Abstract: A small, light personal fitness device offers capability to perform both light and heavy exercises. The invention employs flywheels (61) to provide continual and variable resistance. The invention includes a method to adjust range of motion and a method to view the operating force of the system. Flywheel unit (3) and the hand unit (9) are attached via a cord (21). Handle (1) is held by hand or by foot. Knob (7) is used to wind the cord manually. Knob (13) is used to adjust the length of the cord. The invention also includes a resistance indicator (31) to show the resistance for each exercise, and to allow the user to monitor the exercising progress and increase in strength.

Abstract: The present invention provides a telescoping leg with a seat configured to collapsibly nest there within during a stowed mode and configured to be extracted and provide a seating surface atop the telescoping leg for supporting a person during a deployed mode. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention a portable stool is provided comprising a leg and a seat configured to collapse and nest within the leg during a stowed mode, the seat configured to be extracted from the leg for providing a seating surface atop the leg for supporting a person during a deployed mode. The present invention can be compacted to a small size so that is can be easily carried in a purse, bag, or pocket.

Abstract: A clamping means support for use with orbital tube welding that resists the outward flexure of abutting tubes is provided. The invention generally is comprised of a left clasp and a right clasp, being congruent. The right clasp is generally square cornered J-shaped, having a mounting leg, and an engaging leg, an engagement notch formed between the long leg and the short leg. The right clasp is fastened upright, at the mounting leg, to a right top side of a clamping means. The left clasp is fastened invertible, at the mounting leg, to a left top side of a clamping means. Wherein, in the closed position, the engagement leg of the right clasp interlocks within the engagement notch of the left clasp, effectively preventing outward movement of the right top side and the left top side of the clamping means, relative one to the other.

Abstract: A method for uniquely identifying an assembly of at least two components, comprising the steps of: reading a first identifier associated with a first component; reading a second identifier associated with a second component; joining the first component to the second component with a joinder process; associating the first identifier and the second identifier with the joint, yielding a joint identification, the joint identification being recalled upon the reading of either the first identifier or the second identifier; associating the first identifier and the second identifier with the assembly, yielding an assembly identification, the assembly identification being recalled upon the reading of either the first identifier or the second identifier; storing in a machine-accessible memory the joint identification, the assembly identification, and all associations.

Abstract: A purge gas introduction system for an orbital tube welding setup is provided, configured to inject high purity inert purge gas to the interior volume of a tube or tubular component. An o-ring is interposed between an annular base and an annular ring, their junction forming an annular o-ring groove, each part forming one sidewall, with the o-ring fully recessed within the groove, protecting the o-ring during the insertion and removal of a tube. The annular base and an annular ring are configured to receive a tube terminus. The sidewalls of the o-ring groove are divergent one to the other, wherein as the annular ring is drawn towards the annular base, the o-ring is forced partially out of the groove, forming a substantially leak tight seal between the tube and the o-ring. A purge gas from an external source is transmitted to the annular base through a purge connector, then, in turn, introduced to the interior volume of the tube.

Abstract: The problem caused by the time consuming and potentially damaging process of applying a standard masking to the neck of a stringed instrument is solved by providing a strip of polymer material having slots formed therethrough and being complementarily configured to receive the frets while covering at least a portion of the neck to prevent damage to the neck in the fret filing process. Optionally, a non-permanent adhesive is provided on one side of the strip. This invention provides a fast means and method for applying a masking to a stringed instrument neck, that does not require a high level of expertise, while fully protecting the neck during the fret filing process.

Abstract: A direct drive retrofit system for use with an M-16 or AR-15 rifle for conversion from an impingement system comprising: a gas block, the gas block having a barrel bore and a gas plug bore; a gas plug, the gas plug being inserted into the gas plug bore from the muzzle end; a bolt carrier key, the bolt carrier key being configured to mount directly to a bolt carrier; a rod, the rod being manufactured from a single continuous material stock; and a biasing means; wherein, the rod can be uninstalled without removal of a hand guard or the gas block by extracting the gas plug from the gas plug bore from the muzzle end, the actuating means releasing the rod, the rod being freely extracted thereafter by a user in a single piece.

Abstract: A modular system for enabling a distribution of fluids, including a plurality of individual fluid path blocks that can be joined to substrate plates and component interfacing blocks to form gas sticks and gas panels. Each gas path block will have a fluid passageway with an entrance port and exit port accessing a common surface. Active components are mounted to the interfacing blocks, with each gas path block extending and interconnecting across immediately adjacent components in a stick or immediately adjacent sticks. Alignment features are provided to ensure that entrance and exit ports are accurately positioned to facilitate sealing.

Abstract: The present invention is generally comprised of a tube adaptor, a chamber, a chamber pressure sensor, a calibration pressure sensor, an iris valve, an iris valve drive means, and a control and data processing means. In a calibration mode, the calibration pressure sensor measures the purge pressure at the abutment of two flow elements, while concurrently measuring the corresponding pressure at the chamber pressure sensor. In the welding mode, the calibration pressure sensor is removed, and the corresponding pressure within the chamber is maintained throughout the welding process to affect the geometry of the molten weld bead.