for such containers, the inner lid having openings through which the food product may be dispensed, and the outer lid being removable. The outer lid may be designed so that it partially covers the inner lid, and has a tab that does not extend beyond the edge of the container. The consumer may open the container by pulling this tab back across the inner lid.

Abstract: A method and system for the creation, enhancement and update of data on a customer database using data from a central database and persistent keys that are linked to each data structure is disclosed. The persistent keys allow the matching of equivalent data structures between the remote and central databases so that enhancement data from the central database can be overlaid onto the customer database. The persistent keys also make the update of data on the customer database more efficient, since key matching allows the transfer of only the data that is needed to update the customer database. The central database may physically contain all of the enhancement data, or may use a central database manager to transparently link a group of physically remote databases using the persistent keys. Data may be transferred from the central database to the customer database either in batch mode or in a near real-time mode through a direct table join.