Abstract: An involuntary urine control valve apparatus, system and method comprising a urine control valve adapted to be inserted a short distance into the distal end of the urethra of a subject, the control valve including a jacket which is fitted within the distal end of the urethra. The ball valve is a tension-biased, magnetic ball valve subject to move between open and closed position by an externally held magnet held by the subject near the jacket. The jacket includes a inflatable-deflatable collar in which is radially inflatable to stabilize the outer jacket within the urethra. The outer jacket includes an outwardly-extending flange at the other end, which extends about the urethral opening. The system includes a finger operated pump for the inflation of the collar in the outer jacket, to stabilize the outer jacket within the urethra. The system also includes a measuring tool kit for measuring urethral size to determine the correct size of the control apparatus to be employed.

Abstract: An extruder die apparatus, for the extrusion of a thermoplastic material, which die apparatus has an adjustable choke ring. The apparatus comprises an extruder housing having an axial bore for the extrusion of thermoplastic material therethrough from the inlet to the outlet of the bore, an inner die lip and an outer die lip about the bore and within the housing, the lips forming a concentric die gap passageway for the extrusion of a thermoplastic material from the one to the other end of the die, and a choke gap within said thermoplastic material flow passageway having a movably positioned choke ring. The choke ring has a plurality of individual, axially extending castellations thereon, some having oval receiving holes therein.

Abstract: A foul-resistant, flow-through capacitor, a system employing the capacitor and a method of separation is disclosed wherein the capacitor has at least one anode and cathode electrode pair. The electrodes are formed of high surface area, electrically conductive material and have an open, preferably straight, fluid flow-through path. Typically, the flow path is formed by a plurality of straight, parallel, spaced apart electrodes with the flow path not greater than one of the X-Y-Z distance components of the capacitor. The flow-through capacitor avoids fouling in use and may be employed with saturated waste or other streams.

Abstract: An ecological fluidized bed system and method for the processing of polluted water to provide treated water. The system comprises a fluidized bed container containing a layer of coarse media with a layer of fine media above it which has a buoyancy substantially similar to the polluted water, and particularly pumice rock having a high surface to volume ratio, an inlet to introduce water into the container, and an outlet to withdraw treated water, and either a mechanical pump in an anaerobic operation or an airlift pump in an aerobic operation. The system includes an ecosystem such as microorganisms, benthic animals, and higher aquatic plants for the purification of the polluted water within the container, and a pump means to provide for the rapid recirculation of the polluted water within the container with the fine media as a fluidized bed, with a recirculation rate up to a thousand times the flow-through water rate, thereby providing for the rapid, efficient and effective purification of the polluted water.

Abstract: A fusion-bonded carpet system and method of manufacture which method includes providing as all or a portion of the wear face surface cut yarn material in rope form prepared in rope bundles and implanting one or both ends of the rope bundle in an adhesive layer on a backing sheet to provide one or two I-bond, fusion-bonded carpet material having a selected pattern on the wear face surface. The fusion-bonded carpet has a wear face surface composed of all or part of a yarn material in rope bundle form, for example, of a multicolored random or selected pattern. The carpet material may have a backing layer and form carpet tile.

Abstract: A fusion-bonded carpet system and method of manufacture which method includes providing as all or a portion of the wear face surface cut yarn material in rope form prepared in rope bundles and implanting one or both ends of the rope bundle in an adhesive layer on a backing sheet to provide one or two I-bond, fusion-bonded carpet material having a selected pattern on the wear face surface. The fusion-bonded carpet has a wear face surface composed of all or part of a yarn material in rope bundle form, for example, of a multicolored random or selected pattern. The carpet material may have a backing layer and form carpet tile.

Abstract: A test kit and method particularly for the quantitative determination of total coliform bacteria and E. coli particularly in large volume test samples, such as water, wherein the media includes an agent which changes color and a gelling agent which reacts or provides in situ with the test sample a semi-solid broth or media for incubation, thereby restricting the mobility of the growth bacteria and permitting a quantitative count of the separate, colored bacteria colonies.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for the packaging of an article in a plastic-card package which includes a flat card having a window aperture cut therein fed to the apparatus, and a flat, thermoformable plastic sheet, cut-to-size larger than the aperture and smaller than the face of the card and positioned to cover the aperture. The perimeter of the sheet is heat tacked by an adhesive to the card at a plurality of points around the perimeter of the aperture, and the thermoformable material is heated to form a blister in the sheet and to heat seal the edges of the formed blister to the card. The blister is filled, and the filled blister is covered with a backing cover sheet, and the card sealed to form a package.

Abstract: A method for the separation and purification in a single pass of a heat or oxygen-sensitive liquid feed, such as a plant derived liquid feed mixture of fatty acids, tocopherol compounds and sterols, into a low boiling point purified fraction of Vitamin E tocopherol compounds and a high boiling point concentrate fraction of triglycerides, which method can be maintained in the presence of an inert gas to provide reduced degradation and increased purity of the Vitamin E fraction.

Abstract: A method for the control of wall thickness of an extruded thermoplastic material. The method includes extruding a thermoplastic material from an extruder through a die gap formed between first and second die lips. One of the die lips has a plurality of separate sectors adjacent the die gap, with each sector having a circulating oil passageway therein. The circulating oil passageways are connected in a series along the die gap. The method includes circulating through each circulating oil passage, within each sector adjacent the die lip, a heat transfer oil from a common source at a selected heating or cooling temperature. The method includes controlling the rate of flow of said heat transfer oil in each sector by an adjustable flow control valve, in order to control the temperature of each sector, and thereby to adjust the viscosity of the thermoplastic material being extruded, and controlling the wall thickness of the extruded thermoplastic material.

Abstract: A compact, lightweight fishing rod holder which comprises a plastic, tubular, T-shaped holder having an exterior surface with arms and a tube extending from the arms, a layer of cushion material, like foam, about the exterior arcuate surface of the arms opposite the tube, a bar element in the tube to prevent rotation of the fishing rod in use, and an elongated cord secured to the arm at one end and to the fishing rod reel at the other end to secure the fishing rod in place.

Abstract: A bioreactor, motionless mixing element with attached cells, and method for the enhanced cultivation and propagation of cells in a bioreactor method, and which bioreactor comprises a housing and contains within the housing a motionless mixing element, the attachment of cells to the mixing element and a nutrient composition permitting the cell growth and division of the attached cells, and which motionless mixing element and the method and bioreactor comprise a porous, fibrous sheet material; for example, of a corrugated or knitted, woven wire material, such as stainless steel or titanium, and of selected dimensions as to the fiber diameter and height, to provide a maximum surface area for the attachment of the cells to be cultivated, with the ratio of the fibrous, geometric surface area of the porous, fibrous sheet material to that of a sheet material of the same shape being greater than about 1.0; for example, 1.5, and typically, for example, having a surface area for cell growth of about 2000 to 3000 M.sup.

Abstract: A collator and stacking apparatus, system and method for the collation and stacking of asymmetric plastic blister packages having a blister at or toward one end on a flat card, which comprises package-receiving inverter and sliding trays each with a tray surface, upwardly extending sides and a one and other end, for receiving each a package thereon, the received package being in the same orientation on each tray surface. The inverter trays have stops to position the received package on the tray surface as it moves between a package receiving position and an inverted package discharge position, wherein the package is inverted and placed within a collation track perpendicular to the trays, the track having a first and second end for receiving periodically an inverted package from the inverter tray and a slidable package from the sliding tray in a spaced-apart alternating arrangement within the track rails.

Abstract: An inclined surface support platform to hold paint pails or implements, for use on a roof or ladder, with one vertical planar member and one horizontal planar member arranged and secured at right angles to one another by means of a brace on the horizontal member having holes therein to correspond with two elongated, spaced apart parallel slots in the vertical member. Bolts are inserted through the brace holes in the horizontal member into the slots of the vertical member, and the height of the horizontal member is adjusted as desired, whereupon wing nuts with washers are tightened and the support platform is ready for use. Non-slip friction-engaging means are positioned at the lower end of the vertical member and the extended end of the horizontal member to prevent slippage of the platform in use. An open handle is located in the top central portion of the vertical member for purposes of transport.

Abstract: A controllable kite, which changes its geometry and aerodynamic form in flight, in response to control inputs from control handles and control lines, enabling smooth stable high-speed flight as well as extreme low-speed agility and the ability to fly in any direction or hover, consists of a flexible leading-edge spar, stressed by the curve of the sail and providing tension in the sail. Control longerons, at a predetermined angle on either side of the centerline act on the leading-edge spar in such a way as to provide variable geometry that controls the form, stability and flying characteristics of the kite and sustains the shape required for both high and low-speed flight. Precise control is achieved by attaching equal-length control lines from control handles directly to the control longerons without the need for bridling.

Abstract: Cryogenic fluid piston pump functions as stationary dispensing pump, mobile vehicle fuel pump etc., and can pump vapour and liquid efficiently even at negative feed pressures, thus permitting pump location outside a liquid container. Piston inducts fluid by removing vapour from liquid in an inlet conduit faster than the liquid therein can vaporize by absorbing heat, and moves at essentially constant velocity throughout an induction stroke to generate an essentially steady state induction flow with negligible restriction of flow through an inlet port. Stroke displacement volume is at least two orders of magnitude greater than residual or dead volume remaining in cylinder during stroke changeover, and is greater than volume of inlet conduit. Cryogenic tank has a liquid compartment, a vapour compartment, and inlet and overflow conduits. Inlet conduit receives liquid from dispensing pump and widely disperses liquid into liquid tank to contact and condense vapour.

Abstract: An adjustable collar apparatus and method to encircle a post or botanical item at its base, which collar apparatus comprises a plurality of at least three separate, identical, flat sheet panel elements. Each panel element has a generally arcuate, involute curved inner edge, a generally arcuate outer edge, a top and bottom surface, and first and second side edges, and is characterized by a dimple means positioned toward the first side edge and an elongated depressed area positioned toward the second side edge. The flat panel sheet elements are adjustably arranged in a side-edge, overlapping relationship, with the dimple means of one flat panel sheet element aligned with the elongated depressed area of an adjacent flat panel sheet element to form a collar apparatus about a post or the base of a botanical item. The dimple means is fastened in a snap-fit manner into the elongated depressed area by means of a blister edge formed at the bottom portion of the protruding area of the dimple and depressed area.

Abstract: A flow-through capacitor and a controlled charge chromatography column system using the capacitor for the purification of a fluid-containing material, which column comprises an inlet for a fluid to be purified and an outlet for the discharge of the purified fluid, and a flow-through capacitor disposed within the column. The flow-through capacitor comprises a plurality of spirally-wound, stacked washer or rods to include a first electrically conductive backing layer, such as of graphite, and a first high surface area conductive layer secured to one side of the backing layer, such as carbon fibers, and a second high surface area conductive layer secured to the opposite side of the backing layer, the high surface area material layers arranged to face each other and separated by a nonconductive, ion-permeable spacer layer to insulate electrically the backing and conductive layer.

Abstract: An expandable cavity core element for use in a method and system for molding a plastic article having inward or outward projections on the exterior surface. The injection mold has an expandable cavity core element adapted to move between a closed, molding position and an open, article-recovering position and which defines a mold cavity for an article to be molded. The cavity element has a base with an opening therethrough and a plurality of outwardly tapered arms extending from the base to an open end that extends into the mold cavity where it is held in place by a striker plate during the injection molding process. The cavity element has an outer, tapered exterior surface length which is always equal to or larger than the total molding length of the interior molding cavity. The cavity element may include an outwardly tapered exterior surface or a multiple-tapered exterior surface, such as an outwardly tapered surface and then an inwardly tapered surface.