Abstract: The invention relates to a heated steering wheel having a steering wheel rim with a heating device arranged on the steering wheel rim. A shell has two or more shell parts that each extend at least part of the way around the periphery of the steering wheel rim in radial cross-section. The shell parts are joined together by an adhesive intentionally applied only to mutually contacting surfaces of said shell parts. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a heated steering wheel.

Abstract: A PWB or multilayer board with circuit traces is treated by a process that serves to reduce the incident of failure of the board. The process includes the steps of applying a thin commoning layer of copper onto a catalyzed surface of the board substrate and the circuit lines. A photoresist is then applied over the commoning layer after which the photoresist is removed only from the commoning material over the circuit lines. A thin layer of a more noble metal, such as nickel, is electrodeposited over the exposed conductive layer. This is followed by a gold layer electrodeposited over the nickel in close registry therewith. The process provides the traces with a conforming nickel/gold layer that extends down the side of the traces. This reduces the tendency of a subsequent copper etch step from undercutting the nickel/gold, thereby causing slivers that could cause short circuiting between adjacent circuit patterns.

Abstract: A lifting system is attached to the rear of a pick-up truck and has a load carrying platform which can be raised and lowered between the tray of the truck and the ground to assist loading and unloading. The platform is raised and lowered by operation of a cable system incorporated within a frame. The frame and platform structure can be pivoted to a stowed position in which the platform structure then acts as a tailgate for the vehicle. The frame and the platform structure are foldable to a reduced depth configuration so that when in the stowed configuration the height of the frame and platform structure then approximates to the height of the sides of the truck.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for plasma waste disposal of hazardous waste material, where the hazardous material is volatilized under vacuum inside a containment chamber to produce a pre-processed gas as input to a plasma furnace including a plasma-forming region in which a plasma-forming magnetic field is produced. The pre-processed gas is passed at low pressure and without circumvention through the plasma-forming region and is directly energized to an inductively coupled plasma state such that hazardous waste reactants included in the pre-processed gas are completely dissociated in transit through the plasma-forming region. Preferably, the plasma-forming region is shaped as a vacuum annulus and is dimensioned such that there is no bypass by which hazardous waste reactants in the pre-processed gas can circumvent the plasma-forming region. The plasma furnace is powered by a high frequency power supply outputting power at a fundamental frequency.

Abstract: This design is to be used by handicapped persons for the removal of snow. The invention is made to be used with one arm, and is adjustable to fit a short or tall person with only one aim or leg, left or right. It consists of a grip handle which is secured to two plates by bolts which are attached in turn to the main shaft by bolts, and is made adjustable by holes drilled into the main shaft. It also has a cradle at the upper end of the main shaft in which the forearm rests to give it stability and leverage to lift the loaded shovel for throwing snow. This cradle is attached to the main shaft by clamps which are also adjustable by releasing the bolts and moving it up and down on the shaft, which is also used to allow for use of different sized persons in unision with the adjustment of the grip handle.

Abstract: In a CCD imager, a charge is accumulated in pixels of an image area representative of the intensity of incident radiation and is subsequently transferred to a store section and then on a row by row basis to an output register by applying suitable drive pulses to drive electrodes. Signal charge in the output register is transferred to a multiplication register by drive pulses applied to drive electrodes to give charge transfer in the direction shown by the arrows. One or more drive pulses applied to the electrodes of the multiplication register are of sufficiently large amplitude to produce high field regions in the register element to cause signal multiplication by impact ionisation. This gives a low noise amplification of the signal charge, the multiplied signal charge being detected at charge detection circuit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for plasma waste disposal of hazardous waste material, where the hazardous material is volatilized under vacuum inside a containment chamber to produce a pre-processed gas as input to a plasma furnace including a plasma-forming region in which a plasma-forming magnetic field is produced. The pre-processed gas is passed at low pressure and without circumvention through the plasma-forming region and is directly energized to an inductively coupled plasma state such that hazardous waste reactants included in the pre-processed gas are completely dissociated in transit through the plasma-forming region. Preferably, the plasma-forming region is shaped as a vacuum annulus and is dimensioned such that there is no bypass by which hazardous waste reactants in the pre-processed gas can circumvent the plasma-forming region. The plasma furnace is powered by a high frequency power supply outputting power at a fundamental frequency.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heated steering wheel having a steering wheel rim with a heating device arranged on the steering wheel rim. A shell has two or more shell parts that each extend at least part of the way around the periphery of the steering wheel rim in radial cross-section. The shell parts are joined together by an adhesive intentionally applied only to mutually contacting surfaces of said shell parts. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a heated steering wheel.

Abstract: Process for making paper having improved strength characteristics by adding to the pulp water-soluble and/or water-dispersible cationic polymer and oxidized galactose type of alcohol configuration containing polymer.

Abstract: A method for cleaning a copper-INVAR-copper laminate in an acid solution without inducing a galvanic etching of the INVAR. An initial step of the method forms a circuit element that includes a power supply, the laminate electrically coupled to a negative terminal of the power supply, and a conductive anode electrically coupled to a positive terminal of the power supply. The conductive anode may include a conductive material, such as titanium, that is preferably inert to an acid solution into which the laminate will be subsequently immersed. After turning on the power supply to a voltage between about 1 volts and about 10 volts, the laminate and conductive anode are immersed in the acid solution, so as to form a closed circuit with a voltage bias across acid copper-INVAR-copper interfaces. The voltage bias prevents galvanic action from occurring and therefore protects against galvanic etching of the INVAR.

Abstract: An electroplating apparatus provides high current electrical connections in a small area to a workpiece. The contact area may use a dendrite surface to improve the connection. An insulative gasket prevents electroplating fluids from entering the region about the contact area. A heavy core laminated within a supporting structure provides uniform current distribution of high electrical currents to the dendrite covered contact areas.

Abstract: Cleaning a component of a vapor compression system with a cleaning composition having a hydrofluorocarbon as an active ingredient.

Abstract: A foodstuff is disclosed which also contains a sufficient amount of Natamycin in combination with reduced levels of selected chemical preservatives to prevent the outgrowth of yeast, mold and/or bacteria making the foodstuff significantly more organoleptically acceptable.

Abstract: Composition comprising oxidizable galactose type of alcohol configuration containing polymer (such as guar) which is in solid state and galactose oxidase. Application of such oxidized polymers in the papermaking process results in superior paper strength characteristics.

Abstract: A method for preparing, handling, storing and dispensing tea at relatively mild temperatures is provided to eliminate or substantially reduce microbial outgrowth. A balance between the tea solids concentration and the storage temperature is achieved whereby the delicate flavor of the tea is not compromised.

Abstract: A foodstuff having selected flavorant/antimicrobial compounds in an amount sufficient to result in a microbiologically stable foodstuff.

Abstract: In a fluorescence polarization assay for determining the amount of a target analyte in a test sample, wherein the amount of analyte is related to the amount of fluorescence emitted from the analyte-containing reagent medium, the improvement comprising contacting the analyte-containing reagent medium with of at least one compound from the group consisting of 1,10-phenanthroline, 8-hydroxy-7-iodo-5-quinoline, naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid, salts thereof, and any combination thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel method for forming uniform dendrites, on circuit features that does not result in large, elongated dendrites along the edges of the circuit features. The method comprises the following steps: providing a substrate having circuitry disposed thereon; applying a photoresist to the substrate at a thickness which is preferably about the height of the intended dendrite height; imaging the photoresist to expose all or a portion of the top surface of the circuitry; forming the dendrites; and removing the photoresist. The photoresist which is employed to control the dendrite height is applied so that the photoresist either: abuts the edge of the circuitry leaving the top surface of the circuitry exposed; or abuts the edge of the circuitry and extend over the top edge of the circuitry so that a portion of the top surface of the circuitry is exposed; or does not touch the circuitry nor an area surrounding the base of the circuitry.

Abstract: An aqueous based tea solids containing beverage is taught which also contains a sufficient amount of cinnamic acid its salts and esters as a flavoring/antimicrobial compound and employs a hurdle approach with selected levels of water hardness, polyphosphate, sequestrants, pH adjustment, benzoic acid and sorbic acid to prevent microbiological outgrowth while simultaneously contributing to the pleasant flavor of the beverage thus making the beverage acceptable both organoleptically and microbiologically.

Abstract: An aqueous based tea solids containing beverage is taught which also contains a sufficient amount of a selected substituted phenyl flavoring/antimicrobial compound to prevent microbial outgrowth while simultaneously contributing to the pleasant flavor of the beverage thus making the beverage acceptable both organoleptically and microbiologically. Optionally selected "hurdles" or stepwise antimicrobial controls are also employed.