Abstract: A pad is used in shifting a patient from one bed, or other horizontal surface, to another. The pad is formed of a sealed, elongated, and flattened enclosure of a flexible, puncture-resistant material and contains, sealed within the enclosure, a lubricant to reduce the friction between the inside surfaces of the enclosure.

Abstract: An apparatus detects the azimuth of the migration of groundwater containing suspended microscopic particles. The apparatus comprises a probe consisting of a light source which emits light in a vertical orientation and a photodigitizer which faces the light source and is separated from the light source to permit the flow of groundwater between the light source and the photodigitizer. When the probe is submerged in migrating groundwater, the eclipses of light created by the suspended microscopic particles as the groundwater passes between the light source and the photodigitizer are detected by the photodigitizer. Information from the photodigitizer is processed and then visually displayed.

Abstract: A kite string reel, suitable for manual operation and also suitable for power-driven operation by reason of its adaptation for use with a cordless screwdriver having a mouth for accepting interchangeable bits. The kite string reel contains a hollow spool having two flanges. One flange is an annular ring while the other flange is a circular disc. The circular disc has a handle extending away from the spool and a bit extending inward. A removable handle is adapted to fit into the open end of the spool for manual operation or, if power-driven operation is desired, a cordless screwdriver can instead be inserted.

Abstract: A device for use with foamable liquids includes a reservoir adapted to contain a quantity of a foamable liquid and an air pump for supplying air to be mixed with the foamable liquid to form a foam. The foamable liquid reservoir is isolated from the air supplying pump. A mixing chamber is provided in which the foamable liquid and air from the air supplying pump can interact to create the foam. A first passage leads from the reservoir of foamable liquid to the mixing chamber and a pump is provided for pumping the foamable liquid from the reservoir through the passage to the mixing chamber. A second passage is provided from the air supplying pump to the mixing chamber to introduce air into the mixing chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus measures changes in groundwater pressure in a borehole. The apparatus comprises: a probe consisting of a hollow tube having a smooth interior surface, an ultrasonic transmitter which emits ultrasonic waves down the interior of the tube, and an ultrasonic receiver which receives and registers the reflected ultrasonic waves; a means to raise and lower the probe so the tube is partially submerged in the groundwater; a means to control the emission of ultrasonic waves; a means to convert the time interval into a distance or pressure measurement; and a means to store or transmit the data.

Abstract: The sense of touch is enhanced by: (1) placing two layers of a pliable, elastic material between the fingertips and the object being touched; (2) maintaining the coefficient of kinetic friction between the two layers at less than the coefficient between the fingertips and the top layer and less than the coefficient between the object being touched and the bottom layer; and (3) moving the fingertips over the object being touched separated by the two layers of material.

Abstract: An apparatus enhances the sense of touch when placed between the fingertips of the user and the object being touched. The apparatus comprises a liquid lubricant inside a sealed enclosure. The enclosure is formed of a pliable, elastic material having a wall thickness of about 0.005 to 0.020 inches. The liquid lubricant is present in an amount sufficient to fully coat the interior of the enclosure, but which also permits the enclosure to be flattened with at least about 75 percent of the surface area of one side in contact with the other side.