Abstract: A jar opening aide employs a lever action for lifting a lower peripheral lip portion of a jar sealing lid, defeating the sealing of an interior of the jar, and compromising any vacuum present within the jar. The jar opening aide may be structured as an elongated member having a first end, a middle portion, and a second end. The first end includes a lid engaging portion for contacting and engaging the lower peripheral lip portion of the jar sealing lid, enabling an upward force to be applied for lifting the peripheral lip portion and defeating the seal. A user adjustable fulcrum mechanism, which is coupled to the middle portion, is adjustable by a user so that the jar opening aide may be used with jar sealing lids of differing vertical heights.

Abstract: A method and structure for energizing a flash lamp for producing a high energy light pulse, with the flash lamp energized by a flattened and extended current pulse. The method includes collecting and storing energy for delivery to the flash lamp when triggered. A triggering of the flash lamp resulting in a delivering of the collected and stored energy to the flash lamp in the form of an amplitude controlled (flattened) and duration controlled (extended) current pulse.

Abstract: Methods of collecting and or processing a 2-dimensional image containing image data of a data carrying graphical symbol includes the processing of the image data to determine virtual scan reflectance profile (SRP) signals associated with desired scan paths across the graphical symbol. The virtual SRP signals may then be processed to provide for the evaluation of the print quality of the imaged graphical symbol.

Abstract: A magnetic presentation and display board arranged for securely, yet removably displaying at least one display article in a pre-determined display location. The magnetic presentation and display board includes a presentation board formed of non-ferromagnetic materials. The presentation board may be structured having a core with a number of magnet receptacles. At least two magnet pairs are included for each display article to be displayed upon the presentation board. Each magnet pair includes an article magnet and a board magnet. Each article magnet is fixed for display purposes only to a rear facing surface of the respective display article at a pre-selected location. Each corresponding board magnet is embedded within the core of the presentation board, such that each board magnet will align with and be magnetically attracted to an aligned article magnet when the display article is positioned in the pre-selected display location.

Abstract: A balloon kite is formed with a plurality of sized sheets of gas impervious sheet material that form one or more fillable interior chambers. The balloon kite is capable of being flown and deployed in the presence or absence of a critical level of wind. When the critical level of wind is present a balloon kite lifts and assumes an aloft position with the interior chamber or chambers filled with air. If the wind is below the critical level of wind, the balloon kite may be filled with a lighter-than-air gas and flown with a minimal amount of wind, and by an individual having minimal training. The balloon kite is structured with extended and folded portions that provide a simple and low cost reinforced attaching arrangement for securing a bridle and kite flying line to the balloon kite. One or more of the sized sheet is formed with a coiled tail portion. Each coiled tail portion is extendable when uncoiled and useful for stabilizing a balloon kite when in an aloft position.

Abstract: A photo-thermal epilation apparatus enables the efficient delivery of a high energy light pulse of a sufficiently short duration to a selected follicle to effect permanent hair removal. The apparatus includes a flash lamp powered by a power supply module having an energy storage module interposed between the power supply module and the flash lamp. The energy storage. module, which has an output or network impedance matched to the flash lamp, produces a flattened and extended current pulse that is coupled from the energy storage module to the flash lamp in order to the energize the flash lamp to produce the desired high energy light pulse. An optical system, which includes a tapered needle-less probe, is included to receive the light pulse produced by the flash lamp and efficiently deliver the light pulse to a selected hair follicle to effect the photo-thermal epilation of the associated growth support tissue.

Abstract: Swabbing structures and methods of use are provided that enable a test surface to be swabbed, and subsequently facilitate a quantitative determination of the quantities of analyte collected from the test surface. The swabbing structures include a pre-wetted swabbing pad having a first surface structured for contacting and suitably swabbing the test surface to collect the analyte. Dried reagents are then brought into pressure contact with the swabbing pad, within a light-tight environment, to commence an assaying reaction. The assaying reaction may produce low level luminescent emissions that are detected and quantified to indicate the quantity or volume of analyte collected.

Abstract: Swabbing and assaying structures, and selected methods of use, enable a test surface to be swabbed, and subsequently facilitate a quantitative determination of the quantities of analyte collected from the test surface. The swabbing structures include a pre-wetted swabbing pad having a first surface for contacting and suitably swabbing the test surface to collect the analyte. Dried reagents that are impregnated within or upon a porous pad are then brought into pressure contact with the swabbing pad, within a suitable light-tight environment. If sufficient analyte was collected by the swabbing of the test surface, an assaying reaction will commence that produces detectable and quantifiable low level luminescent emissions.

Abstract: A print quality verifying apparatus, and methods of operation, for producing a plurality of substantially parallel and preferably equally spaced scans taken along a height of a data carrying graphical symbol, such as a bar code indicia. Each spaced scan taken causing an associated scan reflectance profile signal to be generated and collected. The apparatus including a movably mounted linear laser scanner unit. The movably mounted scanner unit may be positioned in any one of a plurality of scanning positions in a manual, or alternately an automated and controlled manner, to enable the plurality of spaced scans to be taken, with each spaced scan producing a scan reflectance profile signal. An apparatus of the invention may include signal conditioning and data processing elements for digitizing, collecting and processing each scan reflectance profile signal that is generated to enable the print quality of a scanned graphical symbol to be determined and evaluated to industry standards.

Abstract: An improved electrical cable includes a number of insulated electrical conductors, which are closely spaced and parallel to each other, and frangibly joined along their respective longitudinal lengths by insulation of each insulated conductor. Also included is an uninsulated conductor that is embedded within, at least in part, and contacting insulation that is frangibly joining the insulated conductors. The electrical cable is specifically structured so that when a frangibly joined insulated conductor is separated from one or more other insulated conductors, the uninsulated conductor is exposed or released.

Abstract: A self-contained and highly portable assaying system includes a luminometer and a detector cap assembly. The detector cap assembly, which is structured with a first portion and a second portion, is capable of collecting a specimen, and causing a bioluminescent or chemiluminescent assaying reaction to be conducted in a light-tight environment within the detector cap assembly (devoid of any available ambient light). The luminometer is structured to be removably fixed to the detector cap assembly to sense low level luminescent emissions produced by the assaying reaction. A quantified result is subsequently provided to a user or operator that indicates the outcome of the assay activities.

Abstract: A treat dispensing toy including a middle portion and pair of spaced disk portions of differing diameters, which are fixed to the middle portion. The toy is structured to enable treats or snacks to be dispensed from an interior chamber when an animal causes the toy to roll and rotate one or more revolutions. The disk portions may be removably fixed to the middle portion to facilitate filling and cleaning activities of the interior chamber, which is formed by the disk portions and a wall structure of the middle portion. The wall structure of the middle portion includes a treat dispensing opening to dispense treats in a controlled manner. The toy is intended to dispense treats, while engaging and entertaining an animal, and at the same time is arranged to maintain position within an inherently restricted play or holding area.

Abstract: An effluent treatment apparatus, and associated methods of use, are provided for treating in a closed-loop configuration a volume of effluent contained in a holding vessel. The apparatus includes one or more treatment tank units arranged to hold a volume of molecular filtering material capable of removing one or more toxic contaminants from the effluent, al least in part, as the effluent contacts the surface areas of the molecular filtering material within each tank unit. A pump unit is provided to draw effluent from the holding vessel and deliver the effluent to selected tank units to effect treatment. The apparatus further includes fluidic conduit structures to fluidically couple the holding vessel, a pre-filter, the pump, and each selected tank unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus supporting the high speed evaluation of the quality of a bar code indicia by processing a scan reflectance profile signal generated by a scanner unit. The scan reflectance profile signal may be sampled by an analog-to-digital converter, wherein the sample values produced are processed in real-time to determine all occurring peak sample values, including all positive peak sample values and all negative peak sample values, for each element of the bar code indicia. The peak sample values determined, including at least one peak value for each element, are made accessible for post-processing to determine appropriate figures of merit indicative of the quality of the bar code indicia being evaluated. The samples produced by the a/d converter are processed as they are generated to filter and reduce the total collection of samples values stored, while still providing the critical values for the scanned elements to support high speed verification of the quality of bar code indicia.

Abstract: A method to collect and group a plurality of scans for respective bar code symbols of a succession of spaced bar code symbols. The symbols are disposed on a continuous substrate moving past a scanner unit arranged to scan a plurality of the spaced symbols, one after the other. The method of the invention provides for the energizing and de-energizing of a scanner unit in order to scan the substrate in a controlled manner so as to ensure the scanner unit is operating and scanning when each respective bar code symbol, to be scanned, is within the field of view of the scanner unit. The detecting of the presence of a bar code symbol within the field of view of the scanner unit is realized by scanning the symbol and determining a valid decode. Once a valid decode is determined, a plurality of subsequent scans associated with the bar code symbol are collected and grouped, and further may be processed to determine at least one evaluation attribute for each scanned symbol.

Abstract: Methods and associated apparatus are provided to analyze and selectively sample scan reflectance profile (SRP) signals by producing corresponding first derivative and second derivative signals, as the SRP signal is generated. The methods employ the occurrences of zero crossings of the first and or second derivative signals, along with occurrences of the level of the first derivative signal rising above, or dropping below, predefined positive or negative threshold levels, respectively. Sample values, including positive and negative peak sample values, are produced and made available for post processing to determine one or more figures of merit (or quality parameters) that are indicative of the quality of a bar code indicia that was scanned to generate the SRP signal analyzed and processed.

Abstract: An evaluation system having one or more scanner units providing arrangements to enable the computer controlled, rapid setup and calibration of each included scanner unit to be employed for evaluation. The calibration is effected with specific settings established using stored calibration parameter groups. The calibration parameter groups, which are previously determined using special calibration targets, are stored and available for later recall and use, as needed. The evaluation system arrangements provide for slidably mounted scanner units to enable the distance between the scanner unit and a target indicia to be adjusted to a known distance to produce a selected spot size for the subsequent evaluations. A computing unit is provided having a memory to store the plurality of calibration parameter groups, with each stored calibration parameter group available to provide parameter values to be applied for use with the included scanner units.

Abstract: Methods to determine and apply calibration parameter groups are provided to rapidly calibrate bar code evaluation systems. The systems may include fixed position or slidably mounted scanner units. A computing and evaluation unit, which may be configured to enable one or more scanner units to be selected and operatively coupled to the system, includes a memory unit to store the plurality of calibration parameter groups. Each calibration parameter group includes a number of calibration parameter values that are available for recall to calibrate selected scanner units. A user interface may be provided for a user to select scanner units to be used for evaluation, wherein subsequently, the appropriate calibration parameter groups are retrieved from the memory unit and applied to calibrate the evaluation system.