Abstract: An auto-flex knee brace that employs an extension spring defined as a flexible hinge, which determines different modes of configuration to alleviate medial and lateral compartmental osteoarthritis of a knee of a patient is disclosed. The auto-flex knee brace comprises an upper thigh cuff, a lower thigh cuff, a flexible strap arrangement and at least one spring column assembly. The upper thigh cuff is positioned substantially above knee for encircling an upper part of leg of a user and the lower thigh cuff is positioned substantially below the knee for encircling a lower part of the leg of the user. The flexible strap arrangement includes a first strap means and a second strap means that securely tied around the upper thigh cuff and the lower thigh cuff. The at least one spring column assembly is adaptable for releasably coupling the upper thigh cuff and the lower thigh cuff.

Abstract: The present invention provides a heated catalyzed fuel injector that dispenses fuel substantially exclusively during the power stroke of an internal combustion engine, wherein ignition occurs in a fast burn zone at high fuel density such that a leading surface of the fuel is completely burned within several microseconds. In operation, the fuel injector precisely meters instantly igniting fuel at a predetermined crank angle for optimal power stroke production. Specifically, the fuel is metered into the fuel injector, such that the fuel injector heats, vaporizes, compresses and mildly oxidizes the fuel, and then dispenses the fuel as a relatively low pressure gas column into a combustion chamber of the engine.

Abstract: The invention relates to digital image enhancement, and more precisely to a guided color correction system that produces a desirable image display and reproduction. A major objective of the invention is to determine appropriate image transformations based on the user's personal preference. This is achieved by using a guided system that employs diametrically opposed or contrariwise enhancement parameter transformation previews. During the process, the user chooses the most preferred preview to determine a parameter. The amount for each parameter is determined and a final transformation is applied. The invention is designed to increase color correction speed, efficiency, and accuracy by drastically reducing the complexity and heretofore random, haphazard, and arbitrary process of conventional digital image enhancement and color correction.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method and an apparatus for creating an elementary optical disc master with but a single layer to be applied to a disc substrate to form pits having ideal shapes and without berm buildup. These ideally shaped pits are improvements in the technology of disc mastering, due to the manufacturing and data playback advantages that are inherent in the ideally shaped pits. An optically active lamina consisting of a dye polymer solution of nitrocellulose and a increased dye additive is spin coated directly to a pregrooved polycarbonate substrate to enable the recording of data on the disc by laser means in the form of pits. The pits are created by having a data modulated laser focusing on the optically active lamina which reacts to the irradiation causing a pit to be formed. The resulting pit more often than not possesses a residual raised berm area surrounding the pit, in what is considered to be a less than ideal shape for a pit.

Abstract: A spin coater drying cover is disclosed having unique properties and construction to enable accurate control of the drying process of an optically active lamina of a Nitrocellulose Dye Polymer solution on a Polycarbonate disc substrate. The cover is configured with an orientation platform allowing micro adjustment of the angle and distance of a porous gas filter disc of the cover in relation to the optically active layer. The filter, essentially parallel and concentric to the disc substrate, can be varied from a flat, concave or convex camber to cause gas flow over the disc substrate to be such that a variable linear ramp of the optically active lamina can be achieved, with a thicker layer at the periphery than at the center of the disc. This enables deeper data pits to be formed at the difficult to mold outer disc periphery, thus increasing yield in a disc mastering process.

Abstract: A fluid flow prevention device to be used with flexible conduits, and more particularly with toy balloons. The device is made of a resilient material and has a centrally and axially located normally closed slit through which a ring of a balloon's mouth may be inserted when the slit is forced open, whereby a neck of the balloon is maintained within the slit as the slit closes. After inflation of the balloon's body, the body and the ring are rotated in opposite directions, whereby the neck of the balloon is caused to twist. The resilient material of the device maintains closure of the slit whereby the wall defining the slit maintains the neck in its twisted position and prevents egress of fluid. In addition, the contractile force of the twisted neck draw the ring and the body of the balloon into frictional contact with the top and bottom surfaces of the device and further prevents untwisting of the neck and further prevents egress of fluid.

Abstract: A threaded fastener and mating driver system is used to apply a uniform torque to the entire fastener body and thereby facilitate removal of stuck fasteners. The driver tool is a two stage driver with one stage driving the inner bore of the fastener and the second stage driving the fastener head. The two driver stages are linked via a series of pins, each pin acting as an individual lever, such that the two drivers apply torque equally to the fastener. The entire driver assembly is housed in a block which can be attached to a standard ratchet or driving tool. The fastener is designed to be installed using a single stage screwdriver and normally has a foil seal covering the bore drive portion of the fastener. If the fastener becomes stuck, the foil seal is broken and the two stage drive system, including a bore driver and a screw head driver, is inserted into the fastener to effect additional removal torque.

Abstract: An easy to install, reliable, and portable assistance summoning device that displays a need for assistance through interchangeable reflective symbols and letters, and more particularly to a banner like device that is temporarily attachable to vehicles such as cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats, campers, and aircraft. The banner like device is made of a light weight, flexible, and foldable sheet of material to allow compact storage of the device. The sheet of material having at least two support rods to maintain the banner in an unfurled position. The support rods may also be made of magnetic material to allow attachment of said banner to metallic surfaces. Each support rod having a durable elastic band attached to each respective end thereof, whereby said elastic bands may be attached to protruding elements of a surface to maintain the device in an extended position.

Abstract: An apparatus which improves a conventional hydraulic brake system by locating the hydraulic brake fluid chamber sufficiently remote from the brake pads and their associated rotating brake element to prevent overheating of the brake liquid causing subsequent loss of hydraulic braking force. A communicating member is disposed between the hydraulic fluid chamber and the brake assembly which is comprised of a material possessing a low thermal conductivity.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method and an apparatus for creating an optical disc master by forming pits having ideal shapes and without berm buildup. These ideally shaped pits are improvements in the technology of disc mastering, due to the manufacturing and data playback advantages that are inherent in the ideally shaped pits. A disc substrate has a very thin partially reflective layer applied to the surface of the optical disc upon which data will be recorded. The substance used to make the partially reflective layer is normally considered opaque in more commonly occurring thicknesses. However, the partially reflective layer, is created to be so extremely thin that it becomes partially optically transparent. The partially reflective layer then has spin coated, thereon, an optically active lamina to enable the recording of data on the disc by laser means in the form of pits.

Abstract: An ambulatory physiological computer recorder that includes multiple selective plug and play signal input conditioners, a microprocessor system with operating and analyzing software and a removable memory module for data storage. The removable memory module may consist of any non-volatile memory such as IC memory, magnetic memory, optical memory or magneto-optical memory. The removable memory module used in the recorder excludes operating software; the purpose of the removable memory module in the recorder is only to receive and store acquired data. The recorder uses an alpha-numeric LCD display with control buttons for user interface to enter patient ID and recorder functional perimeters. Both operational and selective analysis software is resident in the microprocessor EEPROM memory. Software is installed in the recorder by transfer from an external source via standard serial or parallel links with applicable connectors, or by a plug-in EEPROM.

Abstract: A combination lethal/nonlethal firearm device is disclosed wherein a lethal gun, pistol or rifle that conventionally fires solid projectiles in the form of bullets, is conveniently converted to a non lethal defensive weapon by means of a novel attachment of a non lethal canister of dibilating chemical fluid such as tear gas or pepper gas to the barrel of the firearm. The canister is removably attached to the barrel by means of a saddle bracket attached to a trigger guard mounnting clamp, and where the direction of fire of the fluid propellant therein is along the firearm barrel and in the same line of fire as the trajectory of a solid projectile bullet of the firearm. Activation of the chemical dispenser is achieved by means of an activation plunger button adjacent the trigger guard in such manner that a peace officer may choose the better of lethal or non lethal defensive procedures.

Abstract: An illuminated hockey stick having a plurality of LED's coupled along each side of the shaft of the hockey stick which enables a method for playing the game of street hockey outdoors at night or in dimly lit conditions. Other equipment used to play the game includes an illuminated hockey puck and goal posts with small lights or diodes to improve visibility.

Abstract: A wire guide to control and contain electrical wire as it is pulled off a standard spool that is rotating about a spindle. The guide has side plates that rest alongside the spool and rotate about the same spindle upon which the spool turns. An adjustable spacer extends between the side plates to insure a good fit for any width spool. Adjustable length guide bars also extend between the side plates with the wire passing between the guide bars so that wire is prevented from expanding radially outward and becoming entangled.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus utilizing conventional photo-reactive and reflective layers of a recording medium for optically recording and reading both digital and variable length, analog pulses of data, in an exacting manner to eliminate excess energy absorption by the medium and for reducing latent recording errors due to defects in the recording medium as well as due to the recording process itself. With this precise recording and reading technique, analog variable-length pulse recording, with its inherent wide bandwidth, as well as coded digital pulse recording, with its inherent narrow bandwidth, can be accommodated. The system monitors the optical transmissivity and reflectivity of the recording medium during the recording process in real time to accurately determine initial and terminal inflection points denoting inception and end of a recorded pulse in an exacting manner and to pinpoint and make allowances for recording defects which may yet yield errors on playback.

Abstract: A system for filtering stochastic signals as embodied in stress test systems for measuring electrocardiographic (ECG) activity in response to exercise employs a bidirectional Infinite Impulse Response (IIR) filtering process over a predetermined window on a digitized version of an ECG signal to eliminate noise up to the 0.67 Hz frequency range. To eliminate phase shifting distortion in the ECG signal, the IIR filter is applied in a first direction over a predetermined window of the ECG and then applied in a second direction opposite the first direction segment over the identical window. In this manner the phase shift distortion normally associated with IIR filters is completely eliminated and superior bandwidth (as compared to FIR filters) is obtained. The response is achieved fast enough to be used in real time purpose.

Abstract: A system for filtering stochastic signals as embodied in stress test systems for measuring electrocardiographic (ECG) activity in response to exercise employs a bidirectional Infinite Impulse Response (IIR) filtering process over a predetermined window on a digitized version of an ECG signal to eliminate noise up to the 0.67 Hz frequency range. To eliminate phase shifting distortion in the ECG signal, the IIR filter is applied in a first direction over a predetermined window of the ECG and then applied in a second direction opposite the first direction segment over the identical window. In this manner the phase shift distortion normally associated with IIR filters is completely eliminated and superior bandwidth (as compared to FIR filters) is obtained. The response is achieved fast enough to be used in real time purpose.