Abstract: A bicycle or moped lighting system projects light onto a rider's legs to make the rider more visible to motor vehicle operators and thereby improve the rider's safety. At least one safety light fixture is mounted to lower portions of bicycle seat stays or rear portions of the bicycle chain stays. The light fixture includes light sources generating light beams directed forward onto rear surfaces of the rider's legs. While peddling, the motion of the lighted legs attracts the attention of the motor vehicle operators thereby improving rider visibility. Additional light beams may be directed inward and upward toward the bicycle frame and/or the rider's buttocks to provide additional visibility to the rider and to allow the motor vehicle operators to more easily identify the bicycle and rider. A second light fixture may reside ahead of the rider to direct light beams onto the front of the rider's moving legs.

Abstract: A head and neck restraint system includes a headpiece, a saddle, and tensioners connecting the headpiece to the saddle. The headpiece resides on top of a crew member's head and the saddle includes a saddle strap residing under the crew member's buttocks. The tensioners are pneumatic muscles which contract when a flow of gas is provided by gas generators. The gas generators are triggered by a G-sensor or by the initiation of a predetermined event. Triggering signals pass through a manifold from an ejection seat, aircraft, or vehicle. Contraction of the pneumatic muscles pulls the headpiece toward the saddle, thereby restraining the head, neck, and spine. The system is worn as an undergarment or incorporated into a garment. A manual adjustment provides head support during flight. The system is particularly useful for preventing head and neck injuries during ejection from or crash of an aircraft or vehicle.

Abstract: A spa heater includes a heater element having a single outer wall with indentations near each end for receiving clips for positioning the heater element. The indentations are preferably stamped or formed by some other method which does not weaken the outer wall and the heater element is retained by use of the clips in the indentations. Incorporation of the indentations and the clips allows use of a single thin outer wall thereby reducing cost. The heater element is held and sealed by a combination of O-rings, stepped washers, snap rings clips, and caps. An electrical connection may be made using ring type wire ends residing under the caps or by connecting to posts extending from the ends of the heater element. The heater element is preferably a spiral heater element and a titanium outer wall may be used to resist corrosion and increases heater element life.

Abstract: A traveling duct allows a bonnet to remain over the exhaust pipes of diesel-powered locomotives in motion, and to remain in fluid communication with an Emissions Control Unit (ECU). The bonnet includes a shell with a compliant fender for enclosing the exhaust pipes. 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 traveling duct includes an outer duct having a bottom gap or slot. The bonnets may either be connected to an extendable inner duct within the traveling duct, or to a duct transport unit slidably residing within the traveling duct. Exhaust from the locomotive is captured by the bonnet and fed from the bonnet into the traveling duct. The exhaust is then carried by the traveling duct to the ECU for processing.

Abstract: A compact and lightweight personal pod making system is provided. The pod making system has a base for receiving a pod packaging material and a sealing tool pivotably connected to the base. The system can be used at home, in the office and even outdoors. A pod package assembly that can be used in conjunction with the personal pod making system is also provided. The pod package assembly can include a cup-like holder that is hingedly connected to a cover so that it is relatively easy for users to align the cover when sealing the pod.

Abstract: A vacuum cup is made from rubber to resist damage and providing a vacuum seal without a separate gasket or O-ring. The vacuum cup may be one of several configurations suitable for different CNC machines and includes a rubber body comprising a bottom surface for mounting, a top surface including a vacuum area for holding a work piece, and a raised edge around the perimeter of the top surface for sealing against the work piece. The bottom surface may have any one of a variety of machine interfaces to cooperate with various machines. A vacuum passage connects the bottom surface with the vacuum area and a check valve may reside in the vacuum passage. The rubber body is sufficiently strong to resist flexing due to vacuum or work piece weight and the vacuum area includes work piece supports for contacting a work piece held on the vacuum cup.

Abstract: A cable management and distribution system comprises posts and beams. The posts may be one of several heights to accommodate various office layouts. The beams run between the posts and a cable entry slot runs the length of each beam to allow cable entry at any point along the beam. The beams further provide space for running and storing cables and fixed power outlets may be attached to the beam interior for plugging power cords. A lift off cap may be positioned over the beam, or a bridge may be positioned above the beam to provide a separate path for data cables. The bridge includes an upper face with a mounting surface for a privacy panel or the like, and accepts plain vertical side covers, or vertical side covers with accessory tracks. The posts include lower mounting points and the beams include upper mounting points for modesty panels.

Abstract: A motor vehicle roof protection system includes a pair of magnetically attachable elongated roof standoffs to carry cargo above a car (or any motor vehicle) roof. One elongated roof standoffs may be positioned near a forward end of the car roof and another elongated roof standoffs may be positioned near a rearward end of the car roof. Magnets are embodied within the elongated roof standoffs to resist movement on the roof surface, with a layer of material under the magnets to protect the roof finish. The elongated roof standoffs have sloped tops, and the roof standoffs are positioned with the slopes facing forward to produce downward force on the roof standoffs, and thereby secure the roof standoffs with fewer magnets than otherwise required. The tops include a textured portion for contact with cargo. The cargo may be held against the elongated roof standoffs using straps, ropes, or any suitable fastener.

Abstract: A gas shutoff valve having a ball normally residing in a first seat, wherein sufficient disturbance of the valve causes the ball to escape the first seat and settle into a second seat wherein a flow of gas is blocked. The first seat is on an upper surface of a seating ball held in a base portion of the valve. The seating ball is held in place by a plate and is adjustable to compensate for gas line angles away from vertical. Adjustments to the seating ball may be made using a leveling tool inserted through a tool port in the base portion and inserting into a tool seat in the seating ball.

Abstract: A point of sale display combines clear shelves with a visually attractive and attention holding liquid motion lamp background. The liquid motion lamp combines motion to attract the attention of shoppers with an ever changing display of color and light to hold the shopper's attention. The rising and descending patterns are unique and random and thereby hold the shopper's attention for long periods of time obtaining valuable exposure of products displayed on the shelves.

Abstract: A control system for a liquid motion lamp maintains the proper temperature of liquids within the lamp to provide desired motion within the lamp, and reduces sensitivity to ambient temperature. The lamp preferably includes two heating elements, a first element for initial heating, such as a heat blanket, resistive glass coating, or a submerged ring, and a second heating element generally providing both heat and lighting. A sensor measures the temperature of the liquid inside the lamp and the control system controls the heat sources to maintain the temperature within operating limits.

Abstract: A stream nozzle resides between a water source and a sprinkler nozzle and provides a stream of water for watering a bush, shrub, or tree. The stream nozzle may either reside between a fixed height riser and a nozzle, or under the nozzle of a pop-up sprinkler. In the case of a fixed height riser, the stream nozzle may be attached to an adapter or directly to the riser. In the case of a pop-up sprinkler, the stream nozzle is preferably attached to an independently rotatable collar below the nozzle. The stream nozzle is preferably adjustable in elevation angle and in azimuth angle.

Abstract: A dead cable end distributes holding force over a length of a cable end to reduce or eliminate damage to cables. The dead cable end includes a housing containing a plurality of collets each residing in a collet receptacle. Each collet includes a conical exterior and a lengthwise collet gap, and each collet receptacle includes a conical interior. The collets and collet receptacle are held inside the housing by a screw-in retaining nut, and the collet and collet receptacle pairs are compressed between the retaining nut and a spring inside the housing. The cable end resides inside the collets, and axial compressive forces on each collet and collet receptacle pair cause each collet to compress radially and hold the cable end. Anti-rotation pins are inserted through the housing into slots in the collet receptacle next to the screw-in retainer to prevent internal rotation during tightening.

Abstract: A speed barrier includes a heavy lower barrier and a lighter upper gate. The barrier and gate may normally be positioned to allow or to restrict passing of vehicles. The barrier is configured to receive and survive the main impact of a vehicle attempting to ram through the speed barrier. The gate and barrier are coupled to allow an extension or a retraction of the gate and barrier in unison. The barrier and gate are supported by left and right columns, and an upper end of the gate is supported by the columns when the gate and barrier are extended.

Abstract: A hydrogen augmented diesel crankcase ventilation system uses hydrogen to allow crankcase fumes, for example blow-by, to be burned by the engine. The system preferably includes a hydrogen generation system as a hydrogen source connected to an engine air intake by a hydrogen hose, a fumes hose connecting the crankcase to the air intake, and a clean air hose connecting a clean air source to the crankcase. An orifice or a vacuum regulator in cooperation with the fumes hose may be included to regulate crankcase vacuum. A filter resides inline with the fumes hose to capture solids or liquids which enter the fumes hose from the crankcase, and a drain hose drains captured liquid back into the engine. A back flow preventor may be included in cooperation with the clean air hose to prevent a back flow of crankcase fumes through the clean air hose.

Abstract: A pipe holder comprises a handle and a slant piece. The slant piece includes a handle attachment point, a mouth, and a support point. A centerline runs through the mouth and support point. The handle attachment point resides between the mouth and support point, and is configured to point the handle approximately orthogonal to the slant piece centerline. The mouth is sized and shaped to urge a pipe to reside in the mouth substantially orthogonal to the handle and at an angle other than 90 degrees from a plane of the slant piece. When an inserted end of the pipe is inserted through the mouth, a three point stance is formed by the support point, an opposite end of the pipe, and a support end of the handle. The inserted end of the pipe is thereby supported above the ground. The pipe holder is stabilized by stepping on the handle.