Abstract: A blower includes a housing including an inlet and an outlet, a bearing-housing structure provided to the housing and adapted to rotatably support a rotor, a motor provided to the bearing-housing structure and adapted to drive the rotor, and an impeller provided to the rotor. The bearing-housing structure includes a bearing shaft having a bearing surface that rotatably supports the rotor. The bearing shaft provides only a single bearing of the non-ball bearing type for the rotor.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for delivering advertising messages to occupants of an elevator cab includes a network mainframe server located remotely from the elevator cab. The apparatus further includes an individual processing unit (IPU) located at the elevator cab and in communication with the network mainframe server over a telephone line configured for transmitting a digital data signal. The IPU includes a central processing unit (CPU) and a monitor electrically connected to the CPU. In a particular embodiment, the IPU further includes an infrared camera for detecting the number of occupants in the elevator cab when an advertising message is displayed. The network mainframe server transmits the advertising messages to the CPU of the IPU over the telephone line. The advertising messages are stored on the CPU and displayed to the occupants of the elevator cab on the monitor of the IPU.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for delivering advertising messages to occupants of an elevator cab includes a network mainframe server located remotely from the elevator cab. The apparatus further includes an individual processing unit (IPU) located at the elevator cab and in communication with the network mainframe server over a telephone line configured for transmitting a digital data signal. The IPU includes a central processing unit (CPU) and a monitor electrically connected to the CPU. In a particular embodiment, the IPU further includes an infrared camera for detecting the number of occupants in the elevator cab when an advertising message is displayed. The network mainframe server transmits the advertising messages to the CPU of the IPU over the telephone line. The advertising messages are stored on the CPU and displayed to the occupants of the elevator cab on the monitor of the IPU.

Abstract: Improved cushioned footwear of the type in which, in the past, nails, such as heel nails, gang nails and/or heel seat nails extended into the heel area of the footwear and/or in which, in the past, such footwear included a rigid shank which extended into the heel area, is formed with an opening in the heel area. The heel plug of a cushioning element is placed in the opening. The apparatus for forming the opening is also disclosed.

Abstract: A number of systems and methods for analyzing electronic image signals are provided which include processing the image signal as one or more cells, each comprising a plurality of pixels. For consecutive frames of the monitored image, a set of pointers are generated, each containing a value related to the detail contents of the image. The pointers are used to address a memory array, each pointer corresponding to a row in the memory array and the content of each pointer pointing to a memory element in the corresponding row. For successive frames, the value of each memory element addressed by a pointer is updated.

Abstract: A method for precisely perforating an opening in footwear by positioning the footwear on a foot form with the outsole facing upward, supporting the vamp area of the footwear by a V-shaped support, clamping the rear section of the footwear to stabilize the footwear and moving the footwear upwardly against the die under pressure so that an opening is perforated in the heel area of the footwear. The apparatus includes a shuttle member on which the foot form, the V-shaped support and the clamp are carried. The clamp is activated when the shuttle is moved to contact a limit switch. The footwear is caused to be moved upwardly against the die under pressure upon the operator activating a switch.

Abstract: A dental saliva ejector tube and/or high volume evacuator tube guard having an annular ring segment for frictional and releasable attachment to the open, free end of the ejector tube or as an integral part of a suction tube, either flexible or rigid. The tube guard includes a pair of symmetrical guard loops lying in spaced, parallel planes each having two opposite ends which integrally extend from the annular ring segment and taper inwardly toward the central axis of the annular ring segment in a direction away from the ejector tube. In the preferred embodiment, the symmetrical guards have substantially straight segments extending between the distal end of the guards and the annular ring segment, forming an acute inner angle with the central axis of the ring segment.

Abstract: An open web metal structural beam for use in building construction has a generally Z-shaped transverse cross section and is capable of being nested and joined in a lapped position with like beam members. The beam has a top chord defined by an elongate longitudinal angle having an L-shaped transverse cross section, a bottom chord member defined by an elongate longitudinal angle having an L-shaped transverse cross section. The top and bottom chords are secured by an open web member in vertically opposed relation with the vertical leg portions of the L-shapes aligned vertically and horizontal leg portions of the L-shapes in laterally opposed relation and the laterally opposed longitudinal edges of the horizontal leg portions of the L-shapes are bent to form vertically opposed longitudinally extending stiffener lips on the chord members. One or more metal angle members welded vertically between the vertical legs of L-shaped chord members on the side opposite the web increase the rigidity of the structural beam.