Abstract: A beam of light or other electromagnetic field is emitted and received in a vacuum, all within an apparatus in motion. The nature of light permits the beam of light to retain the characteristics of its motion in vacuum, regardless of motion of the apparatus in which the emitted light propagates. The light beam retains its position in space relative to the direction of motion of the apparatus. Since both entities, light beam and apparatus, are disposed in the same frame of reference, characteristics of their motion can be compared. The result of this comparison represents the vector of velocity V of the apparatus which is utilized in navigation of the apparatus.

Abstract: In summary, this invention is a rain gutter debris removal system, including a rain gutter and a debris removal device operable within the gutter. The gutter includes a back wall and a bottom channel member. The debris removal device includes an upright scavenging blade mounted within and lengthwise of the channel for movement between a home position retracted against the back wall, and an extended forward position across the channel. An actuator moves the scavenging blade between home and extended positions, whereby to expel debris from the channel. The scavenging blade includes a wiper blade along its bottom for wiping engagement with the gutter channel. The actuator includes a reciprocable expansible chamber device positioned between the back wall and the scavenging blade, and connected to the back wall for pivotal movement up and down, the wiper blade thereby maintaining wiping engagement with the gutter channel as the blade traverses the channel.

Abstract: An expansible chamber pneumatic system, for example a fluid pump system, includes two or more double-acting diaphragm pumps, each with symmetrical left and right pump housings, each housing including an air chamber and a fluid chamber separated by a movable diaphragm. The diaphragms are connected for reciprocating movement in unison to pump fluid through their respective fluid chambers. Each pump includes an air valve actuated by Control air to direct Process air into one of the air chambers, simultaneously releasing used Process air from the other air chamber to thereby move the diaphragms, thereby to pump fluid. A pilot valve directs Control air to the air valve to position the air valve. The pilot valve is responsive to diaphragms reaching their travel limit in one direction to direct Control air to reverse the directions of Process air flow through the air valve to thereby reverse the movement of the pump diaphragms. Control air exhausts through the pilot valve to atmosphere.

Abstract: A rain gutter includes a back wall, bottom member, and front wall, forming an elongated channel. The front wall is pivotally connected along the bottom member for forward movement between an upstanding position and a downward open position. An upright scavenger blade mounted in and along the channel is movable between a retracted position and a forward position to push the front wall open and dump the gutter contents. The scavenger blade includes a flexible wiper along its bottom to slide across the channel bottom. The system is actuated by a piston which reciprocates the scavenger blade across the channel, between retracted and extended positions. The actuator system also includes a base plate parallel to the back wall, a channel span parallel to the base plate, and parallel hinge plates connecting the base plate and channel span, all together forming a four-bar linkage. An actuator arm is pivotally connected at one end to the base plate, and slidably connected at its other end to the channel span.

Abstract: A snowplow includes a blade and bottom plate with a mounting plate bolted to an end portion of the bottom plate. A channel bracket is fixed to the mounting plate with its flanges extending forward and its web thereby spaced forward of the mounting plate to form a pad plate. A resilient rubber pad, larger than the pad plate, is removably mounted on the pad plate to extend inward, outward, upward and downward from it. The rubber pad is invertible and reversible on the pad plate. The planes of the pad plate and of the rubber pad are skewed inward and downward relative to the plane of the mounting plate. The bottom plate includes spaced bolt holes for selective positioning of the mounting plate relative to the bottom plate for variable plow width.

Abstract: A process of making a laser diode device includes these steps: applying a bonding layer such as molybdenum manganese to surfaces of first and second bodies of dielectric material such as beryllium oxide; joining the first and second bodies together to form a cavity; and bonding a sectored conductor ring to the bonding layer within the cavity.

Abstract: A shirt includes a collar with inner and outer layers forming ice pockets spaced around the collar. The pockets are for ice to cool the main blood vessels and spinal nerves in the neck of the wearer. In use, the collar is either in an upstanding closed position around the wearer's neck in a turtleneck fashion, or in a spread-open position if the closed collar is too warm or too cold. The shirt also includes ice pockets behind armpit locations where arteries are close to the skin. The shirt enhances the transfer of heat from the wearer to melt ice in the ice pockets, to warm the meltwater, and to evaporate the water.

Abstract: An artificial pond reef is formed from sheet material into the shape of an inverted tub. It includes a peripheral base portion, upstanding sidewalls, and a roof. The base portion includes a horizontal flange extending out from the sidewalls. The sidewalls extend up to support the roof and include apertures for movement of fish and the like through the reef. The reef includes small holes for the growth of flora therethrough. The roof is configured to support and retain decorative enhancements (pebbles, sand, plants). The base, sidewalls, roof are surface-shaped and contoured to give the reef an appearance of natural rock formation. The reef is dark or black to promote bacteria growth upon it, and has a matte surface for bacteria to adhere to. The roof includes an opening to receive a removable receptacle for decorative enhancements.

Abstract: A reading table includes a tabletop is connected to a frame for pivotal movement up and down among selected inclined positions. The frame is supported on front and back legs, the front legs being connected for pivotal movement between “normal” forward positions and “pushed-back” positions when the table is pulled into a chair and over its seating surface. The table also includes a pair of props, shorter than the front legs, to act in place of the front legs by standing upon the seating surface when the table is pulled in over the seating surface. The legs and props are telescoped for height adjustability among a discrete number of snap lock positions. Left and right levers are pivotally mounted on left and right ends of the frame, each of them spring-biased up against a ratchet on the underside of the tabletop to releasably support the tabletop at a selected incline relative to the frame. A crossbar is slidable up and down on the tabletop to position objects such as a book.

Abstract: A table includes a tabletop and adjustable legs. Each table leg includes an inner tube attached to the tabletop, and an outer tube slidable on the inner tube. The inner tube includes a lengthwise keyway and a snap locking device in the bottom end of the tube. The locking device includes a sleeve, a compression spring within the sleeve, and a dowel pin urged by the spring through radial opening. The outer tube includes holes spaced therealong and a bushing mounted in the top end, the bushing including a key for engagement with the keyway of the inner tube. Length adjustment of the tubular table height adjuster is made by depressing the dowel pin and sliding the outer tube along the inner tube until the dowel pin snaps into a desired one of the holes in the outer tube.

Abstract: A visual signalling device, by which to signal for service, includes an elongated cradle with upper and lower ends, the upper end standing on legs to thereby incline the cradle at a tilt angle. The cradle includes a bottom, sidewalls, and a lower endwall. The legs are tapered from top to bottom. The bottom of the cradle is apertured at the tops of the legs to permit stacking of these devices atop on another. The tilt angle is in the range of 25° to 65° from vertical, preferably about 50°. The sidewalls include one or more notch receptacles for money. The device is thus adapted to hold a container such, as an empty beer bottle, at a tilt angle as a visual signal for service.

Abstract: A cable leader includes an elongated cylindrical body with a pointed leading end and a hollow tubular end. The tubular end cavity includes an axially tapered inner wall. In one embodiment, the inner wall includes a plurality of axially spaced circumferential bites of progressively decreasing diameter to engage and grip the end of a cable pushed into the tubular end. In another embodiment, the inner wall includes internal threads of progressively decreasing diameter for threading onto the end of a cable.

Abstract: A shield for a paint roller of the type having a roller support member with a roller on one end and a handle on the other end, includes a bottom, sidewalls, backwall, and a handle extending rearward, all in a dust pan configuration. The handle is a cylinder forming a tunnel therealong, and includes a hinge along one side on which to open and close the handle, and a clasp on the opposite side to secure the handle in a closed condition. The shield handle opens and closes to grasp the roller handle, and to permit axial adjustment of the roller handle relative to the shield handle.

Abstract: A process of making a laser diode device includes these steps: applying a bonding layer such as molybdenum manganese to surfaces of first and second bodies of dielectric material such as beryllium oxide; joining the first and second bodies together to form a cavity; and bonding a sectored conductor ring to the bonding layer within the cavity. The laser diode device made by the process includes a body of dielectric material such as beryllium oxide forming a cavity; a bonding layer lining the cavity; a conductor bonded to the layer within the cavity; the conductor being divided into ring sectors separated by radial diode bar spaces; and a laser diode bar in each of the bar spaces forming an array of such laser diode bars. The ring sectors and laser diode bars together form a series path for electric current around the conductor to energize the laser diode bars.

Abstract: A keyboard posture device includes a lateral support shaft, left and right L-shaped tubular frame members, and left and right arm restraints. The lateral branch of each frame member is adjustably movable along the support shaft. Left and right arm restraints are adjustably movable, forward and back, on the forward struts of the left and right frame members respectively. The arm restraints extend forward from the struts and away from each other to form left and right arm crooks. The device is adjustable as to width and depth by movement and selective locking engagement of the frame members on the support shaft, and of the arm restraints on their respective frame members. The device further includes a back pad and a wraparound strap to secure the device to the torso of the user.

Abstract: A handle for carrying plastic bags includes a flat plate with a top horizontal hand grip, a vertical member depending from each end of the hand grip, and a horizontal bottom portion, all surrounding a hand grip aperture. A number of bag hooks depend from the bottom portion, the outermost hooks being directed inward toward each other to prevent snagging. The outer periphery of the plate includes an outer flange, and the inner periphery of the hand grip aperture includes an inner flange.