Abstract: A new variety of carnation plant producing orange picotee dark pink flowers.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Double Impatiens plant named ‘Balfiecobl’, characterized by its numerous orange-colored fully double flowers; upright and mounded plant habit; and freely basal-branching habit.

Abstract: A distinct cultivar of Astilbe plant named ‘Vision in Pink’, characterized by its upright plant habit; rapid growth rate; dark green leaves; very freely and continuous flowering; and bright pink flowers.

Abstract: Description and specifications of a new and distinct blackberry variety which originated from seed produced by a hand pollinated cross of Arkansas Selection 842 (non-patented) and Arkansas Selection 1246 (non-patented) is provided. This new blackberry variety can be distinguished by its very large fruit size, high fruit yields, erect canes, late ripening, long harvest period, and good postharvest fruit characteristics.

Abstract: The new and distinct daylily plant as substantially shown and described, particularly characterized by its ability to adapt, grow and perform well in a wide range of USDA zones, it's compact growth habit, it's unique near-white blooms, it's above average increase (bunch formation) rate in it's color class, and it's tendency to rebloom late in the season.

Abstract: A distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant named ‘White Moon’, characterized by its upright, mounding and outwardly spreading growth habit; small numerous leaves and large upright inflorescences on long peduncles; vigor; freely branching habit; white-colored ray florets contrasted by dark bluish purple-tipped disc florets and bluish base of ray florets; and numerous inflorescences per plant.

Abstract: A distinct cultivar of Fern plant named ‘Regina’, characterized by its upright and outwardly arching plant habit; relatively compact growth habit; rapid growth rate; durable rachis; numerous pinnae per frond that are dark green, glossy and curly; and closely-spaced pinnae.

Abstract: Description and specifications of a new and distinct blackberry variety which originated from seed produced by a hand pollinated cross of Arkansas Selection 1007 (non-patented) and ‘Navaho’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,679) is provided. This new blackberry variety can be distinguished by its high fruit yields, large fruit size, erect thornless canes, late ripening, prolific fruiting row establishment, and good fruit quality.

Abstract: A new plant variety of chrysanthemum producing reddish-purple daisy-type flowers with many ray florets and a small yellow disc.

Abstract: A distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Yobillings’, characterized by its mostly upright and uniformly mounded plant habit; freely branching habit, very full and dense plants; uniform and early flowering; vigorous and strong plant growth; numerous and very large daisy inflorescences that are about 13.2 cm in diameter when grown as a disbud; white-colored ray florets; slow maturing green-colored disc florets; and good postproduction longevity with inflorescences and leaves maintaining good substance and color for about three weeks in an interior environment.

Abstract: A hood with a depending side wall has vacuum passages formed in the inner surface thereof. An inner shroud positioned internally of the hood cooperates therewith in forming the vacuum passages and has a lower edge elevated above the surface to be cleaned. A foramenous skirt depends from the lower edge of the hood sidewall to contact the surface to be cleaned. The vacuum passages are connected to a source of vacuum. A rotating spray assembly inside the shroud sprays cleaning liquid onto the surface to be cleaned.

Abstract: A filter cartridge according to the present invention is provided having a unitary structure with a pleat pack formed securely about an interior screen. Opposite ends of the pleat pack and interior screen are integrally formed within a bottom end cap and an upper sleeve. The bottom end cap is constructed to follow the couture of the pleat pack to minimize the collection of dust about the bottom perimeter thereof. The upper sleeve is formed of a flexible material which may be manually deformed to pass through an opening in a tube sheet which retains the filter cartridge. The top sleeve comprises a lower lip extending along the interior of the inner screen to securely engage the inner screen. The lower lip is formed integrally with a radially extending ledge which is formed with an upwardly projecting funnel shaped side wall. The side wall includes an inner grove at its upper end which extends about a perimeter of the top sleeve.

Abstract: A method of labeling reusable containers is disclosed. A placard having a release coating on one side is adhesively secured to the container. The placard is transparent with instructional printing applied to one surface. Pressure-sensitive labels are placed on the exposed surface of the placard. The labels contain indicia relating to the status of the container. When the status of the container changes, the label is removed and a new label is substituted on the placard.

Abstract: A fuel filter assembly that provides a constant level of least restricted fuel flow through the fuel filter assembly during the useful life of the filter media by utilizing the least possible amount of filter media to provide the least possible pressure differential over the filter media while also providing a constant level of fuel additive by exposing an amount proportional to the filter media required for the least possible restricted fuel flow. The fuel filter assembly utilizes a vertically upward housing that houses a filter media and a fuel additive. The fuel level slowly rises in the housing as the filter media becomes obstructed with contaminants and as the fuel additive dissolves over the life of the filter media. The top portion of the housing is made of a transparent material so that the level of fuel may be easily determined, thereby allowing for an accurate and simple assessment of the useful life of the filter media and the fuel additive.

Abstract: A point of sale (POS) bar code scanner such as in common use in retail stores includes provision for reading bar coded redemption coupons (or other bar coded documents redeemable for value) in a manner secure from a human operator. Integration of functions between the POS scanner and the coupon reader varies with different embodiments described. Through software associated with bar code decoding logic, a comparison is made between information on a validation coupon and information on items presented for purchase, and a decision is made as to whether the redemption coupon is valid and redeemable in this transaction. In one embodiment, the bar code scanner simply receives the redemption coupon face down on the product scanner window, and integrated decode logic of the scanner identifies the bar code as belonging to a redemption coupon, then makes the comparison and validation of the coupon for the particular transaction.

Abstract: A tubular drill pipe section to be used in a well bore is disclosed. The drill pipe section includes upper and lower tool joints, a main steel tubular portion extending upwardly from the lower joint and terminating near the upper tool joint, and an elongated steel protector tube extending downwardly from the upper tool joint and secured to the upper end of the main portion. The main portion has a much lesser wall thickness throughout substantially its entire length than the protector tube. The protector tube is made of AISI 4100 series chrome-molly steel that is quenched and tempered to give it high strength and high hardness (30-38 HRc) with a Martensite small, close knit, grain size. This hard material reduces the penetration of the slip teeth into the wall of the pipe section and increases the fatigue life of the protector to beyond that of the main steel tubular portion.

Abstract: Apparatus for simulating a candle flame in which the current through the filament of a bulb is varied from a first value to a second value and back to the first value during spaced periods that vary from a period of maximum duration to a period of minimum duration that produces no observable flicker in an apparently random manner.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ocular optics system which forms no intermediate image, is reduced in terms of size and weight with well-corrected aberrations, and is best suited for use on face- or head-mounted image display devices, and provides an ocular optics system 7 comprising three juxtaposed optical surfaces 3, 4 and 5, wherein a space defined by three optical surfaces 3, 4, and 5 is filled with a transparent medium having a refractive index greater than 1, at least two optical surfaces 3 and 4 of these three optical surfaces are defined by curved surfaces concave on a pupil position side of the optics system, and at least four reflections occur between curved surfaces 3 and 4.

Abstract: A loading mechanism of a disc tray onto which recording medium discs such as compact discs, laser discs, or the like are set and which moves between a pull-out position at which the disc tray was pulled out of an outer casing and a pull-in position at which the disc tray was pulled into the outer casing. The engagement between the loading gear and the rack of the disc tray is released just before the pull-in operation of the disc tray is completed and, at the same time, a cam portion formed on the loading gear comes into engagement with the abutted portion of the disc tray, thereby allowing the disc tray to be subsequently pulled in by the pressing motion of the cam portion to the abutted portion. Thus, the pull-in speed of the disc tray can be reduced just before the completion of the pull-in operation of the disc tray and a shock which occurs upon completion of the pull-in operation of the disc tray can be reduced.

Abstract: An easy open package adapted to be heat sealed closed and peelably reopened including a first package wall comprising an outer layer, an inner sealant layer and a tie layer disposed between and peelably bonded to either the inner layer or the outer layer and a second package wall joined about a portion of its perimeter to the first package wall and comprising at least one layer, that layer being a sealant layer having the same composition as the inner sealant layer of the first package wall and disposed adjacent thereto, the sealant layers being heat sealable together to form a bond having a bond strength greater than the bond between the tie layer and the layer to which it is peelably bonded, that bond strength being predetermined by the selection of the compositions of the adjacent layers.

Abstract: A custom-fitted hand protector product, including a multi-layer protective pad for being custom-fitted onto the back of the hand to protect the hand of the wearer between the wrist and the fingers. The protective pad comprises a flexible inner cushion layer for being placed closest to the hand and an initially flexible intermediate layer overlying the inner layer, said intermediate layer comprised of a fabric impregnated with a moisture-curable resin which hardens upon curing to form a rigid structure of the fabric which retains a hand-molded shape into which it is molded during curing, thereby also holding the flexible inner cushion layer in the same hand-defined shape. Releasable attachment devices are attached for retaining the protective pad in an exposed, exterior position on the back of the hand. The product is packaged in a moisture-proof package until immediately prior to use.

Abstract: A fastener for a shin guard mounted on the leg of an athlete including upper and lower bands connected at their ends by diagonal bands, fork bands connecting the outer ends of the upper and lower bands to each other, a band of pile fabric extending outwardly from one of the fork bands, and a band of hook fabric extending outwardly from the other of the fork bands. A combined shin guard and fastener wherein the upper and lower bands are secured to the shin cover. A shin guard fastener consisting of an elongated flexible and resilient band having a central portion with a first attachment member for attaching the central portion to a sock or shin cover, and second and third attachment members on the end portions of the band for attaching the end portions to each other.

Abstract: A fastener for a shin guard mounted on the leg of an athlete including upper and lower bands connected at their ends by diagonal bands, fork bands connecting the outer ends of the upper and lower bands to each other, a band of pile fabric extending outwardly from one of the fork bands, and a band of hook fabric extending outwardly from the other of the fork bands. A combined shin guard and fastener wherein the upper and lower bands are secured to the shin cover. A shin guard fastener consisting of an elongated flexible and resilient band having a central portion with a first attachment member for attaching the central portion to a sock or shin cover, and second and third attachment members on the end portions of the band for attaching the end portions to each other.

Abstract: A mastectomy and shunt coverage assembly for protecting the area of a mastectomy or shunt while showering. The mastectomy and shunt coverage assembly includes a main member with an opening for receiving an arm of the user and an interior edge, the interior edge has a front portion positionable to abut the chest of the user, a back portion positionable to abut the back of the user, and a top portion positionable to abut the shoulder of the user, an adhesive strip is coupled to the main member and adapted for removably affixing the main member to the user forming a moisture proof seal between the interior edge and the user.

Abstract: An improved scarf comprising a back portion having an upper end and a lower end where the chest portion is integrally connected relative to the upper end of the back portion and the neck portion is integrally connected to the chest portion thereby providing coverage of a person's neck, upper chest and back without a conventional knot.

Abstract: A hosiery garment, for example, a stocking, having two openings in a portion thereof that covers the foot of a wearer of the hosiery garment, these two openings in combination defining a thong member, the thong member being selectively positionable between any two toes on the foot of the wearer, and the openings being designed so that, when the hosiery garment is worn, the two openings expose not only the toes of the foot of the wearer, but also other parts of the same foot of the wearer.

Abstract: The invention pertains to protective helmet that has an inflatable liner that is constructed with a multiplicity of cells each separated by constrictions of a narrower cross-section. The liner has a central ring and a plurality of loops extending therefrom adapted to protect various portions of the wearer's skull. The structure of the liner permits the liner to be molded using various molding techniques.

Abstract: An improved retention mechanism for a bicycle helmet is provided. A helmet including a retention mechanism comprises a shell for protecting a head of a person and a fit system elastically coupled to the shell. The fit system comprises a bowl designed to fit an occipital region of the person's head and a hinge for coupling the fit system to the shell, the hinge permitting the fit system to move. The fit system further including a spring element for positioning the bowl against the occipital region of the person's head, to stabilize the helmet against the person's head.

Abstract: A helmet includes a common unlocking member for commonly unlocking a pair of right and left locking mechanisms that lock a subsidiary cap portion at a lower position where it covers the chin of a helmet wearer. A common tractive flexible wire transmits forward unlocking movement of the unlocking member commonly to movable locking members of the pair of right and left locking mechanisms. The intermediate portion of the common tractive flexible wire is engaged by the wire engaging portion of the unlocking member. With this helmet, in spite that the mechanism for unlocking the locked subsidiary cap portion is comparatively simple, the unlocking mechanisms can be operated quickly and smoothly.

Abstract: An automatic toilet cover and seat lifting and lowering device including a motor secured to the cental flange of the toilet. The motor includes a central gear positioned forwardly thereof. A lifting apparatus is coupled with the motor and the toilet seat and toilet cover. The lifting apparatus includes a gear positioned forwardly of and engaged to the central gear of the motor. The gear has a shaft extending laterally therethrough. The shaft has opposed free ends. The opposed free ends each have an elongated arm extending forwardly therefrom. The elongated arms extend within the toilet seat and the toilet cover. An activation switch is disposed adjacent to the toilet. The activation switch is in communication with the motor. The activation switch has a first position for operating the motor in a raising orientation and a second position for operating the motor in a lowering orientation.

Abstract: A manufactured article comprising a upper lid attachment piece (50), protruding member (12), housing unit (22), forward assist springs (40), slide-bolt (18) and handle (20) which is disposed on a toilet bowl, toilet lid and hinge connection points utilizing existing holes and fasteners whereby the user pulls a handle to the rear then lifts the toilet lid to gain access and closes the lid to automatically engage the system, thereby denying access of small children into the toilet bowl.