Abstract: An edible anhydrous chocolate-based fat system is provided, having a significant granulated sugar component. This provides an unusual mouth sense, and allows for significantly different organoleptic properties of the chocolate-based fat system—which otherwise emulates chocolate. The chocolate may be light or dark, or white chocolate. An additional sweet flavor may be added to the chocolate-based fat system, allowing for a faster release of the additional flavor, by infusing or saturating the granulated sugar component of the fat system with the additional flavor. Typically, the granulated sugar component is saturated with an essential oil of a chosen flavor. Apart from the granulated sugar component, the remaining ingredients of the chocolate-based fat system are conched in the usual manner in keeping with chocolate production techniques. A process for production of the edible anhydrous chocolate-based fat system is discussed, and typical machinery for carrying out that process is shown.

Abstract: There is provided an image rejection mixer for downconversion of an incoming signal to a lower intermediate frequency signal, using the absolute difference of frequencies between the incoming signal and the local oscillator signal. The image rejection mixer is set up to accept and downconvert incoming signals at two discrete frequencies f.sub.h and f.sub.l, where the local oscillator frequency is positioned mid-way between those frequencies f.sub.h and f.sub.l. There are two signal paths in the image rejection mixer, either one or the other of which is chosen by positioning a controllable single pole, double throw switch into one of its two switch positions. The output of the switch is led to a mixing element, from which an intermediate frequency signal is derived.

Abstract: A gasifier is disclosed. The gasifier comprises a primary chamber for receiving therein biomass waste material and other related volatile solids to be gasified. A fume transfer vent permits the escape of fumes from the primary chamber. A mixing chamber accepts the fumes from the fume transfer vent. The fumes then flow to an afterburner chamber where a burner member produces a heating flame so as to cause the additional full oxidization of the constituents of the fumes so as to oxidize the constituents. A partitioning wall is disposed between the flame chamber and the primary chamber so as to preclude the heating flame from entering the primary chamber and to also preclude the radiation from the heating flame from directly entering the primary chamber, thereby precluding direct contact and physical disturbance of the waste material. A heat transfer chamber in fluid communication with the afterburner chamber accepts the fully oxidized fumes therefrom.

Abstract: A data reading device for reading digital data encoded in one or a plurality of data-carrying surfaces directs the output from a single wavelength laser diode at the surface of the data carrier, by focusing the light from the laser using an objective lens. The data may be decoded by sensing anomalies in current flow through a precision shunt which is series connected with the laser diode, because light reflected back off the data-carrying surface is re-directed back to impinge on the laser, and the reflected light will cause anomalies in the current flowing through the diode. Alternatively, the reflected light can be deflected using a prism towards a photo-sensor. In either event, the digital data can then be decoded. A pinhole diaphragm is interposed between the laser and the objective lens, or an objective lens assembly, and the pinhole will function as a point source of light. That point source of light can be re-focused with high resolution on the data-carrying surface.

Abstract: A load bearing pre-fabricated building construction panel comprises a main body portion of length "L", a thickness "T", and a width "W". A sheet metal outer skin is disposed substantially at the exterior of the main body portion and has opposed front and back portions adjoined by first and second side portions to form a substantially hollow core, with an insulative material disposed within the substantially hollow core. The building construction panels are connected one to a next substantially similarly oriented one in first side to second side relation. In a first embodiment, a first substantially rigid overlapping securing flange extends outwardly from the front portion of the construction panel past the first side portion, for fastening in overlapping relation to a first adjacent construction panel of similar orientation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a broad band, multi-band radar detector which may be configured so as to have two or three down conversion stages. There are three mixers in the circuit, the second of which has a frequency synthesized local oscillator which is governed by a phase lock loop feedback circuit under the control of a microprocessor, so that the output frequency of the second local oscillator may be varied by an amount equal to .+-.f.sub.adj. The first local oscillator is also under the control of the microprocessor, so that a specific intermediate frequency signal from the first mixer may be derived. By varying the frequency of the second frequency synthesized local oscillator, the tuning range of the radar detector may be increased in each frequency band of interest by an amount equal to .+-.f.sub.adj for all frequency values in each respective frequency band of interest.

Abstract: A computer monitor hood is provided having top, left side, and right side shading panels. The computer monitor hood is formed as a monolithic structure, and is made of rigid material having elastic memory. When it is first molded, the bottom edges of the left side and right side shading panels are closer together than their top edges so that, when the computer monitor hood is in place on a computer monitor, the left side and right side shading panels are biased into frictional contact with the computer monitor as a consequence of the elastic memory attempting to restore the left side and right side shading panels to their unstressed position. Thus, the computer monitor hood may be placed in any selected position on a computer monitor as a consequence of the left side and right side shading panels being biased towards and in frictional contact with the sides of the computer monitor.

Abstract: A golf putter for permitting the accurate putting by a golfer of a golf ball at rest on a putting green is disclosed. The golf putter comprises a golf club head having a striking face shaped, angled and dimensioned to contact the golf ball, so as to putt the golf ball. The golf club head has a defined bottom surface shaped and oriented so as to be co-operatingly aligned with the putting green at the golf ball. An elongate shaft has a first lower end and a second upper end, with the elongate shaft being operatively attached at its first lower end to the golf club head. The elongate shaft extends upwardly from the golf club head at an included angle of 140.degree. or greater with respect to the defined bottom surface. An upper hand grip portion shaped and dimensioned for gripping by a chosen single hand of the golfer is secured to the elongate shaft adjacent the second upper end.

Abstract: A curved conveyor section comprises a flat, horizontally disposed curved belt-supporting bed. Direction reversing members are disposed at each end of the conveyor section. A continuous loop curved conveyor belt has arcuate inner and outer edges with a common substantially vertical center axis, and is mounted on the belt-supporting bed. An article carrying portion of the conveyor section is disposed above the belt-supporting bed, and a return portion is disposed below the belt-supporting bed. A motor driven continuous loop drive chain or belt is oriented in a substantially horizontal plane and has a plurality of driving members disposed along its looped length. A plurality of driven receptors are securely mounted on the curved conveyor belt along its looped path. The driving members drivably engage a consecutive subset of the plurality of co-operating receptors. The driven receptors are a plurality of teeth, each of which is mounted to the curved conveyor belt by means of an elastomeric member.

Abstract: Optical mapping apparatus with adjustable depth resolution is provided. The optical mapping apparatus can display transversal images in an object, particularly the eye. The apparatus can deliver two or more images with different depth resolutions, or a combination of these images, or only one image with adjustable depth resolution. There is also provided optical mapping apparatus with adjustable depth resolution, where OCT images are corrected for the curvature at the back of the eye lens.

Abstract: A cutting mechanism for accurately cutting a notch in a piece of edging, to permit sharp bending of the piece of edging for a picture or plaque, is disclosed. The cutting mechanism comprises a jig secured to a base member, the jig being dimensioned to receive the piece of edging clamped thereto. A cutting blade is mounted on the base member for reciprocating movement between a first retracted position whereat the cutting blade is remote from the jig and a second fully extended position whereat the cutting edge has passed through the jig. The cutting blade has an inverted "V"-shaped cutting edge comprising two blade portions joined one to the other at a central vertex.

Abstract: An apparatus for brewing a selected quantity of a brewed beverage comprises a water heater tank having a heating element, a water supply line having an inlet valve and an outlet disposed within the water heater tank adjacent the bottom, a water level sensor mounted within the water heater tank to activate the inlet valve when the level of water within the tank is below a controlled water level, and a temperature control to maintain water in a region adjacent the controlled water level within a predetermined temperature range. A brew chamber retains product therein. Heated brew water passes through the product in order to extract flavor therefrom. The heated brew water passes from the brew chamber into the brewed beverage container. A heated brew water outlet is disposed in water dispensing relation to the brew chamber and has a brew water valve to control the flow of heated brew water therefrom.

Abstract: A stability maintaining shock absorbing bicycle front fork and trailing arm assembly comprises a hub member attached to the steering spindle for pivotal movement therewith. Left and right fork members are attached adjacent their top ends to the hub member. Left and right trailing arms are pivotally mounted one on each of the left and right fork members. A bicycle wheel mounting member is disposed on each of the trailing arms so as to permit mounting of a front bicycle wheel thereon. In use, the left and right trailing arms are concurrently pivotally movable between a forward position whereat the axis of rotation of the front bicycle wheel mounted on the trailing arm assembly is disposed forwardly of the steering axis and between the steering axis and the common pivot axis, and a trailing position whereat the axis of rotation is disposed closer to the steering axis than when in the forward position and is also displaced vertically closer to the common pivot axis than when in the forward position.

Abstract: A slurry agitation apparatus for selectively agitating slurry temporarily stored in the interior of a storage tank, which slurry contains heavier-than-liquid solids and is at least somewhat pumpable, comprises a slurry circuit having connected together in seriatim, and in fluid communication through pipes one with the next, an outlet disposed in the sump pit in fluid communication with the interior of the storage tank to permit egress of the slurry therefrom, a flow control valve, a selectively controllable slurry pump, and a discharge nozzle. The discharge nozzle is rotatably mounted in surrounding sealed relation on a substantially vertical spigot securely mounted on the concrete foundation of the storage tank, for selective rotation of the discharge nozzle about a substantially vertical main axis, and has a spout portion in fluid communication with the interior of the storage tank and oriented to emit the slurry from the spout portion as a generally horizontally directed discharge.

Abstract: A computer monitor hood comprises top, left side and right side shading panels each having an outwardly facing surface, a monitor facing surface, front, rear, left and right side edges. A counterweight receiving portion is disposed on the computer monitor and has a first slip-resistant surface. A counterweight having a second slip-resistant surface is selectively manually placeable in any one of a plurality of front-to-rear positions on the counterweight receiving portion, with the first and second slip-resistant surfaces being in cooperating engagement one with the other so as to retain the counterweight in any selected position, thereby balancing the computer monitor hood at a selected position on the computer monitor such that the top, left side, and right side shading panels each project forwardly from the front of the computer monitor, at the respective of the top, left side, and right side surfaces of the computer monitor, so as to shade the screen of the computer monitor.

Abstract: A control system for a coffee brewer having a microprocessor in which the water heated in the heater tank must be a predetermined temperature before brewing. A double brewing cycle is prevented. Upon the system not being activated for a period of time, i.e., the water temperature is allowed to drop a greater magnitude for energy saving and component protection.

Abstract: A sports goal comprises a goal frame, including substantially vertically oriented first and second goal posts each having a top end and a bottom end and a cross-bar interconnecting the first and second goal posts at their respective top ends. The bottom ends of the first and second goal posts define a goal line spanning therebetween. A ground contacting base is connected to the first and second goal posts at respective first and second fixed points adjacent the bottom ends of the first and second goal posts, so as to securely interconnect the first and second goal posts. The ground contacting base extends rearwardly behind the goal line to provide upright stability for the sports goal. The first and second goal posts are tiltably movable between a upright position and an impacted position disposed angularly rearwardly of the upright position. A net is secured to the goal frame and the ground contacting base.

Abstract: Wound, solid state inductors are provided by winding flexible plastic tape having electrically insulative and magnetic permeability properties. Such tape is sometimes referred to as magnetic tape. An electrically conductive layer is placed on at least one surface of the magnetic tape, or both, and electrical connections are provided to the ends of the electrically conductive layer or layers. When the magnetic tape is wound into a coil, spirally or helically, and an alternating current is applied to the electrical connection, an inductive reactance will be noted. If there are two electrically conductive layers, and a voltage is applied between them, a capacitive reactance will be noted. In that case, a complex capacitive inductor element or inductive capacitor element has been configured. The wound inductors are small, light weight, inexpensive, and relatively shock proof, when compared with prior wound inductors having separate magnetic cones and wire windings placed over them.

Abstract: A disposable dome lid is provided for use with a drinking cup such beverage cups used for the sale of hot and cold beverages. The top surface of a dome lid is elevated above the top surface of the beverage cup rim, when in place. The dome lid is configured so as to make a plug fit onto the beverage cup by the beverage cup rim extending into a downwardly facing recess formed for that purpose. A side surface depends downwardly from a substantially planar top surface of the lid, and is inset from the cup rim engaging recess. A portion of the side surface is displaced outwardly towards the outer periphery of the dome lid, and thus provides a surface for engaging the lower lip of the mouth of the user. A tear-back flap is defined by fault lines stamped into the top surface and a "U"-shaped hinge formed in the top surface.

Abstract: A truck brake monitoring system comprises a signal producing sensor mechanism for each brake, each sensor mechanism having a main body member mounted on a respective brake, and with an actuation member of each sensor mechanism positioned with respect to the respective brake actuating mechanism so as to be actuatable by the respective brake actuating mechanism, when the respective brake is operated, for reversible operation between a rest configuration to a sensing configuration whereat a threshold signal is produced, such that when the brake actuating mechanism reaches a threshold limit of travel corresponding to one of malfunction of the braking system and a threshold brake pad thickness below which thickness the brake pad is considered unsafe, the sensing configuration of the signal producing sensor mechanism is realized, and the threshold signal is produced.