Abstract: A litter box safety guard attached or attachable to a litter box cover of the type having a generally vertical wall and an access opening in the wall, the access opening having a lower opening edge. The safety guard includes a generally vertical planar barrier at least as large as the access opening. The barrier is mountable directly in front of the access opening generally parallel to and spaced from the vertical wall a distance so as to allow entry and exit by cats around the barrier and through the access opening, while blocking access by larger dogs and children.

Abstract: Methods for monitoring laminar coordination in ventricular repolarization and for utilizing the results of such monitoring in cardiac disease diagnosis and treatment. The methods include providing and administering a cardiac function test such as an EKG for examining human cardiac function. The cardiac function test in turn includes making a measurement of at least one marker. Healthy laminar coordination during repolarization is indicated by a measurement which meets an indicated threshold of measurement for the at least one marker. Malfunctioning laminar coordination is indicated by a measurement that does not meet the indicated threshold of measurement for the at least one marker. Malfunctioning laminar coordination is detected by locating a measurement that does not meet the indicated threshold of measurement for the at least one marker as an indication of malfunctioning laminar coordination within results of the cardiac function test. An electronic pacemaker may be employed as a treatment modality.

Abstract: A case loader for forming arrays of articles such as milk jugs carried by a relatively upper supply conveyor to the loading gate of a loading station and dropping the articles into cases delivered by conveyor to the loading station and raised by an elevator up under the loading gate. A conveyor article sensor is employed to ensure the presence of articles on the supply conveyor a sufficient distance upstream to develop sufficient line pressure force for reliable operation. A plurality of cases are loaded at the same time, and an array of case sensors are employed for reliable case position sensing and operation.

Abstract: An immersion blender which includes a motor housing and an elongate shaft housing extending from the motor housing to a blender working end. The working end includes a rotatable mixing tool enclosed in part by a blade guard. A resilient spatula ring is attached to the blade guard as an extension thereof. The spatula ring has a spatula edge and sufficient flexibility to conform to inner surface contours of a mixing vessel. A spatula ring may also be provided as an aftermarket product to fit existing immersion blender models.

Abstract: A mirror device for observing an infant in a rear-facing child safety car seat secured to the rear seat of a vehicle including a front seating area, a rear seating area, and a rear seat within the rear seating area, the rear seat having an upwardly-extending headrest. The mirror device includes a mirror and backing assembly having a rear surface, and an attachment connected to the rear surface for attaching the mirror device to the headrest. The attachment in turn includes a swivel device having a concavity element including a first bowl-like structure having a concave working surface; and a corresponding convexity element including a second bowl-like structure having a convex working surface configured to engage the concave working surface. The concavity and convexity elements are frictionally maintained in a desired adjusted position with reference to each other, while at the same time permitting manual adjustment.

Abstract: A curtain wall system having a framing of mullions and transoms. The mullions have a mullion body portion and a mullion nose portion and spaced notches in the mullion body portion. The penetrating transom have a transom body portion and a transom nose portion. The transom nose portion has extensions extending beyond opposed ends of the transom body portion received in the notches of the mullion body portions whereby the framing portion is formed for sealing receiving a panel to form an air barrier, with a gap being defined between the extensions of the transoms and the mullion nose portions. Pressure plates are connected to the mullions and transoms to form a sash with the framing portion so as to secure the panels within the sash. A seal member blocks each gap to form a pressurized cavity with the sash about the glass panel.

Abstract: There is provided multicolored metal rings and multicolored metal tubing and a method for producing metal rings and metal tubing for use in forming multicolored rings. At least two contrastingly colored metal components are arranged in a container. The metal components in said container are compressed so as to form a billet of distorted multicolored metal. The billet is extruded thereby forming multicolored patterns in the tubing.

Abstract: A device for supporting and positioning an infant, particularly a premature infant, in a tucked prone position. An elongated base layer extends lengthwise from a head end to a feet end, and includes, in order, a head support portion having a width at least sufficient to fully support the head of the infant, a torso support portion having a width sized to correspond to the width of the torso of the infant, and a pelvis support portion terminating in an upwardly extending rear support for the buttocks of the infant. Arm recesses are formed in the torso support portion, and pair of upwardly and rearwardly extending lateral supports extend lengthwise from the arm recesses to the feet end of the device. Leg recesses are defined between, on the one hand, the upwardly extending lateral supports, and, on the other hand, the pelvis support portion and the upwardly extending rear support.

Abstract: A telecommunications connectivity system including a patch panel comprising a plurality of ports, each port including first and second electrical terminals, the first electrical terminal enabling at least one data communications standard not enabled by the second electrical terminal. The telecommunications connectivity system also includes a terminal selection system including a terminal selector that houses an electrical connector. The terminal selector may be installed in one of the ports such that the electrical connector connects to either the first or second electrical terminal, as preselected. The telecommunications connectivity system also includes a wall receptacle system electrically connected to each of the ports, the wall receptacle system including first and second jacks, the first jack enabling at least one data communications standard not enabled by the second jack.

Abstract: There is provided a shopping cart adapted to receive elongated items. The shopping cart includes a frame having an upper portion and a lower portion. A plurality of wheels are connected to the lower portion of the frame. The shopping cart includes an upper basket attached to the upper portion of the frame and a lower basket attached to the lower portion of the frame. The upper basket and lower basket are each open at the top and each is formed from a plurality of vertical and horizontal wire segments which form a plurality of windows. The upper basket has a front wall with a slot therein. The slot has a top portion and a bottom portion with the top portion being open so as to receive and retain an elongated item. The bottom portion of the slot extends down at least a portion of the front wall. The lower basket has a back wall with at least one major open for receiving an elongated item.

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: A reusable swim diaper, which includes a main torso part having an extent defined by an elastic banded torso receiving aperture at its upper end for receiving a torso, a pair of elastic banded leg receiving apertures at its lower end, and a crotch portion generally between said leg receiving apertures. The main torso part includes a bodyside inner layer of breathable wick away fabric having an extent corresponding to the extent of the main torso part, an absorbent terry cloth intermediate layer, and a waterproof outer layer having an extent corresponding to the extent of said main torso part. The layers are made of materials which are capable of withstanding laundering and are restored to substantially their original conditions by laundering.

Abstract: An image-based method and corresponding apparatus for measuring, in scientifically basic terms, the complete fiber length distribution from a tapered beard. The method may be referred to as length by image analysis (Li). A calibration method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A dip stand intended for use as a home strength training machine to perform dips such as chest dips and tricep dips. The stand is made of rigid tubing formed as a continuous loop. The loop includes a pair of generally parallel base segments to be supported on a floor surface, each of the base segments having a first end and a second end; and a pair of arches extending upwardly from the base segments, one of the arches extending upwardly from the first ends of the base segments and the other of the arches extending upwardly from the second ends of the base segments. Each of the arches includes an upper generally horizontal grip segment.

Abstract: A target launcher, as well as a target launcher system and set having versatile mounting configurations, for launching practice targets such as archery targets and “clay pigeons” for skeet shooting. A target launcher includes a pair of spaced-apart triangular frame members, each of which has a nominally vertical mounting leg. A target throwing arm pivots between a cocked position and a throwing position. Vehicle mount and ground stand configurations are disclosed. Disclosed configurations employ from one to six target launchers.