Abstract: A bar code scanner for stationary disposition at a counter to projecting a scanning pattern comprising first, second, third, fourth and fifth groups of parallel scan lines within a relatively narrow, yet diverging, volume, e.g., pyramid, cone, etc., centered about a projection axis. The scanner includes a compact housing mounted on an adjustible base. The housing includes a window, five stationary mirrors, a laser diode, a rotating reflective polygon for sweeping the laser beam from the diode across the mirrors and out a window so that the projection axis is substantially but not precisely perpendicular to the window. The scanner also includes a fixed curved collecting mirror and a concentrating lens to focus light which is reflected off of a bar code to a photodetector. One mirror extends along an axis parallel to the transverse axis to produce the first group of scan lines.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a radiation thermometer, in particular an infrared radiation thermometer for performing a temperature measurement in a person's ear, including a housing (10) with a probe (20) on which a protective cover (40) is mountable. The radiation thermometer of the present invention includes in its housing (10) a cavity (11) for receiving at least one protective cover (40), and a holding device (30) which may be equipped with several protective covers (40). The protective covers (40) have holding means for affixing them to the holding device (30).

Abstract: A gift package simulating a baby nursing bottle, the package being composed of a cylindrical container housing a miniature doll or other gift and a molded plastic cap that fits on the open mouth of the container. The container is formed of transparent plastic material, the rim of the mouth being rolled to define an annular bead. The cap has an upper section shaped to simulate the nipple-cap ring of a baby bottle, a lower section in the form of a cylindrical stopper that fits into the mouth of the container, and a circular flange at the junction of these sections. Formed on the stopper section is a circumferential array of ledges which are shaped to permit the ledges to slide into the mouth of the container, the upper ends of the ledges being spaced from the flange to define a circular socket therebetween. To put the cap on, the stopper section is pressed into the mouth of the container to cause the annular bead to snap into the socket, thereby latching the cap in place.

Abstract: A system for managing large quantities of business related documents stored electronically requires little or no reliance on the corresponding hardcopy versions. The management system data includes a processing approach that allows for the creation of documents electronically, i.e., by virtual documents the system users in concert with their everyday business activities--thus overcoming the previous difficulty in implementing paperless office environments. In particular, essentially all documents are stored as system available image files on a central image server. Organization of these image based virtual documents are created during initial document review by the users having review responsibilities in the first instance. During the review process, the system provides a highly intelligent user interface which permits the creation of indexing values corresponding to the document in a highly simplified and intuitive manner.

Abstract: In an incubator, only water supplied from a water reservoir to a heating portion is heated. Even if the number of times of water replenishment is small, water vapor can be kept generated over a long period of time, while generation of the water vapor can be started shortly after the start of heating. In addition, since the water reservoir and heating portion that are connected to each other can be detached from and mounted on a support, both the water reservoir and the heating portion can be completely disconnected from the support. Therefore, both the water reservoir and the heating portion can be cleaned easily, facilitating use as well as maintenance.

Abstract: A portable automatic code symbol reading system having a laser scanning engine mounted upon the hand of its operator to provide hands-free automatic laser scanning capabilities. The automatic code symbol reading system includes a battery power supply aboard its hand-mounted housing, and a power-conserving control subsystem for conserving the consumption of electrical power during automatic portable laser scanning operations. The control subsystem of the present invention has a plurality of control centers which control the operation of the system components in accordance with preselected system control operations. Each of the control centers is responsive to control activation signals generated by certain of the system components upon the occurrence of predefined conditions. Certain of the control centers are capable of overriding other control centers to provide diverse control capabilities.

Abstract: A portable, orthopedic support device suitable is employed for use with conventional out-door furniture such as beach or lounge chairs, and which is designed to provide support to the cervical and/or lumbar regions of the spine.

Abstract: It is perceived that the newer antihistamines, which have been developed so as to be less sedating relative to the "first generation" antihistamines, possess diminished anticholinergic effects on rhinorrhea, compared to first-generation antihistamines. It is also perceived that no oral medicinal formulation is presently available for treatment of allergic rhinitis that provides both antihistaminic and anticholinergic actions and is unlikely to produce sedation. This invention provides such a formulation.

Abstract: A non-destructive testing method for revealing surface and through defects in materials and articles. The method comprises filling up defects with a volatile penetrant, applying indicator material to a surface to be tested, removing the indicator material from the surface and registrating defects according to the presence color spots, shapes and dimensions which are functions of shapes and dimensions of real defects. The indicator material comprises a gas-permeable base with applied sulfonephthalein indicator in the range of 10.sup.-4 to 10.sup.-3 grams per 1 cubic centimeter of the base.

Abstract: A method for preventing canine coronavirus in dogs is disclosed which comprises administering to a dog a live or inactivated vaccine prepared from transmissible gastroenteritis virus of swine (a TGEV vaccine). An inactivated vaccine composition for use in such a method and a process for the manufacture of the inactivated vaccine composition are described.

Abstract: A process for the biological treatment of bitumen froth tailings produced from a tar sands treatment and bitumen froth extraction process is disclosed. In this process bitumen froth tailings, containing native hydrocarbon metabolizing microorganisms, are mixed with a growth media to form an inoculum which is then incubated under isothermal conditions for an amount of time to produce a mixed bacterial culture containing bioliquor and a water product containing a reduced amount of asphaltenes as well as solids such as clays and sands. The bioliquor produced in this process is then utilized in the initial tar sands conditioning process from which bitumen froth is produced as well as in the initial tar sands mining process via bioliquor injection directly into the tar sands formation. Because the mixed bacterial culture is made up of a number of hydrocarbon metabolizing microorganisms, the bioliquor is also used in the degradation of the asphaltenes.

Abstract: A merchandise display having a number of sides is provided in each side with a recess for removably accepting a panel having two faces, one for displaying goods and the other having a graphic. The panel can be removed and the same or different goods, preferably related goods, can be displayed in the recess. The panel can be reinserted into the recess with the graphic facing outwards towards the consumer. When the merchandise displayed on the panel is sufficiently depleted, the remaining merchandise can be moved to restock another panel, and the panel can be removed and the recess stocked with related merchandise. When the related merchandise is depleted, the panel can be replaced with the graphic facing outwards rather than the merchandise display face facing outwards towards the consumer.

Abstract: Several improvements relating to hexapods are described. The improvements relate to universal joints and ball and socket joints where two struts meet at a common focal point, two axis gimbals which are used for ballscrew drives in universal joints and a micro positioning device incorporating a hexapod structure. The universal joint (1) includes two part spheres (13, 14) connected to one strut (12) and a rotatable ring (15) connected to another strut (11). The two part spheres (13, 14) are secured together by fasteners (25) with the ring (15) secured therebetween so as to form a sphere. The ring (15) is preloaded and rotatable about a common axis (17) of the sphere.

Abstract: A microvalve and microthruster are provided. Both include a housing with an interior in which an armature can travel and abut a valve seat to provide an electromagnetic valve. The armature acts as a valve body that is maintained in a or normally closed position by a permanent magnet, and is opened by interaction with a selectively activatable electromagnet. A microthruster is provided by fashioning the valve discharge as a nozzle, preferably of a material that is permanently and selectively magnetizable, so that the nozzle functions as the permanent magnet and which magnetism can be adjusted to assure proper opening and closing of the valve portion. The valve body is guided without any sliding fit mechanism and is suitable for controlling gas or liquid fluid flows.

Abstract: A method and ultra-compact system has been developed for illuminating and detecting the surface topography of an object such as the finger (4) of an individual. The system (8) is capable of producing high-contrast images which can be electronically transmitted in real-time, or stored using electronic or photographic recording devices. Light traveling within a light transmitting substrate (2) is redirected by a slanted-fringed light diffractive grating preferably embodied within a volume hologram (3). The volume hologram (3), either of the reflection or transmission type, is attached to the light transmitting substrate (2). and functions to diffract light striking thereupon and illuminate an object having topographical surface structure. After being spatially and intensity modulated in accordance with topographical details of the illuminated object, the insulated light passes back through the light transmitting substrate (2) and the volume hologram (3), onto an image detection array. for subsequent analysis.

Abstract: A toy gas-fired missile and launcher assembly whose missile is composed of a soft head and a tail extending therefrom formed by a piston. The piston is telescoped into the barrel of a launcher having a closed end on which is mounted an electrically-activated ignitor, the air space between the end of the piston and the closed end of the barrel defining a combustion chamber. Joined to the barrel and communicating with the chamber therein is a gas intake tube having a normally-closed inlet valve. To operate the assembly, the operator places the inlet tube with its valve open adjacent his anal region from which a colonic gas is discharged. The piston is then withdrawn to a degree producing a negative pressure to inhale the gas into the combustion chamber to intermix with the air therein to create a combustible mixture. The ignitor is then activated to explode the mixture in the chamber and fire the missile into space.

Abstract: A thin electromagnetic interference suppressing body effective for electromagnetic interference suppression at a microwave band. As a material of the electromagnetic interference suppressing body, there is provided a composite magnetic body formed by bonding powder made of a semi-hard magnetic material by an organic bonding agent and having a high magnetic loss at the microwave band. As the semi-hard magnetic material, a metallic magnetic body, such as Fe--Co--Mo alloy, Co--Fe--Nb alloy or Fe--Co--V alloy, or an oxide magnetic body, such as .gamma.-Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 or Co--Ti substituted Ba ferrite, can be used. Further, as an example of the organic bonding agent, polyurethane resin can be cited.

Abstract: A piezoelectric transformer (21) comprises a piezoelectric rectangular body (23) having equally divided first to fourth regions (A1, A2, A3, and A4) in a longitudinal direction. The first and the fourth regions (A1, A4) are provided with plane electrodes (24, 25, 26, and 27) as input electrodes and polarized opposite to each other in a thickness direction. Strip-like electrodes (30, 31) are formed at the boundary between the two remaining regions (A2, A3) as output electrodes. An AC input voltage having a frequency corresponding to a wavelength equal to of the length of the piezoelectric body is applied to the input electrodes to vibrate the piezoelectric plate in a one-wavelength resonance mode. A voltage produced due to the piezoelectric effect in response to the vibration is extracted from the output electrode. The transformer is small in size, low in vibration rate and heat generation, and excellent in efficiency.

Abstract: A data processing architecture provides a common grouping of code that supports a diverse set of services and allows seamless access to these services by clients. The architecture is supported by several interrelated components. A Framework executable provides conforming DLLs specific to that service. System operation is enhanced by a Router that allocates service loading in accordance with demand and availability. Because a common code framework characterizes much of the complex communication coding, developers seeking to implement new services can concentrate on creating service functionality and rely on the Framework for this communication and navigation support.

Abstract: The invention provides a calendar interface system associated with a host computer for returning date-compliant data to an application running remotely from the host and requesting date data and a method for modifying such systems to be date compliant.