Abstract: The present invention relates to improved dental compositions and methods for bleaching teeth. More specifically, this invention is directed towards hydrogen peroxide-containing compounds that are maintained at a substantially constant pH range of 6.0-10.0 during the tooth-bleaching procedure in the presence of a calcium chelating agent.

Abstract: A snowboard rider wears boots that fit into manually releasable bindings which are attached to the top surface of the snowboard, analogous to bindings on alpine skis. Generally, the snowboard bindings are aligned at approximately right angles to the longitudinal axis of the board, with one foot nearer to the front of the board, and the other foot nearer to the tail of the board. In a typical binding design, each boot is rigidly held in a fixed position with respect to the snowboard with no movement of the foot being possible absent corresponding movement of the snowboard. The snowboard binding described herein permits the rider to enjoy the flexibility of toe-to-heel movement, while providing for a simple method of restraining that method for terrains in which flexibility would be detrimental. Each binding consists of a footplate onto which the boot is strapped, a fulcrum attached to the bottom of the footplate, and a fulcrum receptacle mounted on top of the snowboard.

Abstract: A stick-on audio microchip recorder/playback product for message conveyance-, audio mail-, product promotion and self-reminder purposes. The product enables a user to record a personal (or business-oriented) message or self-reminder, and non-permanently fasten the recorder upon surfaces such as household doors, walls, mirrors; compatible (carry-able) objects such as appointment books or notebooks; or upon interiors of mailing-, packaging- or shipping vessels, in desired temporary locations where the intended recipient would be most likely to encounter it. The recorder is easily removable by the end-user, and reusable. A microchip recording/playback circuit, microphone, speaker, battery and record/playback controls, are secured in a housing. Preferably, the housing has on its underside an attached stick-on fastener, including a stack of "pressure sensitive" peel-off adhesive stickers, each having on their undersurface a medium adhesion substance.

Abstract: A steam cracking process and facility is described which comprises injection of erosive powder to effect at least partial decoking of transfer line exchangers without interrupting the steam cracking stream. The powder, preferably injected just upstream of the transfer line exchangers (TLE) (4), is separated from the cracked gases in primary gas/solid separators (5), temporarily stored in receiving drums at a controlled temperature and evacuated to a common powder storage and/or treatment module by pneumatic transfer by means of a relatively low flow of uncondensable gas. The process and facility can be used to collect solid fragments generated by injection of chemical compounds which are catalysts for the gasification of coke by steam.

Abstract: A flexible duplex dental tray such that the upper and the lower teeth can be placed in the upper and the lower dental troughs of the flexible duplex dental tray, respectively. The duplex dental tray is made of an elastic material and is has a radius of curvature less than the dentition of the patient such that the tension created by extending the duplex dental tray when it is worn provides additional support for holding the duplex dental tray in place, in addition to pressure for maintaining contact of tooth bleaching materials contained therein.

Abstract: An apparatus for chemically treating the surfaces of printed circuit board work pieces (PCBWP's) includes a tank for holding a bath of the chemical treatment liquid. A receiving device is provided for receiving the PCBWP's from a conventional transport conveyor in a horizontal orientation, and immersing the PCBWP's into the bath in a substantially vertical orientation. A conveyor device in the tank is configured to hold the PCBWP's in the vertical orientation and to move them face-on through the liquid bath while a substantially uniform transverse flow of fresh liquid is provided between the work pieces. Another conveyor device receives the PCBWP's and elevates them out of the bath in the vertical orientation, subsequently returning them to a horizontal orientation for delivery to a conventional transport conveyor.

Abstract: A lupus anticoagulant like protein obtained from Agkistrodon halys brevicaudus venom, methods and tests for detecting the presence of lupus anticoagulant in blood and methods of treating antiphospholipid syndrome and thrombotic disorders using the protein are disclosed.

Abstract: A portable power tool cutting guide comprised of a single guidepiece of extruded material molded to form a dual-sided fence with a remaining flat but ribbed upper surface surrounding the fence and a smooth lower surface, where a reference edge indexed to the particular power tool is cut by aligning the power tool with the fence and cutting the guidepiece parallel to said edge, and the reference edge is then aligned with the desired straight cutting line of a workpiece by means of attachment to the workpiece itself in order to make a straight cut.

Abstract: A device for supporting a gun from a tree where the gun has a scope and the device supports the gun from the scope. The devices comprises a plate adapted to be attached to a tree by the use of an adjustable strap that surrounds the tree, an arm pivotally attached to the plate and extending therefrom so that an elastic member may be attached to the end of the arm distal from the plate, and a harness having a body and a first and second belt connected to the elastic member. The first and second belt encircle the front end and back end of the scope, respectively, and support the gun. The first and second belts are adjustable so that the gun can be balanced within the harness.

Abstract: An automatic mirror positioning system is intended for tractor-trailer vehicles such as a tractor provided with a semi-trailer. The tractor includes a fifth wheel used to couple the trailer to the tractor. The system includes an angle detection unit to measure a relative angular pivot between the tractor and the trailer, a computer for interpreting data received from the detection unit, and a mirror assembly which includes a rotatable mirror which is operated by the signals received from the computer, whereby the system modifies the positions of the exterior rearview mirrors of the tractor in view of the relative position of the tractor and the trailer in order that the driver can view the sides and the rear corners of the trailer for any angle defined between the tractor and the trailer.

Abstract: A sailboard or surfboard (30) having a fin (32) and a skirt (36) extending aft of the tail edge (34) of the board. The skirt (36) is mounted to the sailboard in a manner so that the skirt assumes the contour of the water when sailed. Adhesive or a clamp plate is utilized to secure the skirt (36) to the board (30). The fin (32) includes a fin base (60) and a foil (62). Foil (62) is positioned aft of the fin base (60) so that the trailing edge (64) of the foil (62) is aft of the fin base (60).

Abstract: A suture cutter which is adapted to clamp, sever and cauterize a thermoplastic suture includes a housing having an electrical power source located in the housing and a trigger attached to the housing having open and closed positions. A suture clamp is attached to the housing and includes a stationary jaw and a pivotal jaw. A radiant heating element is adjacent to the suture clamp. An actuator connects the trigger to the pivotal jaw and electrical circuitry joins the power source to the radiant heating element. Closing of the trigger first closes the pivotal jaw against the stationary jaw to hold a suture, and then completes the circuitry to sever and cauterize the suture with radiant heat.

Abstract: A reversible high energy capacity battery and method of making that battery. A cathode is formed by packing a mixture of from about 10 to 90 weight percent finely divided sulfur and from about 90 to 10 weight percent finely divided graphite about an electrically conductive electrode, preferably in a porous enclosure. This cathode and a reactive metal anode are placed in a case of suitable configuration which is non-reactive with other components. An electrolyte is prepared by mixing particles of an ion exchange resin system including a polyalkyl sulfide, a resin substrate and agent selected from the group consisting of H.sub.2 S, HS.sup.-, S.sub.2.sup.- and mixtures thereof in a polar solvent, such as water. Buffering agents, conditioners and complexing agents may be added to the electrolyte to improve battery life and performance.

Abstract: A filing system is provided for locating a particular file contained in a file holder which contains a plurality of files. The apparatus includes a machine-readable code mounted on each of the files, a guide attached to each file holder, a scanner for reading the codes on the files in a file holder, and an indicator for indicating when the particular machine-readable code corresponding to the particular file is located. The apparatus uses an improved bar code in which character boundaries are eliminated and the number of ONE's and ZERO's in a code are variable, resulting in increased data density. The unique numeric values which result from the improved bar code sparsely populate the possible range of values, and therefore a mapping algorithm is provided to map the bar code values to a sequential numeric system for ease of use.

Abstract: An electric terminal device including a cap having two opposite wire holes and two opposite side openings at the four sides and two downward flanges on the inside, and a connecting terminal having horizontal ribs raised from the front and back sides and respectively engaged with the side openings on the cap and two elongated cutting slots and two connecting legs for welding to a circuit board, wherein when the cap is fastened to the connecting terminal after the electric wire is inserted through the wire holes, the downward flanges force the electric wires into the cutting slots of the connecting terminal, causing the connecting terminal to make an electric contact with the electric wire.

Abstract: A Process for desizing an/or color fading of fabrics and garments utilizing a reducing gas or vapor. The process is particularly for pretreating fabrics which are decolorized to provide a color contrast.

Abstract: A composition is provided, comprising purified alkaline gland fluid (AGF) from the alkaline gland of a cartilaginous fish. The invention also provides a purified protein of approximately 12 kD as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under non-denaturing conditions, that decreases sperm motility and can be purified from the alkaline gland of a cartilaginous fish. Further provided are purified proteins that increase sperm motility and can be purified from the alkaline gland of a cartilaginous fish. Particularly, purified proteins of approximately 160 kD, approximately 32 kD and approximately 18 kD as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) under non-denaturing conditions increase sperm motility. A method of increasing sperm motility comprising the step of contacting sperm with an amount of the present purified AGF composition or purified proteins effective to increase the motility of the sperm is also provided.

Abstract: A reversible high energy capacity battery and method of making that battery. A cathode is formed by packing a mixture of from about 10 to 90 weight percent finely divided sulfur and from about 90 to 10 weight percent finely divided graphite about an electrically conductive electrode, preferably in a porous enclosure. This cathode and a reactive metal anode are placed in a case of suitable configuration which is non-reactive with other components. An electrolyte is prepared by dissolving a metal solute and an ionic sulfide solute in a polar solvent, such as water. Buffering agents, conditioners and complexing agents may be added to the electrolyte to improve battery life and performance.