Abstract: An ink pen refill consists of a single writing point connected to an elongated barrel in which gel ink is stored in distinctly colored layers. At the proximal end of the barrel, just behind the most proximal color band of ink, a quantity of grease is inserted in the barrel to seal the ink within the barrel. In manufacturing the ink pen refill, after installing the elongated barrel on the proximal end of the writing point, a quantity of gel ink of a first particular color is inserted within the barrel just proximal of the writing point using a filling pipe. When the desired quantity of ink has been so inserted, the elongated barrel with the writing point is placed in a centrifuge and is centrifuged to remove any air bubbles contained within the ink. Next, the next color of gel ink is dispensed into the barrel just proximal of the first layer of ink. The entire refill is again centrifuged to remove any bubbles from the newest layer of ink.

Abstract: A magnetic field position and orientation measurement system contains, confines and re-directs the magnetic field from one or more transmitters such that the fields are attenuated in areas outside of the operating volume in areas where metallic objects are commonly found. A thin barrier made of a highly permeable material such as ferrite or mumetal is placed on top of a conductive plate. The thickness of the permeable layer is from 0.01 inches to 0.25 inches while the conductive plate, preferably made of an aluminum alloy, may preferably be from {fraction (3/16)} of an inch to ¼ inch in thickness. On top of the permeable barrier, a rhombic three axis transmitter is placed. In the preferred embodiment, the transmitter consists of a PC board carrying the transmitter. PC boards having thicknesses varying from 0.03125-0.125 inches may be employed.

Abstract: A squirrel cage-type article dispenser includes a tube having an upwardly open slot. The slot leads to an angled ramp within the tube leading to a semi-cylindrical dispensing chamber. A pivotable flap adjacent the ramp deters tampering. A ring-like plate has a circular periphery and a central opening slidable over the tube. A rotary squirrel cage includes an outer cylindrical wall to which the circular periphery of the plate may be releasably attached, and a plurality of radially inwardly extending ribs have respective inner extents configured such that the inner edges of the ribs slidably engage the outer surface of the tube when the squirrel cage is assembled thereover. Adjacent ribs define, with the inner surface of the cylindrical wall and the outer surface of the tube, individual sub-chambers sized and configured to store articles to be dispensed.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for measuring the position (location and orientation) in the six degrees of freedom of a receiving antenna with respect to a transmitting antenna utilizing multiple frequency AC magnetic signals. The transmitting component consists of two or more transmitting antenna of known location and orientation relative to one another. The transmitting antenna are driven simultaneously by an AC excitation, with each antenna occupying one or more unique positions in the frequency spectrum. The receiving antennas measure the transmitted AC magnetic field plus distortions caused by conductive metals. A computer then extracts the distortion component and removes it from the received signals providing the correct position and orientation output to a high degree of accuracy.

Abstract: An illuminating ball-point pen includes an elongated tubular holder, a hollow protective member fitted on an upper end of the elongated tubular holder, a battery mounting arranged inside the protective seat, batteries fitted inside the battery mounting and electrically connected in series, a seat mounted in a top of the battery mounting, a metal stopper mounted under the battery mounting and having a bottom provided with a flange, a spring enclosing the battery mounting and the metal stopper and having an upper end bearing against the battery mounting and a lower end bearing against the flange of the metal stopper, a light bulb disposed on the seat and having a leg extending downwardly through the seat to contact an electrode of the batteries and another leg extending downwardly between the battery mounting and the spring, a transparent hood engageable with an upper end of the hollow protective member, and a reservoir tube fitted inside the elongated tubular holder and having an upper end bearing against a bo

Abstract: A collapsible box has hinges which are vertically staggered to permit the box to collapse into a relatively flat configuration for easy stacking and transport. When the box is erected, interlocking features on the edges of the sides of thus box interengage to hold the box in a vertical configuration. A peripheral groove is provided to receive a shipping strap. The walls of the box are hinged to the bottom of the box in such a way that the walls may pivot inwardly to collapse the box as well as outwardly to permit easy cleaning of the inner surfaces of the box walls.

Abstract: An appropriate binary sequence is used to create an acoustical treatment surface having desired parts with reflective properties and desired parts having absorptive properties resulting in the net effect of partially diffusive, partially absorptive properties. A genetic algorithm is designed to search for optimal 1D and 2D configurations for the acoustical treatments. A genetic algorithm essentially mimics the process of evolution that occurs in biology and is a known mathematical technique. During the course of genetic optimization, the fitness of individual sequences for the desired purposes is calculated. A useful fitness function includes terms that optimize the desired percentage of reflectivity and absorptivity. Through use of genetically optimized binary sequences, a curved surface may be constructed and optimized to find the best shape to achieve even scattering. The curved surface produces a dramatic improvement in effectiveness of diffusion.

Abstract: An exercising apparatus having a frame located forwardly of a supporting surface on which a person may assume a seated position with knees in a first position elevated above the supporting surface and feet in a second position lower than the first position. A leg stabilizer is supported by the frame to maintain the knees in the first position, and a pair of crank handles are supported by the frame for rotation about a common crank axis located near the first position. The pair of crank handles are located on opposite sides of the knees of the person to be movable by hands of the person through complete revolutions. The leg stabilizer may include a knee stabilizer in the first position and a foot stabilizer in the second position to ensure that the person's legs are bent at the knees though an angle approximating 90.degree..

Abstract: A portable bait bucket includes a built-in handle allowing it to be easily carried from place to place. The inventive bucket includes an internal chamber accessible by an opening in its top closed by a pivotable door having a plurality of openings allowing air to enter the chamber to maintain some level of oxygenation for the water contained therein. On a forward face of the bucket, an opening is provided that may be closed with a plug to allow the user to extract bait from the inner chamber of the bucket. The inner chamber is divided into two sub-chambers by a divider that includes a water pervious wall allowing water to flow from one sub-chamber to the other. One sub-chamber is connected to the top opening and the forward facing opening. This first sub-chamber contains the bait. The second sub-chamber is not connected with the forward facing opening or the top opening.