Abstract: A retractable leash assembly (10, 22, 30, 38) for tethered to the animal includes a flexible member for forming safety band (20, 26, 34, 39) wrapped around a user wrist and for forming a tethering element (22, 28, 36, 39) for tethered the safety band to a gripping handle (42) of a retractable leash housing (40). The flexible member comprises a round cord, rectangular strap or combination thereof. In addition a cord lock element (66) or adjustable loop (88) may be used to adjust the diameter of the safety band around a user wrist. In addition and adjustable length leash extension allows two animals to be tethered by different length leash extensions.

Abstract: A marine through hull fitting (50) includes a cleanout housing (80, 204) attached thereto. The clean out housing (80, 204) is configured with a mechanical cleaning implement (94, 218) supported for movement through a first fluid conduit (59) that passes through a vessel hull (54) for scrapping debris from the side walls of the first fluid conduit when the conduit becomes fowled. The cleaning implement (94, 218) is attached to an actuator rod (92) which may be used to hand push the cleaning implement (94, 218) through the conduit (57).

Abstract: A wireless mobile router (140) includes wireless network interfaces (202) and (218) attached to a network controller (142). The wireless network interface (202) communicates with a cellular network (110) to access cellular network services. The wireless network interface (218) and the network controller (142) comprise a WLAN (170) or PAN (180) network router hosting a plurality of client devices. Each client device may access a wide area network, WAN over the cellular network. The wireless mobile router (140) is configured to exchange various cellular network signals with various WLAN and PAN networks. The wireless mobile router (140) is particularly suitable for use in a vehicle or at locations where WAN access is not readily available.

Abstract: A wireless mobile router (300) includes a CPU (222) and one or more network interfaces for hosting locally reachable devices. The router (300) includes one or more cellular network interface devices (316) configured to make a network connection with a cellular network. The router (300) operates to translate data packets received from locally reachable devices and to direct the translated data packets to public IP address over the cellular network. In addition, a stack of mobile routers (400) includes two or more mobile routers (300) interfaced together to make two or more network connections with a cellular network for increasing bandwidth and for load balancing network traffic passing from the router (300) to the cellular network. The wireless mobile router (300) and the stack (400) are suitable for use in a moving vehicle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for capturing a low depth of focus image with a video camera (10) by forming a first image of a scene, with a first image format size, onto a projection area (16), housed inside an adaptor, and forming another image of the scene, with a second smaller image format size onto a semiconductor sensor field (28), housed inside the video camera (10). The invention further relates to configuring the projection area (16) to prevent non-image characteristics of the projection area from being imaged in a disturbing manner onto the semiconductor sensor field (28). The projection area is either movable with respect to the first image or encapsulated by clear filter glass, or both to prevent the non-image characteristics from being imaged in a disturbing manner. The adaptor includes an adaptor housing (30?) for attaching to the video camera (10) and the adaptor housing houses the projection area (16) and a first objective lens (12).

Abstract: A miniature cooling device includes numerous improvements capable of increasing the reliability and useful lifetime of the device, as well as improving electrical power to cooling power conversion efficiency. The improvements include a unitary DC motor shaft design that incorporates a unitary mass flywheel into the shaft element and provides a solid shaft cross-section for increasing magnetic flux density in the DC motor. Additional improvements include a bend resistant flexible vane in the DC motor to compression piston drive coupler, reduced dead space volume within the compression cylinder, improved heat dissipation by a cylinder head cover and an athermalized compressor design that provides uniformly efficient operation over a wide range of operating temperatures. Further improvements include fabrication and coating improvements that increase the life of compression piston and compression cylinder wear surfaces.

Abstract: A sensor system includes a sensor payload (20) capable of generating image signals, an electronic control unit (ECU) (40) for controlling the sensor payload and a hand held control unit (80) in communication with the ECU for use by an operator to input control commands to the ECU. The hand held control unit (80) includes a front facing control panel surface (84) having control elements distributed thereon and an orthogonally disposed bottom surface (94). A handle (96) extends from the enclosure bottom surface (94) with the handle longitudinal axis disposed at an angle (A) of between 175 and 135 degrees with respect to the control panel surface (84). In a second embodiment, the senor system includes a lap top control unit (LCU) (300) reconfigurable by an operator to swap movable control module (312, 306) from a base unit left side receiving port (320) to a base unit right side receiving port (318) to accommodate both left and right-handed users.

Abstract: A rotatable payload support turret for operation in a potentially hazardous environment includes a fixed element attached to a vehicle or fixed structure and a rotatable element, supported for rotation with respect to the fixed element. The turret includes a camera payload having a pointing direction configured to be upwardly pointing. An annular clearance gap formed between the fixed element and the rotatable element is sealed by a conventional gas tight magnetic fluid seal element. A wiper seal is also provided in the clearance gap between the location of the magnetic fluid and the external environment to prevent breakdown of the magnetic fluid by elements of the potentially hazardous environment. The clearance gap may also form a labyrinth seal having up to three legs that are oriented to oppose a gravitational force direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a video camera having a camera housing (30), a first objective (12), through which light from a scene (14) to be picked up is guidable into the camera housing 30, a semiconductor sensor field (28), on which light from the scene (14) to be picked up is able to be cumulated, wherein it further includes: a projection area (16) disposed with respect to the first objective (12) such that light introduced through the first objective (12) is imaged onto the projection area (16), a second objective (26) disposed with respect to the projection area (16) and to the semiconductor sensor field (28) such that light from the projection area (16) is imaged onto the semiconductor sensor field (28).

Abstract: The invention provides an emergency medical kit for use immediately upon the onset of symptoms of an attack of a vascular disease such as a heart attack or a stroke. The emergency medical kit at least includes breathable oxygen in a light weight container and may include medications for preventing thrombosis, inducing arteriolar relaxation or assisting in diminishing oxygen demand by the victim. The kit including oxygen and medication dosage may be prescribed by a physician to a person with a known susceptibility to a serious unexpected attack of a vascular disease. The treatment provided by the contents of the kit is specifically intended to save the life of an attack victim and or to reduce permanent tissue damage in the victim during the time interval between the onset of the attack and the arrival of a professional medical service provider. The kit is lightweight and readily carried by the user or stored in a location for easy access.

Abstract: A non slip bottle cap opener (100) for installing onto a key ring or key chain with other keys is formed with the approximate length and thickness of a standard key to allow it to be comfortably carried on the key ring or chain like an ordinary key. The opener includes a pry element (120) formed with a narrow leading edge (140) for installing within the annular gap (60) between the bottle cap and the bottle top. The pry element further includes an engaging surface (165) that acts upon an inside surface of the annular lip of the bottle cap to forcibly engaged with the annular lip to prevent the opener from slipping off of the bottle cap.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for capturing video images of elements in a videographic survey, e.g. a thermograph video survey. According to the invention a barcode label having a bar pattern representing a unique identifying name of each element of the survey is associated with each survey element. A video camera system, with a barcode scanner associated therewith, is provided for scanning a barcode associated with a selected element. The selected element is thereby identified to the video camera system. The video camera system recalls data, including the element name, relating to the selected element and displays the data on a display device associated with the video camera system. An operator may review the displayed data and capture a video image of the element with the video camera system. The video image of the selected element may then be stored in a camera memory with the element name associated therewith.