Abstract: A package delivery notification system and method notifies package recipients of a package's arrival. The method-enabling system comprises a package, a package recipient, a package carrier, first and second wireless communications devices, and a recipient setting. The package carrier brings the package and the first wireless communications device to within a delivery distance relative to the recipient setting. The first wireless communications device and the delivery distance enable data transmission to the second wireless communications device located at the recipient setting. The package carrier transmits a package-delivery message to the second communications device, which device receives and displays the package-delivery message for notifying the package recipient of the package's arrival.

Abstract: A container securement device enables a user to secure a cargo container to a carrier deck. The device includes a base having a projecting shear block received in the lock-actuating opening of the container. A shaft-mounted head rotates between an unlocked or loading position in which the head moves through the locking opening and a locked position in which the container is secured. Automatic entry and release are provided by a selected interchangeable spring element within the base biasing the head to the locked position but permitting movement to the unlocked position when torque is applied by engagement of the container with a cam surface on the head. The spring element may be interchanged as may be required by anticipated climactic and/or temperature conditions. Each spring element is actuable by a uniquely configured shaft member having a spring-receiving end capable of cooperating with at least two types of springs.

Abstract: A drumhead tensioning and tuning apparatus comprises opposed carriage-like tensioning-tuning assemblies each of which comprises a drum gauge and a torque-supplying implement for selectively rotating head tensioning rods of a drum assembly. The tensioning-tuning assemblies are track mounted such that the opposed assemblies may be linearly displaced relative to one another. The apparatus may thus be positioned diametrically across drums of varying dimensions and the tensioning-tuning assemblies may be outfitted adjacent or at opposed drumhead portions for simultaneously tensioning and tuning the opposed drumhead portions. The apparatus may then be removed from the first set of opposed drumhead portions and outfitted upon a successive pair of drumhead portions according to standard drum tuning sequencing schemes. The ability to simultaneously tension and tune sequential and successive pairs of opposed drumhead portions enables expedited drumhead tuning.

Abstract: A container securement device enables a user to secure a cargo container to a carrier deck. The device includes a base having a projecting shear block received in the lock-actuating opening of the container. A shaft-mounted head rotates between an unlocked or loading position in which the head moves through the locking opening and a locked position in which the container is secured. Automatic entry and release are provided by a selected interchangeable spring element within the base biasing the head to the locked position but permitting movement to the unlocked position when torque is applied by engagement of the container with a cam surface on the head. The spring element may be interchanged as may be required by anticipated climactic and/or temperature conditions. Each spring element is actuable by a uniquely configured shaft member having a spring-receiving end capable of cooperating with at least two types of springs.

Abstract: A linear actuator is provided with an integral permanent magnet, brushless motor capable of axial, self adjustment of the rotor position within the stator for field weakening. Axial displacement of the rotor within the stator allows for significantly improved speed performance from aligned rotor/stator components during light axial loading. Upon contact with a load, the screw and nut, as an integral part of the motor rotor, self align to fully engage within the stator for generation of high forces with minimal current. This axial shift can further be used as a high precision, low cost measure of the force applied for quality assurance purposes.

Abstract: A dual functioning system for enabling a user to selectively monitor and entertain a subject comprises an entertainment system and a surveillance system. The entertainment system comprises a visual display, signal-delivering circuitry, signal-inputting hardware, and an extendable arm assembly. The arm assembly selectively positions the visual display for viewing by a target subject. The signal-inputting hardware enables the user to output stimuli upon the visual display via the signal-delivering circuitry. The visual display comprises at least one energy-passing aperture. The surveillance system comprises a camera assembly, data-transmitting circuitry, and monitoring hardware.

Abstract: A receptacle shroud and shroud removal tool coact to selectively restrict unauthorized access to a channel-bound electrical receptacle. The receptacle shroud comprises a channel-engaging wall and a receptacle cover. The receptacle cover comprises a tool-receiving aperture. The channel-engaging wall is sized and shaped for snug insertion in a pedestal-bounding, structure-receiving channel. The channel-engaging wall is retained by friction forces at shroud-to-channel interfacing. The shroud removal tool comprises a shroud-engaging end and a handle end. The shroud-engaging end is insertable through the tool-receiving aperture. The handle end enables a user to manually impart shroud-removing forces to the shroud-engaging end, which shroud-engaging end transfers the shroud-removing forces to the receptacle shroud. The shroud-removing forces are operable to remove the channel-engaging wall from the structure-receiving channel.

Abstract: A hook assembly enables a user to stow handbags and the like underneath tables or similar other support structures. The hook assembly comprises a hook support and a hook member pivotally attached thereto. The hook support comprises an attachment surface and a hook-receiving depression. The hook member is pivotal intermediate a hook-withdrawn position and a hook-extended position. The depression is sized and shaped for housing the hook member when in the hook-withdrawn position. The table-attachment surface may be fixedly attached to the inferior support surface, and the hook actuation end may effectively function to receive and hang articles when the hook member is in the hook-extended position.

Abstract: A thermally-insulative, breast-supportive undergarment comprising an anterior fabric portion, a posterior fabric portion, and an elastic band member is disclosed. The anterior fabric portion and the posterior fabric portion each essentially comprise thermally-insulative material having latitudinally-oriented fabric elasticity. The anterior fabric portion and the posterior fabric portion are attached to one anther at seam sections to cooperatively form a neck-covering sleeve, a midriff-receiving aperture, and laterally opposed arm-receiving apertures. The elastic band member is cooperatively associated with the midriff-receiving aperture and inherently has bidirectional band elasticity. The bidirectional band elasticity is also latitudinally-oriented.

Abstract: An underground storage tank riser assembly comprises a riser member and at least one riser alignment spacer assembly. The riser member comprises an inferior riser end and an outer riser surface. The outer riser surface at the inferior riser end comprises a plurality of paired, optionally color-coded, curvilinear score indicia. The curvilinear score indicia enable a user to remove paired inferior end portions from the inferior riser end for forming a tank-engaging, saddle-shaped mouth at the inferior riser end. The saddle-shaped mouth comprises a vertical riser radius of curvature substantially equal in magnitude to a determinable tank radius of curvature. The saddle-shaped mouth is engageable with an outer tank surface in radial adjacency to a conduit extending therefrom. The riser alignment spacer assembly functions to center the riser member relative to the conduit.

Abstract: A slurry mixer comprises a container assembly and pressurized air delivery system for mixing gravitationally separable heavy particulate of target slurry. The container assembly essentially comprises an inferior container portion, a superior container portion, a vertical container diameter, and accumulator plates, which plates are spatially located in superior adjacency to the inferior container portion orthogonal to the vertical container diameter. The air delivery system delivers compressed air to a gas outlet cooperable with the accumulator plates for outletting gas into the container assembly. The accumulator plate feature functions to plate-shape the outlet gas into a substantially planar initial bubble shape. The initially planar bubble shape is upwardly directed toward the superior tank portion in radial adjacency to the vertical container diameter.

Abstract: A bankover connector is disclosed for enabling maximized readable signal output from a trunk line comprising a number of grouped trunk line conductors, each line conductor grouping carrying a select readable signal. The bankover connector comprises a trunk line interface, a machine interface means, and a number of bankover conductors at least equal to the number of trunk line conductors. The machine interface comprises a number of machine ports and the bankover conductors extend intermediate the trunk line interface and the machine ports. The machine ports are electrically communicable with a number of signal-reading machines. The select readable signals are thus electrically communicable with the trunk line interface, the bankover conductors, the machine ports, and the signal-reading machines. The bankover connector thus enables maximized readable signal output from the trunk line.

Abstract: A confectionary fountain assembly enables user to self-serve confectionary liquid, such as liquid chocolate. The fountain assembly comprises a base assembly, a conduit assembly, a functional sculpture, and an annular basin. The base assembly supports a bowl-shaped receptacle and houses a heating element and a motor assembly for respectively providing chocolate-liquefying thermal energy and rotational movement. The conduit assembly is coupled to the motor assembly and the receptacle and comprises a liquid chocolate lifting auger. The sculpture assembly receives the lifted chocolate and imparts pressure thereto for further directing the chocolate to a sculpture outlet. The chocolate, upon exiting the outlet, covers an outer decorative surface of the sculpture and returns to the receptacle.

Abstract: A framing hammer assembly enables a user to tend to nail work within tight spaces. The hammer assembly comprises a three-dimensional hammer head, an elongate hammer handle, and a select tool attachment assembly. The hammer head comprises first and second nail-striking heads, a fulcrum, and a nail-pulling claw. The first nail-striking head and the second nail-striking head are orthogonally situated relative to one another for enabling a user to drive nails within tight spaces. The hammer handle comprises a head-engagement portion, a second handle end, and a hand-grip portion. The select tool attachment assembly comprises a select tool accessory and certain fastening structure for fastening the select tool accessory to the second handle end. The select tool accessory is interchangeable with a plurality of secondary tool accessories for selectively providing a lever arm and for enabling the user to remove driven nails or similar other hardware within tight spaces.

Abstract: A self-supporting, submersible generating plant for producing electricity from ocean currents, consisting of two counter-rotating, rear-facing turbines with a plurality of rotor blades extending radially outward from two separate horizontal axis that convey the kinetic energy from the two side-by-side, counter-rotating turbine rotors through separate gearboxes to separate generators that are housed in two watertight nacelles that are located sufficiently far apart to provide clearance for the turbine rotors. The two generators and their gearboxes serve as ballast and are located far below a streamlined buoyancy tank that extends fore and aft above and between them. A combination of a leverage system and a pressure-controlled system adjusts the hydrodynamic lifting forces to maintain constant depths. There are systems to purge the ballast water to facilitate the recovery of both individual submersible power plants and a group of many submersible power plants.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for maintaining container contents in a desired ambient temperature and a container assembly for achieving the same. The method incorporates use of a container assembly comprising an outer bowl member, an inner vessel member and a lid member, all of which are constructed with porous materials. Critically-select portions of the outer bowl member, the inner vessel member and the lid member are glazed with a vapor-impervious coating while the remaining portions of the container assembly are left unglazed. The glazed portions thus provide an avenue for vapor or liquid media, emanating from temperature-maintaining matter, to permeate through the interstitial pores of the material by entering and exiting through the unglazed portions of the container assemblage. Container contents, housed in the lidded inner vessel member, are thus more efficiently maintained in a desired ambient temperature.