Abstract: A commercially viable paper wrapped foam cup comprising a taper portion that prevents the shrinkage-induced curling from interfering with the un-nesting of nested paper wrapped foam cups. The paper wrapped cup further comprises a fillet for strengthening the cup foot to retard shrinkage-induced curling of the foot. The paper wrapper has abutting to overlapping opposing ends to completely hide the foam cup to enhance the visual appearance of the cup. The overlapping portions of the paper wrapper are not bonded to each other to prevent wrinkling of the paper wrapper as the cup shrinks. A machine and corresponding method provide for automatically supplying foam cups and paper wrappers, wrapping the paper wrapped cup, and stacking the wrapped cups.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems and methods for continuously sampling particles from air. In one embodiment, a system for continuously sampling particles from air may include: an airflow system configured to continuously draw air including airborne particles into the system; a photophoretic trap that uses photophoretic forces of a laser beam to trap one or more of the airborne particles from the drawn air; a measurement device configured to measure one or more properties of the trapped one or more airborne particles; and a controller configured to repeatedly trap, measure and release one or more airborne particles.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems and methods for continuously sampling particles from air. In one embodiment, a system for continuously sampling particles from air may include: an airflow system configured to continuously draw air including airborne particles into the system; a photophoretic trap that uses photophoretic forces of a laser beam to trap one or more of the airborne particles from the drawn air; a measurement device configured to measure one or more properties of the trapped one or more airborne particles; and a controller configured to repeatedly trap, measure and release one or more airborne particles.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically assembling a wrapper to a foam cup to form a wrapped foam cup.

Abstract: Systems and methods for collecting particles are provided. A representative system includes an aerosol-into-liquid collector that stores a collection liquid. The aerosol-into-liquid collector also includes a container, a gas inlet, a gas outlet and a source of vacuum pressure such that, when the source of vacuum pressure provides vacuum pressure at the gas outlet, gas with particles entrained therein is drawn into the container through the gas inlet. A well holds a volume of the collection liquid such that at least some of the particles entrained in the gas collide with the collection liquid and adhere thereto. Gas drawn into the container impinges upon an exposed surface of the collection liquid in the well. Forces exerted by the gas do not tend to push the collection liquid out of the well or cause the collection liquid to break into multiple droplets.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically assembling a wrapper to a foam cup to form a wrapped foam cup.

Abstract: A commercially viable paper wrapped foam cup comprising a taper portion that prevents the shrinkage-induced curling from interfering with the un-nesting of nested paper wrapped foam cups. The paper wrapped cup further comprises a fillet for strengthening the cup foot to retard shrinkage-induced curling of the foot. The paper wrapper has abutting to overlapping opposing ends to completely hide the foam cup to enhance the visual appearance of the cup. The overlapping portions of the paper wrapper are not bonded to each other to prevent wrinkling of the paper wrapper as the cup shrinks. A machine and corresponding method provide for automatically supplying foam cups and paper wrappers, wrapping the paper wrapped cup, and stacking the wrapped cups.

Abstract: A method for fluorescence probing of particles flowing in a fluid includes defining a trigger volume in the fluid by intersecting a plurality of substantially orthogonally aimed trigger laser beams, each of a different wavelength, detecting light scattered from the vicinity of the trigger volume by a plurality of particle detectors each sensitive to a wavelength corresponding to the wavelength of a trigger laser beam, probing the particles with a pulsed laser triggered by the particle detectors, collecting fluorescence emitted from the particle in a detection volume and focusing it in a detection region, detecting the fluorescence focused in the detection region. The invention also includes devices for carrying out the foregoing method.

Abstract: The heel of the shoe, sneaker or other footwear is provided with a Velcro patch at the heel, with the Velcro patch having a cut-out window to accommodate an identification tag, label or health information card, with the label in the cut-out and the Velcro attached to the heel of the shoe being overlain with a releasably-attached flap having Velcro which mates with the shoe-mounted Velcro to form a fluid tight seal about the tag or indicia-carrying label, the heel mounting and the Velcro seal preventing the tag from coming loose from the shoe due to the interaction of the Velcro parts and due to the fact that the heel provides the least flexible area and the least wear receiving area for the shoe. The identity of the individual and other information on the tag is obtained from lifting the flap.