Abstract: The present invention teaches an inflatable body representative of at least the upper portion of a human form including a plastic inflatable exoskeleton with an inner side and an outer side molded to represent a torso, a head and appendages. Additionally, inserting members are located on either the inside or the outside of the plastic exoskeleton and are capable of receiving elongated inserts. These elongated inserts may be flexible wire, wooden dowels, plastic rods or any other suitable material. The invention also includes a device to inflate the exoskeleton. The inflation device can assume several different embodiments in which either a sealed exoskeleton is inflated, or an exoskeleton with an open release valve is continuously inflated.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for preparing a polysulfide-epoxy prepolymer and cured co-polymer using a heavy ends waste generated in chlorinated hydrocarbon production. The process comprises first distilling the heavy ends waste to form an enriched heavy ends waste with an ethylene dichloride content less than about 10% by weight. The enriched heavy ends waste is then reacted with an alkaline polysulfide within a temperature range of about 50.degree. C. to about 150.degree. C. to form a polysulfide polymer mixture. Next, between about 5 and about 300 parts of the polysulfide polymer mixture is co-reacted with a hundred parts by weight of an epoxy resin to form a polysulfide-epoxy prepolymer or a cured co-polymer if a curing agent is present.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing automatic consecutively opened thermoplastic T-shirt bags for dispensing from a conventional supporting rack. The method involves providing a continuous flattened tube of thermoplastic film and applying adhesive solution using a printing press to form adhesion regions on the outside of the tube. The adhesive solution can be applied using a flexo or gravure printing process. The method then involves forming side gussets in the tube and making traverse seals in the tube, thereby dividing the tube into pillowcases. The pillowcases are separated at the seals to form a series of end-sealed gussetted pillowcases which are stacked to form a bag pack. Next, the bag pack is cut along a bag-mouth contour to from a plurality of T-shirt bags. The bag-mouth contour forms a set of laterally spaced handles each having a receiving aperture for a conventional support rod of a dispensing rack, a central tab having a mounting aperture, and an open mouth region.

Abstract: A device for jigging a multiplicity of fishing pole rods. The device includes a stanchion and a horizontal support member rotatably mounted to the stanchion. A multiplicity of rod holders for holding fishing rods radially extends from the support member. These rod holders have dimensions adequate to receive and support a fishing rod. The rod holders are jigged via a handle or a foot petal which is operatively connected to the support member. To prevent the support member from over-rotating and spilling the fishing rods, stops are provided on the support member and the stanchion. The device can be secured to a boat or land using a variety of mechanisms such as clamps, pegs, spikes or a stand.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for preparing a polysulfide polymer using a heavy ends waste generated in chlorinated hydrocarbon production. The process involves first pretreating the heavy ends waste by an enriching process to form an enriched heavy ends waste with an ethylene dichloride content less than 10% by weight. The enriched heavy ends waste is then reacted with alkaline polysulfide within a temperature range of 50.degree. C. to 150.degree. C. to form a polysulfide polymer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed at a lid for a cup. The lid comprising a disc having a periphery, a first face and a second face. The disc is corrugated to form a series of concentric, receiving channels having an opening and walls. The receiving channels are spaced apart so that both the first face and the second face can receive a cup wall of varying cup diameter. Additionally, the receiving channels have perforations to facilitate the removal of unused portions of the lid which extend radially outward from the cup wall. The lid has a tab which extends radially inward from the periphery of the disc and is formed by tab perforations on the disc. The tab hinges to the disc at a medial portion of the disc, and the tab can be opened by pivoting around the hinge and laying against the disc. Furthermore, the tab provides a starting point to tear along the perforations.

Abstract: It is the object of this invention to provide a new and highly flexible medical laser delivery device and system with the abilty to change the radiation pattern delivered without the need to change or modify the output end or output optics. The output optics or output end is frequently embodied in the body and/or is sterile and its change or modification or the change of the whole delivery device during the procedure is undesirable. Changing the input pattern while using conventional step index fibers cannot achieve the required result of control of the output pattern in a reliable manner because of beam spreading over the length of the device. The light becomes diffused over the length of the conventional step index fiber. It is therefore another object of the present invention to specify the requirements for the transmission fiber employed in the device and a method of making same.

Abstract: The present invention involves a short arc discharge lamp having a quartz envelope with a bulb and a plurality of arms having a specified cross-section, and wherein one or more electrode rods are supported within the lamp arms for specific alignment. Support elements for the electrode rods are made of high temperature metal and have a flat central portion with a central orifice of sufficient dimension to permit one of the electrode rods to pass into the central orifice, and have at least two legs, and preferably four legs, radially extending from the flat central portion. The legs have outer portions terminating with pods formed at substantially right angles to the flat central portion of the support element, the legs being of sufficient length to fit the support element within a specified cross-section of the envelope arms so as to contact an inside surface of the envelope arms with the pods. There is also provided means for securing the support elements within the envelope arms.

Abstract: A device for time conditioning children. The device comprises an alarm circuit for producing an alarm signal, an alarm timer for timing an alarm interval and activating the alarm circuit, and an alarm pre-set for providing a user with means to adjust the alarm interval. Additionally, the device comprises an offset timer for timing a delay interval and activating the alarm circuit and a delay pre-set for providing a user with means to adjust the alarm interval. An event switch switches between the alarm timer and the off-set timer and is operated by an event switch control. In one particular embodiment, the device comprises animation circuitry having a central processor unit (CPU), a library of children's stories in memory, and a speech circuit for broadcasting a children's story. This embodiment may also comprise a housing designed to resemble a playful children's character.

Abstract: The present invention is directed at an omnipositional pod for supporting a device such as a camera. The pod comprises a cushion for supporting the device, a fluid material contained within the cushion, a fastener mounted to the cushion being attachable to the device, and possibly a strap mounted to the cushion which creates a loop when fastened.

Abstract: The present invention is a toy gun which has a housing with a main section and a handle, a barrel, a trigger, a swivel cocking mechanism, a battery holder, electrical connections, a printed circuit board, a sound amplifier/speaker, and activation mechanism with springs, and sufficient circuitry to generate realistic cocking sounds and separate realistic firing sounds of a fired gun. The trigger has a finger portion below the pivot point and an engaging portion above the pivot point and is biased to a first position, e.g. via a spring, and, when the trigger is pulled, moves to a second position. The swivel cocking mechanism, attached to the housing, has a closed position and an open position. It is connected to an activation mechanism which has two positions corresponding thereto.

Abstract: A layered optical circuit including a multi-substrate optical circuit. The multi-substrate optical circuit includes a plurality of optical fibers, a first substrate supporting a first portion the optical fibers to form a first optical subcircuit, and a second substrate supporting a second portion of the optical fibers to form a second optical subcircuit. A third portion of the optical fibers between the first and second portions extends between the first and second substrates. Free fibers in the third portion are elongated to permit repositioning of the first and second optical subcircuits in an overlapping arrangement without exceeding a minimum bend radius of each of the optical fibers. The overlapping arrangement of the first and second optical subcircuits forms a layered optical circuit. Accordingly, a layered optical circuit having a large number of fibers and/or a complex circuit pattern may be affixed on a relatively small footprint of a backplane, etc.