Abstract: An electronic device that functions as an area-intrusion informing device for announcing the unauthorized entry into an enclosure or area which has at least one access opening and closing means. The device uses components that are small for inconspicuous insertions, or for surface mounting, and preferably utilizes a dummy hinge arrangement as an electrical conductor between the various components. The device is used for access doors, windows, filing cabinets, desk draws, closets, and the like, and typically includes at least one light emitting diode, an optional numeric liquid crystal display, a timer, and alert signaling and reset components. The components act together to provide notification of illegal entry between the times of departure, and arrival, of authorized users of the enclosure or area. A simple security alert system is provided.

Abstract: A high capacity anode preparation apparatus is provided which allows for the processing of raw anodes at production rates of up to, or exceeding, 600 anodes per hour. The processed anodes are suitable for use in the electrorefining of various metal materials, but in particular, in the electrorefining of copper. The apparatus is preferably part of a system which utilizes high speed industrial robots to supply, and remove, anodes to or from the apparatus, and provides the anodes in a horizontal orientation. The apparatus is equipped with a variety of treatment stations which are adapted to treat the raw anode while it is held in a horizontal orientation. The horizontal orientation allows the center of gravity for the apparatus to be kept close to the center of gravity for the apparatus, and thus allows the apparatus to rotate more rapidly than prior art device. Faster processing of the raw anodes is provided.

Abstract: A jet blast wall structure is provided which is adapted to withstand and deflect high temperature jet blasts from the jet engines of aircraft. The structure comprises a plurality of panels, each of which has a front panel face and edge frame members at each side of the front panel face to which the front panel face is secured. All components, including each front panel face is made substantially of fiberglass, and each edge frame member and each bolt or nut, used for production of the structure is also made from fiberglass. The structure is designed to have a predetermined shear strength, whereby in the event of impact of an aircraft with the jet blast wall structure, the bolts in the edge frame members of the impacted panel or panels will fail in shear so as to permit the impacted panel or panels to collapse and thereby so as preclude significant damage to the impacting aircraft.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to enable a plurality of standard USB peripheral devices, utilizing the USB specification, to be distributed at various nodes across a network, wherein communications across the network may take advantage of any pre-existing network connectivity of a standard, non-modified USB host computer. In particular, a reflector function is added in order to reflect data communications towards a pre-existing transceiver. As a result, the host computer establishes a first profile and second profile for data communication purposes, and uses these profiles to communicate across the network using pre-existing data communication components.

Abstract: A device for gasifying biomass waste has two each of primary chambers, fume transfer vents, mixing chambers which accept fumes from the primary chamber, afterburner chambers in fluid communication with the mixing chambers, and an exhaust duct. Each secondary burner produces an initial heating flame within a vertical portion of the respective afterburner chamber, and secondary chambers are in fluid communication with the afterburner chambers. Heated gases from the afterburner chambers cause heating of the secondary chambers. A portion of each primary chamber has a heat conductive floor superimposed over the respective secondary chamber, and the partition between the primary chambers is heat conductive, so that conductive and convective heating of the primary chambers occurs.

Abstract: An exercise device comprises an elastic member with foot straps its ends for attachment to a user's feet, which is secured to a vest which encircles upper chest region, and passes through an inverted “U” enclosed pathway affixed to the vest. Additional elastic members are provided that attach to the first elastic member, and to grasping elements that attach to a user's hands. The additional elastic members preferably connect to the first elastic member, and pass through guide means located at or near the openings of the pathway. Clips or rings are provided on the elastic members that can be used to shorten the length of the elastic members and/or add additional elastic members to the device, and thus modify the tension encountered. In use, the elastic member is put into tension, so that movement of the legs or arms is against the elastic resistance of the elastic member.

Abstract: A method of in-vivo fat measurement of humans or animals by scanning the ear of the subject using a fibre optic probe delivering a light beam of Near infrared wavelengths provided by a NIR source. Passing the beam through an interferometer to encode data from the whole spectral range simultaneously. Detecting reflected light by a detector and applying Fourier Transform techniques to determine the intensity of the light in at least one narrow wave band selected for its correspondence to a form of fat. Recording the NIR response and determining the fat content of the body by either comparison to known reference samples or by use of an empirical formula.

Abstract: An adjustable mounting system for wall-mounted shelf units is provided. The mounting system of the shelf unit comprises at least one horizontal support, situated preferably in proximity to the wall surface near the upper section of the shelf unit. The horizontal support is attached to, and slides laterally in clamping brackets that have been mounted to a wall. One part of the brackets are designed to be fastened to wall vertical support columns or studs, and incorporate a second portion that provides a clamping mechanism that attaches to the horizontal. The horizontal support is preferably fastened at each end to the shelf unit. One or more vertical columns are located between the shelves of the shelf unit and are located proximal, and optionally anterior to the horizontal support. A clamping element, which is preferably a plate with holes drilled into it, is placed proximate to the vertical support columns.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving the performance of Universal Serial Bus mass storage devices is provided wherein a local extender located adjacent to a host computer is used in combination with a remote extender located adjacent to a peripheral device. The local extender and remote extender units jointly implement a protocol that enables bulk data to be transferred efficiently between the units even when the transmission delay between the units exceeds 1 microsecond. No alterations to the host computer or the USB mass storage device are required to achieve the improved performance. An improved method for connecting USB mass storage devices to a host controller is provided.

Abstract: An exemplary lawn maintenance device for the collection of leaves or other debris on a grassed surface, comprises a substantially flat, planar device having a top surface, a lower surface, and a wedge-shaped front section affixed thereto, wherein the top surface of the device is substantially flat and planar, and has a transverse groove or slot therein for receiving the blade of a push shovel. Additionally, the wedge-shaped front section has a series of vertical tines forming a comb-like structure at the leading edge of the device, wherein the comb-like structure consists of a series of extending tine portions, separated by open areas cut within the leading surface of the device. The lower surface comprises a series of ridges and grooves. This configuration allows the device to be fitted to the blade of a push shovel, and the combination can be pushed across the surface of a lawn in order to collect leaves and other debris from the lawn.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating the organic membrane portion and the non-organic mineral portion of broken egg shells includes at least one separating tank into which a slurry of water and finely ground egg shells is introduced. A plurality of overlapping vanes is in the interior of the tank. Separated low specific gravity membrane is withdrawn from near the top of the tank for dewatering and drying; the separated high specific gravity mineral portion is withdrawn from near the bottom of the tank for drying. Water from the dewatering means is returned to the bottom of the tank with sufficient force to cause an upward serpentine flow past the vanes, but not so as to preclude the settling of the mineral portion.

Abstract: A cup lid comprising a base cup lid having a drink-through opening formed therein in a planar top portion thereof, and a rotatable stopper associated therewith so as to selectively provide a sealed and unsealed relationship between said drink-through opening and a opening in said rotatable stopper. The base cup lid and the rotatable stopper are mated to one another by the use of convoluted portions on each part which form a sliding tongue and groove relationship. The rotatable stopper has an actuator that can be used to move the rotatable stopper from a closed position wherein the opening in the rotatable stopper and the drink-through opening in the base cup lid, are not aligned, to an open position where the opening in the rotatable stopper and the drink-through opening in the base cup lid, are aligned. An easily operated resealable cup lid is provided.

Abstract: A method and related apparatuses for data transmission between a host computer and one or a plurality of USB compliant peripheral devices over a data communications network is provided which operates in the presence of transmission delays greater than that normally allowed in the USB specification. The host computer is connected to a local extender device which, in turn, is connected to one or a plurality of remote extender devices through the data communications network. The remote extender devices are, in turn, connected to a plurality of conventional USB peripheral devices. Data between the host computer and peripheral devices is stored and processed in the local and remote extender devices in order to allow the host computer and the USB peripheral devices to operate with greater than normally allowed time delays. In particular, the invention is of most utility when the round-trip transmission delay between the host computer and the USB peripheral device exceeds 1 microsecond.