Abstract: A lighting system for illuminating artwork includes a housing; a lamp mounted within the housing and including a halogen bulb and a reflector, said reflector having a dichroic coating; a linear spread lens positioned in front of the lamp, said lens having an etched first portion and a lighter etched second portion of a first surface, and said lens further having a color-adjusting tint and an ultraviolet filter coating; and a door associated with the housing directing the light emitted by the lighting system through the linear spread lens. The resulting lighting system produces safe light diffused evenly substantially over the entire surface of a piece of artwork.

Abstract: The cutting tool, in particular nail clippers, comprise two elongated members hinged around an axis (A), wherein each member is provided with an actuating arm and a cutting edge; the cutting edges of the two elongated members face each other so as to reciprocally co-operate for cutting when they are moved towards one another by the action of approach on the actuating arms. The tool also comprises elastic means for biasing the elongated members towards a diverging condition in which the two actuating arms and the two cutting edges are spaced from one another, and retaining means for holding the elongated members in a closed condition, in contrast with the elastic means.

Abstract: A self inflating pneumatic seat cushion, especially for automobile seats, has foam filled bladders and bolsters. A pneumatic pumping chamber intakes air through an inlet and distributes air to the cushion bladders and bolsters through outlet tubes. The motion of a seat occupant against the pneumatic pumping chamber bladder operates to let air in through the inlet and distribute it through the outlet tubes. A collapsible seat has an exhaust valve for compressing the bladders in a stowed position. The exhaust valve may have an adjustable pressure release.

Abstract: A screw rotor device has a housing with an inlet port and an outlet port, a male rotor, and a female rotor. The male rotor has a pair of helical threads with a phase-offset aspect, and the female rotor has a corresponding pair of helical grooves. The female rotor counter-rotates with respect to the male rotor and each of the helical grooves respectively intermeshes in phase with each of the helical threads. The phase-offset aspect of the helical threads is formed by a pair of teeth bounding a toothless sector. The arc angle of the toothless sector is a least twice the arc angle that subtends either one of the teeth. The helical grooves have a radially narrowing axial width at the periphery of the female rotor. The male and female rotors may include a buttress thread profile and may be limited in length to a single pitch.

Abstract: A lumbar support system includes a fixed mounting bracket having a first traction cable sleeve support, a second sleeve support and a slider guide. A traction cable having a wire disposed to slide axially through a first sleeve and second sleeve, is attached to the first sleeve support of the fixed mounting bracket and to an actuator operatively engaged with the traction cable wire. A slider is also attached to the traction cable wire, is operatively engaged with the slider guide and adjusts the position of a flexible support element as it slides along the slider guide.

Abstract: A fold down seat back has a lumbar support device in it. A traction cable is operatively engaged at one end with the lumbar support device to actuate it. The fold down seat back includes a rotating cable tension unit and a fixed torsion bar. The rotating member moves relative to the fixed member when said fold down seat back is folded down. The traction cable is comprised of a sleeve having a first end and a second end and a wire having a first end and a second end. The wire is disposed to slide axially through the sleeve. The first sleeve end is attached to the rotating cable tension unit. The wire end is attached to the fixed torsion bar. The wire end may be attached to the torsion rod with a pulley. These attachments of the sleeve end and the wire end cause the wire to be drawn axially through the sleeve when the seat back is folded up, extending a lumbar support, and cause the wire to be relaxed when the seat back is folded down, flattening the lumbar support.

Abstract: A transformable catheter includes a sheath having a length which is a substantial fraction of the entire length of the transformable catheter and a bore therethrough. A preformed inner catheter having a complex curve formed into the distal end thereof is disposed in the sheath bore. By axially moving the inner catheter with respect to the sheath, various tip shapes may be achieved. At least one wire runs from the proximal end of the sheath to the vicinity of the distal end of the sheath to selectively deflect the distal tip of the sheath as desired by the user to assist in reformation and transformation of the tip of the catheter. By suitable manipulation of the wire and of the inner catheter with respect to the sheath, the shape of the exposed portion of the distal end of the inner catheter may be transformed to any of a variety of shapes.

Abstract: A golf putter and a method for using the same is disclosed. The golf putter includes a putter head with an insert and a radial bottom, a shaft attached to the putter head, and a grip having a gap and a weight attached to the shaft, wherein the gap includes a cutout for attaching a clip. When the clip is connected to a golfer's body, the golf putter is effectively anchored to the golfer. The method includes providing a golf club having a putter head with a putting face, approaching a golf ball such that the big toe of the foot furthest from the target is placed adjacent to the golf ball and the golfer's dominant eye is directly over the golf ball, positioning the golfer erect at forty-five degrees to the target, gripping the putter with the golfer's dominant arm, and putting the golf ball by moving the dominant arm and putter along the target line such that the face of the putter head engages the golf ball with appropriate force to drive the golf ball to the target.

Abstract: An apparatus for isolating airborne pathogens created during a procedure performed on an individual's extremity includes a transparent, dome-shaped shield having first and second openings therein to allow two individuals to insert their respective extremities into the shield, said first and second openings being located on opposite sides of the shield, and said shield further having a ventilation opening located generally between the first and second openings; an air-cleaning filter located at the ventilation opening; and a fan mounted to the shield and communicating with the ventilation opening and the air-cleaning filter with the filter located adjacent the inlet side of the fan, whereby fumes created during the procedure are directed through the filter.

Abstract: An ergonomic device actuator has a housing and a nut disposed to rotate within the housing. The nut has right handed threads at a first end and left handed threads at a second end. A first lead screw has right handed threads and is extendingly engaged with the first end of the nut. A second lead screw has left handed threads and is engaged with the second end of the nut to extend in the opposite direction from the first lead screw. A seat in the first lead screw is adapted to anchor a tension cable wire end axially with the lead screws and a collar on the second lead screw is adapted to anchor a tension cable sleeve end axially with the lead screws. Thereby, rotation of the nut drives the first lead screw and the second lead screw apart, tensioning the tension cable by urging the tension cable wire end apart from the tension cable sleeve end, and actuating an attached ergonomic device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining grain loss of a harvesting machine. The harvesting machine has a crop-separating region with separating members. The separating members each have separation sensors for generating a signal corresponding to the crop quantity separated. This signal is delivered to an evaluating unit for further processing. Processing includes determining a separation curve for at least some of the separating zones and converting the separation curve to a characteristic quantity. From this measured characteristic quantity, a loss is determined based on a characteristic curve deposited in the evaluating unit. By avoiding direct loss measurement on the harvesting machine, the negative crop-related effects on determining grain loss are considerably reduced.

Abstract: A method for selecting an optimal setting of an adjustable work unit in an agricultural harvesting machine, wherein each setting of the work unit results in a work result, includes adjusting a first set parameter of the work unit on the machine to a first work setting; recording a first, stable work result; adjusting the first set parameter of the work unit to a second work setting; recording a second, stable work result; comparing the first and second work results; and selecting between the first and second work settings based on the comparison of the first and second work results. A device for selecting an optimal setting of an adjustable work unit in an agricultural harvesting machine includes means for adjusting a first set parameter of the work unit to different work settings; a control device to determine a work result as a function of a work setting; and a memory device in communication with the control device to record the work result.

Abstract: An agricultural machine having at least one crop processing work unit, a plurality of crop transport units operatively assembled as a straw walker step, wherein the crop transport units convey crop streams in opposite directions and are spaced apart defining a crop through-gap, and a cleaning device having a forced-draught fan before the cleaning device, further comprising an exhaust fan located after the cleaning device, wherein the transport units are located between the forced-draught fan and the exhaust fan, wherein an air stream is produced by the forced-draught fan and the exhaust fan and is directed from the forced-draught fan to the exhaust fan, and wherein the air stream improves a cleaning process in the straw walker through-gap of the straw walker step.

Abstract: Arching mechanism, for instance for backrests of seats, medical or orthopaedic apparatus or casings and the like, with a pressure element wherein at least one traction element connected with a tensioning mechanism engages, which, when the mechanism is actuated can produce bulging by preserving a relative elevation of apex of the convexity; the arching mechanism can comprise a frame with inserted pressure elements actuatable by adjusting device(s), whereby frame segments are length-variable pressure elements; traction elements provided with tensioning mechanism can engage a slitted, overlapping or bellows-like bulging body for the opening and closing of these areas, which produces a curving of the bulging body in a predetermined direction or directions.

Abstract: Construction forms for making concrete forms for making stairs have a bracket with a stringer mount face and a riser mount face. Each mount face has mounting structure located thereon. A longitudinally extending stringer stop extends away from and perpendicular to a stringer mount plane in a first direction, the stringer stop having a surface adapted to abut a bottom of a stringer. A laterally extending first riser stop has a first riser abutting surface. The first riser stop extends laterally away from the riser mount face in a second direction and is longitudinally spaced a first distance from the stringier stop. The second direction is perpendicular to the first direction. The first riser abutting surface is adapted to abut a top of a riser. Use of the bracket in an assembly with a stringer and a riser are also disclosed.

Abstract: A ratcheting, locking actuator for selectively positioning ergonomic devices is disclosed. The actuator has an overrunning, locking clutch in a housing, a lever, a hanging ratchet and a pulley for anchoring a traction element. The pulley is driven by a gear which is driven by the one of two ratchet pawls in either of two selectable directions. The drive direction is controlled by a lever to which a ratchet post is attached. Engagement and disengagement of the ratchet pawls with the drive gear is controlled by steps on the housing. The actuator is especially useful for controlling traction elements such as bowden cables for ergonomic devices such as lumbar supports.

Abstract: The invention is a truck bed cover made from thermoplastic material. The top of the truck bed cover has a relatively smooth appearance. The underside of the bed cover comprises a support structure utilizing at least one “X”-type support. In the preferred embodiment, four “X”-type supports are utilized. A typical bed cover typically weighs less than 75 pounds for greater ease of handling, without loss of structural support strength over fiberglass covers from loads placed on the top of the bed cover.

Abstract: A wheel balancer includes a shaft adapted for receiving a wheel/tire assembly. The balancer has a longitudinal axis and is rotatable about the axis so as to rotate the wheel/tire assembly removably mounted thereon. A sensor assembly is provided for measuring rotation of the shaft about the longitudinal axis. A vibration sensor assembly measures vibration of the wheel/tire assembly as the wheel/tire assembly is rotated. A motor operatively connected to the shaft rotates the shaft about the longitudinal axis, thereby to rotate the wheel/tire assembly. A load roller applies a generally radial force, which can exceed one hundred fifty pounds, to the wheel/tire assembly during rotation of said wheel/tire assembly. A sensor detects lateral force, wheel/tire assembly radius, and/or wheel/tire assembly diameter, which can have a tendency to cause a vehicle on which the wheel/tire assembly is mounted during use to deviate from a straight line path.

Abstract: A portable, fold-over fence panel for delineating athletic fields and controlling crowds includes a frame having a pair of vertical members and a pair of horizontal members; a panel of flexible material supported by the frame; first and second springs removably connected to the vertical members, each of the springs having a mounting spike integrally formed therewith for insertion into a soft, outdoor surface; first and second tubular feet interchangeable with said springs and suitable for supporting the frame on a hard surface; and wherein said springs allow the frame to fold over upon impact.