Abstract: A stand for an LCD monitor includes a storage area and a front message center. The stand is box-shaped and has a flat top for the monitor. The sides are shaped like a trapezoid such that the hinged front door is slanted downwards and towards the user. The outer surface of the front door has a left dry erase side for writing notes and a right cork board side for posting messages. The inside of the stand has one or more sliding drawers with a variety of compartments for storing articles like pens and paper clips. The lower section of the inside of the stand also has convenient storage space. Lower adjustable feet allow the user to adjust the height of the monitor. A cup holder or phone holder can also be included on the top.

Abstract: A small, easily transportable wind turbine system has a square rail base secured to the ground by stakes and by its own weight. Slanted vertical legs connect a smaller square upper support perimeter to the base. A three-section telescoping mast is attached to the base and to the upper support. Winches and guy wires raise the second mast. As the second mast is raised, static guy wires raise the third mast. A wind generating turbine is attached to the top of the third mast. A controller senses the maximum output of the turbine and raises or lowers the height of the masts such that the minimum wind speed necessary to produce the maximum electric output is produced. The controller also feeds energy to a battery storage system and directly to a utility panel.

Abstract: A highly portable sand bag hopper has the shape of a cabinet with the front open. The flat, solid top of the cabinet has a loading opening for loading sand into a lower cone. A horizontal sliding door located near the lower, smaller tapered end of the cone opens and closes the lower discharge opening by pulling a spring-loaded lever arm. The upper part of the cone is loaded with sand at a predetermined level to discharge discreet amounts of sand. A seal may be located around the lower opening to sweep sand or debris from the top of the discharge door.

Abstract: A drag strip race amusement ride runs on a straight-line track and is propelled to high rates of acceleration over the 150-foot racetrack. The vehicle cab seats nine. Each racer has an individual acceleration pedal. Located on the front windshield and on each side window is an LCD video screen. Audio sounds are also introduced into the cab during the ride. When the signal is given to begin the race, each racer hits his acceleration pedal. A central computer system synchronizes the video, audio, acceleration and deceleration so that the sensory perceptions of sight, sound and feeling of an actual drag strip race are created. A winner is determined by measuring the reaction time of each racer between the signal and the pedal.

Abstract: A flat, sturdy rescue board is shaped like a sled. The long edges of the board platform have wings for attaching handles or arm hooks to the platform. A rotatable handle is attached to each wing. Each handle can rotate ninety degrees only. The handles are normally parallel to the top of the board surface but may be rotated ninety degrees so that they are perpendicular to the board. When a victim is loaded onto the board the handles may be used to extricate the board and victim from the dangerous situation. Semi-circular arm hooks may also be attached to each wing. When a victim is loaded onto the board, his arms are positioned above the hooks. When the board is pulled to safety the victim remains secured to the board by the arm hooks. The board also has lower rails attached to the bottom of the board for sliding the board along ice or on long the ground.

Abstract: An automatic decapping device for test tubes is capable of decapping 20 or more test tubes pre-loaded onto a round carousel. A small motor drives three offset cams. The first offset cam pushes a decap/eject arm over the cap of a tube. The cam and associated drive arms and brackets move a needle down and into the cap. The decap arm and needle are then raised and pull the cap upward and back, removing the cap. An ejection lever then removes the cap from the needle and the cap is fed down a disposal chute. A second offset cam simultaneously moves a support arm onto the lower part of the vertical tube to support the tube as the decapping occurs. As the decap/eject and support arms return to their home positions a third offset cam drives the carousel to position the next tube in front of the decap/eject and support arms and the cycle begins again. A one-way spring ratchet positioning mechanism allows for the incremental positioning of each tube in proper position for each decapping cycle.

Abstract: After-market, detachable warning lights for a reversible highway sign are easily attachable to existing stop/slow highway signs currently in use in highway construction areas. Left and right light boxes are attached to opposite vertical edges of the sign with a pair of red lights on the “stop” side of the sign and a pair of yellow lights on the “slow” side of the sign. A multi-functional switch enables the workman to create a variety of lighting conditions. These conditions could include red and yellow constantly ON; red and yellow blinking; red and yellow strobing slowly; and red and yellow strobing rapidly. In addition, the switch enables the workman to put either set of lights in a particular independent mode thus increasing the variation of the lighting system. For example, the red lights may utilize a constant ON mode while the yellow lights could be slowly strobing. The sign and pole have internal wiring and are supported by a lower base with wheels. The twelve-volt battery supply rides on the base.

Abstract: A system providing an inductive power and data link between an external transmitter and miniature internal receiver is presented. The system is suited to applications where the receiver must be of a small size and the system must consume very little power, such as an implanted biomedical device. The system is also compatible with systems where bi-directional communications are required. The novel transmitter and receiver form an improved forward data telemetry system. The transmitter consists of a Class-E converter with its optimum operating frequency being synchronously, instantaneously and efficiently altered in accordance with the data to be transmitted, thereby producing an FSK modulated magnetic field of substantially constant amplitude. The constant amplitude output allows for the continuous, data-independent transfer of power to the miniature receiver and its associated electronics.

Abstract: A clear, hollow cylindrical tube having an internal circuit board with LED lights provides a lighting and flashing illumination device. The LED lights may either all be illuminated at once, or have certain LEDs with constant illumination while other LEDs may be placed into a flashing mode. The power source for the lighting and flashing apparatus includes either standard or rechargeable batteries and a 12-volt external source. The 12-volt external source may also be used to recharge the rechargeable batteries. The cylinder has an upper collar with both magnetic and hook hanging mechanisms. The rechargeable LED lighting and flashing apparatus provides much more illumination than a flashlight using standard charging and lighting electrical parts.

Abstract: A log rocker has a long lever arm with a back cylinder fulcrum at its bottom end. Also attached to the bottom end of the lever arm is a semi-circular, curved, pair of prongs and an upper, semi-circular shaped, pivoting surround arm. The surround arm has a spike at its outer end. The lever arm also has a handle at the top and a foot brace about one-third from the ground. To use the device the logger forces the pair of prongs underneath a log and then locks the log onto the rocker by rotating the upper, surround, pivot arm and driving the spike into the log to secure the device around the log. The lever can then be rotated to allow the logger to raise the log up off the ground and onto the cylindrical fulcrum for cutting.

Abstract: A quick attaching mechanism is provided for a walk-behind mower power unit. The walk-behind mower power unit deck has upper brackets attached to the front of the deck and lower holes drilled into the lower part of the vertical sides of the deck. The accessory unit deck has an upper horizontal rod attached to the left and right sides of the accessory unit and lower attaching holes corresponding to the lower holes in the left and right lower sides of the power unit. The lower sides of the accessory unit also have a V-shaped adapting bracket to facilitate the alignment of the lower holes. Once the rod is pivotably secured in the upper brackets and the lower holes are aligned, a handle pin is inserted through the lower holes and secured. Utilizing this method and mechanism many different types of accessories are readily and quickly attached to a walk-behind power unit.

Abstract: A dock swivel step is attached to a dock pole by clamps. The swivel step has vertical outer and inner tubes. The vertical tube is clamped to the dock pole. An inner L shaped tube slides inside the outer tube. Attached to the horizontal part of the inner tube is an outer tube. The outer tube is attached to a bracket which in turn is attached to the dock step. The step is biases away from the dock and has a slot near the dock side of the step. The inner vertical and horizontal tube has an angle bracket which receives the slot the dock step to secure it in the horizontal and deployed position. In order to remove the dock step, one simply pulls the step slot away from the angle and pulls the step in the vertical position. The inner tube can then be rotated to a position where the step is vertical and parallel to the dock and in an un-deployed position.

Abstract: A real-size simulated drag strip ride is presented which recreates the physical and visual sensations of a drag race. A pair of real-size dragsters are positioned along specified and controlled parallel linear tracks. The occupant is positioned inside the driver's compartment, with a full safety harness securing him in place in an adjustable seat. The invention includes audio sounds of ignition, “burn-out” and acceleration simulating a drag strip race, as well as simulated smoke from the “burn out” portion of the race preparation. Once the simulated light tower signals that the dragster is set to race, each driver of two, side-by-side vehicles pushes the acceleration pedal to accelerate the vehicle through an initial acceleration zone. The dragsters are propelled by use of a pneumatically powered piston attached to a cable located out of sight underneath the vehicle. The race is finished when the cars pass the finish line. Speeds and the winner are displayed on the starting line tower.

Abstract: A skin cream is presented which reduces wrinkles upon topical application to the skin. The main ingredients of the composition include water and a xanthine based compound composition which is mixed together in a first vessel and a glycerin composition heated in a second vessel. The three components of the active ingredient are mixed carefully, making sure that any precipitate produced is remixed into the solution. After heating and mixing the components, the entire composition is cooled with care being taken to push any precipitate back into solution to ensure an even distribution of all of the components. The active ingredient thus produced may be combined with a suitable pharmaceutical vehicle to provide the topical wrinkle reducing moisturizing and protecting composition. The composition is topically applied to the effected area over a period of days or months in order to reduce or entirely eliminate wrinkles and dryness from the skin. The final active ingredient may also be used for other applications.

Abstract: A ballot secrecy sleeve is presented which is used to cover a ballot once it has been marked by the voter. The secrecy sleeve has a top and a bottom and a narrow shoulder at one end as well as a slot for pushing the ballot once it has been inserted into the ballot scanning machine. The ballot secrecy sleeve covers the entire ballot except for a small portion of the ballot that protrudes out of the secrecy sleeve. The ballot is placed within the sleeve. The ballot and sleeve are then placed into the scanning machine ballot slot. Once the ballot and sleeve are in place, the voter pushes the upper end of the ballot using the cutout so that the ballot is fed onto the receiving and advancing rollers of the machine. The ballot is then fed into the scanning and tabulating portion of the machine while it is completely hidden by either the ballot machine slot cover or the ballot secrecy sleeve.

Abstract: A platform chair for sexual intercourse includes front and rear legs connected to each other by cross braces. A horizontal flat supporting platform connects the legs and cross braces. The platform supports a cushioned surface. The cushioned surface is connected to the horizontal platform by a number of springs, usually five. The cushioned surface slopes from the upper head to the lower hip sections. In front and below the hip section of the cushion is a padded seat. The seat is used by the dominant partner and is located between the legs. A handrail is also located above the flat padded support such that it is within easy reach of either participant. Supine footrests are located in front of the hip portion of the cushion and above the seat for use when the non-dominant partner is in a supine position.