Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methods for adapting a first receptacle coupled to a vehicle to power a second receptacle coupled to the vehicle without the need for modifying the vehicle's electrical system wiring. A method is provided in which a vehicle plug connected to the vehicle's electrical system is removed from a power inlet of the first receptacle, a first interface of the adaptor is plugged into the same power inlet, the vehicle plug is plugged into a second interface of the adaptor, and a third interface of the adaptor is coupled to the second receptacle. In some embodiments, the adaptor is provided with modules that replicate the interfaces of existing, standardized vehicle receptacles to increase compatibility with pre-installed vehicle receptacles. The adaptor may optionally be provided with an adaptor plug that wires to a second receptacle via terminal blocks or the like and plugs into the adaptor's third interface.

Abstract: A system and a method for performing over the air programming (“OTAP”) to update computer code in a remote computer. The method includes transmitting computer code over the air to the remote device and writing the computer code to at least one memory device located in the remote device. In one embodiment, the remote device is a cellular phone and the computer code is transmitted over a cellular phone network.

Abstract: A universal porous unit whose edges are metallic foil, or metallic foil and polymeric film laminate, or metallic foil and porous membrane, or metallic foil and polymeric film and porous membrane, held together by heat sealing and/or adhesive, or any other method to attach them, so that one or both surfaces of the laminate is/are metallic foil. Metallic foil in the rim can be on one side, the other surface being polymeric film or porous membrane. Metallic foil can be on both sides, the polymeric film or porous membrane being between the two metallic foils. The metallic foil serves to hold and conform the unit to the item to which it is applied and the diaphragm is porous for filtering, screening, or straining. The universal porous unit can be used in home, clinical, industrial, and construction settings to serve as a disposable, easy-to-use, compact, economical filtering, screening, or straining device.

Abstract: This invention relates to a fertility plug, for use by both humans and animals, constructed from an impermeable polymeric film membrane covering an elastically deformable, compressible interior, which, because of pressure from the vaginal walls on the unit (forming a seal), prevents escape of semen from a vagina immediately after ejaculation or injection of semen into the vagina, but instead remain for a limited time in the vicinity of the cervix and, thus available for fertilization. A string may be attached to the unit to assist the removal of the plug after the unit has been in the vagina for a sufficient time for sperm to have entered the uterus. A nonspermicidal lubricant can be used with the fertility plug to facilitate insertion into and removal from the vagina; the nonspermicidal lubricant also enhances the seal formed between the unit's surface and the vaginal wall, further restricting the loss of semen from the vagina.

Abstract: A universal cover whose edges are metallic foil and polymeric laminate, held together by heat sealing and/or adhesive, or any other method to attach them, so that one or both surfaces of the laminate is/are metallic foil. Metallic foil in the rim can be on one side, the other surface being polymeric film. Metallic foil can be on both sides, the polymeric film being between the two metallic foils. The can be used home, clinical, industrial, and settings. In clinical settings, such as as a stethoscope head cover, the internal membrane would be thin enough and deformable as not to interfere with sound collection and transmission; the deformability and holdability of the outside rim/edge would make it easy to apply and remove. The ease of transmission of sound through the thin membrane also makes it usable for cellular telephones, microphones, pagers, and other such sound transmission/receiving devises.

Abstract: A swinging mailbox support including a vertical member having a horizontal arm disposed thereon wherein a mailbox is affixed to an end portion of the horizontal arm and furthermore the assembly comprises two portions pivotably interconnected and tending to maintain a neutral initial state by the action of gravity. In operation the arm supporting the mailbox is free to rotate about an inclined axis in the event of a collision with a vehicle or other object Because of the inclined axis, rotation causes the mailbox to rise to a higher level above the ground. Once free of the impacting object, gravity restores the mailbox to a service position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for issuing secondary programmable account numbers (SPANs) to a customer or customer-designated party, each of which SPANs is associated with a customer primary account or other financial instrument, and each of which SPANs has selected usage parameters assigned thereto. SPANs may be issued as a book, with usage parameters assigned to the book in addition to or instead of individual SPANs. When a SPAN is presented to a merchant for payment, the SPAN, including compliance with usage parameters, is verified and appropriate action taken based on either verification or failure of verification.

Abstract: The physical properties of an elastane, i.e. spandex, filament may be selectively altered basically by stretching the filament to a selected degree while heating the filament to a selected temperature above its glass transition temperature to set the filament at a reduced denier and a reduced degree of elongation. The tenacity of the filament may increase or decrease depending upon variable parameters of the methodology. The method may be performed on a single elastane filament or simultaneously on multiple filaments, e.g., in a draw warping operation.

Abstract: An emergency response system for detecting, locating, and responding to a predetermined medical emergency, such as sudden cardiac arrest/sudden cardiac death, in a person being sensed for the predetermined emergency, and wherein the medical emergency can be treated with portable medical equipment, such as an AED machine for treating cardiac arrest/sudden cardiac death, includes a reader worn by the person being sensed for reading a dysfunction indicating the existence or imminent existence of the emergency condition and a sensor for determining when an emergency condition is read and producing an alarm signal. A processor activates a personal alarm at the location of the person suffering the emergency, now the victim, which indicates the emergency and the victim's location to those in the victim's immediate area.

Abstract: A multistage bidirectional shift register for a differential pulse code system, simple enough to be integrated inexpensively, is achieved by taking advantage of the code configuration conditions permitted by the pulse code system. The system requires only a single stage of the register to be switched at a time. This enables odd and even stages of the register to be switched independently and leads to the employment of relatively few elements per stage.

Abstract: Simulated citizens band radio has an instrument panel simulating the working controls of a citizens band radio. A microphone fits in a cradle formed by a lever which determines a voice-transmitting-connection and deactuates the speaker mechanism until the microphone is lifted from the cradle. Thereafter, simulated CB talk can be generated by pulling a string and operating a recording which produces simulated voice transmission after the microphone is lifted from its cradle. When the microphone is replaced the voice transmission is terminated.