Abstract: Embodiments of a hanger system are shown and described, each embodiment including a support member and at least one looped cord hanging from the support member. The looped cord includes a cleat or other adjustable fastener for adjusting the diameter of the loop, so that is fits around and securely holds differing sizes of items in the loop, preferably, up off of the ground or floor. The cleat may have sharp exterior corners and notches for gripping an item being held, and sharp interior hole corners for gripping the cord. An attractive hanger may be constructed by using an elongated, straight, narrow bar of wood, plastic, or metal, that has holes bored through it to receive and capture knots in the ends of the cords. Thus, several cords may hang from the support member, spaced several inches or more from each other, so that the cords hang down without tangling and the suspended items do not significantly interfere with each other while hanging or while being hung or removed.

Abstract: An adjustable farrier's stand includes a polyethylene base formed having a large generally flat base and a narrow truncated conical upright receiving portion centrally protruding from the base, a support upright configured to be slidably held within the upright receiving portion and an adjustable holding mechanism for securing the upright within the upright holder at a selected height. A first upright includes a diverging “U” shaped cradle attached to its upper distal end. A nylon strap is slung across the cradle and attached to the opposing ends of the cradle to form a hoof receiving sling. The cradle and strap are configured to securely hold the hoof and absorb concussion associated with nailing and hoof maintenance. A second upright member simply provides a flat surface or platform to receive the bottom of a hoof at an elevated position above the ground for anterior hoof work.

Abstract: Embodiments of a peripheral backlighting system for keyboards are shown and described, which include one or more light-emitting panels exterior to the keyswitches of the keyboard. The panels are preferably electroluminescent material and surround at least two sides, and preferably all sides, of the stem of a keyswitch or the space in which the stem slides up and down during use. Alternatively, the electroluminescent panel(s) may extend substantially continuously between and underneath a plurality of keyswitches. The panels extend closely adjacent to the stem or stem path, or under the keyswitch, to be as far under the key cap as possible without extending into the stem or cap of the keyswitch. The EL panels are preferably powered by the computer keyboard port, via voltage inverters. Preferably, the keyswitch is translucent or partially translucent, and the base plate over the EL panels, if any, is at least partially translucent or transparent.

Abstract: The present invention is a safety-enhancing automatic air parking brake actuator system that automatically actuators the air brakes in an engaged condition when one or more dangerous conditions exist at various stations around/in the vehicle or equipment. The preferred actuator system operates on the principle that the brake actuator system is electrically connected to the various stations, and, when a circuit including the actuator unit is interrupted, a solenoid valve of the actuator system closes and vents, to cut off the air supply to the air brakes to engage the brakes. The stations may include the vehicle ignition, one or more doors, a wheelchair lift, a dump truck bed, a backhoe arm, or other equipment.

Abstract: Embodiments of a door and doorway shield system are shown and described, each including at least one hook for hanging or gripping onto a portion of the door or the doorway. The shield preferably hangs on the door by a J-shaped hook portion that extends substantially along the entire top edge of the shield. The shield preferably includes a protective portion which extends across the space between a door and a doorway and across the trim molding of the doorway to substantially cover, or hook on, the front trim molding of the doorway. In embodiments which hook on the trim molding, the trim hook holds the shield in place to provide resistance to impacts pushing the shield off of the door. A J-shaped hook portion may also be provided on the bottom of the shield, to allow for connection to the bottom of the door or for turning the shield up-side-down for use both left-hinged and right-hinged doors.

Abstract: A braking and steering mechanism that is located near, but behind the steering pivot point of a runner of a ski vehicle. In a conventional snowmobile, for example, the steering pivot point is near the middle of the longitudinal axis of the runner, and, hence, the preferred braking and steering mechanism extends from behind the middle of the runner, but not at the rear end of the runner, to contact the snow or ground to slow or stop the snowmobile movement relative to the snow or ground. The preferred braking and steering mechanism has a brake that is a retractable, protruding member that extends down from the runner bottom surface near, but behind the steering pivot point a sufficient distance to frictionally engage the snow/ground significantly more than does the bottom of the runner. The protruding member may take the forms of a prong or spike, a blade or plate, or other single, plural, smooth or toothed member(s) that can make frictional contact with the snow/ground.

Abstract: This invention discloses generally enclosure structures for protecting plants. More specifically, this invention discloses a method and enclosure for thermally protecting plants from extreme temperatures and physically protecting plants from wind and other physical assaults. The present invention provides plants with a flexible yet stable fluid fillable enclosure formed by a plurality of vertical tubes interconnected by a basal annular ring.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method and filter apparatus (10) for filtering and/or treating water are shown and described, each embodiment being for multiple-stage processing of water or other liquid, with storage intermediate between the stages. Preferably, water is passed through a first zone (28) of a filter housing cavity and conducted through an intermediate port (16) to storage (24). When water is demanded by a usage device (22), water flows in reverse from storage back into the filter (10), to flow through the second zone (42) for a second stage of filtering/treatment, and then preferably out an outlet port (18) to the usage device. Water may also flow from the water source directly through the first and second zones (28, 42) and to the usage device (22), without intermediate storage. Preferably, both first and second zones are contained and axially arranged within a single filter housing (12).

Abstract: A water filter is packaged in a way that permits longer dwell time and greater volume in a dwell passage of the water filter. In one embodiment the water filter includes an influent passage where a biocide is imparted to the water, a dwell passage where the water remains in contact with the biocide for at least a predetermined duration, and an effluent passage where the biocide is removed from the water. The water filter includes a replaceable cartridge mounted in a pressure vessel. By arranging the dwell passage to include a pan shaped portion in the bottom of the vessel and an axial portion along the extremity of the cartridge, greater volume, greater mixing, and more effective disinfecting result. Another embodiment includes a series of baffles on the exterior surface of the cartridge that create further turbulence for mixing the biocide with the water.

Abstract: The present invention is a retractable display apparatus comprising at least one upright support having at least one retractable cord able to extend generally perpendicular to the stanchion, said cord able to attach to an object or preferably a matching stanchion. Preferably, each stanchion is a T-shape, but may be other shapes, for example, an inverted L shape, which has a riser plus one horizontally-extending side arm at or near the top of the riser. Retractor mechanisms and locking mechanisms are preferably included for each cord, for easy and neat handling of the cord, preferably by winding the cord on a rotating member (“spool”). The apparatus is adapted so that the cord(s) support one or more signs or banners or other items that might be decorative or functional for a retailer, warehouse, flea market, or other business.

Abstract: A semiconducter battery that utilizes radioactive decay processes to produce electrical power by direct electrical current generation from these decay products. These batteries have extremely long half-lives. Each decay can produce on the order of 1,500,000 free electrons and 1,500,000 ions per each radioactive decay, so there is a tremendous multiplication factor for current generation. Production of these batteries by semiconductor processes greatly reduces battery cost compared to existing batteries that utilize radioactive decays. The battery comprises a n-type semiconducter layer, a radioactive semiconducter layer sandwiched between two adjacent layers of semiconducter material not containing radioactive material, and a p-type semiconducter layer.

Abstract: Various embodiments are described of a liquid-powered dynamometric generator built into a shoe, which has at least two layers as part of its sole. The first or lower layer of the sole is a pad formed of an elastomeric material which contains a liquid within a set of chambers, one in the heel area and one in the toe area of the sole. The ambulatory foot movement inside the shoe puts pressure on the fluid and makes it flow from one chamber area to another. Contained between the chambers is a turbine that is mounted on rotary bearings and positioned within the path of the fluid flow. Due to foot motion, the fluid will flow in an oscillatory fashion while ambulating and thereby cause the turbine to turn.

Abstract: A process for treating earth materials such as rock heaps to prevent acid rock drainage therefrom is disclosed. First, the oxygen concentration in the gas-phase of the rock heap is decreased, that is, displaced and/or depleted. This first step may be accomplished physically, chemically or biologically. Then, the gas-phase oxygen concentration in the heap is maintained at a low level. This second step may be provided for in a self-sustaining manner, like, for example, by covering the rock heap with soil and vegetation so that acid rock drainage is prevented indefinitely. Alternatively, the density of the gas-phase of the rock heap may be increased, and maintained at an elevated level indefinitely. The process is applicable to waste heaps from mining and industrial operations such as power generation and minerals processing, and to rubble collections in open and closed mines.

Abstract: The present invention is a device for aligning the trailer hitch ball on the towing vehicle, and for lifting the trailer hitch on and off the ball. The device comprises a swiveling vertical post assembly in close proximity to the hitch ball. The swiveling vertical post assembly pivots at its attachment point with the towing vehicle, thereby allowing the user to load or unload a trailer from the vehicle even when the trailer is not perfectly aligned directly behind the vehicle. The swiveling vertical post assembly has a pivotal arm which can be moved from an upper pivot point position to a lower pivot point position. In both the upper position and the lower position, the pivotal arm is allowed to rotate from a generally vertical position to a rearwardly inclined position in order to provide a moving cable guide that helps determine the location and direction of movement of the cable and hence the forces exerted on the tongue end.

Abstract: Embodiments of a hands-free leash system are described, which include quick-connect/disconnect fasteners to attach a belt around a person's waist, the belt to a leash, and the leash to a collar adapter. The leash system also includes a second attachment point on the belt for attaching a second end of the leash to the belt, so that the leash may be stored on the belt when not in use on the pet, instead of dangling from the belt or from the user's hand. Preferably, both of the leash attachment points on the belt are assemblies that may slide independently along the length of the belt, preferably all the way around the belt, so that the pet may maneuver around the user without tangling or twisting of the leash system. The quick-connect/disconnect feature of the fasteners allows for quick handling and response to any emergency.

Abstract: Embodiments of an alarm system are described, which may be mounted or built-in to a bicycle or other device which is in need of anti-theft protection. A loud alarm is connected to or mounted in the protected device, and is operatively connected to either or both: a lock that anchors the device to a stationary object, and/or parts of the protected device that might be stolen or vandalized. The alarm unit is built and wired in such a way that the lock or parts of the protected device may not be significantly tampered with or removed without triggering the alarm. For example, the alarm system is adapted to sound if a bicycle lock is tampered with or if sensors transmit that a bicycle part is being moved or tampered with. Externally-mounted alarm units preferably include a weather-proof casing, which contains a unique clamping feature that makes the alarm tamper-resistant or tamper-proof.

Abstract: In the field of drilling lateral channels from the cased bore of an oil well, a system is presented whereby a number of lateral channels can be drilled through the casing and out a distance into the formation with no requirement to move or raise the lateral drilling apparatus to the surface for each lateral channel drilled. The direction of the drilled lateral channel can be selected by the system operator at the well head. The system will allow the drilling of lateral channels with the well under pressure. A configuration is shown which will allow the installation of a flexible perforated liner in the channel, which flexible perforated liner will prevent the material around the channel from collapsing.

Abstract: A machine for lapping bowling balls and, thus, re-rounding, smoothing, and cleaning the balls. The machine is comprised of three concave abrasion blocks with drive motors, adjustable mounting brackets attached to an adjustable support table, a catch basin with filter to separate suspended solids from liquids, and a pump and fluid delivery tube to deliver flushing and/or cleaning liquids. The abrasion blocks are comprised of resilient concave blocks with abrasive sanding disks. The positions of all three abrasion blocks are preferably simultaneously and equally adjusted by small adjustments to the position of a top table relative to the stand that holds the pivotal motor mounts. Ramps on the rotatable table cooperate with the mounts to slightly pivot the motor mounts inward and outward from the ball, changing the orientation and distance of the abrasive blocks relative to each other and, hence, to the ball.