Abstract: A toilet includes a dehumidifier operable to draw water vapor from the air and discharge water. A tank is configured to store the water discharged from the dehumidifier. A drain valve is movable from a closed position to an open position whereby the toilet is flushed solely with the water discharged from the dehumidifier and stored in the tank.

Abstract: Derivatives of 7-aminoceph-3-em-4-carboxylic acid with 6-fluoroquinolone derivatives in which the cephem and 6-fluoroquinolone moieties are bound to each other through a carboxamido bond as well as the pharmaceutical compositions containing them are described. These compounds possess antibacterial, growth promoting and probiotic activity.

Abstract: A piston and connecting rod assembly (140) including a connecting rod (141) and a piston (142). The piston (142) is caused to move linearly relative to the connecting rod (141) in response to relative pivoting therebetween by engagement of a bearing element (150) and an inclined surface (152). The piston (142) is attached to the connecting rod (141) by further bearing elements (144) rotatably mounted in flanges (158) of the piston (142.

Abstract: An index tray is pivoted in a housing, the tray having a recess for receiving a sticky coated disc and resiliently urged out of the housing for receiving the disc. An alignment detent device holds the tray in a retracted position in the housing cavity with the disc aligned at a predetermined location. A sheet of paper with pictorial or graphical indicia thereon is inserted into the cavity above the tray and disc. A transparent cylindrical press knob permits visual alignment of the indicia to the disc. Blades attached to the knob lower edge penetrate the sheet when the knob is depressed. A clamp coupled to the knob clamps the sheet to the tray in response to depressing the knob. After the knob is depressed, it is permitted to rotate in one direction only by a ratchet device to sever the sheet into a mating disc shape for attachment to the sticky surface of the disc on the tray. After the sheet is cut, the knob is lifted automatically and the tray, when released, springs open.

Abstract: New sod mats are described. The sod mats are reinforced with a coherent sheet of stable fibers and degradable matrix material. The sod reinforcements are easy to manufacture and handle. The sod mats have good of handling characteristics, good sod mat propagation characteristics, good "shelf life" stability, and are more easily dispersed into the soil by rototilling or other means when the mats are no longer useful as sods. Sod mats of grasses, ornamental plants, and nutritional plants are disclosed. The method of propagation is disclosed.

Abstract: A case for transmitting audible and written messages, the case comprising end panels, a bottom panel, contrapositioned walls defining a rear wall adjacently positioned to the rail of a bed and a front wall affixed together to form an open container in which written messages may be cataloged. The rear wall includes a flap which extends over the rail of a bed, holding the case thereto. Affixed to an exterior portion of the front wall are a plurality of cassette pockets for holding audio cassettes and a detachable recorder pocket, holding an audio cassette recorder, for receiving and sending messages. Attachable to the arm of a wheel chair, the detachable recorder pocket includes straps having hook and loop type fastener. Messages are recorded and then reserved in the cassette pockets which are designated by name tags.

Abstract: This invention relates to sod and turf having modified planting mediums and a synthetic sod reinforcement. The sod mats are propagated quickly and are very effective in use. The sod mats are especially effective for soil stabilization and sports fields.

Abstract: A new and improved herb, vegetable, flower, and groundcover sod mat suitable for many landscape applications. The improvement comprises growing either plant seeds, seedlings, plant plugs, rooted cuttings, or root divisions in a planting medium so that the roots of the plant material entangle with a polyolefin sod reinforcement to form a tough, lightweight, flexible sod mat. The sod mat can be produced in many strengths and weights, with many diverse planting mediums, with multiple species of plants. The polyolefin sod reinforcement can contain prodegradants which promote environmental friendliness. Sod mat may be sold in rolls or rectangular mat.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for playing a poker-like game with a deck of fifty-two playing cards wherein each player plays against the dealer. After each player makes a wager, the dealer deals four initial cards of the deck face up to seven separate hands, places odds on each hand according to predetermined guidelines, and selects two of the seven hands as a combination field position. Each player then selects either one of the hands, the field position, or a no-hand winning position which requires that none of the seven hands, after all cards are dealt, have two pairs or better. After each player selects a hand or a position, the dealer deals three more cards of the deck face up to each of the seven separate hands. The dealer then determines the winning hand or position and pays each player who selected the winning hand or position according to the odds and their wager or collects each player's wager who did not select the winning hand or position.

Abstract: New and improved sod mats of grasses, nutritional plants and ornamental plants have been developed for many garden and landscape applications. The improvement comprises growing plants whose roots penetrate and entangle with an improved nonwoven sod reinforcement to form versatile sod mats. Nonwoven sod reinforcements contain apertures to facilitate uniform water infiltration and root wetting. The sod mats can be produced with many diverse planting mediums and in both large and small sizes. Sod mats may be sod in rolls or in rectangular mats.

Abstract: New specialty sod mats are described. The sod mats use a nonwoven sod reinforcement of low strength to provide ease of handling, good sod mat propagation characteristics and easy dispersal into the soil by rototilling or other means when the mats are no longer useful as sods. Specialty sod mats of grasses, ornamental plants, and nutritional plants are disclosed. The method of propagation is disclosed.

Abstract: A coffee machine, for measuring and dispensing a desired quantity of coffee material, comprising a coffee bin, for holding coffee material, the coffee bin having a bin nozzle. A measuring disk is mounted below the bin nozzle, the measuring disk having a plurality of measuring cavities--each measuring cavity corresponding to a quantity of coffee material. A selector knob allows a user to align a specific measuring cavity directly below the bin nozzle. An upper solenoid selectively allows and prevents the flow of coffee material from the bin nozzle to the measuring cavity directly below the bin nozzle. A lower solenoid selectively allows the flow of coffee material from the measuring cavity directly below the bin nozzle, and prevents coffee material flow from that measuring cavity to allow it to fill with coffee material.

Abstract: New sod mats are described. The sod mats are reinforced with a coherent sheet of stable fibers and degradable matrix material. The sod reinforcements are easy to manufacture and handle. The sod mats have good of handling characteristics, good sod mat propagation characteristics, good "shelf life" stability, and are more easily dispersed into the soil by rototilling or other means when the mats are no longer useful as sods. Sod mats of grasses, ornamental plants, and nutritional plants are disclosed. The method of propagation is disclosed.

Abstract: A shoe, boot, sneaker, etc. incorporates a foot-actuated pump which is connected to one or more expandable air bladders located in portions of the footware where contour fitting is desirable. Walking or running actuates the pump. An adjustable relief valve connected to the bladder releases air when a preselected pressure is exceeded. The relief valve is accessible externally for easy adjustment by the wearer. Regardless of the external ambient temperature or degree of user activity, the pump, in conjunction with the relief valve, maintains a preselected pressure and assures that the selected fit between the user's foot and footware is maintained at all times.

Abstract: A beverage container pressurizer and more particularly to a screw threaded cap that replaces the screw threaded cap normally provided on large beverage containers and a manually operated reciprocating piston-type pump sealingly and releaseably connected with the screw threaded cap for pressurizing the beverage container to keep the carbonation suspended in a liquid state for sustaining the quality of a carbonated beverage for an extended life before "going flat". The replacement cap includes a valve assembly which permits entry of pressurized air from the pump but prevents egress of pressurized air from the container when the pump is removed. This arrangement enables a single pump to pressurize a number of beverage containers since the pump is separable from the replacement screw threaded cap which remains with the beverage container until all of the beverage has been consumed.

Abstract: A contract estimating system includes a digitizer ruler divided into a plurality of equally spaced increments. The ruler generates an output signal representing the distance along the ruler at a point touched by a hand held probe. A digitizer board carries a menu thereon including a plurality of indicia such as words, pictures and numbers representing different component parts and sizes and scale factors and generates an output signal corresponding to one of the indicia when touched by the probe. A computer automatically counts the number of each size component part and calculates the total length of pipes and similar components measured by the ruler. The results calculated by the computer can be displayed on a CRT and/or printed on a printer.

Abstract: A bar code ruler is divided into a plurality of equally spaced increments each of which is marked by a machine readable bar code number. The ruler includes a plurality of recesses along the length thereof which cooperate with a spring biased ball carried by a slide member, the ball and recesses functioning as a detent to temporarily maintain the slide member in any desired position on the ruler. A hand held bar code reader is used to scan the bar code number on the ruler next to the slide with the edge of the slide functioning as a guide. A menu is also provided which includes a plurality of bar codes representing different component parts and sizes and a plurality of scale factors. The bar code reader can read the codes on the menu and on the ruler and feeds the information to a computer which counts the number of each size component part and which calculates the total length of pipes and similar components measured by the ruler.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method for more efficiently bleeding a hydraulic system of air comprising a method of reversing normal flow of the hydraulic fluid within the hydraulic system, externally recirculating hydraulic fluid from a reservoir at the one end of the system to a cylinder at another end of the system, and watching the system reservoir for bubbles evidencing the escaping gas, and a pump apparatus for efficiently implementing the method.