Abstract: An improved method for cleaning and sterilizing medical and dental instruments (16) employs the use of a banding device (10) to segregate and hold together medical or dental instruments (16) after use in a particular procedure. The banded instruments (16) are then cleaned and sterilized. This method essentially eliminates the time and effort formerly required when unsegregated instruments were mixed with other instruments for cleaning and sterilization and then stored according to the particular procedure for which they are intended and/or according to the intended particular user thereof.

Abstract: Double hooked device with the hooks being transversely positioned on the end of a shaft having a handle at its opposite end. The hooks may snag, lift, move and/or flip food or other articles by the hooks being rotated generally about the shaft's axis until one of the double hooks penetrates into the article to be lifted. A shield at the base of the handle is a guard to cover the tips of the hooks.

Abstract: Roller cone bits include a steel bit body having a leg extending therefrom. A steel cone is disposed on the leg and includes steel cutting elements projecting outwardly therefrom. One of the cutting elements comprises a steel base integral with the cone and that projects therefrom. A cutting element end is attached to the base portion and extends to form a cutting element tip. The base and end portions are attached when the cone base are in a preexisting rigid state. The end portion comprises a wear resistant material having a material microstructure comprising a first phase of grains selected from the group of carbides, borides, nitrides, and carbonitrides of W, Ti, Mo, Nb, V, Hf, Ta, and Cr refractory metals; and a second phase of a binder material selected from the group consisting of Co, Ni, Fe, and alloys thereof.

Abstract: A hollow telescopic fishing rod has a rod body made from resin and reinforcing fibers. The rod body has an inner circumferential surface, wherein concave surface portions and convex surface portions are formed in the inner circumferential surface of the rod body. The reinforcing fibers are applied to the convex surface portions in the circumferential direction.

Abstract: Drill bit reinforcing members or blanks of this invention are formed from high-strength steels having a carbon content less than about 0.3 percent by weight, a yield strength of at least 55,000 psi, a tensile strength of at least 80,000 psi, a toughness of at least 40 CVN-L, Ft-lb, and a rate of expansion percentage change less than about 0.0025%/° F. during austenitic to ferritic phase transformation. In one embodiment, such steel comprises in the range of from about 0.1 to 0.3 percent by weight carbon, 0.5 to 1.5 percent by weight manganese, up to about 0.8 percent by weight chromium, 0.05 to 4 percent by weight nickel, and 0.02 to 0.8 percent by weight molybdenum. In another example, such steel comprises in the range of from about 0.1 to 0.3 percent by weight carbon, 0.9 to 1.5 percent by weight manganese, 0.1 to 0.5 percent by weight silicon, and one or more microalloying element selected from the group consisting of vanadium, niobium, titanium, zirconium, aluminum and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Perforated pulsation dampening devices of this invention comprise a housing having a structural wall section with opposed ends defining an internal chamber. The housing is characterized by a plurality of openings disposed therethrough. A compressible member is disposed within the internal chamber and positioned to be contacted by fluid passed from an outside surface of the housing through at least one of the openings. The compressible member is configured to absorb a known fluid flow variation or pressure pulsation in the fluid contacting the compressible member to attenuate the same. If desired, a sleeve can be interposed between an inside surface of the internal chamber and an outside surface of the compressible member.

Abstract: A scooter having a fuselage with a front portion and a rear portion that includes a rear wheel rotatably mounted at the rear portion. The scooter also includes a standing platform supported by the fuselage for supporting a rider and a transmission system mounted under the standing platform in the rear portion of the fuselage. The transmission system having a motor with a wheel engagement element being operatively coupled with the rear wheel to allow the wheel engagement element to rotate the rear wheel when the wheel engagement element is engaged with the rear wheel. Another embodiment of the transmission system includes a motor, a first drive cone coupled the motor; and, a drive cone engagement mechanism configured to allow the first drive cone to be operatively coupled with a wheel to rotate the wheel.

Abstract: The invention is an apparatus used for cleaning equipment including extremely high voltage energized electrical equipment using a dry ice blasting stream as the cleaning agent. The apparatus comprises a cleaning wand and a heating mechanism for impeding the formation of condensation and/or frost on the outer surface of the wand, thereby enabling the wand to operate for prolonged periods of time.

Abstract: A hand-held electric sealer used for sealing a plastic bag or the like, including a casing, a sealing mechanism, a press bar, and a safety device. The sealing mechanism has a heating wire, which produces heat for sealing the plastic bag or the like when turned on. The safety device controls the heating of the sealing mechanism, and stops the sealing mechanism from being triggered accidentally.

Abstract: A hydraulic shift gear mechanism for a bicycle having a positioning mechanism for controlling the motion of the piston of a master cylinder assembly is described. The master cylinder assembly is in communication with a slave cylinder for operation of a derailleur. The positioning mechanism preferably includes a pivot shaft spaced apart from the handlebar, a rotating member rotatable about the pivot shaft, a push mechanism for rotating the rotating member in a first direction and a return mechanism for rotating the rotating member in a second direction. In a more preferred embodiment of the invention, an adjuster piston is threadingly engaged with the master cylinder assembly for adjusting the initial position of the slave cylinder.

Abstract: A pressure sensor system for measuring the pressure of a corrosive media includes a silicon plate forming a diaphragm and a glass plate or ring bonded to said silicon plate with an opening over the diaphragm. The diaphragm has resistive areas of different orientations to provide first resistive areas which have increased resistance with diaphragm deflection, and other areas which have decreased or little change in resistance with diaphragm deflection. The resistive areas may be formed by doping the silicon plate. The resistive areas have broad doped connectors extending outward to areas beyond the seal between the glass plate or ring, to wire bond areas on the silicon plate. Accordingly, the wire bond pads are not exposed to the corrosive media.

Abstract: A pressure sensor system involves a semi-conductive diaphragm electrode overlying a cavity in a semiconductor chip, with the center of the diaphragm secured to a mesa extending upwardly from the cavity. A second electrode is implemented by a heavily doped raised ring between the mesa and the periphery of the chip at the ring of maximum deflection of the diaphragm. The raised ring electrode is heavily doped with one polarity, with light doping near the base of the raised area, and the remainder of the cavity is heavily doped with the opposite polarity. The plot of Linearity Error versus width of the ring electrode, has a minimum, and the width of the ring electrode and related constructional features are selected to conform to the minimum point of the linearity function. The reference capacitor is arcuate in configuration and extends part way around and in immediate proximity to the sensor diaphragm.