Abstract: Disclosed is a dasher-boards assembly with capability to absorb impacts of players crashing into the boards. The glass pane surmounting the boards can tip away from the ice, against a spring, and then resiliently return to its normal (upright) position. The spring is a bar-spring, which not only is deflectable to provide the resilience, but also has the capability to support and position the pane with respect to the dasher-board. The bar-spring can be used when the pane is flush-mounted with respect to the dasher-board, or when the pane is set-back from the ice-side of the dasher-board.

Abstract: A buffer comprising a first, elongate buffer element that is moveably received within the interior of a second, elongate, hollow buffer element such that the first and second buffer elements overlap over part of their length, such that the buffer elements define a hollow interior of the buffer and such that at an end of the buffer at least the second buffer element is exposed for engagement with a respective, further member, the first and second buffer elements being moveable between a first, extended or intermediate configuration of the buffer and a second, compressed configuration, compression of the buffer more energetically than a threshold energy level causing the first buffer element to energise a non-recoverable energy absorbing member, forming part of the buffer or capsule, to cause deformation of one or more plastically deformable parts of the buffer, characterised in that the non-recoverable energy absorbing member lies between the ends of the buffer at least in the region energised by the first buf

Abstract: A system to reduce or eliminate the sill of dasher boards on the play area side of a transparent plane is disclosed. The system features spacers and extensions which support the transparent panes in a more inward position. The system can be installed initially or used to retrofit an arena. The system is suitable for straight and curved-corner portions of the boards assembly. The system is suitable for use with panes of tempered glass or of transparent plastic.

Abstract: A slide for use in a single screw compressor is disclosed. The screw compressor is arranged to vent the flutes of its main rotor at all times, without having to provide a check valve in the discharge port of the main rotor casing. An additional outlet port in the casing vents gas from the discharge ends of the flutes into the body of the slide instead of to the discharge port. The vented gas is guided to an exit port of the slide, from where it can reach either the discharge port or the bypass port of the casing at all times during use of the compressor and under all loading conditions. The design of the disclosed slide further allows the use of an offset discharge port in the casing, in relation to the main rotor.

Abstract: A system to reduce or eliminate the sill of dasher boards on the play area side of a transparent plane is disclosed. The system features spacers and extensions which support the transparent panes in a more inward position. The system can be installed initially or used to retrofit an arena. The system is suitable for straight and curved-corner portions of the boards assembly. The system is suitable for use with panes of tempered glass or of transparent plastic.

Abstract: A portable barbecue has generally planar front and rear panels hingedly coupled together at their lower ends and openable to form a generally V-sectioned trough. A grill is mountable between the front and rear panels to support food to be cooked by heating elements selected from solid fuel, gas burners and electric elements and located beneath the grill in the trough. A stand is adapted to support the trough above a support surface. The stand has front and rear legs at each end of the trough. These legs are hingedly connected at their upper ends and adapted to be opened out to form an inverted V configuration. The legs are hingedly coupled to ends of the front and rear panels at positions below the hinged connection between the legs and above the hinged connection between the front and rear panels so that the panels and legs can open and close together in lazy-tongs fashion.

Abstract: The present invention provides protein-based biomarkers and biomarker combinations that are useful in qualifying Chagas disease status in a patient. In particular, the biomarkers of this invention are useful to classify a subject sample as infected with Chagas disease or non-infected. The biomarkers can be detected by SELDI mass spectrometry.

Abstract: A single screw compressor is arranged to vent the flutes of its main rotor at all times, without having to provide a check valve in the discharge port of the main rotor casing. An additional outlet port in the casing vents gas from the discharge ends of the flutes into the body of a slide instead of to the discharge port. The vented gas is guided to an exit port of the slide, from where it can reach either the discharge port or the bypass port of the casing at all times during use of the compressor and under all loading conditions. The design of the slide further allows the use of an offset •? discharge port in the casing, in relation to the main rotor. This means that pressure acting through the discharge port in use of the compressor tends to press the slide against another structure than the main rotor, for instance a bearing housing, giving better support to the slide. The slide also provides an improved oil delivery arrangement.

Abstract: A film scanner of the type which uses diffuse illumination and an array sensor such as a line array or area array CCD includes an integrating optical element in the form of an integrating sphere to provide diffuse illumination to film. The diffuse illumination ensures that light is provided to film at a range of angles thereby improving the light level reaching the array sensor from film that has been scattered by defects such as scratches thereby reducing the visibility of such defects. A lens is provided at the exit aperture of the integrating sphere so as to define a particular area of the surface within the integrating sphere from which light that is not scattered by film is derived. The area has a lower reflectivity than the remainder of the integrating sphere thereby increasing the amount of light derived from scratches that reaches the sensor to further reduce the visibility of scratches.

Abstract: Coloring apparatus comprises a first marker pen having a housing including an absorbent nib containing a liquid or dye of a first color, and a second marker pen having a housing including an absorbent nib containing a liquid or dye of a second color. The housings of the marker pens are dimensioned and shaped to engage opposing end portions of a tubular docking member with their absorbent nibs spaced one from the other. Means are provided to enable relative movement to take place between the pens while in position within the docking member thereby causing the absorbent nibs selectively to make contact with one another within the docking member and to be released from such contact.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying a mark to a substrate, the apparatus comprising a housing (10) for containing a reservoir of marker fluid, a marker fluid retaining nib (12) protruding from one end of the housing and drawing marker fluid from the reservoir, the nib having a marking surface (18,20) contoured by one or more recesses (14) or protrusions, whereby, when the marking surface (18,20) is applied to a substrate an uneven distribution of marker fluid is deposited from the nib (12) onto the substrate resulting in a non uniform mark.

Abstract: An apparatus for enabling a liquid or dye to be conveyed from a nib of a source of liquid or dye to a fluid absorbent nib of a market pen. The apparatus includes a tubular docking member having the source and the nib of the source at a first end and an open portion at a second end configured to receive and engage an end of the marker pen including the nib of the marker pen selectively to be placed in contact with the nib of the source to cause liquid or dye to pass between the nib of the source and the nib of the marker pen. The liquid may comprise a translucent liquid such as water and the dye may comprise an indicator such as a water-based ink containing colored dyes, dispersed pigments or other coloring media.

Abstract: An apparatus for enabling a liquid or dye to be conveyed from a nib of a source of liquid or dye to a fluid absorbent nib of a marker pen. The apparatus includes a tubular docking member having the source and the nib of the source at a first end and an open portion at a second end configured to receive and engage an end of the marker pen including the nib of the marker pen, the length of the docking member being such as to enable the nib of the marker pen selectively to be placed in contact with the nib of the source to cause liquid or dye to pass between the nib of the source and the nib of the marker pen. The liquid may comprise a translucent liquid such as water and the dye may comprise an indicator such as a water-based ink containing colored dyes, dispersed pigments or other coloring media.

Abstract: The present invention provides protein-based biomarkers and biomarker combinations that are useful in qualifying babesia status in a patient. In particular, the biomarkers of this invention are useful to classify a subject sample as infected with babesia or not infected with babesia. The biomarkers can be detected by SELDI mass spectrometry.

Abstract: A valve comprises a housing (1) having an inlet (4) and an outlet (5), and a pressure sensing port (8). A piston (6) slides in a part (3) of the housing (1) in response to a difference between a first fluid pressure at the pressure sensing port on the one side of the piston, and a second fluid pressure at the inlet and/or outlet on the other side of the piston (6). A valve member (7) carried by the piston is operable thereby to close the inlet (4) when said second fluid pressure is less than a value sufficiently greater than said first fluid pressure. The valve member (7) is movable with respect to the piston (6) to facilitate closing of the inlet (4), in response to a fluid flow from the housing (1) to the inlet (4), when the piston is not acting to close the inlet.

Abstract: In a method of repairing a scroll compressor, the casing 100 of the compressor is cut open by making two transverse cuts through the casing to give access to the internal components of the compressor. The casing 100 is then resealed, using two annular reinforcing structures 300, one at each cut, to conserve the dimensions of the casing 100. This allows a scroll compressor to be repaired and re-assembled without losing the fine positioning of internal components which are held in place by the casing 100. Each annular reinforcing structure 300 comprises a ring 310 with an outwardly directed flange 305. The flange 305 has a thickness chosen to conserve the dimensions of the re-assembled casing while allowing single-pass welding and the ring 310 has a length which is chosen to provide at least location of the cut surfaces of the casing 100 during re-assembly and, optionally, shielding to prevent weld pool, slag or splatter entering the canister 100.

Abstract: Authentication and access control device (104) includes a first security key sub-system (110, 112, 114, 116, 118). The first security key sub-system is responsive to an input signal for providing a first key code required for permitting a user access to a controlled resource. The device advantageously can also include a second security key sub-system (110, 112, 114, 116, 118) for providing a second key code different from the first key code. The second key code can be for authenticating the user or can be otherwise useful for secure use of a particular controlled resource (102).