Abstract: A recreational wheelchair having four oversized low pressure tires for use on beaches, lakeshores or other soft or rough terrain environments. The structural members of the chair are made of rugged and corrosion resistant materials such as polyvinyl chloride, stainless steel or aluminum and the chair is designed to be submerged into water of limited depths. The chair includes a high strength box chassis, removable armrest and accessories for recreation such as an umbrella bracket, fishing rod holder, and oxygen tank mounting.

Abstract: A novelty illusion device producing an illusion of a shimmering floating bubble having a transparent case, an illusion object disposed within the case, an electric motor for producing rotational force, a power circuit and power source for driving the motor, and a drive shaft for transferring rotational force from the motor to the illusion object. The drive shaft is rendered virtually invisible to an observer when the drive shaft is rotating by concealing the shaft within a groove formed in the casing. The illusion object is made of a plurality of mylar strips joined at both ends to form a cage structure. Additional circuits are included to vary the movement of the illusion periodically and in response to detected sounds.

Abstract: Anti-oxytocin receptor antibodies, which specifically bind to the extracellular or intracellular region of an oxytocin receptor, hybridomas which produce said antibodies, and methods for the production of anti-oxytocin receptor antibodies are taught. These antibodies are useful for the immunodetection and immunopurification of oxytocin receptor polypeptides.

Abstract: An expansion joint sealing element, consisting of an arrow-shaped elastomer strip (1), defined by a triangular head (2) and a rear insertion section (3) with an angled end (4), while its lateral walls (5) are externally corrugated (6), an arrangement that is repeated on the external surface of the base (7) and on the lateral sections of the head (2), which, along with the insertion section (3), have various internal, longitudinal hollow sections defined by various interior walls (8), forming an insufflation chamber (9), so that one end of the strip (1) is closed off, while the other is fitted with a cover (10) and a valve (11), the latter being used to inject air so that the walls of the elastomer strip press against the adhesive applied to its lateral walls, where ridges considerably increase the area of adhesion and prevent the strip from moving while said adhesive cures.

Abstract: A box forming apparatus for folding and securing the upper flaps of a box including a front inner flap folding body, back inner flap folding body, and left and right outer flap folding bodies for moving the respective flaps of a box into its upper opening plane. The novel apparatus further includes a cooperating tape head for securing the flaps in their folded position.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the invention which is intended to accomplish the foregoing includes a container/closure assembly having lid means with a plurality of lid extensions. The lid extensions extend from an inner surface of the lid means. Significantly, the lid extensions include pressure means which interacts with a wall surface(s) of the container to secure the lid means on the container. The pressure means is replaceable in order to allow for a controlled lid retention force.

Abstract: A window safety system having a first and second vertical track installed as mirror images on opposite sides of a window frame. The system utilizes at least one elongate blocking element which extends across the window width and is secured to opposing guide elements which smoothly travel within the vertical tracks. A system cover is engaged at opposite ends to the vertical tracks to travel with lower window sash. The guide elements which are connected in series to one another by a flexible belt within the vertical tracks. The system cover interacts with a lower rail of a window sash such that when the window sash is raised to an open position, the system cover travels with the lower sash. This travel in turn causes the guide elements to translate within the vertical tracks and guiding blocking rods to a position laterally across the opening of the window. The blocking rods thereby prevent egress of a child or the like through the open window.

Abstract: A box forming apparatus for folding and securing the bottom flaps of a box including a bottom flap folding mechanism and top pressing mechanism located above the bottom flap folding mechanism for controlling box lifting during a box folding operation. The novel features of the claimed invention allow for controlled guiding of a box frame throughout a folding and sealing operation.

Abstract: Methods of isolating deletion mutants of Vibrio cholerae. In one method, the deletion is predetermined by digestion with restriction endonucleases of known specificity. The deletions are inserted into the Vibrio cholerae chromosome by in vivo recombination between a plasmid carrying the desired deletion, with adjacent flanking sequences, and the Vibrio cholerae chromosome. In another method, an initial in vivo recombination event of homologous sequences from the recombinant plasmid into the chromosome provides a selectable marker at this site. A second in vivo recombination event between homologous flanking sequences results in excision of proficient genes from the chromosome with the end product being a deletion mutation. Also provided are methods for the isolation and characterization of a new Vibrio cholerae strain having a deletion in the ctx gene, as defined by Acc I, Xba I, Cla I and/or restriction endonuclease sites and further having a deletion in the gene encoding zonula occludens toxin (zot).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a receptor for a posterior pituitary hormone, oxytocin; a DNA sequence encoding for the receptor; a recombinant DNA molecule containing the DNA sequence and a transformant comprising the recombinant DNA molecule. The present invention further relates to methods of detection and diagnosis and a kit to aid in same which comprise either oxytocin, its receptor or antibodies to the receptor.

Abstract: A security and safety mechanism for a firearm including a disabling unit that interacts with a firearm grip safety in order to enable/disable the firearm. The firearm will remain in a disabled state unless a verification means determines that a firearm user is an authorized firearm user. The security and safety mechanism utilizes voice recognition technology in order to ascertain whether a firearm user is an authorized firearm user.

Abstract: A laser therapy system and method of cutting and vaporizing a tissue body which includes a fiber optic which is inserted into the lumen of a catheter and operable between an extended position wherein a distal end portion of the fiber optic is positioned to cut and vaporize a tissue body and a retracted position wherein the fiber optic is received within the lumen of the catheter. The catheter incorporates at a distal end portion a means for removing attached tissue fragments and the like from the distal end portion of the fiber optic such that tissue fragments stuck to the distal end portion of the fiber optic can be removed while the catheter and fiber remain at the treatment site. This improved system eliminates the need to completely remove the fiber optic during the cutting and vaporization procedure in order to remove the fragments and debris.

Abstract: A toy vehicle having a body with a plurality of defining surfaces. A transparent cabin is mounted on the body and includes a front surface, a rear surface, a left side surface, a right side surface, and a top surface which is secured on an upper section of the vehicle body. An optical sheet is secured to and lines an inner surface of the transparent cabin such that a toy vehicle user is able to easily view images on the optical sheet through an outer surface of the transparent cabin. The optical sheet is constructed such that when a vehicle user views the vehicle from one vantage point, a first image state of the optical sheet appears, and when the user views the vehicle from another vantage point, a second image state of the optical sheet appears thereby creating changing images and an illusion of motion.

Abstract: An apparatus for fixing a copy paper for use in electrophotographic appliances, such as laser beam printers or copying machines, includes components for stretching the leading edges of copy sheets at the entry of the nip defined by the fixing station for preventing crumpling of the copy sheets, reverse pressure component for bowing downward and flattening the leading edges of the copy sheets, and cleaning device including a cleaning box provided with a roller brush which is rotatable in the same direction as the heating roller for cleaning up the periphery of the heating roller, and a brush cleaning member for dusting off the roller brush. With this arrangement, when two-sided copying of the copy sheets is performed, jamming of copying sheets is prevented, thus improving copying efficiency.

Abstract: A method for detecting the presence of a specific analyte in solution comprising the steps of affixing to a chromatographic medium a first antibody which binds with specificity to the analyte in a pattern which forms a pre-determined geometric symbol or symbols consisting of a plurality of line segments; partially blocking or obstructing the expected passage of a moving phase or solvent through the symbol; reacting the solution to a marker-second antibody complex which binds with specificity to the analyte to form analyte-marker-second antibody complexes in the presence of the analyte; eluting the solution containing any analyte-marker-second antibody complex through the partially blocked or obstructed medium; and observing the substantially complete formation, or lack thereof, of the predetermined geometric symbol or symbols by means of the marker.

Abstract: A waist sporting equipment has a circular ring member sized to encircle around the waist portion of a user and having a predetermined cross-section, an inertia member of a predetermined weight for applying the centrifugal force and inertia force gradually to the ring member upon rotation of the ring member, the inertia member including a weight body and connecting means for connecting the ring member and the inertia member for not separating the members upon the rotation of the members. The weight body is spaced a predetermined distance from the ring and applies the centrifugal force and the inertia force to the ring depending on the rotational velocity of the ring, thus giving a user various velocity and amusement feeling. Furthermore, the centrifugal force acts on the waist portion so that the waist may be stronger and limber and the body of the user may be well balanced.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing an E. coli vaccine and to the vaccine produced thereby. The method involves purifying lipopolysaccharide from E. coli expressing complete O-polysaccharide sidechains;isolating the O-polysaccharide region of the lipopolysaccharide molecule by hydrolysis in dilute acetic acid and purifying it essentially free of lipid A; and covalently coupling lipid A-free O-polysaccharide via at least one hydroxyl or carboxyl group of the polysaccharide to a carrier protein. Polyvalent vaccines are prepared by combining two or more monovalent vaccines for different serotypes prepared according to the present invention. The present also relates to conjugates used in the vaccines. The conjugates of the present invention are the O-polysaccharide region of an E. coli lipoplysaccharide molecule covalently coupled to a carrier protein.