Abstract: The tabletop signaling device for restaurants comprises a tabletop signaling device for visually signaling at least one of a plurality of messages to a waiter or waitress quickly and wordlessly, without requiring the service provider to physically respond and inquire to the requested service. The signaling device includes a plurality of light sources and switches for illuminating vertically spaced panels disposed on the front of the signaling device, each panel having predetermined and distinct indicia disposed thereon for signaling a specific message. A table available button disposed on the tabletop signaling device operates to illuminate a corresponding lamp disposed on a remote display panel for signaling the availability of the table. The lamps on the remote display panel may be arranged according to the location of the tables on the floor of the restaurant.

Abstract: An improved electronic pneumatic paintball gun, with an improved, simplified design incorporating an improved pneumatic hammer, electronic control circuit, pressure regulator, bolt design and cocking system for utilization in paintball guns or related devices. This paintball gun eliminates complex mechanical systems thus providing a consistent operation with low maintenance. The paintball gun utilizes low pressure to minimize damage to paint balls when fired and to the paintball gun's internal parts, plus increase the effective number of shots per tank.

Abstract: A scissor-type implement for use in removing a trailing end of a candle wick. The implement includes first and second elongated handle portions pivotally connected together at an intermediate location and each terminating in an opposing and inter engaging wick sectioning and storage member. A first of the wick sectioning and storage members includes a substantially bell shaped and interiorly hollowed housing exhibiting a base surface with a razor edge. A second of the wick sectioning and storage members also including a substantially bell shaped and interiorly hollowed housing exhibiting a base surface with a flattened support edge.

Abstract: A column transformation for an encryption application is effected using XOR operations. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, an input column of bytes is transformed for the AES algorithm. An output column of transformed bytes is provided by logically combining (e.g, XORing) at least one bit from each byte in the input column. The transformed bytes may be implemented with the MixColumns transformation for the AES algorithm, such that the logical combination discussed above is used in place of the logical combination and multiplication used in the MixColumns transformation. With this approach, the Finite Field multiplication specified in the MixColumns transformation can be avoided and an equivalent transformation can be effected using only a single type of logic combination.

Abstract: An improved pressure regulator for pneumatic guns, with an improved and simplified design incorporating a rotating gas fitting with a gas inlet port; modular construction to allow fitting to different pneumatic guns/air sources/configurations; better pressure output stability at pressures lower than 200 psi; and improved ease of maintenance. There is also a sliding, externally actuatable check valve for pneumatically isolating one pneumatic component of the paintball gun from another pneumatic component.

Abstract: A scissor-type implement for use in removing a trailing end of a candle wick. The implement includes first and second elongated handle portions pivotally connected together at an intermediate location and each terminating in an opposing and inter engaging wick sectioning and storage member. A first of the wick sectioning and storage members includes a substantially bell shaped and interiorly hollowed housing exhibiting a base surface with a razor edge. A second of the wick sectioning and storage members also including a substantially bell shaped and interiorly hollowed housing exhibiting a base surface with a flattened support edge.

Abstract: A scissor-type implement for use in removing a trailing end of a candle wick. The implement includes first and second elongated handle portions pivotally connected together at an intermediate location and each terminating in an opposing and inter engaging wick sectioning and storage member. Each of the wick sectioning and storage members includes a substantially semi-spherically bell shaped and interiorly hollowed housing. First and second incisor portions extend from the hollowed interior of associated housings and each includes an overlapping and angled blade edge. Upon the housing members first being partially displaced relative one another and arrayed around the wick, the handle portions are actuated in mating fashion. The overlapping blade edges successively grip the wick and section its trailing end in angular fashion from a remaining portion of the wick, the sectioned wick end being retained within a selected one of the matingly engaged housings.

Abstract: The present invention provides a durable and economical solution to the dilemma facing individuals in the wood processing industry. In particular, a wood translocation and splitting apparatus in accordance with the present invention allows the user to quickly attach the apparatus to an existing and common utility vehicle such as conventional skid steer loaders. Additionally, the apparatus allows for the grasping of wood to be processed, lifting the wood, positioning the wood over a receptacle, splitting the wood and loading the processed wood into the receptacle. Therefore, not only is the user free from having to manually load the apparatus, but they no longer have to manually pick up and load the split wood.

Abstract: A transceiver for transmitting and receiving high frequency radiation is described. The transceiver includes a first light source that generates radiation at a first frequency and a second light source that generates radiation at a second frequency. The first and the second light source have a difference frequency that is approximately equal to the difference between the first and the second frequencies. The transceiver also includes a transmitter that comprises a first photomixer that is optically coupled to the first and the second light source. A first antenna that radiates a signal at the difference frequency is electrically coupled to the first photomixer. The transceiver also includes a receiver that comprises a second antenna positioned to receive the signal radiated by the first antenna. The second antenna generates a time varying voltage in response to the signal. A second photomixer is electrically coupled to the second antenna and optically coupled to the first and the second light source.

Abstract: An air chamber that increases the volume of air stored inside a paintball gun. An increased volume of air allows the use of low-pressure/high volume valves in the gun.

Abstract: An air chamber that increases the volume of air stored inside a paintball gun. An increased volume of air allows the use of low-pressure/high volume valves in the gun.

Abstract: A system and method for achieving least cost call routing (i.e., shortest terrestrial path between mobile terminal and a fixed terminal) for a mobile communications system by integrating a cellular satellite communications system with an existing GSM network to form an extended satellite GSM system and an enhanced satellite GSM system. The extended satellite GSM system incorporates the advantages facilitated by the GSM network with the extended coverage capability of the mobile satellites, and achieves least cost call routing by registering a mobile terminal with one designated gateway (i.e., home gateway). In accordance with another embodiment, the enhanced satellite GSM system achieves least cost call routing for all mobile terminal originated and terminated calls by minor modifications to the mobile terminal and home location register.

Abstract: A bolt-on air chamber that increases the volume of air stored inside a paintball gun. The increased volume of air allows the use of low pressure/high volume valves in the gun. The bolt-on air chamber also holds the gun together.

Abstract: A valve, especially for use in a paintball gun which includes a pressure chamber bore for receiving gas from a source, an exhaust bore which leads to a barrel, and a valve chamber bore between the pressure chamber bore and exhaust bore. The valve includes a body mounted in the valve chamber bore with a flow path between the pressure chamber and exhaust bores, and a cupseal seat on the upstream side of the flow path. A valve stem passes through a portion of the flow path and is slidably supported by a support nose, and presents an actuation surface at one end, and supports a cupseal to mate with the seat at the other end. The cupseal has radial guide legs to closely and slidably contact the pressure chamber bore to aid alignment. The cupseal will normally be held against the seat by gas pressure and/or a spring; to open the valve, the gun may be provided with a hammer which is released to strike the actuation surface of the valve stem, to unseat the cupseal and allow gas to flow into the barrel.

Abstract: The invention is an improvement of the method and apparatus used to test gas service lines at residential or business locations such that the application of air pressure into the system, the reading and monitoring of the gauge and the ultimate release of the air pressure from the system is conducted with the use of one device which is applied at one location.

Abstract: A disposal assembly (10) includes a base (14) and four walls (20) extending perpendicularly out therefrom defining a hollow interior (22) partially filled with a plurality of layers. The bottom-most layer (38) is fabricated of styrofoam which, along with the tapered cylinders (28) and hydrostatic pressure, secures the medical instruments (12) therein. A layer of dry disinfectant (36) covers the styrofoam (38). A layer of sponge (34) directly covers the dry disinfectant (36). When fluid is injected into the dry disinfectant (36) to create a disinfectant solution, the sponge (34) absorbs the solution and distributes it across the entire cross section of the disposal assembly (10). A semi-viscous material (40) seals the disinfectant solution and the infected portions (26) of the medical instruments (12) in an anaerobic environment.

Abstract: A GaAs/AlGaAs multiple-quantum-well (MQW) is used as an optical mixer for environmental monitoring of atmospheric emission or absorption signals in the infrared (IR) region. The atmospheric signals are combined with coherent laser local oscillator emission lines to produce IF signals within the electrical bandwidth of the MQW mixer.

Abstract: An abdominal support belt of the type which includes an elongated flat waist band adapted to encircle the waist of a user and one or more supplemental elastic (resilient) strap or straps having unattached ends adapted to be grasped and drawn toward the anterior midline of the user's abdomen and releasible secured to the waist band when the belt is secured about the waist of the user for enhancing the support provided by the belt, and including one or more devices for limiting the extent of return of the strap or straps when the unattached end thereof is released from the waist band and the strap or straps is permitted to return toward its relaxed state. The belt further includes improved wear resistance and shape retention properties, particularly associated with the opposite ends of the waist band.

Abstract: A semi-flexible back support belt with selective rigidity control. The belt is formed primarily of a multiple-ply webbing of woven polymeric material. The plies in this webbing are joined together by longitudinally extending binder yarns in a weave pattern which ties together the plies of the webbing in such a manner as to provide a hinging action within the webbing during the application of a longitudinally applied tensile loading on the webbing as provided by the tightening of the belt about the waist of the user which effectively increases the rigidity of the belt. The loosening of a previously tightened belt will decrease the rigidity of the belt. By selectively varying the user applied tensile loading on the webbing, the belt is provided with a wide range of rigidity levels.