Abstract: An electrical receptacle shield in the form of a thin sheet metal stamping for temporarily covering the front opening of a utility receptacle. The receptacle has free front edges that define a front profile having an inner perimeter. The shield has an outer peripheral section in an anterior plane, an inner section in a posterior plane, and an intermediate section that slopes between the inner section and the peripheral section. The peripheral and intermediate sections have a plurality of gaps with a plurality of catches extend outwardly through the gaps. The catches extend outwardly to the inner perimeter of the front edges. The shield is pressed into the receptacle opening, held in position by the catches, and pried out when no longer needed.

Abstract: A device and method for use in conjunction with exercise of about one hour or less which enhances convenience, and encourages compliance with a regimen of exercise beverages to accomplish preexercise hydration and postexercise hydration and muscle glycogen replenishment, and which includes a preexercise beverage formulation and a postexercise beverage formulation combined in a unified package with indicia and instructions. The preexercise beverage has a volume of from about 240 ml to about 300 ml, and the postexercise beverage has a volume of from about 300 ml to about 600 ml.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging system comprises: a housing providing a medical diagnostic chamber for a subject therewithin lying along an axis. The housing contains: a transmit/receive inductor system having a coil about the axis in proximity with the housing, a gradient inductor system having a coil operatively associated with the transmit/receive inductor system, and a field inductor system having a coil operatively associated with the transmit/receive inductor system. The field coil establishes a supervening field about the entire system. The gradient coil initiates perturbations in the fields and produces signals derived responsively from the perturbations. The transmit/receive coil includes a series of electrical transmission line elements paraxially distributed with respect to the axis about the subject. Each transmission line element includes an outer conductor and an inner conductor spaced radially from the outer conductor relative to the axis.

Abstract: A well styled, single layer shell jacket is resistant to inclement conditions, yet possesses the various characteristics of conventionally comfortable clothing, and permits the stitching of emblems thereon without impairing waterproof and windproof characteristics. Optionally, a liner is attachable to the interior of the jacket without disturbing the functionality of the shell jacket. Superposed on the waterproof and windproof fabric of each sleeve and forming a pocket thereon is a superposed upper patch, which appears to be a continuation of the yoke and the edges of which are joined to the sleeve by seams of stitching. In the patch is a zipper or other closure. This closure, when opened, permits entry into the pocket and sewing of an emblem or the like on the patch without affecting the waterproof and windproof construction of the remainder to the jacket.

Abstract: A handy computer accessory provides a mouse pad, which is cut out to provide an opening, and a paper pad in the opening. The paper pad consists of a stack of repositionable pressure sensitive adhesive sheets. When needed, the paper pad is visually and manually accessible to a computer operator. Graphics on the mouse pad and paper pad are functional and/or aesthetic. A used paper pad may be replaced easily by removing any residual backing and pressing a replacement paper pad into the opening in the mouse pad.

Abstract: A light beam deflector comprises an initial beam deflector that imparts a small initial deflection, and a beam deflection amplifier that increases the initial small deflection by a multiplication factor. The first of two initial beam deflector embodiments employs highly-electro-optic-sensitive materials and provides methods for reducing and eliminating their photorefractive effects, including the use of a suppressing light source, external electric fields, and temperature control. The second embodiment employs a multi-layer, iterative prism structure, increasing the aperture without increasing the supply voltage. The first of five embodiments of the beam deflection amplifier is a Keplerian telescope lens first stage and a negative lens system second stage. The second is a Galilean telescope lens first stage and a negative lens system second stage. The third is either a Keplerian or Galilean telescope lens alone. The fourth replaces the single second lens of the first stage with a compound lens system.

Abstract: A card game comprising a computer randomly selecting a unique card value for each card of a set of cards, allowing a player to choose a predetermined number of cards from the entire set as chosen cards, revealing the card values for at least the chosen cards, forming a hand from the card values of the chosen cards, and comparing the hand to a set of winning hands in a payout schedule. The player chooses cards from a displayed grid. The player may be provided with a way to carry chosen cards over from the previous game and/or to have the chosen cards chosen randomly. The chosen cards and/or selected card values may be displayed on another grid. Payouts may be made to the player based on the payout schedule.

Abstract: Newly received or generated paper documents of different content classifications are simply scanned under the control of a digital processor at random in date/time order to produce corresponding electronic images. Each paper document and its electronic image are automatically assigned a unique date/time identifier. No matter how the paper documents are classified, they simply are stacked in sequential folders, which in turn are stacked in sequential boxes. The folders and boxes are marked with the ranges of the date/time identifiers that have been assigned. The digital processor creates records that specify the classifications and the date/time identifiers of the documents. The digital processor then: can provide sets of electronic images that belong to selected content classifications for working purposes, and can indicate the locations of the paper documents in the folders and boxes whenever the need arises.

Abstract: An exhaust baffle filter comprising a frame, a plurality of overlapping upper and lower channels extending between the sides of the frame, and at least one trough at the end of the lower channels. Each upper channel has a ceiling and downwardly-extending walls. Each lower channel has a floor and upwardly-extending walls that vertically overlap the upper channel. The trough has a floor at or below the lower channel floors that is sealed to prevent leakage by liquids. Openings in the lower channel floors allow the grease in the lower channels to drain into the trough.

Abstract: A horizontally elongated wireway hanger of U-cross-section has an integral configuration of sections, i.e. tab and flange, which fit the wireway snugly and securely against a vertically elongated wireway downcomer of U-cross-section. Each U-cross-section is characterized by opposed walls connected by an intermediate saddle. The surfaces of the sections are free from each other, i.e. are not contiguous other than being integrally joined at certain edges. Along the saddle of the downcomer are a series of holes. Along the saddle of the hanger are a series of transverse slots. At least one tab lies in the geometrical plane of the forward wall of the hanger and includes a hole, which is registrable with a hole of selected height in the saddle of the downcomer and by which the hanger may be bolted to the downcomer. A series of parallel transverse slots in the saddle of the hanger is adapted to receive strapping by which a load of conduits may be secured to the hanger.

Abstract: Changing the locking mechanism in a U-lock, cable lock or other tie lock as often as desired is achieved without compromising the lock's resistance to physical damage. This function is achieved by an auxiliary sleeve that removably fits over the U-lock's crossbar or the cable lock's end bar. Either bar provides an aperture, which is too small to permit the locking mechanism to be picked or pried, but which is operatively positioned and sufficiently large to provide access for a key to the keyway of the locking mechanism.

Abstract: A U-lock holder for stowing a U-lock on a bicycle frame. The holder comprises a brace for connection to a leg of the U-lock, and a bracket for connection to a part of the bicycle frame. The brace and the bracket are adapted for engagement and disengagement with and from each other. The brace includes a collar, a tongue, and opposed intermediate articulations between the collar and the tongue. The bracket includes a mount, a channel, a saddle, and opposed intermediate guides between the channel and the saddle. The collar is adapted to receive and to be affixed to a leg of the U-lock. The mount is adapted to abut against the bicycle frame. A strap tightly affixes the bracket to the bicycle frame. Mating of the brace and the bracket effect simultaneous engagement of (1) the tongue and the articulations of the brace, and (2) the channel and the guides of the bracket.

Abstract: An optical switching system employing switching modules. Each module comprises (a) a source channel, (b) a transmitting element, (c) a receiving element, and (d) a destination channel. The transmitting element directs the source channel signal to a destination channel. The transmitting element includes an initial beam deflector and a beam deflection amplifier. The receiving element includes a beam deflection compressor and a beam aligner. One embodiment of the initial deflector is a pair of focusing lenses, one of which is displaced by a piezoelectric actuator. When one lens is displaced a distance d, the output light beam has a deflection angle &agr;=(f1+f2)/f2. The beam deflection amplifier multiplies the small angle &agr; by a transfer function F to result in a beam with a deflection angle F&agr;. The receiving element is the transmitting element in reverse. The first system configuration connects a single channel to one of a number of channels.

Abstract: A keyway protector having housing and the slider. The housing hugs the crossbar of a U-lock and secured by screws. The slider fits into a shallow depression in the inner surface of the housing and moves between open and closed positions. In the open position, an aperture in the housing, a hole in the slider, and the keyway are aligned to allow access to the keyway. In the closed position, the slider hole is not aligned, denying access to the keyway. A knob outside the housing is used to move the slider. Protrusions in opposed pivoting arms on the slider snap into opposed notches in the depression walls to hold the slider in the open or closed position.

Abstract: A network having a plurality of distributed systems at different geographical locations permits the random scanning of original documents at the different scanning locations and the storage of the original documents at precisely known storage locations. Original documents are identified by the date/time instances at which they have been scanned and are stored in containers that are marked with corresponding ranges of the date/time instances. Resulting images are identified by the date/time instances of scanning and may be organized electronically. The locations of original documents are immediately known to be in the containers that are marked with ranges of corresponding date/time instances.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for wirelessly determining position and orientation of a first object relative to a second object in six dimensions, including one or more recording assemblies and one or more identification-coded or orientation-coded optical transponders. The positions of the recording assemblies are fixed relative to the first object and the transponders are fixed relative to the second object. A light source in each recording assembly emits light into space that is received, modulated, and retransmitted back by each transponder to a photodetector assembly in the recording assembly. The identification-coded optical transponder modulates the retransmitted light with a unique fixed code. The orientation-coded optical transponder modulates the retransmitted light with a unique fixed code that depends upon the direction of the incident light.

Abstract: A swab dispenser comprising a bin adapted to store swabs, a fluid reservoir, and optionally, a cover. The bin may be compartmentalized. The reservoir ceiling has a depression in its outer surface, an aperture at the low point of the depression, and is optionally removable for cleaning and filling. A membrane covers the aperture. The membrane has an opening that is at least two intersecting slits or a circular hole that allows a swab to be inserted into the reservoir by temporarily deforming the membrane. Preferably, the floor of the reservoir is concave with the low point directly below the aperture. Alternatively, the bin and reservoir are separable so one may be replaced without having to discard the other.

Abstract: An anchor/tether assemblage for use with a security slot in a portable electronic article that provides a securement for securely attaching the portable article to a stationary fixture. The anchor includes an internal member, an external member, and a means for securing them together. The internal member includes a right angle portion inside the portable article that is approximately parallel to the inside wall. The external member has a clamping surface that abuts the outer surface of the portable article and a knob for attachment of the tether. The external member has an aperture into which the internal member fits and is removably secured by a screw that extends through the external member and into a threaded hole in the internal member. The tether denies access to the screw when attached to the knob. The tether has a locking head with an opening for attachment to the knob and a cable extending from the locking head.

Abstract: A card game having multiple rounds in which a player chooses which rounds to play and a number of cards for each round on a display. Each round has rules different from the other rounds. Cards and their values are randomly selected and revealed. Payouts are determined by the number of player-chosen cards that matches the number of randomly selected cards and/or by the hand formed by the randomly selected values revealed for the player-chosen cards.