Abstract: Custom molded wrist area impression sleeve (21) having a configuration substantially covering the wrist area (WA) of a patient. The impression sleeve (21) is formed from a thin, resin-impregnated, resilient fabric sleeve (21) mounted over a thin, flexible, resin-impervious release layer (23), and preferably over a cushioning and thermally insulating foam sleeve (25). The hardenable sleeve (21) can include one, and preferably two, longitudinally extending weakened strips (30, 40) which facilitate severing and act as a hinge (40) for the resulting hardened wrist brace. In the present method, the wrist area impression sleeve (21) is hardened on the patient's wrist, cut off and then used as a removable brace or to form a custom orthosis in a fabrication laboratory.

Abstract: A process for producing burgundy colored olives including the steps of darkening the color of the olives (21); neutralizing the pH of the olives (23); while neutralized, soaking of the olives in an aqueous solution of Red Dye No. 3 at ambient temperatures for at least 12 hours (25); and packing the olives in an acidic brine solution for storage (27). In another aspect, the process includes flavoring the packing solution with a mother brine recovered from an olive fermentation process (29).

Abstract: A plastic wheel (122, 222) and wheel mounting sleeve (127, 227, 327, 427) used to releasably secure the wheel (122, 222) onto an axle (123, 223). The wheel mounting sleeve (127, 227, 327, 427) preferably includes a resilient, radially displaceable, axially extending, cantilevered finger (146, 246, 346, 446) which includes an axle-engaging lug (155, 255, 355, 455), while a wheel-engaging shoulder is provided on the sleeve by an annular rib (201, 301). The sleeve shoulders latch the sleeve (127, 227, 327, 427) to the axle (123, 223) and the wheel (122, 222) to the sleeve. The sleeve (127, 227, 327, 427) includes an axle stabilizing recess (198, 298, 398, 498) positioned in an end wall (158, 258, 358, 458), which receives an axle stub (199, 299) that supports the axle (123, 223) against lateral loading and stabilizes it to reduce wobble, chatter and vibration.

Abstract: An adaptive control device (77) and method (102-108) for control of the operation of an actuator (72), and particularly thermally-powered actuator (72) of the type used in a variable-air-volume diffuser (71). The preferred adaptive control device is an expert system circuit which controls a heater (74) provided on a thermally-powered actuator (72) to implement an adaptive process (102-108) in which a sensed variable, such as room air temperature, is driven toward a target temperature control range (±0.25° F.). Most preferably, the process steps (106) include driving the room air temperature toward a gross (broader) temperature control range (±1.0° F.) by moving a diffuser damper assembly (80) to a substantially fully open or substantially fully closed position.

Abstract: Custom molded orthopedic impression shirt (27, 47) having a configuration substantially covering the torso of a patient. The impression shirt is formed from a thin, resin-impregnated elastic fabric shirt layer (27) mounted over a thin, flexible, resin-impervious release shirt layer (25), and preferably over a thin, elastic, thermally insulating fabric shirt layer (23). In the present method, the impression shirt is hardened on the patient's torso, cut off the patient's torso and then used to form a custom thoracic lumbar sacral orthosis in a fabrication laboratory.

Abstract: A food preparation system, a controller, a computer readable memory, and a method for providing precise on-line control of a heat transfer process on a food item is disclosed. The food preparation system comprises a heating and/or cooling chamber, a sensor, and a controller. The chamber is configured to transfer heat to or from the food item during a phase of the heat transfer process. The sensor is configured to sense an actual temperature in the heating and/or cooling chamber at each real time epoch of the phase. The controller is configured to control the heating and/or cooling chamber according to a scheduled time-temperature profile over the phase. It is also configured to, at each real time epoch of the phase, simulate an internal temperature in the food item based on the sensed actual temperature at that real time epoch. It is further configured to terminate the phase when the simulated internal temperature at a particular real time epoch reaches a target internal temperature.

Abstract: A method for precision bending of a sheet of material (31,41,61,91,231) along a bend line (35,45,62-66,96,235) and the resulting sheet are disclosed. A method includes a step of forming and longitudinally extending slits (33,43,68,92,233) through the sheet of material in axially spaced relation to define bending webs (37,47,71,72,106,237), forming stress reducing structures such as enlarged openings (39,49,69,73) or transversely extending slits (239) at each of adjacent ends of pairs of slits in order to reduce crack propagation across the bending webs. In another aspect, the elongated slits (43,68,92,233) are formed with pairs of longitudinally extending slit segments (51,52;74,76;98,99;127) proximate to and on opposite sides of and substantially parallel to the desired bend line. Longitudinally extending slit segments further are connected by at least one intermediate transversely extending slit segment (53,77,101,128). Sheets of slit material suitable for bending also are disclosed.

Abstract: An edge banding apparatus (21) for adhesively securing banding material (28) to an edge of a board (27). The apparatus (21) includes a board support structure (22) formed to support a board (26) in a near vertical orientation with the edge (27) to be banded in a downwardly facing orientation. An adhesive applying assembly (23) is positioned relative to the board support structure (22) and is formed to apply adhesive (54) to the downwardly facing edge (27) during relative motion between the board (26) and the adhesive applying assembly (23). The apparatus (21) includes a banding material applying assembly (24) positioned downstream of the adhesive applying assembly (23) and formed to apply a banding material (28) to the edge after the adhesive (54) is applied and a cutoff assembly (25) which cuts off the banding material (28) as the banded board (26) passes the cutoff device (25).

Abstract: A combined adult and children's toilet seat assembly (21) having a seat mounting structure (22), a toilet seat lid (51) and an adult toilet seat (31) pivotally mounted to the mounting structure (22) for pivotal movement about a first axis (28). A children's toilet seat (33) is pivotally mounted for movement about a second axis (44) forwardly of the first axis (28). Pivoting of the child's seat (33) from an axis forwardly of pivotal mounting of the lid (51) enables the child's seat (33) to be lifted to a position in which it is tilted rearwardly by a greater amount than the lid (51) so as to positively nest and be gravity biased into the lid (51). The child's toilet seat (33) is further releasably mounted to the assembly by resilient grippers (46).

Abstract: A multi-directional switch assembly, such as a joypad or joystick for an electronic game apparatus, including a printed circuit board, a resiliently deformable member having contact elements thereon and an input member mounted to deform the deformable member to effect closing of the switches. The input member is pivotally mounted by a post assembly, and the post assembly is supported by the game apparatus housing in a manner which is independent of the printed circuit board to substantially isolate the printed circuit board from thrust forces manually applied to the joypad input member.

Abstract: A method and circuit generate a dependent clock signal from a master clock signal with minimal skew of the dependent clock signal with respect to the master clock signal and inverting it to create a second master clock signal that is one hundred eighty degrees out of phase with the first master clock signal. The second master clock signal is used to drive a flip flop type circuit so that the flip flop circuit changes states when the first master clock signal is at a "zero" level and the second master clock signal is at a "one " level. The output of the flip flop circuit is enabled using the first master clock signal. Connected to the output of the tri-state driver is a repeater circuit of the type having an output that remains the same as the input until the input level is changed.

Abstract: An invertible, hand-held, electronic game apparatus having a manually engageable housing, a display screen mounting in the housing, an electronic circuit electrically connected to drive the display screen, and a control switch assembly mounted for manipulation by at least one hand of the player while holding the housing. The control switch assembly includes a joypad and fire buttons which are positioned on the housing to permit rotation or inverting of the housing and operation of the switches in a rotated position. Inversion of the housing and operation of the switches is possible when the images are vertically or horizontally oriented. In the preferred form, the control switch assembly includes a joypad on one side of the display screen and two pairs of functionally duplicate fire buttons symmetrically positioned about a central plane of the housing on an opposite side of the screen. The back of the housing is formed with protruding convex surfaces to facilitate gripping.

Abstract: A product for treatment of arthritis and migraine is formed from the Feverfew plant. The leaves and part of the stalk are harvested from the Chrysanthemum parthenium form of the plant immediately prior to flowering and then freeze dried, milled and converted into capsule or tablet form for human use.

Abstract: A manually operated vehicle propelled by motion simulating rowing, the vehicle having a frame with drive wheels and a steering wheel and with a seat mounted between the drive wheels on a rail that rotates around its long axis and is connected to the steering wheel so that rotation of the rail causes steering movements of the steering wheel. The handle assemblies are moved to affect rowing motion and they have adjustable length to provide either greater torque or greater speed from the same rowing motion.

Abstract: A lightweight, self-powered, transportable crane assembly is disclosed which includes a frame that can be selectively coupled to and uncoupled from the bed of a transport vehicle or carrier, such as a pick-up truck or trailer. The frame assembly also includes stabilizing legs which can be extended laterally from the frame assembly to stabilize the crane during use and further to allow the crane assembly to be self supporting apart from the truck or trailer. The crane assembly also can be coupled to a ballast structure such as a water tank or the like, to permit its use apart from the transport vehicle.

Abstract: The procedure of the invention for determining the jamming point of a pipe line in a drill hole is characterized by applying a constant torsional and/or tensile force to the jammed pipe above ground while a device made according to the invention called a free point probe travels through the pipe at constant speed. The free point probe includes one or two magneto strictive analyzers, which are held by spring pressure against the inner side of the pipe to be examined. During the travel of the free point probe, ideally when pulling it up, the compressive and tensile stresses resulting from the forces acting upon the pipe are read by the analyzer(s) in one area of the inner surface of the pipe and translated into proportional measurement signals. At the same time, the forces acting upon the pipe are measured above ground by means of appropriate receptors. The signals thus obtained are registered and corrected with the help of a data processing system above ground.

Abstract: For a wheelchair, an improved handrim assembly includes a wheelrim with circumferentially spaced-apart slots formed through the wheelrim and anchor tab members loosely mounted through the slots. The anchor tabs have enlarged heads on the outer side of the rim and narrower neck portions which extend radially inward of the wheelrim. Fasteners mounted through apertures in the anchor tab necks extend transversely from the anchor tabs and are rigidly connected to portions to a handrim. Each of the slots in the wheelrim is longer in the circumferential direction than in the transverse direction, and the neck portions of the anchor tabs are flat-sided to bear against the long sides of the slots, thereby reducing shear stresses on the tab neck portions and the wheelrim.

Abstract: A negatively buoyant tether cable management apparatus for use with a remotely-operated underwater vehicle is disclosed. The apparatus includes a cable climbing assembly, a depth sensor and a controller coupled to the climbing assembly and formed to actuate the climbing assembly to climb the tether cable when the cable management apparatus has been lowered to a predetermined depth. The climbing assembly includes a pair of powered, ribbed belts which are wrapped at least partially around the periphery of the tether cable at an acute angle to the cable. As the tether cable is lowered further, the climbing assembly climbs to maintain the depth and passes the tether cable out below or beyond the climbing assembly to enable maneuvering of the remotely-operated underwater vehicle with respect to the negatively buoyant cable management apparatus.