Abstract: A sleeping cap for lifting the face of a person away from a sleeping surface to prevent facial wrinkles comprises a U-shaped basic form covered with a fabric and having first and second extensions, each of the extensions being flexibly positioned within the fabric adjacent to each leg end of the U-shaped basic form, and the fabric covering the end of the first extension is attached to the fabric at the end of the second extension to form the sleeping cap. Straps from each side of the sleeping cap secure the cap on the person's head.

Abstract: A tool for installing tubing in channels of floor panels comprises a handle attached to an upper portion of a front frame and a pair of wheels attached to a bottom portion of the front frame, a pneumatic drive, mounted between a front frame spacer and a bearing block, drives a hammer assembly for pushing the tubing into the channels, and a steering block is secured under the bearing block by a bearing assembly which enables the steering block to rotate about a bearing. An upper portion of a rear strut attaches to the bearing block and a pair of wheels attach to the lower portion of the rear strut. The tool quickly and efficiently installs the tubing into the flooring channels as the tool is rolled along the floor panels when an air source is attached to an air coupling on the pneumatic drive.

Abstract: An aerosol dispenser has a canister to contain a liquid product to be dispensed together with a propellant present at least partly as a gas and valve to control the release of the liquid product from the canister. The dispenser also has a vapor phase tap for introducing a portion of the gaseous propellant into the liquid product as it is dispensed. The dispenser has a flow control device for varying the rate at which the propellant has is introduced into the liquid product through the vapor phase tape in dependence on the pressure of the contents of the canister. The flow control device can be used to reduce the amount of propellant gas bled into the liquid product, particularly when the dispenser is full and the pressure in the canister is high, as a way of conserving the propellant gas.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a receive only, phased array antenna in its operating environment. Two transmit signals of different but unknown polarizations are used to calibrate the receive only antenna array, and the receive element locations and polarizations are accurately known. The method determines the complex weights on the antenna elements and the magnitude of the vertical and horizontal components of the calibration signal in the presence of multi-path signals as well as standard noise. Two different methods for calibrating are provided. A first method uses combinations of three elements to determine the calibration constants using small matrices and then averaging all the possible results for each element, and a second method solves for the calibration constants for all elements at one time using a singular value decomposition, but requires the manipulation of large, sparse matrices.

Abstract: A wind vane that easily snaps on to golf equipment such as the pole of a golf bag for visually indicating wind direction to a golfer comprises two side elements attached to each other at a junction along the side elements' edges forming approximately a 50 degree angle between the side elements, and a partially opened cylindrical clamp. A ring holder is provided on the inside surface of each of the side elements. A plurality of ribbons extend from each of the ring holders and the movement of such ribbons indicate the direction and to some extent the speed of the wind. An alternate embodiment of the wind vane comprises arms that clip onto a canopy pole of a golf cart and a plurality of ribbons to indicate wind direction.

Abstract: A cooperative code-enhanced multiuser communications system having a receiver for resolving user ambiguity in a received composite signal by using convolutional encoder state machine properties to analyze strings of bit sums and separate out individual user data. The receiver comprises a signal sampler which converts a received composite signal to a digital data. A single point cluster mapper determines a closest pseudo-constellation point, and the pseudo-constellation point is formed with the aid of power and timing control in the transmitters. A bit sum look-up table maps symbol points to bit sums. A deterministic loop tests for bit sum cases where symbols can be determined immediately. A guess loop tests the bit sum after the deterministic loop test and performs guesses until all bits are decided. The bit sum is provided to a multiuser convolutional decoder to decide all user data streams.

Abstract: A denitrification system for denitrified wastewater or nitrified water treatment using a detergent or detergent-like compound comprising available carbon. The system comprises a plurality of interconnected tanks including a mixing tank which feeds detention tanks which in combination provide a detention time period for the effluent. A controller determines the amount of detergent dispensed into the mixing tank in accordance with the measured volume of effluent to be treated. The mixing tank comprises a heater for maintaining the nitrified effluent temperature above 50 degrees F. An optional line filter can be added to the output of the system for further reducing organic nitrogen concentration. An alternate embodiment comprises passing the final denitrified effluent through a pump chamber for pumping of the effluent to a sand filter capable of reducing bacterial populations.

Abstract: A horizontally draining artificial turf system comprises an impervious base at proper slope, an impermeable layer or drainage blanket over the base at a corresponding slope for guiding water horizontally, an artificial turf at top of the impermeable layer, and a perforated pipe near the lower edge of the base for receiving water for evacuation. Rainwater over the artificial turf first drains vertically onto the impermeable layer and then flows along the impermeable layer to reach the perforated pipe, without infiltrating into the base. Alternatively, a partially pervious drainage blanket is provided in lieu of the impermeable layer where the base is partially pervious. Backup rainwater runs off the drainage blanket horizontally after it saturates the soils of the base.

Abstract: A straddle stretching apparatus comprises a seat on top of a support frame and leg support wings which extend from opposite sides of the seat and move outward and upward away from the support frame as a handle at the top of the base is rotated. The handle attaches to rotating means which has struts extending from opposite sides that attach to the side of the leg support wings. The stretching apparatus is used to stretch the muscles of the lower and upper body including the legs, lower back and upper body. Stretch straps are provided on the side of the leg support wings to assist the user in a stretching exercise.

Abstract: An infrared sight glass for aftermarket fitment around an opening of an enclosure which enables thermal inspection of electrical equipment within the enclosure. The mounting of the sight glass is performed externally which avoids having to access the interior of the enclosure. The infrared sight glass comprises an infrared transmitting medium to facilitate use of an external infrared thermal imaging camera for monitoring the electrical equipment. A removable protective cover is locked into a closed position by security key screws and is easily removed by a slight twist when the key screws are loosened.

Abstract: A spatial resolution enhancement and dynamic range extension for a Computerized Airborne Multicamera Imaging System (CAMIS). CAMIS is a multispectral imaging system for diverse manned and unmanned aerial vehicles to fly along flexible paths and altitudes for a wide variety of applications. CAMIS comprises four spectral bands of progressive scan CCD video cameras with 782×576 square pixels each, giving a total of 1.82 million effective pixels. These cameras are synchronized and aligned in parallel with sub-pixel-accurate spatial offsets over a common field of view. A software procedure interpolates the original four-band 782×576 captures into 1564×1152 ones using a bi-linear algorithm, and then performs geometric correction and band-to-band pixel registration. The result is a more precisely registered, spatial resolution enhanced multispectral image, sized 1540(H) ×1140(V)×4(Bytes).

Abstract: The invention provides a noise elimination device that can be installed easily on a coaxial cable and that can effectively eliminate noise from both the center conductor and the outer conductor. Coaxial connectors 2 and 3 are provided on both ends of a tube-shaped housing 1 made of an insulator, and a coil made by winding a coaxial cable of thin diameter is around an open magnetic ferrite core is disposed inside the housing 1 and connected to the connectors 2 and 3 at the two ends. The earth-side connector thickness of the outer conductor of the coaxial cable and the connector as well as all earth-side conductors, such as shield members 7 connecting the connectors with the outer conductors of the coaxial cable, is at least 0.1 mm.

Abstract: A fryer controller is provided with a calendar function. In addition, a maintenance execution time is set for each maintenance item by operating a switch on an operating panel 16. When the maintenance execution time reaches a preset time, an asterisk * is displayed on a display portion 18 of the operating panel 16. In this way, a maintenance schedule is precisely managed.

Abstract: A Parameter Estimator for accurately estimating signature responses of multiple co-channel interfering digital transmission signals. The Parameter Estimator is used in a Multiuser Detection (MUD) Receiver to significantly reduce the error rate. The Parameter Estimator comprises a plurality of software components, including a Signature Waveform Estimator, Training Sequence Locator, Noise Estimator, Active Users Tester, Initial Transformation Matrix Builder, a Transformation Matrix Rebuilder, and a Transformation Matrix Selector, and generates an estimated noise power, a training sequence index and estimated signature waveforms.

Abstract: A boat ladder attached to a trailer for easy access to a bow of a boat. The ladder comprises two side rails with spaced-apart steps or rungs between the side rails, the lower portion of one of the side rails curving a predetermined distance toward the other side rail and then running parallel with the other side rail wherein the lower ends of the ladder side rails fit into bases secured to a front longitudinal member of the trailer. The bases are secured on each side of the longitudinal member of the trailer, and the lower ends of the side rails fit into cylindrical tubes attached to the sides of the base.

Abstract: A method of installing a gaiter (10) around a joint defined between joint members of joints of vehicles, such as steering joints and constant velocity joints. The method provides a range of gaiters for use with a range of joints of different dimensions, the range of joints being greater than the range of gaiters and at least some of the gaiters (10) in the said gaiter range being stretchable to fit two or more joints of the said joint range so the said joint range can be accommodated by the range of gaiters wherein a gaiter is selected from the gaiter range to fit a particular joint.