Abstract: A method of marking an inventory item includes providing an activatable smoke generator and a reservoir for holding a smoke fluid and adapted to provide a flow of smoke fluid to the generator. The reservoir contains a smoke fluid including a carrier nucleic acid having a uniquely identifiable sequence, and upon activation of the smoke generator, marker smoke is generated and targeted to flow over the inventory item. The method further includes activating the smoke generator to produce the marker smoke including the carrier nucleic acid so as to cause the marker smoke to flow over the inventory item and thereby to detectably mark the inventory item with carrier nucleic acid.

Abstract: An interior space of the at least one housing of a force-measuring device is filled with a gas composition that is distinguishable in at least one parameter from the ambient atmosphere. A sensor that is arranged in the interior space, or on the housing, measures this distinguishable parameter. A processing unit of the force-measuring device compares signals obtained from the sensor to monitor and determine the condition of the force-measuring device.

Abstract: An interior space of the at least one housing of a force-measuring device is filled with a gas composition that is distinguishable in at least one parameter from the ambient atmosphere. A sensor that is arranged in the interior space, or on the housing, measures this distinguishable parameter. A processing unit of the force-measuring device compares signals obtained from the sensor to monitor and determine the condition of the force-measuring device.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for the secure and convenient provision of money. A prepaid card is purchased by a consumer, who then has the card activated. Information about the card and a security number provided by calling a number printed on the card is then sent to a recipient. Using that information, the recipient then receives an amount of money that correlates to the prepaid purchase amount.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a casing 10 for a sealed bipolar battery 20, 30, 50, 55, 60 comprising at least one battery cell 21, wherein each cell have electrodes with non-metallic substrates. The casing comprises at least two parts, an upper part 12, 31, 41, 61 and a lower part 11, 51, 62, that are joined together to form the casing of the battery. A mechanically compliant arrangement are built-in to the casing to reduce the forces on the cell stack caused by changes in cell thickness during operation, and a pressure means are built-in to the casing to distribute the pressure across the cell stack.

Abstract: A system for capturing and analyzing images of body features to identify treatments has a base unit with a processor and a display and an image management software component for presenting on the display a user interface to prompt a user to capture images in preselected locations on a body and to receive captured image data. The system has at least two light sources under control of the user interface that provide light following first and second light paths from the respective light sources to the plane of an imaging station, each light path having a significant portion of its light on the plane of the imaging station at a grazing angle of about ten to about thirty degrees. The first and second light paths when projected onto the plane of the imaging station intersect at an angle of at least sixty degrees. An image sensor receives light from the light sources that is reflected from the surface of a body feature located at the imaging station and produces pixel image data representing the body feature.

Abstract: A packaging device for a trocar assembly includes a housing member having a first retaining member adapted for selective retention of a trocar assembly component relative to the housing member along a component longitudinal axis. The housing member further includes a shield member remote from the first retaining member. The shield member lies in a shield longitudinal axis which is substantially perpendicular to the component longitudinal axis. The housing member is substantially open adjacent the shield member along the component longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A pressure-sensitive closure mechanism for a folded carton incorporates a pressure-sensitive tape having adhesive on one surface thereof disposed on a one side of a hinged lid panel, with the adhesive exposed through an opening in the lid panel and releasably engaging an outer surface of a flap-receiving panel. The hinged lid panel is formed by folding an inner lid panel over an outer lid panel. Both lid panels have openings. The pressure-sensitive tape is disposed between the two lid panels. When the lid is closed over the opening in the carton, the user applies pressure with his finger to the backside (non-adhesive) side of the pressure-sensitive tape. The pressure pushes the tape against flap-receiving panel of the carton. Repeated closings and openings are possible.

Abstract: A paper bag formed from a unitary blank and having a longitudinal seam running along its length. The seam is of a double layer of paper and has two spaced and parallel adhesive areas joining the two layers. A pair of parallel perforated lines border respective adhesive areas. The perforated lines define a tear strip on the outermost one of the double layers. The tear strip is provided on its usually hidden surface with indicia, so that after tearing it away, the user will be notified by the indicia of the winning of a prize offered by the vendor of product placed within the bag.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an improved, cylindrical, paperboard collar for placing around a specialty sandwich such as a multilayer hamburger or such. The collar blank is cut from flat paperboard stock in the form of an elongated rectangle which is folded back over itself having its free ends adhesively attached to one another whereby the resulting flat preform may be expandingly opened to form a cylindrical configuration. Two tongue like locking tabs are cut into the paperboard surface which when the preform is expanded to form an upright cylinder the tabs act to maintain the open cylinder.

Abstract: An otherwise conventional paperboard french fry scoop and container is provided with a game or quiz accessory construction to improve its utility. The rear (higher) wall (16) of the scoop is provided with a pair of parallel slits (24, 26) which slidably receive a tear off strip (62), the latter carried by a glue panel (50) glued to the rear wall of the scoop. The tear strip carries indicia (66, 68) in the form of two rows of respective questions and answers, the indicia being viewed through openings (28, 30) between the two slits. The user tears off the tear strip, inserts it through the slits, and proceeds to read the questions and answers. All components of the scoop are readily formed from the blank, the mode of assembling the device, as well as the basic form of the unitary paperboard blank from which it is formed, being essentially the same as that of known paperboard french fry scoops.

Abstract: A clamshell type container is formed from a unitary blank (10) of paperboard, the top or crown of the container including two side wall panels (32) which extend slantingly downwardly and whose free edges extend beneath the upper edges of the lower container half side walls. The crown has a front wall formed of two panels (40, 48) folded together so as to define a dual layer front wall. The outer panel (40) of the dual layer front wall is provided with spaced apart perforated lines (46) to define a tear strip (44). The inner panel (48) of the dual layer front wall is provided with indicia to show the winning of a prize upon tearing off of the tear strip. Alternatively, the normally hidden inner surface of the tear strip may be provided with indicia. Either of the downwardly sloping side wall panels (32) of the crown or top may, alternatively, be provided with this tear strip and indicia construction.