Abstract: A firearm magazine loader for loading both rounds held by a stripper clip and for loading loose rounds into a magazine comprises, in one aspect, a stick-like body having a lower portion adapted to fit over and attach to an open top end of a magazine and an upper portion for receiving a loaded stripper clip or loose rounds. A tiltable and slideable slider is coupled inseparably to slots in the upper portion and slidable along it. Loading is achieved by using the slider to thrust down the top-most round in the upper portion, causing all other rounds below to be forced sequentially and quickly into the magazine. The loader also includes and unloading flange for unloading rounds from the magazine.

Abstract: A compact wall fastener (200) comprises pivotably connected proximal and distal sections where the proximal section has a through hole (205). The distal and proximal sections (220, 222, 235) preferably are flat. The distal section has a cam follower surface (251), a point (240), and a raised portion (250) that has the cam follower surface. The fastener is driven into a wallboard (600) until its proximal surface is parallel to the surface (605) of the wallboard. An activating pin or screw (615) is inserted into the entry of the fastener and forced into contact with the cam follower and then past the raised portion, forcing the distal section to bend, thereby causing the distal section to rotate downward until it is in contact with the inside surface (610) of the wallboard. The result is a secure fastener with minimal damage to the wallboard. In addition, the fastener can be used to fasten layers of delicate or easily displaced materials (1305, 1306, 1307).

Abstract: A diffuser-reflector assembly for use with a photographic flash lamp (800) comprises, in one aspect, an elastic base (100) having rigid first inserts (125 and 130), two arms (105 and 110), a shaft (135), a pivot assembly (150), and one or more frames (116, 121) that hold second inserts (115, 120). The diffuser-reflector assembly installs slidably onto the light-emitting end of a flash lamp (800). The second inserts can have various optical properties. They can be specular or diffuse reflectors, color or neutral density filters, or a combination. The frames and inserts can be swung on the arms and independently pivoted over a wide range of angles above the lamp, thereby providing a wide range of lighting effects. The frames and arms are held in place by friction and can be adjusted by manual force. The entire assembly can be made of simple parts that snap together.

Abstract: A firearm magazine loader (30) comprises a body (32) coupled to a movable press (40), a plunger (20) extending out of the press towards the body, and a magazine aligner (52). The body is hollow and adapted to fit and slide over an open side of a magazine (10). A spring (48) is positioned between the body and the press to force them apart. To load the magazine, the user squeezes the press towards the body such that plunger is over a topmost round (12) in the magazine, and then presses down the loader, causing the plunger to force the topmost round further into the magazine to form a vacant space below lips (14) of the magazine. This enables a new round (13) to be rearwardly, case first, loaded inside the vacant space. The user then eases the down force on the loader allowing the spring (16) of the magazine to force up all the rounds in the magazine towards the lips while releasing the press for allowing the spring of the press to force the press and plunger back to their original position.

Abstract: There is disclosed a suction dredge system and method. The suction dredge system may include a suction dredge head, an exhaust hose connected to the suction dredge head, a high pressure fluid source connected to the suction dredge head for providing a flow of high pressure fluid to the suction dredge head to induce a vacuum in the suction dredge head, and the suction dredge head including an automatic blockage clearing device. The method of suction dredging may include providing a flow of high pressure fluid within a suction dredge head in a first direction for inducing a vacuum at an intake of the suction dredge head, and changing the direction of the flow of the high pressure fluid within the suction dredge head to a second direction for clearing a blockage at the intake of the suction dredge head.

Abstract: An acoustic noise reduction accessory device is attachable to or integral with a personal computer or other electronic equipment. The device reduces acoustic noise emitted from the rear of the equipment, in particular the acoustic noise from fans. The device comprises an acoustic barrier or shielding member. The barrier is shaped in various forms external to the computer or integrally extending from its back around one or more fans of the computer so as to reduce airflow minimally. Acoustic absorbing material is layered upon the acoustic barrier and may be combined with vibration-absorbing material. The barrier may be shaped from a solid or flexible member(s) to accommodate different-sized electronics and formed to include baffles and structures to direct airflow while absorbing noise. Also it may be made adjustable by one or more slidable members. The device is easily assembled and collapsible for storage.

Abstract: A magazine aligner is positioned inside a pistol magazine loader for centering the open side of magazines of different widths and depths when mounted into the loader to be in line with a round-inserting plunger of the loader. The aligner comprises an inverted “V”-shaped element adapted to accept the open side of magazines from below and includes a spring for keeping tension on the magazine.

Abstract: An improved mallet for percussive musical instruments comprises, in one embodiment, a shaft (1100, 1200, etc.), an adapter or inner core (300, 1400), an elastomeric surrounding core (400), and an elastomeric core overlay (1200). Optionally a cover (1300), or optionally two simultaneously-wound layers of yarn or other wrapping material (1705, 1710) are attached over the assembly. The adapter or inner core and the elastomeric surrounding core are formed together in molds (700, 900). Yarns are wrapped either by hand or with the use of a wrapping machine comprising a rotary motive source, a chuck (1810), and wrapping arms (1825, 1830) for interweaving the layers of yarn. In an alternative embodiment the adapter has a through-hole to permit extension of the shaft through the adapter to near the top of the mallet head. Numerous percussive sound effects are achieved by selection of the properties of the adapter or inner core, surrounding core, overlay, and yarn layers.

Abstract: An all-optical device for wavelength conversion, reshaping, modulating, and regenerating. The device includes a splitting device having first, second, third, and fourth terminals and a nonlinear element. The third and fourth terminals are associated with an optical loop including the nonlinear element when the nonlinear element is displaced from the mid-point of the optical loop. The splitting device is arranged to receive a modulated signal from one of the first and second terminals and a continuous beam from one of the first and second terminals to generate a patterned signal based on the continuous beam at one of the first and second terminals when the pattern of the patterned signal is inverted with respect to the pattern of the modulated signal.

Abstract: An optical chopper includes an optical loop having first and second terminals and includes first and second nonlinear elements. The optical loop is arranged to receive, at the first and the second terminals, a pulse-modulated signal and a continuous beam, respectively. The optical loop is arranged to cause the pulse-modulated signal and the continuous beam to counter-propagate in the loop and to produce in the first nonlinear element an inverted pulse-modulated signal having modulation which is inverted with respect to the pulse modulation of the pulse-modulated signal and to cause the inverted pulse-modulated signal to chop the pulse-modulated signal in the second nonlinear element.

Abstract: An anchor (100) for securing a rope (215) while holding tension comprises conjoined hook (105), foot (120, 125), and knee (115) sections. Both feet of the anchor are attached to a surface (200) where a first foot (120) forms one or more wedges (225, 230) with the surface. A rope from an object to be secured (220) passes beneath the knee, around the first foot and is secured by a knot (400) to the shank (110) of the hook. The first wedge (225) secures the rope and keeps it from slipping while the knot is tied. In an alternative embodiment, only one foot (120) is attached to the surface. This permits slidable entrance of the rope from the side of the anchor. The result is a firm anchorage which to which a rope can be fastened without the need for strength or dexterity on the part of the user.

Abstract: Ground anchors, in particular tent stakes (100), comprise one or more inherently flexible tines (110), a ground compression plate (160), and various tie points (420, etc.) for attaching a guy rope or the like to the top of anchor. The compression plate extends perpendicularly or at a large angle to the tine so that when the guy rope pulls on the anchor, the tine will tend to rotate about an underground fulcrum so that the compression plate will press against the ground and help the anchor resist pullout. The anchors are driven into the ground with a hammer or mallet. The tie points include hooks (420), closed holes (520), and swivel types comprising vertical members (810) with restraining, bulbous tops (820). An additional spring tie point (1600) can be inserted into optional lugs (1094, 1096) in the compression plate. The stakes can be driven into the ground vertically, or at an angle for additional holding force in some situations. They can also incorporate angled compression plates (160H, 160I).