Abstract: A taxi cab management board game providing a gaming environment and associated apparatus wherein the players experience the daily routine and practical business pressures associated with the successful operation of a taxi cab business. The game playing surface is comprised of interconnected location blocks 12 denoting geographical locations for navigation of vehicle playing pieces 20 to transport fare playing pieces 25. Fare playing pieces may be selected based on their physical proximity to vehicle playing pieces or assigned by an instruction card set 34A. Vehicle playing pieces 20 transport fare playing pieces 25 to assigned destinations accumulating transportation revenue and possible gratuity income. The player is limited economically by traffic, government regulation and practical business choices in the quest to expand the taxi company through the purchase of three company expansion certificates 50.

Abstract: A transmitter for an electronic animal control system of the type employing a boundary wire antenna for radiating a predetermined radio frequency signal, is provided with phase detection circuitry for detecting a phase difference between the applied radio frequency signal and the electrical current within the antenna. Phase control circuitry is provided for adjusting the phase of the voltage with respect to the current in response to detecting a phase difference.

Abstract: A damper device for attachment to a shock-affected component, including a pair of elastic members for absorbing shock which may be applied to the shock-affected component, each of the elastic members taking the form of a block and having first and second sides which are opposite to each other, and a slit formed in the first side and extending into the interior of the elastic member, a support member for supporting the elastic members, the support member having a pair of spaced apart projecting pieces and an intermediate section interconnecting the spaced apart projecting pieces, each of the projecting pieces being formed to have a substantially inverted L-shape in cross-section, the intermediate section being adapted to be mounted on the shock-affected component, the elastic members being adapted to be supported to the support member by causing the elastic members to be fitted on tips of the projecting pieces through slits in the elastic members, and a pair of receiving plates adapted to be mounted on the sho

Abstract: A flashlight with a rotatable lamp head is provided. The lamp head pivots about two cylindrical coaxial electrical connectors. The lamp head also includes a reflector having a major parabolic reflective surface and a minor reflective parabolic surface. The reflector is configured so that the minor reflective surface is nested within the major reflective surface. The flashlight also includes a series of fluid-tight seals to insure that the flashlight is waterproof. In addition, a flapper valve is provided to function as a one-way valve allowing the release of gases produced by use of the batteries, and preventing fluid from entering the flashlight. A battery charger is also provided to recharge a battery pack for the flashlight.

Abstract: Disclosed are devices for detecting the presence of a preselected analyte in a fluid sample. The devices comprise a substrate microfabricated to define a sample inlet port, and a mesoscale flow system that includes a sample flow channel extending from the inlet port. The mesoscale flow system further includes an analyte detection region in fluid communication with the flow channel comprised of a binding moiety for specifically binding the analyte. The detection region is constructed with a mesoscale dimension sufficiently small to enhance binding of the binding moiety and the analyte. The binding moiety may be immobilized in the detection region. The mesoscale detection systems of the invention may be used in a wide range of applications, including the detection of cells or macromolecules, or for monitoring reactions or cell culture growth.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a cleaning head, such as a mop, for cleaning surfaces. The device includes an elastically expandable reservoir for storing cleaning fluid. The reservoir is enclosed within a replaceable cartridge fitting within the handle of the cleaning device. The cleaning fluid flows from the reservoir to a discharge nozzle and onto the surface to be cleaned. A fluid controller is also provided to control the flow of fluid from the cartridge.

Abstract: An age hardenable martensitic steel alloy having a unique combination of very high strength and good toughness consists essentially of, in weight percent, about______________________________________ C 0.21-0.34 Mn 0.20 max. Si 0.10 max. P 0.008 max. S 0.003 max. Cr 1.5-2.80 Mo 0.90-1.80 Ni 10-13 Co 14.0-22.0 Al 0.1 max. Ti 0.05 max. Ce 0.030 max. La 0.010 max. ______________________________________the balance essentially iron. In addition, cerium and sulfur are balanced so that the ratio Ce/S is at least about 2 and not more than about 15. A small but effective amount of calcium can be present in place of some or all of the cerium and lanthanum.

Abstract: A sterile-packed rice product is produced in a system including a rice filling device that fills an individual tray with a predetermined quantity of washed and soaked rice; a sterilization chamber that substantially air-tightly contains one or more of arrays of the trays with rice for sterilizing the rice with high-temperature pressurized steam introduced into the chamber; a water filling device that fills the trays with the sterilized rice with a predetermined quantity of water necessary for steam rice-cooking; a steam rice cooker that cooks the rice with a steam; and a sealing device that lids air-tightly that trays with the cooked rice. A clean booth surrounds a conveyor conveying the trays from the steam rice cooker to said sealing device, thus providing a predetermined cleanliness over an area covering at least a conveying path of the trays from an exit of the steam rice cooker to the sealing device.

Abstract: An parametric speech codec; such as a CELP, RELP, or VSELP codec; is integrated with an echo canceler to provide the functions of parametric speech encoding, decoding, and echo cancellation in a single unit. The echo canceler includes a convolution processor or transversal filter that is connected to receive the synthesized parametric components, or codebook basis functions, of respective send and receive signals being decoded and encoded by respective decoding and encoding processors. The convolution processor produces and estimated echo signal for subtraction from the send signal. In order to process the synthesized parametric components having distinct basis functions in the convolution processor, conversion means are provided for providing the receive-side parametric component to the processor, or for providing the estimated echo signal, in terms of the send-side parameter. Plural convolution processors are provided for processing respective parametric components of the desired coding scheme.

Abstract: A precipitation hardenable, martensitic stainless steel alloy is disclosed consisting essentially of, in weight percent, about______________________________________ C 0.03 max Mn 1.0 max Si 0.75 max P 0.040 max S 0.020 max Cr 10-13 Ni 10.5-11.6 Ti 1.5-1.8 Mo 0.25-1.5 Cu 0.95 max Al 0.25 max Nb 0.3 max B 0.010 max N 0.030 max Ce 0.001-0.025 ______________________________________the balance essentially iron. The disclosed alloy provides a unique combination of stress-corrosion cracking resistance, strength, and notch toughness even when used to form large cross-section pieces. A method of making such an alloy includes adding cerium during the melting process in a amount sufficient to yield an effective amount of cerium in the alloy product.

Abstract: A convertible flashlight (10) is provided having a head portion (12, 14) containing a lamp (36). A pair of divergent rear surfaces (15a, 15b) are formed on the head portion (12, 14), and a pair of rearwardly-extending arms (16a, 16b) having complementary forward surfaces are joined to the rear surfaces of the head portion by axial-pivotal connections (45a, 45b). In a first configuration, the arms extend rearwardly in parallel to provide a handle for configuring the flashlight in a hand-held configuration. When the arms (16a, 16b) are rotated about the axial-pivotal connections to the head portion (12, 14), the distal ends of the arms are moved apart so that the convertible flashlight assumes a second configuration, wherein the arms diverge outwardly from the respective rear surfaces of the head portion (12, 14) to provide a mounting surface to facilitate mounting the convertible flashlight to the head of a user.

Abstract: A method for forming a conductor element comprising a Tl or Hg-based high temperature superconductor (HTSC) material, comprises providing at least one first precursor material within an outer sheath for the conductor element; providing at least one second precursor material within the conductor sheath and separated from the first precursor material(s) by a barrier layer formed from a Noble metal for example between the first and second precursor materials; and heating the conductor sheath containing the precursors to a temperature at which the barrier layer melts to allow the precursor materials to mix and react, or to a temperature at which one of the precursor material(s) diffuses through the barrier layer sufficiently allow the precursor materials to mix and react, to form the Tl or Hg-HTSC material within the outer conductor sheath.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for sorting a group of documents contained with an envelope into selected batches of documents. An envelope feeder feeds a group of envelopes containing documents onto a document transport. A document extractor positioned along the path of movement extracts the documents from the envelopes. A system controller identifies the documents extracted from each respective envelope as a single transaction along the path of movement. An orientation detector including a magnetic image reader and an optical image reader determines the orientation of selected documents along the path of movement. A document orientor changes the orientation of documents along the path of movement into a desired orientation. A document feeder is positioned downstream from the envelope feeder to selectively feed batch identification pieces into the path of movement.

Abstract: In a method for the automated processing of bulk mail, envelopes are transferred to a receiving apparatus in bulk fashion (from incoming mail trays or the like) for the extraction of documents contained by the envelopes, and the extracted documents are delivered to a remittance processing device, preferably both automatically and without the need for human intervention. Subsequent processing of the extracted documents within the remittance processing device then proceeds in usual fashion, completing the acquisition of information which is necessary to ready such documents for deposit into the banking system. Also disclosed are various presorting functions so that only envelopes containing documents of a specified type will be fully processed, other sorting functions such as the identification of specific types of documents (invoices or checks) for separate processing, and the use of a single extraction device to deliver extracted documents to either one, or a series of remittance processing devices.

Abstract: A toothbrush is disclosed having a brush head that includes a flexible member formed for resilient flexure between a first shape and a second shape. The flexible member has first and second sides and a central bristle support portion disposed between first and second outer bristle support portions. The flexible member also has an elastic portion interconnecting the central bristle support portion to the first and second bristle support portions along lateral edges thereof. The toothbrush further includes a pair of handle extensions for supporting the flexible member at the first and second sides thereof such that the flexible member is free to flex between first and second shapes when stressed. An array of first bristle tufts is attached to the central bristle support portion. First and second arrays of second bristle tufts are attached to the first and second outer bristle support portions, respectively, and are aligned in parallel relation to the array of first bristle tufts.

Abstract: An apparatus is used to connect shellfish to a culture rope, which includes a shellfish transfer unit (5, 23, 29, 31) that transfers shellfish in a predetermined direction, shellfish (7) being transferred, two by two, in parallel upstanding orientation with their ear end portions (7a) down. The shellfish transferred by the shellfish transfer unit is stopped at a predetermined stop position defined by stoppers (39, 41). A culture rope (51) is supplied to a space between the ear end portions of two shellfish in the stop position. An ear spacer (50) and a pair of shellfish supporting pads (43, 45) cooperate each other to secure the scallops in the stop position where they are subjected to the piercing operation by a piercing unit and the pin-inserting operation by a pin inserting unit so that the ear end portions of two scallops held in parallel relation in the stop position are connected to the culture rope positioned and extending therebetween.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an austenitic stainless steel alloy and in particular to a resulfurized austenitic stainless steel alloy, and an article made therefrom, having a unique combination of corrosion resistance, machinability and low magnetic permeability, especially in the cold worked condition.

Abstract: A food sterilizing apparatus has a plurality of sterilizing units (18) each comprising a stationery upper member (14) defining an open-bottom chamber (30) and an elevatable lower member (16) defining an open-top chamber (42). The lower member is moved by a drive mechanism (46) so that the apparatus may take a stand-by position where the upper and lower members are remote from each other and an operative position where these member engages closely with each other to form a single air-tight chamber that is defined by the chambers (30) and (42). A plate (38) carrying trays (2), each carrying the food to be sterilized, is intermittently conveyed by a conveyor (40) to make a brief stop at a position between the upper and lower members when they are in the stand-by position. A steam flush is applied to the closed air-tight chamber for sterilization of the food when the members are in the operative position.

Abstract: An automotive seat comprises a seat back and a seat cushion, the seat cushion having a cushioned padding, a covering sheet covering front and middle sections of the cushioned padding, sides cover covering both side sections of the cushioned padding, and a back cover covering a rear section of the cushioned padding, the back cover formed into a predetermined three-dimensional shape utilizing a sheet of fiber impregnated with thermoelastic synthetic resin, the back cover having a body of a substantially C-shape in section and mounting sections provided at both sides of the C-shaped body, each of the mounting sections laminated with a sheet of hard felt serving as a reinforcement and having a through-hole, each of the side covers including a fastener having a body of a substantially square pole-shape projecting forwardly from a front surface of a rear section of the side cover and a pair of stopper pawls, said back covers disposed arranged between the side covers and secured to the side covers by causing fastene

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for the magnetic treatment of a hydrocarbon fuel in order to achieve stoichiometric combustion. One embodiment consists of an emission sensing means, a microprocessor and electromagnet electrically inter-connected in feed back loop as to minimize the emission of carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbons while maximizing the output of carbon dioxide.