Abstract: A test strip assembly for detecting the presence of a substance in liquid sample comprises a contact detection pad in communication with a reagent-free absorbent strip. The absorbent strip receives the liquid sample and communicates it to the contact detection pad via lateral flow. The absorbent strip and contact detection pad are adhered to a support. A liquid impermeable pad is disposed adjacent to and spaced apart from the contact detection pad to prevent any further travel of the sample. Further add-on assemblies may be coupled to the base test strip assembly. The test strip assembly may be disposed in a housing along with a drug test strip to form a device that performs multiple types of tests. Methods for assaying and manufacturing are also provided.

Abstract: A pest bait station includes a disposable carrier disposed in a reusable housing. Pest bait is securely affixed to the carrier such that movement of the station does not dislodge the bait from the carrier. A first bait affixed to a lower surface of the carrier exterminates smaller pests while a second bait affixed to an upper surface of the carrier exterminates larger pests. The carrier is shaped, such as a cone, to provide a lower space and an upper space for receiving differently sized pests. A lid of the housing is shaped to accommodate the shape of the cone. The lid is removably coupled to a base to form a water-tight seal. Openings formed in the base allow for entry of pests. A magnet or adhesive may be placed on a bottom side of the base to enable the station to be coupled to any surface.

Abstract: A jack for lifting an object includes a base assembly and a jacking assembly. The base assembly has a frame with a base member having a nesting chamber, lifting arms pivotably connected to the base member, and a support member for supporting the object. The support member is pivotably connected to the lifting arms and is disposed parallel to the base member. The support member and the lifting arms pivot with respect to the base member into positions including a fully raised position wherein the support member is lifted away from the base member and a fully lowered position wherein the support members and the lifting arms are at least partly nested within the nesting chamber. The jacking assembly is connected to the base assembly for moving the support members and the lifting arms from the fully lowered position towards the fully raised position.

Abstract: A ski boot, in particular a telemark boot, having a shell made of plastic material and in turn having a bottom wall, two lateral walls, a toe portion, and a flexible portion extending crosswise with respect to the shell, from one side to the other of the bottom wall at the metatarsus; and a frame embedded in the shell and having, integrally, two longitudinal elements extending along respective lateral walls from a rear portion of the shell to an intermediate portion of the bottom wall adjacent to respective lateral ends of the flexible portion, and a transverse structure connected integrally to respective front ends of the longitudinal elements and defined by a flat bottom portion embedded in the bottom wall, and by a top portion extending along the connecting portion between the toe portion and the flexible portion.

Abstract: The invention is a water well filter. An outer pipe is concentric with an inner pipe. Each pipe has a plurality of water passage apertures. The outer pipe is shorter than the inner pipe, but long enough to cover the apertures of the inner pipe. The outer pipe is attached to non-apertured portions of the inner pipe by sealing rings disposed at an upper and lower end of the upper pipe so as to form a gap between the pipes. The sealing rings are welded onto the inner and outer pipes. A granulated filter material fills the gap. The filter granules may be bonded to each other as well as to the surfaces of the pipes. A nylon mesh cover is disposed on the outer surface of the inner pipe to prevent filter granules from entering through the inner pipe apertures. The inner pipe has an internally threaded portion at one end and an externally threaded portion at the other end so as to allow multiple inner pipes, and thus multiple water well filters, to be attached end to end.