Abstract: A garment with handholds and a design and structure adapting it to be worn by an invalid person to facilitate necessary moving of the wearer by caregivers with minimal discomfort and risk of injury to both.

Abstract: Internal connectors are configured to conformingly fit within each of the mating ends of adjacent duct elements. The internal connectors each comprise a sleeve having an outwardly extended wall disposed about a perimeter of the internal connector. The mating ends each have a stepped face configured to conformingly mate with the internal connector. To connect the duct elements together, the mating ends are mated to each side of the internal connector and the mating ends are glued to each other. Because the mating ends and the internal connectors conformingly mate with each other, the duct elements will be aligned with each other. The internal connectors are glued to a side wall of the duct element wherever branch take-offs are made.

Abstract: A body is attached to a rubber cuff. A sighting tube extends transversely through the body. A notch is depressed into a top face of the body. The notch is positioned at a 90 degree angle with respect to the sighting tube. The sighting apparatus is attached to a putter by inserting a shaft of the putter into the rubber cuff. The sighting apparatus is aligned properly by placing a golf tee or pencil in the notch and rotating the body until the tee or pencil is parallel to a face of a head of the putter. By placing the putter behind a golf ball and sighting a hole through the sighting tube, a golfer can align the face of the head of his or her putter for a proper stroke.

Abstract: An insole is capable of withstanding penetration of nails and other foreign objects. The insole is constructed of a substantially flexible, substantially puncture resistant material, such as a polymer fiber. The perimeter of the insole is curved upward, and includes a plurality of substantially v-shaped notches therein to enhance flexibility of the insole. A downwardly curved portion is embedded in a sole of an article of footwear. The downwardly curved portion substantially mirrors the portion of the perimeter of the insole which is curved upward.

Abstract: A device is disclosed in which a housing is adapted for attachment to an athlete's body or clothing during exercise. Physical data about the athlete is entered via a keypad located on the surface of the device. A calculation process then takes the physical data entered by the athlete and calculates the amount of water being lost through dehydration. This information, along with a graphic display of how much water the athlete should drink, is presented on a screen on the surface of the device.

Abstract: An apparatus for utilizing semi-permeable membrane technology to process compressed air in such applications as a compressed air system of a railway locomotive.

Abstract: An elongated handle has a grip at a first end thereof, and a head at a second end thereof. The head comprises a plate having a leading edge and a trailing edge. Teeth for ripping building material are provided at the leading edge. The plate is planar except for the teeth which have tapered ends. A wedge-shaped wing is disposed along each of the side edges, extending outwardly from a second side of the plate and forming a perpendicular angle with the plate. A fulcrum for leverage is formed by ears which extend through a plane of the plate, and which connect to the handle.

Abstract: A powered, personal transportation apparatus for transporting an individual in a standing position, the apparatus including a platform supported by wheels, on which the user stands, the platform having a circular profile which defines substantially the entire outer periphery thereof, and some of the wheels of the apparatus being powered for driving the apparatus in translation and turning, the apparatus being configured such that it is able to turn completely around within its own profile whereby it is easily maneuverable in confining spaces.

Abstract: A building skylight system providing novel and improved cooperation between the skylight and a standing seam roof structure to accommodate thermally induced movement of the standing seam roof panels.

Abstract: A dirt-loosening tool comprising of an elongated handle having a head at one end that has multiple prongs in separate planes that can be easily pushed into soil. A footrest deposed between the separate planes doubles as a leveraged fulcrum. This allows for effortless cultivation of compacted dirt.

Abstract: Four rectangular, planar, hingedly connected first walls are adapted to close around an appliance, such that each of the first walls is oriented vertically. Each of the first walls has a susbtantially triangular, substantially planar second wall hingedly connected thereto. The second walls are configured to rest in a substantially horizontal position extending from tops of the first walls when the enclosure is in use, the second walls forming an enclosure lid having an opening adapted to permit the appliance to extend there-through.

Abstract: A lockable differential having a carrier and opposed bevel gears which engage respective shafts, and opposed pinion gears which engage the bevel gears, wherein a locking means includes a selector annulus engaging the carrier, a locking annulus engaging the carrier and selectively engagable with one of the bevel gears, and push rods connecting the selector annulus with the locking annulus for moving the locking annulus between locked and unlocked positions in which the locking annulus is, respectively, engaged with and disengaged from the selectively engagable one of the bevel gears.

Abstract: The present invention contemplates an improved indicator for use in combination with a golf putter to provide improved putting performance by giving the golfer a point of focus on which to concentrate during putting, and by indicating whether the putting stroke is on or off line. The indicator includes a fluid filled container with a transparent face, and a ball or similar element movably disposed in the container. The container is fixed atop or adjacent to a putter head in a manner that a center line therein, which is visible through the transparent face of the container, is centered with respect to the putter head and extends at a right angle to the putter face.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for environmental applications such as waste water treatment, de-inking of recycled paper, chemical/biochemical waste clean-up, and mineral beneficiation, using a multi-stage flotation column. A series of draft tubes arranged axially and separated by baffles provides individual mixing stages in the flotation column and a special gas distributor generates fine gas bubbles. The draft tubes create repetitive loop flow of the feed fluid in each flotation stage. This provides uniform distribution of the gas bubbles throughout the column and significantly enhances mixing and contacts of the gas bubbles with the impurities to be removed.

Abstract: Viscous damping such as provided by hydraulic dampers is employed to load frictional energy dissipating elements, such as friction wedges used to damp relative movements between the bolster and the side frames in a conventional railway car truck, such that the magnitude of frictional damping provided is dependent upon the velocity of relative movement between the truck bolster and side frames.

Abstract: An improved methodology and systems for delivery of breathing gas such as for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea through application of alternating high and low level positive airway pressure within the airway of the patient with the high and low airway pressure being coordinated with the spontaneous respiration of the patient, and improved methods and apparatus for triggering and for leak management in such systems.

Abstract: A miniature nasal mask for supplying breathing gas to a human user through an interface with the user's nares, the interface being maintained by a contact seal which engages the user's face only within an area between the tip and immediately adjacent lateral flanks of the user's nose adjacent to the nares, and the user's upper lip.

Abstract: A flow regulating system including a valve and a method for maintaining a constant gas flow rate through a patient circuit to ambient exhaust at varying gas pressure by means of differential gas pressure applied to opposed sides of a valve diaphragm.

Abstract: An articulated connector for flexibly connecting the adjacent ends of a pair of rail car platforms which are supported on a common truck bolster, the connector comprising a spherical bearing formed integrally with a conventional center plate bearing of one car platform, and spherical elements carried by the other car platform for cooperable engagement with the spherical bearing to transmit vertical, lateral and longitudinal train forces between the adjacent platforms solely through engagement of the mating spherical bearing elements.