Abstract: A method and apparatus automatically fabricates a three dimensional object from individual layers of fabrication material having a predetermined configuration. Successive layers are stacked in a predetermined sequence and affixed together to form the object. The fabrication material is carried on a substrate to a stacker. At the stacker the layers are stacked together, with each layer being successively affixed to the stack of previously affixed layers, and with the substrate removed from each layer after it is affixed.

Abstract: A personal mirror constructed of a planar member having a reflective surface on a front face of a rectangular main body, a first flange extending rearward from a top edge of the main body at an acute included angle, and a suction-type attachment mechanism provided on the first flange and facing rearward to enable mounting of the mirror to a nonporous surface. A second flange may extend forward from a bottom edge of the main body and include at least one hole for receiving the handle of an accessory such as a razor, the hole being formed smaller than a head of the razor to allow the razor to hang from the flange. The planar member may be thermoplastic with the main body and first and second flanges integrally formed with first and second bends, respectively, therebetween. The bend between the second flange and the planar member is an obtuse angle and matched to the acute angle of the first bend so that the second flange extends generally horizontally when the mirror is wall-mounted.

Abstract: A golf bag has removably attached to its exterior a device adapted to hold a putter. The device comprises an elongated tubular member having a closed bottom and an open top. The tubular member has a restricted diameter so that it can only hold a single putter, and a hook element attached to the tubular member near the open top. The hook element grasps said edge of the golf bag to attach the tubular member to the golf bag, with the tubular member extending lengthwise along the exterior of the golf bag.

Abstract: Disclosed is a medical valve comprising a pair of plates holding in tension a membrane folded over to form a chamber with an elongated, slit-like opening along adjoining edges. The plates include interlocking members which interlock the plates together. An inlet tube in communication with the chamber extends outwardly from the plates. The preferred configuration of the chamber is trapezoidal. Also disclosed is a surgical instrument that is a needle-like member having an elongated slot in the wall of this member. A method of using this instrument to implant a tubular element in the body of a patient is also disclosed.

Abstract: A dental repair process removes an area of tooth decay from a tooth structure, and prepares the tooth structure, including dentin and enamel surfaces of the tooth structure, for bonding with a filler material. It is characterized by the use of a soft abrasive particulate material such as a urea resin with a Mohs hardness in the range of from 3.0 to 4.0 and a particle size of 10 to 200 microns. Such material is capable of effectively removing soft tooth decay when carried in a fluid stream that is directed towards the decayed area under pressure.

Abstract: A retrofit lighting fixture adapted to fit within a ceiling recess having a conventional electric light socket. The fixture includes a dome shaped reflector open downwardly within which a pair of fluorescent tube lights depend through receptacles in a circular top section. A cylindrical cover fits concentrically over the back of the reflector encompassing the connector ends of the tube lights. A hollow housing containing an electronic ballast for the fluorescent tube lights attaches to the cover. The housing has a cylindrical outer surface and may be formed as a ring, a plurality of cylindrical segments forming a ring, or a complete solid cylinder. A support cord extends from a male base connector through the ballast housing, cover and reflector. The base connector mates with the light socket and a friction member is advanced upward along the cord to the inner surface of the reflector to retain the fixture within the recess.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and device 10 for marking an individual's location to facilitate rescue. The method comprises the step of removing a cover member or cap 24 of the device 10 which contains an inflatable balloon 40 to open a valve 28 of a cylinder 18 containing a pressurized, lighter than air gas which inflates a balloon 40, so that the balloon rises in the atmosphere. The balloon 40 is tied to one end of a line 48 that has another end attached to the device 10. Thus, the balloon 40 travels upward a distance essentially equal to the length of the line 48, hovering overhead to identify the individual's location.

Abstract: Disclosed is a holder for business cards with a rectangular area having holes at its corners with slits extending outward so that business cards larger than the standard business card may be removably mounted to the card holder.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tool 20 for grasping a nut 9 and initiating the threading of the nut to a difficult-to-access threaded counterpart element 28 which is in a difficult-to-access location. The tool 20 includes a socket body 1 having expandable jaws 5 that have spring action. The jaws 5 terminate in an open mouth 5a having a configuration corresponding to the configuration of the nut 9. The nut 9 is manually inserted into the open mouth 5a with the nut disposed in an orientation that enables it to be positioned in the difficult-to-access threaded counterpart element 28. The socket body is connected to a flexible arm 11 having a passageway 33 extending though it which houses a flexible shaft 34. This shaft 34 is connected to the socket body 1, so that rotation of the shaft rotates the socket body. The arm 11 includes a series of interconnected links 11a which may be turned and twisted relative to each other to configure the arm 11 to reach the difficult-to-access threaded counterpart element 28.

Abstract: Disclosed is a play card 10 which has a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration displaying a raised, or pop-up, figure on a base for the card. The play card 10 comprises a generally rectangular, single, unitary sheet material 12 with a plurality of score lines 22, 24, 14, 34, 15, 60 that are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis x of the sheet material and are each respectively positioned inward from the leading and trailing edges of the sheet material at precise locations. The sheet material 12 is folded inward along certain score lines to provide a base section 16, a central section 18, a back section 20, including a front panel 26, a connector panel 30, and a top panel 28 having a portion of the figure die-cut in outline form into the top panel.

Abstract: A support stand for a golf bag including a pair of legs pivotally mounted to a body of the golf bag, an actuating member serving to pivotally move the legs and having upper ends each pivotally mounted to an upper portion of each corresponding one of the legs and a lower end being flush with a bottom surface of the golf bag body at an upright position of the golf bag, and a spacer bracket fixedly mounted at one end thereof to a lower portion of the golf bag body and provided with means for holding the lower portion of the actuating member, the spacer bracket being adapted to space the actuating member a predetermined distance from the golf bag body. The spacer bracket includes a screw threadedly coupled at one end thereof to one end of the spacer bracket and at the other end thereof to the other end of the spacer bracket, and an adjusting knob fixedly mounted on the screw.

Abstract: A method of typing to reduce repetitive strain injuries comprises coordinating the movement of all moving parts from the shoulders to the fingers to avoid dissonant movement of any one part, starting with the hand and forearm in a natural profile. Each separately moving part is limited to movement to within its mid-range of motion. For speed, a finger is lifted and the hand is rotated to amplify the elevation. Conversely, lowering of the finger to strike a key involves rotating the hand in a reverse direction. The fingers are simply dropped, aiming at the top of the key to eliminate wasteful downward force and reduce finger-to-keyboard impact. Major movement of the fingers about the keyboard occurs simultaneously with upper and lower arm motion to eliminate stressful finger motions. A mouse manipulation method also employ the hand in a natural profile.

Abstract: A portable angle bender for strip metal. The bender has a shallow U-shaped base having a bending fixture mounted to two upstanding side walls. The bending fixture has two guide members joined at a hinge and pivotally attached to the base on their other ends. One guide member pivots about a fixed axis, while the other may slide relative the base to alter the included angle of the fixture. Each guide member has a slider plate mounted thereunder to form a gap with a top plate to which the central hinge is attached. The gaps are open toward the hinge so as to enable endwise insertion of an angled strip of metal into the fixture. The slider members are constructed of a non-stick material, and the gap is dimensioned to facilitate advancement of the strip through the fixture. A quick-release locking nut is utilized for adjustments to the bending angle, and an indicator is mounted to one of the guide members for registration with a series of angle markings inscribed on the base.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for automatically fabricating a three-dimensional object from individual layers of fabrication material having a predetermined configuration. Successive layers are stacked in a predetermined sequence and affixed together to form the object. The fabrication material is carried on a substrate to a stacker station. At this station the individual layers are stacked together, with successive layers being affixed to each other, with the substrate removed after affixation.

Abstract: A golf bag stand tensioner suitable for permanently used and readily controlling the tensile force of the golf bag stand is disclosed. The golf bag stand tensioner is movably fitted over a folding grip of the golf bag stand so that the tensioner selectively goes up and down the folding grip in order for controlling tensile force of the folding grip as well as tensile force of the golf bag stand.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for growing living cellular material in a reaction zone having a membrane in contact with an aqueous medium. The concentration of nutrient in samples from the process is measured using a spectrometric instrument to obtain spectral data characteristic of nutrient components. This spectral data is analyzed using a chi-squared mathematical technique to determine the unknown concentration of nutrient components in said samples. Then the rate at which nutrient is fed to the reaction zone is altered based on the determination of concentration of nutrient components as required to optimize the process.

Abstract: A dual-chamber syringe has a plunger within an inner delivery chamber in fluid communication with an ejection port. The deliver chamber is formed within a tubular element axially slidable within a tubular guide. The tubular guide and the syringe outer barrel form an outer reservoir chamber. The outer reservoir chamber is sealed from the delivery chamber while the tubular element is in a first position within the guide. Upon withdrawal of the plunger, frictional contact imparted by the plunger seal causes the tubular element to slide away from sealing engagement with the barrel into a second position within the guide. In the second position of the tubular element, a fluid passageway is opened from the reservoir to the delivery chamber allowing fluid to be drawn into the delivery chamber. A porous seal between the plunger rod and barrel allows air into the reservoir during transfer of fluid to the delivery chamber.

Abstract: A secure credit card 10 has a body member to which is attached a microprocessor controller 14 electrically coupled a Programmable Read Only Memory (PROM) device 18 programmed with a series of random numbers in a predetermined sequence. The random numbers are identical to random numbers in a host computer and in the identical sequence as the random numbers in the host computer. This computer is accessible upon each use of the credit card 10. The Programmable Read Only Memory (PROM) accesses the next random number in sequence with each use of the credit card 10 to permit verification by comparing the random number with each use of the credit card 10 with the next random number in sequence as indicated by the computer. A switch 20 actuated with each use of the credit card 10 provides a pulse signal that activates the microprocessor controller 14 to turn on the Programmable Read Only Memory (PROM) to access the next random number in the sequence.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tag 10 adapted to be attached to a bag and the like. It includes a case 12 having a front face adapted to display identification and a recessed back section 18, and a plurality of tee holding elements 16 mounted to the back section. The tee holding elements 16 are each adapted to hold an individual golf tee 22 so that each tee is generally parallel to an adjacent tee. A clip 42 is connected to the case 12 for attaching the tag 10 to a golf bag and the like.

Abstract: An illuminated necklace is disclosed that includes a metallic chain separated into two chain portions. One end of each portion is connected to a pendant that includes an illuminated element, such as a lamp or LED. The other end of each portion is connected to a clasp component that includes a power source. As such, an electrical circuit is formed between the power source, through the first chain portion, through the illuminated element, through the second chain portion, and back to the power source. The chain comprises a plurality of interlocking, separate chain elements that are of such a size and shape that the movement of the chain elements with normal body movement causes the chain elements to move into and out of contact with each other. As such, the illuminated element flickers intermittently.