Abstract: An interchangeable control panel module removably mountable to the housing of the powered unit of a hand-held vacuum cleaner may be configured to provide the feature mix of a given product model without requiring redesign of the housing of the powered unit to accommodate the feature mixes of different product models. The feature face of the interchangeable control panel module is aesthetically continuous with the housing of the powered unit and may be configured to include at least one of an on/off power switch, a headlight and a battery charge indicating bar graph.

Abstract: A multi-station RF thermometer and alarm system measures temperatures and/or percent relative humidity at remote locations by RF weather stations, and displays received temperature and/or other weather data telemetry on a multi-station base station that provides out-of-bounds alarm signal indications whenever temperatures are outside of user-selectable minimum and maximum values. Randomized transmission times in one embodiment and two-phase unique transmission schedules in another lessen the possibility of on-going collisions between two or more transmitters contending for the base station at the same time. Redundant data transmission lessens the possibility of environmental noise interference.

Abstract: The disclosed travel massage brush is an ultra-compact vibrating hair brush that comfortably fits an average woman's or man's hand in the hair brushing or massage modes. It is light in weight and portable permitting grooming and/or soothing scalp or body massage anywhere, at any time. Pivotally connected vibratory brush-head and handle subassemblies provide maximum space saving portability, making the travel massage brush ideal for taking along to the gym, to work, or while traveling. The vibratory brush-head subassembly includes a bristle carrier that is removably attached to a base member thereof and preferably slides on and off the base member to allow for convenient bristle cleaning and to access the battery compartment. Gentle ball-tipped bristles stimulate circulation to hair follicles.

Abstract: An electronic key or other missing object locator device is responsive to the impulse characteristics of received sounds to distinguish expected impulse-like triggering sounds such as humanly produced hand claps from other impulse-like sounds such as speech or music or non-impulse-like sounds. Errors may be counted whenever the received sounds do not correspond to the expected characteristics of the expected impulse-like triggering sounds. Whenever the expected number of triggering sounds having the expected impulse characteristics have been discriminated and detected, an audible alert is sounded, provided that the errors are not too many. The device of the invention is thereby able to distinguish expected hand claps (or other humanly produced sounds) from non-intended music, speech or other impulse-like or non-impulse-like triggering sounds, rendering it operable even in noisy environments. False alarms from mechanical wave energy are prevented.

Abstract: A hand-held wet/dry sculpted massager that floats includes a pliant, sculpted first body providing a flotation bladder that is fixedly attached to a second body providing a vibratory motion imparter and battery receiving water-tight housing, to which a massage pad attachment and a cleaning sponge attachment are removably mounted by snap-fit.

Abstract: A panoramic camera has a camera housing rotatable about an axis of rotation that defines a viewpoint which points along a radial optical path that object rays traverse as the camera is rotated about its axis; a lens assembly having an optical path and a front nodal point mounted for rotation with the camera housing with the optical path of the lens offset from the radial optical path; a specular assembly including an object specular member along the radial optical path mounted for rotation with the housing that cooperates with the lens assembly for gathering object rays that traverse the radial optical path and for deviating them along the optical path of the lens assembly in such a way that the front nodal point of the lens subassembly virtually appears to lie on the axis of rotation thereby eliminating image smearing; and has different ambient light responsive controller embodiments operative either to continuously vary or to preset exposure, or to base exposure on a control sinewave whose phase is obtained

Abstract: An improved bottle brush includes a brush, a squeeze bottle having an internal cavity and a feed tube of predetermined configuration extending from the brush into the internal cavity of the bottle. A liquid cleaning agent partially fills the internal cavity and partitions it into a region of liquid and a superadjacent region of foam. The foam is produced initially by shaking the bottle and is maintained automatically by the shaking action of scrubbing. The bottle brush is usable in a foam-feed and a liquid-feed mode, and the predetermined configuration of the feed tube is determined such that it opens into the region of foam when used in the foam-feed mode and opens into a region of liquid when used in the liquid-feed mode. In either mode, foam or liquid respectively is controllably dispensed without wastage of the liquid cleaning agent by gently squeezing the bottle.

Abstract: A multi-mode exercise machine has a re-configurable arm member operable in alternate upstanding and recumbent configurations that allows the machine to be used, when the re-configurable arm member is configured in its upright configuration, to provide a first mode of exercise where the user is supported in such an upright position as to be able to exercise at least his/her lower body, and that allows the machine to be used, when the re-configurable arm member is configured in its recumbent configuration, to provide a second mode of exercise, where the user is supported in such a recumbent position as to allow the user to exercise at least his/her upper body. In the presently preferred embodiment, the re-configurable arm member includes a pivotally mounted and self-locking arm member movable between a first, upright position and a second, recumbent position. In the presently preferred embodiment, the first and second exercise modes include cycling and rowing exercise modes.

Abstract: A multi-station RF thermometer and alarm system measures temperatures at remote locations by RF thermometers, and displays received temperature telemetry on a multi-station base station that provides out-of-bounds alarm signal indications whenever temperatures are outside of user-selectable minimum and maximum values. Randomized transmission times lessen the possibility of on-going collisions between two or more transmitters contending for the base station at the same time. Redundant data transmission lessens the possibility of environmental noise interference. The redundant data transmitted at random times includes a unique channel ID code, house-keeping data, the current temperature and/or time-to-next-transmission data. The temperature sensing transmitters operate at a low duty cycle with low peak current consumption resulting in long battery life. The multi-station base station may be AC- or battery-powered.

Abstract: A multi-purpose attachment tool for a hand-held vacuum cleaner combines the functionality of both a crevice tool and an extension wand in a single instrument. The multi-purpose attachment tool for a hand-held vacuum cleaner includes an insertion end adapted for friction-fit slidable mounting into the nozzle end of the hand-held vacuum cleaner, a nozzle end adapted for cleaning crevices and the like, and a self-supporting accordion-joint interconnecting the two ends. The self-supporting accordion-joint, preferably an annular bellows, is both axially extendable and bendable off-axis. When it is in its axially collapsed condition, the multi-purpose attachment tool serves as a crevice tool, but when it is axially extended, or axially extended and bent off-axis, the multi-purpose attachment tool serves as a crevice tool and/or an extension wand depending on the cleaning application.

Abstract: The instant shoreline erosion-preventing bank installation comprises a vegetation supporting strengthened skin having negatively-buoyant bottom and side drop-skirts, which skirts each include an extendable reservoir of skin folded on itself accordion-like, and which skirts each include at least one weight. The side and bottom negatively-buoyant drop-skirts of the vegetation supporting strengthened skin fall as the bank is eroded by wave action, conforming the skin to the bank as it erodes in a storm, thereby preventing wash-away of the installation. Energy absorbing and flow control weighted ballasts are attached to the skin; which, among other things, control wave and wind action in a storm so as to prevent wash-off to, and erosion of, adjacent property that may be unprotected. In time, the installation of the invention is completely overgrown with vegetation, permitting the use and enjoyment of the bank protected thereby, provides long term protection from erosion and provides a wildlife habitat.

Abstract: A panoramic camera has a camera housing rotatable about an axis of rotation that defines a viewpoint which points along a radial optical path that object rays traverse as the camera is rotated about its axis; a lens assembly having an optical path and a front nodal point mounted for rotation with the camera housing with the optical path of the lens offset from the radial optical path; a specular assembly including an object specular member along the radial optical path mounted for rotation with the housing that cooperates with the lens assembly for gathering object rays that traverse the radial optical path and for deviating them along the optical path of the lens assembly in such a way that the front nodal point of the lens subassembly virtually appears to lie on the axis of rotation thereby eliminating image smearing; and has different ambient light responsive controller embodiments operative either to continuously vary or to preset exposure, or to base exposure on a control sinewave whose phase is obtained

Abstract: Improved spring elements have a unique energy absorbing element that responds to applied loads to produce counter-acting forces that act to absorb the energy of the applied loading. The greater the magnitude of the applied loads, the more the counter-acting forces equilibrate, which enables the spring elements of the invention to accommodate a range of loading force magnitudes. The improved spring elements of the invention may be integrally formed of plastic, and are suitable for use in a variety of different articles of manufacture. Exemplary single- and double-configuration mattress spring, box spring and edge stiffener embodiments are disclosed.