Abstract: An adsorption bed arrangement includes a plurality of adsorption elements, a housing, and a gasket member. Each of the adsorption elements has a first adsorptive media and a second adsorptive media contained within a respective element. The first and second adsorptive medias remove different contaminants from the incoming air stream. For example, the first adsorptive media removes acidic contaminants and the second adsorptive media removes basic contaminants. Each of the adsorption elements is selectively openable to provide access to the adsorptive medias. The housing defines an interior, a plurality of inlet openings, and a plurality of outlet openings. The adsorption elements are positioned within the housing interior and the housing is selectively openable to provide access to the adsorption elements. The gasket member is between the housing and the adsorption elements.

Abstract: A weld wheel assembly for disposition on a membrane welding machine, and for positioning a weld wheel adjacent a nozzle hot air outlet for pressing an overlying roof membrane heated by the nozzle against an underlying roof membrane heated by the nozzle, for welding the membranes together. The assembly includes a weld wheel rotatably mounted on an axle which is moveable toward and away from the membranes, and pressure exerting structure mounted on the machine and operable to bias the axle toward the membranes during operation of the machine.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for quantifying the extent a cataract impairs vision in an eye having a pupil, an ocular lens, and a retina. The method includes illuminating a localized region of the retina such that light is reflected from the localized region and is transmitted through the ocular lens. A portion of the reflected light is scattered by the cataract associated with the ocular lens. Light reflected from the localized region of the retina is collected, and the amount of scatter is measured so as to quantify the extent the scatter impairs vision of the eye.

Abstract: An adsorption bed arrangement includes a plurality of adsorption elements, a housing, and a gasket member. Each of the adsorption elements has a first adsorptive media and a second adsorptive media contained within a respective element. The first and second adsorptive medias remove different contaminants from the incoming air stream. For example, the first adsorptive media removes acidic contaminants and the second adsorptive media removes basic contaminants. Each of the adsorption elements is selectively openable to provide access to the adsorptive medias. The housing defines an interior, a plurality of inlet openings, and a plurality of outlet openings. The adsorption elements are positioned within the housing interior and the housing is selectively openable to provide access to the adsorption elements. The gasket member is between the housing and the adsorption elements.

Abstract: A nozzle for directing discrete streams of air along separated and parallel first and second paths includes a chamber for receiving air of a selected temperature, a first outlet arm extending from the chamber and having a first outlet at a distal end thereof and in a first outlet plane, and a second outlet arm extending from the chamber and having a second outlet at a distal end thereof and in a second outlet plane, an axis of the second outlet arm being generally parallel with an axis of the first outlet arm, the second outlet plane being offset from the first outlet plane.

Abstract: A composite image generator for combining a prestored composite background image, a prestored composite foreground image, and a composite interior image is disclosed. The composite interior image is preferably generated by the composite image generator by interlacing a prestored interior image with a captured digital image. Portions of the composite background image are deleted or hidden based on the composite interior image. Similarly, portions of the composite interior image are deleted or hidden based on the composite foreground image.

Abstract: A composite image generator for producing a lenticular novelty item at a point of purchase is disclosed. The composite image generator receives a theme selection and a captured digital image. Images associated with the selected theme and the captured digital image are then interlaced and/or combined to produce a final composite image. The final composite image is printed and a lenticular surface is applied to produce the lenticular novelty item at a point of purchase.

Abstract: A composite image generator for producing a lenticular novelty item interactively via the Internet is disclosed. The composite image generator receives a theme identifier, a captured digital image, shipping information, and payment information from a client device. Images associated with the selected theme and the captured digital image are then interlaced and/or combined to produce a final composite image. A representation of the final composite image may be transmitted to the client device for review. If the final composite image is approved, a printed version of the composite image is produced, and a lenticular surface is applied to the printed image to produce the lenticular novelty item. The lenticular novelty item is then shipped to the shipping address.

Abstract: A stamp assembly for marking an object's surface with an outline of a hole to be formed therein, that includes a housing having a skirt portion defining an open ended pad cavity and a reference plane, a stamp pad slidably disposed in the housing and having a bottom surface with a raised indicia portion for applying ink in a pattern, a handle attached to the stamp pad, and a bubble level attached to the housing, the stamp pad or the handle for indicating a desired rotational orientation of the stamp pad. As the reference plane is placed against the object's surface in the desired orientation indicated by the bubble level, and pressure is applied to the handle, the raised indicia portion extends through the reference plane, makes contact with the object's surface, and forms an ink pattern on the object's surface in the shape of the hole outline.

Abstract: A water treatment system including a pair of water treatment tanks, each tank defining a flow path extending from a tank inlet to a tank outlet and containing a water treatment material disposed along the flow path for removing sulfur or H2S from the water. A system controller controls the frequency of regeneration of an exhausted tank as well as the regeneration cycle. The system includes a regenerant reservoir containing 5.25% sodium hypochloride which is generally available as household bleach. During a regeneration cycle, the bleach is drawn through a restrictor preferably in the form of a capillary tube that forms part of a draw tube assembly.

Abstract: An adsorption bed arrangement includes a plurality of adsorption elements, a housing, and a gasket member. Each of the adsorption elements has a first adsorptive media and a second adsorptive media contained within a respective element. The first and second adsorptive medias remove different contaminants from the incoming air stream. For example, the first adsorptive media removes acidic contaminants and the second adsorptive media removes basic contaminants. Each of the adsorption elements is selectively openable to provide access to the adsorptive medias. The housing defines an interior, a plurality of inlet openings, and a plurality of outlet openings. The adsorption elements are positioned within the housing interior and the housing is selectively openable to provide access to the adsorption elements. The gasket member is between the housing and the adsorption elements.

Abstract: A nozzle for directing discrete streams of air along separated and parallel first and second paths includes a chamber for receiving air of a selected temperature, a first outlet arm extending from the chamber and having a first outlet at a distal end thereof and in a first outlet plane, and a second outlet arm extending from the chamber and having a second outlet at a distal end thereof and in a second outlet plane, an axis of the second outlet arm being generally parallel with an axis of the first outlet arm, the second outlet plane being offset from the first outlet plane.

Abstract: A weld wheel assembly for disposition on a membrane welding machine, and for positioning a weld wheel adjacent a nozzle hot air outlet for pressing an overlying roof membrane heated by the nozzle against an underlying roof membrane heated by the nozzle, for welding the membranes together. The assembly includes a weld wheel rotatably mounted on an axle which is moveable toward and away from the membranes, and pressure exerting structure mounted on the machine and operable to bias the axle toward the membranes during operation of the machine.

Abstract: A method of displaying a video image in a computer which has the ability to simultaneously display multiple windows. A graphics image is displayed in a first window, and a video image is displayed in a second window having controls for annotating the graphics image in the first window.

Abstract: A shell-less fluid contactor and a process for transferring a fluid component between a shell-side fluid and a lumen-side fluid. The shell-side fluid is introduced through a fluid distribution tube and discharged from the tube into contact with a surrounding bundle of microporous hollow fiber membranes. A fluid component is transferred by diffusion, through the walls of the hollow fiber membranes, from the shell-side fluid to the lumen-side fluid. Multiple contactors can be combined into an assembly for multi-stage processing of fluids.

Abstract: An adsorption bed arrangement includes a plurality of adsorption elements, a housing, and a gasket member. Each of the adsorption elements has adsorption media contained within a respective element. Each of the adsorption elements are selectively openable to provide access to the adsorption media. The housing defines an interior, a plurality of inlet openings, and a plurality of outlet openings. The plurality of adsorption elements are positioned within the housing interior. The housing is selectively openable to provide access to the plurality of adsorption elements. The gasket member is between the housing and the adsorption elements. A method for changing filtering media in an adsorption apparatus includes steps of removing an access panel from an adsorption bed housing to expose a cover member covering an end of an adsorption element; removing the cover member from the end of the adsorption element to expose filtering media within the element; and pouring the filtering media from the element.

Abstract: An adsorption apparatus has a housing including an inlet and an outlet, and defining an inlet plenum extending vertically below the inlet and an outlet plenum extending vertically below the outlet. A plurality of adsorption bed assemblies in a vertically stacked configuration are retained in the housing in fluid communication with the inlet plenum. Each of the adsorption bed assemblies has a bottom opening and a top opening and layers of adsorption material with the assembly oriented in a V-type configuration. A plurality of baffles angle upward from the inlet plenum to the outlet plenum, including a baffle disposed between each pair of adjacent stacked adsorption bed assemblies, to direct flow up toward the bottom opening of the adsorption bed assembly immediately above the baffle and to direct flow passing from the top opening of the adsorption bed assembly immediately below the baffle.

Abstract: The invention concerns placing an exploratory telephone call to a party, using a first telephone channel, in order to inquire whether the party wishes to hold a video conference. If the party does, the caller then actuates the invention, which establishes an initial video conference on a second data channel, without disrupting the existing telephone call. Then, after the video conference has been established, the exploratory telephone call is terminated, and the first channel is used to carry the video conference data, along with the second channel.

Abstract: A video conferencing system, wherein multiple parties at different locations can view, and modify, a common image on their computer displays. The invention also provides a video camera at each computer, which takes a video picture of each party.The invention distributes data to all computers involved in the conference from which each computer can generate a display containing the common image, the modifications, and the video pictures.

Abstract: The invention concerns placing an exploratory telephone call to a party, using a first telephone channel, in order to inquire whether the party wishes to hold a video conference. If the party does, the caller then actuates the invention, which establishes an initial video conference on a second data channel, without disrupting the existing telephone call. Then, after the video conference has been established, the exploratory telephone call is terminated, and the first channel is used to carry the video conference data, along with the second channel.