Abstract: A dough molder including a stainless steel case, a sheeter, a former, a compressor, and a removable cleaning tray. The sheeter includes a fixed roller, adjustable roller, and a scraper for each roller, where the gap between the rollers is adjustable. The dough from the sheeter is directed to a conveyor belt that moves the dough to the former, a reticulated surface, such as a chain link screen, flexible in the direction of belt movement, that forms the dough into a roll. The belt directs the rolled dough from the former to the compressor that compresses the rolled dough into a cylindrical shape. The cleaning tray is located between the upper and lower legs of the belt, accumulating bits of flour and dough. The tray is removable for emptying.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for eliminating scatter effects in x-ray imaging using two-dimensional detector arrays. The apparatus consists of, in physical order, an x-ray source, a front two-dimensional x-ray detector, a beam selector, and a rear two-dimensional x-ray detector. The subject is located between the x-ray source and front detector. The beam selector prevents scatter x-rays from reaching the rear detector. The method simultaneously solves the two interdependent problems of obtaining scatter-free x-ray images and conducting dual-energy x-ray imaging with primary x-ray data. A high-resolution composite image containing primary and scatter x-ray components is read from the front detector. A low-resolution composite image is produced from the high-resolution composite image. A pair of low-resolution primary x-ray dual-energy images is read from the rear detector. Using an improved dual-energy data decomposition method, a low-resolution primary x-ray front detector image is calculated.

Abstract: A relocatable sprinkler assemblage includes a flexible conduit connecting to a source of fire-suppression fluid, a heat-sensitive sprinkler head, a rigid fitting connecting the conduit to the sprinkler head, and a removable cap that, together with the fitting, creates a watertight compartment around the sprinkler head so that the assemblage can be moved while the sprinkler system remains pressurized and operational. The cap includes alerts the user to the condition of the sprinkler head, whether or not the head has been activated during the relocation process. In one embodiment, the cap is transparent, so that the condition can be determined by looking for fluid inside the cap. In another embodiment, the cap has a valve that can be operated manually to determine if there is fluid in the cap. In a third embodiment, the cap has a flexible bag that appears rigid if there is pressurized fluid in it.

Abstract: Data storage space and access time are significantly decreased by use of an Enhanced MTree data structure, in which data is stored in the nodes of the tree. Two kinds of nodes--predecessor nodes and successor nodes--are coexisting in the data structure and are interrelated by a distribution of pointers. Both types of nodes may be further subdivided into packed nodes and alternate list nodes where the distribution of pointers includes next node pointers in the packed nodes and alternate node pointers in the alternate list nodes. The progressions of nodes are associated with progressions of items of coded data with each of the progressions of nodes associated with at least one identifier. The identifiers give the progression of nodes the ability to locate other progressions of nodes or the ability to be located by another progression of nodes or by an external object.

Abstract: A harness for securing more than one part of a vehicle to a station comprising a tether and a U-lock. The U-lock includes a tubular body and a solid shackle. The body has a pair of aligned holes in the wall and a locking mechanism. The shackle is a U-shaped, solid rod, where one leg has a bent foot that fits into one aligned hole and the other leg has a shaped foot adapted to be captured by the locking mechanism after being inserted into the other aligned hole. The tether includes a length of flexible material and a cuff. The length is a braided cable or a chain, and is sheathed. A hardened steel cuff is rotatably connected to the one end of the length. The cuff has a number of configurations of openings through which components of the U-lock are inserted before the U-lock is assembled. A loop is connected to the other end of the length and is sized to permit the cuff, but not the U-lock, to pass through.

Abstract: For mounting in a notebook having outer covers and a spine, a sheet of clips comprises: a frame having inner and outer side rims and top and bottom cross rims; a set of paper clips integrally connected to the frame via the rims; each of the clips including an outer retainer, an inner retainer and a yoke connecting the outer retainer and the inner retainer; a rupturable junction extending between the frame and the yoke.

Abstract: A vehicle body lowering system for installation in a motor vehicle having a wheeled carriage, a cargo/passenger compartment body, a door in the passenger compartment body for cargo loading and unloading or passenger embarking and debarking, and a spring suspension for the buoyant support of the body above the carriage between a lower position and an upper position. The components of the vehicle body lowering system include a hydraulic cylinder mounted within the body, a power source, a manually actuated control for energizing and deenergizing the power source, and an interconnection extending through the body between the cylinder and the carriage. The interconnection is characterized by an operative condition at which the body is in the lower position under the control of the power source, and an inoperative condition at which the body is freely subject to the buoyant support of the spring suspension.

Abstract: An adjustable tie-down stretch cord comprising an elastic rope and a pair of slidably-mounted hooks. The hooks have a cylindrical tubular member and an S-shaped hook member. The tubular member is provided with a specially-shaped bore and flared slot in the wall. The inner bore at a throat end has a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the elastic rope and increases to a flared end. The flared slot extends from near the throat end to the flared end, increasing in width in a curved manner. The hook member has a hook portion and a rib portion. The elastic rope is formed of a plurality of elastic strands or sheets wrapped in a woven or braided, polypropylene, nylon, polyester, or cotton jacket. The hooks are retained on the rope by knobs formed by folding over and crimping each end of the rope using a hog ring.

Abstract: A dial indicator comprising a body having an dial face with marked graduations; a longitudinally reciprocating rod extending from the body, the rod having a standard rack internal to the body and an end of the rod external to the body having a contact surface; an interacting series of gear assemblies inside the body, one of the gear assemblies having a crowned pinion, the crowned pinion being driven by the rack; and a dial hand attached to the axle of another of the gears; whereby longitudinal pressure on the contact surface causes the rod to retract longitudinally into the body, the distance of retraction being indicated by the dial hand on the dial face.

Abstract: For mounting in a notebook having outer covers and a spine, a sheet of clips comprises: a frame having inner and outer side rims, top and bottom cross rims, and optionally at least a rib connected between a pair of the rims; a set of paper clips integrally connected to the frame via the rims and the rib; each of the clips including an outer retainer, an inner retainer and a yoke connecting the outer retainer and the inner retainer; a rupturable junction extending between the frame and the yoke.

Abstract: A casino card game that allows players to wager against the casino using the rules of stud poker. A number of stud poker hands are dealt as lines on a playing surface and players wager as to which hand will have the highest stud poker ranking. The playing surface has a dealer position including a line for each hand dealt, and player positions in a semicircle around the dealer position, each including a location at which wagers are placed. Game options include choosing the hand with the lowest ranking instead of the highest ranking, having indicators that indicate the hands with the currently highest and/or lowest ranking, requiring an ante or vigorish if only two hands are played, playing with more than one deck of playing cards, allowing one of the players to be the bank, playing on a video machine, a personal computer, a slot machine, over an on-line computer network, or on another type of one-way or interactive gaming or entertainment equipment, and playing with a match jackpot and/or a tough beat jackpot.

Abstract: A trouser construction comprising a shell and a removable liner. The shell has a riser, a pair of legs, opposed slant side pockets, a waist band, a stretchable flank and a skirt sewn to the waist band, and spaced buttons attached to the skirt between the skirt and the waist band. The liner has buttonholes at the waist for receiving the buttons, an outer membrane stratum, and an inner fabric stratum, where the membrane stratum is composed of either an expanded microporous polymer or a hydrophilic polymer.

Abstract: An arcuate peg board comprising a cylindrical panel with a plurality of regularly spaced apertures, a rotating pedestal upon which the panel is vertically mounted, a removable U-shaped handle at the upper end of the panel, a compartmented tray removably mounted to the upper end of the panel, and a plurality of movable fixtures for holding tools and components of various shapes and sizes. The fixtures include a tube, a bin, a slot, a shoulder, a magnet, and a hook.

Abstract: A shroud for use with a sprinkler assembly in a corrosive environment comprising a secondary bag surrounding the sprinkler head to protect it from the corrosive environment for a minimum period of time, a ribbon-shaped corrosion sensor located adjacent to the outer surface of the secondary bag that corrodes apart to electrically trigger an alarm before the ability of the secondary bag to protect the sprinkler head fails, a primary bag surrounding the secondary bag and the sensor to protect them from the corrosive environment for a minimum period of time, a pair of gaskets with an opening for the sprinkler head, the bags extending through the opening of one of the gaskets and annular skirts extending from the edge of the bag openings being sandwiched between the gaskets and held together by a pressure-sensitive adhesive, the bags melting at a temperature that is higher than the normal temperature of the corrosive environment and lower than the temperature at which the sprinkler head activates.

Abstract: An apparatus, for producing scatter-free two-dimensional X-ray images and eliminating scattering effects on integrated detector arrays, includes, in physical sequence from front to back, an X-ray source, a front two-dimensional detector positioned behind a subject for detecting both primary and scatter X-rays produced from striking the subject with the source's radiation, a collimator with holes for passing a portion of the primary X-rays, and a rear two-dimensional detector for receiving this portion. A method for producing scatter-free images which includes the steps of; X-raying the subject with high and low energy, retrieving an image pair I.sub.rHl and I.sub.rLl from the rear detector, normalizing and subtracting dark signals from I.sub.rHl and I.sub.rLl to yield an image pair D.sub.rHl and D.sub.rLl, solving D.sub.rHl and D.sub.rLl to determine b and s, retrieving an image I.sub.fh from the front detector, normalizing and subtracting dark signals from I.sub.fh to yield D.sub.

Abstract: A bicycle lock bracket for use with a lock that has an elongated portion with a free end when the lock is open. The bracket includes at least one spline on the elongated portion and a body fastened to the bicycle frame. The spline is either integral with the elongated portion or is on a collar affixed to the elongated portion. The body includes a hub with an opening for receiving the elongated portion. At least one groove in the inner wall of the opening mates with the spline. If there is more than one groove, they are spaced equidistantly about the opening. The elongated portion is prevented from traveling completely through the opening by a shoulder on the collar or a stop at the end of at least one groove. The body includes a seat for fastening the body to the bicycle frame.

Abstract: A fishing pole comprising: (a) a substantially hollow handle having a light transmissive portion near one extremity, a handle light source inside the handle that illuminates the light transmissive portion when energized, an electric power source, and a manually operated main electric switch; (b) a rod extending from the extremity of the handle adjacent to the light transmissive portion, the rod having a rod light source at the extremity of the rod remote from the handle; and (c) the main electric switch selectively energizing the handle light source and the rod light source from the electric power source. Preferably, the fishing pole includes a red light transmissive overlay mounted for longitudinal movement along the handle between an inactive position, where the overlay is not overlapping any part of the light transmissive portion, and an active position, where the overlay overlaps the light transmissive portion.

Abstract: A device for determining the timing of female ovulation by measuring the viscoelasticity of saliva, the device comprising: (a) an elongated sheath with a length along an axis and an opening at one end; (b) a reciprocable escapement with a pair of elongated arms, at least one of the arms being approximately parallel to the axis, the arms having inner extremities within the sheath remote from the opening and outer extremities in the vicinity of the opening; (c) the outer extremities having mating surfaces; (d) the escapement including a spring bias urging the separation of the mating surfaces from each other; (e) the arms being mounted for relative movement of the mating surfaces among first relational positions at which the mating surfaces are separated, second relational positions at which the mating surfaces are in contact, and third relational positions at which the mating surfaces are free to separate under the spring bias; (f) a control operatively connected to the escapement for placing the mating surfac