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: 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 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: 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: 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.

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 heat-insulating cup comprises an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve. The latter is supported against an upper and a lower area of the inner sleeve. An annular space is located between the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve, which annular space is free of any additional elements. A joint bottom is arranged to the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve. In the upper area, the inner sleeve has a sudden widening, on top of which the outer sleeve is disposed.

Abstract: A patient-weight-activated hydraulic knee joint in which flow between hydraulic chambers is controlled by a valve operated by hydraulic pressure and by a force transmission system which transmits the force of a patient's weight, such that the valve is only closed when the patient's weight acts on the knee joint. Closure of the valve locks the knee joint, so hence undesirable locking does not occur during the swing phase of the patient's gait. A damped hydraulic trip valve can also be provided to give improved operation of the knee joint.

Abstract: A separator pan (18) is set into a rearwardly leaning position (FIG. 6). A lower portion of the pan (18) is positioned inside a bucket (10). The pan (18) is mounted for rotation on a frame (20). The frame (20) includes hooks (42) that hook onto the upper rim (32) of the bucket (10). The support leg or brace (82) projects rearwardly from a lower portion of the frame (20) to contact the sidewall (28) of the bucket (10), and establish a lean angle of the pan (18). The pan (18) is detachable from the frame (20) and the pan (18) and the frame (20) are sized to be placed inside of the bucket (10) so that the bucket (10) can be used for transporting and storing the assembly when it is not being used.

Abstract: A deep well rack assembly for pipette tips and the like includes an enclosure having a plurality of openings in a top wall thereof, a plurality of wells in the enclosure extending below the top wall and openings for receiving and retaining pipette tips, and a cover for overlying the top wall of the enclosure and the wells and pipette tips. The top wall of the enclosure either has a plurality of annular depressions formed therein and surrounding the openings or a plurality of raised annular rings formed thereon and surrounding the openings. The wells are disposed within an interior cavity of the enclosure. Each well has a continuous side wall attached at an open top end to the top wall and surrounding one of the openings therein. Each well is adapated to receive a pipette tip such that the pipette tip is disposable within the well and the respective annular depression or raised annular ring of the top wall of the enclosure.

Abstract: Prodrugs of the pyridyl methyl sulfinyl benzimidazole type proton pump inhibitor drugs have a hydrolyzable sulfinyl or arylsulfonyl group attached to the benzimidazole nitrogen, or include a group that forms a Mannich base with the benzimidazole nitrogen. The prodrugs of the invention hydrolyze under physiological conditions to provide the proton pump inhibitors with a half life measurable in hours, and are capable of providing sustained plasma concentrations of the proton pump inhibitor drugs for longer time than presently used drugs. The generation of the proton pump inhibitor drugs from the prodrugs of the invention under physiological conditions allows for more effective treatment of several diseases and conditions caused by gastric acid secretion.