Abstract: A portable shower and toilet assembly includes a support structure having substantially square upper and lower horizontal tubular frame components which are connected with vertical tubular side supports. The upper frame member has a cross member in fluid communication therewith with a shower head downwardly depending therefrom. An external water source may be coupled with an aperture on the upper frame component to dispense water through the shower head. A toilet seat and lid are hingedly attached to a side wall structure. The support structure is completely enclosable with a removably attached tarpaulin cover member.

Abstract: An improved current monitor for measuring current over a wide dynamic range. The current monitor includes a low current channel, a high current channel, and a switch for selecting the low current channel if the measured current is below a predetermined level and the high current channel if the current is above the predetermined level. The output of the high current channel is voltage encoded by adding a fixed offset. The current monitor determines that the measured current is from the low current channel if the reading is below the offset and from the high current channel if the reading is above the offset. A current level output device automatically outputs a decoded current reading based on this determination. The current monitor also incorporates a low current error compensation circuit to compensate for parasitic current when the current monitor is using the high current channel.

Abstract: A component carrier, for holding for purposes of automated visual inspection an electrical component having a lead with a free end, includes a carrier substrate and a pocket recessed in the substrate for holding the component in the interior of the pocket. The pocket includes a wall, depending from the carrier substrate and defining a lateral boundary of the pocket, and a bottom. There is a lead-tip horizontal plane and a lead-tip vertical plane when a correctly constructed component of the type the carrier is intended to hold is properly oriented in the pocket. The lead-tip vertical plane is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the pocket. The wall slopes down and inwardly at a first angle relative to the substrate through the lead-tip horizontal plane and at a second angle relative to the substrate through the lead-tip vertical plane. The first angle is greater than or equal to approximately 75.degree. and less than or equal to 90.degree., and the second angle is less than 90.degree.

Abstract: A reclosable bag comprises a pair of opposing wall panels, a reclosable seal, and an optional tamper-evident partition. The pair of opposing wall panels are joined along a pair of opposing sides and a bottom bridging the opposing sides to create a receptacle space having a mouth end opposite the bottom. The reclosable seal extends along the mouth end, and includes first and second opposing reclosable elements and first and second fins extending downward from the respective reclosable elements. The reclosable elements are releasably engageable to each other. The first and second fins are connected to the respective opposing wall panels. The tamper-evident partition is located below the reclosable elements and forms a one-time breakable preferential area of weakness. The tamper-evident partition separates an interior of the bag from a first area bounded in cross-section by the tamper-evident partition, the fins, and the engaged reclosable elements.

Abstract: A slider is disclosed for straddling relation with a profiled plastic zipper of a reclosable bag. The zipper has first and second interlocking profiles, and the straddling slider closes and opens the interlocking profiles by movement along the zipper. The slider includes a transverse support member and a pair of side walls extending downward from opposing sides of the support member. The side walls forming respective first and second shoulders extending inwardly toward each other. The first and second shoulders include respective first and second innermost ends facing and contacting respective adjacent portions of the reclosable bag below the respective first and second interlocking profiles. The first and second innermost ends define a tortuous path therebetween, and the adjacent portions of the reclosable bag pass through said tortuous path. The tortuous path is created by protrusions formed by at least one of the innermost ends.

Abstract: In a power driven roller conveyor having a plurality of rollers mounted on a driven shaft for supporting and transporting a work piece with a limiting drive force. The drive shaft is provided with concentrically disposed spacers, rollers, and bearings which are compressed between an end driving sprocket and an adjustable spring pressure plate on an opposite end and wherein adjustment of the axial compressor force produced by the end mounted spring pressure plate serves to vary the release torque of the individual rollers mounted on the shaft.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ink-jet printhead substructure highly thermally efficient and greatly simplified in both the method of manufacture and resulting structure. The printhead substructure of the present invention comprises a resistor formed on an insulated substrate, a single conductive layer that provides both the conductive bonding interconnect pads and the conductive traces for the substructure, a passivation layer and a cavitation barrier. The resistor, passivation layer and cavitation barrier may comprise a single graded layer. The graded thin-film structure provides the resistor, passivation and cavitation barrier components without creating abrupt layer interfaces thereby, improving printhead reliability and durability. Fabrication of the printhead substructure of the present invention requires only two or three lithographic masks and a minimized number of sputter source materials.

Abstract: A synchronous rectifier for use with a clamped-mode power converter uses in one embodiment a hybrid rectifier with a MOSFET rectifying device active in one first cyclic interval of the conduction/nonconduction sequence of the power switch and a second rectifying device embodied in one illustrative embodiment as a low voltage diode rectifying device active during an alternative interval to the first conduction/nonconduction interval. The gate drive to the MOSFET device is continuous at a constant level for substantially all of the second interval which enhances efficiency of the rectifier. The diode rectifier device may also be embodied as a MOSFET device. The subject rectifier may be used in both forward and flyback power converters.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon fracturing fluids are made by combining organic phosphate esters with polyvalent metal salts in hydrocarbon carriers to form gels; breaking of the gel is retarded or otherwise controlled over a wide range of water concentrations through the use of slowly soluble alkaline earth metal compounds, preferably hard burned magnesium oxide, which may be added along with the gel component.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method identifies a script used to create a document. A set of training documents for each script to be identified is scanned into the computer to store a series of exemplary images representing each script. Pixels forming the exemplary images are electronically processed to define a set of textual symbols corresponding to the exemplary images. Each textual symbol is assigned to a cluster of textual symbols that most closely represents the textual symbol. The cluster of textual symbols is processed to form a representative electronic template for each cluster. A document having a script to be identified is scanned into the computer to form one or more document images representing the script to be identified. Pixels forming the document images are electronically processed to define a set of document textual symbols corresponding to the document images. The set of document textual symbols is compared to the electronic templates to identify the script.

Abstract: A system for the destruction of volatile organic compounds while generating power. In a preferred embodiment the system comprises a combustor and a reaction chamber connected to an exit of the combustor. A primary inlet to the combustor supplies a primary fuel to the combustor. A secondary fuel, comprising air and an amount of one or more volatile organic compounds, is supplied to a compressor, which compresses the secondary fuel and directs the secondary fuel to the combustor and the reaction chamber. The system is suitably configured to enable the stoichiometric reaction of the two fuels in a manner sufficient to destroy the volatile organic compounds contained in the secondary fuel and power a turbine engine connected to an exit of the reaction chamber.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon fracturing fluids are made by combining organic phosphate esters with polyvalent metal salts in hydrocarbon carriers to form gels; breaking of the gel is retarded or otherwise controlled over a wide range of water concentrations, through the use of slowly soluble alkaline earth metal compounds, preferably hard burned magnesium oxide, which may be added along with the gel component. The slowly soluble alkaline earth metal compound is employed together with an oily acid breaker retarding agent such as tall oil.

Abstract: A method for preparing a fibrinogen-containing composition derived from human plasma by separating a cryoprecipitate from the plasma, suspending the cryoprecipitate in a salt-containing buffer, treating the supernatant by affinity-chromatography on a lysine-bound solid matrix to allow plasminogen to adsorb thereon, collecting a fraction containing less than 10 .mu.g/ml plasminogen, and treating the fraction to reduce viral activity. The fibrinogen-containing composition recovered from this fraction is advantageous because it contains such a low amount of plasminogen that no addition of fibrinolysis inhibitor is needed.

Abstract: A reclosable standup bag and a method for manufacturing the bag. The bag includes opposing top and bottom panel assemblies. The top panel assembly includes first and second opposing fins having upper edge portions that define a mouth opening. Opposing front and back wall panels extend between the top and bottom panel assemblies. First and second opposing gusseted side wall panels couple and bridge the side edges of the front and back wall panels, defining four wall corners. A resealable closing assembly is coupled to the upper edge portion of the fins. The method for manufacturing the bag includes providing a lay flat web of a flexible packaging material and cutting comer reliefs at the location of the upper side corners of the bag. The lay flat web is run over a forming tube to create a duct-shaped cylinder with overlapping side edges. The side edges are joined and are fin sealed to form a tube having a bottom opening and a top opening.

Abstract: A process for producing dispersions of atmospherically stable, coated alkali metal particles and atmospherically stable, coated alkali metal powders by agitating a mixture of molten alkali metal in a hydrocarbon oil at dispersion speeds, optionally in the presence of a dispersing agent, contacting the molten alkali metal-hydrocarbon oil dispersion, above or below the surface of the dispersion, with up to 3 weight percent anhydrous carbon dioxide while agitating the dispersion for at least 1 minute. The dispersion in oil can be used directly in chemical reactions. The bulk of the oil can be removed from the dispersions to produce oil wet particles, the oil wet particles can be washed with a low boiling hydrocarbon to produce hydrocarbon wet particles which can be dried to produce atmospherically stable powders of coated metal particle The dispersed particles in oil, the oil wet particles, the hydrocarbon wet particles and the atmospherically stable powders can each be used in chemical reactions.

Abstract: The present invention features isolated DNA encoding allergens of Dermatophagoides (house dust mites) particularly of the species Dermatophagoides farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, which are protein allergens or peptides which include at least one epitope of the protein allergen. In particular, the invention provides DNA encoding the major D. farinae allergens, Der f I and Der f II and DNA encoding the major D. pteronvssinus allergens, Der p I and Der p II. The present invention further relates to proteins and peptides encoded by the isolated D. farinae and D. pteronvssinus DNA, including proteins containing sequence polymorphisms. In addition, the proteins or peptides encoded by the isolated DNA, their use a diagnostic and therapeutic reagents and methods of diagnosing and treating sensitivity to house dust mite allergens, are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention features isolated DNA encoding allergens of Dermatophagoides (house dust mites) particularly of the species Dermatophagoides farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, which are protein allergens or peptides which include at least one epitope of the protein allergen. In particular, the invention provides DNA encoding the major D. farinae allergens, Der f I and Der f II and DNA encoding the major D. pteronyssinus allergens, Der p I and Der p II. The present invention further relates to proteins and peptides encoded by the isolated D. farinae and D. pteronyssinus DNA, including proteins containing sequence polymorphisms. In addition, the proteins or peptides encoded by the isolated DNA, their use a diagnostic and therapeutic reagents and methods of diagnosing and treating sensitivity to house dust mite allergens, are disclosed.

Abstract: Solid gas-drying forms are made by heating drying salts with a polar solvent to form a saturated solution, then cooling, freezing and forming. Preferred salts are combinations of calcium and lithium bromides and chlorides in particularly effective molar ratios.

Abstract: Disclosed is an adjustable vehicle arm rest support system structured around a pair of nylon straps which anchor to a vehicle window frame. First ends of the nylon straps are inserted in the window frame between the glass and window gasket. The nylon straps extend down the interior door wall adjacent to the driver or passenger. Attached to the straps is a rest pad for resting the arm and a fully adjustable elbow rest which may be raised, lowered, tilted or removed. Either of these pads can be used as a side wall impact pad for protecting the driver or passenger. Each of the pads and the pouch are continuously adjustable vertically and horizontally, and are also tiltable. Also disclosed is a beverage container support and a padded pouch that is adjustably mountable on the straps. The straps also support a beverage holder and a padded pouch, useful for storing coins, gloves, eye glasses and the like.