Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of enhancing colors displayed by an electrochromic display. The method involves incorporating an inert pigment into the display.

Abstract: A method for determining the position of an in vivo feeding tube. The method includes the step of sampling a bodily fluid from the distal end of an in vivo medical device. A concentration of one or more substances selected from a group consisting of bilirubin, pepsin, and trypsin contained within the bodily fluid is then identified. The position of the medical device is then determined using the concentration of the one or more substances in the sampled bodily fluid.

Abstract: An inflatable mattress comprises superposed lower, middle, and upper sheet layers. The lower and middle sheet layers are joined to each other in a manner to define an inflatable air chamber. The middle and upper sheet layers are secured to each other in a manner to define at least two independently inflatable mattress portions. Fluid passageways provide fluid communication between the air chamber and the inflatable mattress portions. A plurality of ventilation apertures are through the upper sheet layer for ventilating air from the inflatable mattress portions. The sheet layers are arranged such that air introduced into the inflatable air chamber flows through the fluid passageways into the inflatable mattress portions and then out through the ventilation apertures.

Abstract: A manually operated reciprocating fluid pump is configured to be secured to a neck of a bottle. The neck of the bottle comprises a circumferential rim having an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface defines a mouth of the bottle. The fluid pump comprises a dispenser body, a closure cap, and a seal assembly. The dispenser body has a pump mechanism, a discharge port, and a discharge liquid flow path providing fluid communication between the pump mechanism and discharge port. The closure cap is connected to the dispenser body and is configured for closing the mouth of the bottle. The closure cap comprises a skirt configured for attachment to the neck of the bottle. The seal assembly comprises a circumferential outer rim seal and a circumferential inner rim seal spaced radially inward of the outer rim seal. The outer rim seal is shaped and sized to engage the outer surface of the rim of the bottle when the skirt is attached to the neck of the bottle.

Abstract: A nucleotide sequence which encodes a protein which is substantially similar to eukaryotic initiation factor-2 (eIF-2) associated glycoprotein (p67) and also has methionine amino peptidase activity. The encoded protein may facilitate protein synthesis by protecting eIF-2 from phosphorylation and prepare the protein for critical cellular role by removing N-terminal methionine.

Abstract: A dual fluid dispenser comprising a dispenser body and a nozzle. The dispenser body has first and second pump chambers, a first intake port adapted for fluid communication with a first liquid source, a second intake port adapted for fluid communication with a second with a first liquid source, a second intake port adapted for fluid communication with a second liquid source, first and second intake liquid flow paths for passage of fluid from the intake ports to the pump chambers, and first and second discharge liquid passageways. A third discharge liquid passageway is defined at least in part by the dispenser body. The third discharge liquid passageway includes a mixing chamber and a spinner chamber downstream of the mixing chamber. The first and second discharge liquid passageways are configured for passage of liquid from the first and second pump chambers to the mixing chamber. The nozzle includes a nozzle orifice in fluid communication with the spinner chamber.

Abstract: A liquid supply pump unit for hydroponic culture, which can perform oxygen enrichment and has a small power consumption, and a hydroponic culture apparatus, which utilizes this liquid supply pump unit and automatically supplies a larger amount of oxygen in the daytime when the plant growth is active, are disclosed.

Abstract: In an electronic timepiece using power supply means consisting of a solar cell and an electric double layer capacitor, whose output voltage varies, as a power supply, a plurality of driving pulse preparation means for preparing driving pulses for driving a stepping motor are arranged. Each driving pulse preparation means prepares a driving pulse group having a combination of pulse widths, which combination is different from that of remaining ones of the driving pulse preparation means. A varying output voltage of the power supply means is detected, and one of the plurality of driving pulse preparation means is selected in accordance with the detected output voltage. A driving pulse for minimizing the current consumption is selected and supplied to the drive circuit of the stepping motor. With this arrangement, the stepping motor can always be driven at a minimum current consumption, and the driving time can be prolonged.

Abstract: An improved trash bag having a sidewall forming a trash-receiving volume, and having an inside surface, an outside surface, and an opening. There is at least one adhesive patch on the inside surface of the trash bag for trapping insects that enter the bag. The adhesive patches preferably extend substantially around the interior of the bag, and are spaced sufficiently from the opening of the bag that when the bag is inserted into a trash container, at least some of the adhesive patches are inside the container. A removable protective cover can be provided on the adhesive patches for protecting the adhesive before the trash bag is used, but which can be removed to expose the adhesive when the trash bag is used. The patches are preferably made to attract insects, for example being of a contrasting color to the inside surface of the bag, having contrasting insect silhouettes, and/or including chemical attractants.

Abstract: A lid for a container having a channel around its bottom periphery for closing onto a container body. The lid has an opening partially surrounded by an apron on the lower side of the lid, and a cap fitting over the opening. Bagged solids may be placed into the container. The apron allows bagged solids to be conveniently dispensed by preventing the open end of the bag from interfering with solid poured through the opening.

Abstract: An adjustable concrete form comprises at least one tube and an adjustable stake having a post and a tube cradle. The tube has at least one drainage aperture providing the form with drainage. The adjustable stake is configured for adjustably supporting the tube in spaced-apart relation to an excavation bottom. The post has at least one slender end to facilitate driving the post partially into the excavation bottom. The tube cradle is configured for releasable engagement with the tube to thereby secure the tube relative to the post and to support the tube in spaced-apart relation to the excavation bottom. The tube cradle is adjustably connected to the post so that adjustment of the post relative to the cradle effectuates adjustment of the tube relative to the excavation bottom.

Abstract: A process is provided for the production of metalorganic compounds by reacting a Grignard reagent with a Group II, Group III or Group V metal halide in a tertiary alkyl amine solvent to form a metalorganic adduct, isolating the adduct and dissociating the adduct to leave the metalorganic compound.

Abstract: A low cost trigger sprayer has a housing with a first liquid passage containing a spinner assembly. An elastomeric pump element is positioned generally horizontally such that pulling the trigger retracts the element and releasing the trigger allows the element to extend. The sprayer includes a low cost spinner assembly and low cost valving to control the flow of liquid within the sprayer. In one aspect of the invention, the housing has front and rear sections with the rear section having a saddle portion and being hinged to the front section for pivotal movement from an open position for molding the housing to a closed position for operating the sprayer. In another aspect of the invention, the container has a rear portion which extends upwardly past the neck and defining a saddle recess, with the housing connected to the neck of the container and positioned forwardly of the upwardly extending container portion.

Abstract: A nucleotide sequence which encodes a protein which is substantially similar to eukaryotic initiation factor-2 (eIF-2) associated glycoprotein (p67) and also has methionine amino peptidase activity. The encoded protein may facilitate protein synthesis by protecting eIF-2 from phosphorylation and prepare the protein for critical cellular role by removing N-terminal methionine.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for attaching a capacitor cover or other enclosure to a motor shell without welding studs to the motor shell or drilling holes in the motor shell. The apparatus includes a motor shell having mounting tabs integrally formed from the frame band which forms the motor shell. The tabs can be formed by punching or cutting tabs in the frame band. The tabs can be configured for mating with apertures in the enclosure and can receive a threaded nut or can be bent or crimped to secure the enclosure in place. The method of attaching an enclosure to the motor shell comprises the steps of forming tabs from the frame band, inserting the tabs through apertures in the enclosure and bending, crimping or threading a nut on the tabs. In this manner, an enclosure can be attached to a motor shell without welding studs to the motor shell and without drilling holes in the motor shell.

Abstract: A multi-speed switching device particularly suitable for providing multi-speed starts for a motor, especially a two-speed motor, is provided with a high-reliability solid state switch for controlling a phased start winding of the motor, and an inexpensive switch for accommodating a lesser number of starts at an auxiliary speed. The high-reliability switch is a triac switched off during every motor start as the motor comes up to an operating speed. The inexpensive switch is an electromechanical relay that switches between a main run winding and an auxiliary speed run winding, and which is energized by voltage appearing across the solid state switch when it is switched off.

Abstract: A shoe having a resilient sole, an upper secured to the sole, and a rockable member within a cavity in the sole. The rockable member is configured for side-to-side rocking in the sole cavity between a neutral position and a tilted position as the wearer's foot is moved relative to the sole between a neutral position and a tilted position.

Abstract: An information recording device is provided, whereby an inexpensive stepping motor is used to drive a recording disk for recording information, the disk being driven under open-loop control by means of inexpensive digital circuit technology, without employing rotor position detectors or a speed detector, and the rotational accuracy of the recording disk is raised to a level suitable for application, without increasing cost, by constituting the aforementioned step operation (having poor rotational accuracy) inherent in the stepping motor such that certain relationships are formed between the structural parameters of the information recording device and the structural parameters of the motor. In a stepping motor, electrical energy is supplied by switching excitation at a timing synchronized to an input clock, regardless of the load. When this electrical energy is converted to mechanical energy, the moment of inertia of the rotating portion is exploited to a maximum in order to produce smooth rotation.

Abstract: Tin oxide doped with an electrochemically effective amount of a metal, e.g., antimony or niobium, which provides a color change when the doped tin oxide is exposed to an electrochemical potential in the presence of mobile ions. Particles of electrochromic doped tin oxide, e.g., coated on a white or pastel pigment substrate, have a contrast ratio greater than 1.2, where contrast ratio is a measure of electrochromic functionality of a material and is the ratio of reflectance of the material in an oxidized state to the color of the material in a reduced state and where color is a photodiode measurement of the value of light reflected off the oxidized or reduced material from a constant source of light shining on the material.

Abstract: An electrochromic display device and method are disclosed. The device comprises an ionically isolative layer containing an electrochromic material in contact with an electrolyte layer and a working electrode. The working electrode is positioned on a first side of a substrate, while a counter electrode is positioned on an opposite side of the substrate. The counter electrode is electrically coupled to the electrolyte layer on the substrate first side through one or more openings extending through the substrate. In another embodiment, ionically isolative and electrolyte layers are also provided in contact with the counter electrode on the backside of the substrate to create a double sided display. The method comprises reversible electrochromic effects of the electrochromic materials contained in either the ionically isolative layers or the electrolyte layers.