Abstract: The invention presents the use of non-woven fiber barriers applied to agricultural products or the plants to protect agriculturally or aesthetically valuable plants from damage inflicted by pests of agricultural or ornamental plants. Experiments with these fiber barriers have shown a significant deterrent to both the oviposition and feeding of a varied group of agricultural pests. This pest management strategy will be of significant economic value in the more pest sensitive phases of plant growth. Another positive benefit of the use of this system of pest control is that it may allow the elimination or moderation in the use of pesticides in commercial agricultural operations, home gardens, or the urban environment. In this way alleviating public concerns about the large number of pesticide treatments that agricultural products typically receive.

Abstract: An integrated power factor converter utilizes a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) bridge which limits the inrush current by controlling the conduction angle of the SCR's. The same SCR bridge shuts down the output in case of short circuit and recovers automatically at a predetermined duty cycle rate. In case the input voltage exceeds approximately 275 VAC, the SCR bridge regulates the output voltage to below 400 VDC. The input inrush current is reduced by phasing up the input voltage in a controlled manner. The use of SCR's in the input bridge produces no additional losses, since the rectifier function is required regardless of which topology is used. The integrated power factor converter interfaces universal voltage mains to DC/DC converters while reducing input harmonics.

Abstract: A modification to an automatic transmission having a transmission brake, especially applicable to the TurboHydramatic 400 transmission, allowing for fast, consistent release of the transbrake. The reverse servo cover is modified to add a pressure release passageway communicating with the inside of the reverse servo cover and dumping fluid into the transmission pan. The passageway is selectively blocked by an electrically operated solenoid having a shaft or needle fitting into a seat, so that when the solenoid is powered, the solenoid shaft or needle fits tightly into the seat, preventing the flow of hydraulic fluid from the inside of the reverse servo cover. When power is removed, the pressure of the fluid instantly pushes the solenoid shaft back from the seat, dumping pressure from the reverse servo nearly instantaneously.

Abstract: An aquatic habitat extension device uses a circulation assembly to reversibly maintain a volume of water above the surface of an underlying body of water. The aquatic extension can be used alone or with other similar aquatic habitat extensions that themselves can be varied in terms of size, shape, and the degree to which they are filled with water. Each habitat extension has a water inlet located beneath the surface of a body of water, which preserves the partial vacuum in the aquatic extension, and provides an entryway for aquatic animals to enter the transparent habitat extension where they are observed. To increase the occasions when fish or other aquatic animals enter a given habitat, a food delivery system delivers food to an air pocket trapped in the upper portion of an individual extension. Illuminating or tinting the habitats enhances the beauty of an aquarium, pond, water garden, or other body of water and can be accomplished through the use of a fiber optic cable system or more conventional means.

Abstract: A probe includes a handle, neck, and sensor head. The neck consists of a stiff portion and a flexible portion. The neck is offset from the handle so that a hand of a surgeon holding the handle does not block the surgeon's view of sensor head. In another embodiment, the stiff portion includes three sections that have separate and distinct linear axes. The extended axis of the section adjacent the handle intersects the juncture of the flexible portion and the stiff portion of the neck, while the sensor head is connected to the flexible portion of the neck. The precise alignment of the handle and neck enables the precise placement of the sensor head around a small blood vessel.

Abstract: A telescoping seal uses a split resilient gasket surrounding the slide pipe at the bottom of the tank. The gasket has a slanting outer side, mating with a slanting seat in a lower flange which is attached to the bottom of the tank. An upper flange compresses the gasket downward into the seat, causing the gasket to be compressed inward around the slide pipe, thereby providing a watertight seal which still permits the vertical sliding motion of the slide pipe.

Abstract: An improved musical instrument carrying case combines a well-placed storage space for bows and accessories with a humidity control system to completely protect and preserve the instrument. The case includes a base and an upper lid which together form the outer surface of the case. Inside the case, a lower lid divides the case into two compartments. A first compartment is formed between the lower lid and the base of the case, while a second compartment is formed between the lower lid and the upper lid. The first compartment is preferably lined with a protective padding which has a molded primary chamber for the instrument. In addition to the primary chamber, a humidity control system and an accessory chamber are preferably between the lower lid and the base of the case. Within the second compartment is a cache for a plurality of bows or other accessories. By separating the instrument and bows into two different compartments, the life of bow hairs and the wooden body of the instrument is prolonged.

Abstract: A viscometer measures the rheological properties of polymers over a wide range of temperature, shear-rate and cure conditions, so that it can be used with extremely fast-changing resinous materials such as fast curing thermosets and fast crystallizing thermoplastics. The viscometer uses a mold made of three plates, clamped together during testing, with the center plate having at least one cavity (reservoir) and a slit from each reservoir to the ambient conditions outside the viscometer. Resin is injected into the reservoir in a short period of time. After filling the reservoir, the sample is heated to a test temperature through heat conduction from the reservoir wall. The heating is rapid because of the small thickness of the reservoir. The rapid filling and heating properties of the apparatus makes the rheology measurement of fast changing polymers possible. The sample is put under pressure by a piston and forced to continuously flow through the slit.

Abstract: Collection of particles from a gas stream and the separation of dissimilar particles from a gas stream by a field effect auxiliary gas cyclone (FEAGC) is enhanced by providing an inductive field that attracts or repels particles and an auxiliary gas system that complements the field effect by providing an additional independent internal control for particle velocity, particle concentration, and system delta p. The FEAGC has three adjustable operating variables: (1) an auxiliary high pressure air input orifice located in the cyclone input which is used to increase the product velocity while reducing the solids to gas ratio; (2) an electric field between the cone and the vortex that subjects charged particles to either an attractive or repelling field; and (3) an auxiliary air venturi located in the inlet of the vortex to control the delta p and to control the operating temperature of the vortex and insulating materials.

Abstract: A table that corrects postures when looking at the anterior aspect of the person. The table will be mirror-imaging their postures including: Right and left head translations, right and left thoracic translations, and right and left lateral bending of the thorax. The table is made up of two movable sections (cervical and thoracic) and a stationary seat having a pelvic support. The head is placed in between two padded walls, and the cervical section is slid to one side and gets locked down, placing the head of the patient in the mirror-image translation. The thorax of the person is strapped down to the thoracic support, which is then slid to one side and locked in place, causing the thorax to be in mirror-image translation and/or lateral bending posture.

Abstract: An adaptor for a pool vacuum hose, which fits over a suction opening in the skimmer well of a swimming pool. The adaptor creates a watertight seal against walls of a skimmer well and has a port that extends upward from a base such that a typical pool vacuum can be connected to the adaptor. The adaptor thus allows for easy connection to a vacuum hose and prevents large particles and debris from reaching the filter. When use of the vacuum is complete, an outer housing is rotated, breaching the watertight seal, and allowing easy removal of the adaptor. The adaptor is readily usable with typical swimming pool skimmer wells.

Abstract: A disposable ink refill system includes a recharge cartridge that attaches to a conventional desktop inkjet printer. A host cartridge unit, which includes a translating inkjet cartridge and an attached umbilical assembly, is fluidly connected to the recharge cartridge. The umbilical assembly easily attaches and detaches from the recharge cartridge to facilitate quick and easy exchange of the ink recharge cartridge, thereby providing a significantly less expensive alternative to ink cartridge replacement. The host ink cartridge unit, which has a useful life exceeding its ink capacity, is refilled instead of replaced, thus lowering a user's costs. The docking platform is integrated into the printer chassis, thus further facilitating quick and easy coupling of the umbilical assembly to the recharge cartridge. A docking platform, attached to the printer, provides the interconnection between the recharge cartridge and the host cartridge unit.

Abstract: A cannula has a shank and a tip which is elliptical in cross-section having radially extending crescent-shaped fins for engaging the tissue lining the tunnel of an incision. The cannula is thus retained in position and is not forced out with fluid pressure or by traction on attached tubing with eye movements or inadvertently hooking instruments. The cannula is rotated to disengage the fins from the incision by stretching the incision with the major axis of the elliptical tip. The cannula of the present invention is suitable for penetration of organs or vessels under fluid pressure for surgical procedures, in particular for ophthalmic surgical procedures.

Abstract: A new method and device to encapsulate integrated circuits such as flip chips and BGA packages. A special mold to surrounds the chip to be encapsulated in a cavity, and the encapsulant is injected into the cavity at an elevated pressure, and possibly at an elevated temperature. This shortens the cavity filling time by two or three orders of magnitude, compared to the conventional dispensing process. The reliability of the package is increased by increasing the adhesion of encapsulant to the package, by controlling fillet shape through in-mold curing, and by completely filling the cavity through proper mold design and, optionally, evacuation of the cavity prior to injection. The invention also allows the use of a wider range of encapsulants, including highly viscous material, fast curing materials and reworkable materials.

Abstract: The combination lighter and fishing lure includes a body having a feature useful for attracting a fish, a reservoir for holding a fuel, an igniter to ignite the fuel and produce a flame, an outlet at which the flame is produced, means provided on the body for attaching a fishing line, and means provided on the body for attaching a fish hook. The igniter may include a forwardly projecting valve actuator that when used as a fishing lure serves as a spoon or blade to help the lure move through the water and produce the desired lure motion. The invention provides a multipurpose device useful both as a lighter and a fishing lure and an article attractive as a novelty item.

Abstract: A method of making a solvent based ink formulation which includes a thermochromic pigment, wherein the pigment being formed of microcapsules, includes drying a slurry that contains the pigment to a solids concentration between 80% and 95%, mixing the dried slurry in an appropriate mixing base, and adding any desired ink components to the base formulation. Each microcapsule contains a reversible thermochromic coloring material which exhibits a visible change in color between a first color state and a second color state in response to a change in temperature. Acceptable ink components include a gel vehicle, a free flow vehicle, a drying agent, a lithographic varnish, an ink wax, a polyester vehicle, a polyglycol solvent, a colloidal dispersion resin, water, and a defoamer.

Abstract: A gate assembly for a double disk gate valve having two closure disks with a resilient material between. The resilient material and closure disks are enveloped in an outer harder coating. Closing the gate valve brings the disks into initial sealing contact with the bottom of the valve seat. Applying pressure to the gate valve after contact is made between the gate assembly and the valve seat causes the resilient central member to exert pressure against the closure disks, thus pressing the outer coating of the gate assembly against the sidewalls of the valve seat. This action creates a better sealing engagement with the seat surface to exclude flow. Wear on the gate assembly is significantly reduced since the gate assembly does not make contact with the sidewalls of the seat while being moved between an open position and a closed position.

Abstract: A filter unit that minimizes the exposure of patients to pathogens found in the dental unit water supply lines (DUWL) while promoting frequent replacement of DUWL filters by providing a disposable microfiltration filter that is easily replaced at low cost. A disk or membrane type filter is placed in an autoclavable filter unit that attaches to the handle of an existing design dental instrument such that the form and function of the dental instrument are not adversely affected. The filter unit, which fits in-line between the dental instrument and the DUWL, includes two portions that are detachably connected by an annular sleeve. When connected, a recess between the portions forms a recess that holds a microfiltration disk filter for filtering water that flows through the dental instrument before it reaches a patient's mouth. The filter unit is easily sterilized after the disk filter is removed.

Abstract: This invention describes the transient incorporation of CO.sub.2 gas into fruits and vegetables so as to enhance their flavor. The fruits and vegetables are exposed to a strongly CO.sub.2 environment for a specified amount of time and within a specific temperature range. After this exposure the foodstuffs so exposed will have incorporated some of the CO.sub.2 to which they were exposed to and develop a more effervescent and/or tangy flavor through the uptake of the CO.sub.2 to form carbonic acid. This enhancement in flavor is a direct consequence of CO.sub.2 exposure.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a box insert for protecting bottles. The box insert is formed from a piece of cardboard with fold lines. When the cardboard is folded along the lines and a bottle is placed within the cardboard, the bottle's sides are surrounded by cardboard. At least one bottom and top cut are provided through the cardboard across one of the fold lines. When the cardboard is pushed below the bottom cut and above the top cut, the cardboard folds inward to create a bottom and top indentation to hold the bottle away from the bottom and top of the box. If the bottle has a neck, the top indentation is positioned next to the bottle's neck above the body of the bottle. Usually the top indentation is formed from two top cuts. The inserts and bottles are then placed in a box for shipping. The cardboard inserts provide cardboard indentations that cushion and provide a small space between the bottom and top of the box.