Abstract: A pass-through power take-off (PTO) mechanism for use with renewable energy systems is described to extract power from a linearly moving tether under high tension and to convert it to rotary power such as for driving an electric generator. Three such embodiments are described. The first uses two adjacent timing belts and transfers power from tether to PTO via friction. The second embodiment uses two adjacent roller chain loops and a mechanical engagement method to transfer power from tether to PTO. The third embodiment uses two adjacent double-sided timing belts and either a synchronous or an asynchronous method to transfer power from the tether to the PTO.

Abstract: Apparatus usable with a safety swimming pool incorporating a buoyant submersed rescue floor is described. In one instance, a winch coupling a gear motor to a cable drum via an electrically disengageable clutch is used as a device to re-deploy the buoyant floor to the bottom after a rescue. In another instance a solar powered dedicated power supply is used to power the trigger/sensor subsystem. In yet another instance an electro-mechanical circuit for sensing and triggering a rescue episode is described.

Abstract: A pass-through power take-off (PTO) mechanism for use with renewable energy systems is described to extract power from a linearly moving tether under high tension and to convert it to rotary power such as for driving an electric generator. Three such embodiments are described. The first uses two adjacent timing belts and transfers power from tether to PTO via friction. The second embodiment uses two adjacent roller chain loops and a mechanical engagement method to transfer power from tether to PTO. The third embodiment uses two adjacent double-sided timing belts and either a synchronous or an asynchronous method to transfer power from the tether to the PTO.

Abstract: A dead bolt lock reminder system includes a dead bolt lock mechanism including a dead bolt for mounting in a door to be secured in a closed door state and a transmitter subsystem constructed for positioning proximate the deadbolt lock mechanism and which further includes a transmitter and a detector. The detector is configured for detecting when the dead bolt is moved from a locked state position to an unlocked state position and from an unlocked state position to a locked state position and where the transmitter is configured for transmitting a dead lock reminder signal identifying that a state of the dead bolt has changed to one of locked and unlocked upon detection of same by the detector. A hand held receiver subsystem is configured to receive the dead lock reminder signal at a time of transmission, and maintain a status of a last change to a locked or an unlocked state for displaying to a user of the hand held receiver subsystem.

Abstract: A low-cost switch sensor remote dead bolt status indicator includes a switch sensor which starts a transmitter at a door lock location upon sensing of a dead bolt entering into a locked position. The transmitter is provided with a self shut-off feature operating after a fixed duration of minutes length has elapsed. The indicator also includes a receiver in a hand held unit, such as a key fob capable of receiving signals from the transmitter after the user presses an inquiry key on its surface. The hand held receiver having two indicators for alternately displaying the lock's dead bolt status as being locked or unlocked. In an alternate embodiment, the switch sensor is provided as an integral part bonded to the conventional manufactured metal strike plate dead bolt frame that is typically attached to the door jamb.

Abstract: A deadbolt lock reminder system includes a normally closed deadbolt detector switch which supplies power to a proximity detector to detect a presence of a person in a vicinity of a door whenever the dead bolt is detected not to be in a locked position. When the person leaves the vicinity of the door, the proximity detector switches into a “person no longer detected” mode thereby triggering an alarm. The sounding of the alarm will remind the person to return to lock the dead bolt. The alarm sounds for a fixed duration while the person is still within earshot of the alarm.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for power generation using a tethered airfoil. In particular, the present invention provides a cost effective, environmentally friendly alternative to generate power for the oil, water, and electric industries or any other application where power is desired.

Abstract: A system for tracking persons or things. One or more tracking units are associated with persons or things to be tracked. Each tracking unit includes one or more accelerometers and one or more gyroscopes to provide distance and heading or directional information. A master control station (MCS) receives the distance and heading information or location information based thereon. MCS may also display for displaying the location of at least one of the tracking units. The MCS programmed to determine the location based on: determination of a reference point and heading for the at least one tracking unit; data from the accelerometers and gyroscope, which provides distance and direction information; and aggregation of the distance and direction information.

Abstract: Renewable energy systems extracting energy from natural water flow or wind. The energy systems are configurations of long-stroke open-channel reciprocating engines employing one or two flow engaging elements such as drogue chutes for water flow or airfoils for wind applications tethered to a power drum and useful to generate electricity or to pump water as from wells. A wind energy system using two buoyant airfoils emblazoned with advertising messages is suitable for urban deployment generating electric power and also supporting an advertising revenue stream.

Abstract: Renewable energy systems extracting energy from natural water flow or wind. The energy systems are configurations of long-stroke open-channel reciprocating engines employing one or two flow engaging elements such as drogue chutes for water flow or airfoils for wind applications tethered to a power drum and useful to generate electricity or to pump water as from wells. A wind energy system using two buoyant airfoils emblazoned with advertising messages is suitable for urban deployment generating electric power and also supporting an advertising revenue stream.

Abstract: A liquid dispenser for medical applications includes a pressurized liquid container, a nozzle, and a conduit or flow guide connected to the container and the nozzle for defining a flow path between the container and the nozzle. A manually actuatable flow rate control mechanism is operatively coupled to the conduit or flow guide and is manipulable by a user to adjust an average rate of flow of liquid from the container to the nozzle. In addition, a manually actuatable pulse rate control mechanism is operatively coupled to the conduit or flow guide and is manipulable by a user to adjust a rate of pulsation in liquid flowing from the container to the nozzle. The invention thus enables a user to set flow rate and pulsation frequency as desired.

Abstract: Actuators for power driven accessories for moving objects, such as vehicle power windows, windshield wipers, vehicle power antennas, power side view mirrors, catheter drivers, curtain moving machines, bi-directional rotary motors, thruster mechanisms that move relative to a reaction surface or that drive a driven member relative to itself, use orthogonal oscillatory transducers cooperatively to drive intermediary elements to move these objects bi-directionally along constrained paths. The actuators may also power a pneumatically driven autonomous robot element using dual pneumatic DSES elements such as planar contact surfaces with an array of apertures which are cyclically switched form a source of compressed air which acts as a lubricant to greatly reduce surface friction to a vacuum source, which acts as a clamping medium increasing contact frictional force. Orthogonal bladders are cyclically pressurized or vented to move a central block relative to a surrounding frame.

Abstract: A liquid dispenser assembly for medical applications includes a container holding a predetermined quantity of a therapeutic liquid in a storage chamber. The container has a wall or panel provided with a port. A dip tube is disposed in the chamber and extends from the port to a lower portion of the storage chamber. The disepnser assembly further includes a hollow compressible dispenser body. An applicator tube is attached at one end to the dispenser body and extends at a free end, i.e., an end opposite the dispenser body, into the dip tube. The applicator tube is removable from the dip tube after an expansion of the dispenser body from a collapsed configuration and a concomitant drawing of an aliquot of the liquid into the dispenser body through the dip tube and the applicator tube.

Abstract: A device providing one of an actuator, motor and a wheelless autonomous robot using vibratory transducer drivers. The vibratory transducer driver is connected to a reciprocating element, driven reciprocally by the vibration driver. A friction surface is provided for translating reciprocating movement of the reciprocating element into motion. A driven member is moved by contact with the friction surface.

Abstract: An improved biopsy forceps for retrieving a tissue sample from an internal organ is provided with flexible resilient means for ejecting a tissue sample from the cups after the sample is retrieved from the internal organ. The ejector means can comprise a leaf spring extending between the cups and biased in a convex distal direction so that it springs outward when the cups are fully opened, ejecting the tissue sample. An actuating wire has a spring latch for moving the leaf spring to the ejection position and for returning it to a position inside the cups. The wire disengages from the cups so that it can extend distally no eject the sample. A latch mechanism at the proximal end of the wire selectively prevents actuation.

Abstract: A sugar stick is provided to stir coffee until a desired sweetness is attained. The dispensing device for solid granular material is user adjusted from zero to a maximum by simply adjusting a movable cover, such as a sleeve or shutter to the indicated extent for the desired amount. The stirrer includes at least one dose separator disks attached to a central portion ending in an enlarged end section to be used as a handle, which fits into a perforated tube. The product granules, e.g. an artificial or natural sweetener, which are larger in size than the perforations, are housed in the spaces between the at least one separator disk. A transparent movable outer cover, such as a sleeve, encloses the perforations and seals them from contact with the liquid beverage. By pulling the movable outer cover up, the perforations corresponding to the desired level of sweetness dose can be easily exposed.

Abstract: A method for use in endoscopic investigations comprises the steps of providing an endoscopic insertion member with a suction line, inserting the endoscopic insertion member with the suction line into a patient, and visually inspecting organic tissues inside the patient with the endoscopic insertion member. To collect a fluid specimen, a port cover on the suction line is moved with respect to the suction line to open a port in the line. A specimen vial is coupled to the suction line at the opened port so that the suction line communicates with the vial. A vacuum is applied to the suction line to draw a fluid specimen into the vial. Subsequently, the vial is detached from the suction line, and the port cover moved back into position to again cover the port.

Abstract: A device for controlling flow rate in an intravenous line comprises a housing having an inlet port adapted to be connected to an incoming segment of an intravenous line and an outlet port adapted to be connected to an outgoing segment of the intravenous line. A valve is disposed in the housing between the inlet port and the outlet port. The device further comprises a first valve adjustment mechanism mounted to the housing and operatively connected to the valve for setting the valve to select a desired flow rate, the first valve adjustment mechanism being manually adjustable for selecting the desired flow rate. A second valve adjustment mechanism is mounted to the housing and is operatively connected to the valve for automatically and temporarily closing the valve in response to the exceeding of the desired flow rate by an average flow rate of intravenous fluid into the housing through the inlet port.

Abstract: The present invention includes an improved apparatus for discharging liquids in a spray, including a separable housing, a recyclable liquid module containing liquid to be sprayed and a weight activated air compressor or pump which supplies compressed air to the liquid module upon agitation of the entire apparatus. The liquid module including the liquid within forms part of the driving weight utilized by the pump. The liquid module is inserted into the separable housing and can reciprocate within the housing; it is connected to the pump with a conduit and coupling for the transfer of compressed air to the liquid module. A second conduit conducts liquid to be sprayed from the liquid module to the outlet valve for discharge.

Abstract: A device for the spraying of liquids includes an air compressor or pump driven by a weight activated by shaking the device in an essentially vertical direction. The device consists of a resuable liquid module containing a liquid to be sprayed; a pump module attached to a screw cap for the liquid module and contained within the liquid module; a compressed air duct connecting the outlet of the air pump to the liquid module and a fluid conduit conducting the fluid to be sprayed from the liquid module to the outlet valve for discharge under the influence of the compressed air.