Abstract: A battery cable disconnector enables a battery to be disconnected and reconnected quickly and easily without tools. The disconnector includes a female lug connector and a male lug connector adapted to be detachably connected together, each of the connectors having a two-faced contact section with one face for engagement with a face of the other connector when connected. The female contact section has an upper contact face and a lower non-contact face, the contact section having a centrally located circular opening with slots extending radially from the opening at the 12 and 6 o'clock positions and with grooves extending radially from the opening at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions on the lower non-contact face.

Abstract: Porous products of thermoplastic polymers and the like are formed by sintering pellets, especially micropellets and/or pellets made by rapid water quenched pelletizing of the polymers, such as by underwater pelletizing or water ring pelletizing. The pellets are of a uniform size and shape, each having approximately equal dimensions along three mutually perpendicular axes, thereby producing porous products having smooth surfaces, narrow pore size distributions, greater strength and other improved characteristics. The porous products include antiperspirant and deodorant applicator heads, wastewater treatment bubblers and selective filters.

Abstract: A fluid transfer device has a resilient reservoir connected to a rigid hollow punch made of synthetic resin. The punch is precisely sized to enable manual penetration of rubber stoppers found on standard evacuated tubes which are commonly used for blood sampling. The diameter of the punch also allows for transfer of the fluid from the sample tube to the device in a reasonable amount of time. A method of transferring blood or blood products from the sample tube to testing apparatus involves using the device to penetrate a rubber cap on an evacuated tube and then transfer the blood to the device. The blood can then be transferred to a testing apparatus without exposure to the atmosphere.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rapid and powerful sequence "sequence sampled mapping" method for sequencing complex genomes. The invention method is applicable to genomic DNA, preferably mammalian chromosomes, and in a preferred embodiment, employs a "bottom-up" mapping strategy, which allows for the simultaneous analysis of multiple cosmid clones for the detection of overlaps. The sequence sample mapping method is useful first, for the completion of high density sequence-based maps, and ultimately, for the complete sequencing of genomic DNA directly from cosmid clones.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of applying a tire tread to a tire carcass including the steps of conveying a tread on conveyor between two self-centering guides which are slidably mounted on a frame over the conveyor, the guides having parallel rows of rollers for engaging opposite edges of the treads; adhering one end of the tread to the tire carcass on a tire building drum; rotating the tire building drum to pull the tread over the tire carcass; and applying a predetermined uniform pressure against the opposite edges of the tire tread through the rollers to uniformly resist movement of the tread toward the tire building drum and thereby uniformly stretch the tread. The apparatus includes the use of a pneumatic piston cylinder which urges the rollers against the edges of the tread, applying uniform force perpendicular to the tread's axis regardless of the width or width variations of the tread.

Abstract: In a diagnostic apparatus system, a one piece porous substrate is provided in a container. The substrate serves both to extract an antigen in or on a top layer thereof with the remainder of the substrate serving as a reservoir. The pores in the top surface of the substrate are microscopic for entrapment of microspheres carrying antibodies. A target antigen in a test sample attaches to the antibodies when the test sample is poured through the top layer. The pores in all but the top layer of the substrate have a much greater pore size to comprise tile reservoir portion of the substrate.

Abstract: A method an apparatus of applying a tire tread to a tire carcass including the steps of conveying a tread on a conveyor between two self-centering guides which are slidably mounted on a frame over the conveyor, the guides having parallel rows of rollers for engaging opposite edges of the treads; adhering one end of the tread to the tire carcass on a tire building drum; rotating the tire building drum to pull the tread over the tire carcass; and applying a predetermined uniform pressure against the opposite edges of the tire tread through the rollers to uniformly resist movement of the tread toward the tire building drum and thereby uniformly stretch the tread. The apparatus includes the use of a pneumatic piston cylinder which urges the rollers against the edges of the tread, applying uniform force perpendicular to the tread's axis regardless of the width or width variations of the tread.

Abstract: In a pipette device, a suction device applies suction to a pipette tip to draw liquid into the pipette tip. A porous plastic plug is mounted in the pipette tip to prevent contamination of the suction device by the liquid sample. The median pore size in the porous plastic plug ranges from 3 microns to an upper limit which varies with the hydrophobicity of the material of the plug.

Abstract: Strip material is stored in stock rolls on cassettes positioned in side by side relationship and moveable on a carriage between different roll storage positions and a splicing position. Each cassette has a guide member engageable with a guide member on a stationary support for splicing a leading edge of strip material from one roll to a trailing edge of strip material from another roll. A single actuating cylinder and shaft on the stationary support moves the guide members together providing splicing of strip material on all the rolls.

Abstract: The cymbal system comprises a cymbal member mountable on a cymbal stand, the cymbal member having a playing feel approximating that of a conventional cymbal. A transducer is affixed to a surface of the cymbal member for translating any substantial percussive impact on the cymbal member to electrical signals. These electrical signals are converted into MIDI "note-on" messages serving as trigger messages. At least one conductive element is mounted on the cymbal member. A MIDI interface system is included which detects the alternation in an electrical signal between two stable states in response to a user's manipulation of the conductive element, each stable state representing a digital signal. The MIDI interface system also includes a software system for recognizing and then interpreting the digital signal into MIDI SYSEX messages, or note off and note on messages, serving as MIDI choke/send messages.

Abstract: A tube liquid dispenser includes a resilient tube, a filter positioned in the tube at one end, a flange of sealing material extending radially around the outer circumference of the tube, and an opposite end closed except for a dispensing opening of a size through which liquid passes only upon the application of pressure to the liquid.

Abstract: In a diagnostic apparatus system, a one piece porous substrate is located in a container. The substrate serves both to extract an antigen in or on a top layer with the remainder of the substrate serving as a reservoir. The pores in the top surface of the substrate are microscopic for entrapment of microspheres carrying antibodies. A target antigen in a test sample attaches to the antibodies when the test sample is poured through the top layer. The pores in all but the top layer of the substrate have a much greater pore size to define the reservoir portion of the substrate. The invention also includes a method of casting a microporous matrix in surfaces of a plurality of macroporous slugs.

Abstract: A significantly improved scanning method and apparatus is disclosed which allows tone channel guard decode and scan to optimally coexist on the priority channel. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, tone channel guard decoding processing is divided into three processing windows. The first window (hereinafter referred to as SHORTLOOK) serves to indicate whether channel guard might be present. If the SHORTLOOK window processing indicates that the correct channel guard might be present, then a further processing window, hereinafter referred to as SECONDLOOK, is initiated. If at anytime during the SECONDLOOK time period, a second predetermined threshold is exceeded, the system is informed that the correct channel guard tone pattern is most probably present. The audio is then unmuted, even though the SECONDLOOK time period expires before the channel guard tone pattern is capable of being reliably detected in accordance with conventional standards.

Abstract: A bead former (14) has a gripping mechanism (90,92) for gripping a leading end (106) of a bead ribbon (12) at a position recessed in the surface (18) of the former (14) during the initial rotation of the former (14). The gripping mechanism (90,92) has a seat member (92) movable radially outward of the former (14) into a supporting position at the surface (18) of the former (14) after releasing the leading end (106) for supporting the leading end (106) during the latter rotation of the former (14). A pressure roller (20) is rotatably supported in a guide cage (54) mounted on a dual arm (22,48) having a dual actuation system (34,60) for moving the guide cage (54) and pressure roller (20) into position for guiding and compacting the convolutions of bead ribbon (12) wrapped around the former (14) and for providing a high pressure force to crimp the splice area (124 ) of the bead (16).

Abstract: The present invention is composed of a pair of flexible straps having hook and loop fasteners thereon for attaching sections of a fishing rod together. The arrangement of hook and loop are design to handle the difference in sizes of the rod sections while keeping the rods sections apart in storage.

Abstract: A bead former (14) has a gripping mechanism (90,92) for gripping a leading end (106) of a bead ribbon (12) at a position recessed in the surface (18) of the former (14) during the initial rotation of the former (14). The gripping mechanism (90,92) has a seat member (92) movable radially outward of the former (14) into a supporting position at the surface (18) of the former (14) after releasing the leading end (106) for supporting the leading end (106) during the latter rotation of the former (14). A pressure roller (20) is rotatably supported in a guide cage (54) mounted on a dual arm (22,48) having a dual actuation system (34,60) for moving the guide cage (54) and pressure roller (20) into position for guiding and compacting the convolutions of bead ribbon (12) wrapped around the former (14) and for providing a high pressure force to crimp the splice area (124 ) of the bead (16).

Abstract: An arrangement for establishing communication between a first mobile radio transceiver and a second mobile radio transceiver through a repeater over a radio frequency channel selected from a plurality of such channels. A repeater distinguishes between two-tone signalling sequences and four-tone signalling sequences by determining the arrival rate over some predefined interval of a received signalling sequence. The repeater transmits a busy signal to alert mobile stations seeking to acquire a channel that the repeater is busy. The repeater interrupts the transmitted busy signal during a portion of the four-tone signalling sequence but not the two-tone signalling sequence to help prevent two-tone mobile stations from falsing on four-tone signalling sequences. The arrangement is thus made compatible with both two-tone signalling and four-tone signalling formats.

Abstract: A tire carcass (55) is built on a generally cylindrical drum (10) rotatable about an axis (12) by applying green tire components (50) to the cylindrical surface (14) and curved shoulder surfaces (32,34) of the drum (10). The radially inner surfaces (58) of the lower sidewalls (56) of the tire carcass (55) are formed on the surfaces (32,34) of the curved shoulders (28,30) which have a curvature which can be generated as a segment of a conic section which is at an angle other than a right angle to the axis of a cone. The curvature for each of the lower sidewall inner surfaces (58) as measured along a line of intersection (36) of a shoulder surface (32,34) of the drum (10) and a radial plane (A--A) containing the drum axis (12) is decreased from positions (38) adjacent the axially outer edges (40) of the drum (10) to positions (42) on the cylindrical surface (14 ) of the drum.

Abstract: A generally cylindrical wall member (14) of resilient material has an opening (22) extending axially of the container (10) for inserting beads (12) into individual compartments (54) in the container (10). Axially extending sides (30) of the wall member (14) are resiliently movable radially outwardly to grip and hold the beads (12) during transporting. The curvature of the sides (30) is such that a range of different diameter beads (12) can be accommodated. The wall member sides (30) are also resiliently yieldable radially outwardly to permit removal of the beads (12) during movement of the container (10) in a radial direction away from the beads (12) after they are placed around a bead support of a bead storing and feeding apparatus.

Abstract: A dragline is constructed in the manufacturing plant with a segmented guide rail shimmed and secured to the plates of a tub concentric with the pintle for the deck. The guide rail is then machined so that a rolling surface is created on the rail that is within .+-.0.002 inches of a planar surface. Tub gear segments have mounting portions accurately machined and accurately drilled as are tub rail segments and deck rail segments accurately machined. The dragline is then disassembled, shipped to the site and re-erected with the guide rail shimmed and installed on the plates of the tub so that the rolling surface is within .+-.0.002 inches of a plane. The deck is mounted on the pintle and supported on columns to space the deck rail girder from the tub rail girder. A tram or boom is mounted on the deck pintle and has a machine tool carriage riding on the guide rail so that a milling head on the carriage can mill the upper and lower rail girders to within .+-.0.0025 inches of planar.