Abstract: A golf putting practice device adapted to serve as a substitute for a floor vent that fits into a floor duct of a forced air circulation system of a building and includes a ball receiving enclosure and at least one flat support plate member extended outwardly from the ball receiving enclosure. The front wall of the ball receiving enclosure includes a notched portion that provides a golf ball open access to the enclosure when the device is installed into a floor duct. A plurality of apertures are formed in the support plate member to allow for air flow through the plate. A floor air vent cover includes a centrally located closed bottom depression the size of a golf putting cup for receiving and retaining a putted golf ball. The opposite ends of the cover contain air passage openings having tapered sides for directing the air flow away from said depression.

Abstract: Method and device for distending a gynecological cavity. According to one embodiment, a mechanical, non-fluid device is used to distend the gynecological cavity. Such devices include, for example, self-expanding members, such as resilient baskets, coils, whisks, prongs, and loops, or mechanically expanded members, such as inflatable balloons, mechanically-expanded cages and loops, and scissor jacks. The device may serve a purpose in addition to distension, such as illumination, imaging, irrigation, drug delivery, resection and cauterization.

Abstract: A method and system is provided which allows for integrating streaming content and a real time interactive dynamic user interface on a network, such as the Internet. The system includes a web browser for receiving a user interface from a content server. The user interface, among other functions, detects an embedded code in a media file from a streaming content server. Based on the embedded code, the user interface spawns a Common Gateway Interface (CGI) process which retrieves information from a data store. The information in the data store may include rules for altering the displayed user interface. The system and method results in an interactive user interface which may be easily modified by altering the contents of the data store rather than altering and reindexing the media file.

Abstract: A method and system is provided which allows for integrating streaming content and a real time interactive dynamic user interface on a network, such as the Internet. The system includes a web browser for receiving a user interface from a content server. The user interface, among other functions, detects an embedded code in a media file from a streaming content server. Based on the embedded code, the user interface spawns a Common Gateway Interface (CGI) process which retrieves information from a data store. The information in the data store may include rules for altering the displayed user interface. The system and method results in an interactive user interface which may be easily modified by altering the contents of the data store rather than altering and reindexing the media file.

Abstract: A protective batting helmet with a reinforced bill includes a rigid shell for protecting the head of a wearer, a reinforced bill extending from the rigid shell, and a lower face guard extending across the lower portion of the rigid shell. The non-deflectable, reinforced bill and lower face guard provide protection to a wearer's face without impeding their vision.

Abstract: An integrated actuator coil and decoder module for use in decoder-based irrigation control systems, and related methods of manufacture and installation, are provided herein. In one implementation, an irrigation control device comprises a body, decoder circuitry located within the body, a coil located within the body and coupled to the decoder circuitry, the coil adapted to develop an electromagnetic flux sufficient to cause actuation of a device controlling irrigation equipment in response to signaling from the decoder circuitry. Also included is an electrical connection coupled to the decoder circuitry and adapted to couple to a control wire path of a decoder-based irrigation control system. The decoder circuitry and the coil are integrated into a single device.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of multivalent cations and chelating agents for nucleic acid extraction and nucleic acid purification with silica-based supporting materials, especially with clay minerals, sand and clay mineral-sand mixtures. Thus a universal method is provided for purifying nucleic acids from each kind of nucleic-containing material in any quantities.

Abstract: A parking brake for a motor vehicle includes an actuating lever supported rotatably about an axis, a catch element, a pawl element connected to a release device and capable of being brought into engagement with the catch element, a pull cable connected to the actuating lever, two support plates, and a bearing device. The catch element is formed on the actuating lever, and the actuating lever and the pawl element are held between the support plates. In addition, the bearing device is placed between the support plates, the actuating lever being mounted by the bearing device in a manner such that it can rotate about the axis. The bearing device includes steps and is secured between the support plates by the steps in a manner such that the bearing device does not overhang on an outside of said support plates.

Abstract: The invention relates to a parking brake for a vehicle, comprising a handle (2) which can be displaced in relation to a mounting (6), a coupling unit (3), which tenses a brake cable (4) when the handle (2) is displaced, and a fixing device (17) for fixing the handle (2) in a fixed position. The aim of the invention is to provide a parking brake that can convert a pulling force on a handle into a tensing of the brake cable using constructionally compact, economical means. To this end, the handle (2) can be pulled axially away from the mounting (6) by a guide (5, 7), and a conversion unit (8) is connected to the mounting (6), said unit converting the axial displacement of a part that is associated with the handle (2) into a tensing of the brake cable (4).

Abstract: The invention relates to a parking brake for a vehicle, comprising a handle (2) which is a displaceably mounted with respect to a support (6), a coupling unit (3) which tenses a brake cable (4) when the handle is displaced (2), and a locking device (17) ensuring that the handle (2) remains in a locked position. The aim of the invention is to produce, a hand brake which is compact, cheap to produce, and which translates a traction force exerted onto the handle into a tensing of the brake cable. According to the invention, the handle (2) can be pulled away from the support (2) in an axial manner by means of a guiding device (5, 7), and the support (6) is coupled to a translation unit (8), which converts the axial displacement of a part associated with the handle (2) into a tensing of the brake cable (4).