Abstract: A new and improved unitary plastic foam four-way entry pallet (10) comprising: a top deck (11), with perforated apertures (12), buttressed by a plurality of elongated support runners (13) which are profiled to receive material handling equipment; the runners are joined to a plurality of bottom members (14), perpendicular to the plane of the support runners. All the components are monolithically cast, in a mold, utilizing rigid plastic foam reinforced with oriented strand fibers to form homogenous matrix (16), which has a seamless, smooth finish (15), provided by the use of self-skinning foams.

Abstract: A grass guard for forming a vegetationless border around a perimeter of an object, such as a lawn sprinkler head, is described. One particular embodiment consists of a two layer construction. The top layer is a plastic sheet simulating grass. The bottom layer is made of a heavy grit bonded into a uniform body with a polymer. The layers form a relatively thin, weather resistant, plastically compliant disk with a center hole for stretch, self-adjusting fit over a pre-installed sprinkler head. The device is also easily cut through with a knife to fit various head locations. The bottom layer has an outside vertical edge with a top rounded corner enclosing the top layer to prevent edge delamination or fraying. An adhesive is provided to bond the grass guard to the neck of the sprinkler head to eliminate gap formation around the head. A hammering board can be used to facilitate the installation.

Abstract: A safety trocar device is described which has an internal safety shield within the obturator of the trocar. The internal safety shield is spring loaded to extend in the distal direction to cover the cutting tip of the trocar obturator. In one embodiment, the trocar obturator is made with a three-sided pyramidal cutting tip and the safety shield has three distally extending fingers which extend through openings in the faces of the pyramidal cutting tip. The safety shield with its three distally extending fingers is preferably rounded to an ellipsoidal shape on the distal end to facilitate penetration of the tissues and to reduce frictional resistance to deployment of the safety shield. The obturator and the safety shield are part of a trocar assembly which also includes a shaft and a proximal handle. Optionally, the trocar assembly may also include a safety locking mechanism which prevents premature or unintended withdrawal of the safety shield.

Abstract: A method of motion control for robotics and other automatically controlled machinery using a neural network controller with real-time environmental feedback. The method is illustrated with a two-finger robotic hand having proximity sensors and force sensors that provide environmental feedback signals. The neural network controller is taught to control the robotic hand through training sets using back- propagation methods. The training sets are created by recording the control signals and the feedback signal as the robotic hand or a simulation of the robotic hand is moved through a representative grasping motion. The data recorded is divided into discrete increments of time and the feedback data is shifted out of phase with the control signal data so that the feedback signal data lag one time increment behind the control signal data. The modified data is presented to the neural network controller as a training set.

Abstract: An interchangeable sound effect device which incorporates and plays sound effects that have been digitally recorded on interchangeable sound cartridges. This device is designed to be used with entertainment and educational type products such as toys, dolls, figurines, books and instructional guides. The sound effect device employs an infrared receiver housed within a durable encasement which straps around the user's waist or is embedded within the doll, figurine, toy, or book. The receiver unit contains an infrared detector, an electronic diving means, an audio speaker, and a sound cartridge that rests within a sound cartridge chamber. The sound cartridge contains a sound enabler chip that stores, in digital form, a number of prerecorded sound effects. In addition, the user can easily remove the sound cartridge and insert one of many other sound cartridges each containing a different set of sound effects. Finally, the sound effect device uses an infrared transmitter that attaches to an adjustable glove.

Abstract: A one-piece male incontinence device comprises a condom (30) having a first sheath section (32) and a second urine collecting compartment (42) divided by a skin shield (36) which incorporates a soft thread-reinforced non-return, non-invertible valve (38). Collecting compartment has a twist-around drain valve (52) or alternatively a ball-obturator drain valve (93). First sheath section (32) has friction-increasing internal surface in the form of finely spaced-apart ribs (54). Alternatively skin shield 36 can incorporate two non-return, non-inverting reinforced valves (86 and 88) placed to eliminate urine pooling (90). Alternative design catheter (79) comprises one-piece first sheath section and second urine collecting compartment divided by an insert (36) incorporating non-return valve or valves and skin shield which is placed and imperviously sealed therein. A garment (94) is provided for spinal injured patients for attaching thereto a condom catheter.

Abstract: A positioning system which mounts onto or in front of a hydraulic press brake or other machinery to reposition the operator controls of the machine laterally and/or longitudinally with respect to the machine. Embodiments are presented which move the foot-operated control pedals and the hand-operated tonnage controller of a hydraulic press brake. In various embodiments, the system is powered by a pneumatic cylinder, a pneumatic motor or an electric motor. Manually actuated switches allow the operator to move the control pedal and/or the tonnage controller to selected positions. A programmable control system and a remote control unit are provided for alternate modes of operation.