Abstract: A flashing article for sealing out and draining away moisture from all types of stucco coated exterior wall surfaces, and for impeding the ingress of termites, rodents, and other animal infestation, having a generally flat sheet of a rigid material having a first section, a second section extending from and angled with respect to the first section, and a third section extending from and angled with respect to the second section, the third section having at least one aperture defined therein, and a hollow tube that passes through the aperture. A perforated conduit for distributing a pesticide or other fluid is carried by the second section and fastened to a conduit connector which extends through an aperture in the third section to provide access for injection of the pesticide.

Abstract: A millennium object that embodies the nature of a “millennium”: the simultaneous ability to look forwards to a new era and backwards to the past. The object has two eyelike objects (“oculi”), each with two opposing “eyes” that see in two directions simultaneously. The oculi are attached to items such as desk accessories (letter holders, pen holders, calendars, etc.), jewelry (tie tacks, pins, earrings, pendants, etc.), accessories (key holders, belt buckles), clothing (caps, visors, T-shirts), dolls or figurines, or indeed any other desired item for commemorating the millennium. The oculi may be stationary or movable, of any desired color or shape. In one embodiment of the invention, a signal generator emits a perceptible signal whenever the oculi move.

Abstract: A bioremediation device including a water dissolvable material that may be held in a netting capable of suspension. The material preferably comprises surfactants that contain hydrophilic and/or hydrophobic tails that can easily form emulsions with the sewage material present by way of critical micelle formation. These surfactants preferably include but are not limited to nonionic surfactants that carry no charge. The hydrophilic portion preferably contains numerous polar ether linkages derived from polymerization of ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide with the hydrophobe. The preferred material comprises biodegradable alkanolamine surfactants that remove grease and organic matter from waste water by biological means through the induction of bacteria and enzyme as the material dissolves in the presence of waste water.

Abstract: A low loss optic lens cell the cell comprising at least one and preferably a plurality of light sources such as LEDs mounted to a board and capable of being electrically connected to a power source. A lens is attached to the board in a spaced apart relationship thereto. Each lens has a flat portion, least one and preferably a plurality of convex portions, and an aperture defined in each convex portion in a generally collinear arrangement relative to a corresponding LED. A plurality of the cells may be combined into an array, arranged in a housing, and connected to an electric control for operating the cells to form lighted patterns. Low intensity light rays are maximally utilized by refracting the rays back toward the LED axis and high intensity light rays are maximally utilized by allowing them to pass through the aperture without refraction and with little or no optical losses.

Abstract: A fabric comprising a blend of at least one polyester fiber and at least one elastic fiber for making postoperative garments, athletic garments, and other garments where it is desirable to provide for enhanced muscular support, performance, injury prevention, and comfort. The fabric has an elasticity of about 200-220±10% in both the warp direction and in the fill direction, the difference between the warp and fill direction elasticity preferably being no more than about 3% to about 5%, a compression modulus of about 1 to about 4, and a breathability measurement of 70-100% moisture loss within 30 minutes and an approximate skin surface temperature reduction of about 4-6° F. within about 3-7 minutes as measured by evaporative cooling, and the panels being attachable to each other along one edge by a closure means, such as mated hook and loop fasteners.

Abstract: A wall member with a first side having a tongue extending therefrom, a second side having a headed tongue extending therefrom, a third side having a groove defined therein for receiving a tongue of an adjacent panel, and a fourth side having a groove and cavity defined therein for slide-lock receiving of a headed tongue of an adjacent panel. The wall member may have a surface with a recess defined therein, and ribs extending from the recess. Also, the wall member may have a generally square, trapezoidal, hexagonal, or octagonal planar shape. Apertures may be defined in the tongue and grooves for aligning and receiving a dowel to lock panels together. A first corner section is defined by longitudinally extending the profile of the tongue through the profile of the headed tongue. A second corner section is defined by longitudinally extending the profile of the third side groove through the profile of the headed tongue.

Abstract: A pulse combustion system having at least one combustion chamber, having an outlet end of a generally coaxial air conduit, a fuel nozzle, and an ignitor arranged generally in a first section of the chamber, and having a tangential exhaust pipe arranged generally in a second section of the chamber. At least one primary exhaust pipe extends from the combustion chamber and a plurality of secondary exhaust pipes extend from the primary pipe. An enclosure is disposed about the combustion chamber and exhaust pipes, with a blower in communication with the enclosure. Also, a pulse combustion method of transferring heat to a material, generally including the steps of setting up a helical swirl of thermal and acoustic pulse waves within a chamber, expanding the waves along a length of the chamber, and propagating the waves tangentially out of the chamber into a resonant exhaust manifold and onto a material.

Abstract: An apparatus for organizing, transporting, and using medical devices and supplies during obstetrical evaluations, comprising a portable housing with an alarm system for contents thereof, a base housing capable of being structurally and electrically coupled to by the portable housing and optional housings, and a fixture mounting bracket for attaching the base housing to an examination table. The portable housing and base housing preferably have compartments for medical devices and supplies. The portable housing has a medical device compartment for accepting a Doppler receiving insert for storing a conventional Doppler device with a probe connected to a base, for accepting a customized Doppler base unit of an integral Doppler device with a probe connected to the base, or for accepting a scanhead receiving insert for storing a sonogram device with a scanhead connected to a console.

Abstract: A container with a front opening and a top opening, and a top wall preferably hinged to the container to cover the top opening. A hinged front wall covers the front opening and has a curved guide rail extending therefrom which is slidingly received in a curved guide channel formed in the left or right wall, with the rail having a knob for manually pivoting the front wall. A cross-bar assembly preferably comprises two parallel top rods with rollers, two parallel bottom rods with rollers, and two sets of two diagonal cross-rods, the rods interconnected such that the top rods move upward when the diagonal rods pivot upon the application of a force to the bottom rods. An actuator assembly preferably comprises a lever with a foot pedal coupled thereto. A linkage assembly is preferably coupled to the lever and the bottom rods, such that depressing the pedal actuates the linkage assembly to pull the bottom rods inward which moves the top rods upward against the bottom wall to raise the container.

Abstract: An interpretive system architecture for a seamless transfer of energy to a physical, chemical, or thermodynamic process stream, or microwave oven. The interpretive system architecture overlays the operational finctions of the process stream or host microwave oven to interpret, control, and implement user independent commands. The interpretive system has at least one interpretive base class for providing operational instance to the process stream or host microwave oven. The interpretive system receives an indicia, the indicia being expressive of an externally derived predetermined compiled code disposed on the surface of a specimen, or food package, or associated thereto, the indicia communicating via at least one data entry mechanism to the process stream or host microwave oven. The interpretive system interprets the data or code and transforms it into user independent commands.

Abstract: An automatic fluid control having a first and second tube members and a slidable valve element capable of moving from a sealed closed position to an open position permitting fluid passage therethrough. In a preferred first embodiment, the elastomeric valve element is slidingly received with a passageway in the first tube. The valve element has a flange portion containing a plurality of slits that, when inverted and stretched, permit fluid to pass therethrough, but when closed, are in contact with the inner wall of the first tube and prevents fluid from passing therethrough. The valve element also can have a rigid plug attached within an opening in the top surface to present a preferably non-deformable contact point for a male luer tip, which, when pressed downward on the valve element, breaks a seal between the valve element and the first tube inner wall.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for sealing access openings into blood vessels using an expandable member in the blood vessel on a control member that extends out through the access opening and an applicator which inserts a performed sealing material into the access opening over the control member to keep the control member and expandable member centered in the access opening and withdrawing the collapsed expandable member back though the sealing material after the access opening is sealed.

Abstract: At least one first column having a lower portion attached top a first floor and an upper portion attached to a second floor. The upper portion has a bore with an inner dimension. At least one second column having a lower portion and an upper portion attached to a third floor or building top structure. The lower portion has an outer dimension that is substantially the same or slightly less than the first column upper portion inner dimension so that the second column lower portion may be slidingly received in the bore of the first column upper portion in an overlapping, telescopic arrangement. At least one first retainer is attached to the first or second column, the retainer capable of engaging and supporting the second column thereon.

Abstract: A post with a series of generally parallel grooves defined therein and at least one shelf received, engaged, and supported by any of the grooves. A support frame has a base, a top, and cross-members disposed within and generally coextensive with the tubular post. A generally elastic sheet is disposed about the post to generally conform to the post sidewall and generally cover the grooves.An optional extension bar assembly has a collar receivable within any of the grooves and a bar with notches for receiving hangers. An optional connecting bar assembly has an elongated bar supported by two collars receivable within any of the grooves. Furthermore, there may be provided a holder for product information, and top and bottom housings mounted to the post with each containing a lighting assembly or the like.

Abstract: A first extension member has a head coupled to a first zipper head and a tail having a male connector and an elongated generally flat intermediate portion between the head and the male connector. A second extension member has a head coupled to a second zipper head and a body with a female connector that receives and locks the male connector and receives and permits free sliding movement of the elongated flat intermediate portion.The female connector prevents removal of the male connector therefrom to prevent opening the zipper beyond a predetermined position based on the length of the elongated intermediate portion. Because the male connector is positioned generally at the end of the tail and the elongated intermediate portion is generally flat, the tail may slide freely within the female connector between the head and the male connector so that the zipper is therefore not locked in any fixed position.

Abstract: There is described an improved method for treating crankcase emissions from an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of directing the emissions from the crankcase to an emissions separator, subjecting the emissions in the separator to a series of cleansing operations for removal of contaminants, directing the flow of cleansed emissions through a one way check valve back to the engine for combustion and collecting the separated contaminants for disposal.