Abstract: A simple and rugged sheathless interface for capillary electrophoresis/electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (CE/ESI-MS) was designed using common laboratory tools and chemicals. The interface uses a small platinum (Pt) wire which is inserted into the CE capillary through a small hole near the terminus. The position of the wire inside the CE capillary and within the buffer solution is analogous to standard CE separation operations where the terminus of the CE capillary is placed inside a buffer reservoir along with a grounded platinum electrode. By combining the use of the in-capillary electrode interface with sharpening of the fused silica tip of the CE capillary outlet, a stable electrospray current was maintained for an extended period of time. The design was successfully applied to CE/ESI-MS separations and analysis of mixtures of peptides and proteins. A detection limit of approximately 4 femtomole (S/N=3) was achieved for detection of myoglobin utilizing a 75 ?m-i.d.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner has a cyclone dust collector 4, arranged in a suction air passage, for separating dust by making sucked air into a whirling stream. The cyclone dust collector 4 has an inlet port 41a through which the sucked air is introduced, a dust collection chamber 41 for collecting separated dust, a lid 42 for opening and closing the dust collection chamber 41, an exhaust cylinder 44 through which the sucked air is discharged out of the dust collection chamber, and a shielding member 46 arranged below the exhaust cylinder 44. Dust is separated as a result of a whirling stream of air colliding with shielding ribs 46b and a circular portion 46a of the shielding member 46.

Abstract: The power toothbrush, which has a rotating brushhead movement, includes a housing with a motor mounted therein having an armature which in operation rotates through an arc of predetermined magnitude. The toothbrush also includes a brushhead mounted on a shaft which is connected to an output mass. A spring assembly couples the armature to the output mass, the spring assembly including two spring portions with a node point therebetween, wherein when the armature rotates, the brushhead moves in an opposite direction. The frequency of the movement of the armature is set equal to the resonant frequency of the spring coupling system and the output assembly.

Abstract: An agitator includes an axle, a pulley having a hub mounted to the axle and a belt receiving face having at least one lengthwise channel and a sleeve of molded material received over the axle and in the at least one lengthwise channel. A method of constructing an agitator from an axle and pulley includes the fitting of the axle into the pulley, the injecting of plastic resin into one end of the agitator forming mold on a first side of the pulley and the directing of plastic through at least one channel in the pulley to a second side of the pulley.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing deposits from the interior surface of a conduit while being advanced through the conduit by virtue of pressurized upstream liquid includes front and rear assemblies interconnected in a manner to permit limited movement there between. The rear assembly contains a mechanism for receiving the upstream liquid and increasing its pressure. The liquid of increased pressure is fed to a rotating nozzle in the front assembly. High velocity water jets emergent from the nozzle strike the interior surface of the conduit to dislodge deposits. A resilient sidewall in one or both assemblies expands by virtue of the liquid of increased pressure to apply a controlled braking force against the interior surface of the conduit.

Abstract: A four-wheel pool cleaner (20) motivated by water flow to move along a pool surface, and having: a body (24); the four wheels rotatably mounted thereon and including two sets of two wheels (22) each, one wheel of each set on each side; a drive mechanism (36) in position to be moved by water flow and having a rotatable drive member (76); a drive train extending to the first wheel set (22a, b) and to the second wheel set (22c, d), to drive all four wheels.

Abstract: An apparatus for sterilizing and sprouting grains is constructed to include a container having a water inlet pipe, a water drain pipe, an overflow pipe, and a grains discharge control valve, a top cover covering the container and provided with ultraviolet lamps for sterilizing water in the container, a water supply coil connected to the water inlet pipe for guiding fresh water to the inside of the container, a disk-like wire gauze filter mounted in the container for carrying grains above the water supply coil, active carbon blocks mounted in the space between the water supply coil and the bowl-like wire gauze filter, a temperature sensor adapted to control the temperature of water in the container, an ozone supply pipe adapted to supply ozone to water delivered to the inside of the container, and an ultrasonic generator adapted to generate ultrasonic waves in water in the container.

Abstract: A manipulator assembly for attachment to a bucket of a construction vehicle is disclosed. The manipulator assembly includes a universal attachment apparatus for attaching a utility tool to the bucket. The universal attachment apparatus includes a housing adapted to support the utility tool, at least one mounting bracket connected to the housing, and at least one mounting arm having a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to the mounting bracket. The mounting arms further include feet positioned adjacent the quick-release connector for allowing the utility tool to pivot relative to the bucket. A quick-release connector is mounted to the second end of the mounting arm for selectively securing the housing to the bucket. A biasing device is disposed on the quick-release connector for continuously urging the quick-release connector into engagement with the bucket.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling operation of an ultraviolet air treatment device including an ultraviolet lamp positioned to treat air within an air handling system that operates in either an on state or an off state. The method includes activating the ultraviolet lamp, and determining the operational state of the air handling system. The ultraviolet lamp is deactivated upon expiration of a predetermined time period during which the air handling system remains in the off state. The predetermined time period is preferably 30-60 minutes, preferably 40 minutes for residential applications.

Abstract: A dust collection conversion device for facilitating removal of dust from the area of work piece when a user is working on the work piece. The dust collection conversion device includes a frame assembly being designed for being coupled to a top of the shop vacuum. The frame assembly has a base member and a stanchion member. The base member is designed for coupling to the shop vacuum. The stanchion member is coupled to the base member. An arm member is coupled to the stanchion member of the frame assembly. The arm member is designed for coupling to a hose of the shop vacuum for directing the hose towards a work piece for vacuuming dust when the shop vacuum is turned on.

Abstract: A toilet bowl brush cleaning system enabling a person to have a easy and sanitary way of cleaning and storing the toilet bowl brush between each use. It's a cleaning system for the toilet bowl brush. The toilet bowl brush cleaning system may be provided with a selected color so as to match the users preferred color. It may also be provided in various shapes and sizes or materials to also suit the users preference. The toilet bowl brush cleaning system is designed to allow the user to put the toilet brush in the cleaning system, into a cleaning agent located in the second level, to be cleaned and disinfected and then pulled back up through a ringer that will ring out the remaining liquid. Then the toilet brush will be stored in the first level thus allowing any cleaner that may remain on the brush to drain off into the second level. The toilet bowl brush is now ready for its next use.

Abstract: A bathing brush has a first cleaning ball composed of a first net tube, a second cleaning ball composed of a second net tube, a separation device provided between the first and second cleaning balls having a gripping portion at a periphery thereof and at least a hole at a center thereof, and a connection device running through the hole of the separation device and wound around the net tubes to bond the net tubes at opposite sides of the separation device respectively and make the net tubes expanded to form the first second cleaning balls.

Abstract: An adapter for use with a dust mop having an annular frame pivotally coupled to a handle and including a cover for removable attachment to the frame and defining a lower surface covering a bottom surface of the frame and an upper surface defining first and second receiver portions for receiving first and second end portions of the frame.

Abstract: An electric toothbrush is provided a cam mechanism and a crank mechanism in the handle. The cam mechanism comprises a cam, mounted on a rotary shaft of a motor via a frame; and a slave unit making a reciprocating movement, defined within the handle and engaged with the cam. The crank mechanism comprises a crank, mounted concentrically with the brush head; a link rod, jointed with the crank; and a block, defined within the brush body and engaged with the slave unit. Therefore, the structure of the electric toothbrush of the present invention is simplified, thus its cost can be reduced accordingly. In addition, the brush head of the present invention can be formed star shape or be inclined to improve the area of contact for super cleaning and be convenient for removing the deposit on the teeth.

Abstract: A windscreen wiper includes an elongate curved backbone which is of a resiliently flexible material having a Young's modulus of between 50 to 350 GPa. The backbone has a substantially spatially consolidated cross-sectional profile at substantially all points along its length, and the magnitude of the width at substantially the widest point along the backbone, Wm (expressed in millimeters) is at most (?8.89.10?5*E+0.05378)*L?5.25, where L is the total length of the backbone expressed in millimeters and E is the Young's modulus of the backbone material expressed in GPa. The invention also provides a relationship between the thickness and the length of the backbone.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wiper blade for windshields, especially automobile windshields, comprising at least one support element, a support element (12), a wiper strip (14) and connecting means (16) for a wiper arm (18). The support element (12) is a long flat rod to which the wiper strip (14) and the connecting means (16) are fixed. According to the invention, the flat rod has a cross-sectional profile (40), whereby Fwf*L2/48*E*Izz<0.009 when Fwf is the pressure force exerted on the wiper blade or the pressure force for which the wiper blade was originally intended, L represents the length of the wiper blade, E stands for the elasticity module of the flat rod material and Izz is the moment of inertia of the cross-sectional profile around the z axis (perpendicular to an s axis associated with the flat rod and perpendicular to the y axis).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a connector assembly (3) for connection to a container (1) for sterilising goods, preferably for pharmaceutical applications, and a releasable connector port (5) for releasably connecting said connector assembly (3) to a treatment station (1) for the goods that is contained in said container (1). Said connector assembly (3) further includes a second port that initially is provided with a detachable rapid transfer port cap (4), which cap (4) corresponds to a rapid transfer port means (15) that is provided at a goods transfer station (12). The connector port (5) and the rapid transfer port cap (4) are in fluid connection via a good stopper means (7). The invention also relates to a multi-treatment sterilising system and to a method for transferring sterilised goods from a multi-purpose container using a system according to the invention.

Abstract: A device is operably attached to a swimming pool cleaner for dislodging and permitting a steering of the swimming pool cleaner away from obstacles within a swimming pool. The device includes a coupling slidably attached to the swimming pool cleaner near its hose coupling. An upper, generally horizontally positioned, resilient elongate bumper has its opposing ends affixed to the coupling to form the upper bumper into an arcuate shape extending partially around a forward portion of the swimming pool cleaner. A second resilient, elongate vertical bumper has one end attached to the upper bumper and an opposing end attached a weight assembly of the pool cleaner at a location proximate the sealing flange. A roller is attached to the vertical bumper near the upper bumper for rotation thereabout when the swimming pool cleaner encounters an obstacle such as a step from which it is to be dislodged.

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling a post-CMP cleaning brush. The post-CMP cleaning brush is provided with a brush core and an outer brush, and the outer brush is provided with a hollow portion. The apparatus comprises a base, a fixed member, a sliding member, a plurality of posts, and an actuating device. The base holds the brush core and the outer brush, and the fixed member is disposed on the base. The sliding member is disposed on the base in a manner such that it is located at the opposite side of the fixed member relative to the outer brush disposed on the base. The posts, disposed on the sliding member, pass through the fixed member and the hollow portion of the outer brush so as to assist the brush core in passing through the hollow portion of the outer brush. The actuating device connects with the brush core so as to pass the brush core through the hollow portion of the outer brush and separate the posts, inserted into the outer brush, from the outer brush.

Abstract: A two-piece caddy and vacuum cleaner accessory assembly is provided. The caddy includes first and second body sections that are connected together without the use of a separate independent fastener. The first body section includes first, second and third accessory receptacles. The second body section includes first, second and third accessory engaging clips. The receptacles and clips function to hold various vacuum cleaner tools and accessories such as an extension hose, a wand, a crevice cleaning tool and a nozzle brush.