Abstract: The subject matter of the invention described and claimed herein is disclosed as a vapor-containing element for adding to the ductwork, or the inside walls of the AIS ductwork, which element preferably is shaped to conform to the shape of said ductwork, with the material forming the walls of the element. The open inside of the cylindrical component would allow air to pass through the element unobstructed, with little pressure drop.

Abstract: The present invention provides a convertible ladder and load platform including a vehicle articulating roof rack system having a selectively removable portion operable between a stowed roof mounted position and a slideably and pivotally repositionable back end mounted position, a stationary bottom portion received by the selectively removable portion of the articulating roof rack system, a removable top portion received by the stationary bottom portion, a frame received by the stationary bottom portion, and a plurality of rotatable steps operable between a vertically oriented ladder position and a horizontally oriented load platform position received by the frame.

Abstract: The present invention provides a multipurpose activity frame for a vehicle articulating roof rack system including a vehicle articulating roof rack system having a selectively removable portion operable between a stowed roof mounted position and a slideably and pivotally repositionable back end mounted position, a stationary top portion received by the selectively removable portion of the articulating roof rack system, and a rotatable bottom portion operable between a stowed vertical position and an open horizontal position received by the stationary top portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to nonwoven fabrics containing polymeric multiple component fibers which include a core component and a plurality of wing components attached to the core. The polymeric core component has an elasticity that is greater than the elasticity of at least one of the wing polymeric components. The fibers assume a spiral twist configuration in which the plurality of wings substantially spiral about the core. In a preferred embodiment, the nonwoven fabrics have elastic stretch and recovery properties with a textile-like hand.

Abstract: A method for preparing stretchable bonded nonwoven fabrics which involves forming a substantially nonbonded nonwoven web of multiple-component continuous filaments or staple fibers which are capable of developing three-dimensional spiral crimp, activating the spiral crimp by heating substantially nonbonded web under free shrinkage conditions during which the nonwoven remains substantially nonbonded, followed by bonding the crimped nonwoven web using an array of discrete mechanical, chemical, or thermal bonds. Nonwoven fabrics prepared according to the method of the current invention have an improved combination of stretch-recovery properties, textile hand and drape compared to multiple-component nonwoven fabrics known in the art.

Abstract: A system and method of delivering multimedia content and advertising provides a remote user with the ability to order customized media and advertising via a physical media or broadband network. The price of a media selection may be reduced by the inclusion of the advertising. The system provides remote users with access to a database of media content and the ability to interactively search that content. Remote users may also order content and advertising organized under special interest groups or in niche categories that the user identifies. Users may also specify a delivery format for their ordered media and advertising.

Abstract: A polymer composition and method for reducing the permeability of gases through molded polymeric containers and films by incorporating into the polymer from which the container or film is formed an effective amount of a barrier-enhancing additive, such as monoesters of hydroxybenzoic acid and hydroxynaphthoic acid.

Abstract: A thin film wiring scheme on a substrate. The thin film wiring scheme includes a plurality of chip connection pads at each of a first and second chip site on the substrate, a plurality of directional wiring lines interspersed between the chip connection pads at each of the first and second chip sites, at least one of the directional wiring lines being orthogonal to at least one of the other directional wiring lines at each of the first and second chip sites, and a plurality of chip site interconnection lines connecting directional wiring lines at the first chip site with the directional wiring lines at the second chip site.

Abstract: A new culture medium for identifying the presence of Salmonella inenterobacteria samples, especially faeces, contains two chromogenic enzyme substrates, one of which is a substrate for &agr;-D-galactosidase, for which Salmonella is positive. The other substrate is one for which Salmonella is negative such as &bgr;-D-galactosidase. The substrates are incorporated into an agar medium. Positive and negative results are found to be readily observable where one of the substrates is an esculetin, preferably a cyclohexenoesculetin compound in the presence of ferric ions, which produces a black color, and the other substrate is an indoxyl compound, for instance, a 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl compound which produces a green colored enzymic reaction product.

Abstract: A probe test assembly for testing electronic devices maintained at lowered temperatures includes heaters and flows of dried air to prevent condensation from forming on the devices. The devices have pins received in an electrically non-conductive system board, and the probe test assembly includes a heat conductive and electrically conductive apertured probe plate to transfer heat from the heaters to the system board. Grounding pins extend from the probe plate to grounding pads on the system board, and a non-conductive apertured pattern plate spaced above the probe plate protects exposed ends of the grounding pins. In an alternate embodiment, the pattern plate is omitted in favor of a conductive intermediate plate and a superposed non-conductive contact plate. Signal pins extend from the system board to the contact plate in order to transfer contact points for electronic device from the system board to the contact plate.

Abstract: A memory cube comprising a plurality of memory chips, each having a plurality of data storage devices, is provided with an auxiliary chip having inactive line termination circuits and the auxiliary chip or chips are formed as part of the memory cube structure and disposed among the memory chips on an interleave basis. The auxiliary circuit chips are provided with external terminals connected to memory input leads, control leads and data write leads, in close proximity to the termination point of the leads. A decoupling capacitor, integrated in the auxiliary circuit chip, is connected to the power bus in the memory cube structure and eliminates extraneous noise problems occurring with discrete capacitors external to the cube. A heating resistor is provided on the auxiliary circuit chip to maintain the cube structure at a near constant temperature. Temperature sensing diodes are incorporated in the auxiliary chip to provide an accurate mechanism for sensing the temperature internal to the cube.

Abstract: An electrical conduit fixture for directing wire within the conduit through a directional change includes a body having walls defining an inlet and an outlet with the outlet being oriented 90.degree. from the inlet, the body being formed in at least two matable sections with a portion of the inlet being formed in a first body section and a portion of the inlet being formed in the second body section and an arrangement for removably fastening the body sections in a mated relationship.

Abstract: Disclosed are flexible, kink-resistant shaped fabric products which are particularly well adapted for protecting and/or covering elongate substrates, such as cables, conduits, wiring and the like. The shaped fabric products include a wall portion comprising a filament resiliently set in a spiral configuration with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaped product. The wall portion may also preferably comprise a filament in the form of circumferential hoops substantially conforming in shape and size to the cross-sectional configuration of the shaped product.

Abstract: An aqueous composition for the preparation of optically clear products for use in human or animal healthcare comprising 0.1 to 2.0% w/w of an oil-soluble ingredient as a 20-30% w/w dispersion in a suitable oil or 0.1 to 5.0% w/v as the pure crystalline compound, 2-20% of an emulsifier having an HLB (hydrophilic/lipophilic balance) value of between 10 and 18 or where a blend of emulsifiers is employed, a calculated HLB value of between 10 and 18 and 0.1 to 1.0% of an antioxidant or a mixture of antioxidants. Processes for preparation of the compositions and their use in the preparation of beverages are provided.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for forming flexible, kink-resistant shaped fabric products which are particularly well adapted for protecting and/or covering elongate substrates, such as cables, conduits, wiring and the like. The shaped fabric products include a wall portion formed from a filamentary material which is resiliently set in a spiral configuration with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaped product. The wall portion may also preferably formed with a filamentary material in the form of circumferential hoops substantially conforming in shape and size to the cross-sectional configuration of the shaped product.

Abstract: Disclosed are flexible, kink-resistant shaped fabric products which are particularly well adapted for protecting and/or covering elongate substrates, such as cables, conduits, wiring and the like. The shaped fabric products include a wall portion comprising a filament resiliently set in a spiral configuration with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaped product. The wall portion may also preferably comprise a filament in the form of circumferential hoops substantially conforming in shape and size to the cross-sectional configuration of the shaped product. Also disclosed are methods for forming such shaped product.

Abstract: Wraparound sleeves formed by weaving, knitting or braiding for the protection of elongated articles, such as cables and hoses, are disclosed. The tubes are provided with closure means comprising multifilament, bulky yarn interlaced in the sleeving material and relatively unconfined along one of its marginal edges and of Velcro brand hook tape or similar hook type elements disposed along the other marginal edge.

Abstract: A control system for automatic parts insertion machines. The control system comprises a plurality of parts insertion machines installed in local factories, local computers for directly controlling the parts insertion machines, a central computer installed in a control center, a parts list control system for supplying part data to the central computer, a CAD system for designing a printed circuit board and supplying CAD data to the central computer, and a communication network for connecting the central computer and said local computers through signal lines.

Abstract: In an interferometric apparatus the path of the output beam of a rotary Optical Path Difference scanning assembly leading to an electrically responsive detector is maintained substantially fixed in space for any scan angle within predetermined limits, thus obviating a serious drawback of a prior art proposal wherein the output beam translates significantly over the detector face with changes in scan angle, with the result that the detector output is vitiated by totally spurious variations of the energy reaching it.In one embodiment, the scanning assembly comprises a beam splitter having a semi-reflective layer the output face of which cooperates with the face of an output mirror normal thereto, the axis of rotation being substantially coincident with the line of intersection between the prolongation planes of the two faces. A Fourier Transform spectrophotometer embodying the assembly is also described.

Abstract: The accuracy of the ratio between two time-varying quantities represented by electrical signals, such as the sample transmission (or absorption) signal and the reference signal in a double-beam, ratio-recording, infrared spectrophotometer, is impaired if the electrical signals are subject to inconstant phase shifts. The present invention counteracts the effect of phase shift variations, whatever their origin, by alternately reversing the order in which an elemental component of one quantity is made to occur with respect to an elemental component of the other quantity so that the said effect reverses in sign when the order is reversed and substantially cancels out when the respective elemental portions are combined to form the numerator and the denominator of the ratio. The invention is particularly described with reference to a spectrophotometer of the type referred to.