Abstract:
The present invention provides a ventilated toilet system with a fan that continuously extracts waste air from the toilet bowl when the toilet is being used. An air passage leads from the toilet bowl to the fan, and the fan pushes the extracted air down another air passage to the toilet's water discharge path. The fan can be manually operated or can be activated by a sensor that detects the presence of a person. To ease installation, the air passages can be formed integrally with the toilet bowl. A check valve, in some embodiments, prevents the back flow of odors from a sewer line. The fan, its power source, and its controller, can be made into a modular unit made to fit any of a number of toilet fixtures.
Abstract:
A microscale out-of-plane thermal sensor. A resistive heater is suspended over a substrate by supports raised with respect to the substrate to provide a clearance underneath the resistive heater for fluid flow. A preferred fabrication process for the thermal sensor uses surface micromachining and a three-dimensional assembly to raise the supports and lift the resistive heater over the substrate.
Abstract:
A method of forming a composite structure for an ion transport membrane in which a filler substance is applied to one surface of a porous support layer in order to plug pores and prevent coated ion conducting material from penetrating the pores to reduce the amount of gas diffusion. Prior to coating of the surface with layers that may be oxygen ion conducting layers, excess filler substance is removed. After the coating of the one surface, the filler substance is removed from pores.
Abstract:
A computer dock for use in a vehicle has a retainer body suitable for mounting in the vehicle. A moveable member is moveable with respect to the body from a retracted position within the body to an extended position, and a mounting on the moveable members retains a notebook computer. The dock has a plurality of cables for connecting power from the vehicle and for connecting a cell phone and other facilities in the vehicle to the computer.
Abstract:
A safety device for a pneumatic stapler includes a safety member rotatably mounted to a barrel of the stapler by a torsion spring located between the safety member and the barrel. The safety member has a first protrusion and a second protrusion. The first protrusion is pushed by a magazine connected to the barrel and the second protrusion is located at a higher position to allow a safety plate to be moved between the two protrusions. When the magazine is removed and the second protrusion is rotated to a lower position, the safety plate is stopped by the second protrusion.
Abstract:
A mannequin using ball joints for movably connecting a neck and extremities to a two-piece trunk section is disclosed. Each ball joint is provided with a built-in spring to allow free movement of the mannequin as desired by its user. The trunk sections are connected together by a flexible elbow to permit various positioning of the trunk section of the mannequin.
Abstract:
A ventilation device of a power stapler which has an end base connected to the rear end of the power stapler and a cap is rotatably mounted to the end base. The end base has a recess and a protrusion extends from a bottom of the recess. At least one aperture is defined radially through the protrusion and a boss extends from the protrusion. The cap has a skirt portion and a passage is defined radially through the cap so that the skirt portion is engaged with the recess between the protrusion and the inside defining the recess. The boss is engaged with one of the dents of the cap so that the location of the passage can be adjusted by rotating the cap.
Abstract:
An improved cooking tray for microwave oven has a tray body and a plurality of supporting racks, separating racks, and skewers for supporting foods such as meat or bread for toasting and cooking in a microwave oven. By way of the transverse and longitudinal inserting seats disposed on the base of the tray body, the supporting and separating racks can be assembled to the tray body to hold the food to be toasted or cooked on the cooking tray. When meat is to be toasted, the meat slices can be put in the guiding slots formed by the separating plates aligning with and parallel to each other and extending upwardly on the base of the separating rack. And a skewer supporting the meat slices can be suspended upon a pair of the skewer openings at the top of the supporting racks in accordance with the size of the meat slices. Furthermore, the cooking tray can be provided with different top and bottom sides for use with certain foods to be cooked or warmed in the microwave oven.