Abstract: A dry land snowboard training device is presented for simulating the balance and movement of a conventional snowboard on dry land, and in particular the balance and movement of a conventional snowboard on a wooden half pipe. The device comprises a unitary retrofit apparatus which can be mounted to a footboard or removably mounted to a conventional snowboard. The retrofit apparatus includes a frame, a support brace, and a series of housing assemblies which each contain a plurality of ball bearings. The device also incorporates a pair of inventive bindings which each comprise a hard plastic sole, with straps, and a support piece, with a strap, which is attached to the hard plastic sole with flexible cords.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for releasing a heat-activated gas from a heat activated gas-emitting medium in response to application of heat. The invention relates specifically to an apparatus and a method for flavoring foods during a cooking process. The apparatus consists of a housing made of a thermally conductive material and a pyrolytic or combustible cartridge which is removably inserted into the housing.

Abstract: A wind-actuated warning device which mounts onto a vehicle to provide an alert or warning to the operator of a vehicular condition which requires the operator to exert special attention and appropriately respond to the condition. Examples of such conditions include a high profile condition, a roof top carrier or a reminder to deploy landing gear on an aircraft. The warning device has a base member with coupling for mounting the base member onto the vehicle. The warning device further has a cover member pivotally mounted to the base member. The cover member has a frontal and a rearward surface with a warning or other indicator associated with the rearward surface of the cover. The cover is biased against the base, which is overcome by wind loading to pivotally collapse the cover onto the base and provide a substantially flat elevational profile of the warning device on the vehicle.

Abstract: A compact and uncomplicated apparatus for safely restraining a child in an adult seat which is used during transportation, such as an automobile seat. The apparatus comprises a planar seat member designed to sit directly on top of the seat portion of an adult seat, a pair of safety straps attached to one end of the planar seat member which are pushed through the space between the seat and back portions of an adult seat and further pulled up and over the back portion of the adult seat, and a buckle or other means for connecting the pair of safety straps to the top surface of the planar seat member. When a child is placed in the apparatus, the straps cross the child's upper torso and connect to the planar seat member between the child's legs.

Abstract: A material spreader consisting of a hopper, attached to a motor vehicle, which receives and dispenses an aggregate material in predetermined quantities and in a layer having substantial uniformity in thickness. The rate of dispensing the aggregate material is controlled by a computer which receives the desired weight of aggregate per area data input from the operator, senses the velocity of the motor vehicle, and adjusts the release rate of the aggregate from the hopper. The hopper is laterally expansible to accommodate varying road widths, and dispenses the aggregate material through gate openings in the bottom of the hopper. The aggregate is dispensed from the hopper without the aid of any operational parts exposed to the aggregate material within the interior area of the hopper.

Abstract: A game played for entertainment or educational purposes in which a series of clues are revealed to the contestants one at a time, and from these clues, the contestants attempt to correctly guess a predetermined answer associated with a given series of clues. One person serves to control the play of the game and directs the contestants to apply certain specified cognitive skills to the identified clues to assist them in reaching the predetermined answer. The first contestant to identify the correct answer wins the round. The game may be played in multiple rounds with different systems to determine the winner of the game. The invention includes the method of playing the described game.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for marking coated wire with alphanumeric characters is disclosed. An electrically conductive wire is surrounded with a coating; a plurality of lasers are circumferentially disposed around the wire, each laser generates a beam of coherent energy of sufficient intensity to focus on and ablate a dot-shaped area of the coating thereby creating a corresponding dot of the contrasting color. As the wire is moved past the lasers, the laser beams are sequentially triggered in synchronization with the motion of the wire to produce a matrix of dots representing alphanumeric characters appropriate for identification of the wire.

Abstract: A horizontal counter-top water filter adapted to reside behind a sink faucet fixture. The water filter has a horizontal housing defining a fluid inlet chamber and a fluid filtration chamber, an inlet end cap which is configured to conduct an incoming fluid flow from the fluid inlet chamber to the fluid filtration chamber and an outlet end cap configured to receive a filtered fluid flow from the fluid filtration chamber to a fluid outlet spigot. The water filter is additionally fitted with a diverter valve and fluid conduit, which conducts diverted fluid from a sink faucet into the water filter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the preparation of a swine dysentary subunit vaccine. The swine dysentery subunit vaccine is composed of antigenic material harvested from the surface of an anaerobic spriochete, Treponema hyodysenteriae. The bacterial cells, previously grown in large volume (5-7 liters) in a bench-top fermentor, are harvested by centrifugation and washed vigorously in phosphate buffered saline. The bacterial cells are then removed by a second centrifugation and the supernatant retained. The supernatant contains a salt extract consisting of the antigenic material used in the vaccine. Once harvested, the salt extract is concentrated 100X. The salt extract has been shown to be immunogenic in pigs. Five to six week old pigs are hyperimmunized intramuscularly (IM) with the salt extract. Pigs vaccinated with the salt extract are protected against infection with Treponema hyodysenteriae.

Abstract: An emergency situation traffic signal control system, employing true radar and telemetry-based systems, which is a two-way, two frequency, full duplex transmission system. The system consists of an intersection transmitter/receiver electrically coupled to an intersection traffic signal control box and a vehicular transponder. The intersection transmitter/receiver generates an A/DCODE consisting of an access code ("ACODE") and a direction code ("DCODE"). The intersection transmitter/receiver continuously monitors the intersection by sending the A/DCODE signal in the approach directions relative to the intersection. An authorized emergency vehicle transponder approaching the intersection receives the A/DCODE, verifies the accuracy of the codes and re-transmits the DCODE, along with an optional vehicle identification code ("VID"), to the intersection transmitter/receiver for verification. If the vehicle is positively verified, control of the intersection is handed over to the vehicle by engaging valid preempt.

Abstract: A flexible cylindrical sheath arrangement for a male urinary device in which the "press-on" device has a longitudinal opening to accommodate insertion of the male organ. The device is sealed along the length of the male penis by use of adhesive on flaps projecting laterally from the cylindrical sheath. Prior to use, the adhesive is covered with a release lining. The sheath portion is connected to a conical portion which terminates in a tubular urine exhaust passage and communicates urine external to the device.

Abstract: A landfill liner leak detection and monitoring system and method for determining the existence of a leak in the landfill liner. The system consists of a plurality of pipes in the liner underlayer prior to installation of the liner. Each of the plurality of pipes is perforated with pinholes at regular intervals along its length. A tracer chemical is injected into one end of each pipe and air is evacuated through evacuation probed installed in the overlayer. The presence or absence of the tracer in the evacuated sample is indicative of the existence of a leak. The presence of tracer in an evacuated sample will be indicative of the position of the liner leak.

Abstract: An apparatus for pressure testing a plumbing system having a fluid inlet assembly having an inlet connection, a pressure-actuated flow regulator valve, and a fluid inlet, all made from or lined with corrosion resistant materials. A paddle shaped member is coaxially coupled to a freely rotatable threaded cap member which removably engages the tee fitting in the plumbing system. O-rings along the outer edges of a paddle-shaped member serve to seat the paddle-shaped member into the inner diameter of the tee-fitting and seal the downstream portion of the Y or tee fitting from the upstream portion.

Abstract: A shock absorber of the type having a hydraulic cylinder and piston is disclosed. The hydraulic cylinder is filled with an elevated viscosity fluid having slight compressibility which exhibits pseudo-plastic flow. The piston has an associated thermal expansion means associated therewith, which defines an annular space between the peripheral surface of the thermal expansion means and the cylinder wall. The annular space acts as a peripheral valve to impart resistance to piston travel through the fluid. The thermal expansion means is selected to have a coefficient of thermal expansion greater than that of the cylinder, whereby extremes of ambient or internally generated temperatures cause the thermal expansion means to adjust the peripheral valving, thus compensating for temperature-induced fluid viscosity changes to produce consistent dampening.