Abstract: A universal security device for preventing unlocking rotation of right and left door stanchions of cargo containers including a protective housing for a puck lock and channel shaped cross bar wings extending from its laterally opposite sides. A hook with claws for engaging a stanchion includes a palm with a locking tab having a locking bar receiving opening. The palm is insertable through one of the complimentary openings provided in each of the two side walls of the housing. At least one interior tab with a locking bar receiving opening is provided in the housing and when the locking rod of a puck lock engages the openings in the locking tabs, the cross bar structure prevents an unlocking rotation of the stanchion.

Abstract: A steamer cooks individual serving portions of food such as oysters and shellfish by direct contact with steam at atmospheric pressure. The steamer uses a boiler and valved piping system including a manifold to deliver steam on demand to each one of plural cooking stations. Each station has a container such as a bucket that receives the steam through a nozzle extending through a hole in the bucket's bottom. The user controls the flow of steam to each cooking station independently, thus allowing multiple serving portions of food to be steamed independently of each other, that is, separately, in parallel, and without regard for the start times and end times of the other serving portions. Preferably individual steam valves, timers and on/off indicators allow the user complete control over cooking times at each cooking station. The steam exiting the buckets and condensate are collected and carried off.

Abstract: A seed crystal for the fabrication of a superconductor is grown from a rare-earth oxide having the basic formula XwZtBaxCuyOz, X comprising at least one rare-earth element and Z being a dopant which raises the peritectic decomposition temperature (Tp) of the oxide. In a preferred embodiment, the dopant is Mg. Use of this rare-earth oxide material for seed crystals increases the temperature at which cold-seeding can be performed and thus enables the growth of a wider range of hulk superconductor materials by this process.

Abstract: An enclosure, such as a column for supporting a roof, is defined by plural, adjacent, beveled segments, including two outermost segments, folded and joined. An adhesive is used on the beveled edges to help hold the shape of the enclosure. In addition, the edges of the outermost segments are configured to interlock so that, with manual force and no tools, the outermost segments can be snapped together, thereby holding the enclosure while the adhesive cures. The configurations on the outermost edges are preferably made of interlocking projections and recesses, at least one of which projections is displaced slightly when the outermost segments are joined. The segments may be formed by milling a single panel while applying tape to the joints between segments to hold them in adjacent relationship. The tape may then be removed after the enclosure is formed. The preferred material for the enclosure is foamed plastic.

Abstract: A turf leveling device including a metering blade together with first and second horizontal and parallel main blades separated by first and second open distances. The blades are supported by a frame with spaced frame arms adapted to provide three point hitch attachment points. Skid plates mounted on left and right sides of the frame prevent the metering blade from scrapping or cutting elevated areas of the turf surface. The metering blade and the first and second main blades with deflectors effectively redistribute and level the gathered material. A vertically adjustable verticutting knife roller having keyed knife discs extending through slots in a grating insert is preferably disposed in the first open distance.

Abstract: A gun stores a bipod when not in use inside its fore-end. A gun rest such as a bipod, an aiming stick or tripod has a stored position where its legs are pushed into channels formed in the fore-end of the stock, approximately parallel to the major axis of the gun barrel, but which can be pulled out and pivoted into an in-use position when the user wishes to steady the barrel of the gun for greater accuracy in shooting. A bracket is mounted to the fore end of the stock to allow the legs of the bipod to be pulled clear of the channels and then rotated down. The legs may be telescoping to a preferred elevation once in the in-use position.

Abstract: A method for forming a capacitor including forming an anode from a valve metal; forming an oxide on the anode to form an anodized anode; dipping the anodized anode into a slurry of conductive polymer; drying the intrinsically conductive polymer; and providing external terminations in electrical contact with the anode and the conductive polymer.

Abstract: This invention relates to the development of a new Raman enhancing reagent and a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) method for rapid and ultra-sensitive detection and identification of perchlorate (ClO4?) and other anions such as technetium (TcO4?), uranium and nitrate in environmental samples. The method involves the synthesis of controlled gold nanoparticles which are modified with amine functional groups such as 2-(dimethylamino)ethanethiol and N,N,N-trimethylaminethiol. These functionalized Au nanoparticles were found to be reactive with perchlorate and other anions and can be used to detect these anions by Raman spectroscopy at ultra low concentrations in complex environmental matrices. This invention overcomes the limitations of currently-available analytical techniques by offering an inexpensive, rapid, ultra-sensitive, and real-time identification and detection of perchlorate and other anions.

Abstract: A semi-infinitely-adjustable butt stock assembly. A butt stock is slidably affixed to a buffer stem. An over-center lock is attached to the butt stock adjacent to the buffer stem. The user can disengage the over-center lock from the buffer stem by rotating a lever thereby permitting the longitudinal position of the butt stock to be adjusted relative to the buffer plate. To secure the butt stock at the desired position, the user rotates the lever in the opposite direction causing the over-center lock to re-engage the buffer stem. A cheek rest overlaying the butt stock and biased forward with respect thereto is adjustable vertically with respect to the butt stock by manually moving the cheek rest aft, adjusting it vertically, and releasing the cheek rest.

Abstract: A Zener diode—capacitor combination wherein a Zener diode is mounted in the capacitor body and connected in parallel with the capacitor after the capacitor has been voltage tested. A welded strap or jumper wire completing the diode circuit or a connection of separate terminations during soldering may be used to complete the circuit.

Abstract: A method of forming an electrical component is provided. The method comprises preparing a subassembly by electrically connecting an integrated circuit to a flexible circuit; and attaching the subassembly to a multilayer ceramic capacitor having a mounting surface with a curvature deviation exceeding 0.008 inches per inch.

Abstract: A container for growing plants has a base and a side wall extending upwardly from the base, for containing a growing medium. An opening is defined in an inclined portion of the side wall, and a rib positioned on the side wall and facing into the container defines a root-guiding angle between the rib and the side wall, the root-guiding angle leading to the opening. Plant roots growing adjacent to the side wall are therefore guided by the root-guiding angle to the opening to be air pruned.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a device used to recharge the battery of electronic cardiac implants, like implanted pacemakers and defibrillators. It can be used to recharge the battery after an emergency requirement, such as: defibrillation or in diagnosis and or reprogramming of implants, during which no energy is demanded from the internal battery, seeing that the energy feed becomes guaranteed (accepted) by the proposed device. The invention is composed by three essential components: a generator (A), a transmitter unit (B) and a receptor coil (C). The generator is destined to produce an energy signal with determined amplitude and frequency and that is carried across through a coaxial cable to the transmitter unit (B). The emitted magnetic field is captured by the receptor coil (C) that is implanted inside the human body, generating a voltage with the absence of the Gibbs phenomenon.

Abstract: A fiber optic furcation method for fiber optic cables having a plurality of optical fibers and a fiber optic junction made by said method. The method comprises the steps of threading each optical fiber into a separate fiber optic cable forming a junction; placing a first tube around the junction so that the tube covers the reinforcing members of the fiber optic cables; folding reinforcing fibers from the fiber optic cables over the first tube; applying an adhesive to the reinforcing fibers; placing a second tube around the junction; and shrink wrapping the junction.

Abstract: A load restraining apparatus includes a retractable fabric membrane for retaining items in position inside a semi-trailer or shipping container. A membrane carrier is removably fastened to one interior wall of the trailer and a spring-biased retractable membrane is pulled across the width of the trailer and fastened to the other interior wall. A tensioning device tensions the membrane thereby securing the cargo during shipment and preventing shifting inside the shipping container or trailer. The fore and aft adjustability and the vertical adjustability of the load restraining apparatus permit it to effectively restrain cargo of diverse size and shape.

Abstract: A vertically adjustable keyboard support is mounted on a pair of U-shaped members having crossed legs pivoted on a horizontal axis providing scissor linkage support for adjusting the height of the keyboard to accommodate the keyboard operator in a standing position as well as in a sitting position.

Abstract: An flexible elongated device for use in human exercise routines or as an implement having an elongated pultruded plastic rod or rods fitting loosely within a plastic tube. At least one of the rods is rectangular in cross section and the tube may be covered by a soft foam plastic sleeve. The rod may be produced by the pultrusion process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the production of concrete blocks or concrete slabs of varying formats and sizes, whereby concrete is filled into molds for several blocks or slabs, the surface layer of which or the facing concrete layer of which has a base color and the surfaces, which have regions of difference colors, is puddled by means of vibration and/or compacting and subsequently hardened, whereby, before puddling, at least one portion of a pigmented and/or variously-pigmented and/or a color- and/or various color-containing finishing material is projected or thrown by means of at least one application device.

Abstract: Assembly for repelling birds from a selected area and method of making it. A rotor is assembled from a plurality of identical fin panels and rotatably mounted on a supporting pole within the selected area. Graphic designs comprising bird scaring holographic and/or diffractive images may be placed on the pole and/or rotor to simulate movement even when the rotor is stationary. The fin panels may be transparent and reflective to project light beams between and away from rotor surfaces. Outwardly projecting fin segments and a rotor barrel with vents are responsive to wind currents to rotate the rotor and generate bird repelling noises and visual effects.