Abstract: A filter for use with a rain gutter will prevent solid debris, such as leaves, from entering the gutter, but will not unduly restrict passage of rain water into and through the gutter. The filter comprises a liquid permeable strip that can be formed of a material, such as reticulated polyurethane foam. This strip is supported at the top of the gutter by a support member, which can be a thermoformed member, affixed to the underside of the strip. Legs, which can fold transversely to the strip will support the strip above the bottom of the gutter. When the legs are in a flat configuration, multiple filter members can be stacked for storage and shipping. Installation is essentially toolless and the filters can be cut to length.

Abstract: A shelter for a motor vehicle or other movable object is moved from a fully retracted position to a fully deployed position by a combination of linear and pivotal movement. The shelter includes a frame assembly including parallel rails with pole holding subassemblies mounted on and movable along the rails. Arched poles with a collapsible canopy covering the poles are mounted on the pole holders, and linear movement of one pole holder on each rail will pull or push the poles into position because the poles are connected by the canopy. Poles on parallel rails will be moved simultaneously. Front and rear pole holders are pivoted to enclose both the front and rear of the shelter, and the entire assembly can be retracted to a generally horizontal storage position by movement of swing arms from a position aligned with the rails to a position in which the swing arms extend upright relative to the rails.

Abstract: A horn apparatus comprises a high frequency horn housed within a low frequency horn. High frequency and low frequency drivers are positioned side by side and are at substantially the same distance from a reflective surface. Sound emitted by both drivers strikes this same reflective at approximately the same position and the low frequency and high frequency sound is reflected at the same angle. The sound emitted by both drivers is thus time aligned and superposition of sound at the same frequencies from both drivers will not cancel out or cause significant interference and sound distortion.

Abstract: A kit for use in treating a sink drain so that drain remains both open and clean includes an unclogging device and a strainer, which though packagable or stackable together would normally be used separately. The unclogging device can be used to concentrate the spray from a nozzle to assist in unclogging a drain. The strainer would normally reside in a sink drain to prevent debris from clogging or restricting the drain. One version of the strainer provides space for an air freshener that can be replaced. These kits also include a sealing stopper and a gasket.

Abstract: A nasal spray apparatus for simultaneously administrating metered amounts of multiple medicaments includes chambers for separately storing incompatible medicaments, such as an antihistamine and a steroid. Reciprocal piston pumps allow the medications to be sprayed into the user's nasal cavity. Two pumps can be used to separately transfer the medicaments to a receptacle where they can be initially mixed just prior to administration. A small volume receptacle is used to reduce the amount of mixture remaining after each stroke of the nasal spray apparatus. A check valve can be associated with each pump to further reduce medicament mixtures from cross contamination within storage chamber preparations. Collapsible components, including collapsible storage chambers or balloon capacitors can be employed to compensate for vacuums and back pressures as the medicaments are pumped to a spray nozzle.

Abstract: This application is directed to a method of treating tires so that the tires will have better performance, especially when used for racing. The method disclosed herein is especially suited for use in go kart racing, although the method can be used for other applications in which the adhesion and hardness of tires, after their manufacture is to be altered. The method also includes cleaning steps and formulations. This method involves the selective use of various esters to alter tire characteristics as desired.

Abstract: A guide for use in medical procedures involving the eye comprises a shield for protecting portions of a patient's eye, as well as guide apertures through which an instrument, such as a needle can be inserted. The guide is positioned on the patient's eye, and a visible alignment member, such as a central opening will align the guide relative to the cornea, exposed through this opening. The guide apertures would thus be positioned so that penetration of the eye would occur at a site where no damage to the eye, and especially to the lens, could not occur. The guide apertures extend through cylindrical members that will position a syringe and insure proper entry of the needle into the patient's eye.

Abstract: A collapsible ladder rack system for use on pickup truck or similar vehicle. The rack system includes housings, main arms, material arms, extension arms, and supporting braces. The housings are secured to the rails. The hinged main arms rise vertically and are locked into place by braces. The hinged material arms rise horizontally and lock into place with braces. The extension arms telescope out of two of the material arms and insert into the empty material arms and lock into place. When the ladder rack is no longer needed, the steps are reversed so that the other rack components collapse into the housings on the bed rails. Accessory components can be mounted on the rack to enhance the capabilities of the system.

Abstract: A gutter insert device is shaped to fit within a gutter hollow channel. The insert is a foamed material and it will at least partially fill the gutter hollow channel to resist accumulation of leaves, sticks and other debris. A top later is formed of reticulated polyurethane foam to resist ultraviolet light and flame retardants. Stock foam raw material is cut so that it will expand to form an elongated insert base.

Abstract: A system for forming an insulating vapor barrier in a building is especially suited for forming an insulating vapor barrier in a crawl space beneath a building. The system includes a series of separate vapor barrier panels that can be attached around a wall. A ground level vapor barrier can be sealed to the insulating vapor barrier panels, which can be sealed to each other and along a top edge to the wall. The individual vapor barrier panels include an insulating foam member with a vapor resistant liner laminated thereto and extending beyond the edges of the insulating foam member to provide space for securing and sealing multiple vapor barrier panels to form a continuous insulating vapor barrier. Mechanical or hook and loop fasteners can be provided to secure the top edges of the vapor barrier liners to the wall and bottom edges to a ground liner.

Abstract: Eyeglasses that can be hung around the wearer's neck, without the necessity of a chain or cord, can be rotated between a normal viewing position, a conventional storage position and a hanging position. In the hanging positions, the rear ends of temple arms are spaced apart by a distance less than the diameter of a normal wearer's neck. In embodiment in which a hinge between the lens frame and the temple arms can be pivoted about three orthogonal axes, the lens frame will lie flat against the wearer's chest or neck. Two hinge configurations that allow the lens frame to lie flat include a ball and socket joint and a multiple hinge joint. The temple arms can also be extended so that the eyeglasses will more comfortably fit around the wearer's neck in the hanging position.

Abstract: A sign is edge lit and illuminated by an array of light emitting diodes disposed along an edge of a light transmissive panel. A light diffusion surface, which can be formed by a series of serrations on the panel edge, disperses light from the discrete light emitting diodes in the array. A geometric figure, which can be text or graphics or both is formed on one face of the panel by grooves, which redirect diffused light so that an illuminated image, corresponding to the geometric figure, can be seen on the front of the panel. The grooves forming the figure and the light diffusion surface comprise parts of a one-piece panel, and the grooves and the light diffusion surface can be formed when the panel is injection molded.

Abstract: A mass marketable decorative window treatment system employs adjustable-width valance pieces or overlays that can be hung from a conventional curtain rod on which a rod sleeve has been mounted. Segmented hook and loop fastener means are employed on both the valance pieces and on a curtain rod subassembly so that the decorative window treatment components need not be permanently secured to a board as required with similar custom window treatments. The width of individual valance pieces, such as, but not limited to, swags and jabots and flat overlays can be adjusted so that the standard size components can be used for different size windows.

Abstract: A reminder device 2 and a system using that device can be employed both to alert a user to scheduled times for administration of standard medical procedures and to compile data representative of the actual administration of the medical procedure. The reminder device 2 includes an LCD 8 for notifying a user of important messages. The reminder device can be connected to a communications network so that data can be downloaded to the reminder device and uploaded to a medical professional for analysis. The reminder device can also be attached to a medical apparatus, such as a nebulizer, and the intervals during which that medical apparatus are in actual use can be communicated to and stored in the reminder device memory for subsequent uploading to a medical professional.

Abstract: A marine handling craft and system is intended for use in deploying, inspecting and receiving vessels and payloads to and from locations on, under, over or near water and wet soils in potentially turbulent aquatic or atmospheric conditions. The marine handling craft may operate as a robot, or deployed from a crane or boom on a mother ship or other platform or helicopter so that it can transport and mate and dock at various locations, such as supply ships or autonomous marine vessels, at a stand off distance to limit potential harm to valuable assets. A sliding fastener and track are included on the marine handling craft so that it can be tethered and lifted by a single line or cable, and so can be manipulated by a single crane or helicopter. The utility of the handling craft is not limited to the transport of payloads and it may function as a stand-alone vessel for various remote sensing purposes.

Abstract: This invention is a method of preserving without any chemical additives Ceratomia catalpae larvae (Catalpa worms) for use as fish bait by cleansing, blanching, and subsequently freezing them in sealed, moisture and vapor limiting bags. The larvae is first chilled as to limit mobility, then picked clean and rinsed with water. The larva is then blanched in boiling water, immersed in cold water to limit cooking and dried. With the use of sterilized tongs, the larvae is then placed in individual plastic bags and frozen within another bag to limit freezer burn. The individual bags of Catawba worms can be thawed out and the worms fished within months after they are harvested with minimal deterioration.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a slide body having a plurality of rigidly mounted pistons on opposite ends of the slide body. The slide body reciprocates and is connected to a flywheel by shaft and bearing which extends through an angled track in the slide body. As the pistons impart linear movement to the slide body, the flywheel and a drive shaft rotate. Both the slide body and the flywheel are mounted on the interior of the engine. Magnets on the flywheel rotate relative to stationary coil conductors to induce a current. The housing includes four panels, which can be easily assembled and disassembled, which form a housing compartment in which the linearly movable slide piston subassembly and the rotating flywheel are positioned.

Abstract: A stackable buoy can be mounted on a U-shaped mounting bracket that can in turn be attached to a panel, such as the inner surface of a boat hull. The buoy includes protrusions molded as part of parallel channels, which receive the two legs of the bracket. Multiple buoys can be stacked one of top of the other. Pockets on each side of the H-shaped buoy are provided for mounting commercially available light sticks.

Abstract: A textile interlacing slide jet (2), (102) includes a jet body (10), a jet carriage (40, 140) on which a ceramic jet nozzle insert (30, 130) is mounted, and a spring housing (52) that includes a stack of compression spring washers (70,170), such as Belleville washers. The spring housing (52) is rotatable, relative to an upper arm (20) of the jet body (10), to a tilted position to permit insertion and removal of the jet carriage (40, 140) and the jet nozzle insert (30, 130) without the use of special tools. The compression spring washers (70, 170) are located in the spring housing (52) directly above a ceramic plate (66, 166) located on the bottom of the spring housing. These springs (70, 170) urge the ceramic plate or bottom layer into engagement of the top surface of the jet nozzle insert (30, 130) so that the ceramic plate (66, 166) can close a yarn channel when the jet carriage (40, 140) and the jet nozzle insert (30, 130) have been moved to a closed position by rotation of an actuating lever (80, 180).