Abstract: An alarm apparatus for footwear wherein the footwear includes a sole and a boot connected to the sole thereof. An alarm circuit for generating an alarm signal is positioned within and concealed by the sole of the footwear. An activation switch is positioned on an exterior surface of the boot and is electrically connected to the alarm circuit. Means for transmitting the alarm signal is connected to the alarm circuit. Upon activation of the alarm switch, the alarm signal is generated by the alarm circuit and transmitted by the transmitting means for receipt at a remote location thereby notifying a remote user that a local user is in distress.

Abstract: The adjustable traction table has a pair of patient supports, one of which is longer than the other. The patient supports are mounted to a base having a fixed portion and a sliding portion. A pair of screw jacks attaches each of the patient supports to the fixed portion of the base, and to the sliding portion of the base, thereby allowing the height of each end of each of the patient supports to be independently adjusted whereby each of the patient supports can slope upward toward the end away from the other patient support, downward toward the end away from the other patient support, or relatively horizontal. Further, a screw jack which is horizontally mounted between the fixed portion of the base and the sliding portion of the base provides an adjustment means which is able to provide an adjustable horizontal separation between the patient supports.

Abstract: The aquatic ladder was designed for ease of use, rather than ease of storage. It has wide, deep treads, arranged like a staircase, with side and upper railings which make it easy to enter or exit the water, even by elderly people, tired individuals, those carrying aquatic equipment, such as SCUBA gear or water skis, and, even, by pets. In the preferred embodiment, the aquatic ladder includes upper railings which each have an inverted “U” shape, and the distal end of those railings have hinged brackets for mounting the aquatic ladder to an object to be boarded. In an alternative embodiment, the aquatic ladder is mounted on a sliding rail, such that it can be raised, vertically, from the water, when it is not being used. The ladder is preferably made from aluminum, although it can be made of other materials, such as steel (e.g., stainless or galvanized), fiberglass, plastic, or other composites.

Abstract: The configurable adapter uses a relatively few components which allow it to be configured to have different heights to fit different switchboard cases. It includes a bracket designed to hold a particular type of meter or power monitor, with different brackets available to be assembled as a component of the configurable adapter. A new class of electricity revenue meters called a narrow base socket meter is described, and shown. The narrow base socket meter is adapted from a conventional socket meter which has a sufficiently narrow body by trimming its sides, top, and/or bottom, as necessary, to fit within the switchboard adapter, using a bracket which places the meter within the switchboard adapter so that its face can be flush with (or barely stick out from) the face of the switchboard. The adapter can also be used with standard socket base meters, which will stick out of the front of the switchboard panel, as well as with power monitoring devices by using suitable brackets, as described.

Abstract: A hidden image game piece and a method by which a hidden image game piece is produced and used. A first hidden image game piece is formed on a transparent or translucent substrate. A second hidden image game piece is formed electronically, and optionally printed or, alternatively, saved and distributed in electronic format. The hidden image game piece can be used to distributed either physically or electronically, and it may be used to derive demographic information from recipients, to drive them to web sites or retail outlets, and to provide a means for distributing advertising, either on the game pieces or at a game site, which may be a physical site, such as a retail outlet, or an electronic site, such as an Internet site. The methods of the present invention include the method of producing a game piece, the method of deriving demographic information from recipients of the game pieces, and the method of providing advertising to recipients of the game pieces.

Abstract: A surface mounted panel adapter for a socket mounted electricity meter allows a socket mounted electricity meter to be installed on a switchboard. The surface mounted panel adapter is designed to attach to the back of a switchboard, and to expose a meter socket which is mounted on the front wall of the surface mounted panel adapter and which is exposed through the front wall of the switchboard. A standard socket mounted electricity meter can be mounted in the meter socket through the opening in the switchboard. Electrical connections to the meter socket are made using at least one terminal strip mounted on the rear wall of the panel adapter, and readily accessible to an installer who is behind the switchboard panel.

Abstract: An adapter for converting a switchboard case for use with a socket mounted electricity meter uses a switchboard cradle which fits into a switchboard case, along with a meter socket which has been adapted so that it will fit into the front opening in the switchboard cradle, and which is mounted to a depth which permits the terminals of a socket meter to be fully engaged therein while the base of the socket meter overlies the front opening in the switchboard case and switchboard cradle. Electrical connections to the meter socket are made to the connection strips on the switchboard cradle, whereby no rewiring of the switchboard case will be required.

Abstract: A hidden image game piece and a method by which a hidden image game piece is produced and used. A first hidden image game piece is formed on a transparent or translucent substrate. A second hidden image game piece is formed electronically, and optionally printed or, alternatively, saved and distributed in electronic format. The hidden image game piece can be used to distributed either physically or electronically, and it may be used to derive demographic information from recipients, to drive them to web sites or retail outlets, and to provide a means for distributing advertising, either on the game pieces or at a game site, which may be a physical site, such as a retail outlet, or an electronic site, such as an Internet site. The methods of the present invention include the method of producing a game piece, the method of deriving demographic information from recipients of the game pieces, and the method of providing advertising to recipients of the game pieces.

Abstract: Conventional AMR and DA/DSM systems typically suffer from a lack of extensibility due to the monolithic nature of the master station software. In contrast, this patent describes a system that is comprised of small modules connected using a component object model. This system allows straightforward extension in the areas of applications, communications, metering devices, and databases without requiring recompilation or relinking of the system. Furthermore, this system allows commercial applications such as spreadsheets, word processors, statistical packages, report generators, et cetera to be integrated directly with this system, and allows extension and customization of the system using such packages. Such a flexible open architecture is very attractive to utilities in that it allows easy extension by the utility or other third party developers without the involvement of the original authors of the system.

Abstract: A hidden image game piece and a method by which a hidden image game piece is produced. A first pattern of colored ink is deposited on a transparent or highly translucent substrate at 110-180 density, forming the image which is to be hidden. Then a second pattern of colored ink, of a different color than first pattern's ink, is deposited upon the substrate on top of the first pattern, at 90-170 density. When the game piece is flooded with additive light of the same color as the second pattern's ink, the previously concealed image, composed of the first pattern's ink, becomes perceptible. Because a transparent or highly translucent substrate is used for the game piece, and because the density of the ink application is controlled within specific ranges, this game piece may be used with a computer monitor, or with other low-intensity sources of additive light.

Abstract: A container for volatile liquids, such a gasoline, is made of a conductive plastic material. An electrical connection is made to the container, such as by using a metal hose clamp around the neck of the container (or a threaded stud which is molded into the container), so that a conductive cable can be electrically attached to the container. At the distal end of the conductive cable a spring loaded electric clip is attached, whereby the electric clip can be connected to a conductive portion on the equipment which is to be fueled. By using the present invention, the benefits of a plastic fuel container, including arbitrary shape, absence of denting or corrosion, light weight, and inclusion of a molded handle, can all be derived without the detrimental effect of build-up of static charge which can lead to an explosion if a spark ignites volatile fuel-air vapors.

Abstract: An improved sunscreen protection and insect repellent combination composition having an SPF factor of about 2 to about 50 and further having an unexpected, unusually long efficacy period when used in rainy conditions or prolonged periods of high humidity, such as in a tropical or sub-tropical rain forests, or the like, and after the wearer has been underwater. The composition forms a stable emulsion lotion that is easy to store. No special precautions are required by the person who applies the lotion. The composition includes a sunscreen agent, an insect repellent, including p-menthane-3,8-diol, an emulsifying agent, and a film former, all in an aqueous solvent. The composition forms a thin film on the skin, but it is non-greasy to the touch. The lotion is easily removed by scrubbing with soap and water.

Abstract: A pair of interlocking batting gloves which may be worn by a batter during practice and during play in which each glove has a portion of hook and loop material attached to the outer peripheral edge of the index finer and a cooperating portion of hook and loop material attached to the outer peripheral edge of the little finger. When the batter grips a bat in the proper manner, the hook and loop material on the index finger of one hand releasably connects to the cooperating portion of hook and loop material on the little finger of the other hand. Thus, when wearing the gloves, the batter is prevented from rotating his hands while gripping the bat and the proper alignment of the batter's knuckles is maintained throughout the entire swing.

Abstract: A surface mounted panel adapter for a socket mounted electricity meter allows a socket mounted electricity meter to be installed on a switchboard. The surface mounted panel adapter is designed to attach to the back of a switchboard, and to expose a meter socket which is mounted on the rear wall of the surface mounted panel adapter through the front wall of the switchboard. A standard socket mounted electricity meter can be mounted in the meter socket through the opening in the switchboard. Electrical connections to the meter socket can be either on the rear of the panel adapter, or on the bottom of the panel adapter.

Abstract: The sunscreen or makeup may be applied to a person who is wet, or even underwater, yet it will provide the fill efficacy which it would have had had it been applied to the person when their skin was dry. In addition, it will be effective from the time that it is first applied, so no waiting period is required, as was the case for the so-called “water resistant” and “waterproof” sunscreens of the prior art. A series of test procedures which illustrate the efficacy of the “wet-appliable” sunscreens of the present invention are disclosed.

Abstract: An improved sunscreen protection and insect repellent combination composition having an SPF factor of about 2 to about 50 and further having an unexpected, unusually long efficacy period when used in rainy conditions or prolonged periods of high humidity, such as in a tropical or sub-tropical rain forests, or the like, and after the wearer has been underwater. The composition forms a stable emulsion lotion that is easy to store. No special precautions are required by the person who applies the lotion. The composition includes a sunscreen agent, an insect repellent, including 3-[N-Butyl-N-acetyl]-aminopropionic acid, ethyl ester ("IR3535.TM."), an emulsifying agent, and a film former, all in an aqueous solvent. The composition forms a thin film on the skin, but it is non-greasy to the touch. The lotion is easily removed by scrubbing with soap and water.

Abstract: A panel adapter for a socket meter allows a socket mounted electricity meter to be installed in a switchboard. The adapter is designed to attach to the back of the front of a switchboard, and it is substantially in the shape of a rectangular cube having a front wall and a rear wall. A meter socket is mounted to its rear wall, and the front wall has an opening which may have a diameter which is substantially the same as the front of the meter, or, alternatively, which is larger so as to enable a meter to be mounted in its socket through the opening. If the opening is larger than the meter, the adapter may, optionally, include a removable face plate to fill the space left by the larger opening. Embodiments of the panel adapter include data connectors on the rear wall, and adjustable length legs to allow for the installation of meters having differing lengths.

Abstract: The invention relates to a photostable screening cosmetic composition for protecting human skin against UV rays, comprising, comprising avobenzone, octyl-methoxycinnamate, and an additional constituent, R, where R is selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.

Abstract: An improved sunscreen protection and insect repellent combination composition having an SPF factor of about 2 to about 50 and further having an unexpected, unusually long efficacy period when used in rainy conditions or prolonged periods of high humidity, such as in a tropical or sub-tropical rain forests, or the like, and after the wearer has been underwater. The composition forms a stable emulsion lotion that is easy to store. No special precautions are required by the person who applies the lotion. The composition includes a sunscreen agent, an insect repellent, an emulsifying agent, and a film former, all in an aqueous solvent. The composition forms a thin film on the skin, but it is non-greasy to the touch. The lotion is easily removed by scrubbing with soap and water.

Abstract: The system provides a way to use a single RF channel in a cellular, RF meter reading system. In order to avoid adjacent cell concentrator interference while reducing the overall time required to perform repetitive tasks such as meter reading and performing load survey reads, the system has each of the concentrators send out a general command to all of the meter interface units ("MIUs") in its cell, and the MIUs then each send back their data in turn. In order to accomplish that result, the MIUs in each cell are preprogrammed to transmit a preset time period (different for each MIU in a particular cell) following receipt of the general command requesting data.