Abstract: A fuel intake assembly includes a housing, a nozzle inlet door, a nozzle outlet door, and an outlet door-engaging link. The housing defines an internal chamber. A nozzle passage channel extends through the internal chamber. The nozzle inlet and outlet doors are moveably secured within the housing and are both configured to move between open and closed positions. The outlet door-engaging link may be moveably secured to the nozzle inlet door. Movement of the nozzle inlet door toward the open position causes the outlet door-engaging link to engage the nozzle outlet door so that a fluid passage is formed between at least a portion of the nozzle outlet door and an internal surface of the housing.

Abstract: A fuel intake assembly includes a housing, a nozzle inlet door, a nozzle outlet door, and an outlet door-engaging link. The housing defines an internal chamber. A nozzle passage channel extends through the internal chamber. The nozzle inlet and outlet doors are moveably secured within the housing and are both configured to move between open and closed positions. The outlet door-engaging link may be moveably secured to the nozzle inlet door. Movement of the nozzle inlet door toward the open position causes the outlet door-engaging link to engage the nozzle outlet door so that a fluid passage is formed between at least a portion of the nozzle outlet door and an internal surface of the housing.

Abstract: An adjustable furniture apparatus is disclosed. The furniture apparatus includes a frame, an internal support structure, an incline assembly having a first and a second inclinable section, a plurality of lifting devices configured to selectively incline and support the first and second inclinable sections, and a cover disposed over portions of the incline assembly to form a comfortable seating intimate activity surface.

Abstract: An adjustable furniture apparatus is disclosed. The furniture apparatus includes a frame, an internal support structure, an incline assembly having a first and a second inclinable section, a plurality of lifting devices configured to selectively incline and support the first and second inclinable sections, and a cover disposed over portions of the incline assembly to form a comfortable seating intimate activity surface.

Abstract: A polarizer comprising at least one subwavelength optical microstructure that includes linear prisms, and wherein said microstructure is partially covered with a light-transmissive inhibiting surface.

Abstract: A dispensing seal for use with a flexible container for pouring viscous fluids. The seal includes a seat member disposed about the dispensing opening of the container and a flexible sealing member. When the sealing member is in its seated position, it forms a region having a generally concave shape as viewed from the exterior of the container, i.e., a region depressed inward toward the interior of the container. In this configuration the sealing member seals off the dispensing opening, fitting snugly within the wall or walls defining the dispensing opening. The sealing member is movably mounted so as to enable it to move with respect to the container between the seated position for retaining said fluid in the container under the weight of the fluid when said container is inverted and an unseated position for dispensing the fluid.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved suture passer device for inserting and retrieving suture during abdominal or thoracic surgery. The device consists of a probe member having a blunt needle tip that forms the terminal distal end of the probe member. A flexible thread having a bight portion is so carried by the probe member to permit the bight portion to extend from a lateral port located intermediate the distal terminal end and proximate end of the probe member. The extension of the bight portion through the lateral port forms a loop for receiving an end segment of the suture.

Abstract: A medical device for clamping the stomach in morbid obesity surgery consists of a silicone frame that is essentially U-shaped, having opposing legs self-hinged to a bight portion interconnecting the legs. The opposing legs have sufficient stiffness to permit limited bending and have inner surfaces that sealingly carry an inflatable balloon which can be selectively inflated or aspirated after the device has been clamped to the stomach to adjust the gastric restriction stoma. A flexible latch member carried by one of the legs has at least one serration which is inserted into a latch cavity of the opposing leg to lock the opposing legs in fixed spaced relationship. Lumens within the legs communicate with a fluid supply source and respective inflatable balloon for selective inflation or aspiration of the inflatable balloons.

Abstract: An electronically controlled hydro-mechanically coupled power steering system includes a double-acting power cylinder having a directional control under-lapped four-way open center valve and a motor driven pump. A controller selectively provides pressurized fluid to the double-acting power cylinder to function in the manner of an inherently failsafe EPS system.

Abstract: A power steering system includes a power cylinder, an accumulator, a reservoir, a pair of valves, and a pair of pressure transducers. The system selectively fluidly couples the accumulator and/or reservoir to the double-acting power cylinder and thereby causes the power steering system to function in the manner of a force-based power steering system.

Abstract: A power steering system includes a double-acting power cylinder having a four-way valve for controlling steering direction. An accumulator stores pressurized fluid that is controllably supplied to the four-way valve by an electronically controlled three-way valve based upon an applied torque measured at a steering wheel.

Abstract: Foot impression generating apparatus comprising impression platforms including buns of open-cell sponge material bonded to an supporting non-porous skins formed of non-blown sponge material is utilized for making foot impressions by a consumer. The sponge material comprises a blended mixture of elastomeric thermosetting material and low melting temperature thermoplastic material chosen such that the buns and skins are respectively flexible and then become rigid when heated and then cooled above and below the plastic temperature range of the thermoplastic material. The consumer steps into heated impression platforms to form the foot impressions and then they are cooled and “frozen” in place. Next, scanning means are used to create a digital contour map of the foot impressions. Then a digitally controlled milling machine is utilized for forming shoe inserts in conformance with the digital contour map.

Abstract: Resonant and powered rhythmic blood pressure modulation (hereinafter “RBPM”) and “Legshaking” apparatus are provided for implementing either hand or powered RBPM, or Legshaking operation as intended for therapeutic treatment of cardiovascularly or neurologically compromised patients via enhancing blood flow through portions of a patient's cardiovascular system comprised in his or her torso, neck and head and specifically through, or around, partially clogged coronary arteries as well as through, or around, “plaques and tangles” in the arteries of his or her brain.

Abstract: A power steering system provides improved steering feel whenever negligible power assist is required is required such as during on-center operation or at very high vehicular speeds. The power steering system includes fluid lines used for directly coupling a motor driven pump to a power cylinder. The fluid lines are coupled to a system reservoir or to one another whenever a primary control signal indicative of steering wheel torque has a value below a selected threshold value thereby substantially decoupling the power cylinder from the pump.

Abstract: A rupturable closure for use with a flexible container that is especially suited for pouring viscous fluids such as motor oil. The closure is secured to the pouring spout or other dispensing opening of the container and retains the viscous fluid in the container as the container is brought into inverted position for pouring. Notwithstanding the ability of the closure to hold in the viscous fluid, the closure also allows the closure to breathe when the cap is removed so as to relieve small variations in pressure as the flexible container is first grasped for pouring and thereby prevent premature rupture of the closure before or as the container is inverted for pouring. Such a closure includes a membrane secured over the dispensing opening of the container. The membrane has a small primary vent orifice in the region over the dispensing opening that is sized to permit the membrane to breathe.

Abstract: A fade-resistant fluorescent colorant composition includes a polymer; a fade-susceptible fluorescent colorant, provided the fluorescent colorant is not a perylene imide derivative; and a hindered amine light stabilizer of molecular weight greater than about 1,200 AMU. The hindered amine light stabilizer includes at least one secondary or tertiary hindered amine. A fade-resistant retroreflective article includes the colorant composition and a retroreflective structure, comprising an array of transparent optical elements. Also included are methods for forming the composition and articles.

Abstract: Improved gerotor pumps (10, 100, 150, 180, 210, 230, 260, 270, 310, 340, 370, 400) each featuring an outer rotor (18, 184, 202) of a gerotor set (12, 186, 204, 344) located laterally with respect to a preferred eccentricity axis (54), but allowed to float in the orthogonal direction nominally along the preferred eccentricity axis and find its own eccentricity offset rotation axis (5440 ) via mesh of the gerotor set itself are provided in the present invention. Reduced gerotor set operating clearances for the gerotor sets, and therefore higher attained output pressure values, are attained by utilization of any of methods also presented for reforming tip regions of either or both of the inner and outer rotors.

Abstract: An equipment support stand for mounting and positioning photographic, motion picture and video accessories and the like. A riser comprising a plurality of telescoping shafts is coupled to lower, center and upper support legs which, when activated, will position the riser vertically relative to the mounting surface. Each support leg is integral with a respective positioning sleeve, the center and upper positioning sleeves being rotatably coupled about the lower end of the riser. Each positioning sleeve includes at least one engagement surface which is adapted to interface with the adjacent positioning sleeve or sleeves. When engaged, each of the three support legs are angularly spaced from adjacent support legs by 120° of arc. The center positioning sleeve may be secured to the riser in the engaged position. In the closed state, the center and upper support legs may be rotated about the riser and be placed in a co-planar relationship with the lower support leg to facilitate storage and transport.

Abstract: An equipment support stand for mounting and positioning photographic, motion picture and video accessories and the like. A riser comprising a plurality of telescoping shafts is coupled to at least three rotatable support legs which, when activated, will position the riser vertically relative to the mounting surface. Each support leg is integral with a positioning sleeve which is rotatably coupled about the lower end of the riser. Each positioning sleeve includes at least one engagement surface which is adapted to interface with the adjacent positioning sleeve or sleeves. When engaged, each of the three support legs are angularly spaced from adjacent support legs by 120.degree. of arc. In a closed state, the support legs may be rotated about the riser and be placed in a co-planar relationship with one another to facilitate storage and transport.