Abstract: A charge control system includes a lithium battery configured to provide lithium battery power to a set of electrical loads, a user signaling device, and control circuitry coupled with the lithium battery and the user signaling device. The control circuitry is operative to: (A) detect availability of charge from an external charger, (B) in response to detection of the availability of charge from the external charger and prior to controlling the external charger to adjust the amount of charge stored by the lithium battery, perform a set of pre-charging assessment operations, and (C) based on the set of pre-charging assessment operations, provide a user notification via the user signaling device, the user notification indicating whether the lithium battery is properly setup for charge adjustment. When the user signaling device generates the user notification, the user is informed that the utility vehicle is properly connected to the external charger.

Abstract: An improved, secure, anti-siphoning method and apparatus that can be fitted into any size fuel tank. The present invention includes a re-configured fuel cap that includes an electronic display, a touchpad for numerically inputting a security code for allowing a user to unscrew the fuel cap. In addition, a biometric reader is implemented to read a user's thumb print, and subsequently allowing the user to access the fuel tank.

Abstract: A stent suitable for the repair of lesions in bifurcated blood vessels is provided, having a deformable end portion such that a free end of the end portion can be aligned with the surface of an abutting stent or angioplasty balloon in a main branch of the bifurcated vessel. A method of blood vessel repair using this stent is also provided.

Abstract: A device and method for determining the length of an object. The device includes a height rod assembly with a uniform marker row and a non-uniform marker row detected by sensors to determine the location of the height rod assembly which is translated to the height or length of the measured object. The uniform marker row includes uniform markers of equal length spaced apart by a uniform length. The non-uniform marker row is divided into equal sections, each section including a non-uniform marker with a unique length adjacent to a non-uniform spacing with a unique length. Upon startup, a controller determines the location of the height rod assembly within a set distance of movement regardless of the position of the height rod assembly. The height rod assembly is telescoping rod assembly including sensors, uniform marker row, and non-uniform marker row for each height rod section.

Abstract: A stent suitable for the repair of lesions in bifurcated blood vessels is provided, having a deformable end portion such that a free end of the end portion can be aligned with the surface of an abutting stent or angioplasty balloon in a main branch of the bifurcated vessel. A method of blood vessel repair using this stent is also provided.

Abstract: A porous grog with a body composition of water, clay and combustible material. Further, an earthenware water purification filter utilizing the porous grog in the body composition of the filter. Further, an earthenware filter utilizing silver chloride treatment for water disinfection is disclosed. A water purification system incorporating said filter, said water purification system capable of removing about 99% of all particles not less than 1.0 micron is size, and removing virtually 100% of fecal coliform indicators. In other embodiments, methods of disinfecting pottery toilet liners including various open surfaces using silver chloride treatment are disclosed.

Abstract: A fitting for connection to the end of a pipe lined internally with a compressible lining with which the fitting is to form a seal a portion of which lining extends beyond the end of the pipe, comprises a collar 1 having an internal wall adapted to fit over the end of the pipe 4 and to sleeve the portion 8 of the lining 6 and means 2 adapted to clamp a circumferential portion of the lining 6 to the adjacent internal wall of the collar 1.