Abstract: A closure apparatus and a method of installing the same are provided. The closure apparatus is adapted to mount to a toilet having a cover (5), a bowl ledge (4), and a flush mechanism (3, 30). The closure apparatus includes a mounting bolt (15) having an opening therethrough and a rod (8) disposed within the opening. The apparatus also includes a spring (9) that is adapted to be deformed by the rod to thereby bias the rod and a lever (11) movable with respect to the mounting bolt. A latch release mechanism (25, 27) coupled to the lever is also included. Upon flushing the toilet when the cover is open, and when the closure apparatus is mounted on the bowl ledge, the latch release mechanism causes the latch point of the lever to move with respect to the mounting bolt and allows the spring to move the rod, which pushes the cover, to thereby close the cover.

Abstract: A toilet assembly that includes a bowl, a toilet seat member mounted on the bowl for movement between raised and lowered positions, and a tank mounted on the bowl. The tank is adapted to contain water for flushing the toilet and has a flushing apparatus for causing the water in the tank to flow into the bowl. The toilet assembly also includes a hydraulic closure apparatus mounted on the toilet. The apparatus includes a member movable relative to the toilet and engageable with the seat member such that movement of the member in one direction moves the seat member toward the lowered position. Movement of the seat member toward the raised position moves the member in an opposite direction. The apparatus also includes a cylinder and a piston slidable inside the cylinder. The piston divides the cylinder into first and second chambers and is connected to the member such that movement of the member in the opposite direction moves the piston in the direction minimizing the volume of the second chamber.

Abstract: Device for cleaning of surfaces under water, such as ship hulls, includes a rotary disc furnished with nozzles for discharge of pressurized liquid against the surface to be cleaned. The nozzles are mounted obliquely in relation to the rotational axis of the rotary disc and are arranged to be supplied with pressurized liquid through a hollow spindle that is concentric with the rotational axis. The nozzles have an inclination that have an orientation involving that the velocity component (Vp) of the liquid jet from each nozzle that is not perpendicular to the surface to be cleaned, has a tangential velocity component (Vt) that has the same direction as the direction of rotation (R) of the rotary disc and optionally a radial velocity component that is positive, i.e. that is directed outwards in relation to the center of the disc.

Abstract: The “Child Alert” is a new application of current warning Systems technology to prevent anyone from leaving an infant in a vehicle. It is connected to the vehicle ignition and is activated upon it being turned off. A vocal alert would then sound that a baby is present.

Abstract: A method for assembling a piston on a rod, and resultant piston and rod assembly, uses one or more lock rings that are mechanically deformed radially inwardly into respective locking grooves in the rod, thereby axially locking the lock ring to the rod. The lock ring can function as an axial stop for the piston or can be formed integrally with the piston. The method of assembly minimize unwanted strains and stresses in the piston and rod, while providing a secure and durable joint between the piston and rod.

Abstract: A new and distinct variety of sweet cherry tree, ‘Pendleton Cherry’, originating as the result of a cross between ‘Yellow Glass’, an unpatented selection, and ‘Emperor Francis’, an unpatented selection. This new variety is unique because its tree has proven to be reliable to produce regular, heavy crops of mid-late season, blushed skin, yellow fleshed fruit that are suitable for commercial uses in processing markets in Eastern states of North America.

Abstract: A process that allocates bits for quantizing spectral components in a perceptual coding system is performed more efficiently by obtaining an accurate estimate of the optimal value for one or more coding parameters that are used in the bit allocation process. In one implementation for a perceptual audio coding system, an accurate estimate of an offset from a calculated psychoacoustic masking curve is derived by selecting an initial value for the offset, calculating the number of bits that would be allocated if the initial offset were used for coding, and estimating the optimum value of the offset from a difference between this calculated number and the number of bits that are actually available for allocation.

Abstract: A closure apparatus and a method of installing the same are provided. The closure apparatus is adapted to mount to a toilet having a cover (5), a bowl ledge (4), and a flush mechanism (3, 30). The closure apparatus includes a mounting bolt (15) having an opening therethrough and a rod (8) disposed within the opening. The apparatus also includes a spring (9) that is adapted to be deformed by the rod to thereby bias the rod and a lever (11) movable with respect to the mounting bolt. A latch release mechanism (25, 27) coupled to the lever is also included. Upon flushing the toilet when the cover is open, and when the closure apparatus is mounted on the bowl ledge, the latch release mechanism causes the latch point of the lever to move with respect to the mounting bolt and allows the spring to move the rod, which pushes the cover, to thereby close the cover.

Abstract: A phototherapy system and method for automatically replacing a failed light source with a new light source once a failure of a first light source is detected. This system permits the new light source to assume a coaxially aligned position with the proximal end portion of a light transmission medium in place of the failed light source without any manual input by the user. In addition, an improved coupling system is provided for coupling the light transmission medium to the illumination device housing the light sources. The coupling system prevents pull out of the light transmission medium from the illumination device over nearly all rotational angles of the proximal end of the light transmission medium relative to the housing, and over only a relatively small range of angles will some degree of pull out force enable the light transmission medium to be decoupled from the illumination device.

Abstract: A closure apparatus and a method of installing the same are provided. The closure apparatus is adapted to mount to a toilet having a cover, a bowl ledge and a flush mechanism. The closure apparatus includes a mounting bolt having an opening extending therethrough and a rod disposed within the opening of the bolt. The apparatus also includes a spring that is adapted to be deformed by the rod to thereby bias the rod and a lever movable with respect to the mounting bolt. A latch release mechanism coupled to the lever is also included. Upon flushing the toilet when the cover is open, and when the closure apparatus is mounted on the bowl ledge, the latch release mechanism causes the latch point of the lever to move with respect to the mounting bolt and allows the spring to move the rod, which pushes the cover, to thereby close the cover.

Abstract: A lock release mechanism for a folding combination tool having a plurality of supplemental tools (e.g., a knife, screwdriver, can opener, etc.) mounted at the free end of a generally U-shaped handle for rotation from a storage position within the handle to an extended “in use” position outside the handle. The locking mechanism is characterized by a leaf spring formed at the free end of the handle that lockingly engages the mounting end or shank of one or more of the supplemental tools when such tool is rotated from the handle to its fully extended position for use. The lock release mechanism preferably includes a bulge, formed on a different supplemental tool, that extends outside the handle so that the bulge may be depressed into the handle by a user.

Abstract: A multi-purpose folding tool which features inwardly tapered handles to provide external plier jaw storage, thereby leaving greater room for supplemental tool storage inside the handles, a box-beam handle construction for greater strength, downwardly opening handles to facilitate ease of use, a unique supplemental tool locking and release mechanism, and laminated plier jaws which are riveted together for even greater strength and overall integrity.

Abstract: A multi-purpose folding tool which features inwardly tapered handles to provide external plier jaw storage, thereby leaving greater room for supplemental tool storage inside the handles, a box-beam handle construction for greater strength, downwardly opening handles to facilitate ease of use, a unique supplemental tool locking and release mechanism, and laminated plier jaws which are riveted together for even greater strength and overall integrity.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for changing the antifreeze in a vehicle requires only a garden hose and opening of the radiator cap. Water from the hose is utilized to prime a conduit for siphoning used coolant from a side tank radiator and for refilling the radiator. By operating the vehicle with fresh water in the radiator, coolant remaining in the system is mixed with the water, and repeated drainings decrease the remaining used antifreeze by about one-half each time. After removal of the desired amount of antifreeze, new antifreeze may be placed in the radiator.

Abstract: A new and distinct variety of sweet cherry tree, Prunus avium, originating as a hybrid seedling of the cross: ‘Starks Gold’ (unpatented)בStella’ (unpatented). This new variety is unique from its parents and other sweet cherries varieties because it is late blooming, dark skinned, dark fleshed, and is self-fertile.