Abstract: A toilet seat for use with a Western-style toilet bowl. The seat has a generally-oval, endless base that compliments the shape of the toilet bowl rim. A deflector is fixed to the bottom surface of the base and extends downwardly adjacent the inside surface of the bowl rim. The deflector covers the interior gap between the bottom of the seat and the top of the bowl rim.

Abstract: Modification of tropical storms or hurricanes by mixing the upper layer of a section of a body of water with water from a lower section of the body of water. Rapidly mixing the warmer upper layer with the cooler lower layer cools the surface of the water, thereby reducing the amount of heat energy available to fuel the intensity and movement of storms. By cooling selected sections of water, the frequency, intensity or direction of storms may be altered. In one embodiment of the invention, a bluff shaped object is attached to a submarine to facilitate rapid mixing of the upper and lower layers of the body of water.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for the drilling of holes in a workpiece within a diameter range of 20 ?m to 500 ?m by means of laser radiation. The invention utilizes the beam quality of a laser beam as well as: the polarization of the laser radiation; the parameters of the impulses of the laser used; and, the type and pressure of the process gas used. The method and system utilize means for focusing laser radiation, in particular the ratio of the beam diameter at the site of the focusing element and its focal distance, and wherein the focusing is done in coordination with the beam quality number and wave length and other factors. A first working gas supports the formation of the hole shape and accelerates the drilling process; and, a second working gas is utilized to improve the surface quality of the drilling walls.

Abstract: Ternary and quaternary Chalcopyrite CuInxGa1-xSySe2-y (CIGS, where 0?x and y?1) nanoparticles were synthesized from molecular single source precursors (SSPs) by a one-pot reaction in a high boiling solvent using salt(s) (i.e. NaCl as by-product) as heat transfer agent via conventional convective heating method. The nanoparticles sizes were 1.8 nm to 5.2 nm as reaction temperatures were varied from 150° C. to 190° C. with very high-yield. Tunable nanoparticle size is achieved through manipulation of reaction temperature, reaction time, and precursor concentrations. In addition, the method developed in this study was scalable to achieve ultra-large quantities production of tetragonal and quaternary Chalcopyrite CIGS nanoparticles.

Abstract: A one-piece translucent but not transparent flexible plastic cover sleeve has a generally bulbous body and a downwardly extending neck that terminates at a bottom edge, and the neck has upwardly extending slits that terminate in respective orifices, so that the neck resiliently outwardly extends over a CFL bulb and then flexes inwardly to frictionally engage the CFL base. The cover sleeve substantially covers or hides the CFL bulb illumination, and provides a different illumination effect from the illuminated CFL bulb.

Abstract: A hand-held dispensing applicator comprising a source of fluid, a frangible applicator tip attached to the fluid source, and an absorbent member attached to the frangible applicator tip. When the frangible applicator tip is broken, fluid flows from the source to the absorbent member, whereby the fluid is applied and spread on a surface. Preferably, the frangible applicator tip comprises a support element permanently connected to the fluid source, a relatively rigid tongue element extending outwardly of the support element, and a frangible region therebetween. Preferably, the tongue element comprises ribs for reinforcing the tongue element to resist unintentional breaking of the frangible region. More preferably, the applicator tip comprises a semi-permeable or non-permeable cover disposed around the frangible region to control the speed and direction of the dispersion of the fluid in the absorbent member. Adaptive embodiments allow the generation of designs applicable to a particular medical purpose.

Abstract: The invention is a sideways looking video endoscope which offers a rigid endoscope tube. The optical system has one prism, and an image sensor located behind the optical system, provided on the distal end of the endoscope shaft. On the proximal end of the shaft, a knurled wheel is arranged so as to rotate freely. This wheel is provided with permanent magnets that are arranged at identical angular separations, and associated with Hall sensors located on the front face of the tool holder. The angular position of the rotatable wheel can thus be detected by means of the Hall sensors together with an electronic system that evaluates the signals, and displayed on a monitor. By turning the rotating wheel, the image can be rotated, thus correcting the image position when the endoscope is rotated, such that the viewing direction corresponds to the actual position of the object.

Abstract: A surgical instrument having a shaft with a fixed handle part having a sliding part arranged thereon, and axially movable by means of a pivotable handle. The sliding part is guided on the shaft within an axial working stroke by proximal and distal guidance mechanism. A locking mechanism limit the axial displacement of the sliding part on the proximal end of the working stroke. In use, after unlocking the locking mechanism. the sliding part is movable beyond the proximal end of the working stroke into a cleaning position, in which the distal guidance mechanism are disengaged, so that the sliding part can be lifted away from the shaft.

Abstract: The present invention consists of a water or soda bottle or vessel which is designed to allow for the bottle to interconnect with other bottles of similar design and standard dimensions to form useful second use products. A recess in the lower surface of the bottle receives the neck of another storage bottle. There are recesses perpendicular to the vertical axis of the bottle capable of receiving the mating side recess of another storage bottle. There are two such recesses on each storage bottle, one on each side of the bottle, parallel to each other. This allows for a bottle positioned on its side perpendicular to a vertically positioned bottle to be used to connect two vertically perpendicular storage bottles.

Abstract: A retractable knife includes an elongate handle and a blade holder slidingly mounted within the handle for sliding movements between a retracted position and an extended position. The blade holder is configured for receiving. A manually operable blade lock is formed on the holder and including a release member rotatably mounted on the blade holder. The release member having a first portion projecting beyond the handle and positioned to be actuated by a finger of a user while holding the handle. A second portion is movable with the first portion between a locking position in which the second portion is received with a notch of a blade and a releasing position in which the second position is removed from the blade notch to a position outside the notch of the blade. A spring normally rotates the release member to move the second portion to the locking position.

Abstract: The present invention is a measuring cell comprising a base body. Layered upon the base body is a measurement membrane having a first measuring element, a measurement device, and an intermediate membrane. The intermediate membrane is arranged between the measurement membrane and the base body, and a second measuring element is arranged thereon. When a pressure force is applied to the cell, the measurement membrane is directed outward and undergoes deformation with respect to the intermediate membrane as well as the base body. The deformation causes the measuring capacitance formed by the measuring electrodes to change according to the pressure applied.

Abstract: A hand-held dispensing applicator comprising a source of fluid, a frangible applicator tip attached to the fluid source, and an absorbent member attached to the frangible applicator tip. When the frangible applicator tip is broken, fluid flows from the source to the absorbent member, whereby the fluid is applied and spread on a surface. Preferably, the frangible applicator tip comprises a support element permanently connected to the fluid source, a relatively rigid tongue element extending outwardly of the support element, and a frangible region there between. Preferably, the tongue element comprises ribs for reinforcing the tongue element to resist unintentional breaking of the frangible region. More preferably, the applicator tip comprises a semi-permeable or non-permeable cover disposed around the frangible region to control the speed and direction of the dispersion of the fluid in the absorbent member. Adaptive embodiments allow the generation of designs applicable to a particular medical purpose.

Abstract: A collectable gift card having a primary monetary value acceptable as legal tender for economic transactions and a secondary value providing a non-cash economic benefit to a consumer enhances the overall value of the card to both merchant and consumer. The primary value of the collectable gift card may be implemented through a standard gift card architecture or through other cash equivalent instruments such as credit cards, debit cards, cash cards or the like. The secondary value of the collectable gift card may be embodied as a gaming card for board games or other games of chance, or one card of a collectable set of cards, or as a puzzle piece forming a valuable image or game board. The collectable gift card may be a tangible object or a virtual card existing and tradeable in electronic form in devices such as cell phones, mp3 players, or on the Internet.