Abstract: A one touch valve for activating fluid flow between an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit is disclosed. The valve has a flow cylinder defining an inflow chamber in fluid communication with the inlet conduit and an outflow chamber in fluid communication with the outlet conduit. The flow cylinder includes an end plate and an intermediate plate having a center collar with an aperture. A flexible diaphragm is provided with a sealing surface in contact with the collar to create a seal. The diaphragm has an edge coupled to the intermediate plate and a small diameter hole providing fluid contact between the inflow chamber and an intermediate chamber which is defined by the intermediate plate of the flow cylinder. A plunger is placed on the diaphragm to create a seal with the opposite surface of the diaphragm from the sealing surface. A shaft has one end connected to the plunger and extends through the aperture of the diaphragm.

Abstract: An athletic cup having a shape generally designed to have the narrow portion fit between the legs of the user while the upper or wider portion extends up over the area of the body being protected. The cup has a larger primary portion formed from a resilient thermoplastic composition having a quantity of gas pockets dispersed therein formed by heating of a mixture of a blowing agent and a resilient thermoplastic material. The cup further includes a hard portion bonded to said primary portion and forming a cage like outer segment having a high degree of rigidity. The primary portion also includes a peripheral lip having a degree of flexibility for contact with the user to provide additional cushioning. In a preferred embodiment the primary portion extends into interstices in said hard portion.

Abstract: A dental tray formed from an ethylene vinyl acetate polymer having a forming temperature between 115° F. and 145° F., and preferably between about 125° F. and 135° F. The preferred polymer is formed from a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate in which the percent by weight vinyl acetate is at least 30% by weight and preferably between 33% and 40% by weight, with the remaining amount of the copolymer comprising ethylene. The dental tray can then be used for dental treatments including bleaching, fluoride applications, desensitizing teeth, antibacterial treatments and other dental operations.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes rendering a web page in a browser control in a user interface; detecting user input that selects a portion of the web page; presenting a dialog in the user interface that detects user input of a markup to the portion of the web page; and specifying a collection of users to notify of the markup. The method can also include generating a task entry that specifies the selected portion of the web page, the markup, and the collection of users to notify. The task entry can also specify one or more of the following: 1) a copy of the web page, 2) the user that provided the user input, and 3) the approximate time that the user input was detected.

Abstract: A one touch valve for activating fluid flow between an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit is disclosed. The valve has a flow cylinder defining an inflow chamber in fluid communication with the inlet conduit and an outflow chamber in fluid communication with the outlet conduit. The flow cylinder includes an end plate and an intermediate plate having a center collar with an aperture. A flexible diaphragm is provided with a sealing surface in contact with the collar to create a seal. The diaphragm has an edge coupled to the intermediate plate and a small diameter hole providing fluid contact between the inflow chamber and an intermediate chamber which is defined by the intermediate plate of the flow cylinder. A plunger is placed on the diaphragm to create a seal with the opposite surface of the diaphragm from the sealing surface. A shaft has one end connected to the plunger and extends through the aperture of the diaphragm.

Abstract: A pistol grip hose nozzle is disclosed which allows proportional water control in accordance with the position of a rotatable valve. The hose nozzle has a handgrip section with an inlet water passage and an outlet section with an outlet water passage. One end of the handgrip section is connectable with a hose. The other end of the inlet water passage ends in a valve seat with an aperture. The valve seat contains a valve having a flow control cylinder. The flow control cylinder has a non-circular opening which when aligned with the aperture allows water to flow to the outlet water passage. The flow control cylinder is attached to a control knob which allows a user to grip the hand grip portion and rotate the control knob and the flow control cylinder to vary the water flow. The non-circular opening allows the amount of water flow to the outlet water passage to be linearly proportional to the rotational position of the control knob.

Abstract: A one touch valve for activating fluid flow between an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit is disclosed. The valve has a flow cylinder defining an inflow chamber in fluid communication with the inlet conduit and an outflow chamber in fluid communication with the outlet conduit. The flow cylinder includes an end plate and an intermediate plate having a center collar with an aperture. A flexible diaphragm is provided with a sealing surface in contact with the collar to create a seal. The diaphragm has an edge coupled to the intermediate plate and a small diameter hole providing fluid contact between the inflow chamber and an intermediate chamber which is defined by the intermediate plate of the flow cylinder. A plunger is placed on the diaphragm to create a seal with the opposite surface of the diaphragm from the sealing surface. A shaft has one end connected to the plunger and extends through the aperture of the diaphragm.

Abstract: A self propelled sprinkler is disclosed. The sprinkler has a support body with a drive unit which drives two rear wheels. The drive unit is powered by water pressure supplied through a hose which is coupled to the drive unit via a hose coupler. The drive unit has a cylindrical drive chamber with circular impeller in fluid communication with the hose coupler. The impeller is rotated by the water pressure and is mechanically connected to a lateral shaft. The shaft is connected to the rear wheels. Reduction gearing from the impeller to the shaft governs the speed of the sprinkler. The reduction gearing is achieved through a series of sun gears, carrier disks and planet gears. The drive unit also has an outlet which has a socket which allows the exit of the pressurized water. The socket allows the insertion of any variety of sprinkler heads. Thus, the sprinkler allows a variety of water distribution patterns. The sprinkler is propelled by water pressure rotating the impeller and eventually the rear wheels.

Abstract: A rotating bearing assembly for a sprinkler coupled to a pipe segment is disclosed. The bearing assembly has a stem which permits fluid flow. The stem has a bottom open end with a collar and a top open end which is connected to a cap. The cap allows connection to a sprinkler head which rotates from water pressure through the pipe segment. The stem conduit rotates in relation to a sleeve which is frictionally fitted within the pipe segment. A plurality of washers is located between the collar and the bottom of the sleeve to provide a water seal under high pressure conditions. Another group of washers is located between the top of the sleeve and the cap to provide additional sealing under low pressure conditions.

Abstract: A remote controlled hose valve system for use with a water source and a hose having one end connectable to a fluid activated device and an opposite connector end is disclosed. The hose valve system includes a valve unit and a remote control unit. The valve unit has an inlet coupler connectable to the water source. The valve unit also has a hose coupler coupled to the opposite connector end of the hose. A conduit allows fluid flow between the inlet coupler and the hose coupler. A valve is located in the conduit and permits fluid flow in the conduit. An actuator which may be an electric motor is connected to the valve. A power source is provided for the actuator. A signal receiver is coupled to the power source and the actuator. The receiver allows power flow to the actuator to close or open the valve in response to a unique signal. The remote control unit includes a transmitter which sends a unique signal to open or close the valve.

Abstract: A winding wedge retention system designed to maintain coil form includes a rotor (21) having a plurality of rotor poles (24), a coil (20) wound on one of the rotor poles (24), a V-shaped support wedge (22) positioned between adjacent rotor poles (24, 24) and that is adapted to support the coil (20), and a second wedge (26) that is positioned between and adjacent to the coil (20) and the rotor pole (24) on which the coil (20) is wound. The second wedge (26), in the presence of centrifugal loads, maintains a constant shape of the coil (20) and also maintains a constant position of the coil (20) relative to a position of the support wedge (22).