Abstract: A floor assembly having a plurality of elongated extrusions and a cooperating snap connector that is secured to a rigid underlying support. Each extrusion includes a pair of outer leg members and a pair of inner leg members, each of the outer leg members being connected to an adjacent inner leg member by horizontal support member. Each inner leg member includes a retaining tab extending therefrom. The snap connector includes an elongated base portion and a pair of flanges attached to opposed major sides of the base portion. The retaining tabs cooperate with the bottom section of the flanges to mechanically secure the extrusions to the snap connector. The snap connector is secured to the rigid underlying support.

Abstract: The vital driver utilizes rectification and subsequent synchronized inverting of the rectified power, which is then fed to a transformer. Failed operation, which permits current having a DC component to reach the load transformer, causes an increase in the current which is sensed by a current sensor. The high current can be detected by a fuse. Some embodiments use primary modules having a rectifier section with sufficient power to run a number of secondary units, each powering an individual load. The synchronizing inverter can utilize optically coupled solid state switches.

Abstract: This invention provides a collapsible box made of corrugated plastic, which has improved hinge line/score line configurations between walls and panels and improved hand holds. A plastic box of this invention preferably has an automatically lockable bottom to facilitate erection of the box, and can be easily collapsed for return shipment and reuse.

Abstract: A monitoring system for a display unit includes phototransistors for detecting light emitted from a plurality of selectively energizable light-emitting diode (LED) segments in an energized state and for generating a voltage which is representative of the light emitted from the LED segments in the energized state. A glass filter filters ambient light from the phototransistors and passes the light emitted from the LED segments in the energized state. A comparator for each of the LED segments generates a comparison signal, with the comparison signal being representative of a comparison between a predetermined reference voltage and the voltage for each of the LED segments. A conditional power supply conditionally energizes the LED segments in response to an energizing signal. A routine of a central processing unit generates display data.

Abstract: A railway switch circuit controller has a housing enclosing a laterally movable platform with a first and second target affixed thereupon. A first and second proximity sensor within the housing is positioned to detect the first and second target, respectively, such that the proximity sensor upon detection of the respective target may provide a signal. The platform is connected to a point detector connecting rod of a railway switch, thereby to be movable relative to the movement of the point detector connecting rod. In a first preferred embodiment, the platform may be cooperatively engaged with a rotational drive shaft that is connected to the point detector connecting rod, thereby to move laterally when the drive shaft is rotated by lateral movement of the rod. In the first preferred embodiment, the first and second proximity sensor may be fixed within the housing and the first and second target may be adjustable laterally within the platform towards and away from the other target, respectively.

Abstract: A system for supervising and controlling the movement of a railway vehicle is provided, wherein a plurality of wayside controller units are each distributed to a plurality of wayside controller locations by a multi-access carrier, such as a fiber LAN or IEEE 802.3 Ethernet, for instance, such that supervisory and control operations may be communicated between each of the wayside controller units with a multi-access protocol on the multi-access carrier. The present invention replaces the use of a serial-link protocol for point-to-point communication with a multi-access protocol on a multi-access carrier. In a preferred embodiment, a computer-based control system may be connected through the multi-access carrier, so that communication is achieved solely with multi-access protocols.

Abstract: A storage container including a pallet having a section which defines a mounting clip receiving slot and a sidewall structure having a mounting clip secured near an edge thereof. The mounting clip has a first section including a movable latch/release handle and a second section including a locking toggle operatively associated with the movable latch/release handle. The second section is inserted into the slot and the locking toggle is moved by the movable latch/release handle from an unlatched position to a latched position. In this way, the sidewall structure is attached to the pallet. The invention also includes the mounting clip itself (as described above) as well as a method of forming a storage container wherein a pallet, a bin and a mounting clip.

Abstract: A motion detector for detecting movement of a rail based vehicle and the direction of that movement is provided. The motion detector can be integral with or attachable to an end-of-train unit and can include a single axis accelerometer mounted at an angle from the rails for detecting acceleration in both the lateral and vertical directions. A systems controller, which can include an analyzer, can be provided to receive and analyze output from the accelerometer to determine a motion state and a direction. A power controller can be provided for supplying power to the accelerometer on an intermittent basis to conserve power. A calibration unit can be provided to both initially calibrate and to subsequently recalibrate the accelerometer after a stopped motion state is detected. Additionally, an input/output port and an output driver for conditioning the signal for output to the end-of-train unit can be provided.

Abstract: An indicator including an indicator product that is adapted to change visual appearance, an indicator scale in near adjacency to the indicator product including substantially all of the visual appearances that the indicator product can display and a binary scale in near adjacency with the indicator product and the indicator scale. A package adapted to contain a product is also disclosed including a container for holding the product with an indicator secured to the container. Associated methods of (i) determining whether a product in a package is acceptable; (ii) packaging a product; and (iii) making an indicator label are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of bioremediating an organic hazardous substance present in an aqueous environment having contained therein a microorganism is provided which comprises introducing into the aqueous environment a water insoluble, substantially nontoxic organic material. Further associated methods of bioremediating contaminated water using a tank containing a water insoluble, substantially nontoxic organic material are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for determining a sensitivity of a nonparaffinophilic hydrophobic microorganism to an antimicrobial agent. The method includes providing at least one receptacle containing an aqueous broth including a carbon source and introducing the nonparaffinophilic hydrophobic microorganism into the receptacle. The method further includes placing into the receptacle (i) a slide coated with a hydrophobic material and (ii) a predetermined quantity of the antimicrobial agent to be tested. By observing the nonparaffinophilic hydrophobic microorganism growth or lack thereof on the slide, it can be determined whether the predetermined quantity of the antimicrobial agent is effective in inhibiting growth of the nonparaffinophilic hydrophobic microorganism on the slide. An associated apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: The method of the invention involves providing a first receptacle and a second receptacle. The first receptacle contains a sterile aqueous broth and the second receptacle contains an aqueous broth including a carbon source. The method then includes placing into the first receptacle a first support surface having a paraffin wax coating thereon and placing into the second receptacle a second support surface having a hydrophobic material coating thereon. A body specimen, such as sputum, is then introduced into each of the first and second receptacles. The presence of a nonparaffinophilic hydrophobic microorganism in the body specimen is determined by observing (i) a lack of microorganism growth on the paraffin coated material of the first support surface and (ii) a presence of microorganism growth on the hydrophobic material coating of the second support surface. The presence of the nonparaffinophilic hydrophobic microorganism can be further confirmed by performing a DNA extraction.

Abstract: A method of determining the presence or absence of a nonparaffinophilic microorganism in a specimen taken from a patient includes providing a receptacle containing an aqueous solution that does not contain a carbon source and inoculating the aqueous solution with the specimen. A slide having bound thereto a carbon source is placed into the receptacle. By analyzing the slide after exposure to the specimen, the presence or absence of a nonparaffinophilic microorganism in the specimen can be determined. An associated apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A food package including a tray and a sleeve surrounding the tray where the sleeve includes at least one end flap extending therefrom and mechanically secured to the tray. In this way, the tray may be effectively retained within the sleeve. The at least one end flap also provides for increased structural integrity of the sleeve.

Abstract: A method of speciating and identifying MAI in a specimen comprises placing a paraffin coated slide in a receptacle containing a sterile aqueous solution inoculated with the specimen, analyzing the slide after exposure to the specimen to determine the presence or absence of atypical Mycobacteria, and after the analysis step, if atypical Mycobacteria are determined to be present, performing at least one speciation assay to ascertain if the atypical Mycobacteria are MAI. A related apparatus is also disclosed for speciating and identifying MAI in a specimen comprising a paraffin-wax coated slide, a tube having a sterile aqueous solution contained therein, the tube adapted to hold the slide, and at least one speciation assay means for performing an assay to determine the presence or absence of MAI in the specimen after the specimen is introduced into the tube holding the solution and the slide.

Abstract: A food package including a tray, a sleeve surrounding the tray and a rigid leg member extending from the back panel of the sleeve. The rigid leg member has a bottom edge that can rest on a support surface in order to position the front panel of the sleeve substantially perpendicularly to the support surfaces. In this way, the display surface can be better seen by potential consumers. A multipack food package is also disclosed.

Abstract: A food package including a tray and a sleeve surrounding the tray. The tray includes a base defining an opening and a sidewall extending from the base which terminates in a free edge. The free edge defines a tray opening. The sleeve includes a top panel positioned adjacent the tray opening, a bottom panel positioned adjacent to the opening in the base and a side panel positioned adjacent to at least a portion of the sidewall.

Abstract: A vise having machinable low profile removable jaws includes a stationary jaw attached between two movable jaws for holding two work pieces during a machining process. The stationary jaw is positioned adjacent to a pair of guide rails, which are mounted onto a base. The movable jaws are removably attached to a first and second slide member by a mating connection which is positioned below the work surface of the vise. The slide members are contained within a channel in the base. A screw shaft is disposed within a bore of the slide members and is contained within a tube and a sleeve which are telescopically connected together for protecting the threads of the screw shaft from metal chips and other debris. A tension mechanism is disposed in an aperture of the first and second slide members for controlling movement of the movable jaws. The base has interlocking edges for allowing vises positioned side by side to be mounted closer together.