Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Carnation plant named ‘Classica’, characterized by its compact, upright and rounded plant habit; freely basal branching habit; freely flowering habit; and red purple-colored flowers.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant named ‘David's Lavender’, characterized by its upright plant habit; columnar plant form; vigorous growth habit; large inflorescences with numerous lavender-colored flowers; long flowering period; good garden performance; and resistant to Powdery Mildew.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe plant named ‘Taylor’, characterized by its numerous multi-petalled red purple-colored flowers; upright, uniform and compact plant habit; freely branching growth habit; green-colored glossy leaves; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Dekpeso’, characterized by its large anemone-type inflorescences with elliptic-shaped, white-colored ray florets and yellowish green-colored disc florets; strong, upright and freely branching flowering stems; early and uniform flowering response; and good postproduction longevity.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Myosotis plant named ‘Unforgettable’, characterized by its outwardly spreading to prostrate plant habit; freely branching growth habit; variegated leaves; and numerous bright blue-colored flowers.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant named ‘USPHLOTM6’, characterized by its upright and outwardly spreading plant habit; vigorous growth habit; attractive white-colored flowers; freely and continuous flowering habit; and good garden performance.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Phygelius plant named ‘Passionate’, characterized by its upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; freely flowering habit; dark green-colored foliage; and large bright red-colored flowers.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Helleborus plant named ‘HGC Jacob’, characterized by its compact and mounded plant habit; dark green-colored leaves; and white to light green-colored flowers.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Aconitum plant named ‘Cloudy’, characterized by its upright plant habit; thick and strong flowering stems; freely flowering habit; and light blue and white bi-colored flowers.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria plant named ‘Natalie’, characterized by its upright, compact and mounded plant habit; durable and long-lasting leaves; freely flowering habit; large umbels with white and red-colored flowers; and good postproduction longevity.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Jeanny White’, characterized by its decorative pompon-type inflorescences with elongated oblong-shaped, white-colored ray florets; strong and upright flowering stems; freely flowering habit; early and uniform flowering response; and good postproduction longevity.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant named ‘Lanaca’, characterized by its upright, somewhat outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; inflorescences with pale yellow-colored ray florets; and tolerance to high temperatures.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant named ‘Lanaflo’, characterized by its compact, upright, somewhat outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; inflorescences with bright yellow-colored ray florets tinged with orange at the apices; and tolerance to high temperatures.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant named ‘Lanapal’, characterized by its compact, upright, somewhat outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; inflorescences with soft pink-colored ray florets; and tolerance to high temperatures.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant named ‘Lanavalia’, characterized by its compact, upright, somewhat outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; inflorescences with soft orange yellow-colored ray florets; and tolerance to high temperatures.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Serginho’, characterized by its upright, outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; freely branching growth habit; early response time; decorative-type inflorescences with elliptic-shaped ray florets; light yellow-colored ray florets; and good postproduction longevity.

Abstract: An asexually reproduced variety of perennial zoysiagrass with a unique combination of morphological characters including medium leaf blade width, cool-season brown patch resistance, and absence of leaf hairs.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of rose plant named ‘Evera 141’, characterized by its upright and rounded plant habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; large fully double red-colored flowers; flowers held upright on strong and erect peduncles; and good postproduction longevity.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant named ‘Wesosora’, characterized by its upright, compact and mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; freely and continuous flowering habit; and inflorescences with bright orange-colored ray florets.

Abstract: A calla lily plant particularly distinguished by orange flowers and sagittate leaves is described.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Mona Lisa Cream’, characterized by its double anemone-type inflorescences with elliptic-shaped, creamy white-colored ray florets; strong and upright flowering stems; freely flowering habit; early and uniform flowering response; and good postproduction longevity.

Abstract: An ambient light collecting bow sight having a light collecting filament, wherein the light collecting filament is preferably a scintillating fiber optic filament of sufficient length to enable extensive wrapping or winding of the fiber optic filament around a preferably translucent bow sight. The multiple wrapping or winding of an extensive strand of fiber optic filament provides the filament with more surface area in which to harness ambient light passing through the translucent bow-sight. A portion of the fiber optic filament is attached to a pin or crosshair of the bow sight, thus functioning as a lit targeting pin.

Abstract: A tray driving apparatus for a microwave oven and a microwave oven having the same including a speed changing unit for enhancing the cooking quality by periodically changing the rotational speed of the tray to more evenly radiate a microwave to food. The speed changing means includes a driving gear unit having a plurality of driving gears and mounted to the driving shaft; and a driven gear unit having a plurality of driven gears corresponding to respective driving gears of the driving gear unit, and mounted to the driven shaft. The gears of any one of the driving gear unit and the driven gear unit are portion gears which are gears having gear teeth on respective portions of outer peripheries thereof, the gear teeth of the portion gears are alternately disposed to each other one on another.

Abstract: A papermaking refiner has two stationary disks mounted to the support structure of a fixed housing. A rotating disk is mounted on a shaft which extends through the housing. The support structure allows stock to circulate on both sides of the disk support structure, thus balancing fluid pressures on both sides of the fixed disk and preventing thermal gradients for reduced deflection of the disks. The incoming stock is centrifugally accelerated in a shroud which separates and traps tramp metal or the like before the stock passes to the refiner disks. The shroud has passageways which allow the rotating fluid to enter a reservoir which surrounds the drive shaft and feeds the gaps between the rotor and the stationary plates.

Abstract: Apparatus for fixing the position of an optical sensor within a range of motion in relation to an optical apparatus. The fixing apparatus provides permits a range of motion through five degrees of freedom (DOF) during the securing process. The apparatus includes a housing for the optical assembly, a middle bracket, with the middle bracket secured to the optical apparatus. The range of motion is provided by a gimbal design in the housing and middle bracket which creates the five DOF. There are no screws involved in the fixing process to impart torques or forces to the parts being aligned and secured in position. An ultraviolet (UV) activated adhesive is used to secure the sensor housing to the middle bracket and the middle bracket to the optical scanner housing. The middle bracket is formed of a material transparent to UV light, and a high percentage of the UV light can pass through it to cure the adhesive applied between the parts. A vertical hole runs through tabs of both the housing and the middle bracket.

Abstract: A method for planarizing integrated circuit topographies, wherein, after a first layer of spin-on glass is deposited, a layer of low-temperature oxide is deposited before a second layer of spin-on glass.

Abstract: A temperature rise pattern is retrieved from charging time based on the difference between a battery temperature at the beginning of battery charge and a target temperature value which a battery is intended to reach (in S116). The battery is charged while adjusting a current value so that a temperature rise value becomes the temperature rise pattern (in S118 and S120). Thus, by optimizing the temperature rise pattern, it is possible to charge the battery so that the temperature at the time of the completion of battery charge becomes the target temperature value (the lowest temperature value).

Abstract: An improved socket connector has flexible interior barriers to prevent incorrect insertion of smaller sized plugs, where a flexible internal barrier is formed on a side of the socket entry leading into the socket cavity, and is composed of a flexible ramp attached from the socket entry, the ramp extending into the socket cavity and having a inner movable end with a vertical barrier, sized and disposed within the socket cavity so that the insertion of a correctly sized wide plug will engage the flexible ramp, riding along and moving the flexible ramp so that the vertical barrier is moved out of a stopping position, allowing the correctly sized wide plug to be fully and properly seated in the cavity, but further sized and disposed within the socket cavity so that the insertion of an incorrectly sized narrow plug will fail to engage the ramp, will not flex the ramp, and will leave the vertical barrier in the stopping position, where it prevents the incorrectly sized narrow plug from being fully inserted into the

Abstract: A digital signal processing system capable of compensating for frequency response variations and generating a response characteristic that complies with a provided specification. The system automatically generates digital filters to provide this compensation with almost any form of channel frequency response information and with user defined specifications. The capability of this system to trade-off noise performance, pulse response, and frequency response flatness in order to provide an optimized response is demonstrated. The system also provides feedback to the user on the final response characteristics.

Abstract: A bib suitable to be worn by a child during feeding. The bib includes a main body covering at least a portion of the child's chest and stomach. A front side of the main body faces away from the child and includes a representation of a decorative character. One or more components of the decorative character are affixed to the front side of the main body. The bib further includes an extension extending outwardly from a peripheral edge of the main body. The extension is a component of the decorative character. The extension includes a front side facing away from the child and a back side facing toward the child. The front side is fabricated of a soft, absorbent material suitable for wiping the child's face and the back side is fabricated of a stiffer material providing rigidity to the extension such that the extension has sufficient resiliency to return to an outwardly extending position with respect to the bib main body after the extension is used to wipe the child's face.

Abstract: A method of making a helmet comprises the steps of cutting a plurality of substantially rectangular, preferably square, blanks from a sheet of resin-impregnated fabric, making curved cuts (1) in each blank to form a crown portion (5) and lobe portions (3) therefrom, arranging a stack of said sheets into a helmet preform such that the lobe portions of any blank partially overlap adjacent lobe portions of the same blank, and molding the helmet from the preform.

Abstract: A drained urinal comprises: an inverted truncated cone; a pivot arm connected beneath the truncated cone, having a hollow interior to drain urine therethrough; and, a base having a top portion adapted to receive and secure a bottom portion of the pivot arm, said base including a hinge to allow the pivot arm to bend down from an upright storage position to an oblique in-use position, and having a flat side portion adapted for attachment to a carrying surface. Most preferably the pivot arm has an adjustable length and the truncated cone has a top peripheral rim contoured to fit closely against a groin of a woman's body. The hinge comprises an upright flexible hose surrounded by a large cylindrical spring having a lower end portion secured in the base to thereby bias the pivot arm to the upright storage position.

Abstract: A massaging sink pillow structure disclosed herein designed to be placed over the edge of a standard sink used by a barber or beautician for shampooing or rinsing hair. The sink pillow is a waterproof, saddle-shaped structure with a front section designed to be placed against the front outside surface of the sink and a rear section designed to be placed against the front, inside surface of the sink. The sink pillow includes an upper, U-shaped indented section designed to fit into the U-shaped opening on the sink. Mounted inside the sink pillow is a neck massaging mechanism designed to massage the user's neck in one direction or in alternative directions from front-to-back and back-to-front directions when the user's neck is placed over the U-shaped indented section. Located inside the sink pillow is a printed circuit board, which is connected to a D.C. motor that rotates the eccentric element against the elongated member.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wash basin (2) for rinsing or washing hair of the head, comprising an illuminating device (3) having a plurality of light projectors (5) for illuminating an inner region (14) of the wash basin (2). Said wash basin (2) consists of a light permeable material (4), the light projectors (5) of the illuminating device (3) being arranged outside the wash basin (2) in such a way that at least one partial region (11) of an outer side (6) of the wash basin (2) can be subjected to light (12).

Abstract: A playpen assembly includes a playpen body having a plurality of horizontal support bars, and a hanging bed unit hung on the horizontal support bars and including a plurality of bed sections each having a plurality of sidewalls, a connecting portion interconnecting a top end of one of the sidewalls of one of the bed sections to a top end of one of the sidewalls of at least another one of the bed sections, and a reinforcing rod extending adjacent to the top ends of the bed sections and disposed beneath the connecting portion. The reinforcing rod bridges two opposite ones of the horizontal support bars, and has two opposite ends connected removably and respectively to the two opposite ones of the horizontal support bars.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing medical treatments is disclosed. In one aspect, an apparatus according the present invention comprises a mattress, a mattress support, cast shoes, a footboard support, a drive for causing the reciprocating movement, and a box frame to contain and support the reciprocating movement platform. In another aspect, an apparatus according to the present invention comprises a sling device connected to a drive causing the reciprocating movement, and a box frame to contain and support the reciprocating movement platform.

Abstract: An inexpensive enclosure providing a protected space on a beach, lawn or the like. An inflatable tube forms a wall surrounding a space having an open end, so that a user is shielded from small kicked or thrown material or objects, running pets and the like. The tubular wall has flaps extending from its bottom surface, with pouches or separate tubes which a user fills at the site to hold the enclosure in place. The enclosure may have a floor, and may have attachment portions for removably connecting an extension unit having a floor which extends beyond the open end of the space between side portions of the wall.

Abstract: A cover for a duvet (D) comprises an underside panel and an upperside panel (16), the underside and upperside panels being joined together along their top edges and part-way along their side edges, and a further panel (14) joined to the bottom edge and part-way along the side edges of the underside panel: the upperside panel (16) is provided, adjacent its bottom edge and side edges, with fasteners (20) to engage complementary fasteners (22) along the edges of the further panel (14).

Abstract: A portable patient support includes a platform having a rigid platform received in an interior of an end cap. Elongated rails attached to side walls of the end cap receive accessories, such as stirrups for elevating a patient's legs during insertion of brachytherapy needles for treating prostate cancer and a leg support table for comfortable support of a patient's legs during transport. The portable patient support also has a transfer device including an inflatable mattress having micro-fenestrations in a bottom sheet or a semi-rigid sliding member located beneath the platform. The platform is preferably secured to the transfer device, using straps or by receipt of the platform in built-in pocket. Alternatively, the support may include a fenestrated lower tray attached to the platform by expandable connectors to contain the transfer device. A method of preparing a patient for prostate brachytherapy using the portable patient support is described.

Abstract: A multipurpose pillow serving couple in a relaxed and comfortable when they face each other or when they are in a face-to-back position in bed. The pillow has a body with sides, ends, top and bottom with the bottom having passageways formed by the intersection of one longitudinal and two transverse channels. The channels have first and second end openings and the formed the passages are firm to prevent undue pressure on the arms when they inside the pillow. Multiple opens are available in the pillow to provide variations in positioning the arms inside the pillow.

Abstract: An inflatable sex-support unit for mattress configured to be temporarily or permanently attachable to such mattress, comprising of bladders that are stowed away in layers of bedspread and foams, that inflate to a height of 12 or more inches above the unit's surface to elevate and support the back area including the buttocks; to elevate and support the left leg in a wide spread posture; to elevate and support the right leg in a wide spread posture; while leaving enough space between the two lower bladders for a second party to occupy during sexual intercourse. The top area provides a soft and smooth surface that is also utilized for sleeping atop such bed or on the ground surface.

Abstract: An extendable ramp apparatus is provided for automatically extending a ramp. The apparatus comprises a generally rectangular frame with a track for movement of a carriage pivotally connected to a ramp along the track. The ramp pivots downwardly as it is extends from the frame until it encounters a surface. A bidirectional motor is provided with a cabling arrangement to reciprocate the carriage and ramp along the track. Shock absorbers may slow the carriage movement as the ramp is extended so that hard contact of the ramp with a surface is minimized. An innovative capstan arrangement provides more rapid movement of the ramp as it retracts but provides more power during ramp extension, so that vertical movement of the ramp is slowed as the ramp is extended. The apparatus may find application in vehicles such as trucks, vans, and boats whenever it is desired to move goods or people between surfaces of different heights, such as a truck bed and the ground.

Abstract: An improved housing for an electric toothbrush is disclosed. The improved housing provides two symmetrically positioned gripping members which assist the user in grasping the toothbrush particularly during brushing. Each of the gripping members includes a recessed gripping region having particular dimensional characteristics. The two gripping members are symmetrically arranged on the rearward sides of the toothbrush so that the brush may be used by both left-handed and right-handed individuals. A third gripping member may also be provided along the housing of the toothbrush.

Abstract: The invention relates to a portal washing facility for motor vehicles, in particular passenger motor vehicles, that includes a portal device that can move relative to the motor vehicle in its longitudinal direction, has at least one horizontal washing brush that is height-adjustable on the portal device, and at least one side washing brush that can move transverse to the direction of motion of the portal device. In order to have an effective, brushless high-pressure washing, in addition to washing with conventional washing brushes, at least one lateral high-pressure washing device is provided on the portal device and is used for high-pressure cleaning of the side surfaces and of the front and rear surfaces of the motor vehicle and can be driven along at least one traverse of the portal device transverse to the direction of motion of the portal device.

Abstract: A rail scraper is provided and includes a mounting plate attachable to the front of a dump truck transfer dump body, an extender attached to said plate, and a scraper attached to said extender that can be raised and lowered by said extender. A rail scraper can further be provided with a second extender attached to said plate, and a second scraper attached to said second extender. An extender for a rail scraper can be a pneumatic cylinder with an extension arm. A rail scraper can further be provided with an air valve, an air reservoir tank, and tubing connecting said tank, valve, and cylinder.

Abstract: This invention relates to a scrub pad comprising a scrubbing layer having a periphery along the edges of the layer; a wiping layer having a periphery along the edges of the layer; and an absorbent core layer having a periphery along the edges of the layer comprising at least one absorbent material selected from the group consisting of short-fiber, air-laid nonwoven material, nonwoven plastic batting, cellulosic fibrous web materials, wax coated paper, corrugated paper, fluff pulp, cotton balls, cotton batting, or mixture thereof; wherein the absorbent core layer is located intermediate to the scrubbing layer and the wiping layer and wherein the scrubbing layer, the absorbent core layer and the wiping layer are joined at the periphery of each layer.

Abstract: There is disclosed a cleaning article including a brush portion. The brush portion has a plurality of strips and at least one layer of a fiber bundle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wiper blade that cleans panes, in particular of motor vehicles. The wiper blade (10) comprises a strip-shaped, elongated, elastically resilient support element (12), the lower strip surface of which faces the pane (14) and is provided with an elongated, elastic wiper strip (24) running parallel to the longitudinal axis. The upper strip surface (16) of the element is provided with a wind deflector strip (42), which consists of an elastic material, extends in the longitudinal direction of the support element and has an oncoming stream surface (54) that faces the principal flow direction, (arrow 52), of the air stream.

Abstract: A spot cleaning apparatus comprises a housing, a fluid distribution system, a fluid recovery system, an agitation system, and a controller system to automatically monitor and control inputs and outputs to said systems for removal of spots and stains from a surface without attendance by a user. A suction nozzle and agitation device are mounted to the housing for movement over the surface to be cleaned relative to a stationary housing. Optionally, the spot cleaning apparatus can be operated in a manual mode.

Abstract: A carpet extractor head for a carpet extractor including at least one sonic agitator.