Abstract: An in line fluid filter has an elongate tubular housing with end fittings. An axially disposed closed elongate cylinder is held within the housing defining an annular fluid chamber therebetween. The annular fluid chamber is divided into a plurality of concentric, parallel annular flow paths by at least one elongate concentric, fluid impermeable partition. The flow paths are occupied by a woven wire filter fabric with coarse mesh. This provides a long tortuous filter path that does not readily clog up and that prevents the passage of large particles.

Abstract: A method of illuminating a fishing lure employs an illuminator that connects to a fishing line at a leading end and a fishing lure or bait at a trailing end. The illuminator has a light emitting diode (LED) or laser contained within a body having a battery. The light emitter emits a light beam out past the trailing end that illuminates the lure when tension is applied to the leading end such as by trolling, retrieving or drifting. The light beam subtends a narrow solid angle so that the battery energy is only used to illuminate the lure.

Abstract: A watercraft has starboard and port hydrofoils or hydroskis that are supported by individually powered fore and aft supports for adjustable retraction and extension below the hull under control of a computer using signals from water speed, turn angle, roll angle and pitch angle sensors to maintain stability of operation, especially on high speed turns where the hull may be banked into a turn by positioning the ski on the inside of the turn lower than the other ski.

Abstract: A cleaning station for cleaning eyeglasses holds a supply of tissue with one at a time dispensing, a spray bottle of lens, cleaning fluid and clips to hold the eyeglasses. The clips hold the eyeglasses in a position such that both sides of the lenses may be sprayed and wiped without wetting the tissue. The bottom of the station may be provided with material that prevents the station from sliding about when in use. The station is arranged so that all operations may be performed with one hand. This enables a person who has the use of only one hand to perform this common task without assistance.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus clamps onto the neck of a large liquid container such as a pure water bottle, sealing the mouth of the container, while the bottle is upright. The apparatus has an elongate column upstanding from a broad base. A passage at the top of the column receives the bottle neck and clamps the apparatus onto the bottle while sealing the mouth. The bottle is then tilted onto its side and then pivoted on the base until the bottle is inverted. A vent tube with check valve extends up through the seal and to the bottom of the bottle. A dispensing tube with valve extends down through the seal and terminates in a dispensing valve. The problems of spilling and injury from lifting and inverting are avoided.

Abstract: Apparatus injects fluid such as sealing and balancing fluid into inflated tires, even two tires on a dual rim wheel, while on a vehicle. It seals to the valve stem so that the valve core can be unscrewed and retracted under pressure, providing an unobstructed fluid injection path before replacing the core without significant pressure loss. Tools for bending tire stems in situ facilitate apparatus installation.

Abstract: A rigid substrate with a first surface is provided with a graven image in that surface that is representative of a first image such as a photograph by a unique method that requires no artistic talent. The photograph is first scanned by an optical scanner to store reflected light values at multiple loci forming an X, Y grid on the photograph. The rigid substrate, such as an aluminum panel, is mounted on a bed of a computer controlled machine tool such as a milling machine. A conical drill bit drills a hole at each X, Y position or locus on the panel. The depth of the hole, drilled, or Z axis is determined by the value of reflected light stored from the optical scanning step. The depth may be directly or inversely proportional to the value. A factor applied to the X and Y values may reduce or enlarge the graven image relative to the first image. The diameter of the hole at the first surface will increase as the depth increases.

Abstract: Apparatus for topical anesthesia by evaporative cooling with ethyl chloride (chloroethane) constitutes a container holding liquid ethyl chloride under pressure. A valve attached to the container hermetically seals the container in a first mode of operation. A second mode of operation of the valve is affected by finger pressure to emit a divergent fluid stream of ethyl chloride. The method of topical anesthesia using the apparatus constitutes positioning the surface area to be anesthetized at a distance from a divergent fluid stream of ethyl chloride such that a substantial portion of that area will subtend the divergent stream to provide faster and more uniform cooling than the non-divergent ethyl chloride stream of the prior art.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing components that are adhesively mounted on a release coated web roll and applying them to items includes holding the component securely in a chuck and then peeling the web from underneath the component. This is achieved by forcing a chuck against a component on a movable peeler plate and holding it in place with vacuum. Tension on the web then pulls the peeler plate away from the component while the web passes over the edge of the peeler plate and peels the web from the adhesive face of the component.

Abstract: A radial arm saw apparatus is provided with a bevel angle adjustment used in combination with a miter angle adjustment. The saw motor is mounted on a rigid vertical mounting plate. The mounting plate is tiltably supported on a rigid vertical support panel that is connected to the translatory radial arm mechanism so that the motor tilt or bevel angle is adjustable. The connection between the mounting plate and the support panel includes an elongate linkage arm pivotally connected at one end to the mounting plate and at another end to the support panel. A horizontal guide pin fixed to the mounting plate extends through a curvilinear guide slot in the panel to operate in cooperation with the linkage arm to always maintain the bottom horizontal tangent of the saw blade in a common vertical plane regardless of the tilt or bevel angle of the motor. An automatic mechanism for maintaining the tangent at a preset elevation regardless of bevel angle is disclosed.

Abstract: A dynamic tray for dry storage of bait and other items rests on the ice in a cooler and remains resting as it melts. The tray has a perforated flat bottom panel and upstanding sides. Protuberances extend outwardly from the top of the sides and fit into vertical slots in the walls of many conventional coolers. These slots extend part way down from the top of the cooler. When the protuberances engage the ends of the slots as the ice melts, the tray is prevented from further downward movement that might immerse the tray in melt water. An accessory static tray has upstanding sides with a top outwardly directed flange that engages a ridge near the top of the cooler chamber. This holds the tray at a fixed position above the dynamic tray. Sealed frozen packages of water may be held on the tray so that items on the dynamic tray are cooled from above as well as below.

Abstract: A hydraulic boat lift is mounted in a body of water by adjustable legs which penetrate the bottom for lateral stability. Each leg has a vertically adjustable foot to engage the bottom for maintaining a base frame horizontal. A pair of boat supporting elements are swingably mounted to the frame by pivoting rigid arms. Diagonally mounted hydraulic cylinder or cylinders driven by water pressure from a pump or municipal supply swing the support elements and a boat thereon up out of the water. A pawl on the cylinder engages recesses in the shaft of the piston to lock the elevated position. The only way to unlock is to advance the piston which forces the pawl out. The pawl must be held out while the piston is retracted. A water aspirator withdraws water from the cylinder to lower the support elements for low tide lifting.

Abstract: A flaccid plastic film bag has opposed handle portions. Each handle has side elements upstanding from the bag body on either side of a hand-receiving aperture. Slits are provided in the edges of the side elements. The slits originate inward of the edge and extend downward and outward to cut through the edge. When one handle is passed through the aperture of the other handle to close the mouth of the bag, the slitted edges prevent the handles from slipping apart and spilling the contents of a loaded bag during transport.

Abstract: A bulk container bag of flexible fabric is provided with shape retaining flexible fabric strips at the corners to prevent distortion of the filled bag. Each corner is provided with a plurality of shape retaining rectangular strips anchored at their opposed ends to the adjacent side walls and extending across the corner. The strips are mounted one atop the other and spaced apart sufficiently to enable fill material to flow freely in and out of the corners to have complete filling and packing so that the bags will retain their shape even when stacked. The shape of the strips ensure uniform tensile forces on the walls from top to bottom of the strip.

Abstract: A lighter for tobacco products suppresses the urge to smoke by operant conditioning. It delivers a shock to the user's hand when the lighter is extinguished. This generally happens when the first puffs of smoke are being inhaled. Inhalation of the smoke gives a positive reinforcement of the habit because of the pharmacologic effects of the smoke. The shock provides a negative or suppressive action at the same time. The anticipation of the shock will negate the anticipation of the relief the drugs in the smoke provide. In an alternative embodiment, the shock is applied at; the time of activation of the lighter. In yet another embodiment of the invention a negative stimulus is provided by a pin that pricks the user at the time of activation of the lighter.

Abstract: A mat toy is provided that has many soft microbubbles extending upward from its upper surface. Gas is sealed within each bubble. When jumped upon by a child, a bubble becomes compressed and bursts with a popping sound enjoyed by children. The soft upper layer is adherent to a stiff bottom layer. This provides sufficient rigidity that the mat lies flat when jumped upon and cannot wrap around and suffocate a child. The bottom surface is further provided with a high friction, slip or skid-resistant surface so that the mat will not slide out from under the jumping child to avoid injury. The upper layers may be light transmissive and indicia such as a colored cartoon animal may be provided at a lower layer that is visible to the child for enhanced appeal. An intermediate cushioning layer such as a closed cell foam may alternatively be provided.

Abstract: A golf ball retriever includes an elongate telescoping handle to which is attached a frame defining a golf ball entrance plane to be positioned over a golf ball. The dimensions of the plane are large relative to the diameter of the ball so that it is easily positioned under adverse conditions of visibility. A U-shaped hoop connected at both ends to the frame defines a ball-retaining chamber having openings large enough to freely pass mud and debris but too small to pass the ball. An elastic member or spring extends at least partly across the entrance plane, thereby dividing the entrance plane into two parts, neither of which is large enough to permit passage of the ball unless the spring is forced aside. The spring is arranged to be readily forced aside when the frame is pushed onto the ball to admit the ball to the ball-retaining chamber. The spring is stiff enough to prevent spontaneous release of the ball from the chamber. The spring has tubular ends.

Abstract: A system for controlling access to a computer and for verifying informed consent in medical procedures includes a finger anatomy analyzer for verifying identity of a person. The analyzer generates a pattern of finger width vs length along the surface of the finger. The pattern generated is compared to a stored pattern to verify identity. To verify that the identified person is giving informed consent or denial to a medical procedure, the person is provided with the appropriate information and test questions given and answers recorded as evidence of comprehension to serve as evidence of informed consent or denial in combination with verified person identification.

Abstract: A tool carrier has a top portion with an upstanding handle and slidably mounted clips for engaging sockets and fixed spring clips for securely holding socket wrenches, ratchet handles, adapters and the like. Two opposed sides depend from the top portion and support a lower panel provided with upstanding resilient fibers such as outdoor carpet. When elongate items such as an assortment of end wrenches are pushed into the space between the top portion and the panel, the fibers securely hold the items in place with their ends exposed for easy selection. An optional drawer may be slidably mounted beneath the panel. The carrier is adapted for mounting in a toolbox.

Abstract: A solderless connecting and splicing device and method employs a wire nut with a conductive element inside a rigid insulator. The conductive element has a frusto-conical passage with a tapered internal thread. Instead of twisting conductors together and inserting them directly into the wire nut, this invention provides a tube assembly of a number of conductive tubular elements joined together in parallel. A conductor is inserted into each element and the assembly inserted into the wire nut. The nut is then twisted. As the assembly is drawn into the smaller end of the passage the tubular elements collapse and crimp against the conductors to form a low resistance splice.