Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a glare shield for a portable display screen, the display screen having a display surface with a top edge and first and second sides, the shield including: a material substantially surrounding the top edge and the first and second sides of the display surface and extending from the display surface, the shield being being constructed so as to be deformable in the event of the application of an external force, so as to absorb at least a portion of the external force to protect the display screen therefrom; and the glare shield being removable from the display screen and foldable substantially flat when not in use.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a method for the inhibition of the synthesis and release of tumor necrosis factor from various cells, comprising: administering to a human or other mammal an effective dose of one or more pharmaceutical substances selected from the group consisting of N-substituted 2(1H) pyridones, N-substituted 3(1H) pyridones, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a thermoforming pressure box, including: a horizontal top plate; first and second vertical end plates extending orthogonally downwardly from a lower surface of the top plate; first and second vertical side plates extending orthogonally downwardly from the lower surface of the top plate; the first and second end plates and the first and second side plates mating such that the top plate, the first and second end plates, and the first and second side plates form a downwardly open rectangular parallelopipidon having first length and width dimensions; the second vertical end plate being repositionable on the lower surface of the top plate in a direction parallel to an index direction; and at least one of the first and second side plates being repositionable on the lower surface of top plate in a direction orthogonal to the index direction.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a combination stacker/incubator for microplates, including: a housing; an escapement mechanism disposed at a lower end of the housing to feed the microplates to and from the housing, such that the combination stacker/incubator serves as a stacker for more than one active microplate instrument; and heating apparatus disposed in the housing, such that the combination stacker/incubator serves as an incubator for the microplates.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a web clamp arrangement for thermoforming processes, the web clamp arrangement including: first and second web clamp assemblies to be disposed, respectively, at front and rear ends of a mold base to clamp a web of thermoforming material against a pressure box disposed above the mold base; each of the first and second web clamp assemblies including a normally horizontal clamp bar attached to two vertical rods, which rods force the clamp bar against a lower surface of the web to force the web against an edge of the pressure box; and the normally horizontal clamp bar being movably attached to distal ends of the vertical rods, such that vertical misalignment of the clamp bar during clamping of the web against the edge of the pressure box is accommodated by relative movement of the normally horizontal clamp bar and the distal ends of the vertical rods such as to prevent damage to the first and second web clamp assemblies.

Abstract: A method of calibrating and using a radiation detector to quantify the radioactivity in or on a wide variety of objects, over a wide range of object sizes (points to hundreds of cubic meters), over a wide range of energies (e.g., 50-7000 keV photons), where the object can be at any location in a large sphere (e.g. 100 meter diameter) surrounding the detector, and where there can be various absorbers between the radioactive object and the detector (e.g., container, walls, air collimators), in which calibrations have been implemented and expanded following the method of Atrashkevich and Kolotov but without the use of radioactive sources and in minutes, and with no generation of radioactive waste. Such calibration technique can be applied to the quantiative analysis of a spectrum of radioactivity taken from a wide variety of in-situ or laboratory samples.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, an audio signal interconnect cable, including: at least two thin, flat conductors and a flexible jacket surrounding the at least two, thin, flat, conductors. Each of the at least two, thin, flat conductors may have a width on the order of from about 2 to about 6 mm and a thickness on the order of from about 50 to about 100 microns.

Abstract: A method of determining coincidence correction for a radiation detector in the presence of a radiation source symmetrical around the axis of the radiation detector, including: calculating the coincidence correction per the equation COI g = ϵ g ∫ ∫ ∫ ϵ ( g ) ⁢ x , y , z COI ( g )

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, an actuator, including: a shaft (34); a solenoid (24), having a coil (40) and a core (42), disposed at a first selected position on the shaft, with the core being fixedly attached to the shaft such that energization of the coil will cause the shaft to move axially; and a rotary motor (22), having a stator (30) and a rotor (32), disposed at a selected second position on the shaft, with the shaft passing through the rotor, an external surface of the shaft and an internal surface of the rotor having complementary engaging surfaces such that rotation of the rotor will cause rotation of the shaft and axial motion of the shaft will be isolated from the rotor.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a fishing rod holding assembly, including: a first cylinder having an open top end and a generally closed bottom end, the first cylinder having a diameter selected such that the first cylinder can receive therein an end of a fishing rod such that the first cylinder can support the fishing rod at a selected angle with respect to a substrate; a first spike removably attachable to the generally closed bottom end of the first cylinder, the first spike extending from the generally closed bottom end and being adapted to be inserted in the substrate; a closure for substantially closing the open end of the first cylinder; and the first cylinder and the closure having conjointly a length sufficient to accommodate in a chamber delimited by the first cylinder and the closure the first spike when the first spike is removed from the closed bottom end of the first cylinder, without any portion of the first spike extending from the chamber.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a linear/rotary electromagnetic device, including: a housing (20); first and second stators (22 and 40) disposed in the housing, first and second rotors (24/26 and 42/44) disposed in the housing and magnetically interacting, respectively, with the first and second stators; the first stator and the first rotor comprising a rotary motor; the second stator and the second rotor comprising an electromagnetic brake; a shaft (28) extending through a portion of the housing and axially through the first and second rotors, the shaft having a threaded portion (50) extending through a complementary threaded portion (44) of one of the first and second rotors; whereby; when the electromagnetic brake is locked and the rotary motor is rotated in a first direction, the shaft will move axially in a first direction; when the electromagnetic brake is locked and the rotary motor is rotated in the second direction, the shaft will move axially in a second direction; and when the electromagnetic brake is r

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, an engine oil change indicator system, including: a combination engine oil pressure sensor and engine oil temperature sensor connected to a port on the engine to which port is normally connected an oil pressure switch; and a microprocessor connected to receive inputs from the combination engine oil pressure sensor and engine oil temperature sensor and to cause a low engine oil pressure warning light to be illuminated when the microprocessor has calculated from the inputs that the engine oil should be changed.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a system of physical measurement and display of a parameter, including: accepting an input signal representative of a value of the parameter, the input signal having an arbitrary shape and amplitude; and displaying the value of the parameter in an arbitrary shape; including the use of analog and digital circuitry and nonvolatile memory.

Abstract: A sifter cap for continuous thread containers of the type adapted to dispense a granular product. There is provided a screw cap adapted for securement to the container, and a sifter member disposed atop the screw cap and adapted for rotation with respect thereto. The screw cap has an annular, upwardly-facing bearing shoulder, and the sifter member has at least three downwardly-faced bearing nibs which slidably engage the bearing shoulder of the screw cap at relatively small areas of contact. The arrangement is such that the the sliding engagement between the screw cap and sifter member is characterized by reduced friction. In addition, in the event that granular product from the container strays onto the bearing shoulder of the screw cap, little resistance against rotation is encountered. As a consequence, there is thus enabled relatively smooth turning of the sifter member on the screw cap.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a sequential high-rate battery charger for charging a battery having a plurality of cell units, the battery charger including a current source; an apparatus to selectively sequentially connect each of the plurality of cell units to the high current source; and an apparatus to sequentially provide high current from the high current source to each of the plurality of cell units for a first selected period of time.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a scaffold assembly for use on a roof, including: a base for placement on a first plank disposed on a scaffold bracket attached to the roof; an outer member having a lower end attached to the base; an inner member telescopingly received in the outer member and attachable to the outer member at at least one lengthwise location; and an upper plank support attached to an upper end of the inner member for placement thereon of a second plank.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a stepper motor control, including: a driver to drive the stepper rotor; a detector to detect a commanded step rate signal provided to the driver and to provide an output signal proportional thereto; a power control, responsive to the output signal, to provide driving power to the driver, and to increase voltage to the driver in proportion to an increase in magnitude of the output signal; and an over-current protection circuit that becomes active above a predetermined motor current level and above a predetermined commanded step rate. Voltage control can be effected either on the drive board or by controlling the power supply. An additional feature provides over-current protection for the stepper motor during a lock rotor (stall) condition. The stepper motor control produces very low levels of EMI/RFI as compared with PWM current control (chopper) drives.

Abstract: A flexible joint for first and second rotating members, including: a hub fixedly connected to a proximal end of the first rotating member at a first end of the hub; the hub being constructed for the insertion in a second, opposite end of the hub of a proximal end of the second rotating member, the proximal end of the second rotating member being moveable within the hub such that a distal end of the second rotating member may move axially with respect to the first rotating member and/or may move radially away from a major axis of the first rotating member; and a spring disposed between an end face of the proximal end of the second rotating member and an inner face of the hub to bias the second rotating member axially away from the hub and the first rotating member, strength of the spring determining the ease with which the distal end of the second rotating member may move.