Abstract: The act of heating water within a contained vessel that is common to most buildings, whether residential or commercial or located in recreational vehicles, mobile homes, aircraft, ships or marine pleasure craft, causes calcium carbonate to precipitate out and settle to the bottom of a heating or fluid containing vessel. The use of ultrasonic transmission within the vessel will agitate the water held within, preventing the normally stagnant hot water from producing calcium carbonate. Other benefits are the cleaning properties of ultrasonic transmission. Thus the internal parts of hot water heaters will enjoy a longer life. This benefit of agitation will also be found when applied to vessels that contain fluids that share similar problems as hot water heaters.

Abstract: A hand, wrist and forearm device for patients during surgery, including a pair of mating shells which fit about the patient's hand, and wrist and forearm. Each shell has a generally accurate lateral section wrist and forearm channel and a larger, generally accurate longitudinal section hand enclosure. The two shells are loosely hinged together along one edge, with a mutually mating closure provided along the edge generally opposite the hinges. The interior is preferably lined with removable padding, such as gel packs, visco-elastic material in order to apply light pressure to the hand and stabilize the position of surgical device on the hand. The pressure of the removable padding also provides a light outward pressure to stabilize the two halves of the assembly during use.

Abstract: A process and system for continuous assay and removal of toxins from tobacco. Products such as tobacco contaminated with mycotoxins, particularly aflatoxins, and benzpyrene and its precursors, are subjected to treatment, generally in a solvent medium, to decontaminate the tobacco of the toxin. Continuous monitoring of all harmful toxins eluted from the cleaning solvent is performed by immunoantibody ultraviolet fluorescence, for example. A quality, control process ensures removal of harmful toxins from tobacco before further processing. Decontamination of extracted solvent streams and re-additives ensures safe reuse or disposal of the solvents and re-additives.

Abstract: A load restraint system for securing cargo within transport containers such as intermodal containers (10), railroad cars, truck trailers, and the like, including first and second load restraining strips (24) with an adhesive coating (30) on at least a portion of one surface of the strips for adherence to sidewalls of a container and a locking and load restraining strip for bonding the free ends of the first and second load restraining strips (24) together into a load restraining system wherein the width of the adhesive portion (30) of the load restraining system is less than the width of the wrap around section of the load restraint system.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a novel method and apparatus for equestrian training wherein a finely adjustable strap is provided with an English saddle girth engaging portion and opposite end Velcro cooperating portions on opposite sides of the strap and is operable to be trained through an English saddle stirrup or around the saddle stirrup leathers to maintain the stirrup is a proper position for a given horse and rider.

Abstract: The present invention is a removable semi-elastic brace which may alleviate heel and arch pain. The present invention provides support to the heel and arch of the foot to aid in the treatment of plantar fasciitis, heel spur syndrome, calcaneal apophysitis, and Achilles tendinitis and tibialis posterior dysfunction. The device is adjustable to accommodate small changes in foot size. The device may also be used in conjunction with other treatment modalities including night or rest splints and custom-molded orthotics.

Abstract: A dual riser assembly for use with an offshore multi-activity drilling assembly to conduct drilling operations from a deck above the surface of a body of water into the bed of the body of water utilizing two risers, a first and a second, which extend from a location above the surface of a body of water to a common location adjacent to the bed of the body of water. Each riser terminates, at a distal end, into a dual riser assembly, allowing for selective open internal communication between each of the two risers and a single wellhole.

Abstract: An expandable, compact disc shipping container capable of securely holding a compact disc container and additionally providing added protection to the corners of the compact disc container, which usually is most vulnerable to damage during shipping, and to the compact disc itself. The expandable, shipping container is provided with a top closure flap that is at least as long as the width of maximum expansion and further provided with score lines that facilitate assembly of a container blank and provide the ability to hold compact discs containers of varying thickness securely during shipment.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel, non-progressive trifocal ophthalmic lens comprising distance-vision, near-vision and intermediate-vision optic fields. The non-progressive element of the trifocal lens is achieved by blending the transition zones between the different fields of vision. Further, unlike traditional trifocal lenses, the transition zones of the present invention are of uniform width, providing a smooth transition between the different optic fields that can not be easily discerned by a person observing a wearer of said ophthalmic lens.

Abstract: A dynamically positioned, concentric riser, drilling system comprising a dynamically positioned drilling unit operable to float at least partially above the surface of a body of water, a first, outer, low-pressure, marine riser extending from the drilling unit into the body of water, a tensioning system to support the first marine riser, a second, inner, high-pressure, marine riser concentrically extending within the first, outer, low-pressure, marine riser, a surface blowout preventor, a lower marine riser package, a subsea blowout preventor, and a connector at the base of the lower marine riser package to release the risers from the wellhead in the event of a loss of station of the drilling unit.

Abstract: A process and system for continuous assay and removal of toxins from tobacco. Products such as tobacco contaminated with mycotoxins, particularly aflatoxins, and benzpyrene and its precursors, are subjected to treatment, generally in a solvent medium, to decontaminate the tobacco of the toxin. Continuous monitoring of all harmful toxins eluted from the cleaning solvent is performed by immunoantibody ultraviolet fluorescence, for example. A quality-control process ensures removal of harmful toxins from tobacco before further processing. Decontamination of extracted solvent streams and re-additives ensures safe reuse or disposal of the solvents and re-additives.

Abstract: A catalytic gasification process and system for producing medium grade BTU gas including a gasification reactor having an inner air gasification zone, an outer steam gasification zone, a synthetic coal reaction zone, and an upper lime treating zone. The process and system of the present invention further includes a synthetic coal heating vessel which provides superheated recycled synthetic coal to the gasification reactor and a limestone treating vessel which provides superheated air and CO.sub.2 to the gasification reactor. The novel process and system of the present invention provides for the production of a medium grade BTU gas and several commercially valuable by-products with virtually no solid or liquid waste products.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a receptor for a posterior pituitary hormone, oxytocin; a DNA sequence encoding for the receptor; a recombinant DNA molecule containing the DNA sequence and a transformant comprising the recombinant DNA molecule. The present invention further relates to methods of detection and diagnosis and a kit to aid in same which comprise either oxytocin, its receptor or antibodies to the receptor.

Abstract: A water drainage and collection system and method of construction thereof is disclosed. The system includes a graded channel and a water impervious liner secured within the channel along the channel's wall surfaces. A plurality of scrap tire components are positioned within the channel and on top of the liner. The system includes a drainage reservoir formed at a low point in the channel. The surface water percolates through and around the scrap tire components, runs down the grades of the liner, and collects within the reservoir. A pumping station(s) cooperates with an irrigation system to recycle the water and chemicals back to the surface of the golf course or the like. The result of the system being the collection, storage, and recirculation of water and chemicals used to maintain the field area.

Abstract: A safety wallet having an alarm system for detecting a missing or partially inserted card or similar object. At least one pocket or compartment for retaining cards or similar objects is provided with opposing films of conductive material on a dielectric material base. An alarm circuit board is electrically connected with the conductive films such that an audio alarm is activated when the wallet is closed without a card in at least one pocket and the alarm is not activated when cards or similar objects are fully inserted in all the pockets.

Abstract: A pucker free garment seam providing a garment with a tailored and wrinkle free appearance. The pucker free seam and method for production utilizes a bonding strip which contains at least a thermal adhesive component which is inserted between first and second surfaces of a garment component along the seam. A sufficient amount of heat and pressure is applied to the seam which causes the adhesive of the bonding strip to flow onto the surfaces of the garment components thereby creating a compressed seam and permanently bonding the first and second surfaces of the garment component together along the seam to eliminate puckering associated with shrinkage of the sewing thread.