Abstract: An electrical submersible pump has a tubular pump housing containing centrifugal pump stages and a rotatable shaft. A bearing mounts in the housing and has a shaft passage through which the shaft extends. A sensor hole extends through the housing and into the bearing. A temperature sensor is located within the sensor hole. The sensor hole has a closed end radially outward from the shaft passage. A sensor line leads from the temperature sensor to a sensing unit mounted at an upper or a lower end of the pump assembly.

Abstract: A multistage centrifugal pump has a rotatable shaft, a plurality of pump stages and a thrust module. Each of the plurality of pump stages has an impeller connected to the rotatable shaft and a stationary diffuser. The thrust module has a thrust runner and a unitary thrust pad. The unitary thrust pad has an axial wear face adjacent the thrust runner and a radial wear surface adjacent the rotatable shaft. The axial wear face and radial wear surface are integrated as a unitary component. The unitary thrust pad is secured to a thrust pad support with threaded fasteners that are torqued to a predetermined extent.

Abstract: An electrical submersible pump has a tubular pump housing containing centrifugal pump stages and a rotatable shaft. A bearing mounts in the housing and has a shaft passage through which the shaft extends. A sensor hole extends through the housing and into the bearing. A temperature sensor is located within the sensor hole. The sensor hole has a closed end radially outward from the shaft passage. A sensor line leads from the temperature sensor to a sensing unit mounted at an upper or a lower end of the pump assembly.

Abstract: A multistage centrifugal pump has a rotatable shaft, a plurality of pump stages and a thrust module. Each of the plurality of pump stages has an impeller connected to the rotatable shaft and a stationary diffuser. The thrust module has a thrust runner and a unitary thrust pad. The unitary thrust pad has an axial wear face adjacent the thrust runner and a radial wear surface adjacent the rotatable shaft. The axial wear face and radial wear surface are integrated as a unitary component. The unitary thrust pad is secured to a thrust pad support with threaded fasteners that are torqued to a predetermined extent.

Abstract: A package may have a sensor that detects the opening of the package. Upon detecting the opening of the package, a device associated with the sensor transmits a signal to a web server. The web server may take various actions in response to the receipt of the signal. In addition, a package may have a lock that prevents the package from readily being opened until a preset time. In addition, the package may be equipped with a device capable of automatically opening the cover of the package upon being unlocked.

Abstract: An abdominal exercise device and a method of operation allow for isolation of particular muscle groups. The exercise device has a main housing with an interior and exterior, a spherical ball is encapsulated within the interior of the main housing and grips are attached to the exterior of the main housing. The grips are configured to allow usage of the user's lower and upper extremities individually or concurrently.

Abstract: A method enabling a single worker to safely lift a cargo item without personal injury that weighs up to four hundred pounds from and onto a truck platform is provided, and includes providing a one-piece hoist support member, configured to support a portable hand-held hoist, having a vertical post, a short offset cantilever beam permanently affixed to an upper portion of the vertical post, and a receiver stem affixed to a lower portion of the vertical post, which enables mounting and supporting the lifting device upon the truck The result is the elimination of the need to employ a more complex device, such as a hydraulic cylinder, for raising and lowering a pivoting boom for moving the cargo item up and down. The simplicity of this arrangement also facilitates sharing one lightweight portable lifting device between two or more trucks, which can be easily carried out by a single worker.

Abstract: A flexible sealed bag and method of making thereof; the flexible bag containing a plurality of at least partially water soluble unit dose articles comprises a front panel, a back panel and a bottom panel. The front panel and the back panel may be marginally joined together along at least two opposed edges to be in a confronting relationship to form the closed bag. The front and back panels are joined at the top of the bag by a frangible seal. The bottom panel is intermediate to the front panel and back panel, and is joined to each of them. The first panel comprises at least one transparent window and at least one opaque portion. The articles are distributed from the bottom of the bag to a height therein, providing an empty space above the height of the articles, whereby the transparent window intercepts the articles and the empty space.

Abstract: A flexible sealed bag containing a plurality of at least partially water soluble unit dose articles comprises a front panel, a back panel and a bottom panel. The front panel and the back panel may be marginally joined together along at least two opposed edges to be in a confronting relationship to form the closed bag. The front and back panels are joined at the top of the bag by a frangible seal. The bottom panel is intermediate to the front panel and back panel, and is joined to each of them.

Abstract: The inventive method uses data received concerning the status of various tables in the establishment, the criteria provided by the customer as well as the status of the meals being prepared in a variety of courses for customers already seated to best determine how much time a new customer will have to wait before a suitable table is available where the customer may be seated. When a customer enters the restaurant, they provide information to the hostess or host including the party size and various table preferences. The host or hostess enters this information into a computer using a keyboard touch screen input or a wireless remote device. Based upon the preferences chosen by the party, the system assigns the most predictable table and periodically scans each existing table to determine that table's status. The method gains additional accuracy by obtaining detailed kitchen status information concerning meals being prepared for each table.

Abstract: A vertebral implant comprising a first base configured for securing to a first cut portion of a vertebra, and second base configured for securing to a second cut portion of the vertebra. A connecting member is configured to associate the first and second bases at a preselected spacing from each other, and the implant is preferable adjustable to select the spacing.

Abstract: The inventive method uses data received concerning the status of various tables in the establishment, the criteria provided by the customer as well as the status of the meals being prepared in a variety of courses for customers already seated to best determine how much time a new customer will have to wait before a suitable table is available where the customer may be seated. When a customer enters the restaurant, they provide information to the hostess or host including the party size and various table preferences. The host or hostess enters this information into a computer using a keyboard touch screen input or a wireless remote device. Based upon the preferences chosen by the party, the system assigns the most predictable table and periodically scans each existing table to determine that table's status. The method gains additional accuracy by obtaining detailed kitchen status information concerning meals being prepared for each table.

Abstract: A lottery ticket has a substrate layer with game data printed in a game area and has at least one fixing layer applied over the game data in the game area so as to prevent release of the printed game data from the substrate layer and at least one opaque scratch-off layer applied over the fixing layer, the scratch-off layer being arranged such that it separates from the fixing layer and breaks down into fragments when scratched by a player. The ticket is modified by printing the game area onto a substrate which is formed by a card stock which carries an embossed foil so that the printing covers the ribs and grooves of the embossed foil while providing a complete layer for securing the game data against viewing prior to scratching.

Abstract: A lottery ticket having a substrate layer with game data printed in a game area and which is arranged to prevent access to the game data from a rear surface of the substrate and has at least one fixing layer applied over the game data in the game area so as to prevent release of the printed game data from the substrate layer and at least one opaque scratch-off layer applied over the sealing layer, the scratch-off layer being arranged such that it separates from the sealing layer and breaks down into fragments when scratched by a player, is modified by the addition of an adhesive layer applied over at least a part of the opaque scratch-off layer and a metal layer attached to the adhesive layer. The metal layer and the adhesive layer are arranged such that they break down into fragments with the scratch-off layer when scratched by the player and may provide both enhanced security and an improved appearance.

Abstract: A vertebral implant comprising a first base configured for securing to a first cut portion of a vertebra, and second base configured for securing to a second cut portion of the vertebra. A connecting member is configured to associate the first and second bases at a preselected spacing from each other, and the implant is preferable adjustable to select the spacing.

Abstract: An arthroplasty spinal prosthesis with first and second vertebra contacting members that are configured for engaging opposing vertebrae An articulation is supportively associated with the contacting members to allow relative pivotal and translational motion therebetween over anterior-posterior and lateral pivotal axes, and over anterior-posterior and lateral translational axes. This motion allows the opposing vertebrae to pivot and translate with respect to each other. The articulation is configured to permit translational movement substantially uncoupled from the pivoting movement.