Abstract: A portable studio hoist which can be positioned and secured in a studio pipe grid or other structural setting without the need for hard wired power supplies or fixed attachments. The portable studio hoist is designed to operate on standard single phase 120 volt power and includes a motor mounted to a support bar with a dual cable system for supporting, raising and lowering a batten to which the load is secured. The portable studio hoist allows for easy movement as needed within a studio environment and attachment where needed with provisions for variably orientated attachment relative to the pipe grid. A series of portable studio hoists can be secured around the studio and then controlled remotely from a single location by way of the use of control hubs, to which a series of portable studio hoists are connected, and a selector control station connected to each control hub with a pendant to operate the hoists.

Abstract: An enhanced mask system including a mask portion, for covering the nose, mouth and lower face of a wearer. The mask portion has an inner surface for being closer to the wearer and an outer surface for being further from the wearer. A head covering or balaclava is secured to the mask portion and a pocket secured to the inner surface of the mask portion removably contains the head covering or balaclava when in its secured position. The mask can be worn by the wearer either with the head covering or balaclava on the wearer's head in a deployed position or without the head covering or balaclava on the wearer's head and stowed in the pocket in the secured position.

Abstract: A gunn cut glove construction in which a pre-curvature at selected locations, preferably around the joints, in the fingers is achieved by sewing wedges of material into cut portions of the gunn section so that the shortened fingers and larger back sections easily meet at and can be joined without the need to gather or moccasin material resulting in the shape of the finger being such that it curves forward towards the palm section. Increased volume at the fingertips of a gunn cut construction glove is achieved by darting the palm side pieces of fingers proximate the fingertips. In addition, to reduce the inflexibility of gloves when curled into a fist, an elliptical piece is removed from the palm portion of the glove and the sides of the elliptical piece are sewn together along a seam.

Abstract: An aloe vera re-tanned leather for use in a glove, garment, sandal or shoe. The leather includes tanned leather having an internal fiber matrix. An aloe vera powder of aloe vera particles in a gel carrier is in the tanned leather in a retanning process so that the aloe vera particles in the gel carrier penetrate the internal fiber matrix and are temporarily trapped within the internal fiber matrix. The trapped aloe vera particles in the tanned leather gradually emerge from the inside surface of the leather to be in contact with, lubricate and treat the skin of a wearer of the glove, garment, sandals or shoes, whereby the aloe vera lubricated leather is particularly suitable for use in gloves, garments, sandals or shoes which come in contact with a wearer's skin. The process of retanning the leather to include the aloe vera in the leather and the gloves, garments, sandals and shoes incorporating the aloe vera retaining leather is also described.

Abstract: An improved leather formed of a leather having an internal matrix and a fiber matrix coupled to the leather matrix, the coupling creating a supplementary fiber matrix in the leather which enhances a characteristic of the leather. The improved leather includes fibers from the fiber matrix which pierce the leather in many locations and interlocking with other fibers both within the internal matrix of the leather and on a first surface of the leather. The improved leather is useful for gloves, shoes, garments, luggage and upholstery.

Abstract: A multi directional swiveling outlet adaptor which includes a plug assembly for connecting to a power source, a multiple outlet module rotatably coupled to the plug assembly so that an electrical connection is maintained as the plug assembly is rotated relative to the outlet module and a light assembly coupled to the outlet module for providing a visual indication that the plug is connected to a power source. The swivel outlet adaptor has three orthogonally oriented outlet adaptors designed to reduce the potential for tangling of power cords and maintains a low profile equivalent to the thickness of a plug.

Abstract: A protective, reversibly convertible lampshade. A first rigid frusto-conical section is adapted to receive a bulb socket. A second intermediate section is coupled to the first section and has a generally frustumated cone shape with the narrower end coupled to the broader end of the first frusto-conical section. The second section has a series of radially oriented slits for providing flexible movement of the second section relative to the first section. A third, frusto-conical section, the narrower end of the third frusto-conical section is coupled to the wider end of the second frusto-conical section. The third frusto-conical section is formed of a rigid material. Application of force to the first and second sections acts to cause the intermediate section to bend and fold relative to the first and third sections so that the volume of the lampshade is reduced in a reversible fashion.

Abstract: A secure access query system incorporating a messenger system. The system includes a communication server for receiving queries from a user and transmitting replies to the user, an application server for providing replies to queries, a network firewall for preventing unauthorized access to the application server and a messenger system, coupled to the communication server for receiving queries from the communication server, transmitting the query across the network firewall along a secure pathway established by the application server between the messenger system means and the application server, receiving replies from the application server along the secure pathway and transmitting the replies to the communication server. Queries from the user, outside of the network firewall, are thus communicated in a secure fashion to the application server, within the firewall, and replies are provided to the user from the application server through the secure pathway with the messenger system and the communication server.

Abstract: A method for enhancing the dissolution properties of relatively insoluble dietary supplements is provided in accordance with the invention. The method includes the steps of providing at least one relatively water insoluble dietary supplement, solubilizing the dietary supplement with a solubilizer, and incorporating an edible polyhydric alcohol into the solubilized dietary supplement to provide a liquid dietary supplement composition that will dissolve spontaneously in the gastrointestinal tract with the minimum agitation which normally occurs there due to peristaltic action. The liquid dietary supplement composition can be readily supplied by incorporation in a gelatin capsule and a gelatin capsule having a liquid dietary supplement incorporated therein is also provided in accordance with the invention. The gelatin capsule dissolves readily in the digestive tract and the dietary supplement has enhanced bioavailability in comparison to prior art gelatin capsules.

Abstract: A vibration reducing sports glove. The glove includes a palm panel for covering the inner portion of a wearer's hands and fingers, thumb panel for covering the wearer's thumb, coupled to the palm panel, and a back panel for covering the outer portion of a wearer's hand and fingers. Vibration reducing pads are coupled to the interior of the glove in critical locations for reducing the degree of vibration. As a result, a vibration reducing sports glove provides a reduction in the vibration and shock transmitted to the wearer's hand at the time a shock or vibration is applied to the outer surface of the glove.

Abstract: A glove having palm, back and finger portions with an opening in the back, side or palm portions between a flap portion and the bonding location. A magnetic closure coupled to the flap portion and the bonding location proximate the opening is formed of a soft magnet secured to the back of the glove whereby a comfortable, adjustable and quiet opening closure is provided. The glove provides enhanced fit without the distracting noise of a hook and pad closure when opened. A magnetic golf ball marker releasably attaches to the glove.

Abstract: A sharps protection system for a blood collection set, needle, syringes, other hollow needle invasive instruments and other sharp instruments such as scalpels. This system includes a sharp pointed needle having a tip at a first end and a handle coupled to the needle proximate to the end of the needle opposite to the tip. A protection mechanism is coupled to the handle and the needle for selectively protecting the tip of the needle from undesired physical contact. The protection mechanism is moveable from a first, inactive state to a second, protective state in which at least the tip of the needle is covered by the protection mechanism and protected against inadvertent contact. The sharps protection system is particularly suitable in connection with a butterfly type IV blood collection set.

Abstract: A thermal regulating sports glove or shoe incorporating an electrostatic field within the fiber structure of the natural or synthetic leather, from which the glove or shoe is formed. The electrostatic field causes the water molecules in the wearer's perspiration to remain in a constant state of agitation thereby breaking down the bond of surface tension of the normal liquid state of water into free water molecules. Free water molecules are then pulled through the natural or synthetic leather by a magnetic process to the surface, where they pass into the air as evaporated water. This evaporation on the outer surface of the glove or shoe, which is now acting much as "second layer of skin", serves to regulate the temperature of the wearer's hand or foot almost as if the evaporation were taking place on the wearer's own skin surface.

Abstract: A protective snowboard glove having a top panel, a bottom panel and a plurality of side panels and fourchettes. A coupling structure secures the side panels and fourchettes between the top panel and the bottom panel around a series of seams, forming a glove having a series of finger sections and a thumb section. Each of the finger sections has a tip region formed of a portion of the top panel forming the back of the fingertip, a portion of the bottom panel forming the palm side of the fingertip and a side panel or fourchette on each side of the tip region forming the sides of the tip region. The series of seams includes at least a top seam, connecting the top panel to the side panel or fourchette on each side of the tip region and a bottom seam and connecting the bottom panel to the side panel or fourchette on each side of the tip region.

Abstract: The invention is generally directed to a waterproof, breathable glove which is cut from a Lycra based synthetic leather formed by coating knitted Lycra fabric with a film of polyurethane. It is necessary that the Lycra base have controlled stretch in both length and width in order for the two piece construction to achieve the skin tight exact fit required by golfers. The stretch in width should be about 100% and in length about 75% which allows the two piece glove to conform exactly to a wearer's hand. The two cut pieces are joined together with one common seam either by laser bonding or heat bonding. The two pieces can also be joined by sewing but in that case it is necessary to seal the single seam which is less desirable but, still practical, unlike seam sealing an eight piece glove.

Abstract: The invention is generally directed to an improved glove having an inner liner including at least a waterproof breathable membrane layer formed as a generally two dimensional glove, an outer glove shell layer formed as a three dimensional glove pattern and a connecting member stitched or otherwise permanently fastened to the outer shell in strategically designed locations and secured by non piercing connection to the inner liner. An improved glove with increased compensation for the geometrical variance between the two dimensional inner layer and the three dimensional outer layer is provided.

Abstract: A construction method for pre-curved gloves and mittens which aids in the simplification, efficiency and repeatability of assembly. Panels of the gloves or mittens are marked, prior to assembly with lines which indicate where the gathering, darting or cut and sew reduction is to occur and how much material is to be taken in. In the cut and sew reduction the extra material between the marked lines is cut and removed prior to attachment of the lines.

Abstract: An article packaging kit, system and method which system includes a flat, corrugated, cardboard sheet material having a central horizontal fold line and two vertical fold lines to define a base and two end portion. The system includes a flexible plastic sleeve or tube which loosely fits about a portion of the base of the sheet material in the flat condition. The sheet material moves between a horizontal line folded position when an article to be packaged is inserted within the sleeve and a flat, article hugging, immobilizing position when the end portions are folded upwardly causing the base portion to become flat. The system includes optionally inserting the immobilized article on the folded sheet material into a packaging or shipping container.