Abstract: A nipple appliance having a base portion, a bulb portion having an integrated internal mechanical device that expands as the child sucks on the bulb, and a neck portion connecting the base portion and bulb portion. A sucking force by a child activates the mechanical device by compression of a front of the nipple to redirect force outward and upward by expansion of lateral walls of the bulb, thereby conveying pressure against the palate, alveolar ridge, and/or the teeth.

Abstract: A connector module for interfacing electrical or optical connectors to electrical systems such as an audio/visual signal processing board. The module includes a housing defining at least first and second faces, at least the second face being less than about one square inch in area. There is a first electrical or optical connector at the first face, and a second electrical connector at the second face, in which the second electrical connector is a pin connector.

Abstract: A cut alignment device for a rotary saw having a motor which spins a cutting unit which includes a rotary shaft driven by the motor, a circular blade having a central aperture through which the shaft fits, and a structural housing. The cut alignment device includes the structural housing defining two or more internal compartments, a battery power source carried within the structural housing, and a beam light source, operatively connected to this power source, and also located within the structural housing. The light source projects a light beam from the cutting unit directed slightly away from the plane of the rotary cutting tool or saw blade such that it never intersects the plane of the blade, to assist the operator in cutting accurately.

Abstract: A system and method for correcting wind speed and direction data collected by a sodar or lidar apparatus for the orientation and/or position of the apparatus. There are sensors mounted to the sodar or lidar apparatus that detect the orientation and position of the apparatus. Software is used to adjust in situ the calculations of wind speeds and directions in three dimensions for deviations from some nominal orientation. Software and data structures can be used to cause the inclusion of the orientation and position of the system with the collected data.

Abstract: A system for moving and positioning an object such as a tool. The system has a first assembly that has a first rotatable portion that is rotatable about a first axis, and a second assembly that has a second rotatable portion that is rotatable about a second axis that is not coincident with the first axis. The system may include a third assembly that has a third rotatable portion that is rotatable about a third axis that is not coincident with the second axis. The assemblies are coupled such that rotation of the first rotatable portion causes eccentric rotation of the second and third rotatable portions about the first axis. The system also includes a controller for causing one, two or all three of the rotatable portions to rotate, so as to establish a desired position of an object that is coupled to the system.

Abstract: A garage door control system for a garage door that is adapted to be lifted by a garage door opener. The system has a motion sensor or electric eye sensor located at least in part proximate the garage door, for sensing an object located on top of a vehicle approaching the garage and projecting higher than is safe to enter the garage, and a cutoff switch that at least temporarily prevents the garage door opener from opening the garage door when the sensor senses an object located on top of a vehicle approaching the garage and projecting higher than is safe to enter the garage.

Abstract: A system including associated equipment for transmitting radio-frequency power line carrier signals on high voltage ac or dc transmission lines within a multi-conductor bundle, one path for which is provided by one or more conductors located at the center of the bundle, and the other by the remaining conductors connected in electrical parallel and arrayed in a generally circular pattern around the center. Insulated conductor spacers hold the conductors in their symmetrical configuration and insulate the center conductor, allowing it to serve as a radio frequency path similar to that in a conventional coaxial cable. The system provides low attention, low vulnerability to external noise and low radiation of the carrier signal while providing redundant channels—three for ac transmission lines and two for bipolar dc transmission lines.

Abstract: A device and method for testing an electrical power branch circuit that includes hot, neutral and protective ground conductors and that carries alternating current. The device includes circuitry for determining the total available short-circuit current that can be carried by the neutral conductor, circuitry for determining the total available ground-fault current that can be carried by the protective ground conductor, and circuitry that, based on at least one of the determined short-circuit current and the determined ground-fault current, applies a short-circuit or ground-fault current to the electrical power branch circuit.

Abstract: An orthopedic pacifier defining a shield adapted to remain outside of the mouth, a bulb adapted to be located in the mouth and on which the child sucks. The bulb is adapted to expand or move upward and outward as the child sucks on it, to counteract inward pressure of the cheeks and the lateral portion of the lips caused by the suction or sucking action.

Abstract: An inertial instrument such as an accelerometer or gyroscope having scale factor functionality, and that lies generally in a plane. The gyro detects rotation rate about a gyro input axis. The gyroscope has a substrate, a generally planar scale factor gimbal flexibly coupled to the substrate such that it is capable of oscillatory motion about the input axis, a generally planar support member coplanar with and flexibly coupled to the scale factor gimbal such that the support member is capable of oscillatory motion about a drive axis that is orthogonal to the input axis, and a generally planar gyro member coplanar with and flexibly coupled to the support member such that it is capable of rotary oscillatory motion relative to the support member about an output axis that is orthogonal to the plane of the members. There are one or more first drives for oscillating the support member about the drive axis, and one or more second drives for oscillating the scale factor gimbal about the input axis.

Abstract: A sportboard storage rack system, for holding one or more sportboards that have a narrow region and a wider region. The rack system has a first member that defines a blind recess into which a sportboard is placed, the recess having an open face with a width that is greater than the width of the narrow region of the sportboard and less than the width of the wider region of the sportboard, the recess also having an inner area in communication with the open face, the inner area having a width that is greater than the width of the open face, and less than the width of the wider region of the sportboard.

Abstract: A process, system and sorbent for removal of mercury from a combustion exhaust gas stream in a combustion exhaust gas purification scheme that includes a combustion exhaust scrubber system that uses an aqueous liquid to remove acid gases from the combustion exhaust gas. A powdered mercury sorbent is used. The sorbent is introduced into the aqueous scrubber liquid in the scrubber system. After introduction of the mercury sorbent into the scrubber liquid, at least some of the mercury sorbent is separated from the scrubber liquid.

Abstract: A mobile query and response system and method that is based on visual cues, in which a user captures and transmits an image with a networked mobile device such as a cell phone or PDA with image capture and transmission capabilities. Searchable records that include stored image data and response information associated with such data are provided. The image transmitted by the user is used to perform a search of the records, to find in the records an image that matches the transmitted image. If a match is found, the response information associated with the stored image data for the matching image is retrieved, and that response information is used to send a reply to the user.

Abstract: A novel high-protein, reduced carbohydrate food material technology, and high-protein, reduced carbohydrate food products made therefrom, in which the food products meet high organoleptic, stability, and taste/texture standards. This novel material technology possesses numerous controllable functional characteristics, including high to low adhesion, high to low volume expansion, high to low tensile strength, and high to low break elongation, all of which are critical to both processing needs as well as final food product specifications. The material technology allows for the processing of proteinaceous foods on common process equipment, the foods including but not limited to chips, snacks, crackers, wafers, bars, flat breads, cookies, biscuits, breads, bagels, cakes, waffles, pancakes, french fries, pasta, pizza dough, breakfast cereals, muffins, doughnuts, pastries, and meat analogs.

Abstract: A dumbbell retail/storage rack that has a first section with a bottom side that is designed to sit on a flat surface, and a top side that defines one or more dumbbell-receiving structures. Each of these structures has two spaced saddles for receiving the enlarged ends of a dumbbell. The retail/storage rack also has a second section that is integrally coupled to the first section and has a bottom that is essentially perpendicular to the bottom of the first section. This arrangement creates an “L”-shaped rack that can be placed on the bottom of either the first section or the second section, to display or to hold two or more dumbbells, as desired.