Abstract: A vehicle backing guide for marking a parking area into which a vehicle may be backed, comprising an elongate strap, a plurality of bright segments spaced apart longitudinally along the strap having a high visual contrast with the strap and an indicator member that indicates to the vehicle driver when the vehicle has obtained it preferred position in the parking area. The strap is of length representative of a length of a vehicle to be backed into a parking area therein substantially defining a side boundary of the parking area, the bright segments providing a measure of distance along the strap and hence the parking area, at least a portion of the bright segments being of a same length and mutually spaced apart a same distance longitudinally along the strap, the measure of distance providing the driver an indicator of backing progress into the parking area.

Abstract: A spring augmented fishhook comprising a hook member with an eye on a first end of an elongate leg portion and a hook on a second end of the leg portion, a coil spring having a diameter smaller than the eye and forming a spring channel longitudinal through its center through which the elongate leg portion passes, a clip resiliently bending at a point of flexure into elongate first and second clip members, the first clip member passing downward through the eye and then through the channel and extending beyond spring upper and lower ends with a first latch member on its end, and the second clip member extending generally downward with a second latch member on its end matching the first latch member such that the first and second latch members latch together as the first and second clip members are urged together under flexure, the spring held on the hook member leg portion between the eye and the latched first and second clip members as spring stops such that when the hook is pulled downward such as by a fish w

Abstract: An extendable pole with an attachment mechanism on its distal end for receiving a selective tool from a set of selective tools. The set of tools includes a push plate for pushing a load slidably in a vehicle such as in a truck bed; a hook for retrieving a load slidably from deep into the vehicle; and a brush head each attachable transversely on the pole distal end to operate nearly vertically with the pole nearly horizontal.

Abstract: A concrete form with a keyway with an opening between opposing keyway lips together with a base that fits through the keyway opening and rotates without restriction in the keyway such that a portion of the base rests behind the keyway lips so when it is pulled as a clamp or tie is exercised to secure a stake to the form the base is secured tight against the form front. The concrete form further has at least one brace wall extending between intermediate the keyway back wall and the form back. Form end connectors securable in form ends are provided that join two forms aligned end to end.

Abstract: A pavement cleaning vehicle includes a tow vehicle and a trailer towed behind the tow vehicle that includes a vacuum head mounted to the trailer that consumes fresh water from a fresh water holding tank on the tow vehicle in rinsing underlying pavement. Pressurized fresh water is sprayed within a spray containing spray chamber of a vacuum head through nozzles aligned transversely across the vehicle travel path. The vacuum chamber is partitioned in the vacuum head from the spray chamber by a divider extending downward but terminating short of the underlying pavement therein establishing a chamber gap through which rinse water within the spray chamber dispersed from the pavement is drawn into the vacuum chamber which is maintained at reduced air pressure by an air-water separator tank that draws air and water mix from the vacuum head into it for air-water separation. Water is then conducted to a rinse water holding tank and air is exhausted to atmosphere.

Abstract: A head mounted display (HMD) is worn on a user's head for displaying an image. A HMD is a personal see-through device designed to view still or video images or data that nonetheless permits the user to view his surroundings.

Abstract: A hand-portable serving tray having a compartmented food carrier releasably engaged over a collector tray, the food carrier comprising a plurality of upstanding walls dividing a plurality of close-pack compartments. Within each compartment is at least one hole on a compartment bottom that drains food exudates to the collector tray below. Each compartment bottom is configured to direct fluid to its drain hole.

Abstract: A modular portable wheel chair ramp comprising a plurality of mechanically interconnected modular ramp sections. Ramp sections are supported by adjustable post assemblies on ramp section sides. A rail panel comprising upper and lower rails extend between said outer post on one end and a second post matching in complement the outer post on an opposite end wherein said second post of a first rail panel removably connects to an outer post of an adjacent rail panel therein connecting said rail panels together. Slats connecting between upper and lower rails form a rail panel. An inner rail is also secured between the posts, interlocking with an extended lug on an inner rail section end fitting into a matching hole in an adjacent inner rail section end to make a continuous inner section rail.

Abstract: A kick down and kick up catamaran assembles by hand with holes in main spar and stern spar ends receiving threaded rods extending vertically from the side-by-side hulls, secured in place with hand knobs. A bow spar with a line to the mast lifts the mast to vertical and is then secured between the hulls. A mast operationally rests with its proximal end alongside the main spar, held in place by an easily removable cord that wraps the main spar and slips into a mast slot opening at the mast proximal end. A trampoline stretches between the main and stern spars providing a platform on which the operator sits, tightened by a plurality of adjustable straps between the trampoline and the stern spar.

Abstract: A flexible shaft of nonrigid components for use in pushing an eddy current probe through small diameter pipe bends includes a thin-walled flexible outer sleeve enclosing a data cable helically coiled around a central inner core, typically of braided wire. The inner core is functionally incompressible and inextensible to sustain compressive forces derived from pushing the shaft through a pipe. The outer sleeve supported from within by the data cable and the inner core for sustaining lateral forces of pusher rollers is longitudinally even and smooth to advance the shaft without damage to it.

Abstract: A spray nozzle mounts to an extension pole end in a swivel joint. A swivel nozzle base connects to the pole and a manifold swivelly couples the base to a swivel nozzle head such that pressurized fluid passing through the pole passes into the base, through the manifold, into the head and then out of an orifice in the head through a spray tip attached to the head at the orifice. All fluid seals, O-rings, are also protected within the base. To effect head rotation and to hold the head in a preferred orientation relative to the base, a lever is attached to the head to the manifold firmly attached to the head. To move the lever on the distal end of an extension pole, it is connected to a rod that runs between the lever and an actuator on the pole. Typically, the actuator comprises a grip around the pole that slides along the pole when exercised by an operator. A spray gun is normally attached to the pole proximal end with a trigger that regulates high-pressure fluid into the pole.

Abstract: A data input device that substitutes for a traditional keyboard employs the same finger and wrist movements that a user employs on a keyboard but without a keyboard enabling a user's hands to rest comfortably in the user's lap or otherwise as the user may choose. Finger positions are identified for symbols and commands by tracking a user's wrist movement in pitch and yaw, which when combined with traditional finger movements multiplies the number of positions representative of symbols and commands. The data input device thus identifies and communicates a full set of symbols and commands of a traditional keyboard to a computer processor. The device typically employs a glove adapted to fit snugly on a user's hand outfitted with necessary switches to track the user's finger and wrist movement.

Abstract: A self-recovery lift chair provides an improved way for an individual who has fallen to return to a seated position and then be able to stand or wheel to another location. The wheeled chair includes a lift frame and a seat suspended from a lift mechanism in the frame. The seat moves vertically from contact with the floor to variable or above normal seat heights. Seat sides fold from vertical to horizontal to serve as a loading sideboard. The lift mechanism comprises a lift trolley connected to the seat, a reversible motorized drive mechanism powered by a rechargeable battery, and a detachable actuation switch that can be operated by the user or an assistant. The lift trolley is stabilized in the frame by a vertical stabilizing rod connected on each side of a drive receiver on a central vertical threaded drive rod. Brakes keep the chair stationary until it is necessary to be moved.

Abstract: A portable shampoo bowl secured to a platform is sized to fit over a traditional kitchen sink with depending lugs extending along sink sides and adjustable on the platform around the platform perimeter to accommodate commonly found sinks to prevent the platform from shifting laterally on the sink. A neck rest channel on the bowl extends forward from the platform and beyond the sink to comfortably reach a person in the neck rest channel. The bottom of the forward portion of the bowl is mildly sloped downward through the forward portion of the bowl to a horizontal bottom portion in which drain holes are located. The bowl is mounted intermediate the length of the platform on its forward portion such that a platform rearward portion remains uncovered as a shelf on which bottles of supplies and tools can be placed, confining drippings from the user's wet hands and general mess from the bottles and such on the platform within the bounds of the sink.

Abstract: In an eddy current probe shaft, a sleeve encloses an inner core of length shorter than the sleeve causing the inner core to curl within sleeve. The inner core includes data cables that typically comprise coaxial cables to which the sleeve is attached at shaft lead and trail ends. The shaft is assembled by stretching the sleeve over the inner core and securing the stretched sleeve to the inner core, the sleeve causing the inner core to curl as the sleeve returns to its unstretched length. Slack thus produced in the inner core, and particularly in the coaxial cables, allows the probe to bend without stressing the coaxial cables and without two coaxial cables within the sleeve moving relative to each other therein eliminating signal drift phenomenon caused by a change in capacitance characteristics of the coaxial cables when insulation of the coaxial cables stretch upon bending.