Abstract: A puck light fixture has a puck shaped housing, the interior divided by a partition into a circular central compartment encompassed by an outer compartment. Air conduits closed to the housing interior admit flow of ambient air between top and bottom openings in the housing. The air conduits are in heat exchanging relationship with the partition for dissipating heat generated by a lamp in the central compartment and thereby lowering the operating temperature of electrical wiring and connectors in the outer compartment so as to allow use of lower rated wiring for on site hard wiring of the puck fixture.

Abstract: A pedal actuated seat lifter has a mounting plate fastened between a toilet bowl and its seat using existing bolts holding the seat in place. A floor pedal transmits lifting force through a chain or the like to a lever and lifting arm hinged to the mounting plate. The seat lifter can be provided as a kit of parts for relatively simple assembly and installation on an existing toilet fixture without use of adhesives or alteration of the toilet fixture, the floor or walls.

Abstract: A hand truck convertible between forward and sideways displacement has wheels individually disengageable from the hand truck frame for mounting to the frame in either a mutually parallel wheel position or a mutually in-line wheel position transverse to the parallel wheel position. An optional wheel base extension can be installed for in-line mounting of more than two wheels. Other options include a retractable stand for supporting the loaded hand truck in upright position and an auxiliary load carrying shelf. The hand truck and one or more of the optional accessories may be sold as a kit of parts.

Abstract: Security of transactions based on electronically readable cards is enhanced by encoding the card with data representative of particulate microstructure of the card's magnetic stripe as well as biometric data corresponding to the authorized card user. Optionally, the card is also encoded with image scan data representative of a photograph or other significant portion of the card. The encoded data is verified against live data read at a transaction site thereby to associate the particular card to the physical person presenting the card.

Abstract: A closure for containers has a septum of elastomeric material which is self-resealing when punctured by a blunt ended tubular implement to access to the contents of the container. In one application the elastomeric closure is incorporated in a cap for a bottle or vial and is self-resealing after being punctured by a laboratory pipette.

Abstract: A feeding device for use by persons with limited or no use of their arms, wherein a spoon is mounted on supporting and counterbalancing levers and is associated with a mouth-piece in such a manner that the user can manipulate the spoon to lift food from a dish, can then place the spoon on a fixed support and then adjust the spoon to a position for convenient eating of the food. The spoon mounting includes an adjustable support for a counterbalancing spring. All the parts are mounted on a flat base which is adapted also to support the food dish.

Abstract: A fanny pack of the type worn around a person's waist as a carrying bag has an inflatable air bladder and a hand operated air pump for inflating the air bladder to provide a lumbar support when the fanny pack is worn over the lower back of a seated person.

Abstract: A tool for removing overhead mounted smoke and heat detectors by an operator standing on the ground. The tool has a tool head supported on an extension handle for elevating the tool head into proximity to the detector unit. A number of grip elements on the tool head capture and rotate the removable head of the detector unit. The grip elements can be rearranged on the tool head into various configurations adapted to fit the shapes and sizes of different detector units, thereby providing a universal detector removal tool.

Abstract: Plastic cards with included electronic elements are made by laminating a carrier sheet bearing multiple electronic elements between top and bottom plastic sheets. The laminated composite is die cut into separate cards. Prior to lamination the carrier sheet is perforated in a web pattern such that the carrier sheet material is largely recessed from the side edges of the finished cards for better lamination and appearance of the finished card edges. The electronic elements may be obtained on continuous rolls of carrier material which is cut into sheets for lamination.

Abstract: A halogen light fixture for mounting under a cabinet and over a counter surface, as in a kitchen, has a housing of continuous cross section between opposite end caps adaptable to fixtures of varying lengths, a rapidly accessible wiring compartment by tool free removal of a single partition, and an air flow path through the fixture housing including a heat shield arrangement for effective heat dissipation and cooler operation of the fixture.

Abstract: A multi-band reflector antenna has a main reflector defining a prime focus and a frequency selective surface (FSS) sub-reflector defining an image focus. One or more transmitter or receiver feeds are provided at each of the prime focus and image focus. In one application as a ground satellite terminal, the antenna supports Ka-band two-way broadband Internet access bundled with multi-satellite Ku-band direct broadcast television service (DBS).

Abstract: An improved mopping device which may be adapted for manual or electro-mechanical operation, comprising a plastic plate the underside of which is provided with a sponge, the plate having a pair of parallel spaced apart grooves about each of which a part of one side of the plate may be hinged, the area between the grooves being fixedly secured to a solid rigid core constituting at least a lower section of the mop handle, and a sleeve slideable up and down said core and attached to rotate the side portions of the plate together about their groove hinges to squeeze the sponge after it has been applied to pick up liquid on a surface.

Abstract: A cooling system for conversion of air cooled aircraft engines to liquid cooling, including replacement cylinders, light weight, flex tolerant coolant manifolds and cooling system instrumentation for monitoring coolant temperature and pressure. The replacement cylinders have internal gating of coolant flow between a cylinder jacket and cylinder head exhaust port cooling passages for continuous high power operation of the engine.

Abstract: A proximity reader for a radio frequency identification (RFID) system is programmed for determining and storing optimum antenna impedance values to achieve peak antenna resonance at each of multiple operating frequencies. Antenna resonance is peaked at power up and periodically during operation to compensate for environmental detuning influences. The reader scans the multiple frequencies to more effectively search for off-frequency identification tags.

Abstract: Film set lighting requirements can be met with a relatively small number of lamp head modules which are assembled to any of several different reflectors to make up combinations of lighting fixtures as the need arises. The lamp head module has integral ultraviolet protection provided by a close fitting transparent lamp cover so that HMI lamps may be safely used without other UV protection on the interchangeable reflectors. An HMI lamp igniter is provided in the housing for powering different lamp wattages. The lamp head module is wired to power either incandescent or HMI lamps depending on the power cord connector used. The lamp head module is sealed for use in wet environments including underwater use.

Abstract: A perpetual calendar has a free standing or wall hung structure supporting an anchor point and a number of concealed magnets. A pointer magnet is attached by a line to the anchor point. Attraction between the pointer magnet and a selected one of the concealed magnets can support the pointer magnet and line in levitation against gravitational pull. The concealed magnets may be arranged in an arc on the calendar structure, with day, month or year data indicated along the arc at locations corresponding to the concealed magnet locations, so that the line and pointer magnet serve as a visual indicator of selected calendar data. Multiple displays of calendar data may be provided on a calendar structure, including multiple levitated pointer displays or combinations of levitated displays and sliding pointer displays.