Abstract: A jet motor powered water vehicle is disclosed which is designed for single person use. The jet powered boat includes a deck having a flat surface portion enabling a person to lie prone thereon while manually controlling the motor and steering the boat by utilizing of a joystick mounted on the deck. The hull of the boat has a generally wide and shallow V-shaped configuration at a bore, lower portion thereof. The hull also has a flat bottom surface at mid and aft lower portions thereof which blend with the V-shape. The hull also includes a rear portion which is curved and upwardly slanted at a lower portion thereof. The boat also includes a transom which is generally rounded for improved aquadynamics, and a shroud generally enclosing the nozzle for the motor impeller is contoured and shaped to generally conform to the V-point of the hull in order to enhance aquadynamics of the hull.

Abstract: A rescue system and method includes a net which is mounted on a bridge or overpass so that it generally hangs therefrom. Attachment ropes are secured to the upper edge portion of the net and to a suitable vehicle on the bridge or overpass. The net has lateral border straps which are preferably channeled so that a cable can movably pass therethrough. The lower edge portion of the net has a pair of hooks secured thereto to which a ballast weight is attached. The hooks have a quick release mechanism allowing the ballast to be released from the net when an imperiled person is in a rescue position adjacent the net. A pair of lifting ropes are connected to lower corners of the net which allow the bottom of the net to be pulled up and thereby enclose the individual therein and also allow the individual to be lifted out of the body of water.

Abstract: A fluorescent lantern is disclosed which incorporates a radio receiver in its base member. A separate remote control transmitter has a command switch and, in a response to input therefrom, radiates a radio frequency command signal to the receiver. In response to the command signal from the transmitter, the receiver feeds a control signal to a control unit in the base member which operates the fluorescent light tubes, as directed by the command input. The fluorescent lantern, remote control transmitter and receiver are battery powered. The lantern has a pair of reflectors mounted on a lower surface of the base and a lower surface of a top member. The reflectors have convex reflective surfaces to generally reflect light from the fluorescent tubes outwardly from the lantern. A central support rod and fastener secure the lantern base, top member and globe together while allowing manual detachment of the top member to allow access to the fluorescent tubes for removal and installation thereof.

Abstract: A game apparatus used for striking a game ball has a striking member having dual hand grips so that both hands may be used to wield the apparatus. Impact members are provided at both ends and at the center of the striking member to enable the user to select the impact members deemed most effective to use to strike the ball. In one embodiment, there is a first impact surface on the outer impact members which is flat and stepped inwardly and a second impact surface at the opposite faces of the impact members which is simply flat enabling the user to strike the ball with the impact surface which imparts the desired rebound characteristics to the ball by simply turning the striking member over. In a second embodiment, the impact surfaces are all flat. In a third embodiment, the first surface is curved while the opposite second impact surface is flat.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece includes a microcontroller with timer functions for providing an output indicative of elapsed time from a selected start time. The timepiece includes a display panel displaying the elapsed time in minutes, hours, days, weeks, months and years. The output time divisions are arranged so that the year and month divisions are of the same length. This allows the user who may, for example, be trying to quit smoking, to monitor his progress with personally relevant information provided by the chronometer and thereby enables the user to personally interact with the chronometer feedback in order to enhance the user's likelihood of achieving the desired goals. The chronometer includes start, stop, general display reset and individual display indicator set controls.

Abstract: A portable game apparatus is a kit which includes a lower stake member and a set of upper stake members. The members have threaded portions which allow the members to be securely joined together end to end. One of the upper members is structured to allow the upper members and lower member (when joined together) to be pounded into the ground. The upper member is detached from the lower member while the lower member remains embedded in the ground to provide a foundation for the other upper members which are specifically structured to allow various game structures such as volleyball nets, basketball nets and backboards as well as tether balls and ropes to be secured thereto. Truncated cone portions on the members (at their joined portions) add structural rigidity to the members, and ridge and groove structures secure the members in a desired joined together position.

Abstract: A cargo retainer is disclosed for vehicles having a cargo bin which may include a cargo bed, sidewalls, stanchions and roof structure. The retainer is designed to be used as a pair of retainers which are mounted on opposing sidewalls or between the cargo bed and a suitable roof structure. A beam is securely positioned between the pair of retainers and abuts the cargo preventing undesired movement thereof. The length of the beam is sized in relation to the thickness of the retainers and the spacing between the sidewalls or other suitable structures to provide a tight fit between the sidewalls and the beam and retainers. The retainer includes a rigid box open on two sides which is mounted on a rigid block. The wedge is connected to the block. The wedge has a moveable portion which allows the beam end to be pushed over the wedge surface and into the box after which a wedge portion closes off one side of the box to hold an end portion of the beam in the box.

Abstract: To effectively recover and stow hardware items from air launched missiles, a housing containing a rotor is mounted on the launching aircraft. The housing has a suitable opening and recess so that a lanyard can connect such hardware items as the missile air inlet cover to the rotor. The rotor has a spring therein under high tension sufficient to retract the missile cover into the housing recess in a short period of time. The spring powered rotor is activated by movement of the missile away from the aircraft but can be manually reloaded and the attachment point of the cover to the rotor manually reset, as desired.

Abstract: A helium charged accumulator is disclosed for use in hydraulic fluid pressure systems. The size of the accumulator is optimized for particular operating conditions of specific applications of the hydraulic systems by means of a formula. The formula has, as its terms, the volume of the hydraulic fluid required to power a given device, the compressibility factor of the particular gas used and the temperature and pressure of the gas at the beginning of, during, and at the end of the operation cycle of the accumulator.

Abstract: A seat system for a crewmember of an aircraft is disclosed which provides support and restraint to the crewmember while in a crouched as well as an erect position. The crewmember is secured by means of a strap harness to an insert which is positioned behind and in contact with the crewmember's back. The insert is rotatably connected to the seat providing multi-axis rotation to the insert relative to the seat. The insert's multi-axis rotation allows the crewmember to turn in the seat while secured to the insert. The insert also has a limited degree of translational movement toward as well as away from its connection to the seat; this allows the crewmember to lean forward, backward and laterally in the seat while still secured to the insert. A mechanism locks the insert into a desired forwardly inclined position. Instead of an insert, however, the crewmember's upper torso may be directly connected, at the crewmember's back, to the seat by means of a strap system or a rigid extendable support member.

Abstract: A power drill system is disclosed which is hand held and manually operable. The drill system includes a drill and a positive feed unit for the drill connected thereto. A clamping member is connected at a lower portion thereof to a housing for the drill and feed unit. The clamp member is pneumatically powered to move it against a workpiece and clamp it against the housing at the location of the drill. A four way toggle switch controls the air pressure to the clamp member allowing the operator to control the clamping operation with one hand while the other hand holds the housing in the desired position.

Abstract: A platen for a press is disclosed providing fast heatup rate for materials to be superplastically formed, diffusion bonded, etc. The platen includes a ceramic plate having channels in its upper surface. A copper tube positioned within the channels conducts both electricity and cooling fluid therethrough. A metallic top plate positioned on top of the ceramic plate is induction heated by the electromagnetic field produced by the electrical current flowing through the copper tubing. A steel trough member covers the sides and bottom lengthwise portions of the copper tube in order to focus the electromagnetic waves upward into the top plate. The cover is composed of segments which are electrically insulated from each other in order to enhance the focusing effect. The ceramic plate is a heat and electrical insulator, and the upper surface thereof reflects radiant heat toward the top plate. A steel base plate provides firm support for the ceramic plate, the top plate and the other component elements.

Abstract: A nozzle system for providing improved thrust augmentation for an aircraft lift and/or propulsion system is provided. The unique nozzle structure is designed such that counter-rotating vortices emanate from the nozzle tips. When this unique nozzle configuration is combined with simple slot nozzles in a specific manner a vortex rich flow will result. When a diffuser is placed around this unique combination such that jet pumping is obtained, significant improvement in thrust augmentation is realized from the vortex rich flow mixing with the coflowing secondary air stream.

Abstract: A pair of crisscrossing straps and a pair of tension straps connect the two ends of a rigid U-shaped member to the two sides of the backrest of an aircraft crewmember's seat. The end portions of the U-shaped member have slip rings which are the support points for a pair of support straps which form loops encircling the crewmember's rib cage. The support straps can move through the slip rings thereby allowing the crewmember the ability to turn to either side while secured to the seat by the restraint system. In another embodiment of the invention, the crisscrossing straps are eliminated and a pair of wedge shaped support pads mounted on the front surface of the backrest of the seat are used instead of a U-shaped member. The tension straps and the crisscross straps are connected to inertial reels mounted at the sides of the backrest of the seat in order to provide restraint to each side of the support strap system.

Abstract: An oblate spheroid shaped shell has upper and lower component parts which are held together by means of spring loaded clamps. The upper and lower component parts each contain liquid hardenable ceramic material forming die member halves which have surfaces defining a die cavity for superplastic forming of a metal workpiece therein. The ceramic material has electrical heating elements embedded therein and positioned close to the die cavity in order to heat the metal workpiece in the cavity. Tubes in the upper and lower halves of the shell supply pressurized gas and quenching fluid to the die cavity for superplastic forming and quenching of the metal workpiece.