Abstract: A jewelry link made from square crossectional metal wire has a C-shape when the link is bent within a specially configured clamp over a mandrel, wherein the formed C-shaped links are diamond shaped in cross section. The links further have an outer circumference at their widest point formed by one of the four corner seams of a hollow or solid square wire, which is rotated 45 degrees onto one of its straight longitudinally extending edges before being bent around a mandrel. In that manner, the link is considerably wider than a link formed from square wire which is wrapped upon one of its surfaces over a mandrel.

Abstract: A street sweeper for cleaning municipal streets and commercial parking lots uses a single engine with a modified torque converter on the automatic transmission. The torque converter is designed to lock up or engage higher than on a standard torque converter. This increases the horsepower and torque output of the engine for driving the sweeping apparatus without propelling the vehicle at speeds too high for the sweeping function. As engine rotational speeds increase further, the modified torque converter engages fully and drives the vehicle at desired road speeds.

Abstract: A wall mount provides the normal hose connection for attachment of the hose of a hand-held spray head while integrating a backflow preventer in an aesthetically pleasing unit. The wall mount preferably uses two spring-biased check valves with an integral air inlet and check valve to form redundant backflow prevention as well as an active vacuum breaker which substitutes ambient air for dirty water in the case of vacuum build-up. The wall mount includes a seal and locking technique which permits exact set-up of the orientation and wall fit of the unit with simple tools. An alternate embodiment of the wall mount also integrates the hook which holds the handle of the hand-held spray head.

Abstract: An electrical distribution system and method has storage battery mechanism of very large equivalent capacitance providing excellent ripple filtering and an ideal path to ground, and filter capacitor mechanism of microfarad size providing DC blocking and limited AC path to ground. The storage battery entity is maintained as to its charge by DC supply, which provides regulated DC power in which switching regulation may be involved. The system and method provides dual voltage capability, both DC and AC, in which circuit breakers may be ganged for simultaneous tripping, and in which intrinsic DC circuit(s) may be looped to increase current-carrying capability. A DC isolation capacitor is connected to a common current path, such as to one of the busses, such as, for example, in series with the neutral circuit, as a means for avoiding undesirable DC current paths as may be encountered due to a multitude of established neutral-line connections to earthing grounds established throughout in AC power supply network.

Abstract: A floating mobile self-contained membrane filtration treatment vessel that is suitable for use in the treatment of contaminated marine waters and shipboard wastes including, but not limited to, ballast water, graywater, and blackwater and excess dredge waters. The mobile treatment vessel preferably includes a micro or ultrafiltration membrane treatment system for micron and submicron sized particulate removal.

Abstract: A relaxation station for inducing user relaxation includes a sleeve with a reclining surface attached to said frame for accommodating a limb of a user. The sleeve has a plurality of preferably pairs of massage grippers connected to and extending generally upward therefrom. These massage gripper pairs are elongated members projecting generally upward from the sleeve and the gripper pairs are capable of moving reciprocally between an open and a closed position to simulate finger manipulated massage. In a closed position, they cradle and contact the body or a portion thereof of a user. These massage gripper pairs having motive actuators for producing movement between said open and said closed positions, such as scissors extenders or flexible cables The massage gripper elongated members produce massage motions in at least one massage contact pad. The contact pads preferably have a temperature regulator and a dry hydrotherapy supply for enhancing the relaxation of a user and to simulate human massage.

Abstract: A high throughput, short batch cycle commercial ice making machine produces commercial ice which resists melting in convenient sizes for mobile food carts, market produce, or fish displays. The machine introduces super-cooled water, that is in a liquid state while exposed to a temperature below freezing, into a batch of pre-formed hollow molds of one or more horizontally oriented ice forming freezing trays oriented horizontally. Using vapor compression refrigeration, the machine produces a plurality of supercooled ice segments in pockets within the freezing tray. The supercooled ice segments are rapidly subjected to a short, temporary contact with a high heat source from a sleeve integral with the freezing tray compartments, along a peripheral bottom surface of the ice segment accommodating freezing tray molds. This temporarily melts a bottom surface of each ice segment, lubricating it and loosening it.

Abstract: A crush resistant seamless roofing system is formed by a layer of adjacent panels having loose joints filled by expanding rising foam adhesive, which is trimmed to remove excess foam adhesive above a top plane of the roofing system. The roofing system thus formed is covered by a fabric layer and a coating.

Abstract: An anti-squirt ring acts as a handle guard for a palm operated garden hose nozzle lever. The guard is a circular ring, which obliquely surrounds the trigger lever of the garden hose nozzle. If the garden hose nozzle is accidentally dropped, the annular guard ring. The guard provides clearance if the trigger lever and nozzle are dropped. Therefore, the trigger lever will not forcefully contact the ground and be accidentally engaged, suddenly and erratically. The guard prevents unwanted spraying water from the nozzle in unwanted directions, such as at the user or at objects which should not get wet. The wire is configured in an annular ring and is either manufactured with the garden hose nozzle, or is attached by clamps, cable ties or hook and loop type fasteners.

Abstract: A nail set holder holds a nail set, which is a punch, to drive nails into boards. The holder includes a hollow head with a sleeve therein for insertion of the nail set therein. The nail set is secured in place by fasteners, such as set screws. The handle is hollow, for enclosing alternate sized nail sets. It is proposed that the sleeve be large enough for larger nail sets, and the thinner ones can be held in place by setting the set screws in further, or by an auxiliary sleeve. Options also include a foam or rubber textured gripping surface on the handle body, and a shock absorber or caulking at the removable cap end to prevent loosening of the cap during vibrations of use.

Abstract: A variable stall speed control (VSC) device for use with a non-lockup torque converter of an automatic transmission of an engine for improving the stall speed property of a mechanical power transmission torque converter. The VSC device hydraulically alters and varies the preset RPM stall range of a torque converter associated with an automatic transmission of an engine while maintaining or improving its coupling efficiency. This is accomplished by activating the VSC system which closes the fluid circuit to the converter to relieve the internal converter fluid pressure in order to allow the existing pressure in the converter to cause a discharge of a portion of its fluid. This reduces the amount of fluid and pressure in the torque converter allowing the impeller to rotate faster with the same amount of engine input torque. This results in an immediate increase in the stall (slip) speed of the torque converter. The VSC system is deactivated when the desired stall speed of the converter is reached.

Abstract: A multi-purpose, collapsible portable cart, for use in camping, hunting and other outdoors activities carries medical rescue carts, canoes, small boats, game, or hauled cargo by hand. The portable cart can be converted to a various uses and the portable cart can be folded down and transported within a backpack, hand carried bag, canoe or boat. It transports injured persons or cargo over long, rough terrain and it can broken down into a carrying position, by hand or by back. Its width can be varied to accommodate cargo of varying widths. Two or four wheeled versions can be assembled with axles and wheels. The cart has optional removable clamps for clamping a conventional transportable carrier, such as a stretcher or stokes-type rescue carrier bed, thereto. The objects being carried can be held by clamps, by fasteners, or through the use of insertions with longitudinally extending channels. An optional pivotable kickstand and/or tie rods can stabilize the cart in a position of rest.

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 combination book binding machine with a plastic coil forming machine, whereby a plastic spiral coil is formed at a first raised temperature, then cut to a length sufficient for the plastic spiral coil to bind a book, cooled and then advanced toward a receiving coil conveyor of a coil binding machine, for binding the book with a plastic coil at the lowered cooled temperature. The binding machine and method for spirally binding a sheaf of papers into a book uses an adjustable speed drive to rotate the cooled flexible plastic spiral coil into respective holes in the book. The book has a plurality of holes in a row adjacent one edge of the book to receive the leading edge of the plastic spiral binding coils. A cylindrically shaped mandrel is spaced apart from a glidable block. The plastic pre-formed spiral binding coil is fed onto the mandrel from the distal end thereof, with the leading edge of the binding element facing and spaced apart from the book.