Abstract: A turf aerating device and machine including a turf aerating device comprising a base platform having a plurality of star-shaped spikes removably mounted therein in perpendicular orientation with respect to the base platform surface so that the spikes vertically penetrate a desired turf surface. The spikes produce X-shaped holes and loosen the soil beneath the turf. A plurality of turf aerating devices are mounted to a corresponding number of vertically actuating rods and vertically actuated for penetrating the turf with the spikes without causing damage to the turf.

Abstract: A flexible lead screw and motor combination is provided that attaches to the body and has the ability to move body parts. The invention contains at least one motor actuated cincture screw that transfers torque over an articulating joint of the body. A high torque motor is mounted on a suitable location of the body, on one side of the articulating joint to be moved. The motor is attached, through a cable having an externally threaded cincture, to an internally threaded guide bushing mounted to a body location on the opposite side of the articulating joint. In certain mounting locations, the cable routing will be redirected by guide rings before entering the guide bushing. Activation of the motor rotates the cable and, depending on the threads and the direction of rotation chosen, either pulls the threaded guide bushing toward, or away from the motor. Thus, the joint lying between the attached motor and attached guide bushing can be either closed or opened.

Abstract: A lighting device for use on roller skates and the like that attaches to the lower portion of a skate and provides a bright colorful light source to make a skater more visible in low light level conditions. The device is a light bar or strip that is battery powered. The light bar is a clear acrylic bar of various preselected colors having a light source at one end. The light is transmitted through the bar producing a light stick of nearly any color. An alternate embodiment uses an electro-luminescent light strip. The light bar or strip and battery power source is quickly and easily attached to any skate by a small strap and screw or by a strap having hook and loop type fasteners.

Abstract: A counterweight assembly is provided to enhance heads up surface positioning of a person. The assembly includes a weight/ballast member strategically disposed on a cylinder/tank worn by a diver during a dive. The weight member can be attached by several different embodiments. Preferably, the weight member is attached such that the diver cannot release or adjust the weight member while he or she is diving. The weight member rotates the person to ensure heads up surface positioning in the event the person becomes incapacitated. Also provided are several other water safety and survival devices.

Abstract: For automatically predicting machine failure a transducer sensor, such as piezoelectric crystal, is applied to a machine for sensing machine motion and structure-borne sound, including vibration friction, and shock waves. The structure-borne sound and motion sensed is converted to electrical signals which are filtered to leave only the friction and shock waves, which waves are processed, as by detecting the envelope and integrating beneath the envelope, resulting in a measure of friction and shock wave energy, i.e., stress wave energy. This measure is computed and processed for producing fault progression displays for periodic and aperiodic damage. This is accomplished in a personal computer, menu-driven environment.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for safely holding, organizing and sequencing optical fibers by which a connector may be placed on the end of fiber optics cable in a manner that is reliable and efficient. The device passively holding optical fiber strands securely an in an organized manner for preparing connection to the connector. The device includes a support member having a rubber member disposed on a top surface thereof. The rubber member includes a plurality of slits, each of which holding an individual fiber strand or ribbon. A color indicator can also be provided with each slit to indicate the corresponding color strand or ribbon to be disposed within the slit. The device can also include left and right wing member pivotally attached to each end of the support member. The wing members can also include similar rubber members having slits and associated color indicators.

Abstract: A system, including an apparatus and method, for on-site application of graphics to synthetic and non-synthetic cushion backed surfaces, such as leather, vinyl and the like, as found on vehicle seats, without removing the surface from the seat or requiring insertion of a rigid backing surface. The apparatus including a registration means, an adjustable clamping means, a pressure guage, an electrically heated tool having a removable tool head with a thermally conductive working surface and a graphic impression die mounted thereon. The method including the application of graphic designs to leather like surfaces utilizing the disclosed apparatus.

Abstract: A ball bat grip for improving the gripping action of a batter for baseball or softball, which is useful for left handed or right handed players and which allows the grip to be comfortably adjusted for alignment of the knuckles. The grip includes independent upper and lower grip portions, manually moveable, made of a vinyl, rubber, or rubber-like material for aiding in the gripping power and frictional engagement with a bat surface, whether wood or aluminum bat. The upper and lower grip portions may be installed at the factory or provided with slots for joining the segments onto an existing bat. Finger channels may be included in both the upper and lower grip portions, with the upper grip portion longer, to allow a player to choke up or move the upper hand away from the end of the bat during batting. In an alternative embodiment a single elongated grip is used that can accommodate and receive both hands of the batter.

Abstract: A portable automatic projectile loading device for use with a gun-like apparatus typically utilizing compressed gas to fire projectiles. The device being capable of storing up to 1000 projectiles which are conveniently carried by the user in a coiled flexible hose contained, along with a compressed gas cylinder, in a pack preferably carried on the back. The projectiles may be paint, gelatin, or tear gas filled balls that rupture upon impact. The device utilizes compressed gas flowing through a flexible hose containing the projectiles to propel the projectiles into the breach of the gun-like apparatus.

Abstract: An inflatable container for housing fragile articles, such as bottles and the like, for protecting the enclosed article from breakage during shipping or transit. The container comprises a generally cylindrical inflatable housing shaped to conform to a specific bottle shape and having an inflation device for enabling user inflation. The housing has an open bottom end for receiving a bottle type article therein. An inflatable base is sized for mating engagement with said bottom end thereby covering said opening. A fastening apparatus is provided for securing the base to the housing, and a seal is provided between said housing bottom and said base thereby forming a hermetic seal for preventing escape of any solid, liquid, or vapor contents enclosed within the housing in the event of breakage.

Abstract: A container, which may or may not be in the form of a cylinder conforming generally to the shape of a cigar, having a wall thickness and constitution which permits water vapor to escape therethrough, but which will not permit water droplets or palpable moisture to pass therethrough and subsequently over-wet the material to be humidified, such as cigars. The container is adapted to house a quantity of highly absorbent material, such as acrylamide potassium or sodium acrylate copolymer, cross-linked. End caps may be used as desired, including end caps with apertures therein to permit an accelerated rate of humidification by allowing more water vapor to escape the interior of the container than is allowed by ordinary osmosis through the walls of the container.

Abstract: A toy puzzle including a plurality of individual pieces that can be assembled into a geometrically solid shape, such as spherical, is provided. In one embodiment, the individual pieces can include a truncated conical base member with a central spindle protruding perpendicularly from the center of the base. The pieces can have truncated conical base members of the same or different sizes. The spindle has metal in at least the end opposite the base that is attracted and held by a magnet. Upon assembly of the plurality of individual pieces, the magnet will be disposed at the center of a resulting object of preselected shape.

Abstract: An apparatus used to protect a motor vehicle has a low profile housing placed below a rear bumper of the vehicle, and a cover placed within the housing in an accordion-like fashion. In one embodiment, an electric motor drives a roller belt assembly which frictionally engages with the cover to provide a force to aid a user in either the extension from or the retraction into the housing of the cover. In an alternate embodiment, the roller belt assembly includes webbing material geometrically positioned to prevent the cover from becoming entangled in the rollers. At least one roller assembly can be flexibly positioned to permit even force to be applied to the cover during extension from and retraction into the housing even if the cover becomes bunched to one side of the roller assembly. The electric motor is controlled from an extension handle attached to a forward portion of the cover. The extension handle can include self defense and security measures to protect the operator.

Abstract: A pet flea brush for simultaneously grooming and spraying a pet for fleas. The brush generally comprises a head portion, a handle portion, a plurality of bristles projecting from the head, a plurality of nozzles between the bristles, a fluid chamber, a pump dispenser in the brush, and a trigger which engages the pump and is accessible to the user for activating the pump.

Abstract: A device is provided that responds in real time, as well as in a rhythmic fashion, through amplification and processing of an audio signal. The device also will change in intensity. The electronics work off of three DC power supplies derived from a single AC source. The DC power supplies supply DC sources to the lamp voltage, audio amplifier and darlington network. The circuit takes a line (low) level signal into a capacitively coupled audio amplifier IC. The amplified output is then fed through an isolation transformer into a full-wave bridge rectifier to become a pulsed DC to drive the darlington network. The darlington network, used for voltage gain, drives the bases of the lamp driver transistors which are staggered respectively, through diodes to produce the visual effect. The circuit is not limited to driving lamps of any particular wattage or to the housing of the visual display.

Abstract: An improved cover for the soleplate of a hand iron that is quickly and easily attached to the iron's soleplate by a pair of tension members. The cover is fabricated from a single, relatively thin sheet of friction reducing PTFE material and functions to reduce frictional forces while ironing. The cover includes a plurality of steam vent holes, distributed in two separate patterns, allowing steam to flow through the cover from the steam holes conventionally provided in the iron's soleplate. Water leakage is prevented around the periphery of the iron by the formation of an upwardly turned lip around the periphery of the iron soleplate. Water leakage from the rear edge is prevented by a flap formed along the rear edge of the device. The rear flap and rear portion of the PTFE cover define a volume which retains water draining thereto when the iron is placed in its standing position. The invention provides an effective, low friction, heat shield for a hand pressing iron which provides improved steam distribution.

Abstract: A electroacoustic cooling engine comprising a resonator pressure vessel for containing a compressible fluid, a double acting flexural disk centrally located in the resonant pressure vessel, an electromagnetic driver supported outside the vessel for driving the disk from outside the vessel, a thermodynamic element on each side of the disk and a pair of heat exchangers on opposite sides of the thermodynamic element. The electromagnetic driver linearly actuates the disk to cyclically drive a standing acoustic wave on both sides of the disk through each thermodynamic element and heat exchanger pair to generate a desired thermal response in a working fluid flowing through each heat exchanger.

Abstract: A portable EKG machine having a plurality of individually storable electrode leads, each of which may be selectively moved from a retracted position wherein the electrode lead is stored within a storage enclosure, to an extended position wherein the electrode lead is drawn from the storage enclosure. The EKG machine of the present invention includes a monitor, a storage enclosure and a plurality of conducting leads each terminating in an electrode. In a preferred embodiment, the storage enclosure includes a plurality of retractable and extendable leads mounted on individual rotatable spools enclosed therein. Each electrode and lead may be individually selectively extended by an EKG technician by grasping and separating an electrode from the storage enclosure thereby unwinding the lead from its storage spool to an extended position, whereafter the electrode may be conductively attached to the patient's body.

Abstract: A light switch cover is disclosed for use with a conventional "rocker" type switch. The cover generally includes a mounting bracket which is attached to the electrical box, along with the "rocker" switch and a face plate which is attached to the mounting bracket. The face plate is preferably constructed from a soft material, to allow the user to operate the covered "rocker" switch. Preferably, the outer surface of the face plate is provided with a decorated design or other indicia. The light switch can also be utilized where more than one "rocker" switch is provided. In these cases, a diverter bar is provided on the mounting bracket, to absorb pressure being asserted on one "rocker" switch from also transferring to an adjacent "rocker" switch and inadvertently turning "off" or "on" the adjacent "rocker" switch. An electroluminescent lighting sheet can also be provided between the face plate and mounting bracket to highlight and enhance the decorative features of the present invention light switch cover.