Abstract: A method of monitoring compliance of a patient that has been placed on a methadone maintenance program by determining plasma methadone concentration from urine methadone concentration. An unadulterated urine sample is obtained from the patient. The urine methadone concentration, pH, and specific gravity are measured. The plasma methadone concentration is calculated as a function of urine methadone concentration, specific gravity, and pH. The calculated plasma methadone concentration is compared with an expected value for the maintenance program prescribed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for securing a firearm from firing by engaging a security lock to a slide at a butt end of the firearm. The security lock has a housing defined by a pair of sidewalls joined by a top plate that defines a slot for receiving a sight on the slide. A controller extends through a rear plate of the housing. A security member is operatively engaged to the controller for being moved between a first position for installing and removing the housing from the slide of the handgun and a second position in which the security member operatively secures the housing to the slide by being disposed between the rear portion of the slide and the handle of the firearm, thereby holding the slide in a partially rearward position with the firearm out-of-battery and the trigger mechanism of the firearm disengaged from the firing pin mechanism. A method of locking firearms is disclosed. The method discloses using a universal key for the lock.

Abstract: A vessel (10) for placement on a land site for treatment of wastewater, in which an inlet (22) communicates wastewater, grit, and suspended solids into a grit collecting chamber (24) for settling grit particulates therefrom. An aeration zone (34) receives air from nozzles (37) for facilitating biological digestion of the suspended solids and conversion to activated sludge. The activated sludge communicates through an airlift (70) to a mixing chamber (30) which also receives wastewater with suspended solids from the grit collecting chamber. The air from the nozzles (37) creates an upflow of wastewater and activated sludge to secondary clarifiers (42) having sludge receiving plates (48) on which the sludge settles, accumulates, and falls from, resulting in treated water in the upper portions of the secondary clarifier (42). The treated water discharges in a trough (62) from the vessel (10). A method of sanitary treating of wastewater is disclosed.

Abstract: A toy projectile launcher in the form of a toy gun has a first and second barrel. The second barrel is pivotably mounted to a housing for movement from a first position to a second position in which the second barrel is axially aligned with the first barrel for firing a projectile from the second barrel.

Abstract: Containers (56) are produced from a sheet of flexible sheet material (10) having a sealable inner layer (12). The material is cut to expose the sealable inner layer when the material is folded upon itself so as to form a container having side seams (58) extending past the end walls of the container to prevent breaching and internal tabs (30) to prevent capillary leakage.

Abstract: A hem former (16) for folding the margin of a sheet of material in preparation for sewing is mounted to the sewing bed (11) of a sewing machine (10). The hem former has a mounting plate (17), a guide plate (18) having a guide edge (23), a support plate (22) having a front edge (28) reciprocally mounted upon the guide plate and channels (24), and a guide cap (36). The guide cap has air nozzles (38) coupled to a supply of compressed air so as to generate an airstream directed beneath the front edge of the support plate and into the channels of the support plate. The airstream urges the margin of material over the front edge of the support plate and into abutment with the guide edge.

Abstract: A tool with opposing lower and upper dies and opposing lower and upper plates disposed in spaced-apart relation to the lower die and the upper die, respectively. The dies and plates define opposing profile surfaces that conform to an exterior cross-sectional profile of a plastic member for being received and held therebetween. Movable mount means connects the lower plate to the lower die and the upper plate to the upper die independently for lateral movement of the plates relative to the dies between a first distally spaced position to a second closely spaced position. During the welding process, the plates move laterally between the first position and the second position to seal the weld material that melts from the distal ends of the members from flowing to the exterior of the joint being formed between the plastic members. The plates seal the exterior profile and force the weld material to flow inwardly of the joint.

Abstract: An improved bracket for connecting a camera mount to rectangular supports for headrests in automobiles is disclosed. A camera support having extendable telescopic legs for bearing against a surface in the automobile provides improved support for larger, heavier cameras supported on the camera mount for recording images during operation of the automobile. A cushion pad attaches to a front or rear face of the camera mount, for example, to guard against bruises to a person operating the camera in a back seat of the automobile. Improved pivotable supports for the camera are also disclosed, whereby the camera is selectively positioned at a horizontal angle for recording images.

Abstract: Arc spray deposition of molten metal droplets on plastic electrodes creates a tight bonded adhesion and increases the surface area contact between collector and electrode. This is especially efficacious for lithium secondary batteries which are known to flex during charge and discharge cycles leading to battery failure. The strength of the bonding interaction, and a resistance to stress cracking are observed when a perforated or expanded metal strip is utilized to reinforce the arc spray deposited metal collector.

Abstract: A liquid and viral impermeable material (10) has a core (11) having one side overlaid with a microdenier polyester fabric (13) and an opposite side overlaid with a knitted polyester fabric (14). The core is comprised of two layers of microporous urethane film (16) and (17) bonded to each other with a layer of breathable, urethane adhesive (19). The material is useful in constructing surgical and medical garments.

Abstract: A bulk bag has side walls and a bottom in which a liner is inserted made of a flexible plastic material. The liner has a bottom and a plurality of sides and at least one frame member extending inwardly from the sides substantially along a plane oriented substantially parallel with the bottom.

Abstract: A composition and process for retarding drift and promoting deposition of a treatment product in an agriculturally-related spraying operation, wherein the composition consists essentially of a mixture of (A) principal functioning agents comprising a polyvinyl polymer, a sulfonated lignin material and a synthetic latex material and (B) inert agents comprising water, a non-ionic surfactant, a viscosity modifier, a stabilizer and a low odor paraffin solvent.

Abstract: An air pump (10) having a separation chamber (15) defined by a top wall (11), a bottom wall (12) and generally annular side walls (13). A liquid entry tube (24) configured to draw air into a stream of liquid passing through the liquid entry tube is coupled to the separation chamber so that the air/liquid mixtures rotates within the separation chamber. The rotation of the mixture causes air to accumulate within a central zone (30) and the liquid to accumulate about a peripheral zone (31). The continued flow of the mixture causes the accumulating air to become pressurized where it is released through an air exit tube (20) in fluid communication with the central zone of the separation chamber. The liquid is expelled through a liquid exit port (18).

Abstract: A recessed lighting fixture for installation in a sloped ceiling which defines an opening therein for communicating light from the fixture to a space below the surface of the ceiling, in which a cylindrical housing having a closed end and an open end is secured to a frame at an oblique angle relative to the frame in order to position a lower edge of the housing in a plane defined by the sloped ceiling. Screws extend through slots in the housing, which screws guide the movement of the housing along the slots, whereby the housing is selectively moveable from a first position relative to the frame to a second position to position the lower edge of the housing in the plane of the ceiling in order to accommodate the thickness of the ceiling in which the fixture is installed.

Abstract: An actuating device operated by a hookstick is attached to a manually operated oil circuit recloser switch. The device comprises a cantilever and an affixed switch lever. The cantilever includes a pair of lever arms, each having a hook-shaped receptacle for receiving a hookstick that is used to alternatively open or close the switch. Methods of actuating a manually operated switch in a recloser and lock-out device and modifying such a switch to facilitate manual operation are disclosed.

Abstract: A line splice has two lengths of fibrous rope that have multiple strands and interstices. The two lengths are held adjacent to each other by a plastic encapsulate that both surrounds the two rope lengths and fills the interstices. In forming the splice a two part polyurethane complex plastic is injected into the mold to create an exothermic reaction and heat sufficient to cause the plastic to flow both inside and outside the two lengths of fibrous rope.

Abstract: An apparatus for teaching efficient typing comprises a glove (10) having a wristband (14), a backhand section (16) adjacent the wristband, a plurality of finger sleeves (18) adjacent the backhand section and having an opening at a distal end for exposing a fingertip, and a plurality of visually different finger codes (28) extending from said finger sleeves toward said wristband, and a keyboard (12) bearing key codes that visually correspond to the finger codes.

Abstract: A curtain for defining a barrier in an underground passageway between a pair of spaced-apart pillars, comprising a bladder defined by a pair of flexible sheets joined together by a plurality of cords which define a cavity between the sheets and being open at a top edge thereof. The bladder is fastened to a ceiling of an underground passageway between a pair of spaced-apart pillars therein. A rigid foam is disposed within the cavity, being formed of a flowable hardenable material introduced into the cavity. A fire-retardant coating is applied to exposed surfaces of the bladder after the hardenable material has hardened. A method of closing gaps between pillars in mine galleries is disclosed.

Abstract: A cove molding setup device comprising a platform having a bottom fork adapted to be supported upon a saw table arbor beside a disc blade; a slide bar mounted upon said platform at a plurality of transverse positions with respect to said base fork; a protractor mounted to said slide bar at a plurality of rotatably adjustable angles about a pivot; and a fence guide bar adjustably mounted to said protractor at a plurality of distances from said pivot.