Abstract: A safety holster for a firearm, including two pivotally mounted retaining members that cooperate to engage the trigger guard of the firearm and prevent withdrawal of the firearm from the holster by anyone other than an authorized user of the firearm. The holster includes a fingerprint sensor for scanning fingerprint information of a perspective user of the firearm, and a processor for comparing the scanned fingerprint information with stored fingerprint information of an authorized user and releasing the retaining member only if the scanned fingerprint information matches that of the authorized user.

Abstract: The present invention provides reclosable plastic bags that a laboratory worker wearing gloves can open safely without the use of any tool or utensil and without increasing the risk of contact between the contents of the bag and the user. The reclosable plastic bags of the present invention may be made from an extruded plastic bag film web that may be cut or otherwise formed into a bag comprising a first wall on which a first closure profile element is disposed and a second wall on which a second closure profile element is disposed. On either wall or both walls, below the closure profile element, the plastic film web may be formed into subsections having different thicknesses. One of the subsections may be thinner cross-section, formed of a thinner bag film web, thus creating a “tear zone” that may have a substantially linear, not substantially cross-linked, molecular alignment.

Abstract: A steerable catheter having a segmented tip formed from materials of differing hardnesses. A tip segment formed of softer material provides improved steerability, while an adjacent harder segment provides improved resistance against steering wire pull-through. Wear-resistant sleeves and a coined loop portion of steering wire provide additional resistance against steering wire pull-through. A tip fabrication method is also disclosed. The catheter includes a one-piece inlet housing with integral mounting fins for attachment to the catheter housing.

Abstract: A multi-kernel neural network computing architecture configured to learn correlations among feature values 34, 38 as the network monitors and imputes measured input values 30 and also predicts future output values 46. This computing architecture, referred to as a concurrent-learning information processor (CIP 10), includes a multi-kernel neural network array 14 with the capability to learn and predict in real time. The CIP 10 also includes a manager 16 and an input-output transducer 12 that may be used for input-output refinement. These components allow the computing capacity of the multi-kernel array 14 to be reassigned in response to measured performance or other factors. The output feature values 46 computed by the multi-kernel array 14 and processed by an output processor 44 of the transducer 12 are supplied to a response unit 18 that may be configured to perform a variety of monitoring, forecasting, and control operations in response to the computed output values.

Abstract: A therapeutic exercise apparatus for use by a patient comprises a base and a tubular post pivotally mounted at a lower end thereof to the base for pivotal, back and forth movement about a pivot axis. Springs are used to urge the tubular post toward a substantially upright position. A handle is mounted distal from the lower end. The tubular post and the springs are adapted to provide only nominal (light) resistence to the tubular post pivoting about the pivot axis to allow the therapeutic exercise apparatus to be used by weak patients, such as accident victims, to regain use of a limb.

Abstract: A coin escrow apparatus for use with a pay telephone includes a housing defining a coin hopper, a coin acceptance chute, and a coin return chute. The apparatus also includes a door mounted within the housing for selective movement between an escrow position for supporting coins in the hopper, an acceptance position for releasing coins from the hopper to the coin acceptance chute, and a return position for releasing coins from the hopper to the coin return chute. The apparatus also includes structures for selectively moving the door between its escrow, acceptance, and return positions. An integrated circuit is provided for unconditionally simulating a relay switch contact normally indicative of successful firing of the escrow coin apparatus to allow the coin escrow apparatus to be used with so-called "smart" telephones without requiring electromechanical components to sense and indicate successful firing of the coin escrow apparatus.

Abstract: A process for removing heavy metal ions or cyanide ions from a waste water stream originating in a metal plating plant or a mine comprising the steps of pretreatment in which the waste water stream is first pretreated by removing particulates, fats and oils; filtration by means of a first sand filter to remove suspended particulates down to 50 microns, a second bag filter to remove suspended particulates down to 3.5 microns, a third micro filter to remove particulates down to 0.

Abstract: A bag having tamper-evident features including an adhesive flap foldable to cover the mouth of the bag to deter and indicate tampering with the contents. Indicia on the bag are visibly altered by attempts to release the adhered flap. A tear zone can be provided to facilitate detachment of a portion of the bag without cutting. Reclosable closure elements also can be provided.

Abstract: A steerable catheter (310) having a handle, a manifold strain relief (314) securely mounted at a front distal end of the handle, a steering dial (316) rotatably mounted within the handle, the steering dial (316) comprises a steering dial left fastener (316L) and a steering dial right fastener (316R). A lumen extrusion shaft (318) is securely fastened at a rear distal end to the manifold strain relief (314). The lumen extrusion shaft (318) has at least one lumen extrusion shaft large lumen opening (318B) and at least one lumen extrusion shaft small lumen opening (318C) contained therein. A lumen extrusion tip (320) is securely fastened at a front distal end of the lumen extrusion shaft (318) by a lumen extrusion shaft connection (318A). A manifold (334) is securely fastened at a rear end of the manifold strain relief (314). At least one luer lock (324) is securely mounted at a rear distal end of the handle. A steering wire (328) securely fastened at a rear distal end to the steering dial (316).

Abstract: A backlight for a flat panel display includes a light-combining wedge which combines light from multiple light sources before sending it through the flat panel display, with the light-combining wedge receiving light from two lamps, with each of the lamps producing a different color of light. A control element is used to vary the luminance of one of the lamps relative to the other to allow for an adjustable mixing of colors and thus provides an adjustable white balance.

Abstract: A safety restraint device, such as may be worn by a hunter or wildlife photographer perched on a tree stand for preventing falls, comprising a waist belt which incorporates a quick release buckle, a shoulder harness including front and rear straps with each front strap incorporating a quick release buckle, a pair of thigh straps, each of which incorporates a quick release buckle, a front cross strap for connecting the front straps of the shoulder harness and incorporating a quick release buckle therein, a rear cross strap, a lanyard having one of its end portions slidably secured to the rear cross strap and having a free end, a tree strap for attachment to the free end of the lanyard, a connector for releasably closing and securing the tree strap to a tree or other fixed object, and a pouch or pocket for orderly storing the shoulder harness, front cross strap, rear cross strap, lanyard and tree strap and possibly the thigh straps and waist belt.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting and filling a paper lawn refuse bag includes a support frame and a hopper mounted thereon with the hopper including a funnel-like upper portion and a chute-like lower portion in communication therewith. Locking plates are pivotably mounted to the hopper for movement between raised and lowered positions, with the locking plates including gripping elements for gripping an upper portion of a lawn refuse bag when the locking plates are in their lowered position. In one form, the gripping elements comprise pins for piercing the upper portion of the paper lawn refuse bag.

Abstract: A foldable multi-purpose tool includes a pair of jaws and a pair of folding handles and is capable of accepting removable cartridges. In the extended position, the handles operate the jaws. Each removable cartridge contains a number of relatively small tool blades that are preferably selected by functional categories. Various cartridge hold-down and removal mechanisms are also provided.

Abstract: A pair of folding hand shears comprising first and second generally channel-shaped handles each having first and second ends, each generally channel-shaped handle having an open side and an at least partly closed side opposite the open side, the at least partly closed sides comprising shear-receiving openings. The folding hand shears also include first and second shear halves pivotally mounted to each other, with the shear halves being pivotally mounted between flanges at the first ends of the handles. Control straps extend between the flanges for limiting the maximum pivotal movement of the shear halves and for frictionally resisting pivotal movement of the shear halves. The folding hand shears are foldable between a closed, compact configuration and an opened, extended configuration for cutting with the shears and in the opened, extended configuration the open sides of the handles face each other. A plurality of additional tools are pivotally mounted to the handles.