Abstract: Upstream and downstream grippers clamp to one or more seal zones on a bandolier of packaged premiums, such that the downstream gripper(s) and upstream clipper(a) are on opposite sides of a wakened separation line. The upstream and downstream gripper(s) are independently displaced by motive devices in a downstream direction. Further displacement of the downstream gripper(s) relative to the upstream gripper(s) causes the separation line to tear, thus separating an end premium package from the rest of the bandolier. In one embodiment, the grippers clamp to the seal zones at locations offset from the bandolier axis and to one side thereof, thus causing a gradual tearing along the separation line and easier, less stressful separation.

Abstract: A product line of consumer-installable thermoformed vehicle floor trays has first and second floor trays for insertion into first and second driver's side vehicle foot wells. The first and second vehicle foot wells have a different shape from each other. The first and second floor trays each have a floor that substantially conforms to the floor of its respective vehicle foot well. Each tray also has an upstanding transverse first panel, an upstanding longitudinal second panel connected to the first panel, and an upstanding longitudinal third panel connected to the first panel. Each upstanding panel is integrally formed with the floor of the tray and conforms to the walls of its respective foot well.

Abstract: A vehicle floor tray thermoformed from a sheet of thermoplastic polymeric material includes a floor substantially conforming to a floor of a vehicle foot well, a first panel integrally formed with the floor of the tray and upwardly extending from a transversely disposed lateral side of the floor of the tray, and a second panel integrally formed with the floor of the tray and the first panel and upwardly extending from a longitudinally disposed lateral side of the floor of the tray. A third panel is integrally formed with the floor of the tray and to one of the first and second panels. For each panel, at least ninety percent of at least one-third of the first outer surface of the tray wall which is adjacent to the respective top margin of the wall is no more than one-eighth of an inch from the upper surface of the foot well.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating a fragile, packaged premium from a bandolier of packaged premiums includes a number of gripping pairs disposed along an axis of travel. The gripping pairs are designed to grip the premium packaging at pre-defined grip zones along the peripheral edges of the wrapper without clamping onto the premium-containing portion of the package. Preferably, the gripping pairs are sets of endless tracks that are beveled away from the contact surface of each tread such that the beveled surfaces are superimposed on a marginal portion of the premium-containing zone so as to assist in centering the bandolier on the axis of travel.

Abstract: A cut-to-fit universal vehicle floor mat has arrays of peripheral cells separated from each other and from a central area of the mat body by indented trim lines. The arrays of cells can include one or more of the following: an array adjacent a deadpedal notch, an array for accommodating a gas pedal, an array for a transmission tunnel indentation, an array for a transmission tunnel bulge and an array to fit a passenger's side wheel well. The cells are formed by intersections of the trim lines, and a cell may have convexly curved transition segment between a longitudinal trim line outboard of the cell and a transverse trim line.

Abstract: A vehicle floor tray is molded from a multiple extrusion polymer sheet such that it has high shear and tensile strength, an acceptable degree of stiffness and a high coefficient of friction on its upper surface. The floor tray design is digitally fitted to a foot well of a particular vehicle such that large areas of at least two upstanding walls of the tray depart from respective surfaces of the foot well by no more than an eighth of an inch.

Abstract: Fetal behavior is monitored by receiving ECG data from a set of electrodes attached to a material body. A waveform pre-processor identifies a succession of fetal ECG complex waveforms within the received data and a waveform processor determines differences in the processor succession of fetal ECG complex waveforms over time. An event logger determines from the determined differences a number of fetal movements during the period of time. Fetal spatial presentation and/or position within the uterus may also be determined from fetal ECG data acquired from a plurality of electrodes positioned on the maternal abdomen in a predetermined configuration. A number of fetal ECG complex waveforms are identified within the data, and each of the waveforms is compared with a set of predetermined fetal ECG complex templates ascribed to the predetermined electrode configuration to determine a template that best matches the identified fetal ECG waveforms.

Abstract: A container for the dispensing of wire or cable has an external carton which receives a reel of cable supported by two caddies. Each caddy has an inwardly extending substantially cylindrical bushing which is received in a central hole of a respective cable reel flange. The cylindrical bushings are disposed on an axis which is a first distance from an upper surface of a bottom panel of the carton. The largest radius of the reel flanges is preselected to be smaller than this first distance such that the reel may freely rotate inside of the carton on the bushings. Cable is pulled through a slot in the carton's front panel. Left and right panels of the carton each have an arbor hole formed therein which may receive an axial rod, the rod also extending through the reel and caddies. The axial rod may be used to join two or more cartons together and may further serve as a support for attachment to a dolly, hand truck, or four-wheeled cart.

Abstract: Apparatus for manually transporting cartons or reels of goods include a support structure that includes a horizontal support member having first and second components, first and second vertical support members, and first and second bushings attached to the vertical support members for insertion into arbor holes in a reel or carton. Additionally, the apparatus includes a handle affixed to the support structure. In an alternate embodiment, one or more stabilization members prevent the carton from rotating as the contents of the carton are removed.

Abstract: A valve gate assembly comprises a piston that is actuable between a forward position and a rear position and has a piston stop surface and a forward pressure surface. A cylinder has a cylinder stop surface that is disposed to contact the piston stop surface when the piston is in the forward position. The cylinder stop surface is radially outward of at least a portion of the forward pressure surface and a shutoff pin is substantially aligned with the axis.

Abstract: The spatial position of a fetus within the womb is determined and monitored through analysis of ECG waveform data received from a set of electrodes that are attached to a maternal abdomen in a predetermined configuration. The waveform is compared with a set of predefined stored templates to determine the position of the fetus. An event logger may determine the number of fetal movements during a period of time.

Abstract: A pair of cut-to-fit universal vehicle floor mats includes a driver's side floor mat and a passenger's side floor mat, each with a plurality of peripheral cells separated from each other and from a central area of the mat body by indented trim lines. The passenger's side mat is not a mirror image of the driver's side mat but differs therefrom in the shape of its exterior margin and the number, length, positioning and shape of the trim lines. The driver's side mat has cells which can be selectively trimmed away to accommodate a gas pedal, deadpedal, transmission tunnel indentation and fuel filler door/trunk release levers. The passenger's side mat has arcuate trim lines and cells adapted to fit a transmission tunnel bulge and a right front wheel well which often delimit the passenger's side foot well.

Abstract: A method of forming a diode comprises the steps of forming an extraction region of a first conductivity type, forming an active region of a second conductivity type that is opposite the first conductivity type, and forming an exclusion region of the second conductivity type to be adjacent the active region. The active region is formed to be adjacent to the extraction region and along a reverse bias path of the extraction region and the exclusion region does not resupply minority carriers while removing majority carriers. At least one of the steps of forming the exclusion region and forming the extraction region includes the additional step of forming a barrier that substantially reduces the flow of the carriers that flow toward the active region, but does not rely on a diffusion length of the carriers to block the carriers.

Abstract: As an inner moving body of a cosmetic brush is pushed, an upper cone type elastic part and a lower cone type elastic part are compressed, thereby opening an inner hole and discharging powder toward a brush. When the inner moving body is released, the inner moving body returns to its original position by the elasticity of a spring inserted around the circumference of a middle member and by expansive force of the upper cone type elastic part and the lower cone type elastic part. An inner hole is closed by a sealing sill formed on circumference of a sealing pin so that powder is not discharging. Thereby, the brush can control the amount of powder to be discharged with the spring inserted around the circumference of a middle member and the expansive force of the upper cone type elastic part and the lower cone type elastic part which are formed on the middle member.

Abstract: A container for the dispensing of wire or cable has an external carton which receives a reel of cable as supported by two caddies. Each caddy has an inwardly extending substantially cylindrical bushing which is received in a central hole of a respective cable reel flange. The cylindrical bushings are disposed on an axis which is a first distance from the upper surface of the bottom panel of the carton. The largest radius of each reel flange is preselected to be smaller than this such that the reel may freely rotate inside of the carton on the bushings. Cable is pulled through a slot in the carton's front panel. Preferably, left and right panels of the carton each have an arbor hole formed therein which receives an axial rod, the rod also extending through the reel and caddies. The axial rod may be used to join two or more containers together and may further serve as a support for attachment of a wheel truck on one end of the joined-together containers and a handle at its other end.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for measuring thermal diffusivity using the flash method. The apparatus includes: a laser generator 60 for generating a flash beam 30; a measurement sample 10 having graphite layers 20 formed on front and rear surfaces thereof, through which the flash beam 30 passes; an infrared sensor 70 disposed at the rear of the measurement sample 10 for measuring a temperature and time at the rear surface of the measurement sample 10 from heat 40 dissipated from the measurement sample 10; and operation means 80 for performing an operation based on an output signal of the infrared sensor 70.

Abstract: A mud flap is provided with an integrally molded upstanding tab which captures a free edge of a wheel liner or similar wheel well-forming vehicle body element. The upstanding tab may be combined with OEM screw holes or clamping members to affix the mud flap to the vehicle wheel well.