Abstract: A sample holder apparatus for a top-loading cryostat insert based on a cage assembly system which is mounted onto a vacuum flange. The vacuum flange has a group of blind bores on the vacuum side of the flange, in which are mounted hollow cage assembly rods, and a further corresponding group of four blind bores on the air side of the flange for receiving further cage assembly rods. A cage assembly system can thus be provided on the vacuum side of the flange and, if desired, extended through the vacuum flange onto the air side with optical communication between the vacuum and air sides taking place through a window at the top of the flange. Feed-throughs on the flange provide for access of optical fibers and electrical leads. The design provides a sample holder which is readily adaptable and reconfigurable to perform a variety of optical experiments in a top-loading cryostat. Examples of near-field scanning microscopy (NSOM) and confocal microscopy are described.

Abstract: A system for fabricating muntin bars from sheet material. Sheet material in the form of thin ribbon stock is fed to a first forming station including a punching mechanism that punches the ribbon stock at a precisely predetermined location. The ribbon stock is delivered from the first forming station to a second forming station in the form of a rolling mill. The stock passes through a succession of forming rolls to produce a tube having a desired cross-sectional shape. The tube is delivered from the second forming station to a third forming station including a severing apparatus that severs the tube at a precisely predetermined location to produce a muntin bar. After severing, the muntin bar is engaged by a conveyor and moved to a desired location.

Abstract: A bath lift (10), the lift (10) comprising a housing (12) locatable to a first side (18) of a bath (20). A flexible band (72) is provided which is selectively extendable from the housing (12) across the bath (20) to a second side (86) of the bath (20) such that a person can sit on the band (72). The lift (10) comprises means for selectively feeding the band (72) out or in of the housing (12) such that when the band (72) is fed out a person sitting thereon is lowered into a sitting position to the bottom of the bath (20), and when the band (72) is fed in, a person sitting thereon is raised off the bottom of the bath (20). The lift (10) is arranged to be selectively movable between an in use position with the band (72) extending from the housing (12) across the bath (20), and an out of use condition with the band (72) located at least substantially within the housing (12). The housing (12) lies in a generally flat configuration to the first side (18) of the bath (20).

Abstract: A containment structure for providing fluid tight seals between translucent panels and a frame and between the frame and an adjoining structural member. The containment structure includes an L-shaped gasket for providing a seal on a first side of the translucent panel, an upper gasket for providing a seal on a second side of the translucent panel, one or more connector plates for connecting the frame to an adjoining structural member, a structural carrier gasket for providing a seal between the frame and an adjoining structural member and a connector plate gasket for providing seals between the one or more connector plates and the adjoining structural member.

Abstract: A seal card game system providing multiple levels of non-progressive play. The game system awards a master case award to a winning ticket not among the population of individual deal winning tickets. A winning ticket of each deal set does not qualify for the master case award level. The game features segregated deal sets, each set containing break-open tickets. Each deal set is segregated by deal identifier indicia. In one exemplary embodiment, the deal identifier indicia is a selected color which is imprinted on each of the playing tickets comprising a deal set. The play tickets may be serialized by deal or by case for security. A seal card may includes the serialization of each ticket associated with the case. The non-progression scheme benefits the game operator in retaining the interest and participation of a higher population of players throughout the multiple deal play.

Abstract: The invention provides a device for converting data types corresponding to functional animations into a form that is amenable to fast renderings of the animation by using of a presentation library. It therefore bridges a gap between the high level flexibility needed to formulate animations with the low level rigid structuring imposed by presentation software that directly interfaces with image rendering and sound presenting hardware. A spite engine interprets a list of sprites which is created and updated by a normalizer software component. The sprite engine must interpret its list at a refresh rate suitable for rendering video images. The normalizer must deal with the functional data types built by the functional animation software and convert those data types into lists of sprites.

Abstract: A hand-held portable computer is disclosed. The computer includes a housing at least partially enclosing computer electronics, a visible display screen supported by the computer housing and a handle assembly connected to the computer housing. The handle assembly includes a handle support, a support retainer affixed to the housing at a location opposite the screen and a handle supported by the handle support. The support retainer adjustably connects the handle support to the computer housing. In the preferred embodiment, the handle support is rotatably adjustable with respect to the computer housing. The handle support includes an annular ring having a plurality of indentations on one surface and the support retainer includes a detent which engages a selected one of the indentations to secure the handle support in a desired rotational orientation.

Abstract: A burner includes a motor driven blower, an air tube having an inlet end portion and an outlet end portion, a housing forming an air flow path between the blower and the air tube, a nozzle for spraying liquid fuel or orifice for dispersing gas toward the outlet end portion of the air tube and a conduit for feeding the fuel to the nozzle or orifice. An air flow control device and method enable air flow and pressure to be regulated at locations near the nozzle and between the blower and the nozzle. A contour of a throttle member of the burner is designed so as to achieve a prescribed pressure in a region between the throttle member and head of the burner over the range of the burner.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fishing rod accessory having simple design which is connected to a traditional float (1). As a result, a cast bait can be lifted or lowered, as if by remote control, by corresponding movements of the fishing rod. The inventive accessory consists of a hollow body (4) which can be rapidly flooded via the two end openings (for the fishing line (3) to be passed through), and a (submersible) ball (6) lodged inside the hollow body (4). Said ball (6) frees the passage of the line (3), when the hollow body (4) is in horizontal position, by rolling into a trough-shaped hollow, whereas it blocks this passage after swinging around an axis (5a) (i.e. in vertical position) by jamming, together with the line, in the circular and funnel-shaped outlet opening, when the position in question is stabilized (until the next fishing rod) manoeuvre).

Abstract: A pair of convertible pliers capable of switching between a first configuration suitable for use with external retaining rings to a second configuration suitable for use with internal retaining rings. The pliers convert from external to internal by operation of a pair of pins disposed in the jaws and capable of being maneuvered by a cam surface inside a knob on the tool such that the tool is convertible from a first position where movement of the handles inward causes the jaws to move inward to a second position where movement of the handles inward causes the jaws to move outward.

Abstract: A hose end fitting that comprises an annularly corrugated imperforate metal tube, a fitting member fixed to an end of the tube, and, first and second resiliently compressible sealing members. The metal tube has axially spaced apart outer corrugation peaks and axially spaced apart inner valleys, each valley interposed between two of the peaks. Adjacent peaks and valleys are connected together by radially extending tube walls. The fitting member comprises a fitting body defining a through opening, a seal seat surrounding and extending outwardly from the through opening, and a tube compressing extension projecting from the fitting body.

Abstract: A data mining system for use in finding clusters of data items in a database or any other data storage medium. The clusters are used in categorizing the data in the database into K different clusters within each of M models. An initial set of estimates (or guesses) of the parameters of each model to be explored (e.g. centriods in K-means), of each cluster are provided from some source. Then a portion of the data in the database is read from a storage medium and brought into a rapid access memory buffer whose size is determined by the user or operating system depending on available memory resources. Data contained in the data buffer is used to update the original guesses at the parameters of the model in each of the K clusters over all M models. Some of the data belonging to a cluster is summarized or compressed and stored as a reduced form of the data representing sufficient statistics of the data. More data is accessed from the database and the models are updated.

Abstract: A gas burner that produces a yellow flame for use in a fireplace assembly, including front and rear non-combustible logs and a cross-over log supported atop the front and rear logs. The burner includes an elongate, generally tubular sheet metal body having an inlet end, a closed distal end and a tubular segment extending between the ends. The inlet end is formed to define a gas orifice holder which is adapted to mount a gas orifice element and to define at least one primary air opening arranged to admit combustion air into the tubular burner segment. A bluff body is located downstream from the gas orifice element and is positioned such that gas emitted by the orifice impinges on the bluff body. Rows of slot-like flame ports are defined in the tubular segment and are arranged to create a desired predetermined flame pattern and include tabs which determine the effective size of the ports.

Abstract: A locking annular gasket, for providing a seal between a tubular member and a smooth annular section, includes an annular gasket portion and a locking member. The annular gasket portion seals a gap between the smooth annular section and the tubular member. The locking member is secured to the gasket portion for holding the gasket portion in place while the tubular member and the smooth annular section are assembled.

Abstract: A hand-held power-operated blade-actuating or other work member actuating device, especially useful as shears for processing comestible products such as fowl. A servo mechanism and linkage connected with a movable blade and a finger control causes controlled powered movement of the blade in coordination with the finger control. A fixed blade and a pivoted blade are insertable and removable as a unit from a hand-held frame in which the fixed blade is restrained against rotation relative to the frame. The blades and frame are constructed so the blades are insertable or removable only when closed. In a preferred embodiment the fixed blade is retained in part by two load bearing pins extending from the frame and located substantially diametrically opposite each other relative to the pivot axis of the movable blade.

Abstract: A restraint system for protecting occupants in a sleeping compartment of a vehicle having a bunk bed includes at least two flexible straps having one end attached to a selected one of the vehicle or the bunk, and a second end. Attached to the straps is at least one energy absorbent padding in a position relative to the bunk bed for providing restraint and secondary collision protection to a prone occupant. The straps extend from the vehicle over the bunk bed to the second ends. A releasable lock is attached to the second ends for connecting the second ends to the vehicle or bunk. When not in use, the restraint system is conveniently stored so as to provide minimal impact on cab space. A strap retraction means is attached to the vehicle and has the first ends of the straps attached thereto. The strap retraction means is operable to retract the straps when the releasable lock is unlatched whereby the straps collapse into a stored position.

Abstract: An index and materialized view selection wizard produces a fast and reasonable recommendation of indexes and materialized views which are beneficial given a specified workload for a given database and database server. Candidate materialized views and indexes are obtained, and a joint enumeration of the combined materialized views and indexes is performed to obtain a recommended configuration. The configuration includes both indexes and materialized views. Candidate materialized views are obtained by first determining subsets of tables are referenced in queries in the workload and then finding interesting table subsets. Next, interesting subsets are considered on a per query basis to determine which are syntactically relevant for a query. Materialized views which are likely to be used for the workload are then generated along with a set of merged materialized views.