Abstract: A lightning resistant hydrological pulley comprising an insulator between a pulley body and an axle insert. The insulator is made of electrically non-conductive material, thereby denying lightning surges an electrical path from the pulley body to an axle disposed within the axle insert. Set screws angularly immobilize the pulley body relative to the insulator, and the insulator relative to the axle insert and relative to an axle disposed within the axle insert. In the preferred embodiment, the insulator is made of synthetic material such as white Delrin, and the pulley body and the axle insert are made of brass.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for constraining a prisoner in a seated position. The apparatus comprises a belt removably attached to a hobble. The belt comprises a belt D-ring and a belt alligator clip attached to a belt strap. The hobble comprises a snap hook attached to one extreme of a hobble strap, and a hobble alligator clip attached to an opposite extreme of the hobble strap. The method includes the steps of placing a prisoner on his side, tightening the hobble around his ankles, tightening the belt around his waist, attaching the hobble to the belt by passing the extreme of the hobble strap through the belt D-ring and attaching the snap hook to the hobble alligator clip, and leaving the prisoner seated on a surface with his legs resting on the surface in front of him.

Abstract: Variable-heat chafing-dish burners and methods of use. One variable-heat chafing-dish burner embodiment has a reservoir with liquid fuel, into which a short wick and a long wick extend. Both wicks are lit initially, in order to provide initial high heat to bring chafing-dish water quickly to temperature. As fuel is consumed by the flames fed by both wicks, the fuel level within the reservoir drops. The short wick initial immersed length is set such that at the approximate time the chafing-dish water has been brought to temperature, the short wick is no longer immersed in fuel, and the flame it fed is extinguished due to fuel starvation. After the flame fed by the short wick is extinguished, only the flame fed by the long wick remains lit, thereby providing the lowered heat required to maintain the chafing-dish water at temperature. In this manner, a high initial heat is provided to bring chafing-dish water quickly to temperature, and lower heat is provided thereafter to save fuel.

Abstract: A sanitary cat litter box and method of use. The sanitary cat litter box comprises a box top sized to frictionally fit onto a box bottom, an impervious bag sized to fit into the box bottom, and at least one sieve bag nested in the impervious bag. The box has a box mouth and a box aperture. The impervious bag has an impervious bag mouth co-extensive with the box mouth and an impervious bag aperture co-extensive with the box aperture. Each sieve bag has a sieve bag mouth co-extensive with the box mouth and a sieve bag aperture co-extensive with the box aperture. Means is provided to hold the corresponding box, impervious bag, and sieve bag mouths together, and to hold the corresponding box, impervious bag, and sieve bag apertures together. In use, the sieve bag(s) and impervious bag are placed within the box bottom, and the corresponding apertures attached. Cat litter is placed in the uppermost sieve bag, the corresponding mouths are attached, and the box top is installed on the box bottom.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for playing a golf board game. The apparatus comprises a plurality of game boards depicting golf holes, playing pieces, a color die, a windage die, a pair of green conventional dice, and three conventional dice. Playing pieces are taught comprising a golf club and a golf ball rigidly attached to a base. During play, each player chooses a club, and rolls a specified combination of the dice, moving his playing piece toward the hole accordingly. After all players have completed a hole, the next game board is used, until all game boards have been used. The winner is determined conventionally via either match or stroke play scoring. A golf board game box is also disclosed which conveniently stores the unused game boards, and securely holds a game board being used for play on a game box upper surface.

Abstract: A lancet and method of manufacture. The lancet comprises a wire sandwiched between an upper web and a lower web. A twist-off wire point cover is provided to protect the point of the wire, and to preserve its sterility until use. The method of manufacture includes the steps of heating the upper and lower webs, thermoforming a lower web wire groove and a lower web wire point recess into the lower web, loading a wire into the lower web wire groove such that its point is disposed within the lower web wire point recess, gluing the upper web to the lower web at a lidding station, and cutting twist-off slits into the upper and lower webs to provide the twist-off cover. Alternate embodiments of the lancet are disclosed which provide a lancet containing a valley to facilitate wire loading, and which provide finger grips on the upper and lower webs. A butterfly and method of manufacture are also disclosed.

Abstract: A calendaring cap for a pharmaceutical container comprising at least one ring frictionally and rotatably engaged with a cap. The cap comprises a cap bore having either a cap female thread or a cap bore lip, whereby the calendaring cap for a pharmaceutical container may be installed on a standard pharmaceutical container. Each ring bears a pointer which points towards indicia on the cap. In a calendaring cap for a pharmaceutical container embodiment incorporating two rings, the cap may bear day indicia and hour indicia. A first ring is associated with the day indicia, and its pointer points towards the day indicia. A second ring is associated with the hour indicia, and its pointer points towards the hour indicia.

Abstract: A dynamic pressure regulator cushion for use with a fluid power actuator to smoothly and linearly decelerate the piston at end of stroke. The dynamic pressure regulator cushion comprises a pressure sensor attached to a valve. A side of the pressure sensor tending to close the valve is exposed to driving pressure. A side of the pressure sensor tending to open the valve is exposed to fluid pressure in the cylinder ahead of the piston. An adjustable valve pre-loading is provided to maintain the fluid pressure in the cylinder ahead of the piston at a constant, pre-determined level above the driving pressure during the cushion stroke. This pre-set pressure differential across the piston serves to smoothly and linearly decelerate the piston to near zero at end of stroke. Two pressure sensor embodiments taught are a pressure sensor piston reciprocating within a plenum, and a diaphragm whose outer edge is attached to, and sealed to, an inside wall of a plenum.

Abstract: A lidded insulator for a beverage container comprising an insulator lid hingedly attached to an insulator body by means of a hinge. An insulator top ring having an insulator top ring bore is attached to the insulator lid. The hinge is made of resilient material possessing material memory tending to urge the hinge into a straight position. This hinge material memory tends to urge the insulator lid into a closed position. The lidded insulator for a beverage container is sized to frictionally admit a standard sized beverage container. Thus the beverage container is held securely within the insulator body, and when the insulator lid is closed on the beverage container, the frictional fit between the insulator lid and the beverage container holds the top closed, and together with the hinge material memory, urges the insulator lid top into sealing relationship with the beverage container opening.

Abstract: A footwear with integral bubble generator comprising a bubble generator installed below a shoe insole. When the footwear wearer puts weight on the insole, the insole presses against the bubble generator, and bubbles are emitted from a bubble generator reservoir through a nozzle. The bubble generator comprises a fill aperture sealed with a removable fill aperture cover. Bubble solution may be poured into (or out of) the bubble generator reservoir through the fill aperture. The bubble generator may optionally comprise a one-way air valve and/or a one-way nozzle valve. The one-way air valve closes during a compression step, thus forcing bubble solution fluid to exit through the nozzle, and allows air to enter the bubble generator reservoir during an expansion step. The nozzle valve prevents air from entering the bubble generator reservoir during the expansion step.

Abstract: A retractable vehicle cover comprising at least one cover reel and at least one extension line reel disposed within a housing. The cover reel and the extension line reel are biased in a retracted position. Each cover reel contains a cover, and each extension line reel contains an extension line. At least one cover leading edge extends from the housing, and at least one extension line extends through each cover leading edge. An extension line cover stop allows the extension line(s) to extend a cover, and an extension line end stop prevents extension line retraction into the housing. The housing is aerodynamically shaped to reduce drag on a vehicle upon which the retractable vehicle cover is mounted. Each cover leading edge is equipped with a cover strip magnet which holds the cover in an extended position. In the alternative, the cover strip magnet may be adhered to a ferromagnetic strip on the housing, which securely holds the cover leading edge in a retracted position.

Abstract: A wind shelter and method of installation. The wind shelter comprises a slab having a slab aperture, a pit in underlying solid material, a liner disposed within the slab aperture and pit, and a cover, the liner and cover being securely attached to the slab. The cover has at least one door and meshed windows, and is built to resemble and function as a table. The method of installation includes the steps of cutting a slab aperture in the slab, excavating a pit in the underlying material, securing installation walls against the pit walls, positioning the liner within the pit and the cover over the liner, and securely fastening the liner and cover to the slab. The slab may be the floor of a mobile home extension structure such as a porch, utility building, Florida room, driveway, sidewalk, etc.

Abstract: Methods of selectively silvering photographic materials. A method for selective reflective silvering of color negative photographic materials, whereby an attractive image comprising reflective silver, black, and full color areas may be obtained, comprises the steps of developing the materials using a conventional color developer, applying a reflective silvering bath, and removing silver from selected areas of said materials. A method for selective reflective silvering of color positive photographic materials comprises the steps of developing said materials using a conventional color developer, applying a reflective silvering bath, and removing silver from selected areas of said materials.

Abstract: A wall panel jack comprising a turnbuckle connecting a cradle shaft to a foot shaft, a cradle pivotably attached to an extreme of the cradle shaft opposite the turnbuckle, and a foot pivotably attached to an extreme of the foot shaft opposite the turnbuckle. The turnbuckle incorporates a turnbuckle bore with a turnbuckle bore cradle thread and a turnbuckle bore foot thread. The cradle shaft has a cradle shaft thread sized to mate with the turnbuckle bore cradle thread, and the foot shaft has a foot shaft thread sized to mate with the turnbuckle bore foot thread. The cradle incorporates a cradle groove sized to admit the lower edge of a wall panel, and the foot incorporates a foot pad made of non-slip material. Rotation of the turnbuckle varies the distance between the cradle groove and the foot pad.

Abstract: A rain gauge and methods of tilt time calibration and flow rate calibration. The rain gauge comprises a pair of buckets separated by a darn rotatably attached to a base. A threaded balance weight is used to calibrate the rain gauge to equalize the tilt times of the buckets. A pendulum weight turns on a threaded stud attached to a frame is used to calibrate the rain gauge for different flow rates of water reflecting rainfall intensities from 2 in/hr to 12 in/hr. The buckets' outflow is directed into graduated cylinders, which may also be used during calibration. A pair of uprights support a funnel platform having a funnel platform aperture. The funnel platform aperture is sized to precisely hold a funnel in position relative to the bucket assembly, thereby permitting different buckets to be used without having to re-calibrate the rain gauge. A cover having at least one cover aperture is provided which permits visually checking the operation of the rain gauge without having to remove the cover.

Abstract: A beach replenishment system comprising a plurality of barriers mutually separated by troughs. Each barrier comprises two arms mutually attached at a barrier arm angle. The intersection of the arms defines a barrier vertex. An extreme of each arm opposite the barrier vertex terminates in a barrier arm end wall. Each arm comprises a descending series of parallel terraces. Each terrace comprises a shoulder and a valley, or, in an alternate embodiment, a land separated from a shoulder by a valley. The lowermost shoulder borders a ramp which is substantially parallel to a surface upon which the barrier rests, whereby receding water is projected away from the barrier and erosion under the barrier is thus minimized. Each arm is supported by vertical and horizontal braces. Runout posts are installed opposite the troughs, and barrier posts are installed opposite each barrier.

Abstract: A vehicle warning and help apparatus and method comprising a light box electrically and removably connected to a control panel. The light box comprises a red light, yellow light, transceiver, power supply, inertial switch, and momentary contact switch. The control panel comprises a continuous yellow switch backlit when ON by a continuous yellow switch light, a three-flash yellow switch backlit when ON by a three-flash yellow switch light, a red switch backlit when ON by a red switch light, and a horn. In operation, a transmitting vehicle warning and help apparatus sends a signal on a red frequency, a yellow frequency, or both. The transmissions are received by a receiving vehicle warning and help apparatus, and the receiving vehicle warning and help apparatus sounds its horn and illuminates a combination of its continuous yellow switch light, three-flash yellow switch light and red switch light, thus communicating a condition of maximum alert, minimum alert, momentary warning, or official alert.

Abstract: A pipe tool and method of filling. The pipe tool comprises a handle rigidly attached to a spade at an angle of approximately 225 degrees. A cross-sectional shape of an upper extreme of the spade is that of an arc of approximately 70 degrees, and a lower extreme whose shape is that of a spherical section. A cross-sectional thickness of said spade decreases linearly from the spade upper extreme to the spade lower extreme. The handle has a tamper which is shaped like a half-circle.

Abstract: An oscillating and reciprocating piston engine having a piston oscillating and reciprocating within a cylinder, a drive shaft housing attached to the cylinder, and a drive shaft turning within the drive shaft housing. The drive shaft is rotatably, slidably, and swivelably attached to the piston by means of a drive finger slidably attached to a ball in socket. The cylinder has intake, lower transfer, upper transfer, and exhaust ports which are opened and closed by a piston intake aperture, a piston transfer aperture, a piston transfer cutout, and a piston exhaust cutout, respectively. The piston both reciprocates and rotates relative to the cylinder. Steps in the transfer and exhaust cutouts, and lobes in the intake and transfer apertures, define the points at which the intake, lower transfer, upper transfer, and exhaust ports open and close.