Abstract: A mobile drill rig has a drill mast, a carriage mounted to the drill mast for vertical movement, and a vibratory drill head having a sine generator and a rotation mechanism for imparting vibration and rotation to a drill rod string. An elastomeric torsion coupler couples the rotation mechanism to the sine generator to transmit rotational force to the drill rod string while isolating vibrations of the sine generator from the rotation mechanism. Another coupler connects the drill head to the carriage in a manner that allows floating vertical movement of the drill head relative to the carriage while isolating vibrations of the sine generator from the carriage. Elastomeric bumpers limit the vertical movement of the drill head relative to the carriage. Elastomeric spacers located between the rotation mechanism and the sine generator handle the vertical loading and maintain the proper spacing between the sine generator and the rotation mechanism.

Abstract: A portable livestock feeder has a frame supported by a plurality of wheels with a trailer hitch at one end. First and second feed troughs are positioned on each side of a longitudinal center of the frame with racks positioned above the troughs. The feed troughs are supported at their front ends by a first pair of pin members and at their rear ends by a second pair of pin members. The feed troughs are pivotable by a hydraulic mechanism about the pin members between a normal feeding position and a bottom dumping position. One of the pin members is movable between first and second stops that limit lateral movement of the feed troughs toward and away from the longitudinal center of the feeder. An adjustable cam member is arranged to engage another one of the pin members for causing the troughs to move between narrow and wide width settings.

Abstract: A connector system includes two connector members that can each be mounted to separate objects and then interlocked together to attach the two objects together. In one embodiment, the two connector members are identical and interchangeable with each other. In other embodiments, the two connector members are arranged to attach together objects having perpendicular mounting surfaces or coplanar mounting surfaces. The connector members include an alignment structure having a projection positioned between a first pair of inclined surfaces, and a receiver structure positioned between a second pair of inclined surfaces. The connector members are interlocked together by mating the alignment structure of one connector member with the receiver structure of the other connector member. The relative movement between the connector members causes the inclined surfaces of one connector member to wedge against the inclined surfaces of the other connector member to form a tight and strong connection.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for curving a catheter after deployment include a catheter having a primary lumen, a secondary lumen, and a resilient fiber contained within the secondary lumen. The resilient fiber and the secondary lumen have corresponding, preformed curve shapes when the catheter is in a straight, unstressed condition. The resilient fiber is slidable within the secondary lumen to create a desired curve shape in the catheter as the curved portion of the resilient fiber slides into an originally straight portion of the secondary lumen. In another embodiment, the preformed curve shape of the resilient fiber is held in a straight condition within a stiff, marker ring segment of the catheter until after the catheter is deployed. Once deployed, the resilient fiber is slid out of the marker ring segment, and the preformed curve shape of the resilient fiber creates a corresponding curve shape in the catheter.

Abstract: A mobile fluid storage tank has a tank body with front, rear, and main body sections. A hitch structure is located beneath the front section and is supported by a first swing arm assembly. Rear support wheels are located beneath the rear section and are supported by a second swing arm assembly. A support frame extends along a bottom side of the main body section. The swing arm assemblies are moveable by air bag actuators between raised and lowered positions. The air bag actuators are operable to move the tank body between a lowered field position in which the support frame rests on the ground, and a raised transport position in which the support frame is supported above the ground by the hitch structure and the rear wheels. Pedestals are used to lock the swing arm assemblies in their transport positions when the air bag actuators are deflated.

Abstract: A mobile soil mapping system includes an implement for traversing a field to be mapped, and a reflectance module carried by the implement for collecting spectroscopic measurements of soil in the field. The reflectance module has a light source, an optical receiver for transmitting light to a spectrometer, and a shutter system that alters the optical path between the light source and the optical receiver. The shutter system allows the system to automatically collect a dark reference measurement and a known reference material measurement at timed intervals to compensate for drift of the spectrometer and the light source. A self-cleaning window on the reflectance module has a lower surface maintained in firm contact with the soil during operation. External reference blocks are used to calibrate the system to ensure standardized, repeatable data. Additional sensors are carried by the implement to collect other soil data, such as electrical conductivity and temperature.

Abstract: A medical device and method are provided for accessing a side branch in an artery. The device includes a catheter having a sidewall, an internal lumen, and a side port formed through the sidewall. A perforating guide wire has a proximal portion within the internal lumen and a distal portion arranged to be movable out of the side port. The guide wire can be delivered through the side port to a side branch artery when the catheter is deployed to a location with the side port aligned with the side branch artery. In another embodiment, the catheter has inner and outer telescoping tubes with offset exit ports formed therein. The telescoping tubes can be used to change the degree of deflection of the perforating guide wire by changing the relative positions of the offset exit ports.

Abstract: A beverage holder attachment for a crutch has an annular cup holder portion and two molded C-shaped protrusions for snapping onto two side rails of a crutch. The cup holder has a vertical slot on the outside to accommodate a handle of a mug or cup. The cup holder sits in between the two rails of the crutch below the hand bar so that it does not interfere with the use of the hand bar. The cup holder is tilted slightly to avoid spillage on the user of the crutches, so that any coffee drips will spill on the outside of the crutch. The beverage holder can be snapped onto the crutch side rails to carry beverages or other objects around the home or office while on crutches. The beverage holder can be made out of plastic, rubber or any other molded material that will snap onto the crutch.

Abstract: A medical device for traversing an occlusion in a vessel includes a straightening sleeve positioned at a distal aspect of a catheter, a steering sleeve having an arcuate distal end, and a guidewire disposed through the steering sleeve. The steering sleeve has a first position in which the arcuate distal end is straightened within the straightening sleeve, and a second position in which the steering sleeve extends distally past the straightening sleeve to expose the arcuate distal end. The tip of the arcuate distal end of the steering sleeve or the guidewire can be used to pierce the occlusion. An arrangement of hub assemblies with locking mechanisms and motion limiting structures facilitates adjusting and locking the relative positions of the straightening sleeve, the steering sleeve, and the guidewire. Detent mechanisms are associated with the motion limiting structures for providing controlled incremental movement of the sleeves and the guidewire.

Abstract: A hydraulic head clamp assembly is integral with a drill head mounted on a mobile drill rig. A side-shift carriage is provided for shifting the drill head from side-to-side relative to a centerline of a drill rod string. The clamp assembly includes a rigid jaw mounted on the side of the drill head, and a movable jaw mounted adjacent to said rigid jaw with a space between the jaws for receiving the drill rod string. The movable jaw is connected to a pair of hydraulic cylinder actuators that are actuated via a hydraulic circuit to control the clamp action between the rigid jaw and the movable jaw. The clamp assembly can be used to retract a drill rod string from the ground without limiting access to the inner diameter of the drill rod, and can also be used to advance the drill rod into the ground via a static push.

Abstract: A medical hub for connecting a tubular member to a fluid source has a first structure for connecting to the fluid source, a second structure for connecting to the tubular member, and a transparent portion formed between the first and second structures. The transparent portion in one embodiment has a generally spherical shape that allows visual monitoring of a fluid flowing through the hub from a wide viewing angle. The transparent portion can be formed of clear plastic or other suitable optical material that magnifies an image of the fluid flowing through the hub. Other embodiments are described in which the transparent portion has a cylindrical shape, a square shape, a multifaceted shape, and a combination of such shapes. The tubular member can be a catheter or other intravenous tubing.

Abstract: An insulated cooking utensil has upper and lower substantially planar sheet members secured together with an air chamber interposed therebetween for insulating the upper sheet member from direct heat during cooking. Spaced detents are provided in the lower sheet member to support and maintain the upper and lower sheet members in a spaced relationship. The detents have dome-shaped configurations with relatively large dimensions and a flat spot at the peak to prevent deforming the upper sheet member locally where the detents contact the upper sheet member during use. The upper sheet member is made of aluminum and has a clear anodized coating on its upper surface. An angular disposed flange with an elongated thumbgrip extends along one side of the cooking utensil to facilitate gripping and handling. An expansion space between the outer edges of the sheet members accommodates a relatively greater expansion of the lower sheet member during cooking.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for curving a catheter after deployment include a catheter having a primary lumen, a secondary lumen, and a resilient fiber contained within the secondary lumen. The resilient fiber and the secondary lumen have corresponding, preformed curve shapes when the catheter is in a straight, unstressed condition. The resilient fiber is slidable within the secondary lumen to create a desired curve shape in the catheter as the curved portion of the resilient fiber slides into an originally straight portion of the secondary lumen. In another embodiment, the preformed curve shape of the resilient fiber is held in a straight condition within a stiff, marker ring segment of the catheter until after the catheter is deployed. Once deployed, the resilient fiber is slid out of the marker ring segment, and the preformed curve shape of the resilient fiber creates a corresponding curve shape in the catheter.

Abstract: A device and method for treating and preventing plantar fasciitis includes a wedge adapted to be placed under the big toe. The wedge has a top surface for supporting the big toe, a first support surface separated from the top surface by a first angle, and a second support separated from the top surface by a second angle. The first and second support surfaces are perpendicular with each other so that one rests on the floor and the other serves as a backstop. The wedge has a first position for inclining the top surface upwardly at the first angle to provide moderate stretching of the plantar fascia, and a second position for inclining the top surface upwardly at the second angle to provide maximum stretching. The first angle is within a range of 20 to 25 degrees, and the second angle is within a range of 65 to 70 degrees.

Abstract: A safety bypass gate is provided for use with a livestock management system having a sorting scale arranged between watering and feeding areas. The safety bypass gate changes from a closed position to an open position to provide an emergency exit from the watering area when a condition exists that prevents animals from passing over the sorting scale. The safety bypass gate includes a pair of pivoting gate members and a channel member that fits over the top edges of the gate members to secure them closed. The channel member is attached to a pneumatic actuator that uses air pressure to hold the channel member in its locked position, and a spring return that moves the channel member to its unlocked position upon a drop in air pressure. Springs bias the gate members from their closed positions to their open positions when the channel member moves to its unlocked position.

Abstract: Methods of marking products and of determining the origin or authenticity of marked products are provided that use a variety of natural materials as markers. The natural materials have unique genetically controlled micromorphological structures that can be identified using enhanced visualization techniques. For example, cellulosic plant materials, sporopollenin and diatoms can be used as the natural materials. The natural materials are added to products at sufficiently low levels so as not to have any significant effect on the products other than serving as markers. Dyes and reactants can be added to the natural materials to provide secondary markers. The secondary markers can be vacuum infused into hollow interior spaces of the materials, or placed in surface voids of the materials to remain secured in the marker structures until examined. Sub-cellular particles or heat sensitive molecules can also be used to provide a molecular thermometer for the markers.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for curving a catheter after deployment include a catheter having a primary lumen, a secondary lumen, and a resilient fiber contained within the secondary lumen. The resilient fiber and the secondary lumen have corresponding, preformed curve shapes when the catheter is in a straight, unstressed condition. The resilient fiber is slidable within the secondary lumen to create a desired curve shape in the catheter as the curved portion of the resilient fiber slides into an originally straight portion of the secondary lumen. In another embodiment, the preformed curve shape of the resilient fiber is held in a straight condition within a stiff, marker ring segment of the catheter until after the catheter is deployed. Once deployed, the resilient fiber is slid out of the marker ring segment, and the preformed curve shape of the resilient fiber creates a corresponding curve shape in the catheter.