Abstract: An exercise ball has a bladder, a yarn lining wound on an outer face of the bladder, an air layer formed between the outer face of the bladder and the yarn lining, a cloth lining wrapped on the yarn lining, an adhesive layer applied on an outer surface of the cloth lining, a sponge lining securely attached to the cloth lining by the adhesive layer, and an outer surface securely engaged with the sponge lining. With the provision of the air lining and the sponge lining, the exercise ball is able to maintain its softness.

Abstract: A method and a device for determining the operating time and the operating condition of a hydraulic percussion unit, in particular a hydraulic hammer, having a percussion piston which is guided inside a housing and, under the effect of a controller, alternately performs an operating stroke in an impact direction and a return stroke in a return direction. The method and device obtain information to determine whether the percussion unit requires maintenance operations. Signals are generated during the consecutive, individual operational segments of the percussion unit. The number of signals is proportional to the strokes performed by the percussion piston in one movement direction. The number of the signals is continuously added and is stored as a total number. The current total number of signals can be displayed at least at times for indicating the operating condition of the percussion unit.

Abstract: A method of coating an inner surface of a weapon barrel includes the following steps: introducing a plasma burner into the weapon barrel; producing a plasma flame by the plasma burner; directing the plasma flame against the inner barrel surface to cause impingement thereon; introducing a coating material in powder, wire or ribbon form into the plasma flame for melting the coating material to form a molten liquid and for depositing the molten liquid by the plasma flame on the inner barrel surface; and moving the plasma burner inside the weapon barrel axially thereof and relative thereto while performing the depositing step for obtaining a surface coating on the inner barrel surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel ophthalmic drug delivery formulation which comprises a mixture of Carbopol and Pluronic. Carbopol is a trademark of B.F. Goodrich Company's high molecular weight carboxy vinyl polymers (MW above 1,000,000). Pluronic belongs to a class of block copolymers containing polyoxyethylene and polyoxypropylene. The preferred weight percentages of Carbopol and Pluronic in the ophthalmic drug delivery formulation are 0.3% of Carbopol and 14% of Pluronic. The ocular bioavailability is greatly enhanced by the use of the ophthalmic drug delivery formulation of the present invention.

Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator for operating a cylinder valve in an internal combustion engine includes first and second housings secured to one another. Each housing has a cavity and a through bore extending therefrom. First and second electromagnets are disposed in the cavity of the respective housings. Each electromagnet has a yoke, a coil and a pole face. The pole faces are oriented toward and spaced from one another, and a reciprocating armature is disposed between the pole faces. A spring which urges the armature away from the first electromagnet has an end oriented away from the armature. A support cap is axially insertable in the through bore of the first electromagnet and includes a cap base having an inner face supporting the spring end. A locking arrangement secures the support cap to the housing and has a component axially insertable in the through bore with the support cap.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition which comprises water extracts of Tuber ophiopogon, Tuber pinelliae, Radix glycyrrhizae, and Radix pancis quinquefoli, and 50% alcohol extraction of Herba tridacis procumbentis. The pharmaceutical compositions are especially effective in treating patients with immunological disorders, such as asthma, atopic eczema, atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Abstract: A standing structure of a striking mechanism for a bass drum includes a base plate with two arms extending from the base plate. Each of the two arms has a first recess defined thereon to receive a barrel having bearing inside. Two retaining caps are connected together by a connecting rod, and each retaining cap has a second recess corresponding to the first recess defined thereon. The barrels can be force fitted and clamped in the combined first recess and the second recess, and the bearings in the barrels can be connected to a long shaft and a short shaft. The standing structure can enhance the stability of a strike of the bass drum, the precision when assembling the stand structure, and is suitable for a left-footed or a right-footed person to play the bass drum.

Abstract: Thermochromic laminates, which predictably vary their ability to absorb or reflect electromagnetic radiation, are provided. Laminates of the invention advantageously possess temperature trigger zones, that is, points or ranges of temperature, which function to decrease or increase the amount of electromagnetic energy, and particularly energy in the UV, infrared and visible ranges, that is reflected from the laminate, or absorbed as heat by the laminate and transmitted to an underlying structure. Laminates of the present invention can be provided in a variety of colors and temperature trigger points or ranges, and require no input of external energy except that of the impinging radiation. Laminates of the invention advantageously can be used in methods alone or combined with other materials such as roofing, siding, heat exchangers and other heat transfer materials and are therefore useful to control the temperature of an underlying structure or object.

Abstract: A tape support for an automatic wrapper includes a main frame and an internal frame. The internal frame is keyed onto the main frame and has four corners. A corner block is keyed to each corner of the main frame. A guide blade assembly is pivotally keyed onto two vertical sides of the main frame, and an adjustment assembly is keyed onto two vertical sides of the main frame. The corner block has three sides. One is concave, and the others form a right angle. The guide blades face each other and wrap around the internal frame. The arms of the adjustment assembly face each other and wrap around the blade assembly. A brush is mounted on the free ends of the adjustment assembly to guide the tape to the middle by its retaining force when the tape passes through the brush.

Abstract: A phase comparator which eliminates jitter in a clock signal extracted in a phase locked loop. The phase comparator includes: a flip-flop circuit which inputs input data and the clock signal and stores the input data in response to the clock signal; a delay circuit which inputs the input data and delays the input data by a predetermined angle of 0° through 180°; a first logic gate which inputs the input data and an output signal of the flip-flop circuit and which outputs an output signal by taking an exclusive OR or exclusive NOR thereof; and a second logic gate which inputs the data and the output signal of the delay circuit and which outputs an output signal by taking an exclusive OR or exclusive NOR thereof.

Abstract: A safety syringe has a needle hub detachably mounted at a front end of the barrel and a plunger slidably received in the barrel and having a retaining column extending out from the engaging flange of the plunger. The needle hub has a pair of retaining plates with a slot defined between the retaining plates. The retaining column has a hook and a slanted face, such that when the retaining column is securely clamped by the retaining plates and the needle hub is forced to move inward the barrel, the needle hub is inclined with respect to the barrel.

Abstract: A positioning hinge for a notebook computer has multiple collars each provided with an obliquely formed friction plate. The friction plate engages a side face of an extension of a bracket configured to attach securely to a body of the computer to provide the necessary friction force to hole the monitor at an angle relative to the body of the computer. With such an arrangement, the friction force can be adjusted to accommodate different weights of the monitor by reducing or increasing the number of the collars.

Abstract: A mounting sucker is adapted to be mounted on a smooth surface and composed of a suction devices (10), an intermediate member (20), and a rotating boss (30). When the rotating boss (30) is rotated, the central part of the suction devices (10) is pulled away from the smooth surface, creating a partial vacuum space. The intermediate member (20) pushes down on peripheral edges of the suction devices (10). An outer periphery of the rotating boss (30) extends beyond the range of the suction devices (10) so that the outer periphery of the rotating boss (30) can contact the smooth surface and transmit force from an object suspended on the mounting sucker.

Abstract: Ultraviolet absorbents and photostabilizers have an excellent absorption ability in a wide range of ultraviolet rays, and also have high stability and high safety. The ultraviolet absorbent and photostabilizer include a pyridazine derivative of the formula (1): or salts thereof. Also, described are methods for manufacturing said pyridazine derivative and/or this salts thereof comprising the process of reacting at least 10 wt % of 4,5-dichloro-3-hydroxypyridazine or 4,5-dibromo-3-hydroxypyridazine or mixtures thereof with at least 20 vol % of morpholine in reaction solution at 70° C. or higher. The ultraviolet absorbents photostabilizers include said pyridazine derivative and/or salts thereof as effective ingredient. An ultraviolet ray absorption composition and an external preparation for skin are also included.

Abstract: Composition which can be crosslinked under the effect of an ionizing radiation comprising a thermoplastic copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and of chlorotrifluoroethylene and an effective amount of a crosslinking promoter, such as a triallyl cyanurate or triallyl isocyanurate. Process for the crosslinking by irradiation of the crosslinkable composition under air by means of an ionizing radiation, such as &bgr;-radiation, at a dose of 10 to 100 kGray. Crosslinkable and crosslinked shaped articles, such as sheaths for electrical cables and pipes for oil products.

Abstract: A heat dissipater for a CPU (Central Processing Unit) includes an upper block and a lower block abutting each other. The upper block has a series of fins extending upward from a first side of the upper block and a recess defined in a second side of the upper block. The lower block includes a first side having a recess defined to correspond to the recess in the upper block and forming a closed chamber with the recess in the upper block and a second side adapted to abut the CPU. Volatile liquid is received in the closed chamber to promote the heat dissipation of the heat dissipater for a CPU.

Abstract: The present invention provides a herbal pharmaceutical composition for treating patients with liver diseases and/or HIV. The composition contains fifteen (15) ingredients, which are diffuse hedyotis, bistort rhizome, giant knotweed rhizome, Asiatic moonseed rhizome, baical skullcap root, bovine biliary powder, milkvetch root, barbary wolfberry fruit, sanqi, red ginseng, figwort root, Chinese magnoliavine fruit, turmeric root-tuber, hawthorn fruit, and Chinese angelica. Among the fifteen (15) ingredients, diffuse hedyotis, bistort rhizome, giant knotweed rhizome, and Chinese magnoliavine fruit are the required herbs which contribute to the efficacy of the pharmaceutical composition.

Abstract: A system (and accompanying method) for reducing thermal shock in a physical device includes: a gas inlet portion; and an ablator material positioned in the gas inlet portion to reduce a temperature differential at a surface between the gas inlet portion and a gaseous material propelled through the gas inlet portion. The gas inlet portion can include: a first material; and a second material having a boundary with the first material, where the ablator material is positioned at the boundary. The first material is not sensitive to thermal shock, and the second material is sensitive to thermal shock. The ablator material can be housed in a recess at the boundary. The first material can be a manifold. The second material can be a portion of a control valve for controlling the direction and amount of a hot gas emitted therefrom. The manifold can include a bypass slot connecting a main inlet gas chamber of the manifold with a surface of the ablator material.

Abstract: A device for pressing a heat sink tightly against a CPU and positioning a fan over the heat sink is disclosed. The CPU is surrounded by a stationary enclosure having a plurality of holes. The device includes a frame to hold the heat sink thereunder and support the fan thereon. A pair of side pieces are arranged at opposite sides of the frame and each piece has lower hooks for engaging with the holes. The frame is movable up and down with respect to the side pieces. A pair of level handles is pivotally connected to the side pieces and each handle has a curved end profiled to urge the frame downward. Therefore, the heat sink is tightly pressed against the CPU once the level handles are turned in predetermined directions after the lower hooks have been engaged with the holes of the enclosure.

Abstract: The present invention provides an herbal composition for improving blood circulation and treating patients with coronary heart diseases and stroke. The herbal composition comprises 30-50 wt % of Dang Gui root (Radix Angelicae sinensis), 35-65 wt % of Chuan Xiong root (Radix Ligustici Chuanxiong), and 7-13 wt % of Ginseng root (Radix Ginseng). The present invention also provides methods of preparing the same.