Abstract: A connector device is provided for a curtain wall system of the type having structural members secured to the building framing to define frames to support glazing panels. The glazing panels each have a sash by which they are secured to the frames of structural members to form an outer wall portion of a building. The curtain wall system has connector devices securing one of the glazing panels to the frames of structural members. The connector device comprises a keeper secured to a frame, and a latch mechanism secured opposite the keeper on the sash. The latch mechanism has a latch bolt automatically displaceable to a locking position upon contact with the keeper. The keeper and the latch mechanism cooperate in the locking position to lock the glazing panel to the frame in a secured position. A method for installing the connector device is also provided.

Abstract: An aspirator, including a bulb that defines first and second ports, a tube adjacent to the first port defined by the bulb, and means for helping to prevent aspirated material inside the bulb from exiting the bulb through the second port defined by the bulb.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing grass sprigs from sod and incorporating the grass sprigs into the ground, including a chassis, a sod conveying system mounted on the chassis and configured such that sod may be placed thereon and transported thereby, and a rotary tilling mechanism mounted on the chassis and oriented such that, during operation of the apparatus, the rotary tilling mechanism engages both the sod transported by the sod conveying system and the ground.

Abstract: Computer-implemented systems and methods for building a database of bales of cotton available for sale, and for electronic commerce of bales of cotton. A fiber quality measurement instrument located in a cotton gin provides fiber quality data substantially concurrently with the making up of cotton into individual bales. The fiber quality measurement instrument is connected through a communications network, such as the internet, for uploading fiber quality data to a database storage device. For electronic commerce, a search engine is connected via the communications network to interrogate the database to select bales having fiber qualities within specified ranges for a candidate buyer.

Abstract: A combination mirror and amusement system for entertaining and amusing a child in a vehicle. A mirror assembly attachable to a vehicle seat includes a mirror and a frame surrounding the mirror. The frame has at least one ornamented portion and at least one appearing character portion. The appearing character portion in turn includes a sheet of plastic film having a visible front side and a reverse side. The sheet of plastic film has the characteristic of a “one-way” mirror which appears as a mirrored surface on the front side in the absence of illumination from the reverse side. A character image is printed on the reverse side A lamp behind the reverse side renders the character image visible from said front side when illuminated.

Abstract: A method of breath-powered sustained pressure induced breast tissue expansion by way of sucking air through silicone tubes attached to semi-rigid plastic domes cushioned by sticky silicone padding and clamping or locking the air pressure inside the domes to create tension on the breasts to enlarge them over a period of at least ten weeks of wear for ten hours per day or night, further including optional improved domes with silicone padding extensions on the outer edges of the domes below the armpits and hooks in back like a bra to create an improved seal to keep the air pressure in while wearer moves about in her daily activities.

Abstract: There is provided an improved sterilization wrap and a method for using the improved sterilization wrap to sterilize an article. The wrap is made of first and second sheets of sterilization material. Each sheet has first, second, third and fourth edges. Each sheet includes a central portion. The first edge of the first sheet is in register with and bonded to the first edge of the second sheet; the second edge of the first sheet is in register with and bonded to the second edge of the second sheet; the third edge of the first sheet is in register with and bonded to the third edge of the second sheet; and the fourth edge of the first sheet is in register with and bonded to the fourth edge of the second sheet. The central portions of the first and second sheets are substantially not bonded together. Thus, two layers of sterilization material are provided for an article to be sterilized.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for obtaining a highly enriched TGF-beta protein fraction in activated form, from a liquid solution rich in proteins said to be soluble in the aqueous phase of milk and/or of whey, said method comprising the following steps; a) adjusting soluble proteins purified at a concentration between 5 and 30 g/liter of solution; b) precipitating part of the whey proteins by acidic treatment of the solution thus obtained to a pH ranging between 4 and 5.5 and at a temperature ranging between 55° C. and 68° C.; c) carrying out a microfiltration of the treated solution by diafiltration, so as to obtain respectively a microfiltration retentate and a microfiltrate; d) recuperating the microfiltration retentate containing the protein fraction highly enriched in TGF-beta; e) drying the microfiltration retentate which has been subjected to diafiltration to obtain a powder highly enriched in TGF-beta.

Abstract: An infant exercise cushion including a substantially rigid core element preferably in the form of a hollow pipe. A soft resilient material surrounds a substantial portion of the core element. The soft resilient material forms a curved outer surface for the cushion so that the cushion may be rolled on the floor when there is interface between the infant and the cushion.

Abstract: A mirror device for use inside a vehicle which includes a front seating area, a rear seating area, a sun visor within the front seating area, and a rear seat within the rear seating area. The rear seat has a top surface. The mirror device includes a mirror having a reflective front surface and a rear surface. The mirror device additionally includes an attachment system configured for attaching the mirror alternatively to the sun visor within the front seating area or generally near the rear seat top surface within the rear seating area.

Abstract: A convertible computer controlled form, fill and seal bagging machine comprising a film drive drawing a film sheet about a pouch former with the film sheet being folded and overlapped along longitudinal edge portions; a first sealer heat fusing the overlapped edge portions together to form a hollow film tube; a temperature and a pressure controller controlling the temperature and pressure of the first sealer; a transverse sealer forming a transverse seal across the hollow film tube; a feeder supplying a predetermined content in the hollow tube at a pouch forming station; a computer controller controlling the temperature and pressure of the first sealer to progressively form a seal along the longitudinal edge portions based on a selected predetermined programmed pouch size and the length of the seal bar of the first sealer.

Abstract: An interface between a relational database application program and a database management system that reduces application program execution time by reducing the number of commit operations performed by the commit facility of the database management system. Repeatedly, commit statements issued by the application program are suppressed until a time interval based on a time interval parameter has elapsed, and then the next commit statement issued by the application program is passed on to the database management system.

Abstract: There is provided a food preparation recipe game and a method for playing the game. A spin wheel having a pointer is provided and includes a plurality of encoded possible landing spaces. A plurality of recipe cards is provided, each of which lists a plurality of ingredients. A plurality of question and answer cards are also provided. Each question and answer card has a plurality of questions and answers which are encoded for various degrees of difficulty. The encoding for the landing spaces on the spin wheel corresponds to the encoding for the question and answer cards. A plurality of ingredient cards are provided. Each ingredient card lists an ingredient for a food recipe, which ingredient may or may not correspond to an ingredient of a particular recipe card. Each player is entitled to draw an ingredient card by correctly answering a question from a question and answer card and the first player to complete his recipe is the winner.

Abstract: A humidistat including an air inlet defining a beginning of an airflow path through the humidistat, a humidity sensor for enabling measurement of the humidity of air flowing along the airflow path, a baffle, a heat source for heating air along a portion of the airflow path, the baffle and the heat source cooperating to define two zones in the humidistat, and an air outlet defining an end of the airflow path. During operation of the humidistat, the air temperature is higher in one zone than in the other zone, and the higher air temperature zone is downstream from the lower air temperature zone in the airflow path.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus and method for enabling an elongated pipe to be installed below a ceiling using a single installer. A pair of rotatable jaws is provided. The jaws are adapted to temporarily support one end of a pipe. A fastener is provided for removably securing the apparatus to a ceiling. An extension device, in the form of an elongated rod, connects the jaws to the fastener so that one end of the pipe may be temporarily supported a predetermined distance from the ceiling and the installer may connect the other end of the pipe to another pipe or to another connecting member.

Abstract: A metal wire rod shopping cart wherein a reinforced display frame is integrated in a wall of at least one of a front wall, opposed side walls or the backrest wall of a baby seat compartment. A metal panel sheet is secured substantially centrally in a U-shaped metal channel to divide the channel into opposed slots whereby to receive a promotional sheet having display material thereon. The reinforced display frame is welded to metal wire rods in the wall and lies in the plane of the wall to provide for non-obstruction when nesting said shopping cart with other like shopping carts and to reinforce the wall.

Abstract: A silver recovery and monitoring system including a sensor for transmitting a silver concentration signal in response to the concentration of silver in a fluid, means for determining whether the silver concentration signal indicates the concentration of silver in the fluid to be above a predetermined silver level and for initiating a silver alert signal in response to a determination that the silver concentration signal indicates the concentration of silver in the fluid to be above the predetermined silver level, and means for transmitting a notification signal to a silver monitoring station in response to the silver alert signal.

Abstract: A pump priming apparatus including a housing through which fluid object material may be urged to flow, the housing including an intake portion and a pumping portion downstream from the intake portion. The apparatus further includes a piston assembly carried for reciprocation in the housing, the piston assembly and the housing being configured such that a partial vacuum is developed in the pumping portion of the housing as the piston assembly moves through the pumping portion of the housing toward the intake portion of the housing and such that the partial vacuum is substantially released upon the movement of the piston assembly into the intake portion of the housing, thereby causing the fluid object material in the intake portion of the housing to flow into the pumping portion of the housing.