Abstract: A new device used in institutions such as, but not limited to, hospitals, nursing homes, and other patient-care facilities, and hotels and cruise ships which, when activated, provides a visual indication locally, at or near the room to which it is attached, and remotely at a central control station and/or hand held device, as to whether or not a particular room has been evacuated during an emergency evacuation situation.

Abstract: A cape for protecting a user and a utility such as a sink or a tub from damage by chemical or biological waste generated during personal care procedures by seamlessly covering both while being attached to both the user and the utility. The cape including a neck portion adapted to be secured to the user at a neck. The cape further including an outer edge spaced from the neck portion to cover the user and extend over the sink, a plurality of holes formed in the cape to adapt to the sink and a connector to hold the cape on the sink. The connector may be a magnet fastener, a drain ring to secure the cape to the drain hole, adhesive backed tape or hook and loop material.

Abstract: An accessory adapted to be affixed to a motorcycle kickstand comprising a pad and at least one bracket removably attachable to the pad at a top of each channel wall by at least one fastener. The pad comprises a channel formed between opposing channel walls extending vertically from either longitudinal side of the pad, and a bottom side. The bottom side comprises a tread and provides support and a barrier that prevents the kickstand from marring a surface when a force is applied to the deployed kickstand.

Abstract: Apparatus wherein the compression heat of refueling of an on board vehicle tank is evacuated from the interior of the on board tank by a heat absorber within the tank through a radiator external to the tank and in which a coolant circulating from the heat absorber within the tank to the external radiator [and/or an associated blower system] is powered by the mechanical energy of the refueling gas as the gas traverses a turbine from the high pressure refuel depot to the low pressure on board tank. The turbine powers the gas cooling system.

Abstract: A lift and secure latch assembly for a vehicle tailgate includes a pair of cables capable of applying upward force to the tailgate and a tensioning mechanism positioned within the tailgate and connected to the support members to apply tension thereto. One of the cables extends from a first lateral end of the tailgate and the other of the cables extends from a second lateral end of the tailgate. The tensioning mechanism is operable between a first position wherein the cables are retracted with the tailgate closed and a second position wherein the cables are extended with the tailgate open. The tensioning mechanism includes a spring member biasing the tensioning mechanism toward the first position. A latch selectively engages the tensioning mechanism to releasably secure the tensioning mechanism in the first position with the tailgate closed. Preferably, the latch is centrally positioned between lateral ends of the tailgate.

Abstract: A process for producing a poly(arylene sulfide), comprising the respective steps of a washing step of washing a polymer separated from a reaction mixture containing the polymer formed with an organic solvent, which is arranged after a polymerization step, a purification step of purifying the organic solvent recovered after the washing step to lower the content of an alkaline compound mixed therein, and a step of recycling the purified organic solvent through the washing step of the poly(arylene sulfide).

Abstract: A virtual secure service oriented network and process model for the creation and management of secure service communities including a private secure digital courier means for the secure and auditable movement of digital information over any network connection wherein end to end security is provided.

Abstract: A flowerpot 1 made of plastic, in particular in a deep-drawn embodiment having a bottom 7 that is provided with holes and hollow layer regions of the bottom 7 on the bottom side for connecting the holes to the environment on the bottom side is designed so that the holes 12, 13 are arranged at least partially in the bottom areas 8, 9, 10, 11 which sit without any spacers for distancing on a supporting surface and have channels 14, 15 in the form of a bottom channeling crisscrossing through the lower area in at least two directions and leading out to the edges. These channels ensure drainage of the flowerpot at the bottom and optionally watering of the pot without providing feet or edge webs on the bottom that would be susceptible entanglement when being shifted on working surfaces or in conveyance with the help of conveyor belts and which can lead to deformation and resilient recoil movements when work is done by machine, in particular when the pots are being placed on a substrate.

Abstract: A process for producing an aliphatic polyester by subjecting a cyclic ester to ring-opening polymerization, which comprises adding water to a cyclic ester purified to the extent that a water content is at most 60 ppm to control an overall proton concentration in the cyclic ester, thereby controlling at least one physical property among melt viscosity, molecular weight and yellowness index of the resulting aliphatic polyester.

Abstract: A tire carrier assembly for storing a spare tire includes a carrier for supporting the spare tire, a rotatable sheave, and a flexible member operably connecting the carrier to the sheave. The flexible member is wound upon and unwound from the sheave upon rotation of the sheave to raise and lower the carrier between a stowed position and a deployed position. A drive member is operably connected the sheave to selectively rotate the sheave. The connection between the sheave and the drive member is broken upon a predetermined torque indicative of a catastrophic event so that the sheave is freely rotatable to prevent failure of the flexible member. A preferred sheave has first and second portions that break away at the predetermined torque so that the reel is freely rotatable.

Abstract: A cubic modular subsurface stormwater unit has equal top and bottom surfaces spaced apart by a set of four pillars, each of which runs from a corner of the top surface to a corresponding corner of the bottom surface. The pillars define a void having a generally cruciform cross section, the void opening onto each of the four side faces defined between the roof and the base. A line of units connected together in series side to side will have a long throughway formed by the respective voids in each unit, and a regular matrix of X- and Y-axis throughways will be formed as units are connected laterally on all sides. The unit is formed of identical halves which can be connected together in any orientation due to the square configuration and to a mating connection which has mating parts symmetrically disposed about a diagonal corner-to-corner line.