Abstract: A medical device is provided for collecting fluid samples from a patient, such as blood samples. The device includes a needle having a forward sharpened tip that is retracted into the housing of the device after use to prevent exposure to the contaminated needle. The rearward end of the housing is open, forming a socket for receiving a fluid container, such as a vacuum tube, that will receive the fluid sample. A needle retainer releasably retains the needle in the extended position against the rearward bias of a biasing element. After use, the medical professional retracts the needle by pressing an actuation button, allowing the biasing element to displace the needle rearwardly. A guide track guides the needle during retraction, tilting the needle off-axis.

Abstract: A flashlight with a rotatable lamp head is provided. The lamp head pivots about two cylindrical coaxial electrical connectors. The lamp head also includes reflector having a major parabolic reflective surface and a minor reflective parabolic surface. The reflector is configured so that the minor reflective surface is nested within the major reflective surface. The flashlight also includes a series of fluid-tight seals to insure that the flashlight is waterproof. In addition, a flapper valve is provided to function as a one-way valve allowing the release of gases produced by the use of the batters, and preventing fluid from entering the flashlight. A battery charger is also provided to recharge a battery pack for the flashlight.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing mail is provided. Mail is placed into an input bin having a conveyor that conveys the mail towards a feeder. The feeder serially feeds the envelopes by engaging the lead envelope in the stack of mail and displacing the lead envelope transverse the stack of mail. The mail is fed into a shuttle that vertically displaces the envelopes to position the envelopes for entering a justifier. The justifier justifies the top edge of the envelopes and conveys the envelopes to a cutter that severs the top edge of the envelopes. A transport conveys the envelopes from the top cutter to an extractor. The extractor opens the edge-severed mail and presents the contents of the envelopes to an operator who manually extracts the contents. The transport conveys the empty envelopes from the extractor to a verifier that verifies that all of the contents have been removed from the envelope before the envelope is discarded.

Abstract: A cutting assembly for plastic film or other sheet wrapping material dispensers. The cutting assembly comprises a member having a length corresponding to the length of the dispenser box, and a U-shaped cross-section adapted to slip over the free edge of the front panel of the dispenser box. The member has a base web with one leg on the inside of the box and a second leg exposed on the outside of the box. The legs meet the web in curved shoulders, diverge downwardly and outwardly, and have extending flaps at their lower ends which are curved back internally of the U-shaped member to provide retainer edges which project angularly upward and inward of the U-shaped member to resist upward displacement of the member from the panel. The proportions of the inwardly curved flaps and the distance between them are such that there is no possibility of the leg or legs of one cutting blade interlocking with the leg or legs of another cutting blade.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing mail. In particular a method and apparatus for distinguishing between different types of documents is disclosed. A document is conveyed past a magnetizing device that imparts a magnetic charge onto any magnetic ink markings that may be on the document. Subsequently, a read head scans the document to determine the presence of magnetic markings. The device then determines the document-type for the document in response to the presence and location of magnetic ink markings on the document. The length of the document is also detected, and the document-type determination is verified based on the length of the document.

Abstract: A catheter insertion device is provided for inserting an over-the-needle catheter. The device includes an insertion needle that is retractable into the housing of the device after use to prevent exposure to the contaminated needle. The needle retainer releasably retains the needle in an extended position against the rearward bias of the biasing element. The needle retainer engages the hub of the catheter so that when the catheter is removed from the insertion device, the needle retainer automatically releases the needle. The biasing element then propels the needle rearwardly into the housing of the device. A method for inserting a catheter is also provided, in which the needle is hooded by the catheter during the insertion procedure.

Abstract: Envelopes with unspecified contents are inspected by a “magnetic imaging” device which operates to identify magnetic indicia associated with the contents of the envelopes in order to identify the orientation of contents within the envelopes and/or to identify magnetic indicia indicative of the magnetic stripe of a credit/debit card or its remnants, in addition to a second detection device (e.g., a thickness measuring device or a metal detecting device) which can then verify whether the indicia indicative of a magnetic stripe signify the presence of a credit/debit card or some other stimulus such as a paper clip or the like. Similar assurances can be provided by employing a thickness measuring device and a metal detecting device, in operative combination (with or without the addition of a magnetic imaging device).

Abstract: A non-reusable needle-bearing safety medical device is provided. The device is operable for inserting an intravenous catheter into a patient. The device includes a needle for piercing the patient's skin and guiding the catheter into the vein of the patient. The needle is operable in two positions, an extended position, in which the needle projects forwardly from a housing, and a retracted position, in which the needle is retracted into the barrel so that the needle is enclosed by the barrel to prevent inadvertent contact with the needle after use. A needle retainer releasably retains the needle in the projecting position against the bias of a spring that biases the needle rearwardly toward the retracted position. After use, the operator displaces an actuator to release the needle. The spring then propels the needle rearwardly into the retracted position. In this way, the device is non-reusable and the needle is shielded to prevent contact with the sharpened tip of the contaminated needle.

Abstract: A needle-bearing medical device is provided for inserting a guide wire. After use the needle is shielded to render the contaminated needle safe to prevent inadvertent needle sticks. The device includes a housing and a needle having a sharpened tip. A biasing element biases the needle toward a position in which the sharpened tip is shielded. A connector is provided for attaching a fluid collection device to the guide wire insertion device, if desired. A guide is configured for guiding the guide wire through the port and into the needle. A method is also provided for using the medical device, in which the needle is inserted vascularly into a patient. A fluid collection device is attached to the connector of the device and blood is drawn into the fluid collection device to ensure that the needle is properly positioned within a vein or artery of the patient. A guide wire is then inserted into the patient through the device and the needle is retracted to shield the needle.

Abstract: A modular apparatus for mounting various accessories to a wheelchair is provided. The apparatus includes a telescoping mounting bar removably mounted onto the frame of a wheelchair below the seat. Attached to the telescoping bar is an accessory mount for mounting accessories onto the bar. Several accessories are provided including an articulating arm, a gun mount, an adjustable tray, a fishing rod holder and a basket holder.

Abstract: A mounting device for coaxially anchoring a machine element upon a rotary shaft. The device fits between the interior bore of the machine element and the cylindrical surface of the shaft and is effective to position the element at any desired position longitudinally of the shaft and at any angular position circumferentially of the shaft. The device has inner and out sleeves, the mating surfaces of which are similarly tapered so that relative axial displacement of the sleeves effects expansion and contraction of the interior bore and external surface of the combined elements. Rotation of a threaded nut at one end of the device effects the relative axial displacement of the inner and outer sleeves to afford expansion and contraction of the outer sleeve.

Abstract: A keyless mounting device has inner and outer tubular sleeves telescopically engaged. The confronting surfaces of the inner and outer sleeves are tapered so that relative axial displacement of the sleeve in one direction expands the outer surface of the outer sleeve and contracts the inner surface of the inner sleeve. Relative axial displacement in the other direction allows the outer surface to contract and the inner surface to expand. The inner and outer sleeves are threaded at one end and the free end of each sleeve adjacent the threads provides an annular abutment surface. An adjustor is provided to effect the relative axial displacement of the sleeves. The adjustor has one set of threads to engage the threads of the inner and an abutment surface to engage the abutment surface of the outer when the threads are tightened and second threads adapted to engage the threads of the outer and second abutment surface adapted to engage the abutment surface of the inner when loosening the sleeves.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for sorting a group of documents contained with an envelope into selected batches of documents. An envelope feeder feeds a group of envelopes containing documents onto a document transport. A document extractor positioned along the path of movement extracts the documents from the envelopes. A system controller identifies the documents extracted from each respective envelope along with the respective envelope as a single transaction along the path of movement. An orientation detector including a magnetic image reader and an optical image reader determines the orientation of selected documents along the path of movement. A document orientor changes the orientation of documents along the path of movement into a desired orientation. An image acquisition device acquires an image of the envelopes and selected documents conveyed along the path of movement to enable the system controller to assign documents and the envelope from which it was extracted into selected transactions and batches.

Abstract: A cleaning device having a cleaning head and an absorbent head is provided. The cleaning head is operable to clean a surface, and the absorbent head is operable to remove residual liquid remaining on the surface being cleaned. The cleaning head is attached to the distal end of a handle and is pivotally connected to the absorbent head. An actuator on the handle is displaceable in two positions to control the position of the cleaning head and absorbent head. In a first position, the cleaning head extends from the handle to clean the surface while the absorbent head is retracted. In a second position, the cleaning head is wrung while the absorbent head is pivoted to an extended position to absorb residual liquid on the cleaning surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for sorting documents. The documents are scanned to determine a characteristic of each document and then sorted in response to the scanned characteristic. In particular, a method is provided for multi-pass processing of documents. In accordance with one method, each document is assigned a logical sort number corresponding to the recipient of the document. The documents are then sorted in sequential order according to the logical sort numbers. A method is also provided that compares data scanned during a pass with data obtained during a previous pass to determine the recipient of the document. In addition a method is provided for marking the documents and sorting the documents so that the markings provide indicators of pre-defined groups of documents.

Abstract: Self-emulsifying microemulsion or emulsion preconcentrate pharmaceutical compositions containing an omega-3 fatty acid oil such as a fish oil and a poorly water soluble therapeutic agent such as cyclosporin are formulated for administration, particularly oral administration to a human. The preconcentrates, which are substantially free of or contain only minor amounts of a hydrophilic solvent system, contain a pharmaceutically effective amount of an omega-3 fatty acid oil; a therapeutically effective amount of a poorly water soluble therapeutic agent that is substantially soluble in the omega-3 fatty acid oil; and a surfactant system comprising at least one surfactant. Microemulsions or emulsions formed by diluting the self-emulsifying preconcentrate with an aqueous solution are also provided.

Abstract: A conveyor assembly which includes a continuous belt for carrying bulk material such as stone, ore, grain etc. is provided. The conveyor transports the material to a discharge point where the material is discharged from the belt as the belt wraps around a head pulley. The belt is troughed between the area that the material is loaded onto the belt and the head pulley. A plurality of belt supports support the belt between the area where the material is loaded onto the belt and the head pulley. Each belt support includes a central roller for providing generally frictionless rolling support for the central portion of the belt. Each belt support further includes a pair of wing supports for supporting the troughing side of the belt. Each wing support includes a roller adjacent the central roller and a pair of slider bars supporting the marginal edges of the belt.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved container which may be used to store ten parcels arranged end to end and in two rows, one on top of the other. The container includes a top wall, a bottom wall, opposing side walls, and opposing front and rear walls respectively. The container also includes an advancement mechanism for advancing the rearmost parcels in the container so as to fill the void created by the removal of the foremost parcels. The advancement mechanism includes an enlarged end portion located behind the rearmost parcels and an intermediate portion located intermediate to the two rows of parcels.

Abstract: A flashlight with a rotatable lamp head is provided. The lamp head pivots about two cylindrical coaxial electrical connectors. The lamp head also includes reflector having a major parabolic reflective surface and a minor reflective parabolic surface. The reflector is configured so that the minor reflective surface is nested within the major reflective surface. The flashlight also includes a series of fluid-tight seals to insure that the flashlight is waterproof. In addition, a flapper valve is provided to function as a one-way valve allowing the release of gases produced by the use of the batters, and preventing fluid from entering the flashlight. A battery charger is also provided to recharge a battery pack for the flashlight.