Abstract: A stringed musical instrument, such as a guitar, having a body with a neck secured to the body and over which are laterally stretched substantially parallel strings, which strings are stretched over a bridge mounted on the body upper face between a tuning key disposed on a head at a distal end of the neck and initial points of termination on the body upper face with the bridge disposed on the upper face intermediate the keys and the initial points of termination. The complete termination arrangement for the strings is comprised of channels in the body for each of the strings which extend from the initial points of termination to final points of terminal securement on the body displaced laterally from the initial points of termination with the strings stretched over a dense non-displaceable surface. Accordingly, the strings are thereby further lengthened beyond the bridge in order to subject the strings to greater tension for a specified musical pitch to provide increased resonance and performance.

Abstract: A mobile wire dispensing apparatus for carrying and moving spools of wire to desired locations. The mobile wire dispensing apparatus includes a conventional hand truck having a longitudinally extending frame with wheels at one end and a handle at the other end, and a foot plate at the wheeled end projecting at a right angle to the frame. The hand truck is converted to a wire dispensing apparatus with a kit which includes upper and lower V-shaped frames having an apex and two legs diverging from the apex to distal ends, whereby the distal ends of the V-shaped frames are securable to the frame of the hand truck at spaced locations with the V-frames being aligned and the lower V-shaped frame engaging the inside of the footplate. A hub socket is provided on the apex of the lower V-shaped frame and protrudes upwardly towards the apex of the upper V-shaped frame to receive a wire spool core end over the hub.

Abstract: A shoe drying rack to fit a dryer's drum, comprised of an open container divided into two mirror imaged halves joined together by an adjustable connector arm. In one embodiment, the adjustable connector arm is a telescopic arm, allowing for the sizing of the shoe drying rack to fit different size drums of a clothes dryer. A strap and holding posts located in each of the half cylinders keep one or more shoes in place during drying. A shoe drying rack in which the two containers are mirror-imaged half cylinders fits best within the round dryer drums, allowing for a large surface area of contact for stability and balance during drying.

Abstract: A retractor for percutaneous surgery in a patient which includes an elongate retractor tube composed of circumferentially arranged elongate independent tube segments with proximal ends of the tube segments respectively hinged to a unitary collar whereby the distal ends of the tube segments may be outwardly expanded in umbrella fashion by outwardly pivoting the segments about their respective hinges for thereby retracting surrounding tissue. The distal end of the retractor tube is provided with a tapered distal end suitably dimensioned for insertion into a stab incision. An internally open expansion collet is coaxially received in the collar for adjustable coaxial advancement downwardly into the collar toward the retractor tube segments and fulcrum tabs protrude inwardly and upwardly towards the expansion collet from each tube segment adjacent a respective hinge.

Abstract: A method for laminating glass sheets wherein laminating film (1) is placed over one surface of a first glass sheet (2) and the film (1) is heated with short wave radiation (4) to a bonding temperature. Heated areas (8) of the film (1) are successively pressed to the glass sheet (2) in a continuous manner for purging air from between the film (1) and the first glass sheet (2) and for applying bonding pressure. The pressed film areas (8) are then cooled whereby an appropriate bond is attained between the film (1) and the first glass sheet (2). Thereafter the first glass sheet (2) with its bonded film is subjected to a partial vacuum and a second glass sheet (10) is positioned on the film (1) and the second glass sheet (10) is pressed (11) to the film (1).

Abstract: A power protection system for protection against an electrical transient surge and/or interference. Such a system can be useful in the dispensing of fuel at gas stations, convenience stores, truck stops, and other such locations, for protection of the low voltage signal wires that go from the dispenser to the store. Broadly contemplated are modular arrangements where removal of a corrupted module in a cabinet containing several modules will still keep the general communications circuit intact. Particularly contemplated are modules which include integral fuses and indicator lights.

Abstract: A freeze-proof water valve (10) for supplying secondary water under pressure in freezing ambient conditions to a snow making apparatus (11) having primary water spray nozzles (12) and secondary water spray nozzles (13,14). The valve housing (15) is provided with an interior primary water chamber (16) with a water inlet (17) and a primary water outlet (18) for continuous passage of primary water under pressure therethrough for delivery to primary water spray nozzles (12) on the snow making apparatus (11). A valve body (22,24) is mounted within this valve housing (15) within the primary water chamber (16) for flow of water therearound from the housing inlet (17) to the primary outlet (18) to prevent freeze-up of the valve body (22,24) when in the off position.

Abstract: A shot pattern control wad structure for use in a cartridge for shotgun wherein the cartridge includes a case having a tubular outer wall and a wad structure located in the case between gunpowder and a charge of pellets. The wad structure of the present invention is a two-piece structure and includes a base wad having a tubular cylindrical body open at a forward end thereof and has a closed rearward end that faces adjacent to the gun powder. The cylindrical body of the base wad is provided with slits longitudinally extending from the open forward end. The second portion of the wad structure is a shot container having a tubular cylindrical body with open rear and front ends and contains the charge of pellets and is dimensioned to be slidably received within the base wad.

Abstract: The Anti Hijacking Fail-safe System with Alert Locator Tracking Capabilities is a tamper-proof computer hardware/software system that could be installed in a commercial aircraft that, in case of an emergency, could be irreversibly engaged by the pilot, or by remote control, to take complete control of all necessary navigation and flight controls. It will then identify and select a predetermined, suitable airport. After this selection is made, the system will then vector the aircraft to the selected airport. After considering many factors, the system will engage an auto-land system. The auto-land system will take the aircraft to a safe landing, full stop, and shut down. The system could then be pre programmed with several other emergency functions, specific to the aircraft in which it is installed.

Abstract: A multi-piece helmet for protecting the head region of a wearer and providing emergency removal wherein the helmet shell is provided in separate front and rear portions along a seam. A securing mechanism extends between the helmet portions and holds them together in a releaseable manner. The securing mechanism is positioned on the interior surfaces of the helmet shell and finger access ports are provided in the helmet for providing finger access to the securing mechanism from exterior surfaces of the helmet whereby the securing mechanism may be finger manipulated for thereby releasing the securing mechanism and completely separating the front helmet shell portion from the rear helmet shell portion without requirement of a tool.

Abstract: A method for laminating glass sheets wherein laminating film is placed over one surface of a first glass sheet and the film is heated with microwave radiation to a bonding temperature. Heated areas of the film are successively pressed to the glass sheet in a continuous manner for purging air from between the film and the first glass sheet and for applying bonding pressure. The pressed film areas are then cooled whereby an appropriate bond is attained between the film and the first glass sheet. Thereafter the first glass sheet with its bonded film is subjected to a partial vacuum and a second glass sheet is positioned on the film and the second glass sheet is pressed to the film. The film is then reheated with microwave radiation to a bonding temperature and thereafter cooled whereby an appropriate bond is obtained between the film and the second glass sheet to provide a glass lamination.

Abstract: A single motor rack and pinion driven sootblower is converted to a dual motor version. The single motor version includes a lance tube which is advanced and retracted transversely on a carriage and is further rotationally driven by a translational mechanical drive which rotates the lance tube as it is being axially driven. The conversion is accomplished by disengaging the translational drive by removing the original drive hub within the drive housing of the carriage and this original drive hub is substituted with a tubular rotary drive hub which is not in driving engagement with the translational drive when installed. A second rotational motor is then mounted on the carriage assembly and connected to externally exposed portions of the substitute hub through a gear drive for independently rotating the substitute hub and thereby independently rotating the lance tube about its axis.

Abstract: A cushioning means for placement on a computer keyboard is provided for reducing the discomfort of a typist using a keyboard and to personalize the keyboard for a typist. A pad may be attached or applied to one or more keytops of a conventional keyboard, each pad being of a self-adhesive reusable translucent gel material. The pads may be attached to the individual keys without a separate adhesive layer. The pads are translucent allowing the key identifier to remain unobstructed to a user. The pads may be used not only to cushion the keyboard, but to allow a user to personalize or decorate her keyboard. The pads may be of an assortment of colors and predetermined sizes in order to fit over the different keyboard keys. The pads may also be used to cushion or decorate other office devices including a computer mouse and a telephone keypad.

Abstract: A therapeutic arm exercise device which includes a vertical supporting frame for mounting on a vertical wall surface. An upright elongated exercise base board is pivotally secured relative to the frame for selectively positioning and retaining the board at different angles from vertical to less than vertical. An elongated track is provided on the outer surface of the board and a weight slide is slidably received on this track and is provided with a handle whereby a patient may manually slide the slide up and down along the track for rehabilitation exercise. In addition, the vertical position of the device may be adjusted on the wall. Also, the amount of weight for the slide may be adjusted. Indicia is provided on the board adjacent the track for indicating distance that the slide is moved by the patient upwardly along the track and a biofeedback annunciator is also provided to indicate attainment of a goal distance of upward movement along the track by the slide.