Abstract: A swimming pool cleaner discharges water jets under the cleaner body, directed toward its center from its sides, to agitate and lift debris toward one or more vacuum intake openings, to greatly enhance the cleaning ability of the cleaner. The suspended dirt and debris become semi-buoyant under the force of the jetted water which is preferably moving in the same direction as the cleaner, so that the relative speed between the cleaner and the suspended dirt and debris is reduced, thereby enabling the cleaner to move at a relatively faster rate and still clean with equivalent or even greater efficiency than a pool cleaner that is not equipped with directional cleaning water jets. In addition, displaced front and back orientations of the intake ports allow for longer time for any dirt and debris to be picked up.

Abstract: A pool or tank cleaner that is propelled by means of one or more water jets is directed in one or more predetermined systematic scanning patterns of either straight, curvilinear, or combinations of both, by an apparatus and method that controls and varies the directional discharge of one or more water jets that propel the cleaner in its translational movement. The direction of the discharge of the propelling water jet is changed by mechanical sensors, electrical sensors, or by interrupting the water pump. Further variations in the direction of translational movement of the cleaner are effected by activating at least one retractable depending member to periodically contact the pool surface below the moving cleaner, thereby causing the cleaner to pivot or otherwise change direction.

Abstract: A robotic pool or tank cleaner is supported by wheels that are mounted on fixed or movable axles that form an acute angle with the longitudinal axis of the pool cleaner's body when the cleaner moves in either or both of two opposing directions to thereby provide a variable path as the device moves back and forth across the bottom surface of the pool or tank that is being cleaned.

Abstract: Polymer materials are described that undergo a two-level three-dimensional crosslinking process. During this process, hydrophilic polymers are crosslinked at two levels, the first results in a low level of crosslinking which leads to a toughening of the layer preventing dissolution by the fountain solution but with the layer remaining hydrophilic. The second level of crosslinking is higher and is the result of exposure to a laser diode thermal imaging device. The crosslinking at this second level results in a loss of hydrophilicity and provides instead an oleophilic image capable of accepting and transferring oil-based ink. The polymer materials are particularly useful in lithographic printing systems where they may used in articles such as a printing plate comprising a substrate having coated thereon a layer that becomes less hydrophilic upon exposure to thermal energy (e.g.

Abstract: A swimming pool cleaner discharges water jets under the cleaner body, directed toward its center from its sides, to agitate and lift debris toward one or more vacuum intake openings, to greatly enhance the cleaning ability of the cleaner. The suspended dirt and debris become semi-buoyant under the force of the jetted water which is preferably moving in the same direction as the cleaner, so that the relative speed between the cleaner and the suspended dirt and debris is reduced, thereby enabling the cleaner to move at a relatively faster rate and still clean with equivalent or even greater efficiency than a pool cleaner that is not equipped with directional cleaning water jets. In addition, displaced front and back orientations of the intake ports allow for longer time for any dirt and debris to be picked up.

Abstract: A toy for a cat, which comprises a simulated mouse with a simulated cheese face, presents a continuous attraction for a cat because of the movable nature of the simulated mouse which is propelled during operation of the toy to appear in various locations relative to the simulated cheese face.

Abstract: A toy for a cat, which comprises a simulated mouse with a simulated cheese face, presents a continuous attraction for a cat because of the movable nature of the simulated mouse which is propelled during operation of the toy to appear in various locations relative to the simulated cheese face.

Abstract: A robotic pool or tank cleaner is supported by wheels that are mounted on fixed or movable axles that form an acute angle with the longitudinal axis of the pool cleaner's body when the cleaner moves in either or both of two opposing directions to thereby provide a variable path as the device moves back and forth across the bottom surface of the pool or tank that is being cleaned.

Abstract: A pool or tank cleaner that is propelled by means of one or more water jets is directed in one or more predetermined systematic scanning patterns of either straight, curvilinear, or combinations of both, by an apparatus and method that controls and varies the directional discharge of one or more water jets that propel the cleaner in its translational movement. The direction of the discharge of the propelling water jet is changed by mechanical sensors, electrical sensors, or by interrupting the water pump. Further variations in the direction of translational movement of the cleaner are effected by wheels and/or axles that are adjustably mounted to respond to changes in the translational movement of the cleaner.

Abstract: A submersible self-propelled pool or tank cleaner that includes a pair of moving driven endless belts or drive tracks is provided with moving side-projecting elements that extend from either the moving drive track or the drive wheels, or both, in order to contact the side wall of the pool and other projecting structural elements in the pool, to thereby prevent the stationary structural elements of the pool cleaner from being damaged by scraping the side of the pool and to prevent the hard plastic of the cleaner housing from damaging light-weight swimming pool liners. The drive track or belt is provided with raised transverse rib members that terminate in a tip that projects beyond the edge of the belt and extends beyond the projected line of structural elements along the side of the pool cleaner.

Abstract: An aquarium fountain for the improved circulation in a cascading manner of a fixed quantity of particulate matter such as sand. The fountain includes a housing having a receptacle for containing and receiving the fixed quantity of sand. The housing includes an air lift tube having an inlet end in communication with the particulate matter to be circulated and an outlet end out of which the particulate matter is expelled. The outlet end of the air lift tube extends into an upper chamber of the housing. The upper chamber is configured to have an air pocket located between the outlet end and an air escape opening located in a wall of the housing.

Abstract: A self-contained, manually propelled pool cleaner moves on wheels positioned inboard of the housing, the wheels being supported by axles that extend laterally across the entire width of the housing and are secured at their ends to the side walls and along their length to the lower periphery of the front and rear walls to provide structural integrity and rigidity to the housing. The base plate is provided with pivoting brushes extending diagonally across the direction of travel to move debris towards the intake ports for entrainment in a disposable filter bag. A pivoting off-set connector permits the operator to control the direction of movement by axially twisting the handle while pushing or pulling the cleaner. Electrical power to operate the water pump(s) is supplied from an airtight floating battery case that is tethered to the pool cleaner.

Abstract: The invention relates to a combination useful for the substitution of bone defects having pathologically developed or being artificially established as well as compositions containing these combinations. The combinations of the invention preferably contain in a weight ratio of 1:9 to 9:1, most preferably 1:1 porous hydroxylapatite and/or tricalcium phosphate in relation to 7-isopropoxyisoflavone.

Abstract: An apparatus for skimming the surface of body of liquid includes a hollow support member and an tubular collector member having a top opening and vertically slidable in the support member and connected to the suction input of a centrifugal pump. The support member either floats in the liquid body or is supported on the floor of the liquid body and is at a level that, in the dormant condition of the apparatus, the collector member opening is slightly above the liquid surface. Upon actuation of the pump, the suction lowers the collector member and draws the surface water over the edge of the collector member which may be covered by a filter bag for retaining debris.

Abstract: A novel 1,1,2-triphenylpropene derivative, namely: ##STR1## acts on the endocrine system of rats. It exerts oestrogenic or antioestrogenic effects of varying strength in rats, and furthermore inhibits the growth of the mammary tumor induced by 7,12-dimethyl-benz(a)anthracene in rats.

Abstract: A puzzle device includes a hub with six orthogonally related square sockets, six mutually spaced circular retainers having inner and outer faces lying in spherical planes spaced from and concentric with the hub and coupled to respective sockets by square shanks, seven triangular slide members slidably underlying and bridging adjacent retainers and having outwardly projecting triangular shanks, an interlocking member having three ribs each of which is anchored in one of the recesses in the retainer, and three tongues each of which releasably engages recesses formed in the slide member peripheries and face members connected to the triangular shanks and having outside faces forming a regular three dimensional figure when the slide, retainer and interlocking member are in interlocked condition. The face members may have many different shapes, for example square, triangular, flattened spherical quadrants and form respectively different configurations.

Abstract: An electrically driven pump (10) for circulating liquid in a fish tank (16) or the like comprises a stator (32); an impeller-rotor assembly (80) comprising a shaft (82), a magnetic rotor (84) mounted on the shaft (82) for rotation in response to the electromagnetic field produced by the stator (32), and an impeller (100) rotatable with the rotor (84); and a housing (50, 60) disposed adjacent the stator (32) and defining a chamber for supporting the impeller-rotor assembly (80), the housing having inlet (44) and outlet (70) openings, one of the openings (70) being spaced from one end of the impeller-rotor assembly (80), the housing (50, 60) also defining a connecting channel (66) communicating the one opening (70) with the one end of the assembly (80) for bathing the one end of the assembly (80) in liquid.

Abstract: Time-release pharmaceutical compositions, suitable for oral administration, are disclosed, which comprise as active ingredient 50 to 70% by weight of a compound of the formula (I) ##STR1## or the formula (Ia) ##STR2## wherein R is hydrogen or --CH.sub.2 COOH,R.sup.1 is hydrogen or alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms,R.sup.2 is alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, alkoxycarbonyl having 2 to 5 carbon atoms, carbamoly or ureido,R.sup.3 is hydrogen or methyl, and the dotted line stands for two hydrogens or another bond, or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition or quaternary ammonium salt thereof, and which further include 4 to 8% by weight of a hydrophobic substance with a great specific surface;7 to 12% by weight of a lipoid;8 to 12% by weight of a polyoxy compound;4 to 9% by weight of a binding agent; and0.5 to 4% by weight of an acid stabilizer.