Abstract: A personalized picture postcard for holding inserted photographs has a trilaminate structure that includes a backing sheet of a rectangular shape that has an exposed lower surface provided with printed indicia indicating the location of a mailing address and a position for writing a message to the recipient, a rectangular transparent window sheet adhesively bonded to an upper surface of the backing sheet along three aligned side edges to define an envelope therebetween that is open on one end and a magnetic strip sandwiched therebetween and bonded to the backing sheet. The backing sheet has a strip of pressure-sensitive adhesive extending along the remaining edge i.e., the free edge thereof. A removable cover strip or liner is releasably secured over the pressure-sensitive adhesive strip to define an open end into which a photo can be inserted by the user. A rectangular border is provided for framing the inserted photo.

Abstract: Invention provides a temperature regulating cap for heating or cooling the head of the user having a removable and replaceable heating or cooling insert with a releasable connector for fastening the insert to the cap in which the insert has two portions including a first portion in contact with the top of the user's head for heating or cooling the head and a second portion that depends downwardly from the first portion and is located generally in the forehead region of the person's head to cool the forehead and to absorb perspiration. The insert can be removed and replaced when required for washing or for immersion in water to absorb moisture which is then retained in the insert for the purpose of providing evaporative cooling.

Abstract: A dry pulverulent ash composition is described which comprises a dry pulverulent fly ash to be used as a portland cement substitute for improving the physical properties of a finished concrete product. The ash composition includes fly ash together with an oxidizer present in a dry pulverulent form that is unreacted with the ash and is maintained in an unreacted state during shipment and storage but is capable of reacting with the fly ash upon an addition of water to convert virtually all and preferably over 95% of the sulfur compounds present in the ash to the sulfite form. The oxidizer is present in minor amount from about 0.5% to about 10% by weight of the composition. An aggregate comprising pellets can also be added to the composition together with a minor amount of portland cement and a conditioner e.g., accelerator to form a concrete block product that is up to 10% lighter than a standard concrete block that does not use the present composition and at the same time exhibits improved crushing strength.

Abstract: Atherosclerotic vascular disease is treated by exposing the interior of an artery or vein to visible or ultraviolet light of a selected spectrum to thereby sterilize the artery, eradicating infectious pathogens and reverse the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic artery disease. A fiber optic bundle positioned via an intra-arterial catheter is connected to an appropriate light radiation source located outside of the body during treatment. In another form, the light energy is produced by means of a light energy source located at the distal tip of the instrument shaft positioned centrally within the atherosclerotic plaque formation. In this case, the power source at the distal tip of the instrument can be a light emitting diode (LED) or a transparent tube containing a chemilumlumenescent substance for producing cool light energy within the vessel to destroy the pathogenic microorganisms in the surrounding plaque or vessel without damage to the body tissue of the patient.

Abstract: The invention provides a plastic container that comprises the container body with an integral handle and lid. The container body has a sidewall which terminates in an upwardly facing rim defining a surface to which a sealing member such as a sheet of plastic or aluminum foil can be adhesively bonded. A pair of hinge supports are integrally molded with the container body and each has an upper hinge end which is in alignment with the rim of the container. The handle has a central hand grip portion and a pair of legs each of which is hinged to the hinge support and molded integrally therewith. A pair of hinges defined by plastic ligaments of reduced thickness are both aligned with the top of the rim between one of the supports and the legs of the handle.

Abstract: A sporting receptacle, e.g., a tackle box or pail for holding fishing articles has side walls, a bottom wall, an upwardly opening wide mouth and a pair of horizontally spaced apart sockets on opposing walls of the receptacle proximate its top edge. The sockets are positioned vertically and are supported by the side walls of the receptacle. A pair of L-shaped right angle brackets each includes a vertical and a horizontal leg. The vertical leg of each bracket is sized and arranged to slide into one of the sockets so as to extend upwardly therefrom above the receptacle for supporting various sporting articles at an elevation that is raised above the receptacle. The brackets are reversibly supported in the sockets to enable the horizontal leg of the bracket to be positioned so as to extend either outwardly beyond the side of the receptacle or centrally above the receptacle and are interchangeable between the tackle box and pail.

Abstract: In order to lock an electrical clasp to a biomedical electrode stud which projects upwardly from the center of the biomedical electrode, the clasp is provided with an opening in its lower surface for the stud of the biomedical electrode and a downwardly extending tab that has a concave surface facing the stud of the electrode. The concave surface of the tab can be either trough-shaped or spoon-shaped. During operation the tab is moved downwardly from a disengaged position into contact with the sidewall of the stud. In addition, there is a laterally extending tab-retaining edge or rim within the opening and the edge is aligned vertically below the tab so that during use it acts as a backing for the free end of the tab which engages the stud somewhat below the widest part of the head of the stud thereby locking the stud in place within the clasp. Optionally, the clasp includes a plug receptacle that has a converging passage for the plug with electrically conductive resilient walls.

Abstract: A personalized picture postcard for holding inserted photographs includes a backing sheet of a rectangular shape that has an exposed lower surface provided with printed indicia indicating the location of a mailing address and a position for writing a message to the recipient, a rectangular transparent window sheet adhesively bonded to an upper surface of the backing sheet along three aligned side edges to define an envelope therebetween that is open on one end. The backing sheet has a strip of pressure-sensitive adhesive extending along the remaining edge i.e., the free edge thereof. A removable cover strip or liner is releasably secured over the pressure-sensitive adhesive strip to define an open end into which a photo can be inserted by the user. A rectangular border is bonded to the postcard for framing the inserted photo. The border is aligned with the side and end edges of the postcard over the adhesive so as to obscure the adhesive and thus provide an attractive appearance.

Abstract: A fishing bobber includes a strike-indicating signal producing transmitter, e.g. a radio transmitter, for transmitting a radio signal to the fisherman when there is a strike on the line. The bobber includes a bobber body adapted to float on a body of water. A fishing line is connected to it during use. The signal transmitter, which may be a lamp, an audible alarm or radio transmitter is supported by and preferably housed within the bobber. Operatively connected to the transmitter are a pair of probes or electrodes for actuating the transmitter. A sensing means is connected to the probes to detect a current passing between them in response to a fish exerting tension on the fishing line to thereby operate the signal transmitter so as to signal the fisherman, e.g. by broadcasting, a radio signal to alert the fisherman when a fish has struck the bait. One preferred form the bobber includes a pair of electrical probes, i.e.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a working sheath and an obturator. A method is also described for facilitating endoscopic examination and surgical procedures using such an instrument. The sheath is an elongated self-supporting tube with a lumen of sufficient size to accommodate other-surgical instruments. During use, the instrument is placed in the body percutaneously or through a body passage with the removable obturator located in the lumen to facilitate insertion of the sheath into the body. Once inserted, the obturator can be removed. The sheath is held in place by an inflatable bulb provided on the distal end of the sheath while the operation is being completed. A peripheral duct is also preferably provided for introducing anesthetic or lubricant during insertion.

Abstract: A surgical apparatus has a body portion that includes a shaft terminating in a distal head or tip and a means for directing light radiation from the apparatus onto the lining of a body cavity for treating a gastrointestinal ailment of a patient including gastritis, gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, gastric cancer, gastric lymphoma, ulcerative colitis, or Crohn's disease. The method of use of the apparatus comprises inserting the shaft of the apparatus into a body cavity, e.g., stomach or colon, of the patient to place the distal tip of the shaft in the desired position. The body cavity of the patient is then irradiated with ultraviolet light radiation in a preferred range of about 250 nm to 270 nm so as to kill or debilitate microorganisms lining the body cavity without serious destruction of the body tissue of the patient to thereby improve or alleviate one or more of the symptoms of the gastrointestinal ailment.

Abstract: A garment for concealing a medical appliance such as a central line that is connected to a patient has a hidden pocket for storing the appliance on an inside surface of the front of the garment. The pocket has connected side and bottom edges which secure the pocket to the garment. The pocket also has a free upper edge that is positioned in spaced relationship below an opening in the front of the garment. The medical appliance can be concealed within the pocket while connected to the patient and later, when it is to be deployed, can be withdrawn from the pocket, raised above the upper edge of the pocket and withdrawn through the opening which is unobstructed above the pocket. The garment can have a second concealed opening at a lower level on one side of the garment for enabling multiple medical appliances to be connected to the patient for simultaneous use and withdrawn through openings in the garment at two different elevations. The opening can be concealed by a zipper or a cover flap.

Abstract: An emulsion coater is provided with a framework having a table or work surface for supporting a sheet of material that is to be coated e.g., a sheet of transparent plastic film. A carriage is mounted on the framework for rectilinear movement thereacross parallel to the surface of the sheet to advance a coating applicator across the sheet. A coating dryer is also mounted on the carriage to progressively dry the coating from one end to the other as it is applied. A motor is supported on the framework for moving the carriage forwardly from one end of the sheet to the other. Provision is made for disengaging the coating applicator from the carriage once the coating has been applied and thereafter moving the carriage in a reverse direction across the applied coating to the starting position while optionally continuing to dry the coating.

Abstract: A treatment method and apparatus for debilitating or killing Helicobacter pylori or other microorganisms within the body of a patient is especially suited for treating stomach or duodenal ulcers. The present therapeutic method involves the use of ionizing radiation for eliminating pathogenic microorganisms within or supported upon the lining of a body cavity of a patient, e.g., the stomach. An elongated flexible shaft is provided for insertion into the body in any of various ways selected by the surgeon. It can be placed endoscopically, e.g., through the esophagus, placed surgically, placed laparoscopically or by CAT scan-guided percutaneous insertion. A radiant energy distribution head is provided at the end of the flexible shaft to transmit ionizing radiation for destroying microorganisms within the body. Radiant energy, e.g.

Abstract: In the present method of drying iron ore pellets, e.g., magnetite pellets, moisture-containing iron ore pellets are formed into a bed comprising a multiplicity of the pellets. A current of drying gas is forced through the bed of pellets to at least partially dry some of the pellets. At least one jet of a drying gas that contains added oxygen is directed onto the bed of pellets so to impinge upon a surface of the pellet bed thereby providing kinetic energy for directing oxygen including the added oxygen into the pellets so as to enhance the conversion of magnetite to hematite. Moisture can be added to heated air that is then blown through jet nozzles onto the pellet bed or circulated back to an earlier drying stage and passed through the bed.

Abstract: A vending machine has a housing or casing supporting one or more interior shelves or trays upon which beverage containers can be placed in a position to be viewed by a customer through a window in the front of the machine. The window is located in a door on the front of the machine that is used to stock the machine with fresh product from the front. Product containers are urged toward a vending channel at the rear of the machine and away from the stocking door, thus assuring a first-in first-out movement of each product container to assure freshness. The containers can be urged toward the vending channel by a spring, by gravity (as by placing them on an inclined tray surface and allowing them to slide toward the vending channel at the rear of the machine), or by means of a conveyor, e.g., a vibratory or belt conveyor.

Abstract: The invention provides a fishing bobber having a strike-indicating radio transmitter for transmitting a radio signal to the fisherman when there is a strike on the line. The bobber includes a bobber body adapted to float on a body of water with a fishing line connected to it during use. The radio transmitter is supported by and preferably housed within the bobber. Operatively connected to the transmitter is a transmitter switch for actuating the transmitter. An operating means is connected to the switch for closing the switch in response to a fish exerting tension on the fishing line to thereby operate the radio transmitter so as to broadcast a radio signal to alert the fisherman when a fish strikes. In one preferred form the bobber includes an auxiliary float that can move up and down relative to the bobber for actuating the switch.

Abstract: A linear positioning apparatus has a positioning actuator assembly including a cylinder and movable piston to be used for moving a workpiece or a moveable worktable along a rectilinear path or thrust axis. The apparatus includes at least one stop member adjustably mounted on a support such as a plate or hub. To stop the worktable at a selected stop point, each stop member can be positioned to engage an object, for convenience referred to herein as a bumper, that is connected to the moveable worktable to halt movement when the correct position has been reached. The apparatus includes means such as an actuator operatively associated to provide relative aligning movement between the stop member and bumper for placing the bumper and a selected one of the stop members in alignment with each other. The support for the stop member, e.g., a plate or hub, includes a bore or passage that extends entirely through it for each stop member so that each stop member can project out through both sides of the support.

Abstract: A flexible and ornamental vehicle light cover comprises a flexible piece of sheet material with a pressure sensitive adhesive layer applied to a back surface for bonding the sheet to a vehicle lens that surrounds one of the lamps e.g., an electric tail lamp of the vehicle. The sheet material has an outline depicting a design or symbol that can be seen by an observer whether the light is on or off. The sheet has the multiplicity of punched openings in it to enable light from the vehicle lamp to pass through the sheet for preventing an unacceptable reduction in the luminous flux provided by the vehicle lamp. The sheet is thus able to be applied to the vehicle lens over the lamp by pressing the sheet onto the lens so as to intercept and block no more than the predetermined fraction of the luminous flux impinging thereon while serving to decorate the vehicle.