Abstract: A weighted flexible exercise device made of a flexible material in an I shape containing a fluid or particulate weight, such device being generally loose and flexible for performing a variety of exercises utilizing its shape as providing both grasping areas and areas which frictionally catch and interact with the user's body.

Abstract: The invention relates to a measuring process, the purpose of which is to increase the measuring accuracy of pulse oxymeters and comparable optical devices which are used in vivo to ascertain oxygen saturation of arterial blood. The measuring process according to the invention is provided for the purpose of ascertaining oxygenation of arterial blood in tissue by evaluating the differential light attenuation at several wavelengths. It is characterized by the fact that light attentuation of at least one wavelength is determined in order to choose those calibration curves of several variables (&OHgr;1, &OHgr;2, . . . ) produced by different wavelength pairings with a minimized error in order to generate an output signal for the arterial blood oxygenation.

Abstract: A device (10) for movement/transport of, in particular, a handicapped person (12), including a transport device such as a patient lifter or lifting unit with a holder (16) in which a slide rail (20), from which attachments for a carrying sling (14) extend, moves under gravity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of ethoxylated fatty acid esters as self-emulsifiable compounds particularly useful for the preparation of phytosanitary treatment products or as drugs for veterinary or human use. According to the invention, said fatty acid esters comprise a total number of ethylene oxide molecules such that the HLB value (hydrophilic-lipophilic balance) of said compounds is comprised between about 4 and about 10, preferably between about 5 and about 9. Said ethoxylated fatty acid esters form in an original way self-emulsifiable components without requiring any other surfactant, and they are biodegradable and capable of dissolving active principles which are little or non water-soluble.

Abstract: A surge tank structure in an intake manifold has a serge tank to which a plurality of branch tubes are joined at one end. The branch tubes are joined at the other end to a cylinder head mounting flange, and one end of each branch tube in the surge tank is enlarged to have a horn-like shape. The serge tank comprises a main body and a top plate. The main body has through holes provided therein for accepting the branch tubes and has its top side opened. The top plate is joined in a plane to the top of the main body. The main body has a bottom which has engagement recesses formed by raised portions, so that each engagement recess has a horn-like surface that conforms to the horn-like shape of one end of each branch tube.

Abstract: The lipstick tube (20) has a cap (5) to be coupled by pressure on a collar (4) emerging axially from the tube body (1), characterised in that it comprises a ring of material (6) having a flexible free end (16), said ring (6) being provided with an external rabbet or recess (9) around the periphery close to its free end defining an annular void (10) between the free end (16) of the ring (6) and, respectively, the cap (5) or the collar (4), towards which the ring (6) may be elastically deformed when it is connected, respectively, to the collar (4) of the tube body or to the cap (5), to make an airtight closure of the tube (20).

Abstract: A food scoop having a holder for a condiment receptacle is disclosed. The holder and food scoop are formed from a unitary blank of material and the holder forms a continuation of the side wall of the scoop to allow for stacking and storage until the holder is deployed for use. After deployment, the holder securely retains a condiment receptacle and resists the forces applied to the receptacle during use. A blank for forming the food scoop and holder is also disclosed.

Abstract: Process for improving planeness of a metal sheet, in which the sheet is stretched between two jaws for a period of time, applying a controlled permanent elongation of greater than 0.5%. Transverse pressure is applied on at least one face of the sheet during at least part of the period time during which stretching is applied with at least one longitudinally movable roll, or with a metal bar clamped to an opposite face of the sheet.

Abstract: The invention relates to a silicon carbide or metal carbide foam to be used as a catalyst or catalyst support for the chemical or petrochemical industry or for silencers, as well as the process for producing the same. The foam is in the form of a three-dimensional network of interconnected cages, whose edge length is between 50 and 500 micrometres, whose density is between 0.03 and 0.1 g/cm3 and whose BET surface is between 20 and 100 m2/g. The carbide foam contains no more than 0.1% by weight residual metal and the size of the carbide crystallites is between 40 and 400 Angstroms. The production process consists of starting with a carbon foam, increasing its specific surface by an activation treatment using carbon dioxide and then contacting the thus activated foam with a volatile compound of the metal, whose carbide it is wished to obtain.

Abstract: A take-out carrier wherein the compartments thereof are divided by a partition wall secured, only in the fully erected position of the carrier, by complementary cohesive coatings on the partition wall flange and the bottom panel of the carrier, the carrier, prior to alignment of the cohesive coatings, being collapsible for stacking and storage.

Abstract: An IC chip is mounted on a circuit substrate by the flip chip mounting. A projection is provided for forming an eccentric space between the IC chip and the circuit substrate at a position deviated from a center of the IC chip. A sealing resin is injected in a space between the IC chip and the circuit substrate.

Abstract: In order to investigate the reactants involved in a reaction between a gas and a solid by means of X-ray absorption spectroscopy an apparatus is provided which comprises, within a measuring chamber (2), a sample holder (23) for holding a sample (24) of the solid, means for forming an atmosphere of the gas in the measuring chamber under selectable pressure, a window (20) for the entry of X-rays for the irradiation of the sample (24) and a collector arrangement (21, 22) arranged spaced from the sample holder (23), in order to collect in the measuring chamber (2) electrons released by X-ray absorption. The collector arrangement comprises two collector electrodes (21 and 22) which are arranged mutually spaced from one another in sequence lengthwise along the X-ray path between the window (20) and the sample holder (23).

Abstract: A bending table upon which lengths of plastics material rendered flexible by heating, may be set to determine a desired curvature thereof, particularly for producing arched UPVC window and door frames, the table including an unslotted ferro-magnetic top (1) and a plurality of bobbins (3) each mounted at the end of a radially extending arm (6,7) the arms being mounted upon independently rotatable spindle members (4) such that the angles subtended by each adjacent arms (6,7) is adjustable and wherein the spindles (4) are themselves may be positioned selectively along a locating strip (16) fixed to the table top. Further arms (17) are adjustable along the strip (16) and extend transversely across the table top to support one or more fences (18). The table enables an arched profile (32) having, if required, straight sections, to be produced to any desired shape, and the magnetically attractive bobbins (3) retain the positions of the arms but can be readily adjusted to suit any desired profile.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the preparation of nanoparticles formed from a random polymer of at least one compound of formula (I) in which A represents a  group or a  group; R1 and R2, identical or different, represents a linear or branched C1-C6 alkyl group; n=1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, characterised in that the monomer is dissolved beforehand in a water-miscible aprotic organic solvent forming, with the polymerisation medium, a non-solvent mixture of the polymer formed.

Abstract: Method for obtaining a solid, magnetically anisotropic material, includes the steps of heating an alloy containing a rare earth element and at least one transition metal to a temperature higher than the melting temperature of the alloy and sufficient that alloy is completely liquid, and cooling the melted alloy at a rate at least equal to natural cooling in the presence of a continuous, static magnetic field to solidify the alloy and obtain the magnetically isotropic material.

Abstract: A procedure for the production of tablets and capsules of natural substances of vegetable origin, in which dry extracts and micronized powders of one or more medicinal herbs are mixed in appropriate proportions. The mixture is then subjected to granulation by means of steam at atmospheric pressure, dry air is introduced for the elimination of the steam and to start the drying process, through which the granules produced by the steam are consolidated, before they are put into the machine that will make the tablets and capsules, without the use of excipient or adjuvant substances.

Abstract: A component retaining leg is disclosed, which comprises a base to be provided on a component such as a clamp and a clip, a pillar depending from the base, and a flexible retaining piece extending from the free end of the pillar in a folded fashion toward the base. The free end of the retaining piece has an engagement step section for engaging a mounting hole of a panel. The engagement step section has a plurality of engagement steps formed at a predetermined interval.

Abstract: When cutting metal rods, for instance, percussion machines are used that utilize stored kinetic energy which has been produced either mechanically or by the use of compressed gas. A drawback is the inability to accurately control the cutting process. The present invention makes use of hydraulics to control the process, thereby achieving total control of the course of the function.

Abstract: A nail gun includes a contact arm that is movable relative to a nail gun body between an upper first stroke end position and a lower second stroke end position. The contact arm may prevent the nails from being driven when it is in the first stroke end position. A nail driving prevention device includes an engaging member that is movable to enter the moving path of the contact arm so as to prevent the contact arm from moving from the first stroke end position toward the second stroke end position when the number of the nails in a nail magazine has been reduced to a predetermined number. A deviating device is operable to change the moving course of the engaging member away from the moving path of the contact arm when the contact arm is positioned above the first stroke end position.