Abstract: An improved quad fish hook having alternating planar bights and offset bights forming upturned hooks. The fish hook has an enlarged shank for greater hooking and holding strength, and an eyelet offset from the plane of each hook to equalize pressure on any hook point when a strike occurs.

Abstract: An improved method for treating liquid foodstuffs to prolong their shelf life wherein the liquid is exposed to intense agitation, preferably through sonication, to disrupt cell walls and membranes of any microorganisms present in the liquid. The liquid is either simultaneously or subsequently exposed to an electrical field. The intense agitation disrupts the cell walls and membranes of the microorganisms so that an electrical current can be introduced through any openings formed in the cell walls and membranes and through their intracellular matrices to kill the microorganisms. It is preferable to expose the liquids to torsional forces so that any microorganisms will be rotating through the stationary electrical field. As a result any openings in the cell walls and membranes of the microorganisms will at some point become aligned with the electrical field so that current can be introduced within the cells to destroy the microorganisms.

Abstract: A dedicated elevator having a "smart" handler mounted thereon to move circuit boards and the like from an assembly line to a storage magazine and back, providing a greatly reduced footprint over apparatus which must move and elevate entire magazines and which must accommodate magazines of various sizes. The smart handler both inserts boards into the magazine and retrieves the boards from the magazine. The smart handler includes a photosensitive gripper/pusher which can detect the edge of a board and grip the board by the detected edge to retrieve it from a slot in a storage assembly. The handler includes an actuator for moving the gripper along the direction of movement of the board for a predetermined distance to detect and engage boards which are irregularly stacked in a storage apparatus. The handler further includes a edge type conveyor which delivers boards to the gripper for full insertion into the storage assembly and receives boards from the gripper for delivery to the assembly line.

Abstract: An apparatus for continually shifting an endless abrasive belt trained between a drive pulley and an idler wheel. The belt is trained around an idler wheel which is supported by an arm above a continually pivoting platform transverse to the travel direction of travel of the endless belt. The platform is pivotally supported by a fulcrum mechanism at a pivot axis bisecting the platform, and a resilient member urges one side of the platform down while an inflatable and deflatable bladder continually urges the other side of the platform up and down. A tensioning means biases the arm supporting the idler wheel away from the drive pulley to maintain tension on the endless belt between the idler wheel and the drive wheel while the idler wheel is reciprocating. The bladder is continually inflated and deflated per a preselected time period to selectively vary the shifting cycle.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in cleaning confinement houses, to be pulled within the confinement house by a small tractor, providing motive force to the apparatus and to its components, is constructed on a wheeled frame, the front of which is connected to the tractor in a manner that allows the height of the leading edge of the apparatus to be adjusted. The leading edge of the frame carries a feeder reel which breaks up the mass of litter and waste on the floor and lifts it to an inclined conveyor. The conveyor is a bar type conveyor in which a plurality of parallel bars are mounted transverse to the direction of travel of the conveyor to urge material along a fixed grate having interstitial separation of such size as to allow sifting of reusable litter from waste litter which is too soiled to be reused. A plurality of panels may be detachably affixed to the grate beneath the bar conveyor thereby allowing the user to determine the amount of reusable material returned to the floor.

Abstract: An improved roll-up closure utilizing a flexible cover or curtain selected from a material suitable to effect the type of closure sought. The cover is at least as wide as the portal to be covered and is typically longer than the portal. Each lateral margin of the cover has a strip of hook and loop fastener material affixed thereto, and a complementary strip is affixed to the lateral margins of the structure defining the portal. A first end of the cover is rigidly affixed across a first margin of the portal. The opposite end of the cover can be upturned and connected to a driven take-up roller mounted to the first margin of the portal. In this embodiment, an elongated transverse rod is supported within the upturned end of the cover. In an alternate embodiment, the opposite end of the cover is attached to an elongated transverse rod such that as the curtain is raised or lowered, the curtain is wound or unwound around the rod, respectively.

Abstract: An improved fishing bobber having a light weight quill portion with a stop at a lower end thereof and a denser portion which fits over the quill and abuts the stop. The denser portion has sufficient weight to facilitate casting the line but has enough buoyancy to float at approximately the water surface. Moreover, during a cast, the denser portion helps to maintain the quill portion in an orientation amenable for casting. In the water, an upper end of the quill portion will situate above the water surface as a signal to the fisherman. The quill portion is slidable within the denser portion such that as a fish strikes the bait, the quill portion will move downward with the fishing line without dragging along the denser portion, thus the fish does not feel any drag from the denser portion.

Abstract: Coupled to the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor complex is a strychnine-insensitive binding site for glycine. Pharmacological antagonism of glycine at this site may produce anticonvulsant activity. Twelve 4-urea-5,7-dichlorokynurenic acid derivatives were synthesized and subsequently screened in mice for anticonvulsant activity using MES, Met, and TTE tests, and a rotorod test was used to determine neurotoxicity. Seven of the derivatives had anticonvulsant activity in TTE testing at 100 mg/kg. One derivative had an ED.sub.50 value of 134 mg/kg in TTE testing. Two derivatives had MES activity. Only one derivative was neurotoxic in the rotorod test. Compounds were screened at a 10 uM concentration for activity in displacing 5,7-dichlorokynurenic acid from synaptosomal membrane fragments. Nine of the twelve compounds synthesized and tested have demonstrated anticonvulsant activity.

Abstract: An implant abutment system uses a combination of an implant anchor, an abutment having a plurality of connection features for connecting to the implant, and a locking pin for locking the abutment into the implant. The implant anchor includes an axial bore on a superior end having inner surface features matching outer surface features of the inferior end of the abutment. The cooperative operation of these features prevents abutment rotation once the abutment is positioned within the implant and also provides indexability for angled abutments. Such anti-rotation features are accomplished with matching splines and flutes machined on the cooperative surfaces between the abutment exterior and the implant bore inner surface. The invention also provides a retention feature for locking the abutment into the implant consisting of a resilient segmented end having a retention surface positioned to match a cooperatively formed surface in the implant bore.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an elongated member connected to both a suction device for removing excised tissues and fluids and to a source of pressurized fluid. The member has an inner and outer wall with a hollow lumen extending the length of the member which connects a variably shaped ostium, extending through both walls of the member, to the suction means. The member also has peripheral channels extending the length of the member which connect the fluid source to the ostium through slits in the perimeter of the ostial wall. The slits collectively extend almost the full perimeter of the ostial wall. The slits are preferably designed so that as pressurized fluid is ejected from any point along a slit across the ostium, the fluid will come in contact with an opposing spray of fluid ejected from an opposing point in an opposing slit.

Abstract: An improved method for recovering and processing waste water solids into animal foodstuff wherein bentonite is added to waste water comprising oils, fatty acids, grease, or the like. The pH of the waste water is regulated, bentonite and a polymer are added, and the treated waste water is transferred into an air flotation device. A float blanket containing solids and water forms readily and is removed and transferred to a drying apparatus. The float material, or sludge, typically contains between 2-10% solids and is ready to be introduced into the drying apparatus without further modification. However, the sludge is usually belt compressed to obtain a solids concentration between 20-40% to assist in handling and drying. The drying apparatus employed contains two zones. In the first zone, air enters the dryer at a very high temperature where it encounters the sludge also being introduced. As the sludge comes into contact wth the hot air, it is flash dried.

Abstract: An implantable module for use with a prosthetic joint that utilizes a bellows and a rotating seal for encapsulating the articulating members of the implant. This invention is comprised of flexible metallic bellows which serve the same function as the presently used boot, which includes containing a lubricant to decrease the wear to the articulating surfaces and preventing the lubricant or wear debris from escaping into the surrounding tissues. The implant module has the novel feature of maintaining the articulating bearing surfaces in proper alignment by utilizing a spring force from the metallic bellows to augment the function of the tendons, ligaments, and muscles that have been surgically traumatized and to prevent exposure of the articulating surfaces to excessive expansion, compression, or rotational forces.

Abstract: An improved roll-up closure utilizing a flexible cover or curtain selected from a material suitable to effect the type of closure sought. The cover is at least as wide as the portal to be covered and is typically longer than the portal. Each lateral margin of the cover has a strip of hook and loop fastener material affixed thereto, and a complementary strip is affixed to the lateral margins of the structure defining the portal. A first end of the cover is rigidly affixed across a first margin of the portal. The opposite end of the cover is upturned and connected to a driven take-up roller mounted to the first margin of the portal. An elongated transverse rod is supported within the upturned end of the cover. Activation of the driven roller lengthens or shortens the effective length of the cover and moves the rod therewith. As the driven roller is activated, the mating hook and loop fasteners are positioned to seal and unseal the cover to the lateral margins of the portal.

Abstract: A mobile deicer is mounted on hydrostatically driven wheels mounted directly to the longitudinal frame without springs, thereby increasing the stability of the apparatus. Supported on the frame is the unique body which allows stand up access to the engine compartment, carries a larger volume of deicing fluid, provides a crew compartment shielded from the weather, and provides ready access to the operator compartment. Supported atop the body and aligned with the longitudinal of the frame is the main boom, which raises and lowers the operators compartment. The operators compartment is connected to the main boom by a parallelogram boom which maintains the platform supporting the operators compartment in the horizontal plane. Also mounted on the platform is a scissor boom extendible horizontally which carries a nozzle on its distal end, the nozzle being positionable under the operators control. The scissor boom may be inclined relative to the horizontal plane within preset limits.

Abstract: An electrical enclosure lid composed of several elongated members nested in such a way that a tortuous air channel is created between each member. The air channel allows heat generated by internal electrical components, such as large power transformers, to pass out of the lid to facilitate convection cooling of the enclosure. Due to the labyrinthine air channel, flames potentially generated inside the enclosure are hindered from passing outside the enclosure. Drainage holes are included on the sides of the lid to allow water to pass over the lid without entering the enclosure. The design is optimized for harsh environments such as a mining operation where large amounts of power are needed in close proximity to workers. The nesting structure provides strong structural support to protect the enclosure in case of a rock fall or a cave-in.

Abstract: A golf club, such as a putter, utilizes removable shafts, removable weights in the shaft grip end, a variable length adapter to connect the shaft to the putter head and vary the shaft end weight, and removable weights in the putter head to vary the pressure of the putter relative to the putting surface speed. The putter head also includes weighted inserts or plugs placed in the head during manufacturing to vary the weight of the putter head. The striking face has an additional insert at the striking point adapted to receive various types of plugs to vary the percussion response. Grooves on the top surface of the club head provide improved "sighting" of the golf ball in relation to the hole. The club head shape and grip end appearance remain unaltered and thereby retain user familiarity and confidence.

Abstract: A control circuit and method for brewing and storing sweetened tea in large volume using an automatic tea brewing apparatus utilizes a separate timer to control the introduction of a liquid flavoring agent into the canister. The timer is initiated at the same time as the brewing apparatus and introduces the viscous syrup at the same time as the hot tea is introduced to the canister. The apparatus introduces the flavoring agent and dilutant water through a common line such that the line is purged of flavoring agent as each canister of tea is prepared.