Abstract: The present invention relates to a water director for distributing a surge or flow of water to one or more of a plurality of output ports, which can vary in shape, size, and number, typically for use in marine and fresh water aquariums. Water pumped through a conduit into the hermetically sealed Switching Current Water Director (SCWD), powers an internally mounted gear driven fluid motor, which turns a rotational valve, alternately opening and closing a plurality of water outlet ports. When mounted externally to an aquarium, proper placement of output nozzles, which are connected to a water conduit attached to the various SCWD outlet ports, provides the desired opposing, or switching back and fourth currents. Depending on the inlet and outlet port configuration, the SCWD can be adapted to suit many applications.

Abstract: A single reagent system and a method to detect and measure oxidizing adulterants in bodily fluid being screened for drugs of abuse are disclosed. The system comprising a strip containing 0.05 to 0.2 micromole/25 sq. mm. of a benzidine derivative and is used to detect sodium hypochlorite (bleach), chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, sodium bromide, sodium iodide, sodium nitrite, and pyridinium chlorochromate adulterants in urine, sweat, saliva, blood or other bodily fluids during screening for drugs of abuse.

Abstract: A fluid testing apparatus comprises a vessel for collecting a fluid, a removable cap secured to the top of the vessel, and a movable carrier to transport a portion of the fluid in the vessel to test strips disposed within the cap. The test strips are disposed in cavities of the cap. One end portion of each test strip exits through an exit port on the bottom side of the cap. A rim on the bottom side of the cap surrounds the protruding end portions of the test strips. The movable carrier is movable between a retrieving position to collect the fluid and a testing position where the retrieved fluid is brought into contact with the protruding ends of the test strips. A spring bias mechanism causes the carrier to move toward the closed, testing position by default. In the testing position, the carrier's receptacle forms a seal with the surrounding rim and the bottom side of the cap to prevent the carried portion of the fluid from contacting the remaining, non-tested fluid in the vessel.

Abstract: A three-axis micro-gyro structure having first and second micro-gyro devices that measure angular velocity around first and second rate axes extending in a plane of the micro-gyro structure and a third micro-gyro that measures angular velocity around a third rate axis perpendicular to the plane of the micro-gyro structure.

Abstract: A kiosk includes multiple poles with a plurality of independently rotatable components disposed on each pole. Each component comprises a hollow supporting body made rotatable by way of bushings disposed on the top and bottom of the body and bearings disposed adjacent to each bushing. The component further includes a pair of slat boards removably coupled to the supporting body. Even though each slat board may have a different configuration of protrusions extending from the front surface for holding goods, clips on the back surface of each board are similarly configured to enable any board to be removably coupled to a supporting body. Related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and a structure for stabilizing a formation of natural substrate having a substantially vertical face. A tendon is inserted into a hole in the formation. A heading device includes a plate, a tube, an adhesive material within the tube, and an anchor. The plate has a bore disposed over a protruding portion of the tendon. The tube is disposed over the protruding portion of the plate. An adhesive material is disposed within the tube to couple the tendon to the tube. The anchor is coupled to the plate. A final concrete facing is placed over the entire heading device embedding the anchor.

Abstract: A stack of multilayer modules has a segmentation layer disposed between neighboring multilayer modules. The segmentation layer facilitates the separation of neighboring multilayer modules. The stack of multilayer modules includes a first multilayer module and a second multilayer module. Each multilayer module includes a plurality of active layers each comprising a substrate, at least one electronic element, and a plurality of electrically-conductive traces. The second multilayer module is disposed to be neighboring the first multilayer module with at least one segmentation layer between the first and second multilayer modules. The segmentation layer includes a metal layer and at least one thermoplastic adhesive layer. When heat is applied, the metal layer conducts heat to the thermoplastic adhesive layer.

Abstract: A storage shed comprises a plurality of posts erected onto a base. The posts comprise a prismatic profile disposed over a hollow bar to form a void and a longitudinal slot. Corrugated wall panels are disposed in between the posts. U-channels are coupled to the base to support the posts and wall panels. The wall panels include parallel latitudinal folds and longitudinal side flanges which fit into the longitudinal slots of the posts. A roof frame is disposed on top of the vertical posts and wall panels. Corrugated roof panels are disposed on the roof frame. The corrugated roof panels include parallel latitudinal folds and side portions adapted to overlap with each other. Ridge panels are disposed at the ridge of the roof frame so as to cover a portion of the roof panels on each side of the shed. Facia boards are disposed on an entrance end and a rear end of the roof frame. Doors are disposed on an entrance side of the shed.

Abstract: A simplified lost-core molding system that combines otherwise redundant features such as platens and hydraulic cylinders ordinarily found in separate core molding stations and product molding stations. The preferred system locates the core mold and the product mold between the platens of an injection molding machine and applies a common clamping force to the core mold and to the product mold.

Abstract: Disclosed is a MEMS sensor including a sense element and a single anchor that supports the sense element arranged in a central hub-like fashion that reduces the effects of thermal stress. Usually, two or more anchors are required to suitably constrain the sense element's motion. The anchor disclosed herein, however, supports the sense element with connection elements having a connection geometry that substantially limits the motion of the sense element to a single-degree-of-freedom. The connection elements may include, for example, converging flexures, an extender bar, or both.

Abstract: An improved load bearing pallet includes an upper deck formed from a sheet of thermoplastic material with a load engaging surface and an opposing, substantially parallel lift engaging surface. Ridges, channels, depressions, and legs, are formed in the sheet with corresponding features being necessarily defined by the sheet on the opposite side. The pallet preferably includes a peripheral channel formed around a periphery of the upper deck and nine legs positioned in three rows of three creating two gaps on each side of the pallet for the tines of a fork lift to enter to lift the pallet. A plurality of strengthening ridges and channels are formed in the load bearing surface of the upper deck, with corresponding channels and ridges necessarily formed in the lifting surface of the upper deck, to resist bending and folding of the pallet.

Abstract: An oven includes single or multiple decks of longitudinal burners extending from an infeed end to an outfeed end of a body. The burners are slanted relative to a direction of a movable carrier such that a product traveling on the carrier will be heated continuously from one side to the other by a burner whose orientation is diagonal to the product's path of travel. The proportion of air and gas may be separately controlled for each deck. Furthermore, each burner may be individually controlled and monitored to maintain a desired temperature within the body. Latitudinal pilot runners extend across the width of the oven to ignite and maintain the longitudinal burners. Infrared burners above the top deck initially heat a product to either seal in or eliminate moisture. The invention further comprises a method for heating a product.

Abstract: A foot retention device includes a rigid vertical strut and a springy band disposed adjacent to an exterior side of the strut and configured to flex over the strut to form a non-drooping asymmetric arc that conforms to the profile of a human foot. A releasable securing mechanism allows the band to be easily secured and released. The foot retention device provides a fixed right angle between a base plate and the vertical strut allowing the user's foot to be inserted straight in. The foot retention device includes a non-sloping design for athletic applications, and a sloping design for footwear. Methods of assembling and manufacturing the foot retention device are also provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for laminating a decorative lamination film to an extruded substrate is disclosed. The decorative lamination film may be clear, translucent, pearlescent, or opaque and it is compressed against the extruded substrate between a pair of rollers. In the context of vertical blind louvers, the rollers and the decorative lamination film are wider than the extruded substrate, the side edges of the extruded substrate being temporarily pressed upward in contact with the lamination film. The roller in contact with the lamination film is heated to a temperature sufficient to melt a central length of the lamination film that is contact with the extruded substrate, and thereby under increased pressure, but not so hot as to melt the unused side lengths of the lamination film. The unused side lengths, therefore, do not melt and naturally separate from the central length.