Abstract: A toy vehicle comprises a chassis having a front end, a rear end and first and second lateral sides extending between the ends. Two wheel trains are disposed on separate lateral sides of the chassis. Each train includes first, second, third and fourth wheels, a first pair of the wheels being mounted on separate axles fixed with respect to the chassis and a second pair of the wheels being mounted on separate axles movable along the first lateral side of the chassis. A separate continuous track extends about each wheel train so that the track engages over at least the first wheel and another other wheel. A separate linkage connects each second pair of wheels with the chassis and is configured to displace the second pair of wheels between a first wheel arrangement in which the wheels of the train are generally disposed in a single row, and a second wheel arrangement in which the wheels of the train are generally disposed in two rows and all the wheels engage the track.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 19, 1997
Date of Patent:
October 17, 2000
Inventors:
Richard Blake Kuralt, Michael A. Parness, Nathan David Bloch
Abstract: A positive electrode active material and a positive electrode for an alkaline storage battery are disclosed which exhibit high charge efficiency at a high temperature. The positive electrode active material comprises particles formed by agglomeration of crystals of nickel hydroxide active material, at least the surface layer of the particles containing a solid solution nickel hydroxide with manganese incorporated therein. The solid solution is present as crystals growing on the crystal surface of said nickel hydroxide active material and/or crystals independent of crystals of the nickel hydroxide active material. The content of manganese in the solid solution is at least one mole percent on the whole metal ions in the solid solution and not higher than 10 mole percent on the combined total amount of the metal ions in the nickel hydroxide active material and the solid solution.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 22, 1998
Date of Patent:
May 23, 2000
Assignee:
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
Abstract: A convertible package dispenser to dispense a plurality of identical, smaller packages, is provided by a parallelepiped carton having hollow interior sized to receive the plurality of packages arranged in a row. The carton is formed by first and second pairs of opposing, rectangular longitudinal walls and one pair of opposing end walls smaller in size than the longitudinal walls. First slot openings are provided in each of the longitudinal walls of the first pair proximal one of the end walls in order to remove packages from the carton. Another slot opening is provided through such longitudinal walls proximal an opposing longitudinal end of the wall to insert packages that were removed. Removable covers in the form of removable tab elements are provided over the slot openings to retain the packages within the carton until the carton is set up to dispense packages.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 18, 1997
Date of Patent:
May 16, 2000
Assignee:
Smithkline Beecham Corporation
Inventors:
Nicolina C. Simile-Gravina, Lesley S. Rodenhiser, Alissa F. Podheiser
Abstract: A device (1) is provided for heating up a tool holder which is part of a tool clamping chuck. Tool clamping chucks of this type have a coupling part which can be inserted into a machine tool. The tool holder, which can be removed from the chuck or is connected to it, is cylindrical or conical, for example, and has a coaxial fitting hole for receiving the shaft of an interchangeable tool, for example a drill or hob. The device (1) has a heating unit (2) to heat up and thus expand the tool holder and its fitting hole. Furthermore, the device (1) has an insert (3) with an exactly fitting internal receptacle opening (4), in particular for a planar contact with the outer side of the tool holder. This insert is made of a heat-conducting material or metal which can be heated with the heating unit (2), so that the heat energy transferred via this insert can be transferred in a uniform, quick and targeted manner, as well as in the desired dosing, to the tool holder.
Abstract: The invention includes a substantially pure preparation of a peptide having corticotropin release inhibiting factor (CRIF) activity comprising at least three contiguous amino acids contained within the amino acid sequence positioned between the fourth and fifth thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) sequence on a prepro-TRH protein. The CRIF peptide further comprises the fourth uncleaved TRH portion of prepro-TRH positioned at the amino terminus of CRIF. Compositions, methods of diagnosis and methods of treating CRIF related diseases are also included in the invention.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 7, 1996
Date of Patent:
March 21, 2000
Assignee:
Pennsylvania, Trustees of the University of, The
Inventors:
Eva Redei, Fraser Aird, Peter A. Rittenhouse, Robert F. McGivern
Abstract: At least three heads are mounted on a rotary drum. Between the first and third heads which are located in close proximity to each other and have different azimuth angles, a minute height difference is formed in the rotation shaft direction of the rotary drum. Signals of a plurality of data rates are recorded and reproduced by using the first and second heads or the first and third heads. Two heads having the same azimuth angle are disposed on the rotary drum so as to be opposed each other at a central angle of 180.degree.. In search speed reproduction, search data are reproduced by the two heads. Tracks are divided in the unit of plural tracks so as to form track sets. Search data areas of each track set are disposed at a position of each track which is separated from the edge of a tape by a predetermined distance. In search speed reproduction, the phases of the tracks and the heads are controlled, and all effective data of the search data areas are reproduced by plural scans of the heads.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 7, 1996
Date of Patent:
January 11, 2000
Assignee:
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
Abstract: A communication network and method, including an information signal line which carries a plurality of selectable information signals. Electrical lines run throughout a building, with electrical outlets connected to the electrical line. An electrical line distribution panel connects the information signal line and the electrical line for distributing the selectable information signals over the electrical line to the location of a given electrical outlet. Dielectric-core couplers which are impedance-matched with the electrical line are connected to the electrical outlets. At least one communication station is connected to a dielectric-core coupler for receiving the selectable information signals.
Abstract: Inflammatory dermatoses are controlled and cleared by topical application to the affected areas of the skin of a composition containing both a corticosteroid and a retinoid. The combined therapy is more effective than either active ingredient alone and is particularly effective for chronic dermatoses which are or have become resistant to corticosteroid treatment alone. After clearing has been obtained with once or twice daily applications of the corticosteroid-retinoid composition, usually after several weeks, clearance can be maintained by less frequent application or lower concentrations of the composition or by application of only one of the corticosteroid or retinoid, less potent corticosteroids, or other non-steroidal therapies, depending upon the particular dermatosis being treated.
Abstract: If a first control valve 71 is arranged so as to change between a flow position A and a throttling position C by a fluid for switching purpose guided through a pilot channel 77, the flow area of a first intermediate channel can be changed in two steps. As a result, the injection-valve opening pressure and time of a first relief valve 48 change between two types of values, whereby the physical shock occurring when a crawler vehicle stops can be switched between two types of shock.
Abstract: An implantable device for sensing in vivo the level of at least one blood constituent in mammalian vascular tissue has at least one source of radiation from infrared through visible light, arranged to direct the radiation at the tissue where it is affected by interaction with the tissue, and a plurality of detectors. Each detector has associated with it a filter transparent to a discrete narrow band of radiation, and each detector provides an output signal representative of detected radiation in that narrow band. The detectors are located with respect to the tissue to receive radiation affected by the tissue.
Abstract: An apparatus for eviscerating poultry includes plural groups of cars driven around a monorail track by variable pitch augers which produce combined continuous and intermittent car movement. The groups of cars are brought to rest momentarily in front of machinery for performing various operations. At a first station, slaughtered birds are clamped at the shoulders, and brought to a supine position. At a second, the vent of the bird is opened. At a third, the viscera are removed by spoon. Inspectors then examine each bird at a fourth station, and final preparation is performed at a fifth before the birds are unloaded from the apparatus.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 20, 1996
Date of Patent:
November 30, 1999
Assignee:
Foodcraft Equipment Company
Inventors:
Eugene G. Martin, Duane Newswanger, Scott Cook
Abstract: Topical compositions for application to the stratum corneum include a polyester and an active ingredient which is a chemical exfoliating agent, sunless tanning agent, skin lightening agent and/or an insect repellent. The polyester substantially retains the active ingredient on or in the stratum corneum. A method for improving the effect of the active ingredient in a topical composition includes providing a polyester which functions to substantially retain the active ingredient on or in the stratum corneum to improve the effect of the active ingredient.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 26, 1998
Date of Patent:
November 23, 1999
Assignee:
Inolex Investment Corporation
Inventors:
Robert W. Siegfried, Rocco Burgo, Andrew P. O'Connor, Diana L. Smith
Abstract: A composition is provided for ingestion by mammals for in vivo conversion of alpha-D-galactoside comprising an amount of alpha-galactosidase effective to hydrolyze alpha-D-galactoside to D-galactose, and non-toxic, ingestible excipient(s) for said alpha-galactosidase. Gastric distress in mammals due to ingestion of foods containing alpha-D-galactoside may be reduced by ingesting the foregoing composition of alpha-galactosidase and non-toxic, ingestible excipient contemporaneously with the ingestion of said food in an amount effective to hydrolyze the alpha-D-galactoside to D-galactose.
Abstract: To increase heat dissipation from a plasma display panel, a heat sinking unit 2 bonded to a curved back surface 11 of a panel unit includes a large number of fin blocks 21 arranged spaced apart from each other by a prescribed distance and a flexible thin-wall portion 22, and a joining section 221, which consists of fin anchoring portions 212 and thin-wall portions 22, is capable of being bent between the fin blocks 21, thus allowing the heat sinking unit 2 to conform to the curvature of the panel unit back surface 11.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 10, 1998
Date of Patent:
November 23, 1999
Assignee:
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
Abstract: In a recording and reproducing apparatus having a simultaneous reproducing function, an adaptive filter outputs a pseudo crosstalk signal which approximates to frequency characteristics of crosstalk components leaking from recording data into a reproduced signal, and a subtractor subtracts the pseudo crosstalk signal from the reproduced signal, thereby canceling the crosstalk components
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 24, 1997
Date of Patent:
November 23, 1999
Assignee:
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.