Abstract: An automatic insulation tester tests the insulation resistance of electrical equipment when the electrical equipment is inoperative. The automatic insulation tester is automatically rendered operative when the electrical equipment is inoperative, and is automatically rendered inoperative when the electrical equipment is operative. The automatic insulation tester applies a voltage on the order of the rated voltage of the electrical equipment to the electrical equipment and measures and displays the insulation resistance of the electrical equipment. When the insulation resistance falls below a predetermined value, an indicator is activated, and remains in an activated state until the insulation resistance of the electrical equipment rises above the predetermined value and the automatic insulation tester is manually reset.

Abstract: A food/beverage dispenser for infants and small children includes a tubular flexible outer housing and a tubular flexible chamber which contains food. The bore housing between the tubular chamber and the housing wall is a void area that is filled during use with liquid. When a child squeezes the outer housing, the liquid between the housing and the chamber is forced downwardly compressing the chamber and dispensing food/beverage contained therein out through a dispensing outlet which can be in the form of an elongated tubular spout or in the form of a spoon having dispensing openings in the concave bowl portion of the spoon.

Abstract: An implant for stimulating the vagus nerve receives commands over a radio frequency link. The communication protocol uses asynchronous communications devices with parity checking and echoing of communicated characters and passwords to improve communication error checking. The implant disables a voltage convertor used in providing the stimulation signal at periodic intervals to monitor for communications attempts. The implant provides radio frequency marker pulses before providing stimulation signals of certain frequencies. During the providing of stimulation signals the implant monitors the voltage overhead present between the voltage source and the load and adjusts the overhead to a desired level. The implant changes the voltage applied to certain internal components during stimulation periods to allow full power operation during those intervals and reduced power levels at other intervals.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for pumping fluids from horizontal wells with a dip tube used without requiring a packer in the well. Gas is separated from the liquid phase ahead of the pump to avoid slug flow of gas into the pump. This increases the amount of oil that can be pumped from the well by avoiding shutdowns resulting from gas-locking of the pump.

Abstract: In a well treatment method, a fluid is positioned in a wellbore have formation perforations in alignment with the portion thereof to be treated. A gas generator is positioned in proximity with the fluid and is actuated to disperse the fluid within the wellbore in accordance with a pressure/time relationship. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the fluid is a fluid resin material which is polymerized following operation of the gas generator to form a consolidated, porous, permeable matrix which retains sand and other fine materials while permitting the flow of production fluid into the well.

Abstract: A novel suturing assembly defined by a new and improved suturing needle, having a bore therethrough for forming an arc of thread to be grasped. The assembly would comprise a first and second barrel portion, the portions working to allow a rod member to secure the arc of thread formed, and hold it in place, while the needle forms a second suture, and secures the loop as part of the suture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hand splint which is formed of a bladder adapted to fit in the palm of a patient's hand between the thumb and fingers and two pairs of straps for securing the splint to the hand. The bladder is selectively inflatable and deflatable to fit the need of the patient.

Abstract: A safety device (10) for a water dispenser (1) includes a safety tube (20), a cap (30), and an attachment strap (40) for attaching the safety tube (20) to the spigot (3) of the water dispenser (1). The dispensing button (4) is received in the interior (26) of the safety tube (20), with the wall (27) of the safty tube (20) surrounding the dispensing button (4) of the water dispenser (1). The cap (30) snaps onto a locking ridge (29) on the tube (20) to prevent access to the dispensing button (4) from above. When the cap (30) is properly fitted on the tube (20), the locking ridge (31) and the locking tab (32) on the safety cap (30) are received in the snap groove (28) of safety tube 20. When properly fitted on the spigot (3) of a water dispenser (1), the safety device (10) prevents small children from dispensing water from the water bottle (2) via the dispensing outlet (7) of the spigot (3).

Abstract: Orthopedic implants of zirconium or zirconium-based alloy coated with blue or blue-black zirconium oxide or zirconium nitride to provide low friction, highly wear resistant coatings especially useful in artificial joints, such as hip joints, knee joints, elbows, etc. The invention zirconium oxide or nitride coated prostheses are also useful to reduce microfretting wear in multi-component surgical implants subject to such wear. Further, the coatings provide a barrier against implant corrosion caused by ionization of the metal prosthesis. Such protection can be extended by the use of oxidized or nitrided porous coatings of zirconium or zirconium alloy beads or wire mesh into which bone spicules may grow so that the prosthesis may be integrated into the living skeleton.

Abstract: A retractable steering device for liquid/bulk cargo carrying barges includes a rectangular barge hull having a generally flat bottom and an upper deck and generally vertical port and starboard sidewalls. A cargo hold is contained at the central portion of and within the barge hull for containing a liquid or bulk cargo. Port and starboard wing tanks are positioned respectively between the port and sidewalls of the hull and the cargo hold. A pair of longitudinally extending slots are positioned adjacent the respective port and starboard wing tanks, each defining an opening that communicates at least with the barge bottom to provide an opening to the sea under the barge bottom.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for mounting on a circuit breaker to tag or indicate that an electrical line or equipment connected to the breaker is being serviced. Once work has been completed, the apparatus can be removed from the circuit breaker for later use on other breakers. When in place on the circuit breaker, the apparatus keeps the circuit breaker switch or handle in an open or off position, while also enclosing the switch to render it inaccessible from inadvertent contact.

Abstract: A stretch wrap multi-layer film having a sound dampening property wherein the sound dampening property is provided by a layer of ULDPE or LLDPE and high strength and puncture resistance are provided by a second layer containing a LLDPE. The neck in characteristic of linear polymers is overcome by blending into the second layer a minor amount of a non-linear LDPE.

Abstract: An apparatus adaptable to a trash bin, the bin being of the type having four side walls, and a swinging door panel on the upper portion of one of the side walls, for allowing the panel to be manually opened and a tray to be slid within the opening and food or trash allowed to be dumped from the tray into a trash can contained within the bin. The apparatus would comprise a foot pedal hingedly secured to the interior wall of the bin, and an opening above the foot pedal so that one may have access to the foot pedal with one's foot, a line running from the front face of the foot pedal upward and interconnecting the interior face of the door panel; and a pulley secured to the side wall of the bin, so that the line runs over the pulley, in such a fashion when one places force downward on the foot pedal, the line is retracted so that the door panel is swung into the opening within the container, thus giving access to the container through the opening formed by the opened panel.

Abstract: A device for the in situ collection of surgically excised material, including whole gall bladder, gallstones, dissected gall bladder and other tissues, for removal from the body, particularly in laproscopic surgical procedures.

Abstract: A method for diverting resins and other treating fluids used for sand control in wells drilled through unconsolidated subterranean formations is provided. Explosives placed in the wellbore in proximity to the treating solutions are actuated to divert the solutions through all perforations in the casing of the well and allow sand-free production of fluids through the well.

Abstract: A stand for displaying rectangular shaped computer keyboard function key guides. The stand includes a tubular, open ended sheath preferably having three rectangular shaped, transparent sides. The guides may be selectively inserted into or removed from the interior of the sheath such that the function information printed on the key guides may be viewed through the transparent sides. A cardboard backing substantially conforming to the shape of the interior of the sheath is selectively disposed within the sheath and is adapted to maintain each key guide in an abutting relation against the interior surface of an associated one of the sides. Additional key guides may be stored within the interior of the sheath.

Abstract: This invention provides a guard rail post for use on scaffolding of the type used in the construction of buildings. The guard rail post comprises an elongated member having securing means for securing the guard rail post to a vertical support member of the scaffold, positioning means for mounting the guard rail post in fixed relationship to a scaffold work platform and means for connecting guard rails to the post at a fixed distance above the work platform.