Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of charging a battery, including applying a voltage pulse to a rechargeable battery, detecting a terminal voltage and a charging current, comparing detected results to known standards and continuing charging if necessary. A charging device having movable contact terminals is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives represented by the general formula (I) and salts thereof, as well as optical active 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives represented by the general formula (II) and salts thereof which are obtained from the derivative by biochemical reactions using microorganisms or enzymes and useful as preventive and therapeutic agents for ischemic heart diseases and hypertension. ##STR1## (wherein x and Y are H, NO.sub.2, CN, halogen; R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are H, CHO, substituted alkylcarbonyl, crotonyl, cinnamoyl, alkoxycarbonyl, aryloxycarbonyl, benzyloxycarbonyl, carboxybenzoyl, or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 taken together represent phthaloyl; n is an integer of 1 to 3).

Abstract: A read/write apparatus which enables setting and removal of a read/write compact disk within a limited space of the apparatus includes a turntable 83 having a cap portion 123 that permits a center hole h of a read/write compact disk to be fitted therearound. Clips 124 are capable of advancing and retreating from a rim of cap portion 123 of turntable 83. A setting/removing lever 136 is provided in such a manner that setting/removing lever 136 is capable of rotating by a specified angle with respect to turntable 83. A head 85 which is capable of moving parallel to the radius of the read/write compact disk to perform reading or writing of the read/write compact disk is provided. Head 85 has a stopper 145 which catches a catching portion 139 of setting/removing lever 136 at a position head 85 approaches closest to turntable 83. Cap portion 123 is provided with a setting/removing device 125.

Abstract: An apparatus for washing or otherwise treating parts includes a modular support structure for a conveyor from which the parts are suspended and further includes transparent walls that enable visual observation of the treatment process. The support structure includes a plurality of upstanding, longitudinally spaced apart stanchions, each of which has a top piece adapted to engage the uppermost end of a flexible sheet of transparent material such as vinyl. In one embodiment, the lowermost end of each sheet of material is immersed in water contained within an elongate trough that extends along both sides of the apparatus. Thus, a vapor seal is formed that prevents vapors and chemicals from escaping the interior of the apparatus. Dams are placed in the trough at longitudinally spaced intervals to prevent mixing of the chemicals that are collected in the trough. Additional embodiments require no troughs, and include metallic panels that replace or overlie one or more of the vinyl sheets.

Abstract: A novel polysaccharide comprising (1->4) bonded .alpha.-D-glucose units represented by the following formula ##STR1## wherein R is a hydrogen atom or an acetyl group in a ratio of 7:3 is extracted and isolated from a liquid culture medium of a microorganism belonging to the class Basidiomycetes in the presence of a plant tissue extract. About 30% by mole of hydroxyl groups at the 2,3-positions of each unit is acetylated and the polysaccharide has a molecular weight of 500 to 10,000. The polysaccharide has properties of biological response modifiers (BRM) and is useful as an immuno-enhancing agent or immuno-activator.

Abstract: It is sought to display a pluralities of full motion image sequences together with personal computer texts, graphics, etc. on a personal computer display. NTSC signal converters 100 (10A, 10B, . . .) each provided for each video input channel each send out color digital brightness signals of a contracted image size, obtained through conversion of a video input signal. These signals are written in and read out from R, G and B color signal memories 20 under control of a command from a write/read controller 23. The read-out color digital brightness signals are converted in a digital-to-analog converter 30 into analog signals. An overlay controller 31 overleys these analog signals over R, G and B analog inputs from a personal computer under control of a display position determining signal supplied from a CPU via a personal computer bus 41, thus producing R, G and B analog outputs which are displayed as image sequence on the same personal computer display.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for manufacturing 3-(aminomethyl)-6-chloropyridines represented by a general formula ?II!; ##STR1## wherein R.sup.2 represents hydrogen or a lower alkyl and R.sup.3 represents hydrogen, a lower alkyl or an halogen atom, characterized in that the compound represented by the general formula ?II! is manufactured by allowing 3-(substituted-aminomethyl)pyridine 1-oxide represented by a general formula ?I!; ##STR2## wherein R.sup.1 represents alkyl, aryl, aralkyl or alkoxy, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are as described above, to react with a base represented by a general formula ?a!;R'R"R'"N ?a!wherein R', R" and R'" may be the same or different one another and represent each independently a lower alkyl or an aromatic group, or R', R" , R'" and N may form together an optionally-substituted pyridine ring, in the presence of an electrophilic reagent having at least one chlorine atom, and subsequently treating the reaction product with hydrogen chloride and water.

Abstract: A container lid has a depending insert having a thickness sufficient to have a groove formed in its peripheral edge, and a beverage container has an annular, radially inwardly extending protrusion formed in it that snaps into the groove when the insert is inserted into the container. The connection is so strong that the lid will not separate from the container even when the cup is filled with a beverage or food and inverted. The lid includes a peripherally positioned handle that enables facile removal of the lid, and the interconnection between the lid and the container includes a double seal that inhibits the risk of spillage.

Abstract: A waterfall-producing device includes an elongate housing having an "T" -shaped or "X" -shaped turbulence suppressor positioned within the housing. Water under pressure is introduced into the center of the housing and is constrained to divide into two counterflowing streams that flow to the opposite ends of the housing. The turbulence suppressor divides the interior of the housing into a rearward chamber, a lower chamber, a forward chamber, and an upper chamber. Openings are formed in preselected walls of the turbulence suppressor and are spaced and sized so that the rearward chamber fills first, followed by the lower chamber, forward chamber and upper chamber in sequence. Water escapes the upper chamber through a space between an interior top wall and a rear wall of the housing and then flows to a discharge opening that covers an area substantially equal to the collective areas of the openings formed in each of the turbulence suppressor walls.

Abstract: A resin material is recovered for recycling from industrial waste of plastic film, unlike conventional methods, without requiring washing and drying the steps for removing foreign objects adhering thereto such as agricultural chemicals. A method for recovering a resin material from industrial waste film according to the invention comprises the steps of crushing waste film into crushed small pieces to be treated, applying a scraping impact force to the crushed small pieces to remove any adherent foreign objects and separate them from each other. Then, the separated crushed small pieces are size-regulated and for regeneration.

Abstract: An improved medical dressing, including a dressing layer having a first face and a second face, the first face having an adhesive coating on at least a portion thereof; a release layer covering the dressing layer in releasable contact with the adhesive face of the dressing layer; a support layer covering the dressing layer in releasable contact with the second face of the dressing layer, the dressing layer having smaller surface dimension than the release layer and the support letter, the support layer having on at least one side thereof a U-shaped perforation therethrough, the perforation extending from an area adjacent an edge of the support layer and overlapping the smaller surface dimension of the dressing layer; and a delivery means for applying the dressing layer to a wound site, the delivery means pivotally mounted on a portion of the support layer adjacent the base of the U-shaped perforation.

Abstract: Elastomeric interface for prosthesis having two integral and inseparable sections separated by a line of demarcation where the hardness of the two sections is shown. The interface has a first soft section and a second hard section. The soft section makes contact with the skin. The hard section is located at the connection points to the prosthesis. The interface is made by injecting a first batch of soft elastomer into a mold, followed by the injection of a second batch of hard elastomer into the mold, onto the first-formed part, so that the materials of different hardness bond naturally to one another.

Abstract: A cold cathode tube is used for a back light illuminating a liquid crystal with a light from the back. A ceramic transformer is used instead of a conventional wound transformer for a power source to light this cold cathode tube to eliminate various problems caused by transformers. The output voltage and current of this ceramic transformer are coordinated with the cold cathode tube by utilizing the frequency characteristic of the boosting ratio of the ceramic transformer to light the cold cathode tube and adjust the light. The output from an oscillator is amplified and is applied to a ceramic transformer. The output frequency from the oscillator is swept from the higher side to the lower side. When the output frequency decreases from fa.fwdarw.fb, the output voltage of the ceramic transformer in the case that the load resistance indicated by the solid line is large will be Vb and the cold cathode tube will be lighted.

Abstract: A marine propulsion system comprised of a housing unit having forward and rearward openings, a rotational unit, having forward and rearward openings and having an inner and outer periphery, rotatably secured in the housing unit such that the forward and rearward openings are aligned with the forwards and rearward openings of the housing unit, a plurality of blades rigidly secured to the inner periphery of the rotational unit, and drive means which rotate the rotational unit within the housing unit. Operation of the drive means causes the rotation of the rotational unit and the blades direct water into the forward openings of the housing unit and the rotational unit and out the rearward openings of the housing unit and rotational unit, thereby creating thrust.

Abstract: An apparatus that separates a golf club head and a golf club shaft to which it is adhesively secured. A hosel push member is positioned in abutting relation to the hosel of the club head. An externally threaded guide tube is slideably inserted over the hand grip of a golf club shaft and is positioned in trailing relation to the hosel push member. A drive member in the form of a coil spring or a rigid tube is ensleeved around the guide tube, and a drive member push member screw threadedly engages the threads on the guide tube so that advancement of the drive member push member applies pressure upon the drive member. Primary and auxiliary stop members grip the shaft on the trailing end of the guide tube to prevent rotation and slippage of the guide tube. Heating the hosel after application of pressure onto the drive member weakens the adhesive and results in separation of the club head from the shaft.

Abstract: A dichroic filter array is mounted on a wafer by combining microelectronic and microlithography techniques. A release layer of copper is evaporated onto a wafer, and the release layer is coated with a photoresist. The assembly is masked, and the unmasked photoresist, after exposure to ultraviolet light, is developed to expose a predetermined section of the release layer. That section of release layer is then overetched to create an undercut in its walls and to expose the underlying wafer. Dichroic filter material is then deposited onto the wafer by a cold process, and the release layer is then removed, leaving only the dichroic filter material on the wafer. The process is repeated to create an array.

Abstract: A clamp releasably engages a handle of a tool and simultaneously engages two tools that have utility when attached to the end of the handle. The base part of the clamp is C-shaped and is flexible and resilient to releasably engage the handle. Each tool-engaging part of the clamp is also C-shaped and made of a resilient, flexible material to releasably engage its associated tool. Each tool has a cylindrical sleeve that engages the distal end of the handle when in use and which is engaged by its associated clamp when not in use. The first tool has a pair of parallel, closely spaced apart fingers that engage an awning lock, pull down an awning, and install a tie down strap over a vehicle. The second tool removes and attaches a slider valve of the type found on recreational vehicle sewer or drain connections.

Abstract: An apparatus that separates a golf club head and a golf club shaft to which it is adhesively secured. A hosel push member is positioned in abutting relation to the hosel of the club head. An externally threaded guide tube is slideably inserted over the hand grip of a golf club shaft and is positioned in trailing relation to the hosel push member. A drive member in the form of a coil spring or a rigid tube is ensleeved around the guide tube, and a drive member push member screw threadedly engages the threads on the guide tube so that advancement of the drive member push member applies pressure upon the drive member. Heating the hosel after application of pressure onto the drive member weakens the adhesive and results in separation of the club head from the shaft.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for forming an imaged film for backlit illumination includes the steps of: providing a translucent film comprising a resin such as one selected from the group consisting of olefin resins, vinyl alcohol resins and fluorine-containing resins which resin has no affinity with a sublimating dye and a white pigment dispersed in the resin; contacting on the translucent film an original imagewise formed from a recording material containing the sublimating dye; and heating the original to allow the dye to be trapped in the film. Also, disclosed is a translucent film for use in preparing such an imaged film for backlit illumination. The use of the method and the translucent film allows fabrication of an imaged film for backlit illumination having a light resistant, high density image in cooperation with a computer-aided image editing system.