Abstract: A wheelchair back system provides height adjustability of the back, adjustment of the tilt and a lumbar support for a user. The back system is removably-affixed to vertical wheelchair posts by pairs of upper and lower channels at the lateral edges of the back. One of the channels on each side is open to the rear and the other of said channels is open to the front, whereby the channels engage the wheelchair posts. A clip, affixed to the rear side of the wheelchair posts, releasably engages the front opening channels to secure the back in engagement with the wheelchair post.

Abstract: Superior oil-soluble antioxidants are produced by the vacuum steam distillation of alcohol extracts of spent black tea or spent green tea or even the tea itself.

Abstract: A lifter to empty a container into a cavity of a vehicle. The lifter is movably mounted below a sill edge of the cavity, so that the lifter is beneath the vehicle when not in use. The lifter has hooks to grasp bars on the container. The lifter has devices for moving from a position beneath the vehicle to a position above the cavity for dumping the container. The lifter has devices for capturing the lower bar of the container which automatically compensates for out-of-tolerance parts in the lifter due to such things as construction or wear.

Abstract: An edible fish oil is disclosed which contains EPA and DHA. This oil, with significantly reduced undesirable impurities, is obtained by subjecting fish oil to vacuum steam distillation contacting the oil with an adsorbent and recovering the oil. The oil can be combined with a vegetable oil and/or Rosemary extract antioxidant to improve its oxidative stability.

Abstract: A customized seat cushion for the human body comprises securable, removable supports which are used in combination with a shaped tray and a pad containing a fluid filling material. In the preferred embodiment, the supports are fastened to selected contours of the shaped tray, and the surface presented by the supports and shaped tray are covered by the pad which is fastened to the exposed surfaces of the tray and pads to form a customized seat cushion.

Abstract: A barrier structure liner for food packages comprises two layers of EVOH (ethylene-vinly alcohol copolymers), one of which is interposed between two moisture barriers. The inner layer of EVOH (in contact with the packaged food) functions as a solvent barrier which reduces the loss of flavor components from the foods, while the buried EVOH layer, protected from moisture from the packaged food and the outside atmosphere, serves as an oxygen barrier to prevent oxygen from outside the package from oxidizing the foods within the container. The barrier structure may be used in paper cartons, plastic bottles, bags and the like.

Abstract: Thin-walled catheters are provided which have an elongated fuseless polymeric tube that is made from a single tube of extruded polymer. The elongated fuseless polymeric tube includes a body portion that had been subjected to a high temperature zone in order to solid state polymerize and enhance the mechanical stability, burst strength and kink resistance of the body portion. Also included is a tip portion of the elongated fuseless polymeric tube which was subjected to a low temperature zone to retain the initial properties of extruded polymer.

Abstract: A food cutting device is disclosed which has particular application in cutting pizza pies and the like. A dull, convexly curved blade attached to concavely curved handle extending over the entire length of the blade allows the user to sever a pizza pie in a smooth rocking motion. The cutting device may be stored during non-use in a holder having an elongated receptacle for receiving the blade of the cutting device.

Abstract: A system for rapidly conveying images contained on each of a plurality of documents from a first location to a second location distance from the first location at a high transmission rate. The system includes a scanner at the first location for scanning each document to provide digital data representative of the images on each document, and a first data recorder for recording the digital data. The system also includes a first reader also at the first location for reading the digital data from the first storage medium, and transmission means coupled to the first reader for transmitting the serial bit map of the digital data from the first location. Also disclosed is a receiver at the second location for receiving the digital data and a second recorder coupled to the receiver for recording the digital data. There is a second reader at the second location for reading the digital data, and reproduces the images of the documents.

Abstract: A soil and foliar supplement for application to plants to improve plant growth and quality. A method for increasing plant productivity and quality also is disclosed. The supplement includes a quantity of specific microbes and an organic acid, such as humic acid, fulvic acid, and ulvic acid. Trace minerals also can be added. A humectant also can be incorporated with the microbes, organic acid, and trace minerals to provide a matrix to provide an improved moisture and nutrient environment and a greatly increased surface area and cation exchange ability for optimizing microbe growth. Chelated micronutrients may also be added to the supplement or added later to the foliage to improve the effects of the supplement still further. Methods of improving plant productivity and quality by treating the plant with the microbes, organic acids and a naturally balanced formulation of chelated minerals are disclosed.

Abstract: A tamper-evident lid for use with containers includes a surface to cover the container, and downward projections around the periphery of the surface which surrounds the mouth of said container. An interrupted ring is frangibly attached to the downward projections. A plurality of tamper-evident hooks are affixed to said ring. The hooks are visible through openings in the downward projections. The hooks engage the container, but when the lid is removed, the ring fractures away from the downward projection ring and the tampering with the package is apparent. In the preferred embodiment, a bead on the lid engages the sidewall of the container to provide a resealable, airtight seal.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for the torque-transmitting connection of a plurality of machine elements generally, and in particular, to frictional torque transmission between a first machine element such as a shaft or a tool and a second machine element such as a gear wheel or a belt pulley wherein both elements are connected by a clamping element including at least elastic wrap spring which embraces one of the elements.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to improvements in processes and apparatus for effecting solvent extractions using liquefied gas or gases in the supercritical state as the solvents and specifically to continuous processes for carrying out such extractions at high pressures. Further, the present invention relates to an apparatus which is a long vertical cylinder of relatively small diameter, wherein the solvent gas and the material to be extracted are continuously circulated through the long vertical reactor.

Abstract: An adjustable tubular wall structure, which may be cylindrical or tapered, comprises a tubular body of asymmetrical accordion-folded pleats. Each pleat is defined by a thrust cone wall segment and a Belleville washer-like wall segment. The Belleville washer-like wall segments of each pleat are proportioned to be snap shifted through the articulation of the thrust cone of the next adjacent pleat, and thus shorten or lengthen the tubular body. Similar partial snap shifting of the individual Belleville washer-like wall segments provides for angulating the tubular body. The tubular structure is stable in its adjusted position, both at its ends and lengthwise of same. Tapered tubular structures may be integrally molded into a container to serve as a collapsible pouring spout.

Abstract: A plastic drain auger made from plastic, such as polypropylene or polybutylene, extruded to provide an elongated member having an outward appearance similar to a helical coil. Extrusion of the plastic produces a structure having improved torsional and tensile strength which is essential so the auger can withstand fairly severe forces created as it is pushed and pulled through a drain pipe. The use of a helical coil form for the auger provides the flexibility necessary for the auger to be rotated, twisted and contorted within a drain pipe system.

Abstract: A lifter for emptying a container into a cavity of a vehicle. The lifter has a first plate pivotally connected to the vehicle, and a second plate extending at an angle from the first plate. The lifter has a third plate slidably mounted on the second plate, with the third plate having a pair of hooks to grasp bars on the container. The lifter moves between a first lower position beneath the truck to a second upper position with the container located above the cavity to empty the container into the cavity.

Abstract: There is provided a moisture-responsive system for protecting the interior of an enclosure such as a motor vehicle which includes an opening; a closure for the opening; a moisture sensor for providing a moisture signal in response to sensing of moisture in excess of a predetermined threshold; a circuit coupled to the closure and the moisture sensor for providing a signal to actuate the closure in response to receipt of a moisture signal and for sensing obstructions of the closure and temporarily terminating the actuation of the closure in response thereto.There is also provided an improved moisture sensor comprising conductive plates separated by and supported on an insulating layer with a raised bulbous portion which extends above the plates to predetermine the amount of moisture necessary to electronically bridge the gap between the conductive plates and therefore the level at which the sensor commences to sense moisture.