Abstract: An orthodontic appliance anchored to the bone of the patient's mouth, the appliance having a wire guide for use with orthodontic tension bands to alleviate the use of other teeth as anchors. The device and method utilize a thin plate anchor body having at least one aperture, a bone fastener receivable through the anchor body aperture, and a tension band and/or wire guide channel affixed to the anchor plate body.

Abstract: A sturdy aluminum pedestrian and bicyclist safety railing that reduces the amount of welding required during construction, comprising top and bottom rigid bars, each having a longitudinal, radially extending exterior passage and a plurality of aluminum pickets mounted within said bar top and bottom channels and held apart by a plurality of spacer plugs that interlock and fit snugly within each top and bottom bar channel and act as spacers to separate the pickets. The top and bottom bars may be welded together at each end of the railing to hold the entire unit together, retaining the plurality of rigid pickets that are substantially perpendicular (or inclined) to the top and bottom bars. The pickets are supported in the top and bottom bar channels without welding for increased strength and reduced cost of construction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for minimizing multipath interference for commercial FM signals which use SCA secondary signals in QAM format that includes tracking the time series of phase measurements of a received stereo pilot signal for determining the proper phase reference for demodulation of QAM signals at the center of the time series. Phase measurements of the pilot signal are tracked over a predetermined tracking period. The phase measurement is used to support demodulation of the QAM signal. The SCA secondary signals in QAM format transmitted on commercial FM have minimal multipath interference and Doppler interference by movement of transmitter and receiver (vehicular).

Abstract: A portable emergency light for long range detection by flight and marine search and rescue personnel which utilizes a battery-powered laser array mounted and sealed within a waterproof housing to increase the effective intensity of a specific class laser. The laser array includes a plurality of laser light generators mounted together to project substantially along a common optical axis producing a signaling light. The search and rescue light may include a rotatable head for directing the signaling lights along a 360° plane and a three-dimensional gimbal which maintains the light beams in a level horizontal position so that the signaling lights may be easily projected along the entire horizon relative to the user. Each laser light generator is within US Government safety standards for the specific class laser despite the increased power of the signal. The laser array can be used with optical alignment lenses to form a desired highly visible light pattern.

Abstract: The present invention is a fiber-optic illuminator with a single or multiple internal turret used for connecting the illuminator with different fiber-optic cables. The internal turret may be incrementally rotated by a handle to present a customized predetermined port for a predetermined fiber-optic cable in optical communication with the light source. Incremental indexing rotation is accomplished through use of a biased bearing mechanism located inside the illuminator. The turret has cooling fins distant from the handle turned by the operator. The turret may carry a tubular lens for internal reflection of the illumination.

Abstract: A striking bag apparatus which is easy to manufacture, assemble, transport or move, and adjust in height, and which is effectively self-supported such that no sparring partner is needed. The striking bag apparatus is composed of a hollow base, hollow cylindrical column, and striking pad. The striking pad is preferably a foam sleeve covered by a smooth striking surface installed around the upper portion of the cylindrical column which is held in a substantially vertical position by the base. Both the column and base may be filled with water, sand, metal shot, or other suitable weighting substance to provide for increased stability and support, via easily accessible fill apertures in the column and base. The height of the striking surface may be easily adjusted, without disassembly, by rotating the column within the base, in a simple “corkscrew” fashion. The base is provided with wheels to aid in moving the apparatus.

Abstract: An Internet-based optical imaging system to gather anthropometric data for the purpose of enabling national and international commerce in the wearable goods market, including accurate measurement for selecting, fitting, and ordering eyeglasses and eyeglass frames via the Internet that includes vendor support interaction. A customer can view and orient his or her real-time image, wear a sales item on a virtual personal model, and order selected sales item via the Internet access. The customer's 2-D photoimagery/textured 3-D model and logistics data are acquired at a modeling kiosk that, for eyeglasses, includes specific vendor specification items, pupilary, bridge, and temple distances necessary for a specific customer. Internet data paths from the modeling kiosk node to vendor nodes, such as point-of-sale and manufacturers, and the customer's home computer, can-be provided.

Abstract: An inexpensive and disposable, highly absorbent pad for placement on a floor surface, directly in front of a urinal, for absorbing fluid not deposited within the confines of the urinal which would otherwise drip on the floor. Fluid absorbed by the pad is prevented from reaching the underlying floor thereby eliminating the problems associated with fluids being deposited on the floor. The pad includes a normally concealed incorporates a normally concealed, flexible, thin plastic disposal container connected to a pad removal member. The disposal container is stored in a normally concealed location, preferably beneath the pad, and automatically deploys and envelops the pad when a force is exerted on the removal member during the pad removal process.

Abstract: A bicycle for providing stair-stepping exercise motion, recreation, and mode of transport comprising a frame that includes a unique triangular rear portion, a pair of wheels, one for the front, one for the back, a chain driven, teardrop-shaped propulsion system, left and right pedals having multiple positions between a horizontal and angular vertical upon which the operator rides, adjustable handle bars for steering, and a safety housing for covering the propulsion and wheel sprockets, chain, braking mechanism, and bike stand. In an alternate embodiment the pedals on each side may be made of telescopic members to provide reciprocal motion so that the forward end of the pedal does not move reciprocally. Also a terrain engaging frame extension is provided below the middle portion of the frame for engaging terrain objects to prevent the pedals from engaging the terrain during activation.

Abstract: An inhaler capable of administering powdered medicaments contained in a capsule through the respiratory tract. It's a pen-shaped device formed by a container that preserves the capsules, arranged in vertical parallel lines, and a block having two or more separated elements inside which one capsule is placed in order to be cut or perforated by a cutting element. The powder of the capsule is so released into a chamber with a grid lower surface that keeps the pieces of the case inside and lets only the powder pass through. Once the capsule is placed into its compartment in order to be cut, it will be sufficient to rotate an element on the other ones by means of a support. Then the user places the mouthpiece of the inhaler, separated by the container, into his/her mouth and breathes in, so that the powdered drug dispersed into the chamber can reach the lungs.

Abstract: A modified boat hull, providing for dual, non-ventilating aft thruster tunnels. Each tunnel includes a generally tubular section which fluidly communicates with the transom outlet orifice, and a converging transition section which communicates at the extreme opposite end with a water inlet orifice which is positioned within an enhanced, vertical strake surface. The vertical strake surface is located beneath the chine of the boat, as well as beneath the water line. The modified hull also includes an inboard offset for the vertical strake surface, and a chine step to enhance hydrodynamic performance of the hull when attempting to achieve or exceed plane speed.

Abstract: A wheeled patient support assembly that allows a patient and at least one medical attendant to be moved while the medical attendant(s) administer medical treatment to the patient comprising a patient support surface, rolling mechanisms or other means for moving the assembly over the floor, at least one attendant support platform(s) built into or connected with the assembly and constructed to support the weight of one or more attendant(s) and being positioned so the attendant(s) can safely stand on the platform section(s) and treat the patient while the assembly is being moved, and including safety railings to prevent the attendant(s) from falling off the assembly. Further, the assembly is designed and constructed to be stable to prevent it from tipping, leaning or becoming unstable while in use. The object of the invention is to allow a patient to be moved simultaneously while emergency medical care is administered.

Abstract: An active deck suspension system for use in marine vessels having a hull and an operator deck. A custom chassis includes pneumatic cylinders which absorb impact forces acting upon the boat hull or suspension deck, and also includes auxiliary emergency jacks. The chassis includes an upper support member which is affixed to the suspension deck, and a lower base support which is complementary to, and mates with, the bottom of the hull. The suspension deck will deflect, in a controlled manner, upon the boat encountering impact forces created by rough seas, or the like. The system includes control circuitry and constantly monitors the suspension deck to automatically compensate for load forces, and thereby provides a substantially improved occupant ride.

Abstract: An aerated or carbonated milk product drink having a shelf stable pre-heated and pressurized ultra-heat treated milk product which has been carbonated with a gas or gases under pressure and packaged into a container. The milk product may be natural or artificial milk product including dairy products and non-dairy milk products and includes combinations of milk products with other beverages such as fruit juices. The method of producing the shelf-stable carbonated milk product of the present invention comprises injecting under pressure carbon dioxide gas or a mixture of gases into the milk product at low temperature of less than 10 degrees centigrade and high pressure of from 50 kpa to 200 kpa. The carbonated milk product remains carbonated and shelf stable in the package until opened.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic dispensing system capable of automatically dispensing a controlled and predetermined amount of a wide variety of products without the need for manual manipulation of the dispenser. The dispensing system includes a housing with an internal chassis contained within the housing, where said internal chassis includes a product chamber and a component chamber. The product chamber receives the dispensable product and a solenoid within the component chamber regulates the flow of the dispensable product from the product chamber. A bladder within the product chamber applies constant pressure to the dispensable product where an air pump connected to the bladder supplies air to the bladder.

Abstract: A one body member (combination bat handle and knob ball bat grip) for improving the gripping action of a batter for baseball or softball, which is useful for left handed or right handed players. The longitudinal raised surface along the bat handle and knob allows the batter alignment of the knuckles for proper wrist roll. The grip is sized to fit around the bat handle and bat knob allowing the batter for gripping the handle with the top hand and gripping the bat knob with the lower hand. The grip fits moveably snug around the bat handle and knob for manually rotating around the bat handle and knob to prolong the lift of thin walled aluminum bats. Also can keep the label lined up when batting with wood bats. The grip is essentially immovable when manually squeezed by the batter. Finger channels or finger separating barriers may be included along the longitudinal raised surface. The grip is made of thermoplastic rubber or the likes that helps to reduce vibration, sting and blistering to the hands of the batter.