Did You Know...
...that after Parker Brothers executives turned down the game of Monopoly because it had "52 fundamental errors" (including taking too long to play), a copy of the game wound up in the home of the company president who stayed up until 1 a.m. to finish playing it? He was so impressed by the game that the next day he wrote to inventor Charles Darrow and offered to buy it!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 5576827 | Apparatus and method for determining the size distribution of particles by light scattering An apparatus and method are disclosed for obtaining and analyzing light scattering data to determine the size distribution of a group of dispersed particles that scattered the light. The apparatus and method use a two-dimensional array of photosensitive p... | 11/19/1996 |
| 5574907 | Two-pass defragmentation of compressed hard disk data with a single data rewrite A method and apparatus for defragmenting compressed file data stored on a disk. The method includes a first pass in which the FAT and MDFAT entries for each file stored on the disk are rearranged into adjacent clusters, but in which no movement of the com... | 11/12/1996 |
| 5573321 | Access frame for electrical enclosure An access frame for use with an electrical enclosure, and an electrical enclosure having an access frame, of the type used in a hollow wall structure to facilitate installing additional wiring into the electrical enclosure after a wall panel of the hollow... | 11/12/1996 |
| 5573914 | DNA/RNA target and signal amplification A process for detecting the presence or absence of a specific nucleic acid sequence or antibody in a sample using an oligonucleotide to bind to the nucleic acid sequence or antibody to be detected, forming double-stranded nucleic acid sequence using the b... | 11/12/1996 |
| 5574256 | Recessed transformer electrical outlet box with integral telephone line connection A recessed transformer AC electrical wall outlet box for recessing modular 120 volt alternating current (VAC) transformers and/or power converters within a wall-mounted electrical outlet box, while at the same time providing a standard RJ-11 modular telep... | 11/12/1996 |
| 5574735 | Error correction circuit which substitutes bits into data stream during periods of data loss In an error correction circuit, when a data loss is detected, substitute data comprising all bits of "1" or "0" are generated during a data loss period and substituted for the lost data for the data loss period. Thereafter, the whole data containing the s... | 11/12/1996 |
| 5574947 | Data communication cable for a data terminal for simultaneously connecting multiple peripheral devices and selecting the peripheral devices based on data rate A splitter cable provides a means for simultaneously connecting a data terminal's communications port to a plurality of peripheral devices. The cable provides for the flow of data between the data terminal and the peripheral devices. A diode connected to ... | 11/12/1996 |
| 5574920 | Method for controlling power down of a hard disk drive in a computer An integrated device electronics (IDE) driver 40 operating in conjunction with a Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) driver (14), wherein both the IDE driver (40) and BIOS driver (14) are capable of powering down a hard disk drive (18). The IDE driver (40) m... | 11/12/1996 |
| 5570773 | Tilting tray package sorting apparatus An automatic system for sorting items, such as small parcels, into groups bound for different geographical locations is described. The system includes a carriage for traveling along a track, the carriage having an adjustment feature such that it may conti... | 11/05/1996 |
| 5569551 | Dual air elecrtrode cell A dual air electrode metal-air cell having a casing including an upper cathode mask wall, a lower cathode mask wall, and a plurality of side walls; a metal anode with at least upper and lower sides covered with separator materials; an upper air cathode po... | 10/29/1996 |
| 5570410 | Dynamic resource allocation process for a service control point in an advanced intelligent network system A method of resource allocation for a service control point (SCP) in an advanced intelligent network. The method dynamically assigns resource time to various entities using the SCP, based upon the resource time needs of each entity as compared to the reso... | 10/29/1996 |
| 5567859 | Polyoxypropylene/polyoxyethylene copolymers with improved biological activity The present invention comprises novel preparations of polyoxypropylene/polyoxyethylene copolymers which retain the therapeutic activity of the commercial preparations, but substantially reduce the undesirable effects which are inherent in the prior art pr... | 10/22/1996 |
| 5567172 | Universal strain relief device for connectors A protective system for multi-part connections that prevents unintended disconnection, is inexpensive, and can be used regardless of the shape of the connectors which form the connection. The protective system allows interchanging of component connectors ... | 10/22/1996 |
| 5568183 | Network videoconferencing system A videoconferencing system which readily accommodates new devices and new features. A plurality of devices ( 10, 12-18, 20-22) are connected to a network (23) by a plurality of network converters (11). A controller (10) contains software pertinent to each... | 10/22/1996 |
| 5566826 | Disposable adhesive necktie fastener A disposable one-piece necktie fastener comprising a fiat paper wafer bearing adhesive on both sides that serves to attach the two ends of a necktie to each other when placed therebetween. A necktie fastener may bear indicia such as an advertisement. The ... | 10/22/1996 |
| 5567309 | Self-filtration cap An improved filtration device capable of filtering and storing liquid which can then be removed from the device for analysis. A top cap is placed over a filter cap such that a seal is created between these two caps. The filter cap has an opening on its bo... | 10/22/1996 |
| 5563004 | Rechargeable metal-air electrochemical cell with hydrogen recombination and end-of-charge indicator A rechargeable metal-air electrochemical cell comprising a hydrogen-oxygen recombination electrode recombines hydrogen produced at the anode with oxygen to replenish the supply of water in the cell. The cell comprises an oxygen gas-permeable, liquid water... | 10/08/1996 |
| 5560999 | Air manager system for recirculating reactant air in a metal-air battery An air manager is disclosed which recirculates reactant air in a battery and exchanges only a minimal amount of recirculated air for ambient air that is necessary to maintain a sufficient oxygen concentration in the battery. In the air manager, the reacta... | 10/01/1996 |
| 5560910 | Topical anti-inflammatory composition and method The present invention comprises compositions and methods that are useful for topically treating inflammation caused by a wide variety of diseases. The compositions comprise an effective amount of a proteolytic enzyme, such as bromelain, in combination wit... | 10/01/1996 |
| 5561282 | Portable signature capture pad A portable signature capture pad operative for gathering signature data associated with customer transactions includes a digitizer, microprocessor, and a pad cradle that facilitates a wireless data link between the portable signature capture pad and a poi... | 10/01/1996 |
| 5558520 | Interactive book assembly An interactive coordinated book assembly useful for teaching in a parent/child, teacher/student or self-study environment, comprising: a plurality of left and right main pages, the pages containing textual material and a key word on each page, (The key wo... | 09/24/1996 |
| 5558863 | Method for treatment of herpes virus infections A method and composition are provided for treatment of herpes virus infections. The invention comprises the administration of a low level of neuraminidase protein or a derivative thereof.... | 09/24/1996 |
| 5558996 | Fungus extraction method, kit, and extraction solution A method and kit for extracting fungus from a plant. An extraction solution is combined with tissue from a plant and the combination is agitated, preferably by shaking, to extract a detectable amount of the fungus from the plant. The extraction solution i... | 09/24/1996 |
| 5559315 | Embossed card reader A low cost, compact embossed card reader for reading embossed characters on credit or debit cards and for integration into a combined magnetic character/magnetic stripe terminal. A low-profile housing forms a card path and provides a surface for mounting ... | 09/24/1996 |
| 5560005 | Methods and systems for object-based relational distributed databases An object-based relational distributed database system and associated methods of operation that transforms data stored in a plurality of remote, heterogeneous user databases into a homogeneous data model is disclosed. Data stored in distributed, heterogen... | 09/24/1996 |
| 5558013 | Device and method for electronically measuring the fullness of a trash receptacle An electronic device for monitoring the fullness of a trash receptacle is disclosed. The trash receptacle is associated with a compactor that has a compression member for compacting trash within the receptacle. The compression member is powered by an elec... | 09/24/1996 |
| 5556537 | Equipment for cleaning waste water A wastewater tank intended for use in a small sewage treatment plant. A spiral pipe is coiled around the exterior casing of the tank and is structurally secured to that casing, so that the pipe imparts structural stiffness to the tank. For example, the ca... | 09/17/1996 |
| 5556416 | Endoscopic instrument The improved endoscopic instrument of the present invention includes handles, a shaft and an end effectors. The handle is capable of adjustment to accommodate variations in hand size, and grip style. The handle is also adjustable relative to the shaft for... | 09/17/1996 |
| 5557254 | Programmable vehicle monitoring and security system having multiple access verification devices A security system having two-way communication with a central monitoring station. The security system is equipped with a computerized control and communications unit. The control and communications unit is connected to a position determination device and ... | 09/17/1996 |
| 5557042 | Impedance detector, in particular for radiosonde operation, as well as a process for the manufacture of a detector An impedance detector, in particular for radiosonde operation. The detector comprises a substrate (10 . . . 10E) made of an insulating material, onto which substrate the electrode and contact patterns (11, 11a, 13) necessary for the formation and connecti... | 09/17/1996 |
| 5556432 | Artificial joint Artificial joint, in particular an endoprothesis for the human knee joint, consisting of at least two joint parts moving with respect to each other, a joint head and a joint base, with toroidal joint surfaces, that have function surfaces with differing ci... | 09/17/1996 |
| 5554730 | Method and kit for making a polysaccharide-protein conjugate A method and kit for making a polysaccharide-protein Schiff base conjugate. A polysaccharide is oxidized with an oxidizing agent and combined with a protein in the presence of a macromolecular crowding agent to form a Schiff base. Preferably, the macromol... | 09/10/1996 |
| 5554041 | Electrical connection device with automatic positioning The invention relates to an electrical connection device with automatic positioning. The device comprises a first moving carriage (44) displaceable in a connection direction (C); a second carriage (48) mounted on the first carriage and movable relative th... | 09/10/1996 |
| 5553892 | Multiple-channel plural-position gas rail and bracket mount therefor A gas rail includes, preferably, three conduits designed to convey vacuum, pressurized oxygen and air, respectively, for a fluid flow system designed to be located in a hospital room. The gas rail includes a fluid coupling for each conduit so that each co... | 09/10/1996 |
| 5553495 | Impedance detector, in particular for radiosonde operation and process for manufacture of an impedance detector An impedance detector, in particular for radiosonde operation. The detector comprises a substrate (10 . . . 10E) made of an insulating material, onto which substrate the electrode and contact patterns (11, 11a, 13) necessary for the formation and connecti... | 09/10/1996 |
| 5554372 | Methods and vaccines comprising surface-active copolymers The present invention comprises adjuvants which, when admixed with an antigen and administered into a human or animal, will induce a more intense immune response to the antigen than when the antigen is administered alone. In many cases, the adjuvant that ... | 09/10/1996 |
| 5551123 | Hinge assembly A hinge assembly having a first hinge leaf pivotally connected to a second hinge leaf by first and second axially aligned pivotal connections, the first and second pivotal connections being axially spaced from one another, a first stop means located adjac... | 09/03/1996 |
| 5551485 | False warp stop diagnostic apparatus A diagnostic device for testing a false warp stop in an industrial loom caused by a failing or offending drop wire. The device provides a connector that is operably engaged with the warp bars of an industrial loom. When a drop wire becomes worn or pliable... | 09/03/1996 |
| 5551832 | Method and apparatus for stacking golf balls A method and apparatus for stacking golf balls in an aesthetically pleasing manner includes the use of a invertible form having a cavity therein. By placing golf balls within the cavity, the form may be inverted and the balls therein allowed to assume a s... | 09/03/1996 |
| 5553215 | Method and system of sharing common formulas in a spreadsheet program and of adjusting the same to conform with editing operations A method and system of adjusting shared formulas in a spreadsheet program in response to editing operations. Upon an editing operation, the boundary line of cells that are shifted is determined with respect to the location of cells sharing a common formul... | 09/03/1996 |
