Abstract: A fire suppression and warning system for an aircraft includes an inert gas delivery system, an inert gas indicator, an on-ground indicator, and a warning device. The inert gas delivery system delivers an inert gas output to an enclosed space on the aircraft. The inert gas indicator signals that the inert gas delivery system has delivered the inert gas output to the enclosed space. The on-ground indicator signals that the aircraft is located on the ground. The warning device actively warns that the inert gas output is present in the enclosed space in response to a signal from the inert gas indicator and a signal from the on-ground indicator.

Abstract: A method for fire suppression includes flowing a first inert gas output into an enclosed space at a high rate of discharge and flowing a second inert gas output into the enclosed space at a low rate of discharge. The method further includes metering an odorant into the second inert gas to provide an extended warning that inert gas is present in the enclosed space.

Abstract: A method for protecting a user in an enclosed environment includes providing an enclosed environment that holds cargo that has first odor; flowing a gas to the enclosed environment; and adding an odorant having a second odor to the gas, the first odor being distinctive from the second odor such that a presence of the second odorant provides a warning that the gas is present.

Abstract: A fire suppression system includes a volume reduction system having a seal member. The seal member is selectively deployable between a first position and a second position to seal an opening in a confined space.

Abstract: The installation of equipment such as large medical autoclaves requires movement of the equipment from the palletized shipping container to the final installation point in a typically medical facility. In the past, methods used to move the equipment involved major dis-assembly of the associated piping, electrical, and control components typically found inside and adjacent to the equipment. Once the unit was stripped of external components, the main portion of the unit would be jacked and blocked until it was free of the shipping pallet. It would then be moved by devices not intended for moving medical equipment. The aforementioned methods were commonly time-consuming, prone to damage the equipment, and presented safety hazards to the installation contractors. The following claim describes a device, hereafter known as “Glaser Transport” that is designed for controlled lifting, moving, and lowering of large equipment, typically medical autoclaves, medical sterilizers, and other large non-typical equipment.

Abstract: A system comprising a plurality of three dimensional artificially animated portraits for performing preprogrammed animations of voice and facial expressions in the form of a scripted dialogue orchestrated by a central source. The system is operable to prepare animations of recorded voice and selected depictions of facial expressions to be transferred to the animated portraits and performed by the animated portraits. The system is operable to combine prepared animations in a scripted dialogue to be performed so as to mimic an interactive conversation.

Abstract: An audio-on-demand communication system provides real-time playback of audio data transferred via telephone lines or other communication links. One or more audio servers include memory banks which store compressed audio data. At the request of a user at a subscriber PC, an audio server transmits the compressed audio data over the communication link to the subscriber PC. The subscriber PC receives and decompresses the transmitted audio data in less than real-time using only the processing power of the CPU within the subscriber PC. According to one aspect of the present invention, high quality audio data compressed according to lossless compression techniques is transmitted together with normal quality audio data. According to another aspect of the present invention, metadata, or extra data, such as text, captions, still images, etc., is transmitted with audio data and is simultaneously displayed with corresponding audio data.

Abstract: An electronic system, for use at a facility, to immediately display notification, at a plurality of locations within the facility, that a person is missing. The system includes a portable data storage medium containing information related to a person, including an image of the person, to be carried by a guardian. The system also includes a network of stations and a system server equipped to receive the data from the portable data storage medium, in the event that the person and the guardian are separated, and to display an image of the person at a plurality of stations to assist security personnel and bystanders in locating the person. The invention also includes a method of recording information related to a person on a portable data storage medium and providing a network of stations and a system server to receive information including an image of the person and to display the image simultaneously at a plurality of locations.

Abstract: A bendable and posable toothbrush toy has a toothbrush portion detectably secured to a handle portion in the form of an animate character. At least part of the character handle is posable, preferably the arms thereof, by providing a wire insert within the resilient material from which the character handle is molded. The toothbrush can therefore be changed to a variety of different poses, and different character handles can be interchanged. The toothbrush proper secures to the interchangeable handle by a twist-and-lock mechanism which allows young users to simply and detectably fasten the toothbrush portion to the handle portion at a precise relative angular orientation.

Abstract: An apparatus for sampling volumetric quantities of human exhaled breath has three conduits and may be provided in "Y" or "T" shaped configuration. The free end of one of the conduits is adapted to connect with the mouth of the subject being tested. Another of the conduits is adapted to pass ambient air to the subject, this conduit being provided with a suitable filtering mechanism such as a charcoal inhalation canister and an inlet check valve. The third of the three conduits supports an appropriate sampling canister for receiving exhaled breath from the subject, and this conduit also is provided with a one-way check valve. In another aspect of the invention, there is also provided a method for collecting a sample of exhaled breath from a subject to collect therefrom a selected analyte and to accurately quantify its presence in the subject's breath.