Abstract: A diaper bag (10) provides an enclosure (20) includes a top, bottom, front, back and side panels. The front panel is attached to the side and top panels by a zipper, allowing access to an interior compartment. Two back panel interior compartments (40) are made of mesh and may be sealed by separate zippers. Front panel interior compartments (60) include a full-width zipped pocket upon which are mounted four pleated front panel pockets made of mesh with elastic closures. A changing pad (80) is carried in the bottom of the interior compartment, and may be removed for use. A flip-out compartment array (100) is attached to an upper portion of the front wall. When the enclosure is opened, the flip-out compartment array may be removed from the interior compartment. A support assembly (200) carries the entire diaper bag by a tab located on an upper portion of the flip-out compartment, thereby orienting all compartments for easy access. At least one base interior compartment (120) is attached to the bottom panel.

Abstract: A coil cap cover for a cylindrical coil of aluminum stock provides round portion 20 sized to fit either end of the cylindrical coil of aluminum and a substantially rectangular attached skirt portion 60 which covers an adjacent portion of the cylindrical sidewall of the coil. A welded region 70 connects a perimeter edge of the round fabric portion to an upper edge of the fabric skirt portion, creating a three-dimensional coil cap. An overlap weld 80 fastens the upper edges of the ends of the skirt portion together with a segment of the perimeter of the round fabric portion. A crimp weld 90 fastens a lower corner of each end of the skirt portion together. In a preferred version of the invention, an overhang region radially outward from the welded region provides a plurality of curved blades separated by curved notches. A portion of each blade may be folded over the edge of the coil, depending on the diameter of the coil.

Abstract: An apparatus 10 generates oxygenated water having a significantly reduced oxidation reduction potential (ORP). A carbon filter 100 removes particulate impurities from the water as it comes into the apparatus. A water softener 150 removes minerals from the water. A reverse osmosis unit 200 further cleans and purifies the water, removing any additional solids, and almost all the minerals and chlorides. A blender 250 adds a precisely measured amount of sodium bicarbonate or sodium carbonate to the water, thereby making it somewhat electrically conductive. The purified water having a measured quantity of sodium bicarbonate is stored in a tank 300 which also includes a recirculating pump 350 which keeps the water moving. By keeping the water moving, the minimum level of sodium bicarbonate required for electrical conductivity may be used. A pump 400 moves the water into an electrolysis cell 450, where current passing through the water separates a small amount of water into hydrogen and oxygen.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for recovering hydrocarbons or other volatile material from granular solids includes an infeed conveyor (20) that moves the mud, containing a mixture of particulate solids and hydrocarbons, into the fluid bed (40). The fluid bed fluidizes the mud; i.e. transforms the mud from a first condition wherein it is a mass having a consistency with elements of similarity with oatmeal, to a second condition wherein it is a mass of swirling particles. Some of the particles leave the fluid bed through a slide gate at the bottom. Other particles, gas and the hydrocarbons leave the fluid bed through an opening at the top, and are transferred to one or more cyclones (60). In the cyclones, the rapid circular motion of the gas, hydrocarbons and particles results in the particles hitting the inside surface of the cyclone, sliding downwardly, and leaving the cyclone through a slide gate.

Abstract: An automated resource allocation and management system moves money between an invested fund and an uninvested fund, where the invested fund is typically invested in the stock market and the uninvested fund is typically held in an interest bearing account. In a preferred version, the system is implement by a plurality of software routines running on known data processing hardware. A deposit of money routine provides subroutines which primarily distinguish between whether the deposited money is regular in timing and amount, near in time to an expected transfer from the invested fund to the uninvested fund, near in time to an expected transfer from the uninvested fund to the invested fund, and which otherwise splits the deposit between the invested and uninvested accounts. A buy trigger routine compares the market's performance to a trigger value, and determines whether a transfer from the uninvested account to the invested account is warranted.

Abstract: A golf calculator 10 provides a microcontroller-based circuit comprising a ROM 30 (read-only memory), a RAM 40 (random assess memory), a keypad 50, an LCD (liquid crystal display) or similar display 60 within an enclosure 70. The microcontroller 20 executes software permanently stored in the ROM which allows the determination of a number of statistics, including the handicap index, the handicap, a data element related to the golfer's consistency, the highest score, the lowest score, the average game and puts per game. Software routines also maintain a database of records, each record containing the game number, rank of the score of the game, date, score of the slope of the course, the course rating and the number of putts in a record associated with each game.

Abstract: A horseshoe 10 with a plurality of nail patterns provides opposed mirror-image left and right branches 20, 30 connected by a bridge 40. The bridge is flexible enough that the left and right branches are able to move with respect to each other in response to the “splaying” or radial expansion of the horse's hoof when weight is applied. Scribe marks 50 defined on the lower surface of the bridge provide indica to guide a horseshoer in grinding the bridge to provide greater flexibility. At least two nail hole patterns, an inner nail pattern 60 and an outer nail pattern 70 are defined between the upper and lower surfaces of the left and right branches. The inner nail hole pattern is used where the horse's hoof wall is approximately ⅜″ thick and generally healthy. The outer nail hole pattern is used where the hoof wall thickness is much less, often approximately ⅛″, and the hoofs health is devastated.

Abstract: A mobile power center with self-retracting cord includes an enclosure having a mounting surface which is attachable to the bumper of a vehicle and a front surface having a recessed area for attachment of a license plate. Within the enclosure, a reel carries an extension cord on a spring-powered spindle that allows manual extension and automatic retraction of the cord. Where the length of the cord exceeds the length which may be carried by the reel, first and second cord restraints, carried on opposed sides of the enclosure, support additional cord wrapped around the enclosure. The first and second three-prong sockets of a dual socket receptacle are wired in parallel to the inner end of the extension cord. In a first mode of operation, a block heater, mounted on the vehicle, may be plugged into a first socket, while a trouble light or tool may be plugged into the second socket. AC power from a remote source is supplied by the extension cord.

Abstract: A school bus safety device provides an engine status line wired to a voltage detection location. The voltage detection location is a point in the electrical system of the school bus which is typically at a high voltage potential when the engine is in operation, and is at the same potential as ground when the engine is turned off. An edge-triggered logic device, such as a flip-flop, receives the engine status line as a clock pulse input. In a typical application, the falling edge of the engine status line causes the output line of the logic device to go high, thereby driving an annunciator, such as a buzzer. Therefore, turning off the engine of the bus causes the buzzer to sound. The driver walks to the rear of the bus and notices if any sleeping children are left on board. A key switch device, located in the back of the bus, is used to send a reset to the logic device, thereby turning off the buzzer. The driver then walks back to the front of the bus, double-checking to see that all children are off the bus.

Abstract: A photographer's vest with built-in seating and weight bearing structures includes a vest body having front and back panels. The front panel supports a plurality of pockets, including a cargo pocket, utility pocket, lens pocket and side pocket. Adjustable side connectors allow for adjustment of the space between the front and back panels, allowing for use by photographers of different sizes. A shoulder weight-supporting assembly includes neoprene padding under an elastic strap, both of which tend to absorb the shock resulting from movement of the weight carried in the pockets of the vest. A seat is movable between a storage position and an in-use position. In the storage position, the seat is carried against the back panel of the body. In the in-use position, the seat support assembly maintains a connection between the front edge of the seat and the upper portion of the back panel.

Abstract: A break resistant ball bat 10 provides an elongated body 20 that generally provides handle and barrel portions 22, 24, with a transition area 26 between them. Upon impact with a ball, vibration having an outer node 30 and an inner node 32 results. The vibration is particularly hazardous for a critical stress area 34, which contains the majority of locations within the bat statistically most likely to break. The critical stress area is roughly coextensive with the handle and a portion of the transition area adjacent to the handle. A fiber sleeve 40 encloses and protects the critical stress area. The fiber sleeve provides a layer of fibers or filaments 42 oriented generally parallel to the length of the bat. The resistance of these filaments to elongation tends to reduce the deflection of the critical stress area upon impact. A matrix 50 of epoxy or resin covers and encloses the filaments.

Abstract: Three versions of a mobile launch support are each adapted for use with one or more launching devices which propel clay pigeons into the air for target practice. A preferred version of the invention provides a horizontally oriented insert tube, having a diameter sized for insertion into the receiver tube of a vehicle's trailer hitch. A vertical support tube extends vertically from the end of the insert tube. An attachment tube, extending perpendicularly from the vertical support tube, allows the vertical support tube and the insert tube to be connected during use, and separated for shipment or storage. A support plate assembly, carried by an upper end of the vertical support tube, provides a level surface upon which a launching device may be rigidly attached. An adjustment tube is telescopically slidable within the vertical support tube. The adjustment tube is slid within the support tube until a foot plate, carried by a lower end of the adjustment tube, is positioned on the ground.

Abstract: A batting practice training device includes a handle which contains a bearing attached to the proximal end of a rope. The distal end of the rope is attached to a ball. A retaining strap is attached to each end of the handle, and wraps about the back of the hand of the pitcher, helping to prevent release of the handle by the pitcher. In one embodiment of the invention, the handle is wedge-shaped, with the smaller end attached to the rope. The wedge shape tends aids the pitcher to retain possession of the handle after the ball is hit by the batter. In use, the pitcher swings the ball in a generally circular orbit, causing it to pass through the strike zone of the batter, who hits the ball.

Abstract: A miterless molding corner piece is adaptable for the formation of either rounded inside or outside corners, and may also be adapted for use with cornice, crown, baseboard or other molding types. The corner piece provides a curving segment having either an inside or an outside curve. The segment provides a surface which is sized and shaped to uniformly contact the surface of portions of the first and second wall surfaces and the rounded wall corner. The rounded wall corner may form either a square inside (90 degree) or a square outside (270 degree) corner, but may be almost any angle from less than 90 to more than 270 degrees. Opposed top and bottom surfaces are adjacent to the inside surface. In a cornice or crown application, the top surface is adjacent to the ceiling. In a baseboard molding application, the bottom surface is adjacent to the floor. In a preferred version, first and second straight segments extend from first and second ends, respectively, of the curving segment.

Abstract: A bowed front bathroom vanity system is supported by a frame having a back and two side elements. A support substrate is supported by the three frame elements, and defines a hole for the sink and plumbing connections. A bowed front apron support bracket provides upper and lower rails connected by a plurality of support stanchions. The upper rail is carried by a recessed front edge defined on the support substrate. A bowed front apron and left and right apron wings, are typically made of stone or similar material, and are carried by the bowed front apron support bracket. A vanity surface is carried by the upper surface of the support substrate, and a back splash and opposed side splashes are carried by the vanity surface.

Abstract: A stackable container with internal divider includes a container body having a tapered sidewall and base panel is particularly suitable for use with crushed ice drinks. First and second divider panels are movable between a stacking mode and a use mode. In the stacking mode, the first and second divider panels are substantially parallel, and are bent to conform to the inside surface of the sidewall of the container body. In the stacking mode, the container bodies may stacked in a nested manner, in which the inside surface of a lower cup contacts the outside surface of an upper cup, and the first and second divider panels of the lower cup are carried in the stacking mode configuration between the two cups. In the use mode, the first and second divider panels are oriented substantially perpendicularly to each other. In the use mode, four quarter cavities are defined within the cavity defined within the container body.

Abstract: An arrow launcher apparatus (10) includes a bow attachment assembly (20) which allows attachment to the middle portion of the handle of a bow in a manner that allows adjustment approximately along the axis of the arrow. An elevation adjustment assembly (40), attached to the bow attachment assembly, allows vertical adjustment against the bow attachment assembly. A windage adjustment assembly (70), attached to the elevation adjustment assembly, allows horizontal adjustment against the elevation adjustment assembly. A launcher sleeve assembly (100) is pivotably carried by the windage adjustment assembly between a forward position wherein the launcher arm (140) is lowered, and a rearward position wherein the launcher arm is raised. A pull string (160) is attached to the buss cable on a compound bow that moves down when the bowstring is pulled back. Movement of the pull string overcomes the bias of the spring (120) and lifts the launcher arm and arrow.

Abstract: A dispensing device is adapted for one-handed operation, and for release of a measured quantity of granular material. A base is generally disk-shaped. A stop is carried by an upper surface of the base, and is adjustably positionable so that when a container to be filled is moved into contact with the stop, that container is correctly positioned. A body 40 is attached to a support ledge defined about the perimeter of the base. The body is generally cylindrical, and defines an interior cavity with access through a front opening and a circular top having an off-center hole. A slide is supported by the top, and is manually movable between a loading position wherein a spring arm biasing the slide is relaxed, and a dispensing position wherein the spring arm is stressed. A slide enclosure is attached to the upper rim of the body portion.

Abstract: A pair of disposable absorbent shoe inserts includes first and second inserts, each including a porous upper layer which allows moisture to pass from the user's foot into an absorbent middle layer. A lower surface of the absorbent middle layer is attached to an impervious lower layer 40 which prevents moisture contact with the insole of the shoe. A lower surface of the impervious lower layer is attached to a release material layer 50 having a first pattern. A second shoe insert is similarly constructed, but provides a release material layer having a second pattern which is approximately a reverse image of the first pattern, and is non-overlaying to the first pattern. As a result, each insert acts as a release layer for the other insert. The layers of each insert are ultra thin and are bonded together to form a tapered edge around the circumference of the insert.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cutting baseboard molding to join two adjacent pieces in an inside comer provides a plate constructed with at least one patterned cutting edge having a contour which conforms to the front face of a baseboard molding. A plate support is adapted to carry the plate, and is in turn itself carried by a clamping apparatus of known type which typically combines features of a vise and a table. The baseboard molding to be cut is carried adjacent to the plate support within the clamping apparatus. Upper and lower angle boards may be used to support the baseboard molding to be cut at a slight angle from perpendicular to the blade making the cut, in a manner that allows a slight bevel to be made in the cut. A cutting device such as a router is then traced along the patterned cutting edge, thereby cutting off an end of a first piece of baseboard molding in a contour which corresponds to the face of a second piece of baseboard molding.