Abstract: A high pressure rotary nozzle having a rotating shaft operating within a fixed housing wherein the of axial force which acts upon the shaft due to the liquid pressure at the shaft inlet is balanced by allowing passage of a small amount of the pressurized liquid to be bled to an area or chamber between the outside of the opposite end of the shaft and the inside of the housing where the liquid pressure can act axially in an opposing direction upon the shaft to balance the axial inlet force. The balance of axial forces is self-regulating by controlling escape of the liquid through a tapered or frusto-conical region between the shaft and housing. This further provides a liquid bearing between the two surfaces and allows use of interchangeable rotating jet heads having jet orifices which can be oriented in virtually any desirable configuration including axially forward of the nozzle.

Abstract: Portable grill includes a grill accessory receiver portion arranged on the grill and configured to receive and hold at least one grill accessory, and a grill accessory attachment portion configured to be arranged on the at least one grill accessory. The grill accessory attachment portion engages with the grill accessory receiver portion to form a male-female coupling to provide a physical connection between the grill accessory and the grill.

Abstract: A method of treating peat moss, and an fibrous effluent product and a dewatered peat moss product derived from the method, are disclosed. The method of the present invention is to first obtain a sample of peat from a peat bog, and analyze the sample by heating. The moisture content of the heated sample is monitored. As the moisture decreases, the evaporation curve inflects at a point referred to herein as the peat evaporation inflection point (PEIP). Once the PEIP is determined for a given sample, peat moss is harvested from the peat bog and introduced into a feed hopper of a screw press, such as those used in the pulp and paper industry, to heat and de-water the peat to the PEIP, and also to compress the peat material under pressure for dewatering. The fibrous effluent is captured from the press from a liquid effluent output port, and the dewatered peat material is pushed through the screw press and out through a distal end of the press.

Abstract: A loft bed readily configured into expanded assembled and collapsed disassembled positions to facilitate shipping, transport, and/or storage. The loft bed includes a mattress support having a plurality of separable supports for supporting a mattress, a frame including a plurality of multi-piece, bed support rails assemblable into a frame for supporting the mattress support, and a plurality of legs for supporting the mattress support above a floor or ground, each leg including separate upper and lower leg portions. The legs and the bed support rails are attachable to form an expanded assembled position capable of supporting a user and detachable to form a collapsed disassembled position for shipping, transporting, and/or storage.

Abstract: A timer mechanism including a base piece, a top piece, a rod, and a spiral spring. The base piece includes an inner hub forming a threaded surface and a central passage. The top piece includes an inner post that a central passage and a threaded surface for engaging the inner hub. The rod is slidably disposed within the central passages and is selectively coupled to the top piece. The spiral spring is coaxially wrapped about the inner hub and terminates in a leading end connected to the top piece. The top piece is rotatable relative to the bottom piece to a raised position in which energy is stored by the spiral spring. The spiral spring rotates the top piece in an opposite direction, causing the top piece to wind relative to the bottom piece, forcing the rod downwardly for depressing a camera shutter release button.

Abstract: A timer mechanism including a base piece, a top piece, a rod, and a spiral spring. The base piece includes an inner hub forming a threaded surface and a central passage. The top piece includes an inner post that a central passage and a threaded surface for engaging the inner hub. The rod is slidably disposed within the central passages and is selectively coupled to the top piece. The spiral spring is coaxially wrapped about the inner hub and terminates in a leading end connected to the top piece. The top piece is rotatable relative to the bottom piece to a raised position in which energy is stored by the spiral spring. The spiral spring rotates the top piece in an opposite direction, causing the top piece to wind relative to the bottom piece, forcing the rod downwardly for depressing a camera shutter release button.

Abstract: A timer mechanism including a base piece, a top piece, a rod, and a spiral spring. The base piece includes an inner hub forming a threaded surface and a central passage. The top piece includes an inner post that a central passage and a threaded surface for engaging the inner hub. The rod is slidably disposed within the central passages and is selectively coupled to the top piece. The spiral spring is coaxially wrapped about the inner hub and terminates in a leading end connected to the top piece. The top piece is rotatable relative to the bottom piece to a raised position in which energy is stored by the spiral spring. The spiral spring rotates the top piece in an opposite direction, causing the top piece to wind relative to the bottom piece, forcing the rod downwardly for depressing a camera shutter release button.

Abstract: Upon the receipt by an HTTP server over the Internet from a web browser for title information for audio or video data, the HTTP server retrieves the title information and sends it to the web browser along with a passcode particularly associated with the requested title information. Then, when an application server coupled to the HTTP server receives a request for the audio or video data from a viewer application associated with a web browser, the audio or video data will only be sent from a video server to the viewer application over the Internet if the request for the audio or video data is accompanied by the passcode. After sending the audio or video data to the viewer application, the passcode is invalidated. If the request for the audio or video data requests titles other than those associated with the passcode, the request is denied.

Abstract: A timer mechanism including a base piece, a top piece, a rod, and a spiral spring. The base piece includes an inner hub forming a threaded surface and a central passage. The top piece includes an inner post that a central passage and a threaded surface for engaging the inner hub. The rod is slidably disposed within the central passages and is selectively coupled to the top piece. The spiral spring is coaxially wrapped about the inner hub and terminates in a leading end connected to the top piece. The top piece is rotatable relative to the bottom piece to a raised position in which energy is stored by the spiral spring. The spiral spring rotates the top piece in an opposite direction, causing the top piece to wind relative to the bottom piece, forcing the rod downwardly for depressing a camera shutter release button.

Abstract: A suture container having a spool rotatably mounted therein. A length of suture material is wound on the spool is wrapped in an outer bacterial-proof envelope.

Abstract: A cord securement device for maintaining two interconnected electrical plugs in plugged together electrical connection. The device includes first and second eyelets secured to a base member. Each eyelet defines an opening sized to receive a looped portion of each electrical cord extending from the plugged together ends. The looped portion of each cord is urged through one eyelet to engage a hook member secured to the base member. The hook members transfer the strain of connection of the electrical cords from the plugs to the cord securement device. A method is also disclosed which maintains the electrical plugs in plugged together relationship by transferring the strain of connection from the plugs of the electrical cords to the device.

Abstract: A wall mountable electrical socket for securement in an opening formed in a plasterboard wall. The socket includes a wall plate having a central opening with a rearwardly extending cylindrical member, and a plug housing insertable through the opening. Guide slots in the cylindrical member guide the housing to a position of locking engagement. During insertion, the housing cams tine members of the cylindrical member into piercing engagement with the wall.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for electronically taking photographs of an object to be used for stereoscopic (three dimensional) reproductions of the object in which an electronic camera takes a plurality of electronic photographs of an object from each of a plurality of predetermined spaced positions relative to the object. The photographic image is converted into a video signal which is digitized and the digitized video signals of the images from the plurality of positions are utilized to produce a viewable representation of the object. In a preferred embodiment, the camera has a generally planar element for converting the image into the video signal and the planar converting element of the camera at each position is held in a common plane and the lens system for the camera at each position is kept in a plane generally parallel to the converting element plane and shifted relative to the image converting element of the camera to compensate for the different positions to have the same field of view at each position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for taking photographs for use in three-dimensional photography in which the object is photographed from a number of positions which are spaced apart. The camera film plane is kept in a common plane at each position and at each position the optical center of the lens is kept in a plane generally parallel to the film plane and shifted in the plane to compensate for the different positions to have the same field of view at each position.

Abstract: A method for producing multi-colored articles using injection molding results in an elongated article having a pattern of adjacent areas formed of discrete, separately molded materials, of different colors. Articles produced by this method are sturdy, safe and visually attractive, making them especially suitable for use as handles for personal grooming brushes and similar products.

Abstract: A mirror driven by a resonant mechanical oscillator is used to scan a modulated laser beam across a rotating dielectric drum. The incident laser beam line scans the drum to form a charge image thereon which is toned as the drum rotates through a toner bath. The toned image is then transferred to paper by rolling contact. The laser beam scan velocity across the drum varies sinusoidally because of the resonant nature of the drive system. The data flow which modulates the laser beam is rate-controlled by a variable clock to accommodate the periodic variations in scanning velocity. The modulation rate -- the data flow rate -- is varied periodically to match the periodically varying scan rate to produce a uniform image element density or spacing across the scan lines of the dielectric surface. The variable clock is also applied to the laser beam modulator to compensate for the periodic variations in the charge density of the image caused by the nonlinear scan velocity.

Abstract: A mirror driven by a resonant mechanical oscillator is used to scan a laser beam across a document. The incident laser beam line scans the record and is absorbed or reflected depending upon the presence or absence of an image on the record. The reflected intensity modulated light is detected by photomultiplier tubes which provide a video analog signal. An A/D device digitizes the analog signal forming a DATA OUT signal. The laser beam scan velocity across the document varies sinusoidally because of the resonant nature of the drive system. The data flow, or bit density of DATA OUT, has a corresponding sinusoidal variation. A write rate controller provides a variable clock which accompanies the DATA OUT. The variable clock has a periodic variation which matches the scan velocity. The rate of the variable clock matches the bit density of DATA OUT causing DATA OUT to be entered into a data bank properly notwithstanding its nonuniform bit density.