Abstract: A kiteboarding harness and method of kiteboarding with the harness. The harness has a hook extending radially outward from the harness and slidably attached to the harness for lateral repositioning of the hook on the harness about the anteroposterior axis of a human wearing the harness.

Abstract: The invention is an assembly of abutting vacuum insulated panels configured and arranged to form a retention chamber with a slip surface providing a low kinetic coefficient of friction interposed between the panels within the abutment areas.

Abstract: An instrument for impermanent sealed perforation of thin-walled, hermetically sealed packaging. The instrument includes a longitudinally tapered needle and a septum with a hole. The underside of the septum is coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive. The hole through the septum is configured and arranged to permit unrestricted passage of the distal longitudinal end portion of the needle through the hole, while sealingly engaging the longitudinal midsection of the needle. The septum is incapable of sealing the hole through the septum after withdrawal of the needle from the hole.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a destination point with a gas having a selectable known humidity. A gas having an initial relative humidity is alternately directed in accordance with a duty cycle along a wet path effective for humidifying the gas to provide a wet gas, and a dry path effective for either maintaining the initial relative humidity of the gas or dehumidifying the gas to provide a dry gas. The wet and dry gas is blended to produce a blended gas having a selected relative humidity based upon the selected duty cycle.

Abstract: A method of packaging thermally labile goods. The method includes the steps of (a) obtaining a legend correlating some thermally labile goods with a first color and other thermally labile goods with a second color, (b) locating the thermally labile goods to be packaged on the legend and identifying the correlated color, (c) selecting thermally conditioned panels displaying the correlated color from amongst a plurality of panels displaying different colors wherein the panels are color coded in relation to the phase change temperature of the phase change material contained within the panels, (d) lining the retention chamber of a thermally insulated container with the obtained thermally conditioned panels, (e) placing the thermally labile goods to be packaged into the lined retention chamber, and (f) closing the container.

Abstract: A pneumatic practice tee and method of practicing the striking of a sports ball with a striking instrument using the tee. The tee includes a base, a housing, a fan and an inflatable sleeve. The base supports the practice tee upon a horizontal surface. The housing is supported by the base and has an air inlet and an air outlet. The fan is retained within the housing and for producing an air current, directed by the housing through the outlet. The inflatable sleeve is in fluid communication with the air outlet with the proximal longitudinal end attached to the housing and a nozzle provided in the longitudinal distal end.

Abstract: A device for providing rotational and axial locking capability using a wireform with at least one wrap. The device requires very low actuation forces. The wireform can be constructed with end features that provide a specific tension such that when the device is engaged a differential slip torque in a clockwise and counterclockwise rotational direction is developed.

Abstract: An apparatus having a plurality of phase change material-containing wall panels. The wall panels have a thickness and sides. The wall panels define an inner major surface and an outer major surface. The sides of the wall panels are hingedly interconnected to define a closed structure. Two diametrically opposed hinge interconnections are proximate the inner major surface. The remaining hinge interconnections are proximate the outer major surface.

Abstract: An instrument for accurately measuring mass flow rate of a fluid pumped from a hermetically sealed container, through attainment of a steady state mass flow rate, having a check valve positioned between a vacuum pump and a mass flow rate sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for dispensing air freshening odors for enhancing the drying and deodorizing of clothing and sporting equipment not easily laundered. A two-piece housing forms spherical structure retaining a aromatic element inside. Dispensing of the air freshening odors is activated by the air flow past the aromatic element for masking and neutralizing odors. The two-piece housing having a top portion and a bottom portion, each hemispherical shaped and interconnected to permit the bottom portion to be rotated relative to the top portion, opening and closing an orifice controlling the amount of scent released.

Abstract: A method of measuring the transmission rate of a permeant through a container and determining shelf life of product within the container based upon loss of the permeant through the container. The method includes the steps of (i) placing a sealed container containing a perishable product and a permeant within a sealed retention chamber, (ii) periodically measuring concentration of the permeant within the headspace of the retention chamber until a substantially steady state increase in permeant concentration within the headspace is sensed, and (iii) calculating a shelf life for the sealed container by dividing an amount of permeant loss, previously established as correlating to product expiration, by the sensed steady state increase in permeant concentration.

Abstract: An instrument for detecting leaks in a hermetically sealed package. The instrument includes (i) a hollow needle, (ii) a mass flow rate sensor in sealed fluid communication with the lumen defined by the hollow needle, and (iii) a vacuum pump. The vacuum pump is in fluid communication with the lumen defined by the needle for evacuating gas from the hermetically sealed package, and in fluid communication with the mass flow rate sensor for directing mass flow from the evacuated package into operable contact with the mass flow rate sensor so as to permit sensing of any continuing mass flow from the evacuated package. The instrument may further include an oxygen sensor in sealed fluid communication with the lumen defined by the hollow needle for analyzing the oxygen concentration of the gas within the hermetically sealed package.

Abstract: A ticketing system for a transportation network comprising (a) at least one ticket having trip data that includes at least one destination within a transportation network, (b) a vehicle for transporting an item along the transportation network, and (c) a ticket reader configured and arranged to electronically read trip data on the ticket and assign a vehicle to travel along the transportation network in accordance with the trip data.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a display comprising: a sleeve having a first guide; a movable member that moves in relation to the sleeve, the movable member having a second guide; and a slider slidably secured to the first guide and slidably secured to the second guide; whereby movement of the member causes the first guide and the second guide to cooperate in directing movement of the slider. In another embodiment, a display comprising: a sheet having a front side and a back side; a rotatable member positioned on the front side' of the sheet; a wheel positioned on the back side of the sheet; a shaft extending through the sheet, the shaft joining the rotatable member to the wheel; and a member slidable in relation to the sheet and to the wheel, the member having a surface for contacting the wheel and causing the wheel and the rotatable member to rotate when the member slides.

Abstract: A system and method for sensing and reporting atmospheric analyte levels in a workspace. The system includes (i) a remotely located gas analyte sensor, (ii) a tube attached to the sensor and defining a lumen through which the sensor is placed in fluid communication with a workspace, and (iii) a fan in sealed fluid communication with the lumen of the tube for continuously moving gaseous content from the workspace through the lumen and into operative engagement with the sensor. The method includes the steps of (a) placing the distal end of the tube within a workspace, (b) activating the fan so as to continuously move gaseous content from the workspace through the tube and into operative engagement with the sensor, and (c) sensing and reporting analyte levels in the workspace with the sensor.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a destination point with a gas having a selectable known humidity. A gas having an initial relative humidity is alternately directed in accordance with a duty cycle along a wet path effective for humidifying the gas to provide a wet gas, and a dry path effective for either maintaining the initial relative humidity of the gas or dehumidifying the gas to provide a dry gas. The wet and dry gas is blended to produce a blended gas having a selected relative humidity based upon the selected duty cycle.

Abstract: An instrument for detecting leaks in a hermetically sealed package. The instrument includes (i) a hollow needle, (ii) a mass flow rate sensor in sealed fluid communication with the lumen defined by the hollow needle, and (iii) a vacuum pump. The vacuum pump is in fluid communication with the lumen defined by the needle for evacuating gas from the hermetically sealed package, and in fluid communication with the mass flow rate sensor for directing mass flow from the evacuated package into operable contact with the mass flow rate sensor so as to permit sensing of any continuing mass flow from the evacuated package. The instrument may further include an oxygen sensor, also in sealed fluid communication with the lumen defined by the hollow needle for analyzing the oxygen concentration of the gas within the hermetically sealed package.

Abstract: The quilting tool has a transparent, parallelogram plate and a first set of guidelines. The plate has at least a first major surface, a second major surface, a first side, a second side parallel to the first side, a third side and a fourth side parallel to the third side. The first set of guidelines has at least a plurality of individual guidelines imprinted on the first major surface of the plate. The individual guidelines are parallel to the first side of the plate and extend from the third side to the fourth side of the plate. The individual guidelines are spaced from the first side based on the equation (FB/NP)+(2×SA). FB is the finished block edge length. NP is the number of patches wanted along FB. SA is the seam allowance.

Abstract: A sensor for detecting water vapor in a gaseous sample. The sensor comprises (a) an anode, (b) a cathode, (c) an electrolyte intermediate the anode and cathode, and (d) an inlet orifice through a central area of the anode or cathode through which the gaseous sample may be placed into contact with the electrolyte. The electrolyte can be retained on a porous electrical-insulating separator located between the interior-facing major surfaces of the anode and the cathode.

Abstract: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) can be treated by the administration of ?5-androstene-3?-ol-7,17 dione and metabolizable precursors thereof.