Abstract: A new and distinct early flowering Petunia plant with reddish-purple colored flowers.

Abstract: A new and distinct flowering Pelargonium plant with abundant red-purple colored flowers.

Abstract: Miniature rose plant having a high petal count and stable light yellow color of its flowers; its high-centered bud form, ease of rooting cuttings and long shelf life as a pot rose.

Abstract: Methods for generating code sequences that have rapid acquisition properties and apparatus which implement the methods by processing spreading codes on in-phase and quadrature channels. A first method combines two or more short codes to produce a long code. This method may use many types of code sequences, one or more of which are rapid acquisition sequences of length L that have average acquisition phase searches r=log2L. Two or more separate code sequences are transmitted over the complex channels. If the sequences have different phases, an acquisition may be done by acquisition circuits in parallel over the different code sequences when the relative phase shift between the two or more code channels is known. When the received length L codes or the length L correlation codes used to find the phase of the received codes have a mutual phase delay of L/2, the average number of tests to find the code phase of the received code is L/4.

Abstract: This invention is directed to compounds of the formula and the pharmaceutically-acceptable salts thereof, where the substituents are as defined in the Specification, which are growth hormone secretogogues and which increase the level of endogenous growth hormone. The compounds of this invention are useful for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis and/or frailty, congestive heart failure, frailty associated with aging, obesity; accelerating bone fracture repair, attenuating protein catabolic response after a major operation, reducing cachexia and protein loss due to chronic illness, accelerating wound healing, or accelerating the recovery of burn patients or patients having undergone major surgery; improving muscle strength, mobility, maintenance of skin thickness, metabolic homeostasis or renal homeostasis.

Abstract: A bib for preventing soil-causing fragments from soiling a garment worn upon a wearer's body. The bib comprises a body-engaging member configured to engage the wearer's body for preventing the soil-causing fragments from soiling the garment worn thereupon. This body-engaging member has upper and lower body regions. A first pouch is formed about the lower body region and is openable towards the upper body region for capturing the soil-causing fragments. Furthermore, a second pouch is formed about the lower body region over the first pouch and is openable away from the upper body region. The second pouch is receivable of the upper body region when folded and deposited thereinto so as to contain the soil-causing fragments and the soiling caused thereby within the bib.

Abstract: A bridging glove for increasing the height of a hand of a user positioned to bridge a pool cue. The bridging glove includes a glove member comprising a perimeter wall defining an interior space of the glove member designed for receiving the hand of the user. The glove member comprises a plurality of finger portions designed for receiving fingers of the hand of the user. One of a plurality of insert members is selectively inserted into each of the finger portions of the glove member. Each of the insert members is positioned in a free end of the associated one of the finger portions of the glove member for being positioned between the fingers and a billiard table for raising the hand above the billiard table when the hand is used to form a bridge for the cue.

Abstract: A head mounted umbrella and a method thereof, which reduces its manufacturing cost and time and is stably held on a user's body without shaking, and which prevents a user's face from getting wet with rain water, and is hung on a hanger, is disclosed. The head mounted umbrella includes a hood part having a front opening, a body covering part manufactured in such a way that a circular basic cloth having a central opening and at least one cut radial portion is prepared, and adjacent radial edges of the basic cloth are coupled to each other to form a skirt shape, and the skirt-shaped cloth is coupled to a lower edge of the hood part, and an annular elastic ring is coupled to an outer peripheral edge of the body covering part by an attaching cloth strip.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an air mask for a helmet of a motorcycle which is selectively detachable by a user of a helmet for protecting a user's head when a user rides a motorcycle, snowmobile, bicycle, etc.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an articulated joint for a pressure vessel, especially a pressure suit, by separately forming a structural fabric and a gas barrier layer into a series of alternating peaks and valleys. The structural fabric can be formed into the three dimensional shape by patterning or heat shrinkage. The resulting articulated joint, pressure vessels and pressurized suits are also described.

Abstract: A dual-flush flapper valve assembly, set for a normally short flush, is provided for use with a pivoting flapper valve in a flush tank. The assembly comprises a weight, which moves back and forth along a guide relative to the flapper's pivot point. The moveable weight, if activated, temporarily reduces the turning moment arm of the flapper for ensuring a long flush. The assembly further comprises an actuator to trap and release the weight, resulting in either a short flush (when the weight is remote from the pivot) or a long flush (when the weight is close to the pivot). The flapper assembly is engageable through a resistance force, for selectively triggering the actuator, shifting the weight and resulting in a long flush. After a long flush the assembly resets for a short flush, until activated once again.

Abstract: A seating apparatus is designed for placing over a standard toilet system. The apparatus includes a chair having a padded backrest, padded arms and a padded seat. A patient accesses the toilet by raising the padded seat that is hinged across the back of the chair. Each of the padded arms includes a plastic side that forms a curved channel on each side of the toilet seat for catching loose items and any possible soil. The apparatus further includes a removable tray/table is mounted on the chair using slots that grip the arms, and a roll-away storage unit that is removably attached to the tray/table or chair.

Abstract: A spa cover remover has a spa cover support including a pair of parallel side bars at opposite respective sides of a spa, the side bars having upper and lower ends, with a crossbar extending between the upper ends of the side bars, a pivot shaft extending between the lower ends of the side bars and rigid connections between the lower end of the side bars and the pivot shaft and between the upper ends of the side bars and the crossbar. The spa cover support is pivotable about the longitudinal axis of the pivot shaft and a resilient connection between the spa cover support and the spa allows pivotation of the spa cover support about that axis to locate the crossbar, with a spa cover folded over the crossbar, in a supporting position offset from above the spa. The crossbar, the pivot shaft and the side arms are each made of telescopically interengaged and adjustable sections to enable the spa cover remover to be adapted to spas of different sizes.

Abstract: A translation device for a mobile wall of a swimming pool, where the pool (10) is four-sided and is equipped, near to its two opposite sides, with two parallel rails (14, 114), being foreseen a mobile wall or bridge (12, 112) which moves along such rails (14, 114) through at least two wheels (16, 116), aligned and positioned on each side end of the mobile wall (12, 112), where, for each side end of the mobile wall (12, 112), at least one of such wheels (16, 116) is moved through a gear.

Abstract: A prefabricated swimming pool including a pool frame having a plurality of vertical frames and horizontal frames connected between the vertical frames, and pool body fabricated from a synthetic resin sheet having a base unit and a circumferential side wall and supported by the pool frame. Storing and carrying of the swimming pool is simple and handy, and there is no possibility that the circumferential side wall is inclined or collapses, ensuring a safe and stable use.

Abstract: An automatic shower and bathtub cleaning device, with no connection to the water supply piping, that directs cleaning fluid through nozzles that are positioned or adjusted to allow coverage of the entire inside surface of the shower or bathtub enclosure. The device consists of a main body, cleaning fluid reservoir, electric pump, nozzles, and a control circuit that allows either local or remote initiation of the device's cleaning cycle operation.

Abstract: This invention relates to convertible furniture. Particularly, it refers to a novel folding mechanism for a bed-sofa, characterized by comprising a two portions structure both corresponding to a seat and a back or to form a flat surface for a bed, comprising such mechanism elongated platens, sliding and fixing plates, folding hinges and a pair of frames or structures corresponding to each one of said portions.

Abstract: A person-transfer device comprises: a stand defining a support polygon; a pole rising vertically from the stand; a rest assembly for the lower limbs of a person, the rest assembly being pivotally mounted on the pole; and a person transfer system adapted to move within the support polygon between an initial position and a final position, which positions are angularly offset relative to each other, the transfer system being mounted on the pole, being provided with a suspension assembly for the upper limbs that is pivotally mounted on the pole to pivot about an axis that is inclined relative to the vertical and that is designed to be placed at a high level so as to turn under the effect of the weight of the suspended person to a low level, thereby enabling the person to be transferred.

Abstract: A support system has an array of telescoping columns that are each extended by a means such as a spring. The ends of the extended columns define a plane of support for a body resting on the array of columns. The columns move perpendicular to the plane of support, and independently, in response to the weight of a body resting upon them. The means for keeping the columns extended may be passive or active, and the columns may be moved independently by actuators connected to them. The columns may be assembled into modules, which can in turn be assembled into support systems of arbitrary size and shape.

Abstract: A mat for use on sand has a lower layer (2) and an upper layer (3). Sand is able to pass through both layers. Sand falling on the upper layer (3) can pass through it and either remain trapped between the two layers or pass through the lower layer (2) to the ground. The perimeters of each layer are preferably sewn together with overlapping tape (4). Suitable materials for the upper layer and lower layer include polypropylene mesh material, particularly shade cloth with a shade rating of approximately 70%. The mat may optionally include a sand-permeable third layer positioned over the upper layer. The third layer may be made from polyvinylchloride-coated nylon mesh material, and may be screen printed.

Abstract: A tray unit is mounted on a rail adjacent to a bed and includes a motor driven tray that can move along the rail. A remote control unit controls operation of the tray so the tray can be moved by a bedridden person into a position convenient for the person.

Abstract: An adjustable padding device for a piece of furniture used for sitting and/or lying upon. The device comprises at least one flat elastically deformable padding element and at least one adjustable supporting device with a base body for supporting the padding element in a flat manner. Adjusting element(s) are provided on the supporting device that are used to adjust the inclination and/or height of at least one part of the supporting device, whereby the padding element is attached to the supporting device and to the adjusting element(s) to form a unit.

Abstract: A nurse robot has a stand and a supporting assembly. The supporting assembly is mounted on the stand and has a seat, a backrest, a leg plate, step plate, a first driving device and a second driving device. The seat is attached to the stand. The backrest is pivotally attached to one end of the seat plate. The leg plate is pivotally attached to the other end of the seat. The step plate is pivotally attached to the other end of the leg plate. The first driving device is attached to the seat to drive the backrest and the leg plate to pivotally rotate relative to the seat. The second driving device is attached to the leg plate to drive the step plate to pivotally rotate relative to the leg plate. Accordingly, a patient can conveniently move to any desired place without any other person's help.

Abstract: A contoured pillow includes a top, a bottom, a front, a back and opposite sides. The front slopes forwardly from bottom-to-top and changes laterally in depth from side-to-side for cradling and supporting the shoulder. A neck support extension projects upwardly from the top and front and provides enhanced neck support due to the sloping configuration of the front. The top includes a recess forming a face relief pocket, right and left jaw relief areas, right and left airways extending from the jaw relief areas to the sides and a cranial support ridge. The pillow is molded from memory foam with thermally responsive characteristic for shaping itself to a particular user in conjunction with the generally concave geometry designed to give way to a generally spherical facial structure.

Abstract: A washing machine is provided with a noise reduction and control system which can sense out of balance and pump starvation conditions. More specifically, a microphone is used in connection with an electronic controller to sense an unbalance or pump starvation condition and alter a washing operation of the machine to counteract the unbalance or pump starvation condition. Additionally, the microphone and controller can respond to voice commands to establish the washing operation for the washing machine.

Abstract: A method and system for providing washing machine operation information.

Abstract: Disclosure is a system and method for automatically aligning an end of a passenger loading bridge with a doorway of an aircraft. A beacon is transmitted from the doorway of the aircraft. The beacon is sensed and from the sensed beacon a direction for moving of the end of the passenger loading bridge is determined. The passenger loading bridge is then moved according to the determined direction. The process is iterated until the docking of the bridge to the aircraft is completed.

Abstract: This application discloses a novel bridge construction for use in affording vehicle and pedestrian traffic over small streams and wetlands. The construction utilizes standardized sizes of pier blocks for supporting standardized deck plates, with interengaging anchor projections and sockets one on the upper ends of the pier blocks and the other on the undersides of the deck plates. Identical sockets also are provided on the bottom ends of the pier blocks for engaging the projections on underlying pier blocks, affording vertical stacking of pier blocks to accommodate varying vertical distances between a stream and an elevated roadway. A V-shaped groove formed by the tapered longitudinal edges of adjacent deck plates, together with a registering outward indentation communicating with the groove, is adapted for filling with a concrete grout, for securing the deck plates against vertical displacement.

Abstract: A paint roller apparatus with edging shield and brush facilitating the painting of a surface (70) that lies adjacent to another surface that is not to be painted contemporaneously. The apparatus comprises a roller cover (58), a shield (22), a brush (28), and a hand grip (20). The brush (28) is affixed to the shield (22), and the shield (22) is connected to a shield arm (34) that is rotatably mounted on the handle (20). The shield arm (34) can rotate between a paint loading position and a paint application position. In the paint loading position, shield arm (34) is rotated away from roller cover (58) about an axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the roller cover (58). Said roller cover can then be immersed in paint without getting any paint on the shield (22). When the shield (22) is in the paint application position, essentially perpendicular and adjacent to the longitudinal axis of the roller (58), said roller may be placed in contact with the surface to be pained (70) and painting may begin.

Abstract: The present invention is an ergonomic paint brush handle including a head section having a shoulder end, a brush end, a brush edge and a shoulder surface, said brush end of said head section for receiving a brush head, and said head section being oriented substantially along a brush plane. The paint brush handle also has a longitudinal handle section oriented substantially along a handle axis, said handle axis and said brush plane are substantially parallel to each other and disposed at an offset distance. The handle also has a transition sections for rigidly connecting said shoulder end of said head section to one end of said handle section. The ergonomic handle is gripped by placing a fore finger along said brush edge, and a thumb on said shoulder surface and said handle section lying in the web of a hand between the fore finger and the thumb, such that when said handle is gripped in a hand said transition section provides relief for the web of a hand.

Abstract: De-dusting brush structure including a patterned body, a connecting body, a brush body and an adjustment member. Two opposite sides of the connecting body are formed with ribs. An engaging flange is formed on lower end of the connecting body. The brush body is fixedly connected with the lower end face of the connecting body. The adjustment member is hollow and has a profile similar to that of the connecting body. An annular rib is formed on inner circumference of open end of the adjustment member. The adjustment member is fitted onto the connecting body and movable along the connecting body, whereby the annular rib of the adjustment member is up and down adjustably engaged with any of the ribs of the connecting body to locate the adjustment member. Accordingly, the volume of the brush body is adjustable and varied with the position of the adjustment member.

Abstract: A drywall knife having a handle and a blade securely mounted thereon. The handle includes an elongated inner core having a longitudinal axis, a transverse axis, a front end, a rear end and first and second opposite surfaces extending from the rear end to the front end of the inner core along the longitudinal axis of the handle, the blade being securely mounted to the front end of the inner core. The improvement resides in that the inner core of the handle includes at least one recess having an opening facing the first surface so as to reduce the overall weight of the drywall knife, and the inner core further includes a lid hingedly mounted to the first surface of the inner core, said lid being positioned and sized to be folded about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the inner core so as to cover each recess. The drywall knife is inherently lightweight due to its design. The drywall knife is mounted onto the blade without the use of fasteners, due to the design of the handle and blade.

Abstract: A wiping device for a motor vehicle has a wiper arm having at least one mounting part and a hinge part articulated on the mounting part, a pulling element which connects the mounting part with the hinge part, the hinge part having substantially a profile with a base and at least one lateral flank, a strip extending from the lateral flank, the pulling element being articulated on the strip, the strip extending from an edge of the lateral flank which faces away from the base and extending toward the base so as to enclose an angle with the lateral flank, the lateral flank forming with at least one region of the strip an angle which is smaller than 45°.

Abstract: A three piece wiper blade mechanism for mounting to a conventional automotive wiper blade assembly featuring an elongated arm having plural pairs of C-configured claw arms for removably attaching to the mechanism. The three piece wiper mechanism comprises a first, elongated plastic housing, preferably permanently received within the claw arms, a second, elongated plastic insert for slidably engaging the first housing, and a rubberized wiper blade element in fixed engagement with the second insert. By the use of plastic sliding on plastic, a new wiper blade element and second insert may be readily inserted into the first plastic housing, especially for the do-it-yourself mechanic.

Abstract: A wiper blade for cleaning a windscreen, in particular, a curved windscreen on a vehicle, has a frame with at least two claws to retain and guide a rubber-like wiper element, where the frame has at least one claw bow with a claw on at least one end of the bow and a pivot at a distance from the claw, where the claw has a contact surface at the claw base pressing on the upper side of the wiper element, where the surface is delimited in the longitudinal direction of the bow by an outer edge and an inner edge and has a maximum length and has claw fingers on the opposite longitudinal sides of the wiper element which capture the rear body forming part of the wiper element or engage longitudinal grooves in the side of the rear body and are delimited in the longitudinal direction by an outer edge and an inner edge, and the contact surface envisages that the claw fingers of at least one claw of the wiper blade are offset in relation to the contact surface in the longitudinal direction of the bow toward the pivot of th

Abstract: An air sweeping apparatus having a head assembly, a debris conveyer and a receptacle. The head assembly includes a front skirt which is selectively positionable away from a surface to be cleaned to enable debris of different densities and sizes to be collected. After the front skirting of the head assembly is moved past debris, the debris becomes entrained within a flow of air formed by a line of pressurized air as it traverses the surface and the interior surface of the main chamber of the head assembly. Preferably the air flow in the head assembly is skewed with respect to the direction of travel to urge the entrained debris towards an output end of the main chamber. When debris reaches the output end of the main chamber it is transported to a debris receptacle by a low pressure conduit which discharges entrained debris into a first hopper or bin.

Abstract: A nozzle unit for an electric vacuum cleaner has a body case with a nozzle open toward a surface to be cleaned, a first pipe coupled to the body case so as to be rotatable in the direction, and a second pipe coupled to the first pipe so as to be rotatable in the direction. A first and a second air flow passage, formed inside the first and second pipes respectively, are arranged substantially in a straight line as seen in a side view. The first pipe has a sliding portion that has an arc-shaped cross section and that slides along the inner surface of the body case, and this sliding portion is arranged inside the body case, which is substantially rectangular, as seen in a plan view.

Abstract: A hinge for a notebook computer is composed of an upper seat, a lower seat, and two arms. The upper seat is rotatably mounted in the lower seat, and the arms are mounted on the upper seat. A monitor of the computer is installed on the arms, and the lower seat is secured on a body of the computer. Therefore, the monitor can be turned about the arms to raise from the body, and turned along with the upper seat about a vertical axis of the lower seat to adjust a visible scope.

Abstract: A dual handle attachment for a floor appliance, e.g., vacuum cleaner, large push broom, mop, squeegee, etc., allows a user of the appliance to manipulate or maneuver the appliance using generally symmetrical upper body, arm, wrist, and hand forces and movements, thereby obviating the need for asymmetrical twisting and the greater strength required to manipulate such a device using only a single arm and hand. The present attachment comprises a single central bracket which attaches to the conventional single handlebar of such an appliance, with a left and a right handgrip adjustably extending from the central bracket. The two handgrips may be pivotally adjusted by the user as desired, and may be interchanged for handgrips having different shapes or configurations as desired. One embodiment may be removably secured to the appliance, with another embodiment providing for permanent attachment as an integral part of the appliance at the time of manufacture.

Abstract: A clamping device includes two jaws each having a hinge end pivotally secured together with a pivot shaft. One of the jaws includes a distal attachment end having a number of teeth, and the other jaw includes a distal attachment end having a pivotal pawl which has a catch biased to engage with either of the teeth of the jaw, and to detachably or openably secure the attachment ends of the jaws together. A spring may bias the catch of the pawl to engage with either of the teeth. A housing may further be secured to the jaw to shield the teeth or the pawl, and to prevent the pawl from being disengaged from the teeth inadvertently.

Abstract: By inserting at least one cable connecting two or more electronic devices (communication, audio, display, input/output, or other) into a clip that joins the cable(s) to a log detailing the cable's connections, subsequent maintenance of and changes to that connection are made simpler and more efficient. The preferred approach inserts one end of each connecting cable into a clip having a socket for a detachable log; a second approach connects the clip to an already-attached cable. The detachable log keeps the functional information concerning each cable, and its connections, held by said clip, including the physical characteristics, functional purpose, and details of the other end(s) attachment(s) and target(s). Another function of said clip permits more stable and easily-handled insertion or removal of one or more cable(s) from the device to which it is or they are attached.

Abstract: A connect-release zipping system basically comprising four zipper tracks, four zipper sliders on the zipper tracks, and a central connector to which the zipper sliders are affixed. The zipper sliders are fixed to the central connector in such a way that when one of the zipper sliders moves along its respective zipper track, all of the other zipper sliders simultaneously move along their respective zipper tracks. This simultaneous movement causes two zipper tracks to zip together, and two zipper tracks to unzip. The connect-release zipping system may be incorporated into a sleeping bag to allow the bag to easily transform into a jumpsuit.

Abstract: In a slide fastener made of fabric having a stopper portion composed of thermoplastic synthetic resin material, the fastener tape contains a rough-pattern-structure region at least adjacent to a side of the fastener element row on an inner side of the fastener tape. An end portion of the stopper portion on the inner side of the fastener tape is disposed in the rough-pattern-structure region and fused to a foundation structure of the fastener tape in the rough-pattern-structure region. Thus, even if the length of the stopper portion in the tape width direction is short, the stopper portion does not interfere with a sewing machine foot during sewing, so that the sewing line does not meander even at the position near the fastener element row. Further, the end portion of the stopper portion can be fused and fixed to the foundation structure of the rough-pattern-structure region.

Abstract: A releasable fastener system comprises a loop portion and a hook portion. The loop portion includes a support and a loop material disposed on one side thereof whereas the hook portion includes a support and a plurality of closely spaced upstanding hook elements extending from one side thereof. When the hook portion and loop portion are pressed together they interlock to form a releasable engagement. The resulting joint created by the engagement is relatively resistant to shear and pull forces and weak in peel strength forces. The hook elements comprise a magnetic material that provides a change in shape orientation of the hook elements in response to an activation signal. In this manner, the shape orientation of the hook elements can be remotely changed to provide a reduction or magnification in the shear and/or pull-off forces.

Abstract: A clamp pad-body assembly that resists a separation of the clamp pad from the clamp body due to externally applied forces. The clamp body has a peripheral surface that has a height that is greater than the height of the exterior perimeter surface of the pad, and the exterior perimeter surface of the pad abuts the perimeter surface of a recess in the clamp body. The clamp pad-body assembly my be incorporated into a clothes hanger including two such clamps disposed at the ends of a beam coupled to a question-mark-shaped hook.

Abstract: A buckle device in which it can be detected whether or not a tongue plate inserted into a case is locked, and in which reliability of such detection is high. In the buckle device, a magnetic plate is provided at a leg portion which moves together with the tongue plate which is inserted into an interior of the case. Changes in orientation of a magnetic field of a magnet of a sensing section, which orientation varies due to the magnetic plate approaching and moving away from the magnet, are detected at an MRE sensor.

Abstract: A stud snap system includes a pin, a receiver, and a stud. The receiver fixedly engages with the pin and also fixedly engages with the stud to attach of the stud snap system to a material. The material can include apparel, clothing, sportswear, outdoor gear, fabrics, coverings, and textiles. Use of the receiver affords a large selection of options for materials and geometries to be used for the stud since the pin is not directly engaged with the stud.

Abstract: A cap panel insert which is usable in dish assemblies of both cut top and full top caskets. A dish assembly adapted to be positioned in a lid of a full top casket comprises a cap panel sized and configured to fit within the full top casket lid and puffing members attached to the panel around its periphery, a first cap panel insert overlying the cap panel, and second and third cap panel inserts positioned at opposite longitudinal ends of the first cap panel insert and overlying the cap panel. The first cap panel insert is sized and configured to fit within a dish assembly of a cut top casket.

Abstract: A rail wheel set extractor apparatus and method for extracting, transporting, and installing rail wheel sets is disclosed. The apparatus has a frame with a support system adapted to straddle a rail wheel of a rail wheel set. The apparatus includes an attachment system which is adapted to operatively attach the frame to the rail wheel and a member which prevents rotation and movement of the rail wheel.

Abstract: The invention is a brake disk and a method of producing the same. The brake disk has at least one friction ring which can be engaged by a brake shoe on at least one side. The friction ring is divided into at least two ring segments having mutually facing end areas configured to be coupled with one another adjacent a junction and separation area. A separation gap is formed between the mutually facing end areas, which mesh with one another. At least one connection device is positioned in the junction and separation area for coupling the ring segments together.