Abstract: A light display structure (10) includes a plurality of arm braces (12) mounted together with a decorative shield (22) fastened thereon. Each arm brace (12) includes a short arm (16) and long arm (15) angularly extending from a central bite section (14). The plurality of arms can be mounted at the bite section to form a central hub (18) or mounted at the distal ends (94) of each arm to form a five pointed star with the bite section forming the outer points of the star.

Abstract: An assembly (10) for holding a tree (12) in an upright position above a level surface (14) includes a base (22) for supporting the tree (12). A rim (24) holds a quantity of water (20) on the base (22) and in contact with the tree's trunk end (16). Four retainer pins (60) hold the trunk end (16) centrally on the base means (22). A back-up retainer (32) limits trunk end (16) sliding or twisting while allowing the quantity of water (20) to flow to the trunk end (16). Guy elements (28) engage the trunk (18) of the tree at an elevated position above the trunk's end (16) and resist tree-tipping forces. Clamps (30), disposed at spaced locations around the rim (24), hold the guy elements (28) to the rim (24). Each clamp (30) has a lever arm (118) that adjustably and releasably clamps the guy elements ( 28) to the base (22) as the lever arm (118) is pivoted between engaged (A) and disengaged (B) positions. A reservoir fence (176) prevents objects, such as tree skirts from contacting the water (20).

Abstract: A trolley wheel assembly (10) securely sealed to prevent loss of lubricant therefrom and entrance of contaminants therein. The assembly (10) comprises an inner race (12) disposed about an axis of rotation (14) and an outer race (16) concentrically disposed in a spaced relationship about the inner race (12). A plurality of ball bearings (18) are disposed between the inner race (12) and the outer race (16). An outer sealing ring (20) extends radially inwardly from the outer race (16) toward the inner race (12). An inner sealing ring (22) is rotatably disposed about the inner race (12), extending radially outwardly and contiguous the outer sealing ring (20). A wave washer (24) disposed about the inner race (12) biases the inner sealing ring (22) into constant friction engagement with the outer sealing ring (20). A plurality of backup inner sealing rings (26,27) provide a secondary seal about the inner race (12).

Abstract: A method for resupplying a remote cassette assembly (14) for an ambulatory medical infusion pump (10) with a new replacement tube (22a) includes the steps of disassembling a used tube assembly (22) from the cassette assembly (14) by removing a luer lock (34) located at the end of microbore tubing (32) by severing the tubing (22), removing the tubing (22) by passing it through apertures (30), (25) and (47) in the cassette assembly (14), inserting a new unused tubing (22a) into the access slot (40) to the interior of said cassette, and by inserting tubing (22a) such that the tubing (22a) is pulled through the apertures (47), (25) and (30).

Abstract: Spray apparatus for mixing, atomizing and spraying foam forming components has a hollow wand of extensive length that is adapted to be connected at one end to a conventional mixhead and has mounted therein a static mixing element that extends the length of the wand. A nozzle having a singular central orifice through its tip is mounted on the distal end of the wand and houses a floating core. The core has a convex end facing the orifice and is contactible thereabout with an interior side of the nozzle tip. The mixing element has a spiral shape that operates to incite turbulence and thereby enhance mixing of the foam forming components passing through the wand from the mixhead. The core has a peripheral surface that converges in the direction of the orifice and angled channels in this surface separate the mixed components into streams directed toward the orifice and together with the orifice atomize the mixed components and cause the discharge thereof in a uniform atomized cone-shaped spray pattern.

Abstract: Unimolecular micelles, generally referred to as cascade polymers, are constructed via the addition of successive layers, or tiers, of designed monomers, or building blocks, that possess a predetermined, branched superstructure consisting of connected physical matter inherently defining an internal void volume or void area within the molecular framework. Each of the branches define a flexible arm from a central core atom and terminate with a hydrodynamic reactive group. A method is described for manipulating such cascade polymers.

Abstract: A laminated instrument panel has a door cover for concealing a supplemental inflatable restraint (SIR) system in a vehicle passenger compartment that includes a skin flap that is an integral part of the skin of the instrument panel. The skin flap is cast out of position and collapsed into the correct position when an elastomeric foam layer is foamed in place beneath the cast skin. This forms slanted grooves in the skin at the juncture of the flap and the adjacent skin of the instrument panel that have little or no gap at the surface of the skin. The skin flap can be shaped to provide a flush door or a raised door with an overlapping front edge.

Abstract: A drying apparatus (10) for a vehicle wash system maintains blower air bags (18) at a predetermined distance from the vehicle providing forced air against the vehicle for water removal. Ultrasonic sensors (66) are provided on the nozzles (26) of the bags (18) for sensing objects within a predetermined distance. Control circuitry (40) controls a motor (42) to control movement of the air bags (18) to maintain the predetermined distance. The wiring interconnecting the control circuitry and motor (38) and sensor (66) extends through the interior of the air bags (18) and support air plenum (13, 14) to avoid damage thereto. The control circuitry (40) allows for manual adjustment of the sensitivity of the sensors (66). The circuitry in the sensors (66) is minimized to only the transmitter, receiver and amplifier. Furthermore, each bag (18) is controlled by separate control circuitry (40) so that failure of one air bag and associated circuit does not effect any other bag's operation.

Abstract: An inflatable airbag comprises a front part (20) and a rear part (22), or front, rear and side parts joined together by at least one tear seam (24) comprising stitching of tortuous pattern.

Abstract: A rotary capping machine (10) includes a nonrotating center shaft (26) about which a turret (28) is rotatably mounted. The turret (28) is rotated by a motor (30) whose speed can be adjusted to alter the bottle through put rate of the capping machine (10). A plurality of spindle shafts (44) are supported on the turret (28) in a circle about the center shaft (26). A rotary capping head (48) is positioned on the end of each spindle shaft (44) and includes a clutch mechanism. A drive motor (68) supported on the center shaft (26) rotates each of the spindle shafts (44) in unison through a compound and planetary gear train. As the spindle shafts (44) revolve about the center shaft (26), they are linearly reciprocated by a barrel cam (50) arrangement. A rotary encoder (78) senses the instantaneous rotational speed of the turret (28) and sends feed back signals to a CPU to control the drive motor (68) so the spindle shafts (44) always rotate at a field determined constant speed regardless of the turret speed.

Abstract: A transfer sheet (10) for heat transferring a temperature-responsive decal having personally applied crayon coloring (22) onto a section of fabric (20). The transfer sheet (10) includes a paper sheet (12) treated with a release agent and a printed image (14) disposed directly thereon. A single uniform and transparent transfer layer (16) of thermoplastic material is disposed over the printed image (14) and other selected areas on the paper sheet (12). A plurality of abrasive particles (18) are partially embedded within the transfer layer (16) for abrading crayon (22) rubbed thereover and for enhancing the mechanical bond between the transfer layer (16) and the fabric (20) when the transfer sheet (10) is applied to the fabric (20).

Abstract: A plate (12) for use with stemware (14) that has a center portion (16) and an outer periphery (24) with a notch (28) therethrough that lead to an aperture (30) that passes through the plate. The aperture is substantially surrounded by a rim (32) that is coplanar with the upper edge of the periphery and a lower lip (36) that is coplanar with the central portion. A base foot (20) is under the central portion and elevates the lip to allow a stemware foot flange (58) to fit under the lip when the stem and plate are seated flat on a table surface (19).

Abstract: A booth, of general circular cross-section, includes a roof part 2, a base part and an intermediate part 6. The base is adapted to stand on the floor. Within the booth is a foldable chair 8. A person may gain access to the booth via a door 10 having a hinged edge 12 and a slide fastener 14. A steam kettle is provided below a false floor of the base part 4. In use, steam and aromatic vapor for essential oils is produced which fills the booth within which a person is seated.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a coupon redemption card (10) includes removing the half (37) of a backing liner (28) used to back a front half (12) of a layer of card stock (16). The layer of card stock (16) is then folded in half along a score line (40) so that the front half (12) adheres to the back half (14). The back half (14) is scored along longitudinal and lateral lines (42) to create coupons (18) which, when removed, are peeled off of the remaining half (38) of the backing liner (28).

Abstract: An oligonucleotide conjugated to a steroid the oligonucleotide comprising: ##STR1## wherein A is selected from the group consisting of an aliphatic alkyl, branched aliphatic alkyl and an alkyl (branched) chain of 2 to 18 carbon atoms, R is selected from the group consisting of H and lower alkyl up to 12 carbon atoms; B is a naturally occurring base, the steroid is bound to the oligonucleotide utilizing the naturally occurring bases through an (-oxycarbonyl-amino)-decylamine-moiety, and NUC is an oligonucleotide.

Abstract: A two-piece sheave assembly is provided for a tire lift/carrier winch. The sheave assembly includes a molded plastic, one-piece sheave component that is molded to include a first sheave side plate, an integral sheave center hub with a cable-wrapping track thereon and optionally an integral annular toothed driven ring gear for mating with a toothed drive gear of the winch. The molded plastic sheave component is attached to a second sheave side plate, which may be metal, to form the two-piece sheave assembly. Apertures for the winch drive shaft and the pivotable cable end fitting are integrally molded in the first sheave component.

Abstract: An apparatus (10,80,150) for heating an object with black body infrared radiation. The apparatus (10,80,150) comprises a radiation source (42,96,158) for generating black body infrared radiation and a honeycomb stagnating element (48,132,160) for preventing transmission of heat by convection from the radiation source (42,96,158). Also various methods for using the apparatus (10,80,150) are disclosed.

Abstract: A weapon stabilization system for an unbalanced gun tube pivotally mounted on a tank turret or other movable platform is disclosed. The system includes a muzzle position controller which accounts for flexion of the gun tube and which comprises a muzzle reference sensor and a muzzle deflection feedback circuit. The muzzle reference sensor provides a signal indicative of deflections of the gun tube. The muzzle deflection feedback circuit is responsive to this signal to adjust the position of the gun tube in a manner that accounts for the deflections of the gun tube. The gun tube is positioned using a hydraulic actuator with pressure feedback to the stabilization system. The system includes a feedforward controller to compensate for the positive pressure feedback due to dynamic external accelerations acting on the unbalanced gun tube.

Abstract: A vehicle horn is disclosed with an electronic switching circuit which operates at a switching frequency equal to the resonant frequency of the horn. A sweep frequency oscillator generates a switching pulse train. A transducer and signal conditioner produces a horn output pulse train at a frequency equal to the acoustic output of the horn. The horn output pulse train is applied to one input of a phase comparator. The output of the sweep frequency oscillator is applied to the other input of the phase comparator. The phase comparator generates a stop signal for the sweep frequency oscillator when the input signals are in phase with each other which signifies that the horn is operating at its resonant frequency.

Abstract: A process for producing a preform includes the steps of retaining a glass fiber fabric (40) on a foraminous screen (14) by use of a vacuum draw and depositing chopped glass fibers (19) onto the glass fiber fabric with a binder that cures in place. The vacuum draw retains the deposited materials in place until the binder is cured.