Abstract: A topical composition for healing treatment of burns and wounds and scarring therefrom has as the active ingredient cereal-derived (1-3) (1-4) &bgr;-D-glucan at about 0.5-15 w/w percent. The composition may be formulated in various forms with creams and gels being preferred for application to the skin.

Abstract: A retaining wall made up of a plurality of blocks shaped to prevent the escape of material used to fill the cavities of the wall while allowing dissipation of pressures exerted on the wall by the retained earth and a method of constructing the wall taking advantage of the continuous, uninterrupted vertical cavities formed by the unique shape of the blocks. The shape of the blocks comprises a front portion interconnected to a rear portion which has ears on opposite sides which cooperate on adjacent blocks to create a tortuous path into a space created between two adjacent blocks. In a preferred embodiment the rear portion further comprises a cavity which, when pyramidally placed on top of two adjacent blocks, forms a continuous, uninterrupted vertical column which significantly increases the weight and strength of the wall when filled with a particulate filling material.

Abstract: Access to the interior of a vessel during fabrication and assembly of the vessel is provided by a channel structure formed around the circumference of the vessel. The channel structure comprises an outer surface that is radially inwardly offset from the exterior surface of the vessel around the circumference of the vessel. The outer surface of the channel structure is bounded by upper and lower circumferential transition areas which join the outer surface of the channel structure to the surface of the vessel. The channel structure is arranged such that when an upper portion of the vessel is separated from a base portion of the vessel by removing the material comprising the upper transition area, the upper portion of the vessel will receive within its inner diameter the outer surface of the channel structure.

Abstract: An adjustable drum beater for playing a percussion device is herein disclosed. The drum beater comprises a handle in which is engaged a threaded ferrule that has attached thereto a brush for striking a percussion device such as a drum. The handle has a longitudinal cavity formed therethrough that is sized to receive the brush. The cavity also has interior threads that reversibly engage the ferrule. By reversing the ferrule in the interior threads of the cavity, the brush may be stored in the handle of the drum beater. A coil spring is positioned circumjacent to the brush and is longitudinally moveable along the brush to modify the sound created by the brush.

Abstract: Wound closure methods and apparatus are provided which utilize blood fluid by activating the clotting cascade of the blood fluid outside the body within a substantially enclosed sterile container then introducing the blood fluid to the wound site to complete clotting. Methods and apparatus for providing ways of inhibiting anticoagulants and slowing fibrin clot degradation are also disclosed. Kits for practicing the invention singularly or in combination with and/or associated with preferred procedures are also disclosed.

Abstract: A decal organization tool for products needing large numbers of decals utilizes a single large sheet on which all product decals for a specific product or product model are carried. The invention includes a means by which the previously unavoidable irregular margins surrounding the decals are effectively hidden from the eye and allows large sheet printing of decals with an aesthetically satisfactory overall appearance. An irregularly zone is added to the edge of each decal, and along with an ultraviolet responsive additive placed in the decal adhesive, allows the decal to form an indelible footprint on the product to which it is applied. The footprint, invisible to the eye, becomes visible under ultraviolet light, allowing identification of a specific decal and proof of its application to a product, even when the decal is no longer on the product.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a double walled vessel is herein disclosed. The method involves the steps of forming an outer vessel having at least one reassembly channel formed therearound and forming an inner vessel having at least one element fitting formed integral thereto. At least one control housing is secured to the outer surface of the inner shell in registration with the element fitting. Heating elements and other control apparatus are installed in the element fittings within the control boxes. The outer vessel is sectioned at the reassembly channel, thereby allowing the inner vessel to be inserted into the outer vessel. The outer vessel is reassembled to enclose the inner vessel therein and a curable foam material is injected into the space between the inner and outer vessels to maintain a constant spatial relationship therebetween and to ensure the structural integrity of the outer vessel.

Abstract: A bag filling machine of the type having a discharge spout with clamps to hold a bag mouth on the spout is disclosed as incorporating gusset pleat gripping assemblies on opposite sides of the spout. Each of those assemblies has a pair of cooperatively actuable gusset gripping members operable between open and closed positions to selectively and independently grip each of the two gusset pleats on opposite sides of a gusseted bag and to pull those pleats apart to fully open positions. This increases the effective, material-receiving area of the bag mouth as it is opened with the opening of the spout to dispense granular material into the bag. A gusset tucker is also utilized on each side of the discharge spout in cooperative juxtaposition to the gusset pleat gripping assemblies. The gusset tuckers are moved inwardly towards each other and towards the bag to engage in the fold between the two gusset pleats on each side of the bag as the bag top is flattened to a closed position after being filled on a spout.

Abstract: An eyewear cleaning apparatus utilizes a flexible retaining band which has ends which engage and retain eyewear such as eyeglasses, sunglasses, goggles and the like to allow the eyewear to be carried about the neck of the user. A selectively closeable compartment is positioned on the band intermediate the ends and contains a specialized lens cleaning cloth which is moveable between an extended cleaning position confronting the lenses of the eyewear and a rolled or folded storage position within the compartment where the cloth can be effectively carried, stored and protected from contamination yet always be available for lens cleaning when needed. When in the stored position, the cloth is substantially undetectable to the casual eye, and the band retains its aesthetically attractive appearance.

Abstract: A jig which allows hardwood flooring or other building material to be cut to an exact length to fit with precision between two fixed pieces of building material. The jig includes a marking member which attaches to a workpiece which is positioned with one end abutted to a fixed piece of building material and the other end extending beyond a second fixed piece of building material. The marking member attaches to the workpiece in such a way that it is secured in a precise position relative to the second fixed piece of building material. The jig also includes a receiving member which is affixed to a cutting device. The marking member, when aligned with the receiving member, serves as a saw guide that allows consistent cuts to be made so that the workpiece will fit with precision between the two fixed pieces of building material.

Abstract: A bag filling machine comprising a supply hopper, a material flow control mechanism and a rotatable bag filling spout is herein disclosed. The rotating bag filling spout is constructed and arranged for rotation about a vertical axis and is connected to the supply hopper through the material flow control mechanism so as to convey bulk commodities stored in the supply hopper into a bag that is to be filled. After the bag has been filled, the rotatable bag filling spout rotates to close the bag. A sealing mechanism is also provided to seal the filled bags once they have been closed by the rotating bag filling spout.

Abstract: A grizzly screen apparatus has a screen of grizzly bars having first ends mounted in a transverse end member and second ends placed in a slotted comb member having alternating shallow and deep bed slots. The screen is rotatable about a transverse axis whereby the second ends of secondary grizzly bars in the deep bed slots are lowered relative to the second ends of grizzly bars in the shallow bed slots, resulting in simultaneous steepening of the screen and an increase of the interbar distance, to remove obstructing oversize objects from the screen. Each grizzly bar has a transverse lock bar at the first end which retains the grizzly bar within an aperture in the transverse end member without bolts or other fasteners. Obstructions on the grizzly screen may be cleared without the use of manually operated tools, and if desired, may be cleared by remote control.

Abstract: A cleaning cartridge for cleaning the read/write head of a tape drive having at least one stationary cleaning device with filaments, fibers or strands positioned to loosen and remove debris from the air bleed slots of the read/write head. The cleaning cartridge cleans the air bleed slots at the same time as cleaning the tape contact surface of the read/write head.

Abstract: A snow removal apparatus generally comprises a wheeled head frame coupled to a handle and further having a slide suspended between the wheeled head frame and the handle is herein disclosed. The head frame of the snow removal apparatus comprises a substantially rectangular base plate having side plates extending therefrom so as to support an axle upon which at least one wheel is rotatably mounted. A first end of the slide is secured to the axle of the head frame and the second end of the slide is attached to the handle at a distance from the head frame that is substantially greater than the width of the head frame.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for the creation of a electronic domain geometric modeling data file containing internal and external features of an object of interest by first successively removing contours of material forming the object to form exposed surfaces and thereby reveal the internal and external features contour by contour and second by subsequently, successively acquiring data relative to the exposed surfaces. The geometry of each exposed surface is obtained, processed and recorded after each contour is removed. The processing is converted to perimeter data to define the internal and external features and surfaces of the object and the perimeter data is combined to yield a three dimensional electronic domain representation of the object. If desired this representation can be displayed on a computer monitor or printed onto paper.

Abstract: An adjustable camber induced snare assembly for a drum with a hollow body with a batter head and a snare head comprises an elongate snare a support fastenable adjacent to the hollow body extending across the snare head. Opposing adjustable and biased snare fasteners are mountable on the snare support for slightly tensioning and supporting snares. Adjusting the snare fasteners creates a camber in the snares to adjustably urge the snares to continuously have contact with the snare head during drum play without significant tensioning.