Abstract: The present invention provides a method, apparatus and system for safely and efficiently evacuating a ventilation hood having at least one blower unit disposed within a hood. The present invention incorporates an upper plenum frame having an opening in the bottom thereof. A squirrel cage fan is disposed about the opening to draw air down through the upper plenum frame, through a lower plenum, and out an exhaust duct connected to the lower plenum. In certain embodiments, the squirrel cage fan is driven at a speed appropriate to liquefy grease suspended in the heated air.

Abstract: A lock assembly incorporating a number of features designed to defeat attempts to pick or destroy the lock. The lock cylinder assembly employs multiple arrays of pass key pins, making picking of the lock much more difficult. Second, the arrangement of the pass key pins in separate arrays requires that multiple cuts would have to be made into the lock housing mogul or cylinder blank in order to defeat the lock cylinder assembly. Third, the lock cylinder assembly of the present invention may incorporate multiple sets of hardened dowel pins to prevent drilling through the lock housing mogul in the area of the driver pins. Fourth, the lock cylinder assembly of the present invention may incorporate a hardened cylinder shield behind the front face of the cylinder blank to prevent drilling through the cylinder blank.

Abstract: A fastener for attaching a circuit board to a chassis has a head section for engaging the circuit board, a tail section for engaging the chassis, and a spring section to urge the head into engagement with the circuit board.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for construction of scaffold structures having improved safety characteristics. In various embodiments, the apparatuses comprise a set of structures, including connecting rails, fencing, gates, and ladders. The structures are adapted to be used with locking-cup type scaffold designs. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a scaffold joint comprising a vertical post comprising first and second joint sections. At least one structural brace is disposed within the joint sections having a mounting flange disposed at an angle to the principal axis of the structural brace.

Abstract: The present invention provides an illumination device having a curved reflector for use with a light-emitting device. The illumination device includes conical or funnel shaped lens having a top section, a bottom section, an outer surface and an inner surface. The bottom section is enlarged and contains a hollow interior formed by the lens inner surface to receive a curved reflector. The top section contains a cavity adaptable to receive a light-emitting device so that when the light is illuminated, light is transmitted through the reflector lens. As light travels towards the bottom section, the curved reflector deflects light in the horizontal direction through the lens to prevent light from being absorbed by the base. The reflector lens outer and inner surfaces contain ridges to form a grid-like pattern to disperse light. This configuration provides an efficient means to transmit light to illuminate a surrounding area.

Abstract: The present invention relates to sporting goods, and in particular to a device for retrieving hockey pucks. The device makes use of an array of retaining whiskers at the open end of the device to capture and retain hockey pucks. The design of the whisker array is such that the whiskers can suspend a large number of hockey pucks against the force of gravity while at the same time allowing for new pucks to be captured by the device with a minimum of downward pressure. One embodiment of the present invention is a puck shooting device incorporating one or more of the puck retrieval devices in a removable arrangement as a puck feed magazine for the puck shooter.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for interconnecting jewelry elements. In various embodiments, the apparatus comprises a first jewelry element having a track disposed therein and a second jewelry element having a feature shaped and sized to traverse the track. In one embodiment, the invention comprises a bracelet having two or more tracks disposed on the surface thereof and a mounted jewel having a base shaped to travel within one or more of the tracks.