Abstract: A method and apparatus for holding an article to be painted coated with a stand. In one embodiment the stand comprises (a) a first leg, (b) a second leg, (c) an upper connecting member attached to the first and second legs at an upper elevational position, (d) a base connecting the first and second legs at a lower elevational position, (e) at least part of the upper connecting member being insertable in a hardware opening of the article, and (f) the base extending on at least two sides of the article.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for fluid transfer between a fixed marine production platform and a work vessel (eg. jack up barge). The method includes positioning the work vessel next to the production platform and then adjusting the elevational position of the vessel relative to the production platform go that the deck of the production platform and the deck of the work vessel or at about the same elevational position. A bridge truss spans between the deck portions of the production platform and work vessel, the truss having interconnected truss members and a planar surface that enables flexible hoses to be supported by the truss. The truss further includes a plurality of piping spool pieces that span across the truss. Ends of the spool pieces have quick connect fittings that enable the spool pieces to be quickly connected to the piping system of the production platform and work vessel. The gap between the production platform and the work vessel are spanned with the truss.

Abstract: A fabric or other suitable, flexible material is cut, sewn and furnished with joinable hook and loop fastener portions to become a re-sizable pouch which itself envelopes the rearward portion of a foot operated pedal, preventing the undesirable movement of the pedal from the desired location of operation during use. A base portion of the pouch is fitted with joinable hook type fasteners on the posterior section of the base. The re-sizable pouch is then affixed with joinable hook type fasteners, attached to the posterior section of the base, to a secured portion of loop type material.

Abstract: A safety fuel tank and filler cap apparatus is disclosed for use with a powered implement such as a lawnmower, tiller, weed trimmer or the like. The apparatus includes a switch member mounted on a fuel cap and tank that disallow engine operation when the filler cap is separated from the tank such as during refueling. In another embodiment, the apparatus includes a locking mechanism that can be mounted on the engine body or fuel tank that disallows removal of the filler cap until the engine has cooled to a predetermined temperature that will not cause the fuel to ignite.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing sanitized water in a bottled water dispenser includes a reservoir and one or more dispensing spigots. An ozone generating system generates ozone for sanitizing the water. Ozone is generated and collected within an ozone generator housing. A blower transmits air to the housing, the air carrying the ozone through flowlines to an air diffuser that is positioned inside the reservoir of the water dispenser. The flowlines can be used to sanitize one or more of the reservoir, spigot(s), and/or channel that connects the reservoir and spigot(s). A return flowline or lines can return ozone from the spigot to one or both of the channel and/or reservoir for further use in sanitization.

Abstract: An adjustable height table has a frame with spaced apart side portions spanned by a horizontal tray with a knee area below the tray. Each side has a foot that engages the floor or like support surface. Each side includes a lower non-elevating base part and an upper elevating “lift” part. The non-elevating and elevating portions each have an outer wall, a hollow interior and vertical slots that face in opposite respective directions for a given side (including a non-elevating portion and an elevating lift portion). A gear mechanism interfaces the upper “lift” and lower “base” parts. When the table is in an extremely elevated position, roller supports minimize lateral translation. The roller supports fit shaped rails on the elevating parts. The frame can receive any of three selected mechanisms. Each mechanism features a horizontal shaft contained within the tray.

Abstract: An improved internal combustion engine which includes an engine block; a plurality of cylinders formed in the engine block; a piston moveable within each of the cylinders; a spark plug providing ignition to fuel within each of the cylinders for moving the cylinders along an engine cycle; a rod with a central longitudinal axis connecting each of the pistons at a first end of the rod to a crankshaft at the second end of each of the rod; the connection point between the second end of each of the rods to the crankshaft being offset from the longitudinal axis sufficiently to increase engine torque and horsepower, as each of the pistons travel within their respective cylinders, but not to affect the engine stroke.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for altering the charge distribution upon living membranes with functional stabilizational of the membrane physical electrical integrity further comprising a method for using submicroscopic, quadripolar, circular, center charged, energy balanced magnetic device in a four (4) magnet array of alternating polarity in which the magnetic poles are separated only by a distance which will allow a magnetic sphere of influence on all adjacent poles to suppress the firing of action potentials of mammalian sensory neurons. The method and apparatus further provides a static magnetic device for production of a magnetic field for treatment of various disorders.

Abstract: A method and system of drilling straight directional and multilateral wells utilizing hydraulic frictional controlled drilling, by providing concentric casing strings to define a plurality of annuli therebetween; injecting fluid down some of the annuli; returning the fluid up at least one annulus so that the return flow creates adequate hydraulic friction within the return annulus to control the return flow within the well. The hydraulic friction should be minimized on the injection side to require less hydraulic horsepower and be maximized on the return side to create the desired subsurface friction to control the well.

Abstract: A secured debit card package having an embedded value and being adapted to be sold from open and unprotected retail shelving. The secured debit card package comprises a debit card, formed as from a first material bearing a card identification number, and packaging means formed as from a second different material securing the debit card thereto, the packaging means defining a window through which the card identification number is visible, a magnetic stripe disposed on the packaging means, the magnetic stripe bearing an encoded representation of a card identification number borne by the debit card, the stripe being positioned to be scanned by a terminal for reading the encoded representation from the packaging means and for transmitting the encoded representation to a remote processing center for testing of the representation to determine whether the debit card should be activated. A method for providing security for the embedded value of a debit card is also disclosed.

Abstract: A carrier for tubular members, such as subs, which includes a basket, having a floor portion and a plurality of side walls, and an open top portion; a plurality of holes formed in the floor of the basket, of equal diameters; a plurality of pins insertable in the plurality of holes, the pins extending upward into the basket opening substantially to the height of the basket walls; each of the pins having a base portion of equal diameters to slidably engage into any bore on the floor portion, and an upper elongated body portion of differing diameters to slide within a bore of a tubular sub, so that the sub may be supported in a vertical position on the pins, and not make contact with other subs supported vertically on the other pins in the basket while the subs are being stored or transported.

Abstract: A jump rope combination, which includes a single length of jump rope being sufficiently long to allow a large adult to use, a handle detachably secured to each end of the length of rope, each handle comprising a body portion for gripping by the hand, a bore in the body portion for threading each end of the rope therethrough to a desired length, and a continuous channel formed in the outer wall of the body portion for allowing the excess length of rope extending from the handle to be secured within the continuous channel, so that the body may be gripped. In a second embodiment, the rope includes conventional handles having a continuous channel in the handles for allowing excess rope to reside in the channels for determining the various lengths of the jump rope.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus enables a user to cook (boiling, steaming or frying). The apparatus includes a burner having a base that is specially shaped to cradle a pot. An upper section above the support surface of the burner for engaging the sidewall of the pot should the pot be tipped inadvertently. The burner can include upper members that are supported above the bottom of the pot and a lower member that engages an underlying supporting surface. Alternatively, the burner frame can have a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending legs. Struts are shaped and cradle the bottom of the pot and its sidewall respectively.

Abstract: A game call apparatus of improved configuration provides a two part body that includes first and second hollow tubular members that, each have a hollow bore section. The tubular members and provide an open-ended longitudinally extending bore when they are assembled together. The first and second tubular members have correspondingly shaped connectable threads that engage and connect when the two tubular members are assembled together. One of the tubular sections provides a groove to which is attached an O-ring. The o-ring defines a stop that limits travel of one tubular member relative to the other when the threaded connection is made to join them together. By acting as such a stop, the O-ring and threaded connection arrangement insures that the game call will always be reassembled in exactly the same position after it has been disassembled for cleaning.

Abstract: A marine platform (and method of installation) provides a plurality of buoys, a platform having a peripheral portion that includes a plurality of attachment positions, one attachment position for each buoy, and an articulating connection that connects each buoy to the platform at a respective attachment position, the connection allowing for sea state induced buoy motions while minimizing effect on the platform. A method of installation places the platform (including oil and gas drilling and/or production facility next to the buoys. Ballasting moves the platform and buoys relative to one another until connections are perfected between each buoy and the platform.

Abstract: A marine platform provides a plurality of buoys, a platform having a peripheral portion that includes a plurality of attachment positions, one attachment position for each buoy, and a connection that connects each buoy to the platform at a respective attachment position, the connection allowing for sea state induced buoy motions while minimizing effect on the platform. Each connection can provide first and second portions (or devices) and a load transfer mechanism that transfers load from the first portion to the second portion so that one of the portions (or devices) can be serviced.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing coil springs having a first upright handle member terminating on its upper end with a threaded drive block for accommodating a steel screw threadable through the drive block and movable along the threaded shaft. There is provided a first spring block secured to the upper face of the drive block for accommodating a first end of a coil spring. There is a second spring block on an end portion of the steel drive screw for accommodating the second end of the coil spring, so that rotation of the drive screw expands or retracts the distance between the first and second spring blocks, and would expand or retract the spring in sufficient distance to remove or replace the spring. There is further provided a guide plate below the second spring block, having a slot for accommodating a first bar for pushing or pulling a spring out of engagement and for accommodating a second bar having a member for pushing or pulling a spring out of engagement or pulling a cotter pin out of engagement.

Abstract: A one-piece flexible cable boot for external installation around a cable connector of the type being coaxial in nature. The cable would include a flexible, closely fit external sleeve having a compressive end for supporting a cable against flexing (strain relief) and having on its second end an inwardly extending seal, deformable so that it can be pushed, screwed or twisted onto, the threads or housing of the device to form a water tight seal. The connector would also include EPDM material which is known in the art which is ozone and chemical resistant. The assembly is specifically designed for enclosing trunk and feeder cable connectors that are mounted in taps, amplifiers, nodes, line extenders, and directional couplers for aerial and underground applications. It will also be used for splicing cables that have been cut or extended.

Abstract: A pressure relief valve includes a valve housing and a drop-shaped body with a conical valve surface that cooperates with a conical valve seat at an upwardly directed blow-off opening of the valve housing. The drop-shaped body is connected to a lifting disc in the housing. The inner configuration of the housing provides an annular passage around the lifting disc which is smaller in area when the lifting disc (and drop-shaped body) is in its uppermost, fully open positioning as compared to its lowermost, closed positioning.