Abstract: A transport indexing chain for a food-packaging machine is made of two different materials in order to provide the most optimal result of a drive chain that resists wear and tear and thus reduces elongation of the chain over time, and which also provides a drive indexing chain that resists bacterial infection. In order to satisfy the first objective of providing a chain that resists wear and elongation of the drive chain, the parts thereof that remain exposed to greasing or lubrication, and thus are resistant to rusting, are made of the same prior-art material of nickel-plated carbon steel. These parts are: The bushings, the rollers, and the pivot rods or pins. The remaining parts, namely the links or side plates and the clamping attachments, are made of stainless steel, whereby prevention of bacterial infection is substantially achieved without increased wear.

Abstract: An improved wick-holder for mounting a felt lubricating wick is provided with a passive inertia-activated pump mounted for submersion in the axle-cap lubricant-reservoir at a level that ensures that for all levels of the reservoir, the pump inlet is submerged in the lubricant of the reservoir. In a first embodiment, the passive inertia-activated pump takes the form of a piston-type pump, while in a second embodiment, the passive inertia-activated pump takes the form of a diaphragm pump. In either embodiment, the inlet of the passive inertia-activated pump is submersed in the lubricant-reservoir, and the output of the passive inertia-activated pump is directed to the surface-interface between the felt wick and the axle journal surface-area to increase the lubrication thereof over and above that which normally ensues owing to the conventional capillary action of the felt wick.

Abstract: A therapeutic hand device comprising a first thumb-sleeve for receiving therein the thumb of a hand, a second index-finger sleeve for receiving therein the index finger of the hand, and a third middle-finger sleeve for receiving therein the middle finger of the hand. The first thumb-sleeve is connected to said second sleeve and is also connected to the third sleeve by adjustable straps. An open space is defined interiorly of, and delimited by, the first, second and third sleeves, whereby when the device is worn on a hand, an object may be inserted into the open space between the first, second and third sleeves, with the adjustable straps being used to firmly hold the thumb and fingers in a pincer hold against the object, whereby the object may be held and manipulated with support and assistance by the device.

Abstract: A quick-connecting coupler for connecting hoses, connectors together or to a faucet or other water accessories that allows ease of use by anyone, including the elderly, the infirm, and those suffering from disabilities. The quick-connecting coupler has a first male-end and a second female end. The second female end is provided with of spaced-apart through-slots or opening for receiving therethrough a pair of forks or leg-sections of a yoke. Each of the pair of forks or leg-sections is provided with at least one interior-facing linear thread or rib for engaging with the male threads of the mating male end of another hose, or the like.

Abstract: A coupler for coupling an end of a hose to a mating end of a faucet or another hose. In the first embodiment, the female end of the coupler is mechanically locked in sealing engagement with a male end by simply translation thereof by means of wedges and an outer retaining sleeve. In a second embodiment, hydraulic pressure provides the final seal, with the female end being a spring split-ring locked and compressed by means of an outer locking sleeve, which outer locking sleeve is released by squeezing it in order to deform it. A third embodiment combines the first and second-embodiments.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a method for securing a polishing pad to the platen for use in chemical-mechanical polishing. Specifically, a polishing pad is attached to a platen using a reclosable, hook-and-pile fastener, whereby the platen-attachment fastener may be reused. Separate embodiments are disclosed for attaching porous and nonporous polishing pads.

Abstract: A therapeutic hand device comprising a first thumb-sleeve for receiving therein the thumb of a hand, a second index-finger sleeve for receiving therein the index finger of the hand, and a third middle-finger sleeve for receiving therein the middle finger of the hand. The first thumb-sleeve is connected to said second sleeve and is also connected to the third sleeve by adjustable straps. An open space is defined interiorly of, and delimited by, the first, second and third sleeves, whereby when the device is worn on a hand, an object may be inserted into the open space between the first, second and third sleeves, with the adjustable straps being used to firmly hold the thumb and fingers in a pincer hold against the object, whereby the object may be held and manipulated with support and assistance by the device.

Abstract: A coupler for coupling a male end of a hose to a female end of a faucet or another hose. In the first embodiment, the female end of the coupler is mechanically locked in sealing engagement with a male end by simply translation thereof by means of wedges and an outer retaining sleeve. In a second embodiment, hydraulic pressure provides the final seal, with the female end being a spring split-ring locked and compressed by means of an outer locking sleeve, which outer locking sleeve is released by squeezing it in order to deform it. A third embodiment combines the first and second embodiments.

Abstract: A self-diagnostic system for a checking all functions of a cellular-transceiver system having a cellular-interface unit, which interface unit couples a standard telephone set to a cellular transceiver, which interface unit converts the DTMF or pulse-type of dialing signals into digital format for transmission to the cellular transceiver, whereby the dialed number made on the land-type of telephone may be used to call a number over the cellular system. The present invention not only monitors and checks the proper functioning of the transceiver and associated power supply, and the like, but will also monitor and check the interface unit, and report the results to an off-site monitoring center by means of the cellular network.

Abstract: A relatively small, illuminated, wearable-safety device or item that may also serve as an item of jewelry or ornamental apparel attachment item of jewelry or ornamental apparel attachment which incorporates a series of LED's packages, with each LED package being made of three individual LED's, one of blue, one of green, and one of red, whereby a continuous range of colors may be emitted by selected energizing of each individual LED of an LED package. The LED packages are capable of being flashed in various modes of operation, such as sequential, random, continuous, and the like. The LED packages are also controlled where the colors emitted by each LED package may also have various modes of operation, such as sequential, random, continuous, and the like, where the color emitted by each LED package may be altered according to a fixed or random pattern, all of which are controlled by one microprocessor.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pulsed electric-field system for rupturing and destroying molecular cellular units of waste-activated sludge to thereby liberate intracellular water molecules from the solids-content thereof. The waste-activated sludge is contained in waste sludge, such as paper-pulp sludge, municipal waste sludge, animal or plant waste sludge. The pulsed-electric field is generated by an electroporating device producing a non-arcing pulsed electric field. The released intracellular dissolved/organic matter may be recycled back to an aeration tank for supplying food to bacteria of the aeration tank for performing aerobic digestion thereon, whereby the intracellular, dissolved organic matter is used as food for the bacteria of the aeration tank, whereby the aerobic digestion process is accelerated.

Abstract: A solar-tracking system that provides a polar rotation at a constant velocity of 366.25 revolutions clockwise per year, and orbital revolution that is one revolution per year in the counter-clockwise direction. The support for the orbital drive system is tilted from polar drive system at an angle of 23.45 degrees, and is constant, which angle is equal to the earth's axis tilt from orbital axis.

Abstract: An infantometer in combination with a pediatric weighing scale. The infantometer has a pediatric-scale mounting means projecting downwardly from the main frame thereof with releasable retaining means for releasably retaining the infantometer to a pediatric scale, where the infant-receiving tray of the infantometer also serves as the infant-receiving tray of the pediatric weighing scale, whereby both height and weight measurements of an infant may be carried out substantially simultaneously.

Abstract: An improved tool for pulling off a rotor of a motor from a shaft or a fan from a shaft, which improved tool is provided with hooked arms that are releasably but securely held at one end in the housing, without the use of retaining clips, so that the arms do not fall off during use or become lost, and so that they do not interfere with the use of the tool when using the securing bolts for pulling off a rotor. The housing of the improved tool of the invention is circular in shape, and in a first version , is provided with a plurality of equally-spaced holes about its circumference, which holes received the hooked ends of the hooked arms, so that various configurations of hooked arms may be provided to best suit the configuration of vanes and type of fan being pulled off a shaft.

Abstract: The height-measuring device of the present invention is foldable, or collapsible, on itself, in order to provide an easier and less-costly method of packaging and shipping. The height-measuring device of the present invention is also provided with an inherent, slidable or extensible leg or setup section that is slidably mounted in the rear of the sale-part, which extensible leg has a length equal to the lowest measurement-reading of the scale-section, whereby the bottom edge surface of the scale-part may be readily located during installation of the height-measuring device the proper distance above the floor.

Abstract: A method and device that aid persons in directing the dirty water being pushed along the horizontal floor-surface toward and into the drain-hole of the floor. The device is provided with a main housing-insert which is capable of being inserted into the opening of a conventional drain-hole of a floor. The housing-insert is preferably frustoconical is shape, in order to be received in different and variously sized drain-holes. Attached to the housing-insert is a pair of elongated, water-deflecting leg-members. Each leg-member is attached or supported at one end thereof to an upper portion of the housing-insert. The other ends of the legs extend outwardly in cantilever fashion. The two leg-members form an angle therebetween from their extension from the housing-insert, with the drain-hole contained within the space between the leg-members. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the leg-members are pivotally connected at their one ends to the housing-insert.

Abstract: An infantometer is made of low-friction styrene, has two telescoping halves, with each having half of the measuring indicia thereon. The first stationary half has a fixed handle against which the head of the infant is placed. The measuring indicia or scale on the first half is located along one side edge thereof. The second, sliding half telescopingly slides in the first fixed half, and has a fixed foot-handle attached at it distal, free end for abutment against the feet of the outstretched infant. The measuring indicia or scale on the second half is located along a side edge thereof laterally opposite to that corresponding to the first half. The measuring indicia on the second half is arranged in descending order of magnitude, so that the free end-edge of the first half serves as a indication-rule. The two halves have an upper surface that form a trough or concave central section on which the infant is supported, whereby the infant is prevented from falling out.

Abstract: An ear-protector is provided as a flexible element preferably made of PVC, having a first enlarged section used for covering over an ear, and a second, forwardly-extending, reduced mounting section extending from the first enlarged section. Each section has formed therein a vertical slit, forming together a pair of forwardly-positioned slits through which may be passed the temple part of eyeglasses or sunglasses, by which the ear-protector is mounted over an ear. The temple part of the eyeglasses is inserted through the pair of slits, so that the section of the temple part of the eyeglasses between the pair of slits is located exteriorly of the ear-protector, and whereby the second reduced section of the ear-protector and part of the first enlarged section of the ear-protector adjacent to the first section is bowed inwardly in a concave manner for forcing the ear-protector against the ear, whereby the ear-protector is snuggly positioned against the ear, for protecting the ear against cold and wind.