Abstract: An traffic light capable of utilizing both natural sunlight and artificial light for illuminating selective traffic signals. Natural light is directed to a natural light router or switch and to a color switch for providing a red, amber or yellow, and a green light for each bank of traffic light signals. A controller is coupled to the natural light router and light emitting diodes for controlling the mode of operation for operating the traffic light with either electrically powered light emitting diodes or with natural light collected by the natural light collector. A sensor detects the adequacy of the natural light, and when insufficient, causes the controller to power an LED signal light. The natural light may either be amplitude modulated or time modulated so as to provide a desired high illumination output to the desired signal light. The power consumption is greatly reduced, as well as providing a more reliable traffic light substantially independent of power line interruptions or fluctuations.

Abstract: An electric box assembly that includes a box extender having a tubular body with opposed sides arranged to be received within an electric box, and which box extender is formed with a pair of laterally outwardly extending face flanges arranged to be flush mounted against a wall surface in the assembled position. The box extender is devoid of any top or bottom flanges and is adapted to be secured in place within an electric box by the electric device, outlet receptacle, switch or the like. In an embodiment of the invention, the sides of the tubular body are tapered inwardly toward the central axis of the tubular body so as to permit the box extender to be nested one within the other to facilitate shipping and handling.

Abstract: A face mask having a mask body made of a shaped first material with an opening and a reduced resistance filter material placed within the opening. The reduced resistance filter material permitting air to flow relatively freely there through. In one embodiment one edge of a shield is fixed to the mask body of the face mask and covers the opening and the reduced resistance filter material protecting the opening from liquid splashes and the exhaled air flow from a user downwards, away from the user's eyes. Exhaled air from a user wearing the face mask is caused to relatively freely flow through the reduced resistance filter and to be directed downward preventing the fogging of a user's eyewear. The face mask of the present invention is particularly suited to the medical and dental profession.

Abstract: A dental nozzle, cartridge, capsule or container having a porous or foam flow through applicator connected at the discharge end thereof; and having a body portion containing or receiving a low viscosity dental material. In one form, a displaceable plunger or piston is disposed within the body portion to extrude the dental material through the discharge orifice and attached flow through applicator. The foam or porous applicator may be connected to the discharge end at the time of manufacture as by molding, or by mechanically connecting or by adhering the same to the discharge orifice as part of the assembly process. The flow through applicator may be made in a variety of shapes to provide improved and controlled application of a low viscosity dental material to a dental site. Additionally, the porosity of the porous or foam material may be matched to the viscosity of the dental material to control the flow of dental material therethrough.

Abstract: Securing a dental post or a crown or bridge onto the dentin portion of a prepared tooth by utilizing a no-mix, two component, self-curing cement wherein the first component of the cement is applied to the interior dentin surfaces of a post hole, or onto the dentin surface of the tooth receiving the crown or bridge, and applying the second component of the cement onto the surface of a post, or crown or bridge so that when the post or crown or bridge is fitted onto the exposed dentin of a prepared tooth, the complementary components of the cement immediately chemically set to firmly secure the post, crown or bridge onto the prepared tooth. The respective components of the no-mix, two component, self-curing cement formulation for practicing the method require that each include a methacrylate resin. One of the components also includes an aromatic tertiary amine and the other component includes an organic peroxide.

Abstract: A bent fluorescent lamp for backlighting a display providing uniform illumination. A fluorescent lamp is made from a tubular glass envelope having right angles formed therein. The right angles provide improved illumination of a plane surface for backlighting a liquid crystal display. The right angles eliminate dark regions in the illuminated surface. A right-angled bend is also formed at the ends of the fluorescent lamp. An electrode is positioned sufficiently far from a central portion of the lamp so that any dark spaces in the gas discharge of the fluorescent lamp, such as the Faraday dark space associated with a cathode of a lamp are not formed within the central portion. As a result, the central portion of the fluorescent lamp has a uniform brightness or intensity providing improved illumination for backlighting a liquid crystal display. The resulting more uniform illumination with less dark regions results in a more legible display and more accurate information being displayed.

Abstract: A bar or rod gripper for arresting the linear axial movement of a rod, e.g. the piston rod of a door closure between a door open or closed position, that includes a compressible bushing slidably disposed about the rod or bar, and a canter washer disposed about the compression bushing whereby the canter washer, when tilted, will cause the compression bushing to compress to impose a surface to surface frictional force onto the bar or rod to resist or restrain the axial movement thereof without scoring, pitting or indenting the outer surface of the rod.

Abstract: A door closer having a door arresting mechanism to arrest a door in an opened position that includes a cylinder and piston assembly wherein the arresting mechanism includes a cam member having an arresting dwell cam profile and an indexing profile, and an associated cam follower member wherein one member is connected to the piston rod and the other member to the cylinder so that one member is fixedly connected to either the cylinder or piston rod and the other member rendered rotatable relative to the fixed member so that the arresting mechanism is rendered self actuating upon the opening or closing of the door.

Abstract: A dispenser made of a pliable material having a slit therein for dispensing primarily low viscosity materials. A block made of pliable foam contains a low viscosity material within a slit. Dental instruments or dental material applicators having an applicating end are inserted into the slit of the block, coating the applicator end with the low viscosity material. The resilient nature of the block material also helps to keep the dental instrument clean by wiping the instrument against the interior sides of the pocket formed by the slit. The present invention is particularly well suited for dispensing a lubricating material, such as a resin, on dental instruments used in working, shaping, or contouring a relatively viscous composite restorative material on a patient's tooth.

Abstract: A frame used in clamping gel slab holders having different thicknesses used in electrophoresis. The frame has a cam that, when rotated, presses against a plate of a gel slab holder. The cam has a high lobe and a low lobe for selectively clamping gel slab holders having different thicknesses. A thin gel slab holder is securely held in position by rotating the cam in a direction such that the high lobe contacts the thin gel slab holder. A thicker gel slab holder is clamped in position by rotating the cam such that the low lobe contacts the thicker gel slab holder. Gel slab holders having different thicknesses are accommodated.

Abstract: A dose package for applying a material with an applicator having a separate material and applicator portion. In one embodiment, a portion of a cover is removable, exposing the material and applicator. In another embodiment, a plurality of material wells are used to mix different materials to be dispensed with an applicator. In another embodiment, a material well is squeezed to dispense the material onto an applicator.

Abstract: An applicator having an applicator end portion and a material end portion. The material end portion forms a container holding a material to be applied with the applicator end portion. Upon separating the material end portion from the handle portion of the applicator, a container is formed which is used to dip the applicator end portion of the applicator into. The present invention is particularly applicable to the dispensing of medicaments, and in particular, dental materials. A single dose of material is integrally formed within the applicator and sealed until ready for use.

Abstract: An electric box assembly that includes a box extender having a tubular body with opposed sides arranged to be received within an electric box, and which box extender is formed with a pair of laterally outwardly extending face flanges arranged to be flush mounted against a wall surface in the assembled position. The box extender is devoid of any top or bottom flanges and is adapted to be secured in place within an electric box by the electric device, outlet receptacle, switch or the like. In an embodiment of the invention, the sides of the tubular body are tapered inwardly toward the central axis of the tubular body so as to permit the box extender to be nested one within the other to facilitate shipping and handling.

Abstract: An electrical connector having an inlet end and an outlet end wherein the leading or outlet end is provided with a pair of spaced apart shoulders defining therebetween an annular recess and a snap fit retainer ring fitted onto the outlet end, the retainer ring having at least two series of spring tangs blanked out of the plane thereof, and which tangs are formed to effect a positive grounding connection with an associated electric box in the event any slight deviations are encountered within the parameters of the adopted standards, and whereby the annular recess functions to provide a relief for the spring tangs to facilitate and minimize the required insertion force and to insure a positive ground connection between the connector and the electrical box in the assembled position.

Abstract: An applicator for applying a material such as a chemical or a medicament. A material to be applied is placed on an absorbent portion of the applicator, such as a flocked end, sponge or foam, brush, or other equivalent absorbent substance. After drying, the material is in an inactive stable state on the applicator. When desired, the inactive stable material is activated by water or other solvent. In another embodiment, a package containing an applicator end having a pre-dosed dry inactive stable material is combined with a second material so that a two-part or multi-component material may be easily dispensed and activated. The package containing the first and second component may be a tray, a capsule, or a tip end syringe. The pre-dosed single use applicator may be used to apply a variety of materials, such as chemicals or medicaments, to the surface or site desired without complicated and messy mixing or cross-contamination.

Abstract: The invention provides true La(OiPr)3 preferable as a starting material for an asymmetric synthesis catalyst and a process for producing the same. In this process, anhydrous lanthanum chloride LaCl3 is reacted with potassium isopropoxide K(OiPr) in a mixed solvent of isopropanol and toluene, then the isopropanol is distilled away to replace all the solvent by toluene, then the reaction solution is left, decanted and filtered to give a transparent filtrate, and the solvent is distilled away from the filtrate which is then vacuum-dried under heating, whereby high-purity La(OiPr)3 is obtained in 77% yield. In this high-purity La(OiPr)3, the La content is 97 to 103% of the theoretical content, impurity K is 0.3% or less, (Li+Na) is 0.01% or less, Cl is 0.2% or less, and the degree of association thereof is 5.5 to 6.5.

Abstract: An electric connector assembly that includes a connector body having an inlet end portion and an outlet end portion that is provided with a frustro-conical snap fit retaining ring having a face portion about which laterally extending arms are bent to define a frustro-conical ring circumscribing the face portion. The retainer ring is integrally formed of a spring steel type material an equivalent thereof. Certain of the arms have locking tangs formed or blanked out of the surface thereof, that are cantileverly bent or offset relative to the surface of its corresponding arm. The free end of the arms are arranged to function as an electrical grounding tang in the operative position of the connector assembly.

Abstract: Dielectric lenses (6) with an outer dimension of about 0.5 to 1.5 times a wavelength are arranged on front faces of respective slots (3) of a waveguide slot array antenna (1). The dielectric lenses (6) are formed in a panel structure where they have been connected integrally through a dielectric panel (7) so that they cover a front face of the antenna. Spherical waves radiated from the slots are converted into a flat wave by the dielectric lenses, and a composite wave of radiation waves from the respective slots becomes a flat wave which hardly includes ripples, so that an antenna gain is remarkably improved as compared with a case that dielectric lenses are not provided.

Abstract: A method and a device for effecting the cordless retraction of the gingival sulcus tissue prior to the taking of an impression of a tooth for making a crown or bridge which is attained by controlling any bleeding in the gingival sulcus area, and utilizing a dental dam preferably formed of a sponge or foam like material to contain an astringent fortified silicone impression material embedded about the prepared tooth, and using the patient's biting force to apply the necessary pressure onto the dam until the silicone impression material sets and adheres to the dam to enhance easy removal of the set impression material from the tooth. The dam is formed to accommodate either the posterior teeth or the anterior teeth.