Abstract: In one embodiment, a portable combination cooking apparatus that has a collapsible unit with at least four walls, a top, and a bottom that are all mechanically coupled together. The top includes a groove for draining undesirable elements such as grease from a cooking surface. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A hot press assembly is provided that comprises an upper die plate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The hot press assembly further includes a punch with an attachment surface that is positioned adjacent to the second surface of the upper die plate and a pressing surface that is positioned opposite the attachment surface. The hot press assembly also includes one or more conductive inserts that extend through the punch from the attachment surface to a predetermined distance away from the pressing surface, where each conductive insert has a thermal conductivity greater than a thermal conductivity of the punch. Methods of manufacturing a brake pad using the hot press assembly are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a thermoelectric device. The thermoelectric device includes an interconnect layer, a skutterudite layer, and a metallization stack. The metallization stack, having a diffusion layer, is disposed between and in electrical contact with the interconnect layer and the skutterudite layer of the thermoelectric device. The present invention also provides a method of preparing an SKD thermocouple. The present invention also provides a method of preparing a braze joint.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for enhanced personal hygiene. In one embodiment, a hand cleaner apparatus is disclosed. The hand cleaner apparatus includes an elongate grip having two ends. Each end has a scrubber area and a finger scrubber notch. In another embodiment, light emitting diodes and a timer are included in the hand cleaner apparatus to indicate passage of an appropriate cleaning time after activation of the hand cleaner apparatus. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A retractable strap system for a roll up door of a truck featuring a housing with a spindle and a spring-loaded reel and a strap wrapped around the spindle. The spring-loaded reel is biased to retract the strap into the housing. A catch lever allows and prevents the spring-loaded reel from retracting of the strap into the housing. When the truck door is open, the strap can be pulled to a desired length and held at that desired length. The strap automatically retracts into a housing when the roll up door of the truck is closed, preventing its exposure or unnecessary wear.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for enhanced personal hygiene. In one embodiment, a hand cleaner apparatus is disclosed. The hand cleaner apparatus includes an elongate grip having two ends. Each end has a scrubber area and a finger scrubber notch. In another embodiment, light emitting diodes and a timer are included in the hand cleaner apparatus to indicate passage of an appropriate cleaning time after activation of the hand cleaner apparatus. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for a skateboard and for propelling the skateboard. The skateboard system includes a board including a first end and a second end, the first end offset from the second end, and the second end defining a board plane. The skateboard system also includes a truck assembly attached near the first end of the board, and a caster assembly attached near the second end of the board. The caster assembly has a caster pin at an angle with respect to the board plane. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for propelling a skateboard. The method includes applying an alternating lateral force to first and second sides of a first end of the skateboard. The skateboard first end is offset from a second end of the skateboard, and the first and second ends define a board plane. The skateboard includes a truck assembly and a caster assembly. The caster assembly has a caster pin at an angle with respect to the board plane. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for a skateboard and for propelling the skateboard. The skateboard system includes a board including a first end and a second end, the first end offset from the second end, and the second end defining a board plane. The skateboard system also includes a truck assembly attached near the first end of the board, and a caster assembly attached near the second end of the board. The caster assembly has a caster pin at an angle with respect to the board plane. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for a skateboard and for propelling the skateboard. The skateboard system includes a board including a first end and a second end, the first end offset from the second end, and the second end defining a board plane. The skateboard system also includes a truck assembly attached near the first end of the board, and a caster assembly attached near the second end of the board. The caster assembly has a caster pin at an angle with respect to the board plane. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is provided for use in a health care management system that includes a voice recognition system having a first queue, a transcription service node having a second queue, at least one portable user interface device, and a memory. A voice file is created using a portable user interface device. The voice file is sent to the voice recognition system and is stored in the first queue. The voice recognition system creates a text file based on the voice file. Both the text file and the voice file are placed in the second queue of the transcription service node for manual processing by a transcriptionist. The transcriptionist edits the text file based on the voice file. The edited text file is stored in the memory. The edited text file is then used to train the voice recognition system so as to avoid errors which would otherwise need to be corrected by the transcriptionist.

Abstract: A necktie protection apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus typically includes an elongated body, which is typically clear flexible plastic, into which the tie can be placed for protection from soiling. The apparatus further includes a drawstring that can be drawn to secure the apparatus over the tie. The apparatus can further include a hook that can attach the apparatus to a button or collar of the wearers shirt.

Abstract: A necktie protection apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus typically includes an elongated body, which is typically clear flexible plastic, into which the tie can be placed for protection from soiling. The apparatus further includes a drawstring that can be drawn to secure the apparatus over the tie. The apparatus can further include a hook that can attach the apparatus to a button or collar of the wearers shirt.

Abstract: A health care management method and system are used to relieve health care personnel of the burden of administrative, regulatory and reimbursement tasks which distract them from practicing medicine. The system includes a central database and at least one portable user interface device. The central database stores a plurality of medical records associated with a plurality of patients. The portable user interface device includes a display and a memory. A subset of the plurality of medical records is stored in the memory of the portable user interface device. The portable user interface device presents on the display a plurality of selectable windows including at least one activity initiation window for ordering health care activities associated with a selected patient and an activity status window for presenting a list of the ordered health care activities and the status of each ordered health care activity.

Abstract: An automatic pipe handling device (10) is disclosed which includes a support frame (12) mounted on a boring device (14). Removable pipe racks (16, 80, 130, 140) can be placed in position on the support frame (12) to deliver pipe to the spindle axis or to remove pipe therefrom as required. The pipe sections are removed from the pipe rack and positioned on the spindle axis by pipe grippers (32) mounted on hydraulic cylinders (28, 30) mounted on a rotating longitudinal shaft (20). The grippers and shaft similarly return the used pipe sections for storage to the pipe rack. In one pipe rack (16) an S-shaped guide path (72) is used. In another pipe rack (80) a plurality of rows (88, 90, 92) of pipe sections are used. In another embodiment, pipe is stored in an arcuate path.

Abstract: A composition for cleaning petroleum contaminated surfaces includes 5 to 60 percent by weight of a dioctyl sulfosuccinate salt, 20 to 50 percent by weight of a carrier composition and 10 to 75 percent by weight of a diluent. The preferred carrier composition is a mixture of polyethylene glycol and glycerol. The preferred diluent is water. The preferred concentration of sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate is about 7% by weight. The preferred dioctyl sulfosuccinate salt is sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate. A method of cleaning petroleum contaminated surfaces is also provided. The steps include providing a solution containing dioctyl sulfosuccinate salt, a carrier composition, and a diluent as described above and treating the petroleum contaminated surface with the solution in a manner and for a time sufficient to decontaminate the surface. The preferred method of treatment comprises contacting the solution with the petroleum contaminated surface for a time sufficient to create an emulsion and then removing the emulsion.

Abstract: An automatic pipe handling device (10) is disclosed which includes a support frame (12) mounted on a boring device (14). Removable pipe racks (16, 80, 130, 140) can be placed in position on the support frame (12) to deliver pipe to the spindle axis or to remove pipe therefrom as required. The pipe sections are removed from the pipe rack and positioned on the spindle axis by pipe grippers (32) mounted on hydraulic cylinders (28, 30) mounted on a rotating longitudinal shaft (20). The grippers and shaft similarly return the used pipe sections for storage to the pipe rack. In one pipe rack (16) an S-shaped guide path (72) is used. In another pipe rack (80) a plurality of rows (88, 90, 92) of pipe sections are used.In another embodiment, pipe is stored in an arcuate path.

Abstract: A pickup truck bed liner is provided with an inwardly extending column-shaped projection adjacent the rear end of each side wall of the bed liner for close fitting engagement with vertically extending posts adjacent the end of each truck bed side wall. The upper edge of the bed liner is adapted to be fitted beneath the truck bed rail and an integral projection is formed on an upper edge portion of each side wall adjacent the column-shaped projection for engagement with a flange of each truck bed rail to secure the bed walls against movement relative to the truck bed side walls and support posts.

Abstract: A bracket assembly for mounting an audio speaker to a computer. The bracket assembly includes a mounting bracket having an upper section that is engaged with an upwardly facing surface of the monitor. A generally vertical side section depends from the upper section and is engaged with a side surface of the monitor. A generally horizontal platform section is interconnected to the side section and extends transversely from the side section and outwardly from the side surface of the monitor for supporting an audio speaker thereon. The mounting bracket is secured by an adhesive tape to the computer monitor.