Abstract: Hybrid cases for musical instruments are disclosed. The cases have a semi-rigid back, a semi-rigid sidewall, a semi-rigid cover hingedly connected to selectively enclose a region of space when releaseably fastened closed, and a multi-part neck-brace. The neck-brace has a semi-rigid neck-support with a top surface that supports the instrument neck and a neck-clamp opposing the neck-support and affixed to the cover such that the instrument neck is automatically secured between the top surface of the neck-support and the neck-clamp upon fastening the cover closed and without the use of a neck-brace retaining band.

Abstract: A conveyance such as a wheelchair that includes a seat assembly and a chassis. The chassis comprises a central frame member disposed substantially along the centerline of the wheelchair. The central frame member includes portions for connecting to or supporting one or more front casters, a seat assembly, one or more drive wheel assemblies, an energy source (e.g., one or more batteries), rear anti-tip wheels, and/or at least one footplate. The central frame member is disposed substantially along the centerline of the wheelchair and structurally distributes of the weight of the seat assembly (and optionally the weight of the energy source) to the supporting drive wheels and casters. In this manner, a clean-looking, simple, and lightweight chassis structure is provided for a conveyance.

Abstract: Cases are disclosed in which insertion and/or removal of an instrument occurs with the case in an upright orientation. Cases have a body with upper access and lower enveloping portions and the body has a sidewall defining a front edge with a first elongated side in the upper access portion, a second elongated side in the upper access portion and extending into the enveloping portion, and a bottom portion extending along the enveloping portion between the first and second sides. The sidewall further defines a back edge and the front/back edges are spaced apart. The body has a back affixed to the sidewall. A cover is releaseably fastened to the sidewall along the elongated sides and fixedly attached along the bottom of the sidewall. The cover is hinged where it will open when the cover is released from the sidewall and the case is upright.

Abstract: Cases for the protection of musical instruments each with a neck and a body are disclosed. The case includes a case body having an elongated upper portion for receiving the instrument neck and a lower enveloping portion with a far end for receiving the instrument body. The cases also include a selectively releasable cover hingedly affixed to the case body to permit selective access to the case body so that the instrument may be inserted into and removed from the case. The cases also include a protective boot attached to the far end of the case body. Optionally, such boots may include a central region disposed between a pair of opposing regions wherein the central region transfers less shock to the stringed instrument body than the opposing regions.

Abstract: A conveyance such as a wheelchair that includes a seat assembly and a chassis. The chassis comprises a central frame member disposed substantially along the centerline of the wheelchair. The central frame member includes portions for connecting to or supporting one or more front casters, a seat assembly, one or more drive wheel assemblies, an energy source (e.g., one or more batteries), rear anti-tip wheels, and/or at least one footplate. The central frame member is disposed substantially along the centerline of the wheelchair and structurally distributes of the weight of the seat assembly (and optionally the weight of the energy source) to the supporting drive wheels and casters. In this manner, a clean-looking, simple, and lightweight chassis structure is provided for a conveyance.

Abstract: Cases for the protection of stringed musical instruments having a bottom, a sidewall of a predetermined height extending from the bottom and a cover which is hingedly connected to the sidewall and which can be closed and secured with an appropriate fastener are described herein. The cases include a semi-rigid neck-brace having a height approximately the same as the inner height of the sidewall and being affixed to the bottom. The cases further include at least one retaining band that may be used to releasably secure the instrument neck to the neck-brace. Instrument damage may be prevented in the event of a sideways or backward fall, in at least part, because the neck-brace suspends the headstock between the bottom, sidewall and cover of the case and thereby prevents it from making contact.

Abstract: Disclosed musical instrument cases have a semi-rigid, continuous sidewall defining a front edge with opposing first and second elongated sides and a back edge with opposing first and second elongated sides. The cases also have a partition, with front and back surfaces, attached to the sidewall. The cases have a front cover hingedly connected to the second elongated side of the front edge and releasably fastened to the first elongated side of the front edge. Conversely, the cases have a back cover hingedly connected to the first elongated side of the back edge and releasably fastened to the second elongated side of the back edge. The front cover may selectively enclose a front region of space between the front cover and the front surface of partition and, independently, the back cover may selectively enclose a back region of space between the back cover and the partition back surface.

Abstract: Cases for the protection of stringed musical instruments having a bottom, a sidewall of a predetermined height extending from the bottom and a cover which is hingedly connected to the sidewall and which can be closed and secured with an appropriate fastener are described herein. The cases include a semi-rigid neck-brace having a height approximately the same as the inner height of the sidewall and being affixed to the bottom. The cases further include at least one retaining band that may be used to releasably secure the instrument neck to the neck-brace. Instrument damage may be prevented in the event of a sideways or backward fall, in at least part, because the neck-brace suspends the headstock between the bottom, sidewall and cover of the case and thereby prevents it from making contact.

Abstract: Cases for the protection of stringed musical instruments having a bottom, a sidewall of a predetermined height extending from the bottom and a cover which is hingedly connected to the sidewall and which can be closed and secured with an appropriate fastener are described herein. The cases include a semi-rigid neck-brace having a height approximately the same as the inner height of the sidewall and being affixed to the bottom. The cases further include at least one retaining band that may be used to releasably secure the instrument neck to the neck-brace. Instrument damage may be prevented in the event of a sideways or backward fall, in at least part, because the neck-brace suspends the headstock between the bottom, sidewall and cover of the case and thereby prevents it from making contact.

Abstract: The invention is method of making steel with carbide banding obtaining steel with undissolved carbides distributed within the steel for forming steel with carbide banding, wherein the steel is about 0.3 weight percent to about 2.2 weight percent carbon and at least 0.003 weight percent of chromium, molybdenum, aluminum, vanadium, tungsten, or a similar carbide forming element; then, deforming the steel with undissolved carbide, moving a portion of the steel with undissolved carbides, heating the steel with undissolved carbides for a time ranging from about 5 minutes to about 12 hours at a temperature above an A-sub 1 temperature and below 50 degrees Fahrenheit of an A-sub 3 temperature to form an austenitic steel with undissolved carbides, and cooling the austenitic steel with undissolved carbides to maintain the undissolved carbides within a crystalline matrix forming steel with carbide banding.

Abstract: The method of making steel with carbide banding entails using steel with undissolved carbides distributed within the steel for forming steel with carbide banding, wherein the steel is about 0.3 weight percent to about 2.2 weight percent carbon and at least 0.003 weight percent of chromium, molybdenum, aluminum, vanadium, tungsten, or a similar carbide forming element; then, deforming the steel with undissolved carbides to create steel with carbide banding upon cooling, heating the steel with undissolved carbides for a specified time ranging at a specified temperature to form an austenitic steel with undissolved carbides, and cooling the austenitic steel with undissolved carbides to maintain the undissolved carbides within a crystalline matrix forming steel with carbide banding.

Abstract: The invention is a method of making a steel article comprising carbide banding by using steel with undissolved carbides distributed within the steel, wherein the steel is about 0.3 weight percent to about 2.2 weight percent carbon and at least 0.003 weight percent of chromium, molybdenum, aluminum, vanadium, tungsten, or a similar carbide forming element; then, heating the steel with carbides for a time ranging between about 5 minutes to about 12 hours at a temperature above an A-sub 1 temperature and below 50 degrees Fahrenheit of an A-sub 3 temperature to form an austenitic steel with undissolved carbides; and cooling the austenitic steel with undissolved carbides to maintain the undissolved carbides within a chosen crystalline matrix creating carbide banding in the steel.

Abstract: The thermally treated carbide materials are made by placing a carbide within a thermal control apparatus and subjecting the carbide to one or more thermal cycles. The first thermal cycles involves introducing a cryogenic material into the thermal control apparatus decreasing the carbide temperature, while preventing over-stressing of the carbide, to a first target temperature at a first temperature rate. The carbide temperature is then increased to a second target temperature at a second temperature rate. The second thermal cycle involves introducing the cryogenic material to decrease the carbide temperature, while preventing over-stressing, to a third temperature at a third temperature rate ranging. The temperature is then increased to a fourth temperature at a fourth temperature rate. The result of the process is a treated carbide without fractures.

Abstract: An adjustable mount is provided that securely mounts a device to a power driven wheelchair, wherein the device is easily rotated, for example, to achieve a better viewing angle, improved access to the device, etc. Furthermore, the adjustable mount is operable to mount a variety of devices to a wheelchair, such as joysticks, other controller types, drink cups, etc.

Abstract: The thermal process for treating a metal to improve structural characteristics of the metal entails placing a metal within a thermal control apparatus; introducing a cryogenic material into the thermal control apparatus to decrease the metal temperature, while preventing over-stressing of the metal, to a first target temperature ranging from ?40 degrees F. and ?380 degrees F. at a first temperature rate ranging from 0.25 degrees per minute and 20 degrees per minute; stopping the introduction of the cryogenic material once the first target temperature is reached; increasing the chamber temperature to a second target, temperature ranging from 0 degrees F. and 1400 degrees F.; and increasing the metal temperature to the second target temperature at a second temperature rate ranging from 0.25 degrees per minute and 20 degrees per minute, resulting in a treated metal without fractures.

Abstract: A method for continuous production of hydroxyazapirones, for example 6-hydroxybuspirone, using a modified reactor. The products of the invention are useful as pharmaceutical agents.

Abstract: The thermally treated piece of drilling equipment is made by placing a device within a thermal control apparatus and subjecting the device to two thermal cycles. The first thermal cycles involves introducing a cryogenic material into the thermal control apparatus decreasing the device temperature, while preventing over-stressing of the device, to a first target temperature at a first temperature rate. The device temperature is then increased to a second target temperature at a second temperature rate. The second thermal cycle involves introducing the cryogenic material to decrease the device temperature, while preventing over-stressing, to a third temperature at a third temperature rate ranging. The temperature is then increased to a fourth temperature at a fourth temperature rate. The result of the process is a piece of drilling equipment without fractures and enhanced structural characteristics.

Abstract: The toughened material is a diamond material of a substantially continuous matrix and a material with a degree of ductility that is greater than that of granules dispersed within the continuous matrix; wherein the toughened material is formed by placing a diamond material into a chamber of a thermal control apparatus; introducing a cryogenic material into the thermal control apparatus; decreasing the material temperature in the chamber with the cryogenic material while preventing over-stressing of the diamond material to a first target temperature ranging from ?40 degrees F. to ?380 degrees F. at a first temperature rate; stopping the introduction of the cryogenic material into the chamber once the first target temperature is reached; increasing the material temperature to the second target temperature ranging from 0 degrees F. to 1400 degrees F. at a second temperature rate resulting in a toughened diamond material.

Abstract: The thermally treated carbide materials are made by placing a carbide within a thermal control apparatus and subjecting the carbide to one or more thermal cycles. The first thermal cycles involves introducing a cryogenic material into the thermal control apparatus decreasing the carbide temperature, while preventing over-stressing of the carbide, to a first target temperature at a first temperature rate. The carbide temperature is then increased to a second target temperature at a second temperature rate. The second thermal cycle involves introducing the cryogenic material to decrease the carbide temperature, while preventing over-stressing, to a third temperature at a third temperature rate ranging. The temperature is then increased to a fourth temperature at a fourth temperature rate. The result of the process is a treated carbide without fractures.