Abstract: An endless transport belt made of thermoresistant synthetic filaments for transporting yarn is described, which yarn is wound around a plurality of transport belts in the form of loops, said transport belts being arranged polygonal in cross section. In order to reduce stretching of the transport belt, at least one reinforced thread is included among the synthetic filaments, which reinforced thread is preferably a steel wire or cord.

Abstract: A holster securement system for securing a holster to a belt comprises a body having at one end a loop for receiving the belt. The securement system also has a holster mount capable of being rigidly connected to the holster. An engagement member selectively detachably interconnects the body and the holster mount. The engagement member rigidly connects the holster mount to the body when engaged, and the engagement member enables the body and the holster mount to be selectively movable with respect to each other when disengaged.

Abstract: A process and device are disclosed for measuring blood platelet aggregation or blood coagulation. The blood flows through an opening in a part and the occlusion of the opening is measured. The pressure fall (.DELTA.P) formed during occlusion of the opening is measured at predetermined time intervals (dt) and the volume flow (I) is changed to correspond to a predetermined function which simulates the flow resistance (R.sub.v) of a capillary upstream of the opening. Alternatively, the pressure (.DELTA.P) is kept constant during the predetermined time intervals (dt) and afterwards, when the volume flow (I) has diminished by a certain value, the pressure is adjusted until it corresponds to the function.

Abstract: A footwear attachment device for releasable mounting on primary footwear, e.g., a boot or shoe, to provide enhanced traction. The primary footwear has an upper including a toe portion and a heel portion, a sole including a fore-foot portion and a heel portion. The attachment device comprising an integral member having been formed of an elastic material and having an upper portion and a sole portion. The sole portion is a generally planar member having a forefoot section, a heel section and a longitudinal axis extending therealong. The upper portion includes a toe-box section and a heel counter section. The toe box section is formed of at least one strip of elastic material and is secured to the forefoot portion of the sole to receive the toe portion of the primary footwear.

Abstract: A clamping device for at least one adjustable element has at least one adjusting spindle designed to receive a crank for adjusting the element. Upon pushing the crank unto the adjusting spindle, a signal for releasing the clamping action is triggered.

Abstract: A radiant heater mounting heating elements in a sealed housing with a ceramic heat transmitting wall. A fan is mounted in the housing to cool the heating elements and in practice provide additional heat. There are also vent assemblies which prevent water such as rainwater or even water from, for example, a hose entering into the heater and causing failure.

Abstract: A mating closure system includes a first closure element and a second closure element, where at least one of the closure elements includes a cut-out opening. Preferably both closure elements include matching cut-out openings. The cut-out opening may be formed in a variety of shapes, but an arc or elongated oval is preferred. The first closure element is placed adjacent an opening of a bag. The second closure element is displaced from the opening, such that when the bag portion adjacent the opening is folded down the first and second closure elements mate with the cut-out openings substantially aligning to form a handle with a resulting notch for accommodating a user's fingers.

Abstract: A character animation system executing on a computer. The system provides a simple, efficient and powerful user interface that allows the user to specify complex animations of multi-legged characters by placing footprints on a surface. A compiler automatically generates a natural looking animation based on the footprints. Motions such as walking, running, jumping, etc. are easily animated depending on the way footprints are placed. The user is able to create new footprint patterns and modify existing patterns. Footprint blocks on a timeline are used to specify the time duration that each foot is in contact with a footprint. The user may specify keyframes in the animation sequence that allow more complicated body movements to be incorporated with the footprint based animation.

Abstract: A method is provided to ensure that a combustion turbine power generation system may operate at maximum allowable power at elevated ambient temperature and/or at low air density.

Abstract: Highly accurate time interval measurement is achieved for an electrical waveform. The electrical waveform is sampled and converted to a series of voltages, and the series of voltages is interpolated in order to form a time tag list, using interpolations that are optimized for time interval measurement and analysis. The time tag list accurately represents the times at which particular events of interest occur, and is used to generate displays and results analysis such as adjacent cycle jitter and accurate differential triggering and analysis.

Abstract: A docking apparatus includes a pair of spaced apart primary buoyancy bodies and cradle assemblies extending between the bodies, the primary buoyancy bodies being capable of being filled with water and thus submerged, to enable a water craft to be positioned over the cradle assemblies and lifted clear of the water when water is expelled from the bodies. The cradles include flexible sheets of a V-shaped configuration which adjust to the shape of the water craft seating thereon to enable the docking apparatus to be used with a range of hulls of different forms.

Abstract: A process for removing free fatty acids (FFA) and preferably cholesterol from liquid anhydrous animal fats is described. The process uses a dilute solution of alkali metal base to form a salt of the FFA and then an alkali metal salt to precipitate the FFA from the animal fat. Preferably, a cyclodextrin is used in the process to remove cholesterol. Liquid vegetable fats are used in blends with the processed animal fat to produce a spreadable mixture for table use. The processed animal fat can be reconstituted to whole milk with the FFA and cholesterol removed for various commercial uses.

Abstract: A method of joining a first pipe of a plastic material to a second pipe of a material which does not bond well to the plastic material, utilizes an electrofusion sleeve of a plastic material which bonds well to the plastic material of the first pipe and having a first coil of electrical heater wire on the inner surface at one end of the sleeve to receive the first pipe and a second coil of electrical heater wire on the inner surface at the opposite end of the sleeve to receive the second pipe. The opposite end of the sleeve includes a bonding material capable of producing a good bond, when activated by heat, between the materials of the sleeve and of the second pipe. The two pipes are inserted into the two ends of the sleeve, and electrical current is applied to the two coils to cause the first end of the sleeve to bond by electrofusion to the first pipe, and the second end of the sleeve to bond by electrofusion and by the bonding material to the second pipe.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for image data compression performs a modified zero-tree coding on a range of absolute image values from the largest to a determined smaller absolute value, based upon file size or quality. If it is desired to maintain more detail in the image, then a vector quantizer codes the remaining values below this determined smaller value to zero, and lossless entropy coding is performed on the results of the two coding steps. The determined smaller value can be adjusted by examination of the histogram of the tree, or iteratively to meet a preselected compressed image size criterion or to meet a predefined level of image quality, as determined by any suitable metric. If the image to be compressed is in RGB color space, the apparatus converts the RGB image to a less redundant color space before commencing further processing.

Abstract: Rotating sleeves having a body for receiving a yarn sleeve. The body has a side extension forming a flank piece. The flank piece is deformable such that a transverse dimension, for example, the greatest radial transverse dimension, of the body is reduced. The flank piece is generally plate-shaped with opposite edges forming the side edge of the body. Since the flank piece with the yarn sleeve is deformable, it reduces the transverse dimension of the body and thereby allows for yarn sleeves with small diameters to be slipped on easily.

Abstract: A ladder stabilizing system having a solid brace (50 or 46) or the combination of side spreaders (24C), the ladder sections (10 and 12), and a diagonal cross brace (18) creating two rigid triangles, the function of which is to prevent the ladder sections from twisting or flexing and therefore make the step ladder or the side braces (70 & 74) of a ladder or step ladder much more stable and will prevent the ladder sections (10 and 22), or extended side braces from twisting or flexing, thereby making the ladder stronger and safer.

Abstract: A gemstone setting is provided having channels into which grooved gemstones are snapped and secured. Each channel is provided with opposing, flexible prong members extending from the base of the gemstone setting. As the grooved gemstones are snapped into the channels, the prong members flex outwardly as the gemstones are pushed downwardly into the channels, such prong members snapping into engagement with the grooves on the gemstones to securely hold the gemstones within such channels. When the channels of the gemstone setting have been filled with gemstones, the gemstone setting is rendered invisible.

Abstract: Apparatus for status detection, in particular leak detection, in pipelines for the transportation of media, in particular, steam or hot water. The pipeline respectively comprises an inner medium-carrying pipe (1), an adjoining heat-insulating layer (2), and a outer protective pipe (3). Disposed in the region of the heat-insulating layer (2) is at least one sensor unit (4) with an induction coil (5) and a moisture and/or temperature dependent sensor (7). An interrogation device (20), which includes an exciter coil (25) with a transmitting device (22), a receiving device (23), and an evaluation device (24), permits interrogation of the condition of the sensor unit (4). The interrogation device can be portable, coupled to a lap-to, or can be in the form of a stationary fitment above the sensor unit (4).

Abstract: A new and improved toothbrush has a pair of discreet twin brushing heads. The heads are arranged side-by-side with independent head flexure. The heads are attached to the handle through use of two discrete neck segments that have purposeful flexure. Each head is connected to one neck segment, thereby permitting independent head flexure. The heads may be angled relative to each other so as to provide two discrete stabilizing contact areas, these contact areas being the respective "high" areas of the two brushing heads that initially meet the teeth and gum surfaces.