Abstract: A device for covering a portion of a finger of a hand is provided. A pad that is sized and shaped to be positioned on a fingernail of the finger is releasably affixable to the fingernail. An adhesive applied to the lower surface of the pad has sufficient strength to keep the pad affixed to the fingernail when the pad is applied to the fingernail until the pad is manually removed from the fingernail. The upper surface of the pad is reflective such that the visibility of hand signals given while the pad is affixed to the fingernail is improved relative to hand signals given while the pad is not affixed to the finger nail.

Abstract: Plant biomass particles coated with a bioactive agent such as a fertilizer or pesticide, characterized by a length dimension (L) aligned substantially parallel to a grain direction and defining a substantially uniform distance along the grain, a width dimension (W) normal to L and aligned cross grain, and a height dimension (H) normal to W and L. In particular, the L×H dimensions define a pair of substantially parallel side surfaces characterized by substantially intact longitudinally arrayed fibers, the W×H dimensions define a pair of substantially parallel end surfaces characterized by crosscut fibers and end checking between fibers, and the L×W dimensions define a pair of substantially parallel top and bottom surfaces.

Abstract: A merchandising display and dispensing system for displaying and dispensing articles, including cylindrical shaped articles or rolls of disk-shaped articles. In particular, the invention relates to a modular display and dispensing system having a plurality of modules fitted with one another. Each module comprises a left side panel and a right side panel which are fitted together and form a serpentine chute which feeds articles by gravity to an access tray where an article can be removed by hand, thus permitting another article to enter the tray. The front of the module receives a front cover for covering the chute and provides a surface for indicia of contents inside the module. The front cover is preferably hinged at the bottom to permit reloading product in the top of the chute. Various connecting structures can be formed on the side panels and adapted to join the module to a front cover, to another adjacent module, to a module base, and/or to a module header to form a modular display and dispensing system.

Abstract: A baler for making compacted bales of a cellulosic biomass material, the baler comprising: a housing defining a compaction chamber therein, wherein the housing comprises a top wall, an infeed opening defined in the top wall for introducing the material into the compaction chamber, and wherein a cutting device is mounted on the housing alongside the infeed opening.

Abstract: A method of using color or color schemes to simplify the communication to consumers of complex information regarding the combinations and interactions of technically oriented performance attributes that describe the degree of comfort as found in mattresses, mattress foundations, upholstered furniture articles and other articles filled with cushioning materials. Additionally the selected method of using color as a communication tool may be of further benefit in the interaction with consumers by developing strong emotional ties to the consumers purchase decision.

Abstract: Described is a luffah having of a series of ruffles wherein a substantially dry, water-soluble, cleansing and/or moisturizing agent is present on the ruffles at a center portion of the luffah. Enough cleaning agent or moisturizer is present to allow the luffah to be used at least once. A method of forming a luffah herein includes injecting a substantially wet, cleansing and/or moisturizing agent at, or near, a core of a luffah which is then compressed around the injected cleansing and/or moisturizing agent. The substantially wet, cleansing and/or moisturizing agent is then allowed to dry into a generally dry, water-soluble, cleansing and/or moisturizing agent at the core of the luffah.

Abstract: A precast concrete meter pit consisting of a plurality of precast concrete hollow elongated cylindrical wall sections in end to end relation to one another is fabricated by utilizing a slip form packerhead apparatus in which the wall sections are formed with an annular slip ring when concrete is injected into the slip form apparatus.

Abstract: An improvement is provided to a pressurized close-cycle machine that has a cold-end pressure vessel and is of the type having a piston undergoing reciprocating linear motion within a cylinder containing a working fluid heated by conduction through a heater head by heat from an external thermal source. The improvement includes a heat exchanger for cooling the working fluid, where the heat exchanger is disposed within the cold-end pressure vessel. The heater head may be directly coupled to the cold-end pressure vessel by welding or other methods. A coolant tube is used to convey coolant through the heat exchanger.

Abstract: An alignment plate having a viewing window and three adjustable strut members enables a surgeon to better place external fixation pins and an external fixation ring system relative to a desired anatomical feature of the lower extremity.

Abstract: A method for producing a silver-bonded antimicrobial moist wound dressing. A silver-containing compound is added to a 0.1-30% aqueous solution of an alkaline solvent to dissociate silver ions from the silver-containing compound, dissolving CMC in water or an organic solvent to obtain a CMC solution, the silver ion-containing solution is mixed with the CMC solution so that the hydrogen ions (H+) of the hydroxyl groups of the CMC are replaced by the silver ions to prepare a silver-CMC compound, the silver-CMC compound is dispersed and absorbed in a medium, and the medium is dried.

Abstract: A protective wrapping system for an object is disclosed that is comprised of a flexible, hardened material for wrapping around the object, a flexible magnetic strip adhered to either end that enables the system to adhere to ferromagnetic materials, and a series of holes that are placed through the material and the magnetic strips to protect it from scrapes and puncture damages when being moved.

Abstract: A vacuum-pressure swing absorption concentrator includes a motor driven compressor having pressure and vacuum heads that are connected to a pressure reservoir and a vacuum reservoir respectively. The pressure and vacuum reservoirs are selectively and alternately interconnected in sequence through a main valve to a pair of nitrogen filtering sieve beds. A controller operates the valve to alternately and cyclically interconnect the sieve beds to the pressure and vacuum reservoirs respectively. During each cycle, a respective bed is pressurized and enriched oxygen is produced and delivered to a tank for use by a patient. At the same time, the other bed is evacuated through the vacuum reservoir. A crossover valve delivers oxygen from a pressurized bed to an evacuated bed to facilitate purging of impurities previously collected in the evacuated bed.

Abstract: A biomass baler having a baling chamber adapted to receive tall grass biomass material and a compression system adapted to compact the tall grass biomass material into a parallelepiped bale in the chamber, wherein the baling chamber has a front wall consisting essentially of a reciprocating compression platen corresponding in dimensions to the width W and height H of the bale, opposing upper and lower walls corresponding in dimensions to the length L and either of the W and H of the bale, and opposing sidewalls corresponding in dimensions to the L and the other of the W and H of the bale, and wherein the compression system is adjustable by conventional controls to apply at least one operator-selectable compression platen pressure of between 22 psi and 30 psi to the tall grass biomass material in the chamber.

Abstract: A biomass baler having a baling chamber adapted to receive tall grass biomass material and a compression system adapted to compact the tall grass biomass material into a parallelepiped bale in the chamber, wherein the baling chamber has a front wall consisting essentially of a reciprocating compression platen corresponding in dimensions to the width W and height H of the bale, opposing upper and lower walls corresponding in dimensions to the length L and either of the W and H of the bale, and opposing sidewalls corresponding in dimensions to the L and the other of the W and H of the bale, and wherein the compression system is adjustable by conventional controls to apply at least one operator-selectable compression platen pressure of between 22 psi and 30 psi to the tall grass biomass material in the chamber.

Abstract: A baler for making compacted bales of a cellulosic and preferably woody biomass material, the baler comprising: a housing defining a compaction chamber therein, wherein the housing comprises a top wall, an infeed opening defined in the top wall for introducing the material into the compaction chamber, and a hopper system comprising: first and second doors pivotably attached to the housing in opposing array over the infeed opening, wherein each door comprises a pivot having a plurality of fingers extending in planar array therefrom and defining a plurality of recesses disposed therebetween, and wherein the fingers of the first and second doors are staggered such that the fingers of each door are positioned opposite to and receivable by the recesses of the other door, and actuator means for pivoting the doors upwardly to form a chute for directing the material toward the infeed opening, and downwardly to intermesh and preferably interlock the fingers and substantially cover the infeed opening.

Abstract: A variable focus illuminator includes an array of light sources and a movable lens plate positioned immediately in front of the array of light sources. The lens plate includes a plurality of lenses that redirect the light produced by the light sources, such that different positions of the lens plate result in different sizes of the field illuminated by the variable focus illuminator. The lens plate may be movable in translation, rotation, or both. The variable focus illuminator may also include a cover plate in front of the movable lens plate, which may also include a plurality of cover plate lenses. The variable focus illuminator may be varifocal, or may include a zoom capability. The variable focus illuminator may be part of a system that includes a camera, and the system may also include a pan/tilt mechanism.

Abstract: A three dimensional picture frame comprising first and second vertical frame members, a bottom and top horizontal frame members coupled to opposite ends of the vertical frame members, front and rear transparent sheets located perpendicularly to the vertical and horizontal frame members to form a vessel, a backing sheet located perpendicularly to the first and second vertical frame members and the bottom and top horizontal frame members and outward from the rear transparent sheet such that when a material is placed in the vessel and a graphical sheet is placed between the backing sheet and rear transparent sheet, the graphical sheet is isolated from the material, and a plunger configured to slide downward in the vessel such that when a material is located in a portion of the vessel below the plunger, the material is prevented from entering a portion of the vessel above the plunger.

Abstract: A new class of plant biomass feedstock particles characterized by consistent piece size and shape uniformity, high skeletal surface area, and good flow properties. The particles of plant biomass material having fibers aligned in a grain are characterized by a length dimension (L) aligned substantially parallel to the grain and defining a substantially uniform distance along the grain, a width dimension (W) normal to L and aligned cross grain, and a height dimension (H) normal to W and L. In particular, the L×H dimensions define a pair of substantially parallel side surfaces characterized by substantially intact longitudinally arrayed fibers, the W×H dimensions define a pair of substantially parallel end surfaces characterized by crosscut fibers and end checking between fibers, and the L×W dimensions define a pair of substantially parallel top and bottom surfaces.