Abstract: A plant cover, comprising a base formed from a sheet of material, said base having an upper end, a lower end, and an outer peripheral surface, an opening intersecting the upper end forming an inner peripheral surface and a retaining space, a skirt formed from a sheet of material, said skirt connected to the upper end of the base, and expansion means formed integrally with the base, the expansion means comprising an excess of material, the expansion means permitting the base to expand and contract to both closely encompass and follow the contours of a pot. Methods of using a plant cover.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for providing a decorative covering for a flower pot. The method includes the step of providing a decorative covering assembly comprising a header assembly and at least one sheet of material detachably connected to the header assembly. The header assembly is secured to a holder assembly such that the decorative covering assembly is supported by the holder assembly and at least one sheet of material can be detached from the header assembly. At least one sheet of material is detached from the header assembly and is disposed about at least a portion of the flower pot to provide a decorative covering for the flower pot.

Abstract: A plant packaging system comprising a combination of a protective sleeve portion and a decorative cover portion having a base and skirt for packaging a potted plant. The protective sleeve can be detached from the decorative portion of the package system once the protective function of the sleeve has been completed, thereby exposing the decorative cover and allowing the skirt portion to extend angularly from the base. The protective sleeve and decorative cover components may comprise a unitary construction or may comprise separate components which are attached together by various bonding materials.

Abstract: A conducting silicone matrix incorporating a suspension of a drug in ionized and non-ionized phases in an emulsion of a hydrophobic polymer. In one version, the drug is prepared as a concentrated aqueous suspension incorporated in a silicone matrix with a silicone surfactant. An electrolyte may be incorporated into the silicone matrix for increasing its conductivity. When a current is applied, the drug in individual globules in the drug suspension migrates away from the electrode and becomes concentrated at the distal side of the globules eventually resulting in an increase in the drug concentration distal to the electrode and adjacent to the skin and thereby resulting in transfer of the active drug through the skin. This system provides a matrix with minimal electroendosmotic flow that is current efficient and provides a drug reservoir that can last for several days during application of the drug.

Abstract: A sleeve used to wrap items such as potted plants. The sleeve may have an open or closed bottom. When closed, the bottom may have a gusset for allowing expansion upon the depositing of the pot into the sleeve. The sleeve has a detachable upper portion. The sleeve has a bonding material disposed upon an inner and/or outer portion of the sleeve for crimping the sleeve adjacent the pot to hold the sleeve about the pot.

Abstract: A plant packaging system comprising a combination of a protective sleeve portion and a decorative cover portion having a base and skirt for packaging a potted plant. The protective sleeve can be detached from the decorative portion of the package system once the protective function of the sleeve has been completed, thereby exposing the decorative cover and allowing the skirt portion to extend angularly from the base. The protective sleeve and decorative cover components may comprise a unitary construction or may comprise separate components which are attached together by various bonding materials.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for monitoring the intracranial pressure of a patient. The apparatus includes an implantable sensor implanted in the skull of a patient. The implantable sensor senses pressure and outputs a signal indicative of the pressure in the patient's skull. The apparatus further includes a probe receiving the signal output by the implantable sensor when the probe is positioned near the implantable sensor. The probe outputs a signal indicative of the pressure sensed by the implantable sensor. An interrogation circuit is provided for receiving the signal output by the probe and automatically outputting a digital signal proportional to the pressure sensed by the implantable sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a cover about an article and for automatically fastening the cover to the article, and optionally for automatically placing a label on the covered article. The article may be an article such as a potted plant and the cover may be a decorative cover. The invention satisfies the need for a means for rapidly covering and fastening the cover about an article with a minimal amount of manual effort and in a location having a limited amount of available space. The apparatus comprises a platform having at least one opening sized to receive the article. The apparatus comprises a tying device for automatically applying a band or fastener about a portion of the outer surface of the covered article for fastening the cover about the article after the sheet is formed into a cover about the article.

Abstract: An intrusion apparatus for safely propelling a non-lethal diversionary device into a structure through a barrier. The intrusion apparatus comprises an extension device adapted to be gripped by an individual and being movable generally towards the barrier by the individual. A support assembly is connected to the extension device. The support assembly serves to support the non-lethal diversionary device as the extension device is moved towards the barrier. A barrier breaking assembly is also supported by the extension device. The barrier breaking assembly forms an opening sized to receive the non-lethal diversionary device through the barrier as the extension device is being moved towards the barrier. A propelling assembly is also supported by the extension device. The propelling assembly serves to selectively propel the non-lethal diversionary device into the structure through the opening formed in the barrier at a non-lethal velocity.

Abstract: An apparatus for discharging disks from the bottom of a stack of aligned disks one at a time is provided. The apparatus includes a pair of feed gate subassemblies supported in a spaced apart, diametrically opposing relationship so as to define a disk receiving opening therebetween. The feed gate subassemblies are adapted to cooperatively support the stack of disks in the disk receiving opening and sequentially engage opposing portions of the outer peripheral edge of the disk positioned at the bottom of the stack of disks so as to cause the bottom disk to be discharged from the stack of disks.

Abstract: A method for covering a pot means, the cover is a flattened sleeve comprising a base portion tapered and sized to fit a pot and having an upper portion which is detachable and having drainage means in the bottom. The cover may be bondingly connected or crimped about the pot means.

Abstract: The present invention is a decontamination plant for removing contaminates from contaminated material. The decontamination plant comprises an outer shell including a cavity therein. A drum formed of heat conductive material is rotatably mounted in the cavity defined by the outer shell so as to form an annular heating chamber between the drum and the outer shell. A plurality of heat sources are positioned to discharge heat into the annular heating chamber. The drum also has an inner surface defining a decontamination chamber. A tube is concentrically supported within the decontamination chamber formed in the drum. The tube has an inlet which is in communication with the annular heating chamber so as to receive flue gases therefrom. The outlet of the tube is positioned to exhaust gases from the drum. The drum is slightly inclined from a material receiving opening to a soil discharge end so as to cause the material which is being decontaminated to progress through the decontamination chamber as the drum rotates.

Abstract: A plant cover, comprising a base formed from a sheet of material, said base having an upper end, a lower end, and an outer peripheral surface, an opening intersecting the upper end forming an inner peripheral surface and a retaining space, a skirt formed from a sheet of material, said skirt connected to the upper end of the base, and expansion means formed integrally with the base, the expansion means comprising an excess of material, the expansion means permitting the base to expand and contract to both closely encompass and follow the contours of a pot. Methods of using a plant cover.

Abstract: An apparatus capable of conditioning and dispensing high volumes of loose fill insulation material includes a hopper for receiving unconditioned insulation material and for conditioning the insulation material, and an air lock for receiving the conditioned insulation material from the hopper and for discharging the insulation material. The hopper has an upper conditioning compartment and a lower conditioning compartment which are in open communication with each other. At least one upper shaft, which has a plurality of spikes extending radially therefrom in a helical pattern, is supported in the upper conditioning compartment of the hopper. A set of lower shafts including at least three shafts, each with a plurality of spikes extending radially therefrom, are supported in the lower conditioning compartment of the hopper. A drive assembly is operatively connected to the upper and lower a shafts to provide rotational movement to each of the upper and lower shafts.

Abstract: A packaging and method for displaying a data card. The packaging comprising a paper covering coated on one side thereof with a layer of polyethylene. The data card is positioned between a first cover portion of the covering and a second cover portion of the covering. The first cover portion is bonded to the second cover portion, and the first and second cover portions are bonded to the outer surface of the data card via the layer of polyethylene of the first and second cover portions whereby the data card is sealed between the first and second cover portions in a non-sliding relationship relative to the first and second cover portions such that unauthorized tampering with the paper covering to gain access to the data card is readily detectable.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for monitoring equipment. A computer having an enclosure defining an enclosure space is initially provided. Disposed within the enclosure space is a central processing unit including a memory and an arithmetic logic unit. The computer is provided with communication means operably connected to the central processing unit for permitting communication between the central processing unit and a peripheral device. An alarm sensor is disposed within the enclosure space of the computer. When the alarm sensor senses an alarm condition, the security system outputs a data signal indicative of the alarm condition for sounding an alarm, for example.

Abstract: A method and composition for the topical application of a yohimbine or derivative or stereoisomer thereof, or effective .alpha..sub.2 -antagonists, skin for inhibiting melanogenesis in the skin leading to skin lightening. The yohimbine may be provided as a natural extract, for example, as an extract of Johimbe bark. The composition may include a skin exfoliant.

Abstract: Method for storing methane in light hydrocarbons at moderate temperatures and pressures such that the resulting solution has a high energy density. The method includes combining methane at a 50 to 80 mole percent concentration with a light hydrocarbon, such as butane, propane or liquid petroleum gas (LPG). Then the resulting solution is maintained at a temperature of between -1.degree. C. and 38.degree. C. and a pressure of between 8 and 14 MPa. Under these parameters, the solution has an energy density which is 40 to 67 percent that of gasoline. A motor vehicle fuel storage apparatus for the method includes an insulated storage tank containing the 50 to 80 mole percent methane solution and a cooling mechanism for maintaining the methane solution between -1.degree. C. and 38.degree. C. The cooling mechanism may be an arrangement of expansion valves, or connection to the air conditioning system of the vehicle, or both.

Abstract: A method for wrapping a wrapper about a floral grouping wherein the wrapper is a sleeve or sheet of material having a cinching tab or strip of bonding material or both. The floral grouping is placed on the sheet of material which is wrapped thereabout, or the floral grouping is disposed in the interior space of the sleeve. The cinching tab is attached near one end of the sheet or sleeve. The cinching tab has a bonding material disposed thereon which, when the cinching tab is pulled tightly about the wrapper, causes the wrapper to be crimped and tightly bound about the stems of the floral grouping. When a sheet or sleeve having a strip of bonding material is used, the portion of the wrapper having the strip of bonding material is crimped manually or automatically about a portion of the stems of the floral grouping causing portions of the wrapper to overlap and bond to each other causing the wrapper to be held firmly about the stems of the floral grouping.