Abstract: ‘Majestic Star’ is a new variety of calla lily having an inflorescence with a deep red colored spathe and a yellow colored spadix and producing 1-6 inflorescences per tuber. The inflorescence stems are red and about 60 cm. in height. The leaves are green with whitish spots and have a leathery texture. On the edge of the leaves there is a red stripe. The petioles have a purple red color.

Abstract: A new and distinct June-bearing strawberry cultivar named ‘Saint-Jean d'Orléans’ is primarily adapted to the growing conditions of Eastern Central Canada. Its high yield of medium sized, firm, light-red glossy fruits, resistance to leaf diseases, long shelf life and high levels of given antioxidants essentially characterize ‘Saint-Jean d'Orléans’.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant named ‘Duetibredaor’, characterized by its uniformly mounded plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching growth habit; full and dense plants; freely and early flowering habit; and large inflorescences with dark orange-colored ray florets.

Abstract: A new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘KLEI04078’, characterized by its compact and rounded plant habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; dark green-colored foliage; and large red purple-colored flowers.

Abstract: A new and distinct nectarine tree variety, prunus persica var. ‘Sunectwentyone’ that possesses a relatively low chilling requirement of 250 hours at or below 7.2° C.; heavy production of relatively large (66 mm), very firm fruit that can be harvested about May 8-15 in Kern County, Calif., (about 4 days after ‘April Glo’ nectarine (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7305)). The nectarine fruit is bright red with bright yellow flesh that is moderately juicy, very firm, and tart-sweet with 12 brix. The plant has a relatively low tendency for split-pits, russeting, and thrips damage.

Abstract: A lantana plant particularly distinguished by mainly red to cherry-red and partly yellow to orange flowers, a continuous, abundant and mid-season flowering response, deep green foliage with ovate leaves, medium vigor, a compact and mounding plant habit and a well-branched and tight plant habit, is disclosed.

Abstract: A new and distinct Sutera plant named ‘DANCOP19’ particularly characterized by 5-petalled flowers, measuring about 1.8 cm in diameter and purple in color with a yellow-orange colored throat; vigorous growth which maintains a trailing compact growth habit; early flowering response, suitable for use with hanging basket planters, combination planters and ground cover under full sunlight-and slight shade.

Abstract: A new and distinct Sutera plant named ‘DANCOP17’ particularly characterized by having 5-petalled flowers, measuring about 2.0 cm in diameter and light purple in color with a yellow-orange colored throat; vigorous growth which maintains a trailing, compact growth habit; early flowering response, suitable for use with hanging basket planters, combination planters and ground cover under full sunlight-and slight shade.

Abstract: A new and distinct Sutera plant named ‘DANGUL16’ particularly characterized by 5-petalled flowers, measuring 2.4 cm in diameter and lavender in color with a yellow-orange colored throat; vigorous growth which maintains a trailing, compact growth habit; early flowering response, suitable for use with hanging basket planters, combination planters and ground cover under full sunlight-and slight shade.

Abstract: A Scaevola plant particularly distinguished by violet-blue flowers with yellow-white eyes, a mid-season, continuous and an abundant flowering response, medium green foliage with purplish stem ends, a vigorous growth habit with a medium to tall plant habit, a decumbent to trailing plant habit with ascending stem ends, a rounded, bushy and well-branched plant habit and good heat tolerance, is disclosed.

Abstract: An achillea plant particularly distinguished by numerous small, while, double flowers, medium green foliage with narrow leaves, a compact, low-spreading and mounding habit, vigorous with abundant branching, immature flowering stems that obscure the mature stems with spent flowers and good outdoor performance with good heat tolerance, is disclosed.

Abstract: A new garden rose plant of the compact floribunda class which has abundant, red flowers and attractive foliage. This new and distinct variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

Abstract: A new petunia plant particularly distinguished by medium-size, single, light-pink flowers, abundant branching with a great profusion of blooms, excellent tolerance to low temperatures, and a compact, mounding growth habit is disclosed.

Abstract: A tamper-evident closure for a container includes an outer tamper-evident cap engagable over an inner container sealing cap which may form part of the tamper-evident closure or part of the container, cap retaining prongs on the outer cap which permit placement of the outer cap on the container neck over the sealing cap but prevent upward removal of the outer cap from the container, a tear strip for severing the outer cap between its upper and lower ends to permit upward removal of the upper portion of the outer cap from the container, and a circumferential rupture line along which the outer cap separates to evidence tampering if an attempt is made to forcibly remove the outer cap from the container without tearing the tear strip from the outer cap.

Abstract: A side impact airbag system for a vehicle including a system housing defining an interior space and arranged on a side of the vehicle alongside at least a portion of a passenger compartment of the vehicle. One or more airbags are arranged in the interior space of the system housing such that when inflating, the airbag(s) is/are expelled from the system housing into the passenger compartment. An inflator is arranged at least partially within the interior space of the system housing for inflating the airbag(s). A crash sensor, preferably an electronic crash sensor, initiates inflation of the airbag(s) via the inflator upon a determination of a crash requiring inflation of the airbag(s). The crash sensor includes a sensor housing arranged within and/or proximate to the system housing, and a sensing mass arranged in the sensor housing to move relative to the sensor housing in response to accelerations of the sensor housing resulting from the crash into the first side of the vehicle.

Abstract: A drill pipe 10 comprises an elongate pipe section 12 having a substantially uniform pipe outer diameter 18 and a substantially uniform pipe inner diameter 20. A pin tool joint 14 is welded at one end to the pipe section, and a box tool joint 16 is welded to the other end of the pipe section. Each of the pin and box tool joints includes a thread for mating engagement and preferably first and second shoulders. The drill pipe has a ratio, R, which takes into consideration the pipe inner diameter, PID, the pipe outer diameter, POD, the tool joint inner diameter, TJID, and the tool joint outer diameter, TJOD. This ratio may be expressed as: R = ( P ID + TJ ID ) ( TJ OD - P OD ) . According to the present invention, this ratio is greater than 8.0, and is preferably from 8.1 to 8.5, thereby providing a drill pipe with desired strength and fluid flow capabilities.

Abstract: A global paging system and corresponding method are disclosed in which an originating user pages a receiving user in a different country without the paging message being broadcast in all areas. According to certain embodiments, the originating user E-mails a web site or server of the paging system paging information, with the server then transmitting the paging message over a packet-switched digital data network (e.g. the Internet) to a receiving or terminating web site or server located in the different country. In certain embodiments, the receiving user remotely inputs a designated country into the paging system so that when the receiving user is paged, the paging system first pages the receiving user in the designated country or area without broadcasting the paging message in other countries or areas.

Abstract: A novel basic allergen/particulate data collection device and a novel multi-function personal air quality management device are disclosed. Both devices include sensor sub-assembly detecting and reporting on allergen/particulate data (preferably, for allergen/particulate with sizes smaller than 5 micron) for an indoor location (where the asthma patient is situated). Both devices are communication enabled to allow the allergen/particulate data to be provided to an air/asthma advice server, to generate air/asthma advice for an asthma patient, taking into consideration the allergen/particulate data as well as air quality data for a surrounding outdoor area of the indoor location. In one embodiment of the basic device, the communication interface is tailored for “harsh environment” local area networking.

Abstract: An antenna device includes a first and a second internal antenna element and a common ground plane. The first element has an upper and a lower end portion. The first antenna element is adapted for use with a cellular mobile phone system and the second antenna element is adapted for use with a GPS system. To that end, the second element is elongated and adapted to receive circularly polarized radio signals by operation with linear polarization. This provides for a compact antenna device adapted for use with more than one communication system.

Abstract: An apparatus and related method for controlling picture inversion of an LCD, determining states of vertical and horizontal sync signals. The determined states are used to insert appropriate delay periods so as to allow picture inversion to take place only when the video signal is in a section of displaying no image, thereby eliminating a noise bar that is displayed during the picture inversion operation.

Abstract: A variable focus lens comprising a chamber (12) filled with a first liquid (13), a drop of a second liquid (11) being disposed at rest on a region of a first surface of an insulating wall of the chamber, the first and second liquids being non miscible, of different optical indexes and of substantially same density. The first liquid is conductive and the second liquid is insulating. The lens further comprises means for applying a voltage between the conductor liquid and an electrode (16) placed on the second surface of said wall; and centering means for maintaining the centering of the edge of the drop while the voltage is applied and for controlling the shape thereof.

Abstract: An improved method for accurately and correctly encoding and printing complete checks on blank paper sheets from graphic check images. The method includes inputting into a computer a graphic image of a check. Scanning the graphic image, in computer memory, and identifying the MICR character codes with their locations. Printing said MICR codes with magnetic ink in MICR fonts in a designated “clear band”. Reformatting the scanned graphic image with the MICR images deleted and printing the reformatted graphic image above the “clear band” to provide a negotiable check instrument.

Abstract: Enteral compositions containing Streptococcus thermophilus, Bifidobacterium infantis and Bifidobacterium longum, each at a concentration equal to or greater than 1×1011 CFU per gram, are useful as adjuncts for enteral formulations and as oral nutritional supplements. The compositions can be administered before, during or at the end of an enteral formulation administration. The compositions can be administered separately or mixed with the enteral formulation. The compositions can also be employed at the end of the daily administration in order to prevent the colonization of the enteral tube by the other pathogens. The compositions can also be used as supplement to any liquid, creamy or pasty foodstuff. The present invention relates to a kit comprising two containers, one containing a foodstuff and the other containing the enteral composition consisting of Streptococcus thermophilus, Bifidobacterium infantis and Bifidobacterium longum.

Abstract: This invention provides esters of acetoacetic acid useful as adhesion promoters for waterborne coatings compositions applied to corroded or rusty metal substrates. The esters of acetoacetic acid also function as a coalescing aid in the coating composition.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for initiating an over the air parameter administration (OTAPA) of a mobile station without the need for interacting with a mobile station user. A unique service option number included with the initial page indicates to the mobile station that an update is being requested. The mobile station performs a network validation check (SPASM) before permitting the update to take place. Flags are used in the network to alert the system that an attempted update was not completed because a mobile station was not update accessible for any of several reasons. The flags cause the system to update when the mobile station next becomes update accessible. The questions raised in reexamination request No. 90/006,577, filed Mar. 25, 2003, have been considered and the results thereof are reflected in this reissue patent which constitutes the reexamination certificate required by 35 U.S.C. 307 as provided in 37 CFR 1.570(e).

Abstract: A high speed bus system in which at least one master device, such as a processor and at least one DRAM slave device are coupled to the bus. An innovative packet format and device interface which utilizes a plurality of time and space saving features in order to decrease the die size of the device receiver and decrease the overall latency on the bus is provided. In the preferred embodiment the request packet is transmitted on ten multiplexed transmission lines, identified as BusCtl and BusData [8:0]. The packet is transmitted over six sequential bus cycles, wherein during each bus cycle, a different portion of the packet is transmitted. The lower order address bits are moved ahead of the higher order address bits of the memory request. This enables the receiving device to process the memory request faster as the locality of the memory reference with respect to previous references can be immediately determined and page mode accesses on the DRAM can be initiated as quickly as possible.

Abstract: A glove apparatus having a front shell for fielding a ball and a back shell joined to the front shell. The front and back shells cooperate to define a finger region, a heel region, and a thumb region. The ball glove provides more comfort and control than previous gloves. The ball glove may also be lighter weight than conventional gloves of comparable size. A traction panel may be formed in the back shell adjacent an index finger hole.

Abstract: A clothing protector system includes a bib for protecting an article of clothing of a user and a scarf. The bib has a front side configured to face outwardly from a user, a back side configured to contact the user, and opposite longitudinal sides. The scarf is attached to the opposite longitudinal sides of the bib and includes two portions opposite one another across the bib. A first side of each of the scarf portions is connected to one of the opposite longitudinal sides of the bib. A second side of each of the scarf portions projects away from the bib and is configured to hide an interface between the bib and the article of clothing when the bib is placed on the article of clothing. A receiving pocket is attached to the bib and is configured to receive the bib and the scarf therein. The receiving pocket is connected to the back side of the bib opposite the front side.

Abstract: A sweatband using micro fiber yarn for headwear that is made to 0.5˜1.05 denier thickness of micro fiber yarn and woven of 100% polyester warp-way and weft-way, made to single or two-ply without any polyurethane and additional stitched portion. The resulting sweatband, which preferably provides excellent sweat absorbing capability, and having high dryness factor, anti-static electricity function and the highly washable function, and exhibits good elasticity through the structure of the textile without imposing undue pressure on the wearer, with the result that the sweatband may be worn comfortably for long periods of time. The yarn used to produce the sweatband is processed by high temperature and piece dyeing methods and has twist per each certain length.

Abstract: The invention is an article of headwear that incorporates an adjustment system for accommodating individuals with various head dimensions. The headwear may be formed of a crown and a visor. With respect to the crown, the adjustment system includes a first elastic material, which forms a majority of the crown, and a second elastic material, which is screenprinted or otherwise attached to a flap positioned within the crown. Regarding the visor, the adjustment system resides in a visor board configuration wherein slits are formed to separate various portions of the visor board. The slits permit the portions to move relative to each other, thereby permitting the visor to expand to accommodate stretching of the crown.

Abstract: A figure defining and contouring garment, which outlines and defines a wearer's body contours in a fashionable and comfortable manner, includes a waistband coupled to a body with a rear tunnel that extends along the inside rear of the garment from the lower rise or crotch area to the waistband and a waistband tunnel that extends through the waistband. A drawstring anchored in the lower rise area extends upwardly through the rear tunnel to the waistband where it transitions to the waistband tunnel through a diverter region in the waistband. The drawstring transition between the rear and waistband tunnels is advantageously hidden within the waistband. The drawstring is used to adjust the fit of the garment by pulling on the drawstring to tighten the drawstring.

Abstract: A system is provided for aesthetically covering access openings in a tub skirt when access to the interior of the skirt is not required. The system includes a bracket affixable to the tub skirt and a panel easily attachable to and detachable from the bracket. The panel, when attached, hides the bracket when viewed from the exterior of the tub skirt. Clips are used to attach the panel to said bracket. The system is an improvement over systems using velcro or brackets which are visible when a panel is in place.

Abstract: Polymeric plumbing fixtures such as sinks, lavatories and tubs are disclosed that comprise a thermoformed or molded interior shell having a top side with a relatively smooth, polymeric surface; a polymeric reinforcing layer bonded to the underside of the shell; and a thermoformed or polymeric cap nestably engageable with the underside of the reinforced shell. The cap cooperates with the shell to encapsulate the reinforcing layer and the reinforcing layer bonds the cap the shell to form a unitary structure. The polymeric cap thereby provides an attractive, finished surface on the underside of the resultant fixture. The structural configuration disclosed herein is particularly preferred for use in making kitchen sinks. A method for making the subject fixtures is also disclosed.

Abstract: A self-contained eye wash station for dispensing flushing fluid having two rigid rectangular containers and a base unit supporting the rigid containers at a fixed height. Each container has an integral fluid/air chamber and is filled with flushing fluid. The containers nest and lock into recesses of the base unit. A spray nozzle is connected to the fluid/air chamber of each rigid container via a flexible tube. The base unit has a pivoting manifold which has an “open” or “closed” position. The spray nozzles lock into snap fixtures on the manifold. Flexible caps cover the spray nozzles. Each fluid/air chamber has a vent opening covered by a flexible cap. The base unit also has a fluid reservoir and a fluid drain. An optional fluid collection container for waste fluid may be provided with the eye wash station.

Abstract: A tub filler and overflow combination device is supported within a common opening formed in a tub wall. Both a flow passage and a drain passage extend through the body of the device to communicate through the common opening in the tub wall. A backflow preventer of the flow passage is slidably removable through the flow outlet for readily servicing the components of the backflow preventer as desired. The flow inlet is parallel and opposite to the flow outlet for ease of manufacturing and for ease of installation into a bathtub.

Abstract: A decubitis mat includes a plurality of individual cells (16 which are pressurized by air. A polymer sensor/vent structure (20) is mounted on the top surface of each cell and defines a plurality of polymer filled channels (28) and a vent valve (26) which is biased to a closed position. As a body resting on the mat heats the polymer, it undergoes a phase change an expands, causing biasing forces (30) which bias the vent valve to open, permitting air in the cell to be released providing air flow to the body.

Abstract: A device for protecting a motor in a vacuum cleaner is provided. The device includes a lower casing for forming a lower portion of a main body of the cleaner, a motor housing, which is installed in the lower casing and includes the driving motor therein and an upper portion of which is opened upwardly, a filtering device installed onto the lower casing for filtering out foreign materials from introduced air, and an intermediate cover integrally formed with a first cover portion positioned onto an upper portion of the filtering device and a second cover portion for covering the upper portion of the motor housing. Further, a pressure switch for sensing pressure within the motor housing and a damper for introducing external air into the motor housing when the pressure within the motor housing is lowered below a predetermined pressure value are directly installed onto the second cover portion of the intermediate cover.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner comprises a cyclonic separator (116) for separating dirt and dust from an incoming airflow. A tool (300) and a suction conduit (114) connect the tool (300) to the separator (116). The tool (300) comprises a main air inlet aperture for engaging with a surface to be cleaned and a bleed air inlet (310) for allowing air to bleed into the suction path. The bleed air inlet (310) is located such that it is separate from the main inlet. The cross-sectional area of the bleed air inlet (310) is sufficiently large that, in use, the bleed air inlet (310) admits a sufficient quantity of air to maintain adequate separation efficiency in the separator of the cleaner even when the main air inlet is fully blocked.

Abstract: The handle structure includes a main body and a gripping device. The gripping device is disposed on the bottom of the main body, including an outer layer and a soft member layer. The outer layer covers the soft member layer, and the soft member layer is a soft rubber, thereby providing the better gripping stability, the comfortable feeling, and the gripping quality by the soft member layer and the outer cover layer, in order to reduce the uncomfortable feeling on hand.

Abstract: A pivot hinge assembly for mounting a cabinet to a frame. The assembly includes a first hinge pin bushing adapted to mount to the cabinet and a second hinge pin bushing adapted to mount to the frame. The hinge pin bushings each have a hole formed through it for receiving a pin, and substantially complementary mating surfaces for providing a bearing interface. The pin includes a head and a terminal end. Threads are formed on a portion of the pin which engage with threads in the second hinge pin bushing. A locking mechanism is removably attached to the pin near its terminal end. In one embodiment, the assembly includes a wear strip mounted to either the cabinet or the frame and which provides a low friction bearing surface between the cabinet and the frame.

Abstract: A slide hinge for a small-sized information terminal having a first casing with keyboard and a relatively slid second casing with display. The slide hinge has a linear slide between the first and second casings, and a turning mechanism for a turning operation of the casings. The slide has a first guide groove provided on an undersurface of the second casing, a guide pin engaged with the first groove and attached to an upper surface of the first casing. The turning mechanism has a rotary hinge on an upper surface of one side of the first casing, a turning member rotatably attached to the rotary hinge in a horizontal direction, and a second pin attached to a free end of the turning member and engaged with a second groove provided on the undersurface of the second casing in cross direction of the first guide groove.

Abstract: The invention provides a restricting device for a closure including a vent hingedly connected to a frame, the restricting device comprising a plate (1,4) for mounting on a frame, an arm (7) for pivotally mounting on a vent and means for releasably interengaging the arm and the plate, wherein, in use, when the plate and the arm are interengaged, the closure can only be opened a predetermined distance. The means for releasably interengaging the arm and the plate comprise a resilient means (2) adapted to engage a locking pin (5). The engagement between the arm and the plate is released by means of a release means, for example a key (6,6?;6?), which is separate from the rest of the device. A preferred embodiment of the invention provides means (16,17; 18, 20) for preventing over-rotation of the key beyond a position in which the resilient means is in an optimum release position. The device is simple to use and has the advantage that it is detachable.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a moisture content value within a volume. A frequency generator generates at least one source signal at frequencies of no more than about one kilohertz. Probes are disposed with surfaces in physical contact with the volume, where no direct current flows between the probes through the volume. One of the probes is electrically connected to the frequency generator as a source probe, and adapted to receive the source signal and emit the source signal into the volume, thereby creating an electrical field having characteristics that are dependent at least in part on a moisture content of the volume. Another of the probes operates as a receiver probe for sensing the electrical field and producing an output signal having an output property that is dependent at least in part on the source signal and the moisture content within the volume.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for manufacturing a multi-layer fabric including at least one fibre layer formed by airlaying combined with at least one further layer which is formed by different technologies, including carding, spunlacing, meitblowing, spunbonding, or airlaying, or combined with one or more films. The airforming is performed on a separate formerwire which is applied vacuum via a suction box disposed opposite to a formerhead, and where the airformed fibre layer is transferred to a conveyor wire for joining with a further layer. Edge trimming is performed at least on the airformed layer before it is joined with one or more other layers for forming the multi-layered fabric. Scrap from edge trimming and exhaust from the suction box is returned to the formerhead.

Abstract: Tying arrangement comprising a strip, which is serrated at least on one side, and a lock, which is intended for receiving two ends of a portion of the strip and contains at least one blocking device, which is serrated in such a way as to match the serration of the strip. In order to preserve the tips of the teeth, the teeth tips of the teeth provided on the blocking device and the teeth bases of the strip are rounded off or beveled at least on their sides lying against one another in the tightened state. Such an arrangement is used in tying methods in which the free strip end is led back into the lock after wrapping around the item to be tied.

Abstract: A spring fastener characterized by a structure having a top portion and a cavity in which the rib of a first article, such as a plastic panel for example having a lower side, may be engaged, and is also suitable to be engaged reversibly in a slot of a second article, such as a metal sheet for example, like the frame of a car for example. The spring fastener also comprises engagement springs having a peak, a front end, and an engagement region between the peak and the front end. The spring fastener further comprises side spacers disposed at the top portion and being adaptable to reach the vicinity or touch the lower side of the first article. It is highly preferable that the fastener comprises barbs with inwardly bent front ends, and that the engagement regions further have a single sided ripple.

Abstract: A two component line clip for fixing a line therein includes a body defining an aperture. The body is formed from a material having a first hardness. The aperture is defined in part by a rib. An insert is secured within the aperture. The insert is formed from a material having a second hardness less than the first hardness. The insert includes a feature that cooperates with the rib to secure the insert within the aperture. The insert is adapted to fix the line therein.

Abstract: A texturizing apparatus comprising a drive housing having a false twist inlet to allow a plurality of yarns to enter the drive housing, a pair of opposing counter-rotating nip rollers positioned downstream of the false twist inlet, each nip roller having a circumferential drive surface adapted to engage the plurality of yarns and at least one circumferential spacer surface, and means for applying compression to one of the nip rollers to force the at least one circumferential spacer surfaces of the pair of nip rollers toward each other. The drive housing further having a drive outlet positioned downstream of the pair of counter-rotating nip rollers through which the plurality of yarns may exit the drive housing. The texturizing apparatus can also include a stuffer box having at least one movable flapper door and a box inlet positioned proximate the box inlet and of a size to allow the plurality of yarns to enter the interior of the suffer box.

Abstract: A lathe for machining optical workpieces, in particular spectacle lenses, comprises a fast tool arrangement and a workpiece spindle arrangement. A machine frame is cast monolithically from polymer concrete and on and in which all the functional surfaces, functional spaces and other cutouts are formed to their exact dimensions during the casting process. The machine frame upper part cast in one piece simultaneously covers the fast tool arrangement and the workpiece spindle arrangement and thus the machine bed in the manner of a covering hood. The machine frame is of compact dimensions, has a very rigid oscillation-damping machine bed and, in comparison with the rapidly moving elements of the fast tool arrangement, has a very large mass with a high center of gravity, which prevents the transmission of disruptive oscillations from the fast tool movement to the machine bed and thus to the workpiece spindle arrangement.

Abstract: A device is provided for coupling (i) a PCB sheet, which includes a first PCB and a space formed after removing a defective PCB from the PCB sheet, with (ii) a replacement second PCB received in the space and has a connecting part spaced from a periphery of the space by a channel. The device includes a PCB securing plate adapted to support the PCB sheet. PCB securing pins project from an upper surface of the PCB securing plate to be inserted into pin receiving holes of the first and second PCBs for positioning the PCBs. PCB securing tapes are integrally attached on the PCB securing plate for securing the PCB sheet and the second PCB to the PCB securing plate. An adhesive is adapted to be filled into the channel to couple, when cured, the PCB sheet and the second PCB together.