Abstract: A structural sandwich plate member comprises first and second outer plates and a core material of plastics or polymer material. A plurality of lightweight forms are disposed between the outer plates so that the core material forms ribs extending in two substantially orthogonal directions. The lightweight forms may be hollow or solid and manufactured out of foam, plastics or expanded polystyrene. The structural sandwich plate member is preferably formed by injecting the plastics or polymer core material into a closed cavity formed between the outer plates and in which the lightweight forms have been preplaced.

Abstract: Implantable biomaterials, particularly hydrogel substrates with porous surfaces, and methods for enhancing the compatibility of biomaterials with living tissue, and for causing physical attachment between biomaterials and living tissues are provided. Also provided are implants suitable for load-bearing surfaces in hard tissue repair, replacement, or augmentation, and to methods of their use. One embodiment of the invention relates to an implantable spinal disc prosthesis.

Abstract: A composite structural laminate plate suitable for building maritime vessels or for building civil structures such as double hull oil tankers, bulk carriers, barges decks for roll-on roll-off ferries, orthotropic bridge decks or for building any structural application in which the traditional method of construction uses stiffened steel plates. The laminate has two facing metal layers that are structurally bonded to a polyurethane elastomer core which may have steel or rigid foam void sections embedded within. The laminate provides equivalent inplane and transverse stiffness and strength, reduces fatigue problems, minimizes stress concentrations, improves thermal and acoustical insulation, and provides vibration control. The laminate provides a structural system that acts as a crack arrest layer and that can join two dissimilar metals without welding or without setting up a galvanic cell.

Abstract: A structural sandwich plate member, comprising first and second face plates and a plastics or polymer core bonding said face plates together with sufficient strength to transfer shear forces therebetween, said face plates being formed of a non-metal reinforced composite material.

Abstract: An Internet enabled, business-to-business computerized transaction system is disclosed in its preferred embodiment for use in providing rental car services for high volume users and comprises an Internet web portal through which the high volume user may access a plurality of service providers including an integrated business computer network for at least one rental vehicle service provider with that integrated business computer network also providing the same internet capability and connectivity to its employees. The rental vehicle services provider computer network is configured to interconnect a geographically diverse plurality of branch offices, cataloguing their available rental vehicles and schedules for same as well as handling all transactional data relating to its business, and does so with a centrally programmed service provider computer programmed to allow for a GUI web based internet browser connection, thereby enabling employees as well as customers with the same advantages.

Abstract: Invention is based upon the use of a unique chemical blend for an environmentally safe cleaner/degreaser. This chemical blend comprises d-limonene and SIMPLE GREEN. Both d-limonene and SIMPLE GREEN have been shown to be effective as cleaners and degreasers, but their use in combination has been shown to be synergistic. The components of the synergistic combinations show rapid biodegradation rates (>90% in 30 days), with minimal environmental impact. The chemical blend has a pH of 7.0 plus or minus 0.2 and does not entail special handling procedures or discharge requirements. Also, the use of my invention will not cause any adverse effects to the hard surfaces being cleaned, in comparison to other cleaner/degreasers that utilize a pH near 9.0.

Abstract: An electronic word building machine including a keyboard to input a user determined set of letters, a set of words in memory, a comparison program to compare the input set of letters with the set of words in memory to provide a set of matching words from the set of words in memory, the set of matching words including words which consist only of a subset of letters from the input set of letters, a ranking program to provide a predetermined score for each of the words in the set of matching words, and a display to display on the machine each of the words in the sequence of the value of the score together with the score value of the word being displayed.