Abstract: An improved air-source heat pump for residential and commercial use, employing two closed refrigerant systems having different refrigerants in cascade relationship to each other to address efficiency and space concerns, with the first closed refrigerant system partitionable into a first sub-system and a second sub-system, with the first sub-system working in conjunction with the second closed refrigerant system in heating mode and the second sub-system working independently in cooling mode.

Abstract: An automatic pet door device having a pet-specific identification component whereby only authorized animals are permitted to access the pet door.

Abstract: An improved burial crypt for cremains designed to be placed below grade within a standard cemetery burial plot, suitable for containing a plurality of burial urns; the crypt comprised of a container, an access means, and a support means, with the container being sealable, substantially water tight, and fabricated of precast concrete walls, the access means being located within the interior of the container and suitably adapted to allow a human to descend into and ascend out of the container, and the support means being located within the interior of the container and suitably adapted to support a plurality of burial urns; and a method of fabrication of same.

Abstract: A projectile-based system for impeding the escape of a game animal, whereby the projectile is an arrow or a crossbow bolt, the system comprising an environmental engagement device, a retention device, and a tether, with the environmental engagement device suitably adapted to pass through the game animal and thereafter to engage with the environment, the retention device suitably adapted to engage with the game animal and become secured thereto, and the tether suitably adapted to attach the environmental engagement device to the retention device, the tether being suitably adapted to withstand without breaking the forces applied by the game animal to the tether in the course of attempting an escape, thereby retaining the game animal to the environmental engagement device, whereby the engagement of the environmental engagement device with the environment substantially impedes the escape of the game animal.

Abstract: An improved method for the manufacture of wooden gunstocks comprising the steps of first heat treating the wood and then fashioning the wood into a gunstock, whereby the resulting gunstock is more weather and rot resistant, more stable, and lighter than gunstocks fashioned from untreated wood.

Abstract: An improved mechanism for charging a gas powered firearm, especially with regard to the Kalashnikov variants of rifles known as AK-47s, comprising a modified gas tube having a lateral aperture formed into its left side, a semi-cylindrical sleeve suitably adapted to fit within the modified gas tube over the shaft of the operating rod, and a modified charging handle suitably adapted to connect to the sleeve and to extend from the firearm through the lateral aperture, such that the firearm may be manually charged from the left side by drawing the charging handle rearward; and providing safety improvements and a method of retrofitting firearms.

Abstract: An improved osteotomy guide and retraction device for use during the performance of bunionectomies, whereby the improved device provides a self-supporting instrument that does not require independent fastening means to secure the device in the desired position at the surgical site, and a method of use of the device.

Abstract: A rear mounted penetration limiter for bow-fired projectiles for use in combination with a projectile and a nock, wherein said projectile is an arrow or a crossbow bolt, said penetration limiter comprising an attachment component, a nock securing component, and an engagement component having one or more engagement members, with said penetration limiter suitably adapted to limit the penetration of the projectile through a game animal once the front end of the projectile has struck and passed through the game animal, thereby allowing the creation of an exit wound while retaining the projectile within the game animal. In one embodiment the penetration limiter is adapted to detach from the projectile, remaining secured thereto by a short tether, thereby allowing the detached penetration limiter to reorient itself within the game animal to create greater drag on the projectile.

Abstract: A method and system for an internet-based online research solution through the comparison and contrasting of a potentially infinite number of subjects having defined attributes within predefined as well as dynamic subject contexts; a method and system for searching a potentially infinite number of subjects against a customized set of attribute-value configurations to arrive at an appropriate set of subjects for further research; a method and system for an online research solution by which the user efficiently researches online using a highly customized search, collation, and compilation of comparison-contrast information; a Universal Research Framework that may be embedded within any externally managed information system and which enables the above three methods to be performed within the specific system for research.

Abstract: An improved refractometer for automatically determining the refractive index of a test subject by using principles embodied in Brewster's Angle, the refractometer comprising a light source, a light detector, a subject mount for securing the test subject to the device, a positioning device to orient the light source and light detector to the subject such that the angles of the light source and light detector to the subject are substantially identical, a data gathering device to automatically retrieve relevant data regarding the angles of the light source and light detector to the subject and the light intensity of the reflected light, and a computational device to process the data using algorithms taking into account the principles embodied in Brewster's Angle and/or Fresnel Equations in order to arrive at the refractive index of the test subject.

Abstract: An improved suture needle retention device suitably adapted to be removably attached to the end of a surgical instrument for convenient placement proximate to the surgical field yet out of the way of the surgeon, said device having a needle pervious retention member to accept the sharp end of a suture needle, with said retention member encased by a needle impervious protective sheathing to prevent inadvertent pass-through of the suture needle.

Abstract: An improved structure, whereby the log structure is comprised of at least two adjacent walls mated to form a corner, with each wall constructed of logs laid horizontally upon each other, the logs alternating between protruding and nonprotruding logs, such that the ends of the protruding logs of the walls are interleaved, with the ends of the protruding logs of the first wall having notches cut from them to facilitate the mating of the first and second walls, and further comprising plugs to be inserted into the notches upon completion of assembly of the log structure, and a method for constructing same.

Abstract: An improved training bat having training assemblies affixed thereto on either side of the preferred hitting region of the bat, said assemblies constructed of a rigid, durable material which, when struck by a ball, emit a sound different from the sound emitted by the preferred hitting region of the bat when struck by the same ball, such that a batter using the improved training bat will immediately recognize by the sound made whether a ball contacted by the improved training bat was properly hit; and a method of constructing same.

Abstract: An improved hand tool for use with threaded rods, comprising a pair of partially threaded jaws whereby said partial threads of each jaw mate with the thread of the threaded rod, such that the jaws may be clamped onto either side of a threaded rod by a clamping device and simultaneously rotated, causing the threaded rod to rotate along with the jaws without damage to the thread of the threaded rod.

Abstract: An improved snow plow dolly having a low center of gravity for improved stability when supporting a snow plow, together with front and lateral support members to retain the snow plow in place during movement.