Abstract: A tubular braid and mechanisms for forming the braid are described. The mechanism for braiding includes a disc, a mandrel, a plurality of catch mechanisms, and a plurality of actuators. The disc defines a plane and a circumferential edge. The mandrel extends from a center of the disc and is adapted to hold a plurality of filaments extending radially from the mandrel toward the circumferential edge of the disc. The plurality of catch mechanisms are positioned circumferentially around the edge of the disc and are adapted to engage a filament. The plurality of actuators are configured to move relative to one another and are adapted to move the plurality of catch mechanisms in a substantially radial direction relative to the circumferential edge of the disc.

Abstract: Devices and methods for forming a tubular braid comprising a plurality of filaments. The method for braiding includes the step of loading a plurality of filaments on a mandrel and extending the filaments radially from the mandrel, the plurality of filaments have a first subset and a second subset. Tension is applied to the plurality of filaments using a weight attached to each filament. The first subset of the plurality of filaments is engaged, moved circumferentially relative to the second subset, and then released. The second subset of filaments is then engaged and moved circumferentially relative to the first subset of filaments, such that a tubular braid of filaments is formed.

Abstract: A tubular braid and mechanisms for forming the braid are described. The mechanism for braiding includes a disc, a mandrel, a plurality of catch mechanisms, and a plurality of actuators. The disc defines a plane and a circumferential edge. The mandrel extends from a center of the disc and is adapted to hold a plurality of filaments extending radially from the mandrel toward the circumferential edge of the disc. The plurality of catch mechanisms are positioned circumferentially around the edge of the disc and are adapted to engage a filament. The plurality of actuators are configured to move relative to one another and are adapted to move the plurality of catch mechanisms in a substantially radial direction relative to the circumferential edge of the disc.

Abstract: A device and method for forming a tubular braid comprising a plurality of filaments. The braiding machine comprises a disc with a mandrel extending from the center in a perpendicular direction and a plurality of catch mechanisms arranged circumferentially around the edge of the disc. A plurality of filaments are temporarily affixed to the mandrel, each filament extending from the mandrel toward the edge of the disc and engaging the edge of the disc at a discrete point of engagement. The plurality of catch mechanisms are attached to actuators adapted to move the catch mechanisms in a generally radial direction relative to the edge of the disc to allow the catch mechanism to engage a subset of the filaments and move the engaged filaments beyond the circumferential edge of the disc.

Abstract: A device and method for forming a tubular braid comprising a plurality of filaments. The braiding machine comprises a disc with a mandrel extending from the center in a perpendicular direction and a plurality of catch mechanisms arranged circumferentially around the edge of the disc. A plurality of filaments are temporarily affixed to the mandrel, each filament extending from the mandrel toward the edge of the disc and engaging the edge of the disc at a discrete point of engagement. The plurality of catch mechanisms are attached to actuators adapted to move the catch mechanisms in a generally radial direction relative to the edge of the disc to allow the catch mechanism to engage a subset of the filaments and move the engaged filaments beyond the circumferential edge of the disc.

Abstract: Devices and methods for forming a tubular braid comprising a plurality of filaments. The braiding machine includes a circular array of filament guiding members defining a plane; a mandrel defining an axis and adapted to carry one or more filaments extending from the mandrel to the circular array; a plurality of filaments extending from the mandrel in a radial array; a plurality of actuator mechanisms disposed operably about the disc; and a rotating mechanism adapted to rotate one or more filaments. The actuator mechanisms and rotating mechanism are configured to move each of the one or more filaments about the mandrel axis in a path comprising a series of arcs and radial movements. The braiding machine may alternately first and second annular members, a mandrel, first and second plurality of tubular wire guides, and a plurality of wires extending from the mandrel.

Abstract: An apparatus for grasping the fundal mucosa and method for delivery of and safe placement of a tissue bulking agent adjacent to the right and left vagus nerve trunk in the lesser curvature of the of the stomach or at the gastroesophageal junction to compress the vagus nerve trunks that control both electrical stimulation of the gastric ghrelin cells, and the parastolic muscular tone of the smooth muscles of the stomach to effect appetite and effect weight loss.

Abstract: A manual application of a topical penis sensitizing compound combination consisting of L-arginine and a cooling agent comprised of Menthol or menthol derivative or menthol analog, wherein the combination is applicable manually to the penis.

Abstract: A manual application of a topical clitoral sensitizing compound combination consisting essentially of L-arginine and a cooling agent comprised of Menthol and a 5-phosphodiaesterase inhibitor, wherein the combination is applicable manually to the clitoris.

Abstract: A portable, hand-held forcible entry device is provided for opening locked or barricaded doors in emergency situations. The device comprises a firearm secured to a hollow cylindrical housing. A piston is positioned in a chamber in the housing and drives a striker. An interchangeable tool bit is mounted to the striker. When the firearm is fired, the percussive force causes the piston to move forward in the interior chamber toward the striker. The piston strikes the base of the striker causing the tool bit mounted on the striker to forcibly move forward into a target object, such as a locked or barricaded door. Compression springs are positioned in the chamber to return the piston to the firing position. The device is particularly suitable for use by law enforcement and emergency personnel for forcing locked doors open and for freeing victims trapped in automobile accidents.

Abstract: A golf putter having a cylindrical head having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of a golf ball, with symmetrical characteristics of the axis of the shaft intersecting both the axis of the head and the mid-point of the head. This design also incorporates counterbores at either end of the head and slots across the bottom of the cylinder head parallel to the direction of movement of the head. To reduce resistance with either the ball or the putting surface, the head may also be coated with a friction reducing material such as Teflon.

Abstract: A braille board having dot pins placed in a raised or lowered state via actuators connected thereto is provided with a cordwood circuit board to which the actuators are attached. The braille board provides a full page of braille to the user having twenty-five lines of forty characters per line. Since each braille cell in the United States has six dot pin locations per cell, it is necessary to access six thousand different actuators. A plurality of solid state switching chips is provided to selectively actuate each of the actuators under the control of a microprocessor and chip controller. The microprocessor translates alphanumeric information into at least one page of braille, each page of braille having up to twenty-five lines.

Abstract: A taxidermic eye-mounting method wherein moist paper-mache or the like is stuffed through the eye opening of a hallowed-out animal head such as a fish head. A slightly flexible eye socket of substantially rigid material which has been molded to receive an artificial eye is set in the eye opening in the moist paper-mache. A fish eye is popped into the eye socket after the paper-mache has dried. The eye socket is formed to resemble the eye lid and eye membrane of an open animal eye such as an open fish eye. The socket may be made by a method of forming a moldable, pliable, non-hardening material around the animal eye to create a model which emulates the eye lid and eye membrane of an open animal eye such as an open fish eye.

Abstract: Method of removing paper wraps that are secured by thermoplastic adhesive around and/or to waste cigarette filter rods to enable subsequent recovery of the filter material in the cigarette filter rods, the method including the step of heating the cigarette filter rods to the melting point of the thermoplastic adhesive and then agitating the paper wrap against the filter material to obtain separation of the paper wrap therefrom.

Abstract: A porcelain glazed metal bar has a rounded edge carrying a line of deposited print elements. Conductive lands deposited on both sides of the glazed bar connect the print elements to contacts for external circuitry.

Abstract: A driver circuit for a thermal printing element varies the power applied to the element, depending upon its recent history of energization, in order to maintain uniform print density desprite temperature variation in the element. A capacitor charges and discharges to measure time intervals since the last element energization to control the voltage applied by an output transistor.

Abstract: A thin film thermal print head is fabricated using radio frequency (rf) or direct current (DC) sputtering within a vacuum chamber into which is introduced a partial pressure of argon and nitrogen. Without breaking the vacuum, three consecutive layers comprising respectively tantalum nitride, gold, and tantalum nitride are sputter deposited and a diffusion barrier formed on a glazed substrate material. After these steps the desired land patterns are formed by photo lithographic techniques and chemical etching and finally sealant and abrasion resistant coatings are applied.