Abstract: Image-intensifying glasses 100 that are suitable for certain commercial and entertainment applications by virtue of their light weight, small size, and economical production, compared to certain other night vision products. In one disclosed embodiment, input light passes through two Amici prisms 144 and 148 and a field-flattening lens 150 to reach an image intensifier 152. The intensified image it produces is reflected off a first folding mirror 162, passes through a lens 154, reflects off a curved mirror 156, and passes back through the lens 154 the other way. The intensified image then passes through two additional, non-doublet lenses 158 and 160, between which an intermediate image exists. The intensified image then reflects off the “lens,” or visor 130, of the glasses and proceeds to the pupil of eye 131 of the wearer. Alternative embodiments use a helmet visor, mirror, or other (at least partially) reflective surface for the final reflection.

Abstract: A substantially hollow practice bat is disclosed, and is useable by baseball players and other athletes in training and/or rehabilitation sessions to develop stronger and more precise swinging habits. A user typically stands in a pool of water approximately chest-deep. He or she swings the device in an approximation of a proper swing for the sport. The device includes holes that tend to minimize turbulence that a standard bat would generate, yet provides both resistance and good haptic feedback to the user. These features develop or redevelop strength and consistency in the user's swing. Analogous training benefits are obtained for many activities, such as batting, golfing, and tennis.

Abstract: A mixing valve (10) includes a valve body (12) having a hot fluid inlet (14), a cold fluid inlet (16), a mixed fluid outlet (18), and a cavity (20) in the valve body (12) between the inlets (14, 16) and the outlet (18). Mixing valve (10) includes a liner (30, 130, 230, 430, 530, 630, 730, 830) positioned in valve body (12) and a valve member (40, 140, 240, 340, 440, 540, 640, 740, 840) movable therein between a first position restricting the flow of hot fluid and a second position. Liner (30, 130, 230, 430, 530, 630, 730, 830) includes a downstream valve seat (74, 174, 274, 474, 574, 674, 774) that, when engaged by valve member (40, 140, 240, 340, 440, 540, 640, 740, 840), restricts flow of hot fluid past valve member (40, 140, 240, 340, 440, 540, 640, 740, 840).

Abstract: A low profile chassis and suspension system for a road vehicle. The chassis supports a payload section or cargo compartment, such as for a delivery truck, ambulance, or shuttle bus. The chassis includes a largely planar frame having a top surface which is located beneath the rotational axes of the rear wheels. The wheel suspension system is particularly compact and close to the road surface. In some embodiments each wheel is suspended from the vehicle by a pair of pivotal support arms. Preferably, one arm is located above the other arm, and both arms pivot along pivot axes that are generally perpendicular to the rotational axis of the supported wheel. A spring urges one of the arms apart from the frame. In other embodiments, the spring is placed beneath the rotational axis of the wheel. In some embodiments both of the pivoting support arms are located beneath the rotational axis of the wheel.

Abstract: A novel towelette dispensing assembly is presented comprising a housing and a frame wherein the housing is attached the frame, which in turn is releasably secured between the mounting brackets of a conventional toilet tissue roll holder. The frame includes parallel-spaced opposing support arms and mounting means. The mounting means is intended to be positioned on either side of a toilet tissue roll such that the expandable spindle provided as part of a conventional toilet tissue dispenser may engage or pass through said mounting means. The support arms of the frame assembly extend beyond the mounting means to bear against the wall or vertical surface to maintain the frame assembly in a substantially vertical position. One embodiment includes a novel tissue roll spindle. The towelette housing can take various shapes to accommodate a variety of conventional commercial towelette containers.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and apparatus for tempering the temperature of a liquid in a fluid conducting system. More particularly, some embodiments of the invention relates to tempering the temperature of water supplied to a fixture from a water heater in a fluid conducting system. The system can include a heater for heating the fluid and a diffuser for slowing the rate at which water provided to a decontamination fixture is heated.

Abstract: A bone fragment wire connects a bone fragment to an anchor bone for a healing duration. The bone fragment wire has a distal bone penetration section which is advanced into the bone and a proximal bone exterior section. The proximal bone exterior section is longer than the bone penetration section, and thus extends substantially out of the bone during healing of the bone. The bone penetration section includes a distal bone anchor section which threadingly engages the anchor bone, and a proximal fragment section of small diameter. The fragment section fits within the overbore created by advancing the bone anchor section through the bone fragment, and thus extends through but does not positively engage the bone fragment. A compression engagement on a distal end of the bone exterior section provides a compression shoulder. In one embodiment the compression engagement is provided by a threaded compression nut, while in another embodiment the compression engagement is permanently affixed to the bone wire.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for diverting objects to a second path from a first path. Some embodiments include an articulatable diverting member coupled to an endless loop placed at an oblique angle above the first path of the conveyor. The diverting members are selectively placed in either a retracted position or an extended position based on sensory knowledge of the particular objects passing underneath the endless member. In the extended position, the diverting members contact the particular objects and slide them to the second path. In the retracted position, the conveyed objects pass underneath the diverting member.

Abstract: An interactive voice and data response system that directs input to a voice, text, and web-capable software-based router, which is able to intelligently respond to the input by drawing on a combination of human agents, advanced speech recognition and expert systems, connected to the router via a TCP/IP network. The digitized input is broken down into components so that the customer interaction is managed as a series of small tasks rather than one ongoing conversation. The router manages the interactions and keeps pace with a real-time conversation. The system utilizes both speech recognition and human intelligence for purposes of interpreting customer utterance or customer text. The system may use more than one human agent, or both human agents and speech recognition software, to interpret simultaneously the same component for error-checking and interpretation accuracy.

Abstract: A speaker system including a first and a second horn, each having a respective acoustic driver and a respective planar mouth and a respective throat operationally connected between the respective acoustic driver and the respective mouth, wherein the mouths are substantially coplanar. The system is characterized by an acoustic dispersion angle of about thirty degrees in a first vertical dispersion plane and by an acoustic dispersion angle of at least about ninety degrees in a second horizontal dispersion plane oriented orthogonally to the first dispersion plane.

Abstract: A low profile chassis and suspension system for a road vehicle. The chassis supports a payload section or cargo compartment, such as for a delivery truck, ambulance, or shuttle bus. The chassis includes a largely planar frame having a top surface which is located beneath the rotational axes of the rear wheels. The wheel suspension system is particularly compact and close to the road surface. A trailing arm-type wheel support supports a stub axle in a cantilevered fashion. A spring urges the wheel support apart from the frame. A planar portion of the wheel support, the wheel support pivot joints, and the spring are located beneath the rotational axis of the wheel. In another embodiment, the frame includes a recessed pocket which facilitates use of ramp for wheel chair access.

Abstract: An invention for forming, filling, and sealing a flexible recloseable container. Both vertical and horizontal methods for placing product within the container are disclosed. The invention includes guiding a web of film which has interlocking fastener strips sealed to the web. A slider for locking and unlocking the fastener strips is placed in the correct orientation, spread apart at a pair of inner feet, and inserted over the fastener strips. The slider is positioned to close a substantial portion of the strips, and then an end stop, docking station, and corner seal are formed against a sealing plate. The slider is then repositioned, and a tamper evident seal may be placed over the fastener strips.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for forming, filling, and sealing a flexible recloseable container. Both vertical and horizontal methods for placing product within the container are disclosed. The invention includes guiding a web of film which has interlocking fastener strips sealed to the web. A slider for locking and unlocking the fastener strips is placed in the correct orientation, spread apart at a pair of inner feet, and inserted over the fastener strips. The slider is positioned to close a substantial portion of the strips, and then an end stop, docking station, and corner seal are formed against a sealing plate. The slider is then repositioned, and a tamper evident seal may be placed over the fastener strip. Apparatus and methods for placing a product in a flexible recloseable container, and also for manufacturing an empty, flexible recloseable container.

Abstract: A system and method for managing crisis communication are disclosed. A contact database holds information used to deliver broadcast messages to selected contacts. Messages are prepared in advance for delivery via different channels, including voice, fax, pager, and e-mail. Contact groups are defined by selecting specific contacts, or as “criteria groups” defined by search criteria. Notification tasks are created by determining the contact groups to receive the broadcast, then adding others if desired. Messages are selected for broadcast transmission in various channels. Administrators view a table of status codes for each attempted transmission. They filter the table based on each contact's status. Contacts or filtered sets can be added to and removed from a “renotification” list using the interactively filtered table. When contacts fail to confirm or update their contact information for longer than a certain period, the system automatically sends that contact a message reminding them to do so.

Abstract: A convertible threaded compression device connects a bone fragment to an anchor bone for a healing duration. The compression device has a distal bone penetration section which is advanced into the bone and a proximal bone exterior section. The proximal bone exterior section is longer than the bone penetration section. The bone penetration section includes a distal bone anchor section which threadingly engages the anchor bone, and a proximal fragment section which fits within the overbore created by the bone anchor section. A compression engagement on a distal end of the bone exterior section provides a compression shoulder. The shoulder makes substantial contact with an exterior surface of the bone fragment, biasing the bone fragment toward the anchor bone with a controlled compression force. The compression engagement enables the device to be easily removed from the healed fracture without damaging surrounding tissue.

Abstract: An audio player assembly comprising a housing, at least one speaker mounted in the housing, a recess formed in the housing and defining a bottom wall, a pair of oppositely disposed side walls and an angled rear wall. A digital sound storage device connection port, electrically connected to the speaker, is formed in the recess. A slot is formed in the angled rear wall, with a wedge member slidably connected to the slot, wherein the wedge member may move along the slot to effectively vary the depth of the recess, snugly engaging digital sound storage devices of varying dimensions.

Abstract: A low profile chassis and suspension system for a road vehicle. The chassis supports a payload section or cargo compartment, such as for a delivery truck, ambulance, or shuttle bus. The chassis includes a largely planar frame having a top surface which is located beneath the rotational axes of the rear wheels. The wheel suspension system is particularly compact and close to the road surface. In some embodiments each wheel is suspended from the vehicle by a pair of pivotal support arms. Preferably, one arm is located above the other arm, and both arms pivot along pivot axes that are generally perpendicular to the rotational axis of the supported wheel. A spring urges one of the arms apart from the frame. In other embodiments, the spring is placed beneath the rotational axis of the wheel. In some embodiments both of the pivoting support arms are located beneath the rotational axis of the wheel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for using a combination of sonication and ozone to decontaminate pressurized water. The process includes pumping polluted water from a source, such as a creek, river, pond or the like. The water is transferred to a treatment container where it is dissolved air is removed via vacuum, sonication, or both. Ozone is then dissolved into the water to destroy or otherwise remove pollutants. Dissolved gasses are once again then removed from the water. The treated water may then be piped to a storage tank for subsequent use. The uninterrupted sequential transfer of water from the source, through a treatment container and to the storage tank may be accomplished automatically by way of electronic sensors, valves and pumps that are made to communicate with a central processor control unit.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for forming, filling, and sealing a flexible recloseable container. Both vertical and horizontal methods for placing product within the container are disclosed. The invention includes guiding a web of film which has interlocking fastener strips sealed to the web. A slider for locking and unlocking the fastener strips is placed in the correct orientation, spread apart at a pair of inner feet, and inserted over the fastener strips. The slider is positioned to close a substantial portion of the strips, and then an end stop, docking station, and corner seal are formed against a sealing plate. The slider is then repositioned, and a tamper evident seal may be placed over the fastener strip.