Abstract: A motion simulator having a people-holding capsule attached at the front end and at the rear end to a supporting structure. The supporting structure has movable arms that, when extended or retracted, provide positive and negative pitch to the capsule. The supporting structure also provides the mechanism for rotating the capsule up to and in excess of 360 degrees. It is also possible to make the support structure capable of supporting forward/backward as well as side-by-side motion. With a video display system installed inside the capsule providing optical cues, this invention provides the motion cues necessary to provide a safe entertainment environment for passengers.

Abstract: A method and system for analyzing historical medical provider billings to statistically establish a normative utilization profile. Comparison of a medical provider's utilization profile with a normative profile is enabled. Based on historical treatment patterns and a fee schedule, an accurate model of the cost of a specific medical episode can be created. Various treatment patterns for a particular diagnosis can be compared by treatment cost and patient outcome to determine the most cost-effective treatment approach. It is also possible to identify those medical providers who provide treatment that does not fall within the statistically established treatment patterns or profiles.

Abstract: Performance enhancing shoe components, and methods of making the same, comprising 1,4-polybutadiene and a rubber selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, synthetic isoprene rubber, polyisoprene, butadiene acrylonitrile rubber and ethylenepropylene diene modified rubber. The shoe components may be formed as shoe midsoles and parts of midsoles, shoe soles and parts of soles, shoe insoles and parts of insoles, and shoe inserts.

Abstract: A composite mixture of spherical objects and lubricant useful for its cushioning properties is disclosed and claimed. The composite mixture may be composed of microspheres typically less than 2000 microns in diameter with inert atmospheres sealed within their interiors and any of a variety of lubricants facilitating sliding and rolling movement between microspheres. Typically the composite mixture includes lubricant in a quantity sufficient to substantially coat the exterior surface of essentially all of the spherical objects, but in a quantity less than would cause dispersion of the spherical objects in the lubricant sufficient to physically separate the spherical objects from each other and substantially reduce the sliding and rolling contact of the spherical objects with each other. The preferred lubricant is a visco-elastic fluid that has a principle molecule and a gelling agent.

Abstract: A recreational and emergency ladder for use with watercraft, the ladder having side supports, rungs and an attachment mechanism. The ladder assists the user to reenter a watercraft without the assistance of another person. The ladder may be stored in a collapsed state and is prevented from being accidentally released by a releasable fastening mechanism. The ladder may further comprise a container for holding the ladder when the ladder is not is use.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for conducting secure power line carrier communications in full duplex over the power lines of a building. Power line carrier current telephone extension systems utilize 1) a single BASE unit per central office line (for interfacing line carrier signals with the central office line) and 2) one or more EXTENSION units, one for each extension phone set (for interfacing said line carrier signals with said extension phone sets).

Abstract: A system for power coupling independent of the position of the receiver over a surface. This is achieved by developing a spatially-dependent phase shift in the electromagnetic field generated by the power transmitter. The power inputs to the power receiver are then driven 180 degrees out of phase at any coordinate in the plane over the surface. An array of elements is placed in a plane below a surface and driven with a series of alternating current power sources. Consecutive adjacent elements across the area of the plane are driven with uniformly increasing phase shift. An integral multiple of adjacent consecutive elements results in a 180 degree phase shift. Pairs of field receiving elements in a power receiver are dimensioned to receive fields that are separated by 180 degrees of phase. Utilizing the technique of the invention, power coupling independent of the position or rotational orientation of the power receiver can be obtained.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a fiber-reinforce plastic bicycle handlebar by an injection molding process. The resulting handlebar approximates the exterior appearance, configuration and attachment means of traditional prior art handle bars for all terrain bicycles or mountain bikes, while providing a handlebar that is light weight, strong, durable, shock absorbing and cost efficient to manufacture. A manufacturing method for manufacturing the handlebar includes injection of thermoplastic material into a gap located between a core and cavity.

Abstract: A universal pin ring for use in securing filament in a stationary position with respect to a mandrel during a filament winding process is disclosed. In the preferred embodiment, the universal pin ring has two rows of pins along its length. The pins of the first row are adapted to serve as anchor pins to secure filament in a stationary position with respect to a mandrel. The pins of the second row are adapted to serve as guide pins to cause filament to quickly conform to the contour of a mandrel after turning of the filament during filament winding, thereby minimizing the size of the turnaround area. In some applications, both rows of pins would serve to anchor filament. In other applications the guide pins serve both to guide filament and to anchor filament that has slipped from an anchor pin. Reinforcing ribs and flex grooves on the universal pin ring are also disclosed.

Abstract: A hollow shell frame for bicycles and other human powered vehicles is disclosed. The frame is constructed from plastic molded partial shells that are assembled into tubing that comprises the frame. The partial shells have protrusions and receptacles joining faces of their skins that are used to join the shells together to form the tube. This results in a lightweight, durable and aesthetically pleasing frame. In an alternative embodiment, the partial shells have protrusions and receptacles within their interiors for additional strength. Additional fasteners such as screws, bolts or rivets may be used for reinforcement of the partial shells. A method for manufacturing the frame is also disclosed.

Abstract: Description tables can be linked to a kernel to form a device driver. The description tables can be device description tables and adapter description tables. The kernel is operating system dependent. The description tables are operating system independent and can be linked to other kernels for other operating systems. A library of kernels for different operating systems can share a common set of kernel requests.

Abstract: A prosthetic foot formed by one continuous coil spring which has a foot center coil section, a heel extension section, and a forefoot extension section. Lateral and medial and torsional movement are accommodated. Energy is absorbed and stored by the prosthetic foot during heel strike in the gait cycle, energy is transferred to the forefoot extension section during foot roll-forward to toe-off in the gait cycle, and energy is released to provide a propelling force on the prosthetic foot at toe-off in the gait cycle. An apparatus allowing the wearer of the prosthetic foot to feel by physical sensation forces being applied to the prosthetic foot is included in one embodiment.

Abstract: A Variable Frequency Drive Power Center incorporating a new passive Harmonic Filter in an improved housing structure for Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs). The new harmonic filter improves the overall system performance by drastically reducing the line side current harmonics generated by all VFDs. The harmonic filter includes a series inductance, a parallel capacitance, and a buck transformer. The filter provides a low impedance path for the harmonic currents generated by VFD and therefore prevents them from flowing into the input ac power lines. The filter also improves the input power factor of the VFD system because of its increased inductive reactance under full-load conditions. Although the filter causes an overvoltage across the VFD terminals because of its increased capacitive reactance at the fundamental frequency this problem is overcome by using the buck transformer.

Abstract: The inventive composition contains salt, calcium magnesium acetate (CMA) and sodium silicate, and may optionally contain sodium ferrocyanide, diatomaceous earth, and/or other materials. The composition is useful for facilitating the melting and removal of snow and ice, and is stable and non-corrosive. The inclusion of both CMA and sodium silicate in the salt composition provides better corrosion resistance than can be obtained by the inclusion of comparable quantities of either CMA or sodium silicate alone. The inventive salt composition is considerably less expensive to manufacture than CMA-containing salt compositions which provide comparable corrosion resistance.

Abstract: A composite mixture of spherical objects and lubricant useful for its cushioning properties is disclosed and claimed. The composite mixture may be composed of microspheres typically less than 2000 microns in diameter with inert atmospheres sealed within their interiors and any of a variety of lubricants facilitating sliding and rolling movement between microspheres. Typically the composite mixture includes lubricant in a quantity sufficient to substantially coat the exterior surface of essentially all of the spherical objects, but in a quantity less than would cause dispersion of the spherical objects in the lubricant sufficient to physically separate the spherical objects from each other and substantially reduce the sliding and rolling contact of the spherical objects with each other. A low specific gravity, low thermal mass, low coefficient of heat transfer, insulative and flotation qualities are provided by the invention.

Abstract: An improved method for error recovery in client-server distributed processing systems using cascaded servers. The method adds an additional form of acknowledgement message from a server to its predecessor. This message is sent when the server has completed all its processing and has received an ACK message from its successor, indicating that its result has been successfully received by the successor. The predecessor server retains a copy of its results until it receives the done message, at which time the copy of the results is discarded. If a done message is not received by the time a timer has expired, indicating that a problem has occurred with a server or its communications, the predecessor server resends its stored results.

Abstract: A lightweight wheel assembly intended primarily for use on wheelchairs including an injection-moldable fiber-reinforced plastic push rim, injection-moldable fiber-reinforced plastic wedge-bottom spokes, and a lockable static in-hub brake. Important advantages of the invention include very light weight compared to prior art wheel assemblies while achieving the high component strength desired, shock absorption qualities beneficial to wheelchair users not provided by other wheel assemblies, a convenient and easy-to-operate positive-engaging static brake, and components which may be made from the inexpensive injection molding process.

Abstract: A bandage which retains bodily fluids at least until such fluids reach the top of the dressing that may be placed in the bandage and which permits removal or replacement of the dressing without detaching the bandage from the patient. The bandage has a holder with a base portion which is adhesively attached to the skin of the patient and which contains an aperture to accommodate a wound. Connected to the base portion is at least one flap which folds over the dressing that may be inserted into the holder and which has a releasable fastener to close the holder, to maintain the dressing in a desired position, and to enable the bandage to be opened for inspection of the wound or replacement of the dressing. Fluid retention is accomplished by having the distal (with respect to the patient) edge of no flap closer to the patient's body than is the distal side of the dressing.

Abstract: A device for the collection and testing of a fluid specimen is disclosed and claimed. The invention is particularly useful for collecting and testing human urine specimens but may also be employed in the veterinary environment or any time a potentially hazardous fluid is to be collected and tested and isolation of the specimen from testing personnel is desired. The invention keeps the specimen enclosed and sealed during transport and testing to facilitate safe handling of specimen. Some embodiments of the invention are highly resistent to tampering by the patient or during transport.

Abstract: A method and system for synchronizing the presentation of data from different, but related, sources in different windows of a computer display. Data is positioned using duplicate sectional names that are in each of the data sources that are being synchronized. Even though the sectional names in each data source are the same, the contents of the sections can be different, independent, and unrelated. Multiple views of a single data source in different windows can be synchronized, showing data from many different locations within each data source. This allows authors and content experts to simultaneously show data from dissimilar data sources that have a logical connection, such as footnotes or commentary to a text, translations of a text, or updates to a read-only file.