Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a pool cleaner body in a manner to maximize the time spent on cleaning relative to the time spent on repositioning. More particularly, the invention is directed to a control subsystem for operating a cleaner body to enable it to primarily travel in a forward direction (i.e., forward state) along a travel path but operable also in a backup/redirect state to translate and or rotate the body to enable it to escape from obstructions while also minimizing the formation of conduit tangles. The control subsystem is configured to perform reposition operations without increasing incidents of conduit tangling by: 1—avoiding an excessive rotation of the body, e.g., approximately 180° or more, when attempting to free the body from an obstruction; and/or 2—avoiding the initiation of a timed reposition operation while the body is transitioning between a travel path at the wall surface and a travel path at the water surface.

Abstract: A camisole comprising a tubular garment intended to be worn over a bra having shoulder straps. The camisole includes left and right suspension members, e.g., hooks, for suspending the camisole from the bra straps.

Abstract: A voice coil suspension system comprising a spider formed of flexible dielectric material defining a flexure portion configured to suspend a voice coil for axial displacement and an elongate connector portion for carrying flat electrical conductors for electrically connecting terminals of said voice coil to stationary electric contacts.

Abstract: A reusable adhesive bra, comprising: a fabric bra having a pair of bra cups, each of the bra cups having a forwardly facing surface and a rearwardly facing surface; a pair of bra forms adapted to be matingly received in the pair of bra cups, each of the bra forms having a forwardly facing surface and rearwardly facing surface; each of the bra form forwardly facing surfaces adapted to be removably fastened to a respective one of the bra cup rearwardly facing surfaces of the fabric bra; each of the bra forms having a substantially centrally disposed hole therethrough; each of the bra form rearwardly facing surfaces having a reusable adhesive coating adapted to be removably fastened to a respective one of a user's breasts and having the substantially centrally disposed hole surrounding a respective one of the user's nipples, when the reusable adhesive bra is worn by the user.

Abstract: A system for automatically manipulating prerecorded audio data to produce an audio track synchronized to a target video track. The system allows a user to select a music source from multiple music sources stored in a music library. Each music source includes multiple audio portions having block data and beat data associated therewith. The block data includes data blocks respectively, specifying the duration of the associated audio portions. Each data block preferably also includes interblock compatibility data and/or suitability data. The beat data, generally referred to as a “beatmap”, comprises timing information specifying the rhythmic pulse, or “beat” for the associated music source portion. The system is operable to produce an audio track synchronized to a video timing specification (VTS) specifying successive timing segments delimited by successive video events. After the user selects a music source, the system generates a music segment for each defined timing segment.

Abstract: A medical apparatus and method of use for implanting a percutaneous catheter in a patient's body which catheter can be easily positioned, repositioned, and replaced. The apparatus includes an elongate sleeve having a tapered forward portion to facilitate its insertion through an undersized incision. The sleeve provides an interior elongate passageway which extends from a sleeve proximal end to a sleeve distal end. The sleeve is intended to be percutaneously implanted through an incision in the patient's skin so that the sleeve distal end resides subcutaneously. The sleeve outer peripheral surface carries a layer of porous material intended to be placed under the patient's outer skin layer in contact with the dermis to promote tissue ingrowth for anchoring the sleeve and forming an infection resistant barrier. The sleeve passageway is dimensioned to snugly accommodate the outer surface of catheter while permitting the catheter to slide relative to the sleeve.

Abstract: A hearing aid system (10) including an implantable device (60), and a surgical instrument (134) for enabling a physician to install the implant (60) in a patient's body in a simple office procedure using only local anesthesia.

Abstract: A system for monitoring and/or affecting parameters of a patient's body and more particularly to such a system comprised of a system control unit (SCU) and one or more other devices, preferably battery-powered, implanted in the patient's body, i.e., within the envelope defined by the patient's skin. Each such implanted device is configured to be monitored and/or controlled by the SCU via a wireless communication channel. In accordance with the invention, the SCU comprises a programmable unit capable of (1) transmitting commands to at least some of a plurality of implanted devices and (2) receiving data signal from at least some of those implanted devices. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the system operates in closed loop fashion whereby the commands transmitted by the SCU are dependent, in part, on the content of the data signals received by the SCU.

Abstract: Improvements are described in the injection of ammonia (NH.sub.3) into the exhaust gases of an engine to reduce nitrogen oxides. Instead of merely injecting ammonia into the exhaust gas conduit through a hole in its side, an ammonia injector (90) is provided that projects considerably into the exhaust conduit (16), with the injector having a plurality of holes (94). The ammonia is activated to decompose it into its reactive components, including NH.sub.2 and NH prior to injecting it into the exhaust conduit. Such activation prior to injection can be accomplished by heating the ammonia in the presence of a catalyst such as a metal of the platinum group, iron, nickel, or zinc. In an engine that has a fuel injection system wherein electrical pulses are delivered to fuel injectors to control the fuel flow rate, the durations of these electrical signals are used to control the opening of a valve (72) that controls the flow rate of ammonia into the exhaust gas conduit.

Abstract: An earplug of the slow recovery type is described, which has open cells for expelling gas to the outside during compression, but which resists the entry of water through the outside and the soiling of the outside by dirt. The earplug includes a body formed of pressure-molded slow recovery resilient foam material forming multiple gas-filled shells. The plug body has a surface region forming a skin wherein the average cell cross-sectional area is less than half that of cells at the center of the body, and is less than one-tenth millimeter, the surface region being primarily continuous.

Abstract: A system is provided for changing hydraulic oil in vehicles such as airplanes, which enables rapid replacement of dirty oil and rapid cleaning of oil to meet military/commercial aircraft specifications for reuse. The apparatus includes a frame (40), dirty and clean oil tanks (14, 16) mounted on the frame, a filter tank (30) with filters (32) mounted on the frame, and pump and valve means (20) for controlling the flow of oil. Initially, the apparatus is rolled up to an airplane, dirty oil in the hydraulic reservoir of the plane is pumped into the dirty oil tank, and clean oil from the clean oil tank is pumped into the airplane reservoir. Thereafter, while the apparatus is moved or is stationary, dirty oil from the dirty oil tank is pumped through filters of the filter tank and into the clean oil tank for an initial cleaning, and thereafter the oil is continually circulated from the clean oil tank through the filtered tank and back to the clean oil tank to polish the oil.

Abstract: A rotary fluid valve has a pivotable disk (36) with through slots (38, 39), the disk blocking outer ends of ports (31, 32) in a neutral disk position. When the disk pivots in first or second directions from the neutral position, one of its slots moves into line with one of the ports. This allows pressured air to flow from the now-uncovered port and through the disk slot, and through an upper chamber (46) lying against the upper face of the disk, to allow air to flow between an external fluid coupling (17 or 18) that is coupled to the port, to another external coupling (19, 20) that is coupled to the upper chamber, as to inflate or deflate a vehicle air bag.

Abstract: An apparatus useful for detecting the speed and/or position of an object moving along a defined path and more particularly to such an apparatus configured to minimize the spacing between a sensing face of the apparatus and a target surface on the object. Embodiments of the invention are particularly suited for sensing the speed of a rotating member, e.g., a gear, by utilizing a sensor, such as a Hall-effect sensor, to detect the movement of each gear tooth past the sensor. An apparatus in accordance with the invention is configured to mount the sensor for adjustable positioning along a sensor path between an initial position and a final operational position. Movement of the sensor along the sensor path is restricted, e.g., by frictional engagement, but can be overcome by contact with the target surface so as to move the sensor to its final position with the spacing, i.e., airgap between the sensing face and the target surface, minimized.

Abstract: A magnetic tape cartridge incorporating a drive belt characterized by a pattern of recesses in the belt surface in contact with the magnetic tape which are used to provide traps for tape contaminants. Different types of patterns are used to eliminate tension variations which would otherwise occur as a consequence of tape contaminants during the projected life of the cartridge.

Abstract: A vacuum assisted toilet is described, of the type wherein the toilet bowl outlet has a lower trap that is open to the passage of air therethrough except during each flushing when a vacuum is applied, which uses the vacuum more effectively. A vacuum source (46, FIG. 3) includes a first container portion (107) that holds water between flushings, with the water released during a flushing and creating a vacuum in a second portion (106) of the container that is coupled through a vacuum conduit (48) to the toilet bowl outlet. Instead of constantly coupling the second portion of the container to the bowl outlet, the second portion of the container is allowed to progressively expand but remain substantially unconnected to the bowl outlet until a predetermined amount of expansion (to 108) when the second portion is suddenly connected through the vacuum conduit (48) to the bowl outlet.

Abstract: A fluid swivel is described, of the type that carries oil, water or natural gas at high pressure between an undersea well and a weathervaning ship, which has a seal device of increased lifetime. The seal device (56, FIG. 2 ) lies in a cavity of a first swivel part (12) and includes a rigid seal ring (62) that is slidable toward and away from a sealed surface (66). A deformable seal (60) can be backed up by the seal ring, with the seal ring sliding to close the extrusion gap (70) into which the seal could extrude when high pressure fluid enters the swivel. A pressure source (80) coupled to the cavity urges the backup part to deform radially and slide toward the sealed surface with a force that increases as the pressure of fluid in the swivel increases.

Abstract: A vacuum assisted toilet wherein a vacuum is applied between upper and lower traps (40,44 in FIG. 2) of a toilet bowl outlet during a flushing, wherein the lower trap is constructed to more reliably assure that an air passage (64) above a pool of water (52) of the lower trap will quickly close near the beginning of a flushing and will remain open between flushings. The lower trap has a lower wall (50) that holds a pool of water (52) with a pool top (62) of predetermined height (A) between flushings, and has an upper wall (60) spaced above the pool top to form an air passage. The upper wall forms a narrow but tall vent (100, FIG. 4) of the air passage, which assures that the air passage will always be open between flushings, and with the narrow but tall vent being quickly closed by water rapidly flowing therethrough at the beginning of a flushing.