Abstract: A variable compression ratio internal combustion engine and method of operating the same is provided. The engine comprises an engine block defining at least one cylinder; a head connected with the engine block; a piston slidable in each cylinder; a combustion chamber defined by the head, the piston, and the cylinder; an air intake valve movable to open and close the air intake port; an air supply system including two turbochargers in series fluidly connected to the air intake port; a fuel supply system operable to inject fuel into the combustion chamber; an air intake valve assembly comprising a camshaft configured to open the intake valve; and a hydraulically actuated variable intake valve closing mechanism configured to hold the intake valve open.

Abstract: A disposable surgical gown includes a front portion, a pair of sleeves, and first and second back portions. The first back portion includes an adhesive tab which extends from the first back portion to overlap at least a portion of the second back portion when the surgical gown is donned by a wearer. The adhesive tab is configured to overlap to adhere to the gown in a worn position. The adhesive tab includes a pull tab at a free end thereof to permit a wearer to grasp the pull tab to easily set and release the adhesive tab to and from the surgical gown.

Abstract: A container for retaining liquids includes a straw assembly that permanently lies partially within an interior cavity of the container and partially outside the container. The straw assembly includes an elongated tubular member which is slidably received in a valve. A first end of the tubular member lies outside the container and is covered by a tear-away strip to protect it from contamination and damage. A second end of the tubular member lies within the cavity and is selectively engeagable with the valve to either prevent liquid from being withdrawn from the container or allow liquid to be withdrawn from the container through the tubular member.

Abstract: A seat track assembly for adjusting a seat assembly of an automotive vehicle comprising a lower track having a first plurality of apertures, an upper track slidably mounted to the lower track and having a second plurality of apertures. A latch assembly is fixedly mounted to the upper track. The latch assembly includes a plurality of locking fingers projecting through the apertures in the upper track and adapted to be received in at least one of the apertures in the lower track. An actuator moves the fingers between a locked condition engaged with at least one of the apertures in the lower track and an unlocked condition spaced from each of the apertures in the lower track and a biasing member biases the fingers to the locked condition regardless of a relative position between the upper and lower tracks.

Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine, including at least one cylinder and a piston slidable in the cylinder, may include supplying a mixture of pressurized air and recirculated exhaust gas from an intake manifold to an air intake port of a combustion chamber in the cylinder, selectively operating an air intake valve to open the air intake port to allow pressurized air to flow between the combustion chamber and the intake manifold substantially during a majority portion of a compression stroke of the piston, and operably controlling a fuel supply system to inject fuel into the combustion chamber after the intake valve is closed.

Abstract: A-way locking rotary drive clutch assembly for actuating an adjuster mechanism on an automotive vehicle seat including a cylinder (30) fixedly secured to the vehicle seat and a mobile flange (40) rotatably journaled to the cylinder and fixedly secured to an input shaft (18) for externally actuating the adjuster mechanism. The cylinder includes a cylindrical bearing surface. The clutch assembly includes a plurality of cams (50, 52) engagable with the bearing surface to prevent rotation of the mobile flange relative to the cylinder. The cams are rotatably assembled to the mobile flange for moving in and out of engagement with the bearing surface. The cams are biased into engagement with the bearing surface. A handle body (60) journaled to the cylinder includes a plurality of teeth engagable with teeth on the mobile flange. Tabs (62) extend from the handle body to move the cams out of engagement with the bearing surface during rotation of the handle body relative to the mobile flange.

Abstract: A self-retaining cementing wiper plug with a packer element has two or more steel or carbide tipped holddown fingers or slips extending radially outward from the plug for engaging the inner surface of the casing and preventing the plug from moving uphole over time and potentially interfering with other downhole apparatus such as a pump. The packer element in the wiper plug is actuated when the plug is supported by an obstruction under the plug and then compressed, the packer being maintained in compression by the holddown fingers.

Abstract: A progressive cavity pump pumps liquid downhole to a lower formation past a packer set in a casing of a wellbore. The rotor of the pump is axially restrained by a bearing assembly spaced below the pump for controlling uphole reactive loading on the rotor. Preferably the rotor is releasably coupled to the bearing assembly for release and recovery of the rotor from the bearing assembly. Such a releasable coupling is a latch comprising a plunger telescopically and releasably coupled with a housing using a dog and track arrangement, the dog and track utilizing the telescoping action to actuate the coupling and releasing of the latch.

Abstract: Specific advertisements and other information can be communicated to the user of a mobile vehicle depending on the vehicles or occupants needs or preferences.

Abstract: A seat track assembly for adjusting a seat assembly of an automotive vehicle comprising a lower track having a first plurality of apertures, an upper track slidably mounted to the lower track and having a second plurality of apertures. A latch assembly is fixedly mounted to the upper track. The latch assembly includes a plurality of locking fingers projecting through the apertures in the upper track and adapted to be received in at least one of the apertures in the lower track. An actuator moves the fingers between a locked condition engaged with at least one of the apertures in the lower track and an unlocked condition spaced from each of the apertures in the lower track and a biasing member biases the fingers to the locked condition regardless of a relative position between the upper and lower tracks.

Abstract: A seat track assembly for adjusting a seat assembly of an automotive vehicle. The seat track assembly comprises a lower track and slidably coupled to an upper track. A locking mechanism includes a fixed lock plate secured to the lower track and having a first plurality of apertures. A moving lock plate is secured to the upper track and includes spaced apart and parallel upper and lower locking plates sandwiched on opposing sides of the fixed lock plate. Each of the upper and lower locking plates include a second plurality of apertures for aligning with the apertures in the fixed lock plate. A housing is mounted to the moving lock plate above the apertures. A pair of shear plates are slidably disposed within the housing and have opposing offset engagement fingers. The shear plates are biased to a locked position for selectively engaging the first and second apertures to lock and secure the upper track to the lower track.

Abstract: A prescription pharmacy label comprises a face stock having top and bottom faces with a pressure sensitive adhesive on at least a major portion of the bottom face, and a release liner engaging the pressure sensitive adhesive. A CB coating is provided on a first portion of the top face, and a CF coating on a second portion of the top face, separated by a first fold line, and a third portion of the top face is uncoated. A second fold line is provided in the release liner so that the label may be Z-folded about the fold lines so that the CB and CF coatings are in face-to-face engagement, and underlie the third portion, so that handwriting provided on the third portion is transferred to the CF coating on the second portion. A slit may be provided between the first and third portions to allow part of the adhesive on the bottom face of the third portion to be exposed and to be moved into contact with a prescription medicine container (e.g.

Abstract: A shoulder brace comprising a resilient shoulder means conformable to the shoulder and upper arm of the wearer. The shoulder brace also includes a plurality of resilient torso straps each having a shoulder end which is attached to the shoulder means and an anchor end, and a plurality of resilient side straps each having a sleeve end which is attached to the shoulder means and a waist end. A waist belt is also provided which includes an overlap means for releasably affixing the waist belt about the waist of the user and a plurality of loop means in spatial relationship about the waist belt for removably securing each of the anchor ends and waist ends to the waist belt.

Abstract: A method and means is described for a concealed structure locating and surveying exciter apparatus, and more particularly, to a portable device which couples, either by direct or indirect connection, high frequency alternating current energy into a more conductive structure which is usually obscured in a less conductive covert medium. The preferred embodiment provides two different frequency high stability sources of first oscillations the outputs of which are alternately switched or gated by a very low frequency source of second oscillations. The alternating first oscillations are combined in a summing amplifier and caused to drive an output coupling means. The amplified outout is further modulated, usually at an audio frequency rate, by a low frequency source of third oscillations.

Abstract: My new invention describes a method and means for a receptor or translator apparatus suited for positionally spotting and tracing subjacently concealed conductive structures through the detection of a cooperative separately induced pair of radio frequency signals modulated by a constant amplitude radio frequency tone. The pair of radio frequency signals are predeterminately caused to occur either simultaneously or in a sequentially ordered alternative form. The receptor further includes a pair of inducer means in different spatial displacements with each inducer means being operative to be singularly responsive to but one of the pair of radio frequencies emanating from the concealed structure. The independent inducer signals are subsequently amplified and independently demodulated so as to result in two separate audio frequency tones the volume of which are individually proportional to the radio frequency signal level picked up by either of the pair of inducers.

Abstract: My invention relates to improved method and means for a portable concealed structure locating and surveying exciter apparatus, and more particularly, to a portable device which couples by indirect connection alternating current energy into a structure which is usually obscured in a covert medium. A high stability source of first oscillations is provided which is undisturbed by perturbations in the degree of coupling between the concealed structure and the exciter, together with an adjustment, which is operable by a user of average skill, for maximizing the induction field when the apparatus is in the immediate presence of a large conductive structure which can otherwise affect the resonant efficiency of the inducer, thereby permitting the most effective use of an associated electromagnetic field detector apparatus of high selectivity.

Abstract: My invention relates to improved method and means for a portable concealed structure locating and surveying apparatus, and more particularly, to a portable device which provides separate operating conditions to best initially locate, then subsequently trace or survey a hidden structure or extended object with a minimum of operator interpretive skill. My invention includes an inductive exciter which couples by indirect connection alternating current energy into the structure which isusually obscured in a covert medium. My invention includes also a portable translator which is, in the locating or spotting mode of operation, operating with gain modulation at a slow periodic rate to enable the use of the full, noise limited, gain capablity of the electronic amplification means. I have further conceived a novel way that the noise thus resulting is used as an aid in the initial locating of the indeterminate structure lay.