Abstract: A composite building panel and method employs a foam core member which has custom excised cutout sections which are specially configured to be bonded to a panel framework made up of light gauge steel framing members. The panel framework is positioned on the inner surface of the base section of the foam core member and surrounds internal sections of the foam core member. Foam pieces which have been excised from the foam core member are positioned within gaps between the framing members and the foam core member. The framing members, foam core member, and foam pieces are bonded together to form an integral panel component. An external seal coating is permanently affixed to the outer surface of the foam core member. Expandable foam can be injected into the gaps between the framing members and the foam core member, in lieu of the foam pieces, to form the bond between the framing members and the foam core member.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present application includes a vehicle illumination system. The vehicle illumination system comprises an input keypad configured to receive at least one input provided by a user. The vehicle illumination system also comprises a controller configured to receive input commands provided by the input keypad and to sequentially control a state of a plurality of output device drivers corresponding to a respective plurality of vehicle lamps. The vehicle illumination system also comprises mean for reducing or eliminating undesired LED illumination. The vehicle illumination system further comprises overvoltage protection circuitry configured to continuously monitor an electrical signal associated with each of the plurality of output device drivers relative to respective over-current condition thresholds and a summation over-current condition threshold.

Abstract: A cover to envelop a plastic part of a seat belt tongue of a seat belt. The cover uses an elastically deformable body to allow it to be easily fitted and removed from the tongue.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present application includes a vehicle illumination system. The vehicle illumination system comprises an input keypad configured to receive at least one input provided by a user. The vehicle illumination system also comprises a controller configured to receive input commands provided by the input keypad and to sequentially control a state of a plurality of output device drivers corresponding to a respective plurality of vehicle lamps. The vehicle illumination system further comprises overvoltage protection circuitry configured to continuously monitor an electrical signal associated with each of the plurality of output device drivers relative to respective over-current condition thresholds and a summation over-current condition threshold. The summation over-current threshold can be less than a sum of the respective over-current condition thresholds associated with each of the plurality of outputs.

Abstract: A process for providing a hardened wooden product from a source wooden item, said process comprising or including loading a pressure vessel with sapwood items of sufficient dryness, drawing a reduced pressure in the closed pressure vessel, immersing the sapwood in the pressure vessel in an aqueous aminoplast resin impregnating composition (‘aqueous formulation’), pressurising the impregnating composition in the treatment vessel, removing excess impregnating composition from the fully impregnated sapwood in the pressure vessel, lowering the pressure in the vessel, opening the pressure vessel, removing the impregnated sapwood from the pressure vessel, subjecting the removed impregnated sapwood to conditions to reduce its moisture content, subjecting the dryer impregnated sapwood to conditions to facilitate curing, subjecting the at least substantially cured impregnated sapwood to conditions to further reduce the moisture content thereof thereby to derive the hardened sapwood product.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present application includes a vehicle illumination system. The vehicle illumination system comprises an input keypad configured to receive at least one input provided by a user. The vehicle illumination system also comprises a controller configured to receive input commands provided by the input keypad and to sequentially control a state of a plurality of output device drivers corresponding to a respective plurality of vehicle lamps. The vehicle illumination system further comprises overvoltage protection circuitry configured to continuously monitor an electrical signal associated with each of the plurality of output device drivers relative to respective over-current condition thresholds and a summation over-current condition threshold. The summation over-current threshold can be less than a sum of the respective over-current condition thresholds associated with each of the plurality of outputs.

Abstract: The invention is a three stage wastewater treatment system having a first tank, a second tank and a third tank, all in fluid communication and forming a unitary structure. The first and second tanks are nested, where the first tank is the innermost tank. The first tank has a clarifier structure disposed therein separating the interior of the first tank into a quiescent zone and an aeration zone. Positioned in the aeration zone is at least one air injector positioned. The treatment system is covered, and is generally buried (but can be used above ground).

Abstract: An interactive community oriented business directory system (40) and process that and a media encoded with instructions and data that, when executed, enables a customer to search for businesses located within a specific region where a data processing system (40) creates and maintains community oriented business directory databases and businesses may subscribe to or participate in one or more business packages where the business' exposure is increased in associated directory databases (42) via one or more program options. A customer may access the directory database via an interactive web page.

Abstract: An endodontic file (6) including a discontinuity (18) formed within the file shank (7). The discontinuity (18) creates a safe breakage point at which the file (6) will fail prior to a failure occurring at any other point along the length (11) of the file. The safe breakage point prevents the tip (21) of the file (6) from becoming irremovably embedded in a human tooth (12) after file failure. Substantially the entire length (11) of the file (6) remains connected to the tip (21) after file failure, thereby providing a considerable portion of the file which may be gripped and manipulated in order to accomplish file removal. Empirical data is presented to permit proper characterization of the region surrounding the discontinuity (18).

Abstract: Disclosed herein are pet food compositions exhibiting a defined Maximum Relaxation Force and Maximum Relaxation Stress. The pet food compositions exhibit prolonged chew time by the pet. In optional embodiments, the pet food compositions comprise one or more of water, humectant, a grain source, or a cross-linking agent.

Abstract: A rubber dam (1) used for protecting a patient (2) during dental procedures. The dam (1) includes a symmetrical round frame (3) which supports a flexible membrane (11). A prepunched hole (19) located approximately 0.5 inch from the membrane center (18) permits rotation of the frame (3) in order to position the hole (19) over the desired tooth (13) without causing the relative position of the frame (3) with respect to the patient's face to be substantially altered.

Abstract: A clip for supporting the clarifier and the droplines in a wastewater treatment system is disclosed. The clip comprises a pair of parallel main plates wherein at least one main plate contains a groove. The main plates are separated by a bracing plate. The bracing plate is perpendicular to the main plates and is attached to the ends of each. Attached to the free ends of each of the main plates is a pair of mounting plates. These mounting plates are parallel to the bracing plate. In a preferred embodiment, the grooves are “V” shaped and each contains a hole. This pair of holes are vertically aligned, and each hole is sized to contain a dropline.

Abstract: A reactor chamber for placement in a wastewater treatment system, where the reactor chamber has a chamber formed from a sidewall which forms an interior of the chamber. The sidewall has a top portion and a bottom portion and fixed channel growth media positioned in the interior of the chamber. The fixed channel growth media is positioned below the top of the sidewall, so that when positioned in a treatment system, most of the growth media is located below the water level in the treatment system. The top of the sidewall near the water level (when positioned in a treatment system) is substantially impermeable to wastewater. The reactor includes an air distribution manifold system having a series of air release sites positioned below the fixed channel growth media and adapted to release air which disperses upwardly through the fixed channel growth media.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a variety of embodiments of compositions and methods which are each adapted for use by a companion animal. In one embodiment, an edible composition comprising an amount of a soluble mineral component is disclosed, wherein the soluble mineral component comprises one or more minerals selected from the group consisting of zinc, manganese, tin, copper, and mixtures thereof, wherein the amount is an effective amount for use as an oral medicament. In further embodiments, a phosphate component is included. The edible compositions are advantageously companion animal foods or supplements. Further disclosed are methods selected from treating oral cavity tartar, oral cavity plaque, periodontal disease, gingivitis, breath odor and combinations thereof comprising orally administering a described composition to a companion animal.

Abstract: A rubber dam (1) used for protecting a patient (2) during dental procedures. The dam (1) includes a symmetrical round frame (3) which supports a flexible membrane (11). A prepunched hole (19) located approximately 0.5 inch from the membrane center (18) permits rotation of the frame (3) in order to position the hole (19) over the desired tooth (13) without causing the relative position of the frame (3) with respect to the patient's face to be substantially altered.

Abstract: A hardware-based method and system classifies and processes data sets according to a set of rules. In one aspect of the invention, the operations associated with data set analysis and classification are offloaded from an interface processor to one or more embedded processors operating in parallel with the interface processor. A set of rules for classifying a data set is represented by instruction sequences stored in the embedded processors' memory. The embedded processors include data set parser logic to decompose data sets into relevant units and rules engine logic for executing the sequence of instructions to determine the classification of data sets. The rules engine logic returns the results of classifying the data sets to the interface processor.

Abstract: This invention relates to a mechanical oscillator control system yielding a force output for lifting a gravity payload. The oscillator system consists of an unbalanced inertial rotor or rotors constrained to orbit while undergoing strong radial motions. The rotor is rotateably connected to a moveable platform via a planetary gear orbiting about a fixed sun gear of equal size. The resulting oscillator generates strong coriolis forces that combine as compound forces with the centrifugal forces to generate a net alternating force on the platform. These forces are then coupled to a gravity payload via a mechanical clutch acting when the forces are upward, with platform re-positioning using a crank-spring mechanism. The load is lifted, and by gimbal vectoring, lateral motion is also achieved.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for reducing the nitrate concentration in wastewater within a wastewater treatment apparatus configured to define an aeration zone and a quiescent zone. The method comprises the step of ceasing airflow into the aeration zone for a predetermined time period or until the dissolved oxygen level within the wastewater has reached a predetermined threshold. The method may also comprise the step of mixing the wastewater in the aeration zone to prevent suspended particles within the wastewater in the aeration zone from settling and to avoid substantially disturbing the quiescence of the quiescent zone.

Abstract: A wastewater treatment system having a treatment chamber and a clarifier chamber, the treatment chamber having a floor, the clarifier chamber separated from the treatment chamber by a common partition, the clarifier chamber having a top portion and a bottom portion, the clarifier chamber having an opening into the treatment chamber near the bottom of the clarifier, where the common partition is inclined near the area of the clarifier opening, and clarifier chamber being designed so that when wastewater is positioned therein, some solids suspended in the wastewater in the clarifier chamber settle out and exit the clarifier opening, a current in the wastewater in the treatment chamber, where the current passes across the floor of said treatment chamber near the opening of the clarifier, the current being sufficient to substantially prevent a build up of solids on the treatment chamber floor beneath the clarifier opening where the current does not keep all solids within said treatment chamber suspended within th

Abstract: An wastewater treatment system is provided. The system includes a cylindrical tank having a sidewall, a bottom, an upper portion and a lower portion. A cone-shaped hopper, open at both ends, is positioned in the tank. The hopper's upper opening is larger than the lower opening.