Abstract: The present invention provides for an automatic swinging device with a natural rhythm of the swinging motion that is designed and configured to be coupled to any desired apparatus that can be sat on and in which the user wishes to be swung automatically, if desired, and manually, when desired. The present invention is an apparatus that can be attached to any device so as to provide for a final product that not only provides an automatic swinging motion having natural rhythm, but also provides for a unit that allows the user to swing naturally, when desired, so as to prevent hindrance of free swing, and to adjust the angle of the automatic swing motion. In an optional configuration, the present invention can include an attachment element that will eliminate wobbling during the swing motion, a feature generally associated with conventional swings. To enable such a configuration, the swing device of the present invention comprises a driving unit, an actuating unit, and a power unit.

Abstract: A method of displaying a visual image includes scaling at least one monochrome digital photograph, scaling at least one non-monochrome icon, and assembling a digital composite display of the at least one scaled monochrome digital photograph and the at least one scaled non-monochrome icon. The digital composite display includes a plurality of monochrome pixel values corresponding to the at least one scaled monochrome digital photograph, and at least one non-monochrome pixel value corresponding to the at least one scaled non-monochrome icon. A composite bitmap is created including a color table having a plurality of color values. Each color value has a plurality of color component intensity values. Each color value corresponds to a respective monochrome pixel value. Selected color values are reserved for non-monochrome colors. Each selected color value is provided with color component intensity values corresponding to a selected non-monochrome pixel value.

Abstract: A method of producing a comestible and associated apparatus are disclosed. A baking mixture is prepared having a moisture content. A mold arrangement is then provided having a mold cavity which is sealable from ambient pressure. The baking mixture is placed in the mold cavity and the mold cavity is then sealed. Thereafter, the mold arrangement is heated with the baking mixture therein such that pressure in the mold cavity rises above ambient pressure and a substantial portion of the moisture content in the baking mixture remains in the mold cavity as the baking mixture heats to form the comestible. In one aspect, the baking mixture is formulated to have a density which is approximately equal to the desired density of the comestible to be produced. Thereafter, the mold cavity of the mold arrangement is substantially filled with the density controlled baking mixture.

Abstract: An automatic swing device to be used in combination with a conventional porch swing is disclosed and includes a frame member that will support a conventional porch swing and maintain the components of the automatic swing device. Secured to the swing is a motorized rotating arm assembly. This rotating arm assembly includes a fractional horsepower gear motor. An initiation assembly is coupled to the rotating arm assembly. This initiation assembly includes a clutch arm that is connected to a stop unit. The stop unit is connected to the fractional horsepower gear motor. In operation, the user sits on the swing and pushes back, this will cause the rotating arm assembly to active the initiation assembly. The initiation assembly will provide for the clutch arm to pull back, forcing the stop unit to be disengage and cause for the automatic operation of the device.

Abstract: A chewable calcium composition and its associated method of manufacturing are disclosed. The chewable composition includes a lipid base and a micronized calcium salt substantially uniformly mixed with the lipid base such that the lipid base forms a continuous phase. The composition provides for a relatively large dose of calcium in a easy to take chocolate like, chewable form. The composition of the present invention is manufactured by providing the lipid base including a melting temperature. The lipid base is then heated to a temperature of approximately 120° F. such that the lipid base melts. After the lipid base melts, the micronized calcium salt is mixed with the lipid base to form a melted mixture such that the micronized calcium salt is substantially uniformly distributed in the melted lipid base.

Abstract: An electromagnetic flow meter and method of operating the same. There is provided a flow measurement duct, a magnetic circuit including pole pieces for generating a magnetic field in fluid flowing in a direction in the duct across the direction of flow, and an electrical circuit including at least one sensing electrode for measuring a voltage thereby induced in the fluid to provide an output indicative of the flow. The method comprises measuring a series of pairs of outputs of the electrical circuit, each pair of outputs comprising an output when the magnetic field is present and an output when the magnetic field is absent, and determining from the measured series of pairs of outputs whether fluid is present or absent in the duct.

Abstract: An endoscopic stapler includes a stapling head which is removably locatable on the distal end of an endoscope. The stapling head includes a stationary part which houses a removable staple cartridge and a movable part which includes an anvil for receiving and bending the ends of staples fired from the stationary part. The staple cartridge preferably houses two semi-circular rows of staples which are staggered relative to each other. The movable part is coupled to the stationary part by a threaded shaft which engages a worm gear in the stationary part and a first rotatable control wire is coupled to the worm gear. A substantially semi-circular firing cam is located proximal of the staple cartridge in the stationary part. The firing cam has an interior splined surface which is engaged by a spline gear coupled to a second rotatable control wire. In one embodiment, a knife is coupled to the firing cam so that tissue is cut subsequent to stapling.

Abstract: An arrangement and method for automatically raising and lowering a toilet seat including a sensor pad located to be stepped on only by a standing user. The toilet seat is counterbalanced, and a shifting of weight causes the seat to pivot up or down. Various weight shifting arrangements are described, including an electromechanical drive, a liquid transfer system, and a mechanical drive weight positioner.

Abstract: This invention discloses a process for preparing an asymmetrical tin-coupled rubbery polymer which comprises: (1) continuously polymerizing in a first reactor at least one diene monomer to a conversion of at least about 90 percent, utilizing an anionic initiator to produce a polymer cement containing living polydiene rubber chains; (2) continuously feeding the polymer cement produced in the first reactor into a second reactor; (3) adding a tin halide to the polymer cement in a second reactor under conditions of agitation to produce a polymer cement having the tin halide homogeneously dispersed therein, wherein the residence time in the second reactor is within the range of about 15 minutes to about 4 hours; (4) continuously feeding the polymer cement having the tin halide homogeneously dispersed therein into a plug flow reactor having a residence time of about 15 minutes to about 1 hour to produce a polymer cement of the asymmetrically tin-coupled rubbery polymer; and (5) continuously withdrawing the polymer

Abstract: A neural network characterized by a minimal architecture suitable for implementation in conventional microprocessor battery pack monitoring hardware includes linear and non-linear processing elements and battery parameter measurements representative of real time and temporal quantities whereby state of charge estimations actually converge with 100% and 0% states-of-charge.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method in an automated telephone system for obtaining data from sources other than the caller's answer to menu queries and directing incoming calls directly to preferred applications instead of to an introductory menu. In one embodiment, a statistical engine measures individual customer usage and stores the results in a usage history database. An inference engine then prioritizes the available applications based on past usage. When an individual customer next calls, the server can either request account and PIN numbers or trap ANI/DNIS data from the public telephone system in order to identify the individual customer. Once the customer is identified, the server branches directly to that individual customer's preferred applications. The log-in history includes time and place of call-in so that an aberrant usage alarm may be triggered by the automated telephone system that alerts customers to any unusual accesses to their personal accounts.

Abstract: Melting and recrystallizing the surfaces of a wrought Pb--Ca--Sn alloy strip from which positive Pb-acid storage battery grids are punched or expanded. The alloy also contains an alloyant such as silver which, upon recrystallization, provides a higher concentration of alloyant-rich grain boundaries on the surface of the grid than the wrought grid for enhancing the conductivity of any oxidation layer formed on the surface of the grid during high temperature cycling of the battery.

Abstract: A battery charging system for cellular telephones or other portable devices is incorporated into a clock radio. A user is enabled to specify a time-of-day at which s/he wants to be reminded to insert the rechargeable battery into the charging system if re-charging is needed. No alarm is generated if the battery is already in the charging system at the appointed time. A low power radio frequency signal attempts to interrogate the portable device on the assumption that it is within radio range at that time so as to determine the current battery charge status at about the time that the alarm would be generated. If the charging system receives a return signal from the portable device which indicates, or from which it can be determined, that charging is not needed, then the alarm is not generated after all. Otherwise, the alarm is, in fact generated.

Abstract: A global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver is used in an electronic lap counter which maintains a lap count and which increments the lap count upon "observing" via the GPS receiver that the user, having gone away from an initial "start" location (e.g., an end of a pool or the start line of a closed loop running track), has returned to that location. A user-supplied indication, such as the pressing of a push button, serves as an indication to the lap counter that the lap counter's then current location is to be used as the start location.

Abstract: An elastic band for ligating tissue within a living body comprises an inner tissue engaging surface which, when in an operative position within the body, surrounds and directly contacts the tissue. At least a portion of the inner tissue engaging surface defines a plurality of discontinuities formed by one of projections and depressions. A method of ligating tissue within a living body using such a ligating band comprises the steps of positioning the elastic band, which has been stretched to increase the size of a central opening extending therethrough, adjacent to a portion of tissue to be ligated. The tissue to be ligated is then drawn through the central opening of the elastic band and the elastic band is released so that the size of the central opening decreases to grip the tissue received therein.

Abstract: This invention discloses a process for synthesizing a styrene-butadiene polymer which comprises the steps of: (1) continuously charging 1,3-butadiene monomer, an organolithium compound, a polar modifier and an organic solvent into a first polymerization zone, (2) allowing the 1,3-butadiene monomer to polymerize in said first polymerization zone to a conversion of at least about 90 percent to produce a living polymer solution, (3) continuously withdrawing said living polymer solution from said first polymerization zone, (4) continuously charging divinyl benzene and the living polymer solution being withdrawn from the first polymerization zone into a second polymerization zone, (5) allowing the divinyl benzene monomer to react with the living polybutadiene chains in said second polymerization zone to produce a solution of living divinylbenzene modified butadiene polymer, (6) continuously withdrawing the solution of said divinylbenzene modified butadiene polymer from the second polymerization zone, (7) continuou

Abstract: A centrifugal type refrigerant compressor comprises at least one impeller (17, 18), electric motor (27) and drive shaft (22) mounted on non-lubricated radial bearings, such as magnetic or foil gas bearings (23, 24), with axial locating means (26) associated with the shaft (22) to restrict axial movement thereof with respect to the compressor housing (12). The housing (12) encases the motor (27) and the compressor and defines the gas inlet (31) and the gas outlet (16) passageways. Gas throttling means (34) is provided in the inlet (31), and a control means (30) varies the speed of the motor (27) and the throttling means (34) to control the compression ratio and mass flow through the compressor in accordance with the refrigeration load.

Abstract: A graphic display system includes a set of rendering engines and a plurality of data storage units. Each data storage unit in the set of data storage units is coupled to at least one rendering engine in the set of rendering engines. A selection means is included in the graphic display system for selecting a data storage unit in the plurality of data storage units. The selected data storage unit is to be used for storing data representing an object to be displayed by the graphic display system and is selected based on a validity period of the object. The selection means includes means for determining a size validity period of the object and means for determining a translational validity period of the object. The translational validity period is a time required for the object to change by a predetermined translational threshold, wherein the predetermined translational threshold is a first angle extending from a line that passes through both a reference point and the object.

Abstract: A pliable tackified tow comprises a plurality of fibers having a tackifier present at about 1-15 per cent by weight uniformly distributed among the fibers. The tackifier is a solid material which has been fractured through fiber displacement such, as by physical bending, to produce a fiber tow that is pliable. The pliable tackified tow can be used in braiding, weaving, or filament winding operations to produce dry fabric which contains a tackifier between the individual fibers such that preforms produced using the tackified tow can be readily shaped and hardened to retain that shape prior to molding.

Abstract: A heart rate sensing apparatus includes user mounted means for sensing the electrical activity of a user's heart and for transmitting a signal derived from the electrical activity of the user's heart. At least the sensing means can be mounted on the chest of the user. Signal receiving and processing means is provided, independent of the user mounted means, for receiving a signal transmitted from the user mounted means and for processing the shape of each signal so as to simulate an earlobe mounted sensor.