Abstract: A hat including a receptacle for securely hold an article regardless of the orientation of the hat. The receptacle is a cylindrical sleeve composed in part of a stretch fabric that forms itself snuggly about the article. In one embodiment, the receptacle is constructed nearly entirely of stretch fabric in a cylindrical shape. In another embodiment, the receptacle is composed of stretch fabric arches on a platform. The receptacle is sewn to the hat.

Abstract: An instrument for measuring saliva viscoelasticity to determine a woman's fertile period comprised of a sheath, a cap, and an escapement. The instrument includes a barrel with a pair of elongated slots, a piston within the barrel with protrusion that extend into and beyond the slots, and a sleeve over the barrel with a pair of spiral groove into which the protrusions fit. As the sleeve rotates about the barrel, the grooves spiral up or down, causing the piston to move axially within the barrel. A central cavity within the barrel includes a constricted throat near the top end. The escapement is a U-shaped strip of plastic that fits into the cavity and attaches at its cross portion to the piston. The ends of the escapement arms have mating surfaces that are roughened so that the saliva sample will fracture before it separates from the surfaces. As the escapement is pulled into the cavity, the throat operates to press the mating surfaces together.

Abstract: A bore gauge centralizer comprising a frame having a pair of parallel legs connected by a cross piece. One end of the frame is pivotally mounted to the gauge head so that the legs are generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the gauge and the ends of the legs pivot in unison away from the head. A spring biases the leg ends away from the head. A roller is rotatably attached to the each leg end. The roller is a truncated solid oval so that a single contact point is made with the bore wall regardless of the position of the frame.

Abstract: An allergy treatment that combines graphical indicia and medicinal dosages in at least three logically related physical formats, according to at least three medically related clinical steps. The first physical format, in reference to Step 1, presents a plurality of categories of queries regarding allergenic substances and conditions. The second physical format, in reference to Step 2, presents a plurality of categories of actions regarding recommendations for allergy avoidance. The third physical format, in reference to Step 3, presents one or more categories of medicinal dosages in one or more logically related physical regions, which are accompanied by a set of instructions.

Abstract: A casino game based on a selected card game in which a player wagers on one or more of a group of hands, and where the chances of winning are not enhanced by the skills of the player and no discretion in the selection of cards is vested in either the player or dealer. A card game, such as blackjack, baccarat, or stud poker, is selected. A number of hands are dealt as lines on a playing surface and players wager as to which hand will win. 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. Winning wagers are paid a multiple of the wager. Optionally, the multiple is based on the odds of obtaining the particular winning combination.

Abstract: A U-lock keyway protector comprising a cylindrical tube mounted for rotation on a U-lock crossbar. The keyway protector generates enough friction against the crossbar to allow only manual rotation, and it provides a secure grip for ease in rotation. A keyway aperture allows access to the U-lock keyway when in an unprotective position and denies access when in a protective position. When the U-lock is engaged, a shackle leg extends through a shackle slot, preventing longitudinal movement of the keyway protector along the crossbar. A lip at the edge of the keyway protector limits the distance that the keyway protector can be slipped onto the crossbar and eliminates alignment problems.

Abstract: An optoisolator includes one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs) within a compartment defined by walls of photocells, where the majority of light emitted by the LED impinges directly upon a photocell and is converted to electricity with a minimum of loss. The photocells are attached together by abutting the end of one photocell to the surface of another, as in a butt joint. In one embodiment, the LEDs is inserted into an opening in the compartment and secured by filling the compartment with a light-transmissive, non-conductive material. In another embodiment, the LEDs and photocells are mounted to a substrate. Optionally, each photocell has more than one electrically-independent photosensitive surface.

Abstract: A clamp for temporarily attaching a level to a construction component including an elongated metal or plastic, inverted U-shaped, two-piece body with an opening in the center of the top wall that extends partway down the side walls through which the level bubble is seen, a pair of pivotally-mounted, spring-loaded, opposed jaws for temporarily gripping the construction component, and grooves, a microcatch patches, or screws for temporarily attaching the level to the body. The two-piece body allows for adjustment to levels of different widths.

Abstract: A ball member and a flexible elastic strap with two loops secured together at a connected portion are provided for maintaining the fingers of a baseball glove in a cupped position. The ball member is placed in the pocket of the glove and the fingers of the glove are inserted through one loop and the opposite base end of the glove is inserted through the other loop with the connected portion located against the ball member. In the embodiment disclosed, the ball member is hollow and has a relative stiff outer wall with an opening formed through the wall such that the strap may be inserted through the opening into the interior of the ball member for storage purposes. In one embodiment, the ball member is a spherical ball. In another embodiment the ball member is formed by larger and smaller partially spherical members joined together.

Abstract: An assemblage and system for drinking a plurality of potable and/or medicinal liquids simultaneously from discrete receptacles. The assemblage comprises a plurality of conduits joined together that convey isolated streams of the liquids from separate receptacles into the mouth. The cross-sectional area of the conduits regulate the amount of each liquid reaching the mouth and may be dynamically controlled. Preferably, the conduits are mechanically deformable along their axes of elongation. Preferably, the conduits are joined together near the end of the conduits that enter the mouth. The conduits are joined by a catch, by binding, or by molding the conduits as a single unit. The system includes the assemblage and a number of isolated receptacles.

Abstract: An isolation amplifier that transmits data to a receiver via a current loop, where the isolated portion of the circuit is powered by a photovoltaic array illuminated by a light source powered directly by the current loop. Optionally, the photovoltaic array is additionally illuminated by any excess power tapped from the current loop by the non-isolated portion of the circuit. Preferably, the light source is an array of light-emitting diodes. Preferably the photovoltaic array is an array of photocells sensitive to the same wavelengths emitted by the light-emitting diodes. Preferably, there are optical conductors connecting the LED's to the photocells.

Abstract: A clamp for temporarily attaching a level to a construction component including an elongated metal or plastic, inverted U-shaped, one-piece body with an opening in the center of the top wall that extends partway down the side walls through which the level bubble is seen, a pair of pivotally-mounted, spring-loaded, opposed jaws having pins for temporarily gripping the construction component, and microcatch patches or screws for temporarily attaching the level to the body.

Abstract: A cable lock attachment for portable articles that is protected from tampering, whether by twisting or otherwise, when the associated cable lock is operational. The attachment comprises a shell with concentric axial ports, one large and one small, and opposed lateral ports. The small port is in proximity to a threaded socket in the article. A collar having a wide head and narrow stem fits through the large port and the stem fits into the small port with the head remaining inside the shell and the stem abutting the article. The stem is secured to the article by a screw that has an internal hex head. The stem is slightly longer than the thickness of the shell so that the shell is free to swivel about the stem when secured. The cable extends through the lateral ports, preventing access to the screw when the cable lock is secured.

Abstract: A pair of components for an instrument for determining the female fertile period by measuring the viscoelasticity of saliva that includes a pair of strata composed of a rigid material, preferably glass or a polymer, and a surface on each strata, where the surface has a random distribution of peaks and valleys, the average depth from the peaks to the valleys is in the range of from about 10 picometers to about 100 micrometers, and the total area of the valley walls below one half of the average depth is from 35% to 65% of the total area of the surface. Preferably, the average depth of the valleys is in the range of 50 micrometers to 80 micrometers and the total area of the valleys below one half of the average depth is between 45% and 55% of the total area of the surface.

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 baking support that is a flat sheet of metal bent into a particular 3-dimensional shape and having a body portion and a plurality of leg portions. Optionally, the support includes stippling and/or depressions. Optionally, the support includes neck and head portions, with a bend to prevent the dough from sliding down the support. Optionally, there are a series of removable slats or dowels that extend through holes in the support surface about which the dough is arranged to create knees and elbows. Optionally, a finger extends from the surface for creating holes or openings in the baked product.

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.