Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for bundling and carrying snow ski equipment. The present invention is comprised of an elongate piece of first material having flexible qualities with a flexible strip of second, more rigid, and bendable material enclosed within the first material. The apparatus may be twist-tied around ski equipment for relatively easy transport.

Abstract: An adjustable stack flashing fitment for use with polymer-coated roof membranes to cover areas around vertical protrusions in a roof, is disclosed. A method for making the fitment is also disclosed.

Abstract: A reversible ratchet wrench utilizing two pawls that mesh with teeth inside a housing. The design allows for engagement of all the teeth on a pawl with all the teeth in the housing. The invention provides for reduced stress on the individual teeth of the pawl as compared with a traditional reversible ratchet wrench. Smaller components of less expensive material may subsequently be utilized, allowing for a reduction in housing size.Both a round head reversible ratchet wrench and a pear head reversible ratchet wrench are contemplated. The wrenches of the present invention share several common components. Interchangeability is desirable due to the reduction in required components, and the reduced costs associated therewith.

Abstract: A cellulosic composite comprising: (a) at least one cellulosic material present in an amount in the range of from about 50% to about 75% by weight of the composite, (b) at least one polyvinyl chloride material present in an amount in the range of from about 25% to about 50% by weight of the composite, and (c) at least one polar thermosetting material present in an amount in the range of from about 0% to about 4% by weight of the composite is disclosed. An extruded article made form the cellulose composite and a method of making the cellulose composite are also disclosed.

Abstract: A small hole detection system which detects small holes in fast moving sheets of material. An array of LEDs is pulsed from an emitter which is aligned with an array of photocells positioned to detect light emitting from the emitter. The receiver sends a signal to a processing unit when light is detected. The small hole detection system may include an auto-shuttering mechanism which automatically adjusts the system according to the width of the material being scanned.

Abstract: A method and system for removing contaminants for the phreatic zone, also known as the saturation zone, or groundwater. The technique involves gas sparging and oxidation while increasing the surface area for mass transfer by the placing of packing balls into the eductor tube. The system is comprised of a means for supplying gas/ozone mixture to the lower extent of a well which induces a flow of groundwater and gas bubbles up the well. The system contains a conduit within the well, which extends below the water table The conduit has a lower fluid-permeable section which is located below the water table and an upper fluid-permeable section which is adjacent the water table.

Abstract: Arrangement for generating well-defined beam distribution over a surface or in a volume by means of a diffraction optical element (17). The arrangement includes at least one laser source (14), an optical filter means, preferably a mode-selective filter (16), a diffraction optical component (17) as well as possible coupling and focusing elements (15, 18). Said components, means and elements are positioned and fixed in a common unit and that the filter (16) is so developed that the beam from the source (14) after passage through said mode-selective filter (16) occurs essentially in one mode.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a container having a tear-away top. In general, the container comprises an outer substrate layer, an inner aseptic layer secured to the outer substrate layer, and a cut in the outer substrate layer. In order to preserve the product in the container, the cut is of a predetermined depth such that the cut does not puncture the inner aseptic layer. The cut, however, is sufficiently deep so that a predetermined portion of the top may be torn away from the container at the cut. The present invention also includes a method for manufacturing a container that has a tear-away top. The method generally includes the steps of providing an outer substrate layer, securing an inner aseptic layer to the outer substrate layer, making a cut of predetermined depth in the outer substrate layer such that the cut does not puncture the inner aseptic layer, and then forming a container.

Abstract: Live vaccines and methods for preparing the vaccines useful in protecting a host from infection by a pathogenic microorganism are provided. Vaccines are prepared from live Lactobacillus cells which have been transformed using DNA technology to express heterologous antigens of pathogenic microorganisms or other suitable biological material. Genes encoding antigenic determinants pathogenic in the mammalian gastrointestinal tract are inserted into expression cassettes and fused with genes encoding an aggregation factor and/or a mucin binding factor. The inserted genes are shown to transform L. reuteri cells. The aggregation enhancing and mucin binding genes have been isolated and sequenced. The vaccine can be ingested orally in a pharmaceutical carrier or in milk products.

Abstract: A data processing system and method for evaluating the treatment of chest pain patients in a medical facility is disclosed. The system comprises means for entering patient treatment information, means for storing the patient treatment information, means for retrieving the patient treatment information, means for comparing the patient treatment information to predetermined values, and means for reporting the comparison of the patient treatment information to the predetermined values, so that the medical facility is able to improve its treatment of chest pain patients.

Abstract: A columnar race game having columns that move in a vertical direction. The object of the game is to hit a target causing actuation of the column in the vertical direction. The first column to reach a uppermost point activates a detection device which stops the game and signals the winner of the game.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a decorative article that is adapted to securely receive a decorative material without the use of nails, staples, screws, bolts, or adhesives. In general, the decorative article is comprised of a top side, a bottom side, a channel which separates the top side from the bottom side, and a material. The material is laid on the top side, and an adequate part of the material extends beyond the top side and into channel. The material is then secured to the decorative article simply by tucking the part of the material into the channel. The contact between the part of the material and the channel is sufficient to hold the part of the material in the channel without the use of nails, staples, screws, bolts, or adhesives.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of applying pouring elements to flat-gabled packages filled with free-flowing products, where the pouring elements are glued to the individually conveyed and sealed packages, where a fully automatic application operation is possible, where trouble due to improper positioning and incomplete gluing of the pouring elements is reliably prevented. In addition, it is desirable to prevent packages not having the pouring elements attached to them from leaving the gluing station. This is accomplished by the following steps: horizontal conveyance of successively arranged packages standing upright, separation of the packages and introduction of the separated packages into a gluing station depending on the presence of a pouring element, applying adhesive to the pouring element and gluing and pressing the pouring element to a predetermined area of each package.

Abstract: A clamping hub for coupling a tool wheel to a high speed rotary power tool which can be made to operate in both the clockwise and the counter-clockwise directions which will not become accidentally disengaged during operation in either direction is described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to several hybrid methods of metal forming including: (1) a method involving a partial mechanical forming followed by electromagnetic forming; (2) a method involving the initial mechanical forming, followed by further mechanical and electromagnetic forming; and a method involving the initial partial mechanical forming and electromagnetic forming, followed by further mechanical and electromagnetic forming.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing water from a lake, pond, or other body of water, relatively silt and sediment free. A water inlet is positioned off the bottom of the body of water and is adjustably supported from the bottom of the body of water. The inlet is maintained above the silt and sediment layer at the bottom of the body of water and below the surface layer of the body of water.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus which utilizes a software-based digital signal processing circuit to generate a signal which is representative of the status of a movable component. A preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention includes a synchro which is connected to a movable component. An analog reference excitation may be applied to the synchro, and the synchro generates analog synchro signals which bear a relationship to the status of the movable component. The analog synchro signals are converted to digital synchro signals by a plurality of analog-to-digital converters. A digital reference signal and the digital synchro signals are provided to a software-based digital signal processing circuit which preferably corrects constant and time-varying errors in the digital synchro signals and generates a status signal which is representative of the status of the movable component.

Abstract: A modular workstation having a first module element having a plurality of grooves, a back panel and a side panel portion; a second module element having a plurality of grooves corresponding to the grooves of the first module element, a back panel, and a side panel portion; a plurality of rails inserted into the plurality of grooves of the first and second module elements; a top panel secured to the back panels and side panel portions of the first and second module elements; at least one upright attached to a base portion formed by the connected first and second module elements, a plurality of drawers, and a device for holding the plurality of drawers attached in predetermined positions on the uprights and side panel portions of the first and second module elements. Where uprights may be removed and added in predetermined slots for creating alternative drawer arrangements.