Abstract: A flossing device for flossing the teeth as part of a dental care program. The device includes a central arch made up of two legs connected by a central segment. A length of floss is secured to the free ends of the legs. Two rings sized to fit over finger tips are secured to the outside of each arch leg. Two fingers are inserted into the rings so that the floss can be brought into well controlled contact with teeth interstices. The rings may be metal rings embedded in or bonded to the arch or may be plastic rings with the arch and rings molded as a unitary structure. With plastic rings, the rings may be circumferentially divided so as to be expandable to fit larger finger tips.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying precise, uniform, coatings to elongated shafts, such as golf club shafts. Shafts are held by a gripper in a downwardly hanging array. A paint head assembly is moved upwardly over each shaft in sequence to apply a paint coating to a selected portion of the shaft length. The paint head assembly includes a flexible container including a central hole, a vertically moveable edge frame and an expander for changing the area of the hole. Raising the frame forms the container into a bowl like configuration, so that paint will contact a shaft extending through, and in contact with, the hole. The assembly is moved up along the shaft to apply a layer of paint, with the hole area varied to accommodate shaft taper, steps, etc. When the desired shaft length has been painted, the frame is lowered, changing the container to a trough-like configuration with pint away from the hole region. The expander widens the hole out of contact with the shaft and the assembly is lowered to below the shaft end.

Abstract: A two-sided towel for wiping moisture from two different surfaces while preventing cross contamination of the moisture between the surfaces. Coextensive first and second sheets, each having a moisture absorbent side and a moisture impervious side are fastened together with the moisture impervious sides abutting. The edges of the resulting sandwich are fastened together while leaving at least a portion of one edge unfastened, forming a pocket between the sheets into which a hand can be inserted. Typically, the towel is used by a fitness center patron to wipe perspiration from his or her body with one side and wipe moisture and dirt from equipment with the other side. The towel can also have fasteners to releasably close the opening so that it can be used as a bag, or be turned inside out and closed to carry damp clothing inside.

Abstract: A self starting, self mode-locked laser is disclosed that utilizea gain saturation lens and an optical Kerr lens to start and to sustain passive mode locking. The laser consists of a resonant cavity which has a saturable gain medium and an optical Kerr lens medium. The laser cavity is described such that the loss modulation induced by the gain saturation lens is cascaded to that of the optical Kerr lens to start the mode locking process, while the loss modulation of the Kerr lens maintains the mode locking. The self mode locking operation restores automatically without any additional induction mechanism, after the pump laser beam or the laser cavity is blocked and then unblocked. In a preferred embodiment, the laser includes a resonant cavity , a Ti:sapphire crystal which produces both the gain saturation lens and the optical Kerr lens, a prism pair for ultra-short pulse operation, and a slit for laser bandwidth control and wavelength tuning. This laser can produce stable pulses shorter than 100 femtosecond.

Abstract: A device for scooping or grasping an object on the floor and then lift it to hand level. This device is primarily for use by a person who cannot bend to pick up an object from the floor. An extendable/retractable lazy tong assembly is connected at one end to an extension on a cane-like member and at the other to a scoop assembly. The scoop includes two hinged halves that move apart, are placed around an object, are moved together to scoop up the object. By pressing the cane extension against the floor, the lazy tongs are caused to rotate and extend, lifting and moving the scoop to within reach of the user's hands without requiring the user to bend over. The scoop can also include pinch bars for pinching, then lifting, a flexible sheet, such as paper or cloth. A thin bar may be provided on the scoop for insertion into items such as key rings or necklaces to lift them to the user's hand level.

Abstract: A scaffold hatch system including a frame member with an opening therethrough, the frame member being supportably attachable to a scaffolding system, the scaffolding system including a plurality of horizontal support members, a plurality of vertical support members and a floor having a walking surface with a passageway therethrough, where the opening of the frame is alignable with the passageway. The invention includes several flanges for attachment to a scaffold system. A hatch attached to the frame to cover the opening is also provided, as is a ladder to access the hatch.

Abstract: A container for enabling fluid flow therethrough for cleaning or sterilizing of the contents, comprises a tray (10) and lid (20) and having respective bases (11, 21) and side walls (17, 27). The bases (11, 21) have perforations (12, 22) defined by elliptically shaped perforation walls (13, 23) with their major axes vertical to allow easy flow of the cleaning fluid through the container and minimum contact points with the contents or other containers.

Abstract: A system and method for generating bio-active frequencies. Such generated frequencies are very precise and are accurate within 0.001 Hz. The frequencies are used to advantage in health science applications such as killing microorganisms and viruses and enhancing tissue regeneration and may be used in various commercial and industrial applications, such as food processing. A specific precise frequency synthesizer is controlled by a programmable control that instructs the synthesizer to generate a specific precise frequency or a series of precise frequencies. A keyboard is actuable by a user to select a specific frequency or sequence of frequencies or a preprogrammed series of frequencies. Depending upon the specific frequency being generated, a circuit gates the generated signal ON or OFF with a predetermined determinable periods being selected for such ON/OFF periods.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a system for sensing specific properties of a process flow without flow interruption. A plurality of sensors each sensing a different property of the process flow are arranged in close proximity within the process flow. The sensors each produce an electrical output of their monitored property. Magnetic transformers are provided to prevent cross-talk between the sensor's outputs. Data from the sensors is processed and presented for use in controlling the properties of the process flow and for monitoring.

Abstract: A controller for controlling the frequency of an oscillator associated with establishing the switching frequency of a PWM power supply. Each one of a plurality of PWM power supplies are connected through a common bus to a bi-directional connection on the controller. The controller has an internal comparator which compares its associated oscillator frequency with the frequency on the common bus. If the frequency of its associated oscillator is lower than the frequency on the bus then the controller increases its associated oscillator frequency to the the bus frequency. If the frequency on the bus is less than the frequency of its associated oscillator then the controller elevates the bus frequency to its associated oscillator frequency. In this manner, the power supply associated with the oscillator having the highest frequency establishes the master frequency and all other oscillators are slaves. The controller can be either capacitively or DC coupled to its associated oscillator.

Abstract: A portable steel framed building which can be rapidly assembled and disassembled. Components of a typical building include at least one ridge beam connected between two spaced ridge receivers with two rafters also secured to the ridge receiver. The rafters extend through hip receivers each of which is connected to a hip beam and a post. Thus, two identical ridge receivers and four identical hip receivers, plus a ridge beam, two hip beams and four posts are sufficient to construct a complete building. With additional identical components, the size of the building may be extended and other configurations, such as valley, shed or gable roofs may be constructed. If desired, purlins may be provided between rafters and crosspieces may be provided between posts. Fascia members may be fastened to the ends of the rafters, and may include a component for holding the ends of a fabric roof covering. The posts may be telescoping to allow building height to be varied or irregular foundations to be accommodated.

Abstract: A system and method for generating bio-active frequencies. Such generated frequencies are very precise and are accurate within 0.001 Hz. The frequencies are used to advantage in health science applications such as killing microorganisms and viruses and enhancing tissue regeneration and may be used in various commercial and industrial applications, such as food processing. A specific precise frequency synthesizer is controlled by a programmable control that instructs the synthesizer to generate a specific precise frequency or a series of precise frequencies. A keyboard is actuable by a user to select a specific frequency or sequence of frequencies or a preprogrammed series of frequencies. Depending upon the specific frequency being generated, a circuit gates the generated signal ON or OFF with a predetermined determinable periods being selected for such ON/OFF periods.

Abstract: A golf training glove for emitting distinctive physically perceivable signals in response to a failure of a golfer to maintain a correct grip about a golf club during a golf swing. The basic glove is similar to a conventional golf glove with a hand access opening and plural finger stalls. A sensor is located in a region corresponding to the back of a golfer's thumb and/or in a region corresponding to an area around the intersection of the palm, and the middle, ring and little fingers. A physically perceivable signal is generated by an electrical device if one of said sensors senses an absence of pressure thereagainst. The signal is preferably an audible signal, having different characteristics for each sensor. Typically the sensors are pressure sensitive, capacitive or proximity switches. The electronic and signaling components are housed in a pocket on the back of the glove.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying rolling massaging pressure to opposite sides of a bodily extremity. Two parallel tension rods extend through two spaced shafts having massaging rollers rotatably mounted on the shafts between the tension rods. One shaft is fixed in use to the tension rods and compression springs on ends of the tension rods beyond the second shaft bias the shaft mounted rollers toward each other. At least one shaft has extended ends to act as handles for manipulating the apparatus. The initial distance between the rollers can be adjusted before use. A latch is provided to hold the rollers well apart during insertion of a bodily extremity between the rollers, then release to allow the compression spring loaded pressure to be applied.

Abstract: This invention relates in general to sheets or films which are instantly mountable and dismountable to the surface of the glass for the use of the window advertisement, window art exhibition or heat and/or sun ray inhibitive media, or more particularly to a sheet of linen cloth including knitted fabric, or a sheet of printed or painted paper or film and if necessary, for sheets made of weak material, they could be adhesively taped or pasted to the surface of a transparent resilient sheet, whereby the linen cloth or printed or painted paper or film or resilient sheet are in turn mounted onto, or dismounted from, the surface of the window by means of cap-tapped or tube-tapped suction cups, weight bags and elasto sheet retaining rings.

Abstract: The batting practice aid includes a single handle, which is sized to be grasped by a single hand of a user, is connected to one end of an impact absorbing line having a soft rubber ball connected to its other end. The line is resistably stretchable along its entire length to permit it to absorb sudden tension forces suddenly applied to the line, wherein the resistance to stretching of the line increases as the amount of stretch of the line increases. The ball is rotated in a circular pattern about the handle by the user. The ball is spaced apart from the handle by a critical safe distance of between about six feet and about 111/2 feet to enable the aid to be used in a safe and yet controlled manner according to the inventive method.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a temperature activated infusion device for delivering a specific quantity of medication to a recipient patent. The delivery is accomplished by the use of a sealed pouch or container of an temperature expandable fluid which applies pressure to a adjacent second pouch or container of liquid medication. A medication delivery pressure regulator and fluid metering valve associated with the output of the liquid medication from the pouch or container insure proper pressure and volume of medication to the recipient patient.

Abstract: The disclosure if directed to a laser amplifier system utilizing a pair of scanning mirrors driven in tandem by piezo actuators. A control provided to directed between the pair of scanning mirrors. Each bounce of the laser beam between the mirrors discretely increases the power of the beam and changes the angle of exit of the beam from the amplifier providing for precise angular beam exit control.

Abstract: A compact and flat antenna that provides both Direct Broadcast Satellite and local off-air reception. The flat reflector is made of a composite material with multiple reflective radiating surfaces. The multi-stepped reflector combines both diffraction and refractive principals to collimate Radio Frequency signal waves to a short focal point. At the focal point a phase correcting splash plate and lens direct the RF signal through a low loss axis-fed circular waveguide and then to a low noise amplifier. This compact design reduces space, cost and over-all structure, which presents an aesthetically pleasing satellite communication antenna. The antenna aperture includes a VHF/UHF antenna element for reception of local and/or off-air broadcast TV signals eliminating the need and cost to install a separate antenna.

Abstract: An improved printed-circuit cross-slotted antenna for satellite communication. The antenna comprises a dielectric substrate covered with conductive material on a first ground plane side and on a second radiating side. The periphery edges of the first and second sides electrically interconnect the sides. The radiating side includes a first and a second slot with the conductive material removed and the substrate exposed. Conductors pass through the crossed slot antenna from the first side to the second side with connections only to the second side. Electrical signals to be radiated from the second side are connected to the connectors. The second side radiates the Electrical signals in a pattern according to the configuration of the slots.