Abstract: A storage unit has a lower flexible rack configured to hold resiliently at least one piece of luggage and an upper horseshoe-shaped hanging bar configured to suspend clothes therefrom. A removable, horizontally oriented, stabilizing bar is secured at a junction above the lower flexible rack but below the upper horseshoe-shaped hanging bar. The storage unit also includes a pair of replaceable, vertically extending tubes connected to the lower flexible rack and a pair of inverted L-shaped tubes connected to the upper horseshoe-shaped hanging bar. The pair of replaceable, vertically extending tubes and the pair of inverted L-shaped tubes are connected to each other. Also, the pair of vertically extending tubes is replaceable by another pair of vertically extending tubes of a different length.

Abstract: A cyclical thermal management system is provided for responding to diurnal heating and nocturnal cooling cycles to maintain a high altitude platform in a geostatic position for long periods of time. The novel cyclical thermal management system utilizes solar energy collection devices to collect solar energy which is stored and utilized to operate physical and chemical exothermic processes for heating the lifting gas of the novel high altitude platform at night and to operate physical and chemical processes during the day for transferring the heat of the lifting gas to maintain a particular geostatic position. The cyclical thermal management system utilizes a recyclable energy storage material which is utilized in not only the cyclical thermal management of heat diurnally but also to provide for seasonal and longitudinal variation by increasing or decreasing the volume of lifting gas or by increasing or decreasing the amount of the energy storage material.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for monitoring and controlling termite infestation. The apparatus is comprised of a termite resistant housing having (1) a bottom, (2) sidewalls having an interior and exterior surface and (3) a top. The top includes an opening for accessing the interior of the housing to identify the presence of termites and to introduce toxic bait into the housing when the presence of termites is observed through an opening for accessing the housing interior. The housing has at least one sidewall opening large enough to permit termites to pass through and nontoxic termite bait fixedly attached to the interior and/or exterior of one or more of the housing sidewalls. A number of alternative architectures are provided which have in common the feature of allowing termites to transition from nontoxic bait to toxic bait that is introduced in a manner that minimizes disturbance to the termite habitat at, without or within the apparatus.

Abstract: A refrigerated showcase has a front opening through which a consumer can view and access foodstuffs on display. The foodstuffs are cooled by coolant air introduced through a rear wall of the showcase. An air curtain directed downwardly at the front opening minimizes coolant air loss through the opening. Dual evaporator coils are arranged in housings on different sides of a plurality of fan motors. Condensate water produced by the dual evaporator coils is pumped to a primary dissipater pan arranged on top of the showcase. Because of the large amount of condensate water produced by the dual evaporator coils, a secondary dissipater pan is provided as a back-up system for any excess condensate water. A three-way solenoid valve diverts the excess condensate water to the secondary dissipater pan when the primary dissipater pan is full.

Abstract: A new add-on vehicular system is capable of responding to large area or nation-wide commands over paging networks, to remotely foil the unauthorized use or theft of a vehicle or a fleet automobile or a group of fleet vehicles, as well as to help the recovery of stolen vehicles. The preferred embodiment of the system comprises a paging receiver and decoder, a microcontroller with embedded programmable software and memory and a vehicular systems control interface. The system does not require central monitoring systems, or portable controls or vehicular user set controls or portable key chain controls or keypads or cellular phones or separation of vehicular transceivers from owner carried transceivers to activate the system. In a second embodiment, a two-way radio paging approach is employed in the system to expand its capabilities and to additionally provide remotely controlled transmission of data from vehicles, including data pertaining to the position coordinates of the vehicle.

Abstract: A platen machine for filling and sealing packages is provided having an upper platen and a lower platen journalled and independently moveable on a common alignment shaft to provide a close tolerance sealing mechanism with an independently operated heat seal element. The novel platen machine relocates clamping forces from the support frame to the alignment shaft so that the common alignment shafts bears the clamping forces and the carrier merely relies upon the frame to support the weight of the machine and not clamping forces. The upper platen moves toward the lower platen and the lower platen moves toward the upper platen to clamp a package between the two platens before an independently operated heat seal element is activated to advance to the clamped package and provide a heating and sealing cycle independent of the clamping cycle. Optional filling, gassing and evacuation can be provided during the clamping of the package without involving the separate heating and sealing operation.

Abstract: A novel energy producing flexible material is provided particularly suited for high altitude and stratospheric applications. The flexible energy producing covering includes a flexible solar cell layer, a flexible substrate which preferably matches the shape and size of the airship gore as well and an electrically conductive conduit disposed in a flexible electrically non-conductive adhesive connecting the flexible solar cell substrate to the airship substrate. Preferably two electrically conductive conduits are provided between the substrate layer and the flexible solar cell layer with the electrically conductive conduits being insulated from one another by the non-conductive adhesive. The novel process provided by the invention for joining the airship substrate to the flexible solar cell substrate includes heat, pressure and the selection of substrate materials and in certain applications the use of a vacuum.

Abstract: An environmentally compatible propulsion system for low maintenance and long term durations at high altitudes is provided which is capable of utilizing high altitude ambient gas as fuel and producing ozone as a by-product of propulsion. The ion engine propulsion system ionizes a portion of an ambient atmospheric fuel to create a negative ionic plasma for bombarding and accelerating the remaining portion of the ambient atmospheric gas in a focused and directed path to an ion thruster anode. The novel ion engines provided create a negative ionic plasma between a cathode ion thruster and a ring-shaped anode in a housing composed of an electrical insulative material in which the cathode ion thruster is charged to -18 to -110 kilovolts (kv) to utilize ambient atmospheric gas as the propellant.

Abstract: A cyclical thermal management system is provided for responding to diurnal heating and nocturnal cooling cycles to maintain a high altitude platform in a geostatic position for long periods of time. The novel cyclical thermal management system utilizes solar energy collection devices to collect solar energy which is stored and utilized to operate physical and chemical exothermic processes for heating the lifting gas of the novel high altitude platform at night and to operate physical and chemical processes during the day for transferring the heat of the lifting gas to maintain a particular geostatic position. The cyclical thermal management system utilizes a recyclable energy storage material which is utilized in not only the cyclical thermal management of heat diurnally but also to provide for seasonal and longitudinal variation by increasing or decreasing the volume of lifting gas or by increasing or decreasing the amount of the energy storage material.

Abstract: A universal storage management system which facilitates storage of data from a client computer and computer network is disclosed. The universal storage management system functions as an interface between the client computer and at least one storage device, and facilitates reading and writing of data by handling I/O operations. I/O operation overhead in the client computer is reduced by translating I/O commands from the client computer into high level commands which are employed by the storage management system to carry out I/O operations. The storage management system also enables interconnection of a normally incompatible storage device and client computer by translating I/O requests into an intermediate common format which is employed to generate commands which are compatible with the storage device receiving the request. Files, error messages and other information from the storage device are similarly translated and provided to the client computer.

Abstract: A mixer and method of mixing are described which involves forming a viscous first fluid into a thin film by passage through an annulus and then injecting a second fluid into the flowing liquid. Injection may be through either annulus-forming surface or both in various patterns. A particular mixer adapted for use in the uniform mixing of rennet and precheese. The precheese is suitably formed by ultrafiltration of milk. The mixer forms an annulus and injects rennet circumferentially into the surface of precheese/retentate flowing in the form of a thin film through the annulus formed by the mixer. Downstream of injection, additional mixing means may be included to further enhance mixing. The mixer is adapted for modification and facile disassembly for cleaning to maintain sanitary standards.

Abstract: A new add-on vehicular system is capable of responding to large area or nation-wide commands over paging networks, to remotely foil the unauthorized use or theft of a vehicle or a fleet automobile or a group of fleet vehicles, as well as to help the recovery of stolen vehicles. The preferred embodiment of the system comprises a paging receiver and decoder, a microcontroller with embedded programmable software and memory and a vehicular systems control interface. The system does not require central monitoring systems, or portable controls or vehicular user set controls or portable key chain controls or keypads or cellular phones or separation of vehicular transceivers from owner carried transceivers to activate the system. In a second embodiment, a two-way radio paging approach is employed in the system to expand its capabilities and to additionally provide remotely controlled transmission of data from vehicles, including data pertaining to the position coordinates of the vehicle.

Abstract: A hair clip includes a pair of clamping arms hinged together at an end thereof to define the clamping means of the hair clip. The clamping arms are moveable between a first open position wherein hair may be inserted or removed from the hair clip and a second closed position wherein hair is secured between the arms of the hair clip. The invention is directed to an alternating sequence of rubber teeth secured to the inner surface of each clamping arm which are in an interlocking mating relationship providing for a greater surface area between the clamping arms of the hair clip for better grasping and holding fine hair in place when the hair clip is in the closed position. A fastening clasp is provided opposite the hinge end of the clip for releasably maintaining the hair clip in the closed position.

Abstract: An exercise device is provided having a resilient or flexible front impact surface and a plurality of identification indicia for identifying target areas on the flexible impact surface. The exercise device preferably utilizes lights as the identification indicia that are resiliently mounted to the exercise device which are sequentially operated by a microprocessor to force an athlete to contact the identified area on the impact surface while speed, strength and agility may be measured and analyzed by the microprocessor. The software for operating the microprocessor provides a wide range of workout levels and routines and imparts the ability to identify weak areas in the performance of the athlete and provide specific future training routines to improve overall performance in speed, agility and power.

Abstract: A multifunctional water-resistant bathroom fixture is provided for multiple utilitarian applications in the bathroom including use as a water-resistant bathroom soap holder and bathroom tissue dispenser for coordinating the bathroom shower area. The multifunctional bathroom fixture includes a wall mounting bracket or frame for carrying a pivotal sloping cover and a water-resistant closure device disposed between the sloping cover and wall mounting frame. The wall mounting frame may include sloping sides conforming to the configuration of the sloping cover to provide a soap dish or bathroom tissue closure that is resistant to water and adaptable to a wide variety of applications in the home.