Abstract: A dumbbell system including at least one dumbbell having a handle bar being a tube with an internal thread with a stop plate abutting each end of the handle bar. Each stop plate has a central aperture such that the interior passage of said tube opens up through each stop plate. A threaded shaft screws into each end of the tube through the respective stop plate. Weight plates, each having a slot are stacked onto the threaded shaft and when the threaded shaft is screwed into the tube, the knob end of the shaft tightens the weight stack against the stop plate.

Abstract: A combination phone and modem interfacing a computer with switching means using a common transmitter/receiver for communicating wirelessly with a base transmitter/receiver. Controls on the keypad of the phone permit the user to conveniently select by depressing the appropriate key for transmitting or receiving voice messages for the phone or digital data for the computer. In one configuration, the phone, transmitter and receiver are in an enclosure separate from the computer and modem. In another configuration, the phone, transmitter, receiver and modem are in an enclosure separate from the computer.

Abstract: A robot system including a robot, an operator control center and having a communication system connecting the robot and control center wherein an operator in the control center responds with natural movements to stimulus signals from the robot environment by issuing commands that control the robot. In one embodiment, the operator occupies a command chair with an exoskeletal arm that is secured to the "shoulder" (backrest) of the chair. The operator slides his hand into a glove of the invention attached to the end of the exoskeletal arm. He views the robot environment through a video screen and exerts control in response to views presented on the screen. The communication system sends signals to the operator glove in response to conditions at the robot site prompting the operator to take appropriate action.

Abstract: A feeding dish for a dog intended to prevent spillage of food while the dog is eating including an apron section mounted on a bowl section. The apron section presents a reentrant overhang from the lip toward the center of the bowl thereby directing food coming up the inside the bowl back into the bowl.

Abstract: A support for a conventional pistol grip hair dryer including a flexible tube with a stiffener rod positioned inside said tube. A clam shell type clamp is secured on one end of the tube for grasping the hair dryer. A tongue bracket is secured on the other end of the tube that may be be detachably engaged with a groove bracket secured to a vertical surface. In another mode of support, the bracket end of the tube with rod bent to a coil as desired and the support is supported on a horizontal surface (table top) in a cobra like arrangement with the dryer held free standing by virtue of the bendable rod inside the tubing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for treating waste water to generate clarified water for reuse in industrial processes which includes the steps of adding agents to the waste stream to generate floccules, aerating the waste stream to cause a portion of the floccules to float, decanting floating floccules and lighter than water immiscible pollutants from the top surface of the waste stream, directing the waste stream through an incline clarifier so as to permit heavier than water floccules to form sludge in a bottom region of the clarifier. Sludge and decanted pollutants are sent to a bioremediation tank where hydrocarbons are decomposed and the remaining sludge is dewatered and compacted to a solid condition for disposal in a public waste facility. The clarified water is transferred to a steam generator or pressurized water delivery system for reuse. The invention is particularly useful for equipment cleaning operations such as in truckyards or airports.

Abstract: An apparatus for aiding in performing operations requiring location of blood vessels such as intravenous injections or drawing blood in which a charge coupled device camera is focused on an area of the body such as the arm that is illuminated by a light source which emits light that is partly in the infrared range and partly in the ultraviolet range but from which light light having a wavelength in the visible range has been substantially eliminated. The useful range of wavelengths may be provided by any one of several methods including having an infrared source and an ultra violet source or an incandescent source emitting wavelengths extending from the infrared to the ultra violet and having a filter for removing the range of visible light.

Abstract: A method for increasing resistance to damage of a building wall due to wind, water, fire and seismic events including the steps of covering the wall with a fiberglass mat wherein the mat and wall are coated with a prime coat followed by a finish coat laced with cement-sand mixture. Special methods of preparing the base surface of the wall depend on the nature of the wall, be it plywood, gypsum, stucco or concrete. The system is applicable to a vertical wall or floor. Special steps are taken to augment various selected properties of the wall such as increasing shear strength and abrasion resistance.

Abstract: A drill jig for installing a lockset in a hanging door with an aperture for the lockset. The drill jig has a plate with a plug on one side dimensioned to fit into the aperture. An array of drill bushings is mounted in the plate aligned with a level on the top edge of the plate. Rubber feet protect the the door from being marred by the plate. The plate is positioned against the door in preparation for drilling holes through the drill bushing into the door.

Abstract: A linear encoder characterized as having a few number of parts including a light source that directs a beam of light onto the grating of a movable scale where reflected diffracted beams from two locations on the scale interfere with one another to form light fringe bands on a plane. In one embodiment, a Ronchi grating is located on the plane having lines with a spacing equal to the spacing of the light fringe bands. The combination of the Ronchi lines and the bands of the fringe pattern form a Moire pattern which is transmitted through the Ronchi grating and whose spatial distribution of intensity moves as the scale is moved and is detected by a photodetector array. The photodetector array converts the signal from the Moire pattern to a sinusoidal expression of displacement whose phase is used to determine displacement of the scale.

Abstract: A rotary magnetic field device for use in a dc motor or generator, or an ac motoer or generator. The device has a permanent magnet rotor, stator field windings and an outer cylindrical stator piece preferably being a continuous wire wrapping. The stator wire is magnetically permeable (silicon iron or steel). The stator wire, being transverse to the magnetic field assures low eddy current loss. The rotor is a material having a high energy product (BH.sub.max) preferably a neodymium-iron-boron compound. When used as a dc motor, the motor is characterized by exhibiting no ripple and economy of construction.

Abstract: A removable mudguard system for a bicycle including one shield for the rear wheel and one shield for the front wheel. The rear wheel shield is formed into an arcuate shape that conforms to the outside surface of a top section of the rear wheel. Support rods having ends integrally formed with edges of the shield extend toward the rear fork legs of the bicycle frame and have clips or resilient hooks on the other ends of the rods which are attachable to the legs. The clips are conveniently disengaged from the legs when it is desired to remove the mudguard such as during dry weather.

Abstract: A solution for cleaning metal surfaces particularly non ferrous alloys such as copper, brass and high strength aluminum alloys. The solution is prepared by mixing Ca(OH).sub.2 and KOH with equivalent sulfuric acid in water then passing the solution through a 10 micron filter. the resulting concentrate can be used full strength or diluted depending on the degree of surface oxidation of the metal to be treated.

Abstract: A clear solution and a method for preparing the solution which has a pH in the range of from 10 to 13.9 and containing sulfate ions in a concentration range less than 500 parts per million. The solution is prepared by mixing two solutions in which one solution has one equivalent of magnesium sulfate and an equivalent of sulfuric acid and the second solution has an equivalent of Ca (OH).sub.2 and two equivalents of K.sub.2 OH. It is believed that CaSO.sub.4 precipitates in the mixed solution and causes coprecipitation of potassium, perhaps as double salt with the Ca leaving OH stabilized by hydration and magnesium ions.

Abstract: An impeller golf club of the type having a piston with a face plate mounted on the club head which stikes a golf ball when a cartridge in the club head is detonated wherein the improvement is a safety feature which prevents the cartridge from being detonated unless the club is positioned in substantially the required position for striking the ball. The safety feature includes three balls, each free to roll in its own groove. Any one of the balls may interfere with actuating depression of the trigger button unless the club is located in the safe range of positions. The cartridges are retained in a cartridge holder that is insertable in the club head and secured by a cam that is released by the user turnng a cam handle.

Abstract: A toy ice cream maker being a preferably aluminum can with a lid insertable into a larger container wherein the larger container is encased in a spherical foam jacket. The smaller can has a lid and the larger can has a lid providing that ingredients for a frozen dessert may be inserted into the inner container and a mixture of rock salt and ice is insertable in the space between the inner and outer can. Another lid, formed integrally with the jacket seals the ice and rock salt in position. After the dessert ingredients have been sealed in the inner container and the rock-salt and ice have been sealed in the cooling container, the device, being a soft ball, is a toy that children delight in rolling around thereby hastening congealing the ingredients to form the dessert.

Abstract: A lamp having a lamp shade that phosphesces after the light from the bulb is extinguished. The glowing lamp shade provides a low level light that comforts children who are afraid of total darkness and allows them to drift off to sleep. The life of the afterglow is preferably about twenty minutes to half an hour. Decoration is developed on the surface of the lamp shade by painting opaque designs or attaching opaque paper or cloth on the surace of the lampshade.

Abstract: A solution for cleaning metal surfaces particularly non ferrous alloys such as copper, brass and high strength aluminum alloys. The solution is prepared by mixing Ca(OH).sub.2 and KOH with equivalent sulfuric acid in water then passing the solution through a 10 micron filter. The resulting concentrate can be used full strength or diluted depending on the degree of surface oxidation of the metal to be treated.

Abstract: An insert for a storm drain or sanitary sewer inlet such as are found in factory or warehouse floors, parking lots and car washes in which the insert holds one or more bags of filter media. The bags have a very open structure such as coarse weave cotton permitting water entering the drain to pass through each bag and the filter media inside the bag. The entire bag may be conveniently withdrawn from the insert and replaced as the filter media becomes saturated. Preferably, a first bag contains an absorbant cellulose particulate media which absorbs oils and greases and post non-volatile hydrocarbons and a second bag contains specially textured activated carbon which absorbs organically bound heavy metals and volatile hydrocarbons as well other VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Various types of filter media and configurations of these media also allows for the removal of dissolved heavy metals, and even the removal of pathogenic microbes.

Abstract: A device for coring strawberries including a cutting tube having a cutting end over which the strawberry is slid to separate the meat from the core. In one embodiment, an ejector rod is slidably positioned inside the cutting tube and an ejector sleeve is slidably positioned on the outside of the cutting tube. The ejector rod is coupled to the sleeve by a screw through a slot in the cutting tube. The ejector tube is spring loaded so that the separated core may be ejected from the cutting tube by sliding the ejector rod toward the cutting end. A spring return returns the rod and sleeve to a rest position. In another embodiment, the ejector rod is actuated separately from the sleeve to eject the core and the sleeve is then actuated to eject the meat. The sleeve and rod are compression spring loaded to restore the rod and sleeve to the initial position.