Abstract: An air distribution blower housing for a furnace is designed with an enlarged air outlet opening that slows down and spreads out the air flow from the blower housing over a greater area of the furnace heat exchanger. The blower housing thereby enables less air pressure drop through the heat exchanger, which increases the efficiency of the blower motor operation. The design of the blower housing also efficiently turns the velocity head of the air flow through the housing to usable static air pressure at the housing air outlet. The enlarged air outlet opening of the blower housing is achieved without increasing the exterior diameter dimensions of the blower housing by utilizing a volute outer wall of the blower housing that has an exponentially increasing expansion angle in the direction of air flow through the blower housing.

Abstract: The invention relates to the discovery that the Claudin-1 protein functions as a co-receptor for entry of HCV into cells. Methods of inhibiting, preventing or mitigating HCV infections by inhibiting HCV interactions with Claudin-1 are provided. Methods of identifying agents or compounds that interfere with HCV interactions with Claudin-1 are also provided. Finally, useful kits, cell culture compositions, agents, and compounds related to the inhibition of HCV interactions with Claudin-1 are also disclosed.

Abstract: An air duct comprises a duct wall bounding an airflow channel that extends through the air duct along a flow path. The airflow channel has a plurality of cross-sections that are bounded by the duct wall and that are perpendicular to the flow path. A first one of the cross-sections has an aspect ratio that is less than two. A second one of the cross-sections has an aspect ratio that is greater than four and a minimum dimension that is less than three-quarters of an inch. A third one of the cross-sections has an aspect ratio that is less than two. The second cross-section is positioned between the first and third cross-sections along the flow path. The air duct channels air beneath a door, thereby allowing a vacuum or blower tool to operate in one room while the vacuum or blower device operating the tool operates in a different room.

Abstract: A business form including a wristband is provided with a print area forming a badge, the badge having a length less than and a width greater than a width of either of two straps used to attach the wristband to the wrist, the badge thus having a greater print area to improve the readability of the indicia displayed therein. A business form including a wristband has a bulged rectangularly shaped print area to allow information to be printed transversely across the print area to improve readability of the indicia displayed in the print area. Thus, the bulged rectangularly shaped print area can accommodate one or both of bar codes printed thereon in ladder as well as picket fence fashion. A security seal is disclosed which comprises a small, adhesive coated patch of laminate for sealing the joinder of the wristband ends and which has points of weakness such as X's die cut therein so that it separates or destructs upon removal to provide an indication of tampering with the wristband.

Abstract: A cushioned wristband includes a carrier having a multi-layered band portion and a strap sewn to the back of the band portion of the carrier. The band has a surface with loop material and the strap has a surface of hook material, the hook and loop surfaces being intended to secure the band in place as it is wrapped about a patient's appendage. The strap is appropriately sized to insert through one or both of two cinch slots of a self-laminating hang tag which may be printed with patient information and separated from a sheetlet or page sized business form processed through a printer for imaging of patient information thereon. The band portion of the carrier includes a cushioned layer of soft foamy or spongy material for contacting a patient's skin to thereby substantially eliminate any possibility for abrasion, rash, or other irritation or injury to the patient through wearing of the wristband.

Abstract: A bulk material conveyor belt system comprises a belt, a skirt, and a wear liner. The belt forms a continuous loop having an upper transfer run and a lower return run. The belt defines a theoretical, vertically oriented, center plane about which the belt is generally symmetric. The skirt has a lower edge that extends above the transfer run. The wear liner is removably attached to the skirt in a manner such that the skirt lies between the wear liner and the center plane. The wear liner has a lower edge that that extends above the transfer run and beneath the lower edge of the skirt.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) for forming and filling flexible bags with a viscous product, said apparatus including: a support (104) for a supply (106) of a tubular web (108) of flexible packaging material; at least one guide (110) for accepting from said supply a continuous feed of the tubular web of packaging material; a bag forming (300) assembly for forming adjacent bags from the tubular web wherein the forming assembly further includes a sealing member (305) for providing a seal across the web, which seal is commonly formed along oblique edges of the adjacent bags; at least one drive mechanism (150) for griping and drawing the packaging material through said at least one guide; a cutting device for cutting first and second bags drawn from the supply, wherein the first bags are each adjacent to respective second bags; a plurality of transport carriages (210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260), said carriages including a gripping means (270) being arranged to grip and carry first and second bags; a plurality of filling device

Abstract: An air distribution blower housing for an air handler such as a residential furnace is designed with an enlarged air outlet opening that slows down and spreads out the air flow from the blower housing over a greater area of the furnace heat exchanger. The blower housing thereby enables less air pressure drop through the heat exchanger, which increases the efficiency of the blower motor operation. The design of the blower housing also efficiently turns the velocity head of the air flow through the housing to usable static air pressure at the housing air outlet. The enlarged air outlet opening of the blower housing is achieved without increasing the exterior diameter dimensions of the blower housing whereby the blower housing is used in a compact enclosure for residential use. This is accomplished by utilizing a volute outer wall of the blower housing that has an exponentially increasing expansion angle in the direction of air flow through the blower housing.

Abstract: A gas channeling device for selectively channeling blasts of gas from an air cannon to various locations comprises a stationary portion and a movable portion. The stationary portion comprises a fluid inlet passageway and at least first and second fluid outlet passageways. The movable portion comprises a fluid channeling passageway, and is pivotally movable about a pivot axis relative to the stationary portion in a manner such that the movable portion can be selectively positioned in alternative first and second positions relative to the stationary portion. The fluid channeling passageway operatively connects the fluid inlet passageway to the first fluid outlet passageway when the movable portion is in the first position. The fluid channeling passageway operatively connects the fluid inlet passageway to the second fluid outlet passageway when the movable portion is in the second position.

Abstract: To provide a safe, nontoxic, and high-performance mixed refrigerant for hot water supply/heating system which is prepared by mixing dimethyl ether with carbon dioxide and which does not deplete the ozone layer, has a low global warming potential, and permits low-pressure operation. A refrigerant composition for hot water supply/heating comprising 1 to 10% by mole of dimethyl ether and 99 to 90% by mole of carbon dioxide on the basis of the total number of moles of dimethyl ether and carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A microtome includes a histological cassette support member that is adapted and configured to allow the microtome to be used in connection with relatively thin histological cassettes. A method of reversibly altering a microtome for use with different size histological specimen cassettes includes exchanging the cassette support member of the cassette holding assembly of the microtome with another cassette support member without altering other portions of the cassette holding assembly. A method is also disclosed that includes providing a microtome comprising a first histological tissue cassette clamp, providing a second histological tissue cassette clamp, securing the second histological tissue cassette clamp to the microtome via the first histological tissue cassette clamp, and securing a histological tissue cassette to the microtome via the second histological tissue cassette clamp when the second histological tissue cassette clamp is secured to the microtome via the first histological tissue cassette clamp.

Abstract: A best practice fluid identification system for managing fluids from bulk storage to point of use on products and equipment in residential, commercial and industrial applications where the fluid and product or equipment information travels with the fluid and its dispensing in a protective holder mounted on or near the point of use and also on the dispensing device.

Abstract: A method comprises a step of accessing a conveyor belt system that has a belt, a return roller, and a return roller support assembly. The return roller is supported by the return roller support assembly. The return roller is engaged with the belt from beneath the return run. The method also comprises operating the return roller support assembly in a manner causing the return roller to lower relative to the belt to a position where the return roller is no longer engaged with the belt, without requiring any person to reach beneath the belt. The method still further comprises removing the return roller from the return roller support assembly by sliding the return roller out from under the belt after the return roller has been lowered, without requiring any person to reach beneath the belt.

Abstract: An illuminated laser probe primarily designed for ophthalmic surgery provides both illumination light to a surgical site and laser light to the surgical site. The probe has an elongate handle with a tubular tip extending from a distal end of the handle. A length of illumination optic fiber and a length of laser optic fiber extend through the handle and the tip. A mechanism is provided on the handle at a position where the mechanism can easily be manipulated by a finger of a surgeons hand holding the handle. The mechanism is operatively connected with the laser optic fiber and is manipulated to selectively extend a distal portion of the optic fiber from the instrument tip and retract the distal portion of the optic fiber back into the instrument tip.

Abstract: A conveyor belt training idler comprise a mount, a roller support frame, a roller, and a locking mechanism. The roller support frame is pivotally attached to the mount about a support frame axis for pivotal movement relative to the mount. The roller is rotatably attached to the roller support frame for rotation about a roller axis. The roller axis is pivotal with the roller support frame about the support frame axis relative to the mount. The locking mechanism has a plurality of discrete settings, each setting being configured and adapted to maintain the roller support frame at a discrete angular setting relative to the mount.

Abstract: An electric motor comprises a stator, a rotor, and an interface plate. The interface plate is fixed to the stator and is configured to couple the electric motor to a pump. The interface plate comprises a shaft opening, a cavity, a ventilation passageway, a fluid discharge portion, a drainage passageway, and an upwardly extending surface. The rotor shaft extends horizontally through the shaft opening. The cavity is in communication with the shaft opening. The ventilation passageway extends upward from the cavity and is in communication with the cavity and with the ambient air. The drainage passageway is in communication with and extends downward from the cavity. The drainage passageway is configured to channel liquid downward from the cavity and to the fluid discharge portion. The upwardly extending surface is positioned where the upwardly extending surface will inhibit liquid from migrating from the fluid discharge portion to the stator.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to an internal reflection light funnel, including an internal reflection cone having a first diameter at an entrance end and a second diameter at an exit end, the first diameter being greater than the second diameter; and a light source embedded within the cone. The funnel has a half angle of less than about 25 degrees.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a light illumination funnel. The funnel includes a first opening positioned to receive an incoming light source, a second opening positioned opposite the first opening and with a diameter smaller than the first opening and inner reflective walls, in contact with the first opening and second opening. The funnel has a half angle of less than 25 degrees. Embodiments also relate to a light collection funnel and an apparatus utilizing both a light illumination funnel and light collection funnel.