Abstract: A drinking water filter assembly has a filter cartridge which includes a filter element contained in a pressure vessel for unitary disposal, the cartridge received on a base containing attachment fittings for ease in installation and replacement with limited exposure to contaminants during a filter change. A flow powered flow meter is provided which measures the quantity of flow through the filter for alerting the user to replace the filter cartridge.

Abstract: In the present invention, a forward direction power control method using a backward direction power control sub-channel for a mobile communication system is disclosed. The method according to the present invention is directed to rapidly and effectively controlling the power of a base station transmission signal using a power control, sub-channel in a backward direction pilot channel when performing an outer loop and inner loop in a mobile station of a mobile communication system which adapts an IS-2000 CDMA method and rapidly coping with a channel environment and forward direction wireless environment for thereby decreasing the power of a transmission signal of the base station and increasing the capacity of the system.

Abstract: A cardiac insert or implant is deployed in a patient's heart so as to reduce ventricular volume, thereby improving cardiac function. The insert or implant may be a compressive device such as a tensile member inserted into the patient's heart, and thereafter operated or deployed to bring opposite walls of a ventricle of the patient's heart into at least approximate contact with one another to thereby constrict and close off a lower portion of that ventricle. The compressive device or tensile member is insertable into the patient heart via a catheter threaded through the patient's vascular system and into the patient's heart.

Abstract: An operating principle or method and a construction for small chairs that can be utilized by children to form playthings at home or at the nursery, crèche or kindergarten. When such chairs are being coupled with U-shaped clamps, a variety of doll's furniture can be created by the children themselves. The child's furniture is safe and easy to handle while assembling or disassembling them. Combinations of said chairs could form such playthings as barns, high rise buildings, doll houses, a doll's crib, a bed, a puppet theatre, a couch, an umpire seat and so on.

Abstract: A constructive arrangement applied to an integrated thermostatic valve attached to its own housing has a hollow tubular-shaped body (1) projecting from a flange (2) with holes (3) for fixing screws, and a central opening (4) that determines the chamber mouth molded to the cavity of the body. There are two opposing lengthwise projections (6), which have a groove (7) near the chamber mouth, and another groove (8) near the mouth of the body (1), with the ends of a curved plate (9) fitted into the grooves (8). In the grooves (7) are fitted the ends of another plate (11). A sheet metal disk (12) is inserted into the internal rim of the mouth (4) of the chamber (5), having fixed to the end of the thermostatic valve, a washer (14) for supporting the disk (15) that has a hole where the terminal of the aforementioned thermostatic valve is housed and moves.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an air vent structure for an inner air discharge of a helmet adapted to protect a user's head when a user rides a motorcycle, and in particular to an air vent structure for a helmet which is capable of preventing a breath steam from forming in an inner surface of a shield by installing an air vent in lower both sides of a shield installed in a front side of a helmet and accurately adjusting an opening and closing degree of an air vent. It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an air vent structure for a helmet which is capable of discharging an inner air based on the flow of an air of an air vent by installing an air vent at both lower sides of a shield of a helmet, improving a structure of an air flow of an air vent and accurately adjusting the amount of flowing air, and it is possible to adjust the flowing amount of air based on a helmet user's condition and a state of an inner and outer side of a helmet for thereby implementing a pleasant state.

Abstract: Disclosed is a laser surveying apparatus including a body, a platform pivotally supported by the body about a first axis, a drive pivotally supported by the platform about a second axis transverse to the first axis, a head rotatably supported by the drive to rotate about a third axis transverse to the second axis, and a semiconductor laser supported by the head to project laser radiation transverse the third axis. Electrical power to the laser is supplied via rotatable connections thereby allowing the weight of a power source to be omitted from the rotating head. Selective adjustments of the head allow the laser to rotate in a horizontal plane, a vertical plane or an inclined plane. Selective adjustment of the platform permits the laser to irradiate in a vertical plane at differing horizontal angles so facilitating marking out of buildings, fences etc.

Abstract: According to a method for transferring blister packs to a feeding line of a packaging machine, a series of blister packs arranged in a line at a cutting station is picked-up and arranged in alignment with receiving and moving means, adjacent to the cutting station. The series of blister packs is released simultaneously, so that a first blister pack, situated in a foremost position falls onto the receiving and moving mechanism and the further blister packs of the series of blister packs fall onto support elements, carried by a selective releasing member and disposed above the receiving and moving mechanism. The support elements are operated selectively, so as to release, one by one and in succession, the further blister packs aligned and regularly spaced apart, onto the receiving and moving mechanism.

Abstract: A method of breast reconstruction utilizes a breast prosthesis having a plurality of chambers or compartments distributed through a body member or shell in the form of a breast. The chambers are disposed along the superior, lateral and inferior surfaces, as well as in the interior, of the body member. The chambers are differentially pressurized or filled in order to control the shape of the prosthesis upon implantation thereof. Valves are provided for regulating the flow of fluid into and from the chambers. The prosthesis and the fill levels of the respective chambers may be selected by computer.

Abstract: A food supplement which has beneficial effects for bowel health, and a method of preparing the food supplement are disclosed. The food supplement is derived from fiber extracts from two or more types of fruit or vegetables. The fiber extracts have a majority of soluble solids removed therefrom. The two or more types of fruit or vegetable may be selected from the group consisting of grape, citrus, apple, tomato, carrot, mango, cranberry, papaya, banana, pineapple, kiwi fruit, spinach and melon. The beneficial effects for bowel health are manifest in an increase in levels of short chain fatty acids (SCFA's) in the colon.

Abstract: A machine for producing so-called strip packs includes: a station for feeding products to a packaging group, situated in cascade, which places and seals each of the products in relative heat-welded pockets, arranged on a continuous band; an operating station, situated in cascade with respect to the packaging group, equipped with: means for printing and/or applying codified data and/or information on each pocket; feeling detecting means for verifying the presence of corresponding products inside each pocket; pre-cutting groups for transversal precutting of the continuous band; cutting groups for longitudinal and transversal cutting of the continuous band; a compensation magazine, interposed between the packaging group and the operating station, and aimed at allowing, at least partial, accumulation of the continuous band. The continuous band is moved stepwise.

Abstract: A device for transferring blister packs to the feeding line of a packaging machine includes a pick-up member capable of picking-up a series of blister packs disposed in reciprocal alignment at the blister packs cutting station and releasing this series of blister packs in alignment with a conveyor situated adjacent to the cutting station. A blister packs selective releasing device is situated above the conveyor and is equipped with support elements for receiving in support the blister packs picked-up by the pick-up member and operated selectively to release the blister packs, disposed in reciprocal alignment and orderly spaced apart, onto the conveyor. A stepwise rotating carrousel is situated at the outlet of said conveyor and is equipped with gripping members capable of picking-up the blister packs from the conveyor and transferring the blister packs, one by one, to a feeding line arranged perpendicular with respect to the conveyor.

Abstract: A compact non-contact electrical switch for use in an electrical box mounted on a wall has a capacitance sensor for detecting a presence of a hand placed adjacent to the switch and for generating a first data bit, and a CPU for receiving the data bit and for calculating a power output in response to the first data bit The CPU generates a control signal for controlling a triac or relay and thus the power supplied to an electrical circuit passing through the box, for on/off and optionally dimmer control responsive to the proximity of the hand.