Abstract: A combination table easel, slant board and clipboard is provided. A body having a front surface for holding working papers and the like is pivotally connected to first and second support members. The second support member may be connected to the body in at least three different angular relationships to form either a table easel, slat board or clipboard. Velcro fasteners are the preferred type of fastener. The apparatus is easily stored, shipped and handled in its clipboard configuration.

Abstract: An interlocking corrugated fluted panel for use in constructing a foundation wall for a building where a plurality of the panels are attached to a presupported building member and the panels hang downwardly into a foundation support opening. At the bottom portion of each fluted panel, the flutes extending outwardly from the building are cut along a bend line and the bottom portion of the panel is bent inwardly approximately 90°, the bent portion forming an anchorage when concrete is placed around the bottom of the panels. At the lower edge of each panel a cut flute is bent into either an interlocking male or female shape.

Abstract: An optical wavelength division multiplexer and de-multiplexer for single mode or multi-mode fiber optic communication systems is provided. The device includes in its preferred embodiment a prefabricated optical block having a reflective coating on its flat upper surface and a plurality of n filters carried on its flat lower surface. A molded plastic coupling module has a flat upper surface to which the optical block and filters are adhesively mounted and the coupling module also includes a lower surface having a plurality of n aspheric lenses. In the preferred embodiment, a fiber optic cable receptacle is molded to the coupling module along with a collimating lens and a beam reflector so that, when the components are assembled, the optical pathway is passively aligned and no postfabrication alignment adjusting or tuning is required.

Abstract: A method is provided for centrifugally forming a subterranean, cylindrically shaped soil-cement casing in material located in a subterranean earth situs. A soil processing tool is advanced and rotated into the subterranean situs and as the tool advances a high velocity cement slurry is introduced through said tool to hydraulically divide the pieces of soil into particles and to mix the cement slurry with the particles to form a soil-cement slurry. As the soil processing tool is then withdrawn from the situs, the tool is rotated at a speed to exert a centrifugal force by the tool on the soil-cement slurry in excess of two G's, causing the solids of the soil-cement slurry to migrate away from the center of the hole to form a first cylindrical region at the edge of the hole and a second cylindrical region at the center of the hole. The first region has more of the dense solids and the second internal region has a greater proportion of free water and less of the dense solids.

Abstract: A single-use, spring driven lancet is described. The device is precooked during assembly so that the user needs only to remove the safety cap prior to use. A concave trigger button with direct up and down motion releases the spring, causing the tip of the lancet to strike the subject's finger. A thin plastic fiber connection between the pull-tab and the needle safety cap prevents any compressive force from being applied to the drive spring, which effectively prevents recocking of the device.

Abstract: An apparatus for coring and seed celling pears, apples, honeydew melons, cantaloupe and other fruits is provided in which a seed celler support tube is utilized to drive a seed celler knife and wherein a coring tube is utilized to rotate said fruit by one or more turning fins mounted on the coring tube. Separate and independent stepper motor drives are provided for the coring tube and the seed celler support tube. During a portion of the peeling process, the turning fin and seed celler knife are rotated at the same speed. In order to sever the seed cell, the seed celler blade is caused to either rotate faster or slower than the turning fin to sever the seed cell.

Abstract: A self-propelled boom vehicle has an extendible axle and an extendible steering mechanism which has an automatic steering synchronization system. The extendible axle has a hollow central support sleeve and telescopic arm sections. A single hydraulic extension axle is positioned inside the hollow central support sleeve and connects to and drives the telescopic arm sections between their retracted and extended positions. The steering synchronization system includes a pair of steering cylinders in a closed hydraulic circuit working in a master-slave arrangement and which operate inversely with respect to each other. A mechanical check valve is carried by each piston which allows excess hydraulic fluid to flow through the check valve to allow the piston to travel to the end of its stroke to resynchronize the steering.

Abstract: A corn transfer and alignment mechanism for preparing ears for being sawn into cobbettes is provided. The ears are received by the transfer mechanism from a feed conveyor on which the ears are conveyed singularly with their tip ends first. The transfer station uses a transfer plate and stabilizer drum to reduce the forward momentum of the ears and align the tips of the ears against a guide plate. The aligned ears are then discharged onto a roller conveyor for presentation to trimming saws.

Abstract: An absorbent glove tree is provided having a single piece body section with a palm portion and four fingers. The body is tapered and thicker at the base of the palm to securely hold a leather glove on the tree without the use of a clip. A removable thumb portion is provided along with a flexible mounting spring or rod so that the thumb articulates relative to the body as a glove is being fitted onto the tree. The thumb may be attached to either side of the body to accept either left or right handed gloves.

Abstract: An optical disk reader or read/write system for CD or DVD formats. First and second laser diodes operating at different wavelengths have their output beams collimated and directed at a single element objective lens, and are then reflected off the disk back through the lens to a photodetector. The single element objective lens has a central aperture zone and an outer aperture zone, the central zone being profiled to operate at a first numerical aperture at approximately 0.45 and the output beam of the first laser diode is confined to the central aperture zone. The outer aperture zone together with the central aperture zone are profiled to operate at a second numerical aperture, for example 0.60 wherein the output beam of the second laser diode has ray fans extending across the full aperture of the single element objective lens.

Abstract: A perimeter-wall foundation is created by attaching galvanized-steel corrugated panels to an in-place structure. The freely hanging bottom edges of the panels, which have continuous deformation specific to the enhancement of bearing and anchorage within concrete, are cast in-situ with footing concrete, so becoming a cast-in-place perimeter-wall foundation, capable of residential-scale bearing and shear loadings. The panels can have screened ventilation built into the top, utilizing corrugation flute apertures, or they can be thermally optimized for cold climates.

Abstract: An adjustable stuffed animal mirror support assembly is provided to facilitate viewing of a rear facing infant in the back seat of an automobile. The stuffed animal's body carries a convex mirror. A support strap is connected to the rear side of the body and extends upwardly to the back side of the head. An anchor strap connects to the back of the head and is also connected to a weighted bag. The mirror is adjusted by adjusting the weighted bag on the rear deck of the automobile and by manipulating the support strap relative to the anchor strap, each of which carries a strip of Velcro.

Abstract: A combination automatic parking brake and steering spindle is provided for use in a self-propelled vehicle carrying an elevatable boom or work platform. The automatic parking brake includes a brake cylinder which also acts as a steering spindle for the vehicle. The parking brake is actuated by a spring carried in the brake cylinder and urges a parking brake pad into contact with a steerable wheel. The parking brake is automatically released when the hydraulic propulsion system for the vehicle is activated and hydraulic pressure enters the brake cylinder compressing the spring and releasing the parking brake.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for human artificial insemination and embryo transplanting are provided wherein a catheter is utilized having an extremely flexible barrel which has sufficient flexibility and softness to avoid irritation or trauma of the walls of the cervix and uterus. The catheter is made of high elasticity polyvinyl chloride and is more than ten times as flexible as prior art catheters. The method includes positioning the female recipient in a flat, supine position with pelvis elevated and legs flexed. The cervical canal, internal os and the lower segment of the uterine cavity are expanded with a speculum to minimize the distance from the vaginal opening to the uterine cavity and to minimize contact between the barrel of the catheter and the cervical and uterine walls. The soft and extremely flexible barrel of the catheter is inserted through the vaginal opening, through the cervical opening and into the uterine cavity and introducing either semen or an embryo into the uterine cavity.

Abstract: A catheter is provided for use in blood vessels and other body canals having one or more expandable segments. Each expandable segment includes a plurality of longitudinally extending bands, each band having a plurality of buckle points so that, as compressive axial forces are applied, the bands bend at the buckle points in a predetermined manner to expand outwardly. Fluid passageways are provided to apply the necessary axial compressive forces. A flexible resilient membrane encloses the expandable section and retracts the section so that the catheter may be withdrawn. The catheter is usable with or without stents. Multiple expandable segments may be utilized on the catheter for multi-tasking such as pre-expanding an artery and inserting one or two stents in the pre-expanded artery in a single procedure without withdrawing the catheter.

Abstract: A replaceable sensing module is provided for use in a pulse oximetry device, allowing for quick replacement of a failed sensor element. A fingertip pad and a fingertip cover form the sensing module and cooperate to form a receptacle into which a patient's fingertip can be inserted. The sensing module has an internal spring, thereby permitting the module to be inserted into various oximetry type devices. The module has mounting rails and a multi-pin electrical connector, allowing a user to quickly replace the module in the event of component failure.

Abstract: A stabilizing suspension system is provided for vehicles carrying telescopic booms or aerial work platforms having a fixed axle and a oscillating axle. Hydraulic cylinders are connected to each end of the oscillating axle, each cylinder being capable of extending and retracting. An off level sensor senses the angle of tilt of the chassis in both left and right directions and, when a predetermined threshold of tilt has been detected, the hydraulic cylinder on the downhill side of the chassis is locked against retracting, but is free to move in the downhill direction to allow the downhill wheel to remain in contact with the ground.

Abstract: A dry shuffle feed apparatus is provided for use with produce for feeding produce in a predetermined timing pattern to processing equipment. One or more shuffle conveyors, each having multiple flights, are provided having an infeed chute and return chute. Produce enters the infeed chute and is fed onto the conveyor, the infeed chute having a multi-angulated surface to prevent bridging of the produce. A return chute extends upwardly alongside the conveyor from the infeed chute and returns excess produce to the infeed chute. The flights on each shuffle conveyor become narrower nearer the output end of the conveyor and overfed produce falls off the conveyor onto the return chute.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for use in neurophysiological research in general, and, in particular, for use on conscious, freely moving animals and on in vitro tissue samples. An array of elongated guide cannulae have lower ends which are parallel with and adjacent each other and upper ends which are inclined outwardly. Recording electrodes are slidably carried within each of the guide cannulae and an electrode adjustment mechanism moves the electrode or electrodes in each of the guide cannulae independently of the electrodes carried in the other guide cannulae. The apparatus has a capacity for recording vastly more timing patterns of neural activity than prior art devices.