Abstract: An air-blowing assembly for providing cooling air to the user of a spa, jetted bathtub or other heated water-containing member. The assembly has an air blower with an air blower inlet which received air from outside of the area of the spa. The blower conducts cooling air into a manifold. The manifold directs cooling air out of a series of vents on the upper lip of the spa. The air vents are adjustable in direction so that the user of the spa can direct cooling air to alleviate discomfort from an otherwise hot and moist atmosphere.

Abstract: A bioreactor having an outer shell compartment containing many coaxial pairs of hollow microporous fibers. An annular compartment exists between an outer surface of the inner hollow microporous fiver and the inner surface of the outer hollow microporous fiber. The annular compartment preferably contains blood or plasma. The blood or plasma is, thus, exposed to two microporous hollow fibers which have fluids which can purify or otherwise affect the blood through the walls of two different microporous hollow fibers. An artificial liver or kidney can result when liver or kidney cells are placed in the shell compartment.

Abstract: A seat for racing bicycles which is mounted on the seat post by a longitudinally extending rail of lightweight material, preferably of T cross section, formed integrally with the seat.

Abstract: A spa cooling fan assembly mounted in the wall of a spa cabinet. The cabinet encloses a water circulating pump. A fan motor frame is secured over an opening in the spa cabinet wall and the fan is driven by a turbine. The turbine is driven by a flow of water from the water circulating pump so that when the water pump is running, the cooling fan also operates. A second cooling fan assembly may be mounted in a second opening in the spa cabinet wall. One cooling fan draws air out of the cabinet and the second cooling fan draws air from outside te cabinet into the cabinet. The result is that when the water pump is running, air is being circulated into the spa cabinet to keep the pump motor cool.

Abstract: A cutting frame for holding an object to be sliced into two pieces. The object, such as a bagel, has a bottom surface, a peripheral edge, and a top surface. The cutting frame has a base which holds a support stem, which in turn holds a ring shaped guide member. The guide member has a knife blade guide slot extending through it to guide a knife downwardly through the guide member and through a bagel or other object held in the guide member. The process of using the cutting frame includes holding a bagel against a closed side of the compartment formed within the guide member so that the user's fingers press the bagel against the closed surface of the compartment. A knife is then placed in the knife blade guide slot and drawn back and forth downwardly through the bagel to form an accurate slice parallel to the bottom of the bagel. The guide blade knife slot extends completely through the guide member so that the bagel is always cut into two separate pieces.

Abstract: A refractometer which provides a “sugar” or “diet” indication when immersed on a beverage. The device is electronic and lights either a “sugar” or “diet” signal to the user. A prove has a light source and a photodetector at one end and an angled face at the other end. Depending on the refractive index of the beverage, the light is either reflected back into the probe and into the photodetector and exits out of the angled face and does not reflect back to the photodetector.

Abstract: An adjustment knob assembly for selectably adjusting and securing an arrow deployment parameter of an archery bow. The adjustment knob assembly includes a base block mounted on the archery bow with a base throughbore extending between inner and outer base ends, and an index surface surrounding an outer base aperture leading into the base throughbore. A pivot shaft is rotatably received within the base throughbore and is obstructed from axial displacement in an outward direction. The pivot shaft has one end connected to an adjustment knob and the other end operating to adjust the arrow deployment parameter when rotated by the adjustment knob. Spring-loaded detents of the inner deck engage detent recesses on the index surface as the adjustment knob is rotated to various angular positions. And a preferably screw-type fastener has a threaded shank positioned within a threaded knob throughbore of the adjustment knob, and a knob head connected to the threaded shank which.

Abstract: A label applying apparatus and method for concentrically applying annular labels (having adhesive on one side) to compact discs. The apparatus has a similar size and shape as that of a conventional jewel case and has first and second platforms capable of hinging relative to each other between open and closed positions. When in the open position, a compact disc may be mounted on the first platform, and an annular label delicately retained on the second platform with the adhesive side up. Preferably, the annular label is retained on the second platform by means of several centrally located fingers which contact an inner circumference edge of the annular label. When the first and second platforms are hinged to the closed position, the annular label and the compact disc are concentrically aligned and joined together in a bonding relationship.

Abstract: A pill dispensing reminder for assisting a patient to remember to take one or more pills at a preferred time. A microprocessor is held in a case and the microprocessor includes a 24 hour clock and outputs information to both a warning indicator and a data display window at programmed times. The microprocessor is connected to a data link interface which is capable of receiving programming information. A programming information sending unit exists separately from the case and is located at a pharmacy, doctor's office, health food store, or with the user. It includes a data link interface which mates with the data link interface held by the case. The case may include one or more pill compartments. A warning signal transmission unit may also be provided separately from the case and may transmit a warning signal generated from the case to a mobile or stationary receiver via wireless or wired output.

Abstract: An arm exercising device for strengthening a user's biceps and triceps. The device has an upper arm support platform which is attached to the user's upper arm. The upper arm platform is hinged to a hand driven arm. The hand driven arm holds a handle so that the handle can slide along the hand driven arm as the exerciser pulls and pushes the hand driven arm with respect to the upper arm platform. Friction is provided at a pivot point between these two members so that the user's bicep is exercised during the pulling in of the hand driven arm and the tricep is exercised as the hand driven arm is pushed outwardly. The device can also be attached between a user's chest and an arm and used to exercise deltoid and lateral muscles.

Abstract: A pedestrian push button assembly for activating a signal generator to generate a signal at a street crosswalk. The pedestrian push button assembly has a rigid frame having a piezoelectric material of a solid state switch positioned across a central aperture, and an elastic sealing ring positioned in a groove surrounding the piezoelectric material. A button is secured to the rigid frame such that (1) a seal contact portion of the button sealably rests against the elastic sealing ring, (2) a very small space separates an abutment surface of the button and a stopper surface of the rigid frame, and (3) an elastic pressure portion of the button contacts the piezoelectric material. When operated, the elastic sealing ring is sufficiently biased to urge the elastic pressure portion against the piezoelectric material to generate a signal pulse.

Abstract: A corrugated skateboard deck and method of corrugating skateboard decks in the skateboard deck manufacturing process. The corrugated skateboard deck has elongated corrugations embossed into at least one of its top and bottom surfaces and generally extending between first and second ends of the skateboard deck. The elongated corrugations are made up of ridges and grooves which are pressure-formed in a method of corrugating the surfaces of skateboard decks. This method utilizes a high-density corrugated template to emboss corrugations under high pressures.

Abstract: A bowstring release system for crossbows having a preferably ball-shaped nocking member mounted on a bowstring for engaging a nock portion of an arrow. Upper and lower surfaces of the bowstring release system are positioned near the rear of the crossbow, and move between open and closed positions relative to each other to vary the size of a release passage defined therebetween. In the closed position, the upper and lower catch surfaces are positioned sufficiently near each other to block the nocking member from passing through the release passage. And in the open position, the upper and lower catch surfaces are sufficiently separated to allow passage of the nocking member for propelling the arrow. When the bowstring is cocked, a locking mechanism actuates one or both of the upper and lower catch surfaces to the closed position, and a trigger mechanism releases the locking mechanism and actuates either one or both of the upper and lower catch surfaces to the open position.

Abstract: A bicycle seat which has right and left side portions, each having a rear area and an intermediate area, and a nose portion. The right side nose portion is spaced apart from the left side nose portion to provide a gap at the front of the seat of at least 1½ inches.

Abstract: A process using a hydrophobic membrane separation process for making an enhanced flavor fluid, particularly a low-alcohol brew, having improved flavor is disclosed.

Abstract: A wheel liner system for attaching a wheel liner to a wheel of a vehicle having a mounting surface and lug nuts engaging lugs adjacent the mounting surface. The wheel liner has an annular peripheral portion with an inner perimeter, and a center portion with a step sidewall extending from the inner perimeter to a plateau having a plurality of holes which receive the lug nuts. The plateau is preferably spaced from the mounting surface to position the plurality of holes adjacent corner portions of the lug nuts, which enables the wheel liner to transitionally contact and support the corner portions of the lug nuts during installation. Preferably the wheel liner is releasably secured to the wheel using a hub cover having a deck portion with at least two apertures and an outer skirt extending below the deck portion. The outer skirt matingly abuts and surrounds the step sidewall of the wheel liner to center the hub cover and the wheel liner relative to each other.

Abstract: Compact disk holder which holds and protects a compact disk, and yet is very thin. The holder has a bottom tray with a disk resting area which is impervious to dust. A center hub is held by the tray. The center hub, when holding a compact disk, pulls the compact disk against the disk resting area of the bottom tray. Preferably, the bottom tray has an outer ring near the outer edge of the compact disk outside of the CD's information containing area. The typical compact disk has a circular ridge inside its information containing area, and the bottom tray is shaped so that this ridge is pulled against its surface so that no dust can get between the outer ridge on the tray and the inner ridge on the compact disk. The bottom tray is preferably free of a cover which further leads to its thin height. The holder can be about one-third the thickness of a conventional jewel case style of compact disk holder.