Abstract: A personnel guidance and location control system for controlling movement of one or more individuals to a particular destination, e.g. guiding one or more individuals in a selected path to a waiting point and then to an activity in advance of that waiting point or otherwise to a particular destination. The system relies upon a plurality of indicators or markers which may be secured to a floor or ground surface and which define guide paths for the one or more individuals. Various floor covering segments can be also secured in desired combinations to achieve a desired guide path.

Abstract: A composition and a method for treatment of urinary tract dysfunction and, particularly, non-bacterial cystitis and, even more particularly, non-bacterial chronic interstitial cystitis. The composition primarily relies upon the use of a bioflavonoid and, particularly, that bioflavonoid known as quercetin. The quercetin is mixed with a proteolytic digestive enzyme protease, such as bromelin and papain, as the primary active ingredients. However, the composition may optionally and beneficially include other cystitis affecting agents, such as cranberry, as well as some other active and non-active ingredients.

Abstract: A remotely controlled electronic display sign which operates with a plasma display and which provides for humidity and heat control and the like allowing the sign to be used in various environments. The sign is essentially self-contained and includes those components necessary for enabling a display of desired material from a remote control source or one located at the sign. A controller in or associated with the sign is accessible either electrically, or through satellite transmission or other wireless transmission from the remote source which allows the display of the sign to be changed at will. Thus, an operator at a remote source may, with the aid of a pre-prepared graphic design, transmit that design to the controller at or associated with the sign for display of that graphic information and potentially with sound.

Abstract: Marketing of goods and services on telephone lines and during a period from the commencement of a telephone call to the receipt and acceptance of that call (quiescent period) when the recipient of the call actuates his or her telephone. This quiescent period of time, during which a ringing signal is normally generated, is used for presentation of advertising or promotional messages, primarily to a caller, although it can be delivered to the recipient of the call, or both. In addition, the system provides for the use of messages during the normal ringing cycle time to effectively replace the ringing signal. The particular advertising or promotional message can be selected for a certain area, such as an area covered by a telephone switchboard or a certain party or characteristics of that party. In this way each individual telephone switchboard is capable of presenting a message different from the next telephone switchboard.

Abstract: A personal placement and location control system for controlling movement of one or more individuals to a particular destination. The control system provides a plurality of rows of indicators spaced apart from one another for defining a pathway of movement and an end of the line element, and where the path forming elements extend from the opposite ends of the end of the line element. The control system thereby guides individuals to a destination beyond the end of the line element. These elements are all located in a substrate, which can be placed on a ground surface. The substrate may contain instructional material or other advertising or promotional material.

Abstract: A personnel location control system for controlling and guiding a group of individuals in a selected path to a waiting point and then to an activity in advance of that waiting point. The system in one embodiment relies upon a plurality of disks or like guide path-forming elements which define the edges of a desired guide path for a line of individuals waiting to reach the activity or destination. These elements may be physically mounted on a ground cover substrate where a single substrate or a plurality of similar substrates in combination, could form a desired guide path. Thus, some of the ground substrates may define arcuate guide path sections and others may define straight guide path sections, etc., but which when combined will form a total guide path. Thus, modular carpet substrates or sections could be provided and each of these carpet sections would be capable of being secured to a ground or floor surface.

Abstract: A unitary protective pipe cover for disposition about a pipe configuration under a conventional sink, and which is sized and shaped so as to cover the J-trap, as well as the waste arm, in the undersink pipe configuration. In the event that the waste arm extends at an acute angle with respect to the J-trap, the pipe cover can be severed and the two severed pipe cover sections can be secured together in a generally tamper proof arrangement.

Abstract: A method for making on-line purchases includes purchasing a card having a unique identification code and a predetermined cash balance and activating an associated account. Goods or services offered by a seller through a web-site are selected and the identification code provided to the seller who transmits it for verification. If the identification code is associated with the valid and active account and if there is sufficient cash balance in the account, an approval code is sent to the seller, and the purchase price of the selective goods or services is debited from the cash balance of the account. If the identification code is determined invalid, or there is insufficient cash balance, a denial code is transmitted to the seller. As there are low cash balances and no personally identifying or sensitive information associated with the cards, there is little risk in use over the Internet.

Abstract: A high resolution and high definition digital display system which is computer operated and includes a high resolution display panel in the form of a television system. A computer in the housing controls the generation of a display on the display screen with X-Y coordinate signals. The display system has digital recording capability such that a signal from a remote source can be received and recorded in digital format. The display system is also constructed so that a removable drawer containing the electronic components can be removed for servicing without the need for transport of the entire display system.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for enabling simultaneous balancing and tuning of an acoustic drum with a single adjustment. A band, such as a cable, extends about adjustment ties which holds the drum skin or head to the housing or hoop of the drum so that, when tightened, the head will be placed under tension. With the present invention, that tension applied to the skin or head is evenly distributed. In this way, one touch tuning is achieved with simultaneous balancing since there will be a constant tension applied to each of the ties holding the drum skin on the body of the drum.

Abstract: A software based algorithm and associated method for generating and delivering to a caller or a recipient, or both, a message generated over a telephone link during a normal telephone ringing signal period. The software based algorithm and method is operable with hardware designed to accomplish this purpose, and is also effective for use with hard wire based telephone systems and cellular telephone systems. The algorithm and method operate on the basis of identifying a caller, introducing and playing a message and terminating the play of the message when a recipient answers a recipient telephone.

Abstract: A parallel plate septum polarizer used in low profile, dual polarized, antenna applications such as satellite communications from a moving vehicle. The polarizer allows a wide waveguide to be fed from two thinner waveguides. Each thin waveguide operates with one propagating mode. These modes have the same field structure, wave velocity and wave impedance. Three waveguide modes can propagate in the wide guide. Two modes are desirable and are used to transmit or receive dual polarized signals. They have different field structures, wave velocities and impedances. The polarizer allows each mode in the thin guides to couple to both the desired modes in the wide guide. At the same time there is very little coupling with each other and with the undesired third mode in the wide guide. There is also very little reflection of the incident modes from the polarizer junction.

Abstract: A precise adjustment indicator holder in which a position indicator is carried with respect to a work tool and a work piece. The indicator holder connects to the quill of the work tool, such as a machine tool, or other supporting device and is comprised of a pair of arms which are pivotally connected to one another and movable in planes parallel to and relative to one another. The arms are provided with abutments to limit the degree of movement such that precise final adjustment of the positioning of the work tool can be achieved.

Abstract: A locking mechanism includes a frame having a movement obstruction arm movable into a track on which rollers of an overhead door will move. When any roller on the door abuts against the arm, it will obstruct any further opening movement of the overhead door. A camming means is associated with the movement obstruction arm to automatically shift the same to a position out of the trackway when the door is moving back to the closed position. A control module is operable with the locking mechanism and receives a signal from a locking mechanism indicative of whether or not the locking mechanism is opened or closed. The control module will thereupon provide an opening signal to an opener for the overhead door.

Abstract: A drive and control system for controlling the movement of a pool cover comprised of interconnected rigid buoyant slats. The system relies upon a hydraulic drive section including a hydraulic motor drive which may be initially provided with fluid under pressure by a remote electric drive section. The hydraulic drive section is also provided with an effective means of controlling movement of the pool cover, both in a winding direction on a cover drum, which may be submerged, and/or in an unwinding direction where the pool cover is being unwound from the drum. Various mechanisms to control the movement of the cover are described herein.

Abstract: A sprinkler head assembly comprised of a base located at the upper end of a riser tube and which base carries an insert with an opening allowing for distribution of water. In accordance with the present invention, a control valve is located directly at the sprinkler head assembly. The control valve may be located in a stationary or shrub head which would be connected to a base or otherwise to a riser tube. The control valve could be located in a pop-up shaft, pop-up sprinkler head, or in a retrofit coupling or adapter located between a riser tube and sprinkler head. The control valve would rely upon a screw capable of being threadedly moved into a duct generally perpendicular thereto and which would have a diametral size somewhat larger than the duct. Moreover, the screw would be provided with an opening having a diameter approximately equal to that of the duct. The opening would be alignable with the duct in one position and when rotated would completely block the flow in another position.

Abstract: A shredder or mixer apparatus for the shredding or mixing of bulk material and which is mounted on a mobile chassis which may be driven by a power source on the chassis or pulled by a tractor or truck therefor. A specially designed power assist transmission receives power from the power source and is capable of being manually shifted in order to change a transmission power ratio between the power source and a shredding or mixing member, such as an auger, without any interruption of power to the auger. Thus, changes in loads on the power source can be compensated by reducing or increasing the transmission ratio without power interruption. A specially designed hydraulically operated transmission is effective for this purpose. A manually actuable shift means on the transmission is capable of being engaged by an operator and moved to any of a plurality of selected positions for shifting the transmission to different power output ratios.

Abstract: A unique protective cover system for hot water pipes and other pipe installations and which relies upon a plurality of jackets capable of being disposed about the pipes. In one embodiment of the invention, there is provided an under-sink heat protective cover system having a first J-shaped jacket to cover a J-shaped pipe arrangement or J-trap and a portion of straight pipe cover to cover the waste arm pipe in an under-sink pipe installation. Moreover, a unique coupling mechanism in the mating jackets allows one jacket to be fitted and tightly connected with the other jacket. Each of the jackets are slit longitudinally so that they can be spread apart at the slit and fitted on the pipes of the installation. A unique locking system is provided to retentively and tightly hold each jacket around a pipe section. Moreover, in another embodiment, fiber fastening strips are located adjacent the opposed edges of the slit for quickly releasably locking together with two edges of the jacket adjacent the slit.

Abstract: A significant problem in rotationally symmetric dual reflector systems is the blockage caused by the sub-reflector. This blockage produces lower gain and higher side lobes. The invention disclosed herein can be used to minimize or eliminate the blockage effects. In its simplest form, the invention is to place a hole in the sub-reflector. This allows radiation to by-pass the main reflector and replaces the radiation which is blocked by the sub-reflector. In general this radiation and the radiation which progresses on the standard path, which includes the main reflector, will not be in a useful phase and amplitude relationship. However by appropriate design of the inner and outer sub-reflector surfaces, the main reflector surface, the feed aperture, the dielectric support and the possible use of a dielectric rod, the phase and amplitude relationships can be controlled. The invention also applies to cylindrical dual reflector systems which are symmetric about a plane.