Abstract: A two-piece snowboard includes an improved bottom shape and connector. The bottom surface of each snowboard section facilitates three primary functions: riding in a straight line, turning, and stopping. The bottom surfaces are concave or substantially flat, and grooves or ribs are provided along bottom edges of the sections to provide for turning and/or braking. Thus placed, the grooves and/or ribs do not interfere with straight line riding. The connector is somewhat stiff, and resists twisting. An example of a suitable connector is a length of reinforced hydraulic hose. The connector allows both vertical and horizontal flexing to facilitate riding over irregular terrain, while resisting twisting between sections to facilitate control.

Abstract: A cell phone includes at least one motion switch and circuitry to control cell phone functions when the cell phone is moved. In one embodiment, the motion switch activates keyboard backlighting. A single motion switch may be used or two motion switches may be positioned approximately orthogonally, for example, a first motion switch to activate on motion along the cell phone's length, and a second motion switch to activate on motion along the cell phone's width. One simple and inexpensive motion switch is a cantilevered spring, another is to monitor current produced by a vibrator motor already present in a cell phone. The cell phone according to the present invention with lighting activated by cell phone motion is particularly useful for locating a dropped cell phone, and even more useful for a vehicle operator searching for a dropped cell phone.

Abstract: A remote control includes at least one spring motion switch and an electrical circuit to control remote control functions when the remote control is moved. In one embodiment, the motion switch activates keyboard back-lighting. A single spring motion switch may be used or two spring motion switches may be positioned approximately orthogonally, for example, a first spring motion switch to activate on motion along the remote control's length L, and a second spring motion switch to activate on motion along the remote control's width W. One simple and inexpensive motion switch is a cantilevered spring. The remote control according to the present invention with back-lighting activated by remote control motion is particularly useful when viewing a video or listening to music in low light.

Abstract: An advanced control for a powered hand truck. The powered hand truck includes an electric motor, a power source, a programable motor controller, and a transaxle, which are adaptable to existing hand trucks, or may be integrated into a new powered hand truck. The motor controller controls the motor to provide consistent speed independent of load weight or incline, and further provides regenerative braking. The advanced control may be wired or wireless and provides a touch sensitive circuit to command stop if the operator is not holding the handle, and an electronic potentiometer. The wireless control further includes a unique code for validating speed commands and initiates deceleration if the control signal is lost.

Abstract: A bonnet captures exhaust gases from the exhaust pipes of diesel-powered locomotives. The bonnet includes a shell with a compliant fender. One or more of the bonnets are positioned over the exhaust pipe or pipes of the locomotive and are secured to the exhaust pipes or to a top surface of the locomotive. The bonnets are connected to a manifold, and the manifold carries the exhaust gasses to an Emissions Control Unit (ECU) for processing. The bonnets enclose a volume above and/or around the exhaust pipes and the compliant bumper closes against the internal or external surface of the exhaust pipe or pipes or against the top surface of the locomotive surrounding the exhaust pipe or pipes. The closing prevents or limits outside air from entering the bonnet and the exhaust gases from being emitted to the atmosphere.

Abstract: A bottle cap includes a mouthpiece having a dispensing orifice, a collar which extends downward from the mouthpiece to engage the bottle, a cover connected to the collar by a hinge and movable between open position and closed position covering the orifice, and a tamper-evident strap connecting the closed cover to the collar. The strap is hingeably joined to the collar by a lower portion of the strap and connected to the cover by a barbed upper portion. The upper portion cooperates with the cover to retain the strap to prevent manipulation of the strap to open the cover without severing the strap. The strap has a severable mid point which severs when the cover is first opened. When the cover is opened, both portions of the strap remain attached to the bottle and the lower portion swings away from the collar providing visible evidence of prior opening.

Abstract: An electric spa motor includes a ring circling the motor and in direct contact with the motor case. The ring carries a flow of water to cool the motor and to provide heat to the flow of water to supplement a spa heater. The ring includes a passage through the ring for carrying the flow of water. The ring and the passage have cross-sections with approximately equal height and width.

Abstract: An advanced methane and ammonia recovery system captures gaseous waste produced by domestic livestock to reduce the release of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere and to generate energy. The system includes a gas capture system residing at a peak of a barn. At large commercial operations, the captured gasses pass through a separator to separate methane from ammonia gas. The ammonia is processed to obtain a fertilizer. The methane is stored in a tank, and drawn from the tank to provide fuel for an electrical generator. At smaller operations, the captured gasses may be stored in a tank for periodic collection by a tanker truck or other transportation, or where economically feasible, piped to a central processing location. The system is designed to substantially reduce the amount of methane gas released into the environment while providing additional income to the domestic livestock operations.

Abstract: A lacquer or other coating thinner having a low volatile organic compound (VOC) rating which permits its use for cleaning and thinning in government regulated areas. The thinner has an acetone, methyl acetate or tertiary butyl acetate or mixture as a base. It has various non-hazardous ingredients which include a soy oil material, a dibasic ester and a glycol and carbonate ingredient such as tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol.

Abstract: A ground fitting allows simplified electrical connection between a ground wire carried in a metal sheathing, and a ground point such as a water pipe or ground rod. The metal sheathing is cut and separated and a short length of ground wire is exposed. The ground wire is inserted laterally into a wire clamp portion of the ground fitting, and opposing ends of the metal sheathing carrying the ground wire are inserted longitudinally under clamping plates on opposite sides of the ground fitting. A ground screw is tightened against the ground wire to hold the ground wire in the ground fitting and plate screws securing the clamping plates are tightened to secure the sheathing between the clamping plates and clamp seats. Ridges may be provided on one or both of the clamping plates and the clamp seat to engage a spiral exterior surface of the metal sheathing.

Abstract: A modified automatic transmission includes a simple and inexpensive accumulator orifice plate residing between a valve control body and a second gear accumulator. The accumulator is in parallel fluid communication with a second gear servo and moderates changes to pressure of transmission fluid flowing to the second gear servo to reduce or eliminate harsh shifting. The accumulator is also in fluid communication with an Electronic Pressure Control (EPC) accumulator valve which provides an opposing transmission fluid flow into the accumulator to provide faster or firmer shifting when desired. The accumulator orifice plate includes orifices aligned with passages carrying the transmission fluid flows into the accumulator thereby restricting the flows. The orifices have specific sizes to limit the transmission fluid flows into the accumulator and thereby customize the shifting characteristics to suit an individual driver's preferences and/or needs and stabilizing pressure changes due to the EPC accumulator valve.

Abstract: A golf glove provides a positive stop for the end of a golf club handle and a resilient pad for seating the golf club handle against the glove. The stop reaches across the glove palm and angles towards the small finger and has a wall extending perpendicular to the wearer's palm for the handle to abut against. The resilient pad fills a concave portion of the palm to provide a substantially flat surface for the golf club handle to seat against.

Abstract: A simple and versatile door support system holds a door by attaching to top and bottom edges. The system allows the two visible door faces and the two visible door edges to be painted at one time, and may be converted to hold a door horizontally or to transport a door. The system includes four support blocks which mount to corners of top and bottom surfaces of the door. The blocks have mounting features for mounting to the door, and attachment features for attaching one or more attachments. A rod attachment may be connected to each of the four blocks to support the door horizontally, and a pair of support shoes may be attached to two of the blocks to support the door vertically or on an edge. Casters may be attached directly to the blocks, or indirectly to the blocks (e.g., to the attachments), to transport the door.

Abstract: A retractable ladder for a motorhome or trailer includes pivoting mounting apparatus providing total support for a ladder and climber in an open position. The apparatus includes brackets which mount on the side of the motorhome or trailer and arms which pivot in the brackets. The brackets mount to the sides of the motorhome or trailer only and therefore do not compromise the roof of the motorhome or trailer. The ladder attaches to the ends of the arms. The brackets include flanges which the arms rest against in the open position and pins for retaining the arms in the open position, thereby eliminating any need for the ladder to be supported by the ground. The pins may further be inserted through the brackets to retain the ladder in a closed position. Backing plates or the like may be provided behind the motorhome or trailer body to securely attach the brackets.

Abstract: A universal roof rack mounting system includes small, nearly imperceptible, permanently attached pads and removable cross bar towers. The pads extend only about one quarter inch from an automobile roof and may be painted to match the color of the roof. The cross bar towers may be quickly and easily attached and detached from the pads, and the cross bar towers include a passage which accepts known roof rack cross bars including, both round and rectangular cross bars. An adjustable latching action between the pads and the cross bar towers allows a range of cross bar tower lean angles, thereby allowing the mounting system to adapt to any vehicle roof. The cross bar towers include locking release covers, and the cross bar towers are easily removed, with or without cross bars attached, by unlocking and lifting the tower covers, and the rack system can be lifted off as a unit.

Abstract: This invention is a cylindrical rotary power device, usable as and convertible to a rotary internal combustion engine, pump, and/or compressor. The device incorporates an ingenious design and composition utilizing bilateral symmetry to minimize power losses and maximize efficiency. It operates with a minimum of moving parts which can be manufactured at relatively low cost and readily maintained. Also, the power device of the present invention is readily converted to an internal combustion engine by merely removing the external power source and providing fuel flow and ignition charge to the cylinders.

Abstract: An oven includes a conveying interior for moving produce through the oven and a gas fired heat source for cooking the produce conveyed through the oven. The conveying interior preferably comprises a rotating drum with a conveying spiral extending inwardly from an inner wall of the rotating drum. The rotating drum may further be sloped downward to facilitate progress of the produce through the oven, and the time spent in the oven may be controlled by controlling the rotating rate of the drum. The gas fired heat source may comprise a thermostatically controlled burner residing under the drum.