Abstract: An energy-absorbing system includes a tube made of a continuous material, such as heat-treatable steel. The tube has first and second ring sections connected by an intermediate section. In one aspect, the intermediate section is flared and/or pinched to cause one tube section to predictably telescopingly roll upon impact. In another aspect, one section is annealed to optimize elongation and yield properties to facilitate rolling upon impact. By this arrangement, upon the bumper system receiving a longitudinal impact, the first and second ring sections telescopingly collapse with a predictable and consistent rolling collapse. Methods related to the above are also described.

Abstract: A board game in which two opposing playing pieces battle each other using various weapons and cards to enhance a player's chance of winning the battle. The players determine which weapons to place or stack with each of their own playing pieces. In each turn or battle, an attacking playing piece can play weapons or cards against an opposing playing piece until one of the playing pieces loses the battle or until the attacking playing piece no longer desires to play weapons or can no longer move. The playing piece that loses the battle is eliminated and removed from the playing surface, but its unused weapons remain on the playing surface. An opposing playing piece or another playing piece on the same team as the eliminated playing piece can then attempt to retrieve and use the weapons of the eliminated playing piece.

Abstract: A dispenser is provided. The dispenser has a reservoir for storing a liquid or solid material. The dispenser may have a piezoelectric valve or pump located in an opening of the reservoir for regulating dispensing of the material. Alternatively, the dispenser may have a piezoelectric inchworm that directly or indirectly propels the material against or out of the opening. The opening may deposit the material directly or indirectly on the surface of an animal, or under the animal's skin. The dispenser also has means for being attached to the surface of the animal. Alternatively, the dispenser may be placed inside the animal.

Abstract: An accessory for a vehicle having a wheel with spokes includes a vibratory member configured to be vibrated by the spokes of a rotating wheel; and a main body supporting the vibratory member on the vehicle, where the main body includes an identity plate.

Abstract: An energy-absorbing system includes a tube made of a continuous material, such as heat-treatable steel. The tube has first and second ring sections connected by an intermediate section. In one aspect, the intermediate section is flared and/or pinched to cause one tube section to predictably telescopingly roll upon impact. In another aspect, one section is annealed to optimize elongation and yield properties to facilitate rolling upon impact. By this arrangement, upon the bumper system receiving a longitudinal impact, the first and second ring sections telescopingly collapse with a predictable and consistent rolling collapse. Methods related to the above are also disclosed.

Abstract: A process, apparatus, and kit for horizontally assembling a cryogenic pump with an apparatus generally including a workstand, a plurality of support stands longitudinally spaced apart from the workstand and a roller transport structure. The kit includes the apparatus and a beam crane for attachment to the apparatus for assembling and disassembling the cryogenic pump at the point of use.

Abstract: An intraruminal device is provided for the time release dispensation of a medicament to a ruminant. The device has no metal parts which may damage slaughterhouse equipment or injure a human upon consumption of ground meat from a ruminant from which the device was not properly removed. The device may use a nonmetallic bladder assembly having a to supply a compressive force to the medicament matrix to keep the matrix abutted against the first end of the device. The device may also use a piston to create a fluid-tight seal allowing part of the device to be pressurized, allowing the piston to provide a compressive force to the medicament matrix. The matrix surface at the first end is exposed to ruminal juices for dissolution of the matrix and dispensation of the medicament into the rumen.

Abstract: An inhalation-activated inhalator having a primary inhalation passage and a secondary inhalation passage disposed in communication with the primary inhalation passage and a source of medicament. The primary inhalation passage has airflow inhibiting mechanism connected to a blocking plate positioned to selectively block fluid flow in the secondary inhalation passage. As the user's inhalation reaches a defined rate, the flow inhibiting mechanism restricts flow through the primary inhalation passage and moves the blocking plate to enable airflow through the secondary passage. Thus, as the user achieves a desired inhalation rate, the medicament is provided through the secondary inhalation passage, thereby optimizing the delivery of medicament to the lungs.

Abstract: An inhalation-activated inhalator having a primary inhalation passage and a secondary inhalation passage disposed in communication with the primary inhalation passage and a source of medicament. The primary inhalation passage has airflow inhibiting mechanism connected to a blocking plate positioned to selectively block fluid flow in the secondary inhalation passage. As the user's inhalation reaches a defined rate, the flow inhibiting mechanism restricts flow through the primary inhalation passage and moves the blocking plate to enable airflow through the secondary passage. Thus, as the user achieves a desired inhalation rate, the medicament is provided through the secondary inhalation passage, thereby optimizing the delivery of medicament to the lungs.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a transport packet stream having an output formatted as an ASI group having a plurality of short and long ASI packets in a fixed sequence. The short and long ASI packet each have an associated transport packet and a fixed number of special idle characters and the transport packets are dispersed among the special idle characters.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a transport packet stream having an output formatted as an ASI group having a plurality of short and long ASI packets in a fixed sequence. The short and long ASI packet each have an associated transport packet and a fixed number of special idle characters and the transport packets are dispersed among the special idle characters.

Abstract: A method for seamlessly splicing a local commercial segment into an existing network time slot, without decoder buffer overflow or underflow. The vbv_delay of the commercial segment is manipulated (e.g., for a minimum delay or a maximum delay). The pictures from the commercial segment are output for at least a portion of the associated network time slot duration. A determination is made regarding the number of pictures remaining in a stored portion of the incoming network feed or the commercial segment and the output rate is adjusted as required. The vbv_delay of the stored network feed or the vbv_delay of the local commercial segment is adjusted to match the vbv_delay of the incoming network feed.

Abstract: An inhalation-activated inhalator having a primary inhalation passage and a secondary inhalation passage disposed in communication with the primary inhalation passage and a source of medicament. The primary inhalation passage has airflow inhibiting mechanism connected to a blocking plate positioned to selectively block fluid flow in the secondary inhalation passage. As the user's inhalation reaches a defined rate, the flow inhibiting mechanism restricts flow through the primary inhalation passage and moves the blocking plate to enable airflow through the secondary passage. Thus, as the user achieves a desired inhalation rate, the medicament is provided through the secondary inhalation passage, thereby optimizing the delivery of medicament to the lungs.

Abstract: An illumination technique and system employing an optical waveguide to transmit light from a source, typically a light emitter which operates at high temperature, to a light head which creates a desired light dispersion pattern. The light head includes a member which emulates the light source and the emitted light is coupled from the source into the optical waveguide by a compact and efficient columnator comprising a pair of dissimilar three dimensional reflectors and a lens.

Abstract: An inhalation-activated inhalator having a primary inhalation passage and a secondary inhalation passage disposed in communication with the primary inhalation passage and a source of medicament. The primary inhalation passage has airflow inhibiting mechanism connected to a blocking plate positioned to selectively block fluid flow in the secondary inhalation passage. As the user's inhalation reaches a defined rate, the flow inhibiting mechanism restricts flow through the primary inhalation passage and moves the blocking plate to enable airflow through the secondary passage. Thus, as the user achieves a desired inhalation rate, the medicament is provided through the secondary inhalation passage, thereby optimizing the delivery of medicament to the lungs.

Abstract: LED arrays which reinforce the printed message are incorporated in hand held warning signs. Power for the LED arrays is provided by a rechargeable battery included within the base on which the sign is rotatably supported from the ground.

Abstract: The invention provides an agglomerate composition composed of units of aggregated fine particles and methods for its manufacture and use. The agglomerate composition units are composed of fine particles having a mean particle size in the range of 1 .mu.m to 5 .mu.m, and usually includes a medicament powder. The agglomerate units have a mean size in the range from 200 .mu.m to 500 .mu.m and have a friability index in the range from about 10 to 60.