Abstract: The present invention comprises a method for delivering a medium such as a gas, vapor or liquid into a melted plastic in a mold via an elongated screw shaft rotatably supported in a housing, the method including the steps of providing the screw shaft with a bore longitudinally therethrough from a proximal end to a distal tip end thereof, rotating the screw shaft in the housing to move plastic therethrough, and into the mold, introducing a gas, vapor or liquid into the bore, to permit the gas, vapor or liquid to be delivered through the bore, and into the molten plastic in the mold through the distal tip end of the screw shaft.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a cane assembly for the visually handicapped, to permit maximum tactile and auditory information between terrain touched by said cane assembly and a user thereof. The cane assembly includes a tapered metal cane shaft having an upper or proximalmost end and a lower or distalmost end. A metal handle with a finger groove is secured to the upper end of the shaft and a solid elliptically shaped plastic tip is secured to the lowermost tip of the shaft. The elliptically shaped solid attachable tip permits the cane assembly to provide superior touch and sound from all terrain encountered, without the likelihood of snagging on a crack or the like.

Abstract: A pivotable safety gate having a pair of spaced apart parallel support frames which each have a distal end and a proximal end. The frames each have a support stanchion which is disposed adjacent the proximal end of the frame. The stanchions support a pivotable pair of gates. When one gate is down, the other gate is up. This gate assembly is utilizable at mezzanine floors where security and safety at edges of those floors are important. The gates prevent accidents and improper entry into areas which should be off limits to passage.

Abstract: The invention includes retrofitting a plasticating machine for the working and forcing of plastic material into a moldor die, the machine including an elongated housing having a first or proximal end and a second or distal end, and elongated screw shaft with a screw flight therearound. The screw shaft is rotatably supported in the elongated housing, for the working of plastic between the screw shaft and the elongated housing with at least one delivery conduit generally longitudinally arranged through the screw shaft, from a location proximal to the distal tip end of the screw. To accomplish such delivery, the screw shaft is replaced with a corresponding screw shaft with a bore extending through the distal tip end thereof, or the existing screw shaft is machined to have such a bore extend therethrough, from location proximal to the distal end out through the distal tip end. The bore in one embodiment may extend completely through the screw shaft, from its proximalmost end to its distalmost tip end.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a biological specimen container assembly for the safe storage and periodic examination of biological specimens therein, which includes an elongated vial having a primary chamber with a first open end and a second closed end. The second closed end on the vial has a secondary chamber therein of generally rectilinear shape in cross-section. A valve having a first end and a second end, has its second end matable with the first open end of the vial, the valve having an adjustably openable and closable bore extending longitudinally therethrough. A hard cap has a cavity therein which is matable over the first end of the valve. An end cap is matable over the hard cap and the valve, the end cap being arranged to maintain sterility of the end cap, the valve and the first end of the vial.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a buoyancy device for the self-controlled maintenance of desired vertical upright orientation of a marine structure during its descent and settlement onto a water bed floor. The device includes a chamber for enclosing a volume of air, the chamber defined by an arrangement of walls. Those chamber walls include a first or upper portion and a second or lower portion. The device has ports arranged in the walls in upper portion of the chamber, to permit entry of water and/or escape of air from the chamber during any descent of the device as it descends in a water environment attached to a marine structure. A port with an engagable plug is movably arranged in the lower portion of the chamber, to prevent entry of water through the drain opening during descent, and to permit drainage of water from the chamber during ascent of the marine structure from the water.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an article and a method of preventing undesired wind and moisture encroachment into the space between adjacent joists and rafters of a building. The method includes the steps of: providing an elongated flexible web article having a foraminous elongated first side edge portion and a pair of elongated, wind-impermeable, second sides co-extensive and co-attached with said first side portion; attaching the first foraminous long side to the rafters; cutting a portion of the wind-permeable material and the second wind impermeable sides on the rafters; draping the flaps now defining the cut first and second sides of the elongated web down between the joists; and securing the lower end of one flap to the vertical outside wall, and pulling the remaining second side flap back over the insulation between the rafters, to provide an eave block, vent and channel arrangement between the joists and to permit controlled ventilation between the rafters.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a transmission for the distribution of power from a rotating shaft, which shaft is supported between a pair of housing segments, which housing segments are connectedly joined to one another, including a rotatable shaft having a power source at one end thereof, for rotation of the shaft; a first housing enclosing at least a portion of the rotatable shaft, the housing having a first end with a plurality of spaced apart longitudinally directed holes therein; a flange having at least one radially directed projection thereon, the projection having a cammed surface which sweeps across the holes on the first end of the first housing; a second housing having a first end with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart longitudinally directed holes therein; a plurality of reciprocally moveable pins disposed within the holes in the first and the second housing; and a cam arranged within the second housing, so as to effectuate longitudinal movement of the pins within the second housing

Abstract: The present invention includes a method of suturing a body part by the use of an elongated articulable suture device comprising the steps of: providing a handle having a proximal end and a distal end; attaching an elongated, articulable suture needle at the distal end of the handle; placing a movable sheath about the suture needle; threading a tensionable member through the suture needle from a proximal to distal path and back again through a distal to proximal path, one end of the tensional member being fixed to the handle, and a second end of the tensional member being attached to a tension adjusting member; placing a suture thread in a holder in said distalmost end of the suture and threading a body part by movement of the suture needle about a body part.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sterile, disposable, compartmentalized Zavos swim-up column for the swimming-up of spermatozoa, at desired levels of dilution in a media, and a swimming down of spermatozoa into compartments within the column, as well as to a method for the harvesting of those semen samples having particular sperm morphology, motility, progressive motility, speed, sperm concentration, fertilization potential, and a sex ratio. The device comprises a hollow, vertically supported column, having a closed lower end, and an open upper end. A lowermost or first conical member is arranged at the lowermost end of the column, the lowermost conical member having a lowermost periphery in sealing engagement with the bottom of the column. The first conical member has inclined side walls and a truncated uppermost portion defining a peripheral edge which is open within into the column.

Abstract: The invention thus comprises a hem holding device for the temporary shortening and raising of a hem line of an article of clothing by the wearer of that clothing. The device includes an elongated front panel having a first end, a second end, a front side and a rear side with a thin piercing pin extending off of the rear side of the front panel adjacent the first end thereof. A frame member has a proximal end extending off of the rear side of the front panel at the second end thereof, the frame member also having a distal end with a hinge thereon. A pivotable finger is attached to the hinge on the frame member, the finger having a first end in swingable engagement with the piercing pin, the finger also having a gripping surface defining a first plane.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tool/collet alignment and securement arrangement for a vertical milling machine having a J-head and a manually adjustable spindle for the secure and rapid change of a tool held in a collet in a lower end of the spindle. An arrangement of receiving bores are spaced annularly around the lower end of the spindle. An arrangement of locating pins are correspondingly arranged about the tool/collet so as to mate with the receiving bores in the spindle, to provide secure and efficient engagement of the collet/tool with the spindle in the vertical milling machine.

Abstract: A composite active phase/support catalyst for purifying exhaust gases, the active phase of which comprises a solid solution of transition metals oxides with a spinel structure of the formula AB.sub.2 O.sub.4 wherein "A" comprises a combination of metals with their stoichiometric indexes being in the range Zn.sub.0.18-0.21 Cd.sub.0.18-0.21 Co.sub.0.18-0.63 Fe.sub.0.02-0.46 and "B" also comprises the combination of transition metals with their stoichiometric indexes being in the range Cu.sub.0.09-0.36 Ni.sub.0.09-0.11 Cr.sub.0.24-0.48 Fe.sub.0.28-0.34. The support comprises an oxide carrier coated with oxide layer having a spinel structure of the formula Cu.sub.0.33 Co.sub.0.33 Ni.sub.0.33 Al.sub.2 O.sub.4 whereas the amount of the active phase per support surface lies in the range 10-12 .mu.Moles of AB.sub.2 O.sub.4 per 1m.sup.2 of support surface.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a ceiling tile cutting apparatus for the cutting and edging of successive tiles with corresponding angular cuts in a corresponding manner. The apparatus comprises a plurality of vertically arranged support legs connected by a plurality of horizontal members and a planar table member of generally rectilinear configuration attached at the upper end of the support legs. The table member has a first or proximal edge, a second or distal edge parallel to the first edge, a left hand edge and a right hand edge generally parallel to the left edge. An elongated slot extends through the table member parallel to the right hand edge of the table. A pair of guide rails supported over the elongated slot, and a motorized cutting tool mechanism is arranged to slide on the guide rails, with a cutting tool extending into the slot. An adjustable telescopable ruler is pivotably arranged on the table.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a decorative belt loop pin for the decorating of an article of clothing and for the securement of a belt to an article of clothing. The belt loop pin comprises a rectangularly shaped frame having a central internal opening of rectangular shape. A front member is arranged to receive a decorative panel thereon. A rear member has an upper end and a lower end, the upper end having an upper standoff thereon, the lower end having a lower standoff thereon. The upper standoff has an elongated securement pin hingedly attached thereto. The lower standoff has a securement grasping member thereon. The internal opening of the rectangular frame crtically has a minimum length of about one inch, and a minimum width of about at least three-eighths of an inch, to permit a belt to be readily passed therethrough.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an elongated extruded poster clamp support assembly for the stiff and reliable hanging of a poster or sign therefrom, comprising an elongated planar base having an upper edge and a lower edge, a channel arranged on the upper edge of the planar base, to permit the clamp to be supported, and a pair of elongated legs attached to the channel, the legs arranged to be rotated into a poster holding orientation by movement about a hinge extending from the channel. The legs thereby define two spaced apart pressure strips biased against the base, for the pinching of a poster therebetween. The invention includes an elongated groove arranged as part of the channel, for the receipt of a stiffener rod to help keep flat any poster supported in the clamp.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of generating substantially pure boron ions for use as a plasma-process feed gas. An electrode substance material in the chamber is comprised of a mixture of boron atoms and metal atoms. The substance or compound is thermally decomposable within a suitable temperature range, to provide boron vapor and other species which are substantially not in the vapor state. A heating of the substance material induces the controlled thermal decomposition of the boron compound in a stoichiometrically favorable manner. Magnetic confinement of the simultaneously released electrons causes numerous collisions, resulting in ionization of the vapor, to the plasma state. This plasma may then be extracted and accelerated at a suitable energy toward a workpiece.

Abstract: An electronic coupon communication system for generating and redeeming unique product discount coupons over public computer networks such as the Internet. The system comprises a first Internet node, an Internet coupon server and an Internet coupon notification center. The Internet coupon server generates a unique Internet coupon using a coupon generation process. The Internet coupon server accepts an on-line selection of one of the available unique Internet coupons from a user of the Internet node and transmits the coupon back to the user's printing device or e-mail storage. It then records the transaction in its coupon database and notifies the transaction to the Internet Coupon Notification Center. The Internet Coupon Notification Center subsequently records the transaction. Furthermore, a coupon redemption center can electronically verify coupon validity and record coupon redemption by communicating with the Internet Coupon Notification Center.