Abstract: A musical stringed instrument having a top pickup for producing variable tones and pitches. The top pickup is mounted on top of the strings. Present pickups are all mounted beneath the strings. The top pickup can be permanently mounted, slidably mounted and it can be made to swing into or out of the zone of the string vibration. The top pickup can be used independently or in combination with a bottom pickup or bottom pickups. The latter provide more variety of tones and pitches not achievable when the pickups are used independent of each other.

Abstract: A grill having a top wall design incorporating a heat source that efficiently radiates heat towards the cooking cavity but allows the escape of flue gases and hot air towards the rear of the grill to protect the user. The grill has an access to the interior of the cooking cavity. In certain embodiments, a seating mechanism resides in the cooking cavity for accommodating a rack upon which food is placed and enabling the rack to reside on various levels. A rotisserie may be substituted for the rack. A control cavity in another embodiment may be used to house control mechanisms and electrical components sensitive to heat.

Abstract: A training device for acquiring the correct hand motion associated with the different types of sport and for strengthening the wrist and forearm. The device is simple and portable. It utilizes a combination of a magnet and a plunger, the magnet having a sufficient force to keep the plunger attached but not strong enough to prevent the plunger from dislodging from the magnet when a user snaps the device. The device is designed so that the snapping sound caused by the plunger hitting a wall synchronizes with the impact on the muscles felt by the user during a hand motion.

Abstract: A gas liquid separator comprising at least two containers, a first container for separating gas from a gas liquid mixture and a second container for receiving gas reduced or gas free liquid. The first container has an outlet port to the second container below the level of the gas for the gas reduced or gas free liquid and a separate outlet port for the separated gas. The second container has a height taller than the height of the first container to enable it to hold enough volume of the gas reduced or gas free liquid that can exert pressure on the liquid inside the first container so that the separated gas is forced to escape from the gas outlet port of the first container while allowing the gas reduced or gas free liquid to exit at a separate outlet port of the second container.

Abstract: The disclosure is a radiation collecting/emitting device to/from different spatial directions, the apparatus in the preferred design is manufactured in a single piece and the work surface is modified to obtain a reflective surface for the radiations of interest. In an alternate design, the device is covered by an envelope or bell to increase the effectiveness of the device and protect it from the surrounding environment. The device can be used in a wide variety of applications, such as solar energy collection for industrial or commercial purposes, diverse electromagnetic radiations antennae or radar, since its area of action is 360° related to the horizontal and 180° related to the vertical.

Abstract: A tweezers with a touching pad having a soft and resilient pad on each pincer to provide comfort as well as prevent corns and callouses from forming on the fingers. The touching pad is a pad by itself or a pad supported by a pad holder. The pad may be installed directly to the pincers by squeezing the tail portion of the pad into an opening bored on the pincers. The pad may also be supported by a touching pad holder inserted into each pincer of the tweezers. The pad holder generally have an upper or top band bordering an open space joined to either a lower band or an L-shaped claw. The touching pad holder is held to the pincers by inserting a tail portion of the pad into an opening bored on the pincers through the open space bordered by the upper or top band. The touching pad can also be installed on the pincers by sliding a touching pad holder having a planar pad into each pincers. The touching pad is either stationary or movable.

Abstract: A membership user coupon program for printed and electronic coupons having built-in measures to deter fraud committed by a retailer and/or a consumer during the redemption and/or reimbursement of the coupon. The system and process provide traceability prior to the issuance and/or printing of the coupon, prior to a retailer acceptance of the coupon and at the point of sale.

Abstract: This invention relates to an instructional device comprising a casing snugly enclosing a first central insert component and a second insert component. Each insert component has a combination of protruding fences, walled openings, and plain openings on a top and bottom surfaces. The first central insert component and the second central insert component is stacked together with the bottom surfaces of each central insert component communicating directly with each other resulting in the top surface of the first central insert component facing away from the top surface of the second central insert component. The stacking of the bottom surfaces with each other forms a series of internal enclosures and pathways while each top surface of the central insert components forms a series of external enclosures and pathways.

Abstract: A control reference material for the measurement of cells and crystals that are present in synovial fluid at different pathognomic conditions. Several possible suspending buffers for the control, its methods of preparation and a method for using these controls for analyses are provided. These controls are less costly and more readily available in greater quantities than current controls prepared from normal human synovial fluid as the suspending base.

Abstract: An improved electrolysis system having components for separating gases, especially toxic gases produced along with electrolyzed liquids from the respective chambers of the electrolysis cell; for reprocessing and recovering the separated gas/es into useful products; and for treating new or used electrolyzed liquids obtained from the chambers of the electrolysis cell prior to discharge into the environment.

Abstract: This invention relates to a blanket having a slit through which a person's feet may protrude. The blanket is designed for singles, couples or multiple persons sharing a blanket. The individuals sharing the same blanket can protrude their feet or keep them inside the blanket. The slit is not just a plain opening or cut across the top surface of the blanket but rather, the slit is designed to form an opening that looks like a pocket with an open or unsewn bottom.

Abstract: One dimensional bar code patterns for encoding single and multi-byte characters and method for encoding and decoding these one dimensional bar code patterns using existing bar code readers and scanners. The encoded bar code patterns are generated by base number code systems greater than two with a code length of eight, although longer code lengths are possible. A rule oriented method for generating the one dimensional bar code patterns for both single and multi-byte characters and other rules may be applied to the use of base number code systems greater than two for generating the one dimensional bar code patterns. The rules increase the accuracy of the interpretation and resolvability of the generated bar code patterns.

Abstract: This invention relates to a spin filter assembly and its usage to facilitate the isolation and analyses of molecules and compounds such as proteins present in various biological and non-biological solutions. The spin filter assembly of this invention comprise of a tube having an open top end, a bottom end opposite the open top end, a body of a first length, an inner diameter and a first outer diameter, a filter means at the bottom end, the tube insertable to an upper portion of a centrifuge holder having a closed lower end, an open upper end, a length longer than the first length of the tube, and a second inner diameter greater than the first outer diameter of the tube; and, a container closure means that fits on top of the open end of the tube. The spin filter assembly can be a component of a sample preparation or assay kit, for example, a kit for analyzing proteins by immunoprecipitation. A process for analyzing proteins by immunoprecipitation using the spin filter assembly is described.

Abstract: The invention provides a thin, barely visible to invisible strap particularly useful for imparting invisibility without sacrificing the support imparted by such straps on underwears suitable for use on clothing of transparent material or on backless, strapless, and sleeveless clothing. The strap is made of a thin, clear, colorless, polyurethane material having the desired elasticity, flexibility and softness of a strap while providing sufficient support to the cups thereby preventing the breasts from sagging.