Abstract: A canal with a declining slope is provided to allow the rainwater to flow from a higher altitude to a lower level in a gutter. The force from the running water flowing in the canal helps to push the debris down toward an opening of the gutter. A wire mesh is used to prevent larger debris from entering the gutter. The debris which enters through the wire mesh is to stream with the rainwater in the declined canal to a lower level to eventually exit from the gutter. A debris remover is also configured to remove the debris in the gutter.

Abstract: An array of retractable shields is employed for closing an exposed opening through which the snow enters into a receiver. A piston-like object, which is empowered by a compressed spring and is moving at high speed, makes an impact on the snow with great force. The snow is finally ejected from a chute. The receiver can be lifted higher to clear the snow at a different height from the ground. Alternatively, a snow lifting unit is used to ferry the snow higher for free fall into the receiver for further processing. Belt and chain driven devices employing a plurality of collector elements are employed. An impact force produced by a rapid flow of compressed air also forces the snow out from a confined enclosure.

Abstract: An array of retractable shields is employed for closing an exposed opening through which the snow enters into a receiver. A piston-like object, which is empowered by a compressed spring and is moving at high speed, makes an impact on the snow with great force. The snow is finally ejected from a chute. The receiver can be lifted higher to clear the snow at a different height from the ground. Alternatively, a snow lifting unit is used to ferry the snow higher for free fall into the receiver for further processing. Belt and chain driven devices employing a plurality of collector elements are employed. An impact force produced by a rapid flow of compressed air also forces the snow out from a confined enclosure.

Abstract: A parallel-beams type collector comprises a flat porous platform which is enclosed by side walls. The flat porous platform is formed from a row of horizontally projected, parallel and elongated tines or thin rods. The debris is moved onto the porous platform as the collector is moved forward across the lawn with the elongated thin rods moving and penetrating through the grass. The collector is moved up along a curved path by a moving assembly. A flexible string is pulled via an array of rollers to move the collector up. The leaves and debris sitting in the collector can further be swept away by a sweeping assembly. Alternatively, a continuous endless chain is used to move the collector. A guide member is used to keep the collector in proper orientation during the collection of the debris.

Abstract: A user starts with a master password which is an authorized access key for a sender on a remote mail system to send a mail. The master password is automatically replaced by an authorized-to-reply key transmitted to the remote mail system. The mail systems are using the authorized-to-reply key and the permission-to-transmit key in a two-ways communication network to exchange mails. The master password is deleted later to prevent unauthorized use, without affecting previously established mail exchanges. An unknown sender requests an authorized-to-reply key through an interactive examination. A command flag enables the user to switch between anti-spam mode and non-antispam mode, and to rebuild the authorized-to-reply key in a security-demanding environment. The authorized-to-reply key is sub-divided to comprise a unique group name to facilitate sorting and graphic displays of the various groups. A utility program searches and matches all desired services and advertisements with the offers from other mail users.

Abstract: An insect trap comprises a crawl path made of a plurality of resilient deflectable strips. An enclosure enclosing the crawl path comprises an inner passageway leading from an aperture through which the insect enters to a confined chamber. The exit of the passageway is normally closed until the crawl path deflects to allow the insect to exit. The insect is lured by an insect attractant placed inside the chamber and alights on the crawl path. The crawl path deflects downwardly to reveal an opening for the insect to depart from the crawl path into the confined chamber. The crawl path returns to its closed position upon the departure of the insect from the deflected strips.

Abstract: A directional indicator in the form of various graphic symbols is mounted on the street sign to denote the compass bearing direction of the street. A semi-circular dish, when used as a directional indicator to be mounted on the top edge of the street sign, denotes a northward direction pointing away from the street sign. The directional indicator mounted on the upper corner or the lower corner of the street sign represents respectively an eastward or a westward direction of the street. The directional indicator, when mounted at the bottom of the street sign, represents a southward direction of the street. Fluorescent coating or reflective material can be applied to the directional indicator to improve the visibility of the directional indicator at night.

Abstract: Absorbent mop strands of a mop are held captive by a pair of walls in a sleeve at the terminal ends thereof after the sleeve is slid over a mop head. The mop strands are wrung dry by rotating the sleeve with respect to the handle of the mop. In another embodiment of the invention, a tubular member is disposed coaxially and rotatable about a sleeve. Mop strands caught in the passageway defined by a first pair of walls in the tubular member near the terminal ends of the mop strands are twisted with respect to the upper portion of the mop strands held captive by a second pair of walls in the sleeve near the distal end of the mop handle, resulting in a wringing action of the mop head. In another embodiment of the invention, a mop comprises a scrubber depending from a distal end of the sleeve mounted co-axially on the handle of the mop.

Abstract: The retention device for retaining a fastener comprises an outer tubular shaft slidably disposed upon an inner tubular shaft. Extending from the distal end of the inner tubular shaft is a plurality of resilient gripping members, each having an arcuated portion protruding outwardly from the cylindrical axis of the inner tubular shaft. The outer tubular shaft, having a conically tapered inner bore, is longitudinally slid along the inner tubular shaft to press inwardly the arcuated portions so that the gripping members grasp a fastener at the distal ends thereof. The outer tubular shaft can be internally threaded to provide varying strength for retaining or releasing the fastener. A restraining resilient member is provided to prevent the retention device from falling off from the fastening tool by engaging an annular flange disposed upon the shank of the fastening tool.

Abstract: The retention device for retaining a fastener comprises an outer tubular shaft slidably disposed upon an inner tubular shaft. Extending from the distal end of the inner tubular shaft is a plurality of resilient gripping members, each having an arcuated portion protruding outwardly from the cylindrical axis of the inner tubular shaft. The outer tubular shaft, having a conically tapered inner bore, is longitudinally slid along the inner tubular shaft to press inwardly the arcuated portions so that the gripping members grasp a fastener at the distal ends thereof. The outer tubular shaft can be internally threaded to provide varying strength for retaining or releasing the fastener. A restraining resilient member is provided to prevent the retention device from falling off from the fastening tool by engaging an annular flange disposed upon the shank of the fastening tool.

Abstract: Absorbent mop strands of a mop are held captive by a pair of walls in a sleeve at the terminal ends thereof after the sleeve is slid over a mop head. The mop strands are wrung dry by rotating the sleeve with respect to the handle of the mop.

Abstract: A dispenser system for dispensing a variety of soluble agents in the cistern of a sanitary device including toilet and the like. The system comprises members supporting a dispenser container removably attachable to a wall member of the cistern and partially submerged in the water of the cistern. The dispenser container includes means in the lower portion of the dispenser for confining a soluble agent such as a cleaning agent or a deodorizing agent. When the sanitary device is flushed, the cleaning agent or the deodorizing agent exits the dispensing system and mingles with the flushing water near the end of the flushing cycle. A barrier in the dispenser container serves to help form a concentrated reservoir for the aqueous solution of the soluble agent. In another embodiment of the invention, accessory compartments holding different soluble agents are provided by a plurality of removable partitions.

Abstract: An electronic device for monitoring the activity of a wearer, his walking speed as well as the distance traversed in a selected time interval. The invention comprises a magnet strapped to a leg of a person or a shoe of a pair, a Hall effect sensor with its associated electronic processing and display accessories mounted on the other leg of the person or the other shoe of the same pair. When the sensor moves past the magnet, the analog Hall output voltage produced by the Hall effect sensor changes. A series of these analog Hall output voltages produced during relative motion of the magnet and the sensor are converted to binary data. A stored program device means is used to analyze the data to yield information about the distance traversed and the speed of relative motion between the magnet and the sensor. Remote means receives analog radiowave signals encoding the digital values permitting distant monitoring of the gait activity of the wearer of the gait activity monitor of this invention.

Abstract: The invention comprises an improvement in a lawn-cleaning device for picking up debris wherein flexible and deformable belts are used in an easily configurable compact structure whereby leaves and the like are pierced by spikes, tines or the like in repetitive motions of protrusion and retraction. Tines mounted on an inner belt protrude through spaced-apart suitably-shaped openings in an enclosing rotational member whereby debris is pierced for collection on the tines. Collected debris is automatically removed from the tines and collected in a debris receiver during retraction of the tines. The improvement comprises use of an inner belt provided with an array of outwardly-extending spaced-apart tines, constrained to move in a first pre-defined circuit within a second pre-defined circuit of an outer belt.

Abstract: A device for removing sand, solid particulate wastes and the like from a surface being cleaned, comprising spade-shaped members driven in a closed rotatory circuit cooperating with a brush in synchronized sweeping motion. In a first embodiment, a rotatory belt mounting a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart spade-shaped collector elements cooperates to receive material swept by a single brush in pendulum arcuate motion and then elevates the waste for deposit into a storage container for later disposal. In a second embodiment, the sweeping action is provided by the reciprocating motion of a first rotational belt mounting a plurality of transverse, circumferentlally spaced-apart rows of brushes and the receiving and elevating is done by a second belt mounting an array of circumferentially spaced-apart spade-shaped collector elements.

Abstract: A Hall effect device with appropriate electronic circuits can sense a very weak magnetic field and it is thus useful to be used as a compass. It can also be configured as two or more directional indicators as desired.