Abstract: A campfire support unit for burning firewood. The unit has a metal frame that includes a metal support ring with metal tabs and support legs. The frame is made and arranged to support wood for a wood fire in a near-vertical ring position around a central core which contains wood supported in a near-vertical position. An internal core fire is started, using wood placed inside the metal ring. Then wood is leaned against the outer rim of the metal ring. The tabs support the wood leaned against the outer rim, preventing it from falling before, during, and after the outer wood is ignited by the internal core fire.

Abstract: An in-line P-trap chlorinator that ensures water contact with a water-leachable algicide and/or antibacterial tablet while water is flowing through the P-trap, and after the flow of water has stopped. The in-line P-trap chlorinator is inserted in a condensation drain line of an air-conditioning or refrigerating unit to prevent formation of growth from bacteria or algae, which would plug the line, and/or to destroy any such growth already in the line. The inlet to the P-trap chlorinator is above the outlet, to prevent back-migration of harmful and/or corrosive gases, vapors, and/or liquids/mixtures/solutions. The P-trap chlorinator performs and combines the functions of a P-trap and a chlorinator. No additional P-trap is required.

Abstract: A flow cell for chemiluminescence analysis. The flow cell has a flat, thin, opaque plate, with a groove machined into one side of the plate. An inlet port at the center, and an outlet port at the outside end of the groove pass through the plate, which is sandwiched between a flat sapphire window and a cell cap of a housing. The groove side faces the sapphire window, forming a flow channel with one wall being the sapphire window. A light detector is inserted into the housing until it butts up against that part of the housing holding the sapphire window, placing it very close to the generated light. The other side of the plate mates with inlet and outlet ports of the housing cap.

Abstract: A tree pusher for safely felling a tree. The tree pusher includes (a) a base; (b) a frame mounted on the base; (c) a mechanism for pushing the frame against the tree to fell the tree; and (d) a mechanism for connecting the base of the tree pusher to the tree, so that the base will not move while the tree is being pushed over to fell the tree. The frame includes a detachable pronged head which engages the trunk of the tree, and which disengages itself from the frame of the tree pusher and remains with the trunk of the tree as the tree falls. The frame includes a series of tubes connected end-to-end by locking pins, making it very easy to assemble and disassemble the tree pusher. If a tree has accidentally fallen against a house, a building, or an electrical power line, two tree pushers are positioned on opposite sides of the fallen tree and used to lift the fallen tree.

Abstract: A device for the separation of small particles or cells from a fluid suspension of the same is described. The device includes a coaxial tubular design in which the inner tube is a micro porous tube that allows the passage of liquids and certain particulates up to a certain size cut-off, and the outer tube allows for the collection of passed fluids. Inlet and outlet ports allow the introduction and flushing of components of interest. Embodiments of the device can be used for the separation of blood components, the sequestering of micro spheres used in micro-sphere-based immuno assay, and sample filtration. Other applications are not precluded. Another field of application for this device is in the separation of plasma from red blood cells. The red blood cells will not pass through the membrane due to their size, but plasma will.

Abstract: A tree pusher for safely felling a tree. The tree pusher includes (a) a base; (b) a frame mounted on the base; (c) a mechanism for pushing the frame against the tree to fell the tree; and (d) a mechanism for connecting the base of the tree pusher to the tree, so that the base will not move while the tree is being pushed over to fell the tree. The frame includes a detachable pronged head which engages the trunk of the tree, and which disengages itself from the frame of the tree pusher and remains with the trunk of the tree as the tree falls. The frame includes a series of tubes connected end-to-end by locking pins, making it very easy to assemble and disassemble the tree pusher. If a tree has accidentally fallen against a house, a building, or an electrical power line, two tree pushers are positioned on opposite sides of the fallen tree and used to lift the fallen tree.

Abstract: A device for the separation of small particles or cells from a fluid suspension of the same is described. The device includes a coaxial tubular design in which the inner tube is a micro porous tube that allows the passage of liquids and certain particulates up to a certain size cut-off, and the outer tube allows for the collection of passed fluids. Inlet and outlet ports allow the introduction and flushing of components of interest. Embodiments of the device can be used for the separation of blood components, the sequestering of micro spheres used in micro-sphere-based immuno assay, and sample filtration. Other applications are not precluded. Another field of application for this device is in the separation of plasma from red blood cells. The red blood cells will not pass through the membrane due to their size, but plasma will.

Abstract: A method for determining total and bound plasma bilirubin. The method utilizes zone fluidics to enable accurate determination of the bilirubin using small volumes of sample and reagents, and significantly reduces dilution errors caused by inherent changes in bilirubin-binding with sample dilution, as well as the effects of weak bilirubin-binding competitors.

Abstract: A disposable solid waste detainment plumbing trap. The trap has a container for collecting water and solid waste discharged from a sink through a line threadably connected to an inlet of the container, and for discharging water through an outlet threadably connected to a waste line. It has a lid which seals the container, and a valve for venting either air or water from the container, to relieve the pressure of air trapped in the container. Using this disposable trap, solid waste from a sink can be quickly and easily collected and disposed of without spilling of or contact with water or the solid waste.

Abstract: A microtube for surgery and dentistry. The microtube transmits light, pressure, vacuum, or a pharmaceutical agent to the site of a surgical or dental operation or procedure. Because of its extreme microsize and multiple ports, the microtube does not harm tissue, and is especially suited for surgical and dental procedures such as a root canal and operations involving extremely small spaces and limited accessability. A side port at one end of the microtube provides extreme versatility by being capable, by rotation of the microtube about its longitudinal axis, of covering a perimeter of about one hundred and eighty degrees.

Abstract: A self-monitoring flow-through heater. The heater has a wire inside a tube, and the wire heats and monitors the temperature of a fluid flowing through the tube. The wire has a high specific resistivity and a high temperature coefficient of resistance, so that monitoring the voltage across and/or the current flowing through the wire measures the mean temperature of the wire and of the fluid in the tube.

Abstract: A tree pusher for safely felling a tree. The tree pusher includes (a) a base, (b) a frame, and (c) a detachable pronged head for gripping the tree while the tree is being felled. As the tree falls, the head remains attached to the tree, and detaches itself from the frame of the tree pusher.

Abstract: A shoulder pad accessory arm pad, to protect the upper arm of a wearer from injury. The arm pad includes a tapered padded member which attaches to the shoulder pad and arm of the wearer. The arm pad remains in place during athletic activity, and does not limit the effective range of motion of the upper arm of the wearer.

Abstract: An automated chemiluminescence analyzer. A multiport selection valve has a common aspiration port for carrier solvent, sample, and reagent. A bi-directional pump is connected to the selection valve. A chemiluminescence cell is positioned between the selection valve and a T-block. One end of the cell is connected to the common port of the selection valve, and the other end is connected to the T-block. The T-block has a port connected to the pump, another port which communicates with the detector, and a third port connected to the other end of the cell. This unique arrangement enables the chemiluminescence cell to function as a chemical reactor, thus eliminating any delay between initiation and detection of emitted radiation, so that very rapid reactions can be viewed and high sensitivity attained.

Abstract: Automated method and machinery for fabricating a wrought-iron fence panel. The machinery includes (a) automated programmable machinery for welding vertical pickets to horizontal runners to form a fence panel; (b) automated programmable machinery for straightening the fence panel; (c) automated programmable machinery for washing the fence panel; (d) automated programmable machinery for drying the fence panel; (e) automated programmable machinery for painting the fence panel; and (f) automated programmable conveyor machinery for conveying the vertical pickets, the horizontal runners, and the fence panel from station to station.

Abstract: A floor mat for containing household liquid spills. The containment mat includes a folded sheet that contains spilled liquids, and an absorption sheet which absorbs them. The absorption sheet is held in place by the containment sheet entirely by surface tension between the two sheets, and is therefore easily removed and replaced. The containment sheet is sewn in a folded configuration having interlocking corners, thus ensuring that there is no slit in the mat through which the liquids could escape. A fitted cover protects and holds the containment and absorption sheets together as a compact unit.

Abstract: A sleep protector for preventing crib deaths. The sleep protector is cooperable with conventional cribs or beds, and is made up of a series of interconnected pipe members forming a support structure. The structure of the sleep protector is characterized as having a grid-like base configuration featuring a number of upstanding supports along each side, and a further grid at the head and foot of the grid work.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for sequential injection liquid-liquid extraction analysis. Under the control of a bidirectional precision pump, a stream-selection valve, and a microprocessor, a series of liquid zones is built up in a holding/mixing coil. The liquid zones are transferred from the holding/mixing coil to a separation cell. After phase separation into an extract and a raffinate, the extract is withdrawn from the separation cell and sent to a detector, which determines the amount of a component which was extracted from a sample by an extraction solvent. The principal advantages of this automated technology are elimination of the need for dynamic phase separation; on-line pre-extraction chemical conditioning; a substantial reduction in solvent, reagent, and sample usage; and a similar substantial reduction in waste generation.

Abstract: A tree pusher for safely felling trees. The tree pusher controls and determines the direction in which the tree falls, using a base, a frame, a detachable head which engages the tree trunk, and an extendable screw-type trailer jack that is repairable/replaceable during operation and capable of bearing the weight of a large tree, for urging the frame and the head against the trunk of the tree. For use on uneven ground, the tree pusher is provided with a base extension. A chain is used to connect the base of the tree pusher to the trunk of the tree, to prevent movement of the base when the jack is activated. The tree pusher can be readily moved to the job site, and can be used on any type of terrain, including hard surfaces, and for any type of tree, including trees with rotten wood.

Abstract: An in-line filter probe for process analysis. The probe, which has a U-shaped porous tube mounted on a support and sealed at the tube's midsection, is placed in a process stream to provide filtered samples of the stream.