Abstract: A rack for dispensing material from a spool rotatingly mounted on a rod, the rack including: vertical left and right side members; structure to join the left and right side members; slots defined in the left and right side members to accept ends of the rod so as to support the rod in the rack; and the left and right side members being symmetrical such that the left and right side members are interchangeable.

Abstract: In one preferred embodiment, a patient moisture control support surface coverlet to draw moisture from a patient reposed thereon, the coverlet including: an outer layer of an air-tight, water-vapor-permeable material; an inner layer of an air- and vapor-impermeable material underlying the outer layer and sealed to the lower surface of the outer layer to define therebetween a volume to underlie a substantial portion of the patient; apparatus to introduce a flow of air to at least a portion of the volume; and apparatus to permit the flow of air to exit at least a portion of the volume.

Abstract: A display device, including: a front panel having defined therethrough at least two apertures; and an index panel disposed behind the front panel and moveable between at least first and second positions to vary what can be viewed through the at least two apertures by an observer looking at the front panel.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a bioassay plate washer, including: a housing; a first wash assembly disposed in the housing; the first wash assembly including wash and aspirate manifolds having defined therein, respectively, a wash liquid chamber and a vacuum chamber; a plurality of wash needles for communication between the wash liquid chamber and a first point below the first wash assembly; a plurality of aspirate needles for communication between the vacuum chamber and a second point below the first point; and each one of the plurality of aspirate needles being disposed internally of each one of the wash needles.

Abstract: An electromagnetic relay, having ON and OFF states, for connecting a source of electrical current to a load, said relay comprising: an armature movable between ON and OFF positions corresponding, respectively, to said ON and OFF states of said relay; a magnetic core surrounded by first windings forming a holding coil to magnetize said core when a first portion of electrical current is passed through said holding coil and consequently to cause said armature to move from said OFF position to said ON position as a result of a magnetic attraction produced between said magnetic core and said armature, resulting in causing a second portion of electrical current to flow through said load; said magnetic core additionally surrounded by second windings forming a load coil through which said second portion of said electrical current flows when said armature is in said ON position, said load coil producing a magnetic field which counteracts a magnetic field produced by said holding coil; and parameters of said load coil

Abstract: A method of providing secure identification for an article, including: providing on the article a diffraction grating strip including a pattern of a series of diffraction grating elements, each the diffraction grating element to diffract light, from a light source, in one of at least three selected different planes; serially illuminating the diffraction grating elements, detecting changes in plane of diffracted light as the diffraction grating elements are serially illuminated, and generating first information representative of the changes in plane; storing the first information representative of the changes in plane; subsequently, serially illuminating the diffraction grating elements, detecting changes in plane of diffracted light as the diffraction grating elements are serially illuminated, and generating second information representative of the changes in plane; and then, comparing the first and second information to determine the authenticity or not of the article.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, an inflatable wheelchair cushion, the cushion including: a base member having a shape complementary to that of a sling-type wheelchair seat; a plurality of fluid-fillable cells rising from the base member, top surfaces of the cells, when the cells are filled with fluid to one or more desired pressures, defining a generally flat seating surface; and means to introduce pressurized fluid to the cells or zoned groups of the cells.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a dual contained purge connection for a dual containment valve, the valve having a body with inlet and outlet passageways and primary and secondary flow paths defined therein, the purge connection including: a purge fitting fixedly attached to the body and in communication with the primary flow path; and a housing having a closed distal end, surrounding the purge fitting, and having a proximal end removably attached to the body, an interior volume of the housing external to the purge fitting and surrounding the purge fitting being in communication with the secondary flow path.

Abstract: Apparatus for loading onto a pipettor a plurality of micropipette tips, the pipettor having a plurality of tip pins depending from a head portion, the tips each having an upper, hollow, tapered, generally cylindrical barrel portion and lower, hollow, generally cylindrical aspirating tip portion, both lying along a common vertical axis and being cojoined at a horizontal shoulder, and the tips being frictionally held in a tip package, the apparatus comprising: a horizontal pusher plate to simultaneously engage the shoulder on each of the tips and to simultaneously raise the tips for insertion of the tip pins therein.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a lock system including a lock and a key, including: a lock housing; a rotatable member disposed in the housing, rotation of which rotatable member selectively effects locking and unlocking of the lock; blocking apparatus operatively connected to the rotatable member to prevent unlocking of the lock except upon receipt of an electrical unlocking signal; key apparatus having an end insertable in the housing and into an end of the rotatable member for rotation of the rotatable member; and apparatus to permit a portion of the rotatable member to rotate without damage to any elements of the lock if rotation of the rotatable member is attempted without receipt of the electrical unlocking signal.

Abstract: In one preferred embodiment, an electronic lock, including: an enclosure; a barrel member rotatable between locked and unlocked positions; electronic circuitry disposed within the enclosure; the barrel member including communication apparatus in electrical engagement with key apparatus when the key apparatus is inserted in the barrel apparatus, the communication apparatus transmitting communication signals to and from the key apparatus and the electronic circuitry; first slidable contact apparatus attached to the electronic circuitry and slidable on the communication apparatus as the barrel apparatus rotates to transmit the communication signals to and from the communication apparatus and the electronic circuitry; and the first slidable contact apparatus further serving as part of sensor apparatus to detect the locked and unlocked status of the barrel member.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a liquid level sensor for use in a hot, pressurized liquid, including: an outer housing suitable for immersion in the liquid; an inner housing disposed within the outer housing and containing therein electronic/electrical components; detection apparatus disposed within the outer housing and the inner housing to detect level of the liquid; a space defined between the outer housing and the inner housing; and means to permit the liquid which migrates through a wall of the outer housing into the space and which is vaporized therein to pass to the ambient surroundings, so as to preclude migration of the liquid through a wall of the inner housing.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, in an electric motor of the type including a cup-shaped housing and a housing mounting plate, the improvement comprising: providing said cup-shaped housing and said housing mounting plate as a monolithic part. In another embodiment, an electric motor, including: first and second stator coils wound, respectively, on first and second bobbins; first and second stator poles closely engaging, respectively, slots defined in the first and second bobbins to radially align, respectively, the first and second stator poles with respect to the first and second bobbins; a central pole structure having formed thereon poles extending in proximity to the first and second bobbins; and alignment structure extending between the first and second bobbins and through the central pole structure to radially align the poles on the central pole structure with respect to the first and second bobbins and the first and second poles.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, secure optical identification, including: a first lacquer layer; a metallic layer disposed on a first surface of the first lacquer layer, with a first surface of the metallic layer in contact with the first surface of the first lacquer layer; a diffraction pattern embossed in the first surface of the first lacquer layer through the metallic layer; a pattern formed in the metallic layer by demetallizing areas of the metallic layer; and a second lacquer layer, having the same refractive index as that of the first lacquer layer, disposed on a second surface of the metallic layer so as to fill in voids adjacent the diffraction pattern caused by the demetallizing areas of the metallic layer.

Abstract: An electronic cylinder lock, including: a generally cylindrical housing having substantially open and closed ends; a barrel member coaxial with and rotatable within the generally cylindrical housing and having receiving apparatus defined at a first end thereof for the insertion into the receiving apparatus of key apparatus, engagement of the receiving apparatus and the key apparatus permitting the barrel member to be manually rotated; shaft apparatus coaxial with the generally cylindrical housing and extending through an opening defined through the substantially closed end, the shaft apparatus having a head end disposed within the generally cylindrical housing and a threaded end extending externally from the substantially closed end for the attachment to the threaded end of locking/unlocking apparatus; a bar at least partially disposed within the head end such that rotation of the bar causes rotation of the shaft apparatus, the bar being axially moveable within the generally cylindrical housing, and the bar b

Abstract: A biopsy apparatus, including: a microplate having defined therein a plurality of vertical wells; and a layer of film disposed over the vertical wells to prevent the evaporation of liquid therefrom, the layer of film being penetrable by a pipette tip to access one of the vertical wells to add liquid to or withdraw liquid from the vertical well, the layer of film being resealable to reseal the area of penetration of the pipette tip when the pipette tip is withdrawn, in order to prevent evaporation of liquid from the vertical well.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, an apparatus for removing particles from a nonconductive liquid, including: first sensing apparatus to sense a first net electrostatic charge on the particles in the liquid and to provide a first output signal indicative of the first net electrostatic charge; control and power apparatus to receive the first output signal; charging apparatus connected to the control and power apparatus to provide positive and negative electrostatic charging potentials to the particles; mixing apparatus connected to the charging apparatus to receive the liquid therefrom and to permit oppositely charged and noncharged ones of the particles to flocculate; and separating apparatus to remove flocculated particles from the liquid.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a shaft for a golf club, the shaft including: tip and butt ends defined at opposite distal ends of the shaft's length; and the shaft having a balance point axially spaced from the tip end a distance in the range of from about 56 percent to about 58.5 percent of the shaft's length.