Abstract: An improved self-stacking spiral conveyor belt that includes a plurality of interconnected links each including two side plates connected together with two transverse rods. A flexible support structure is disposed around the rods which connect the links together. Each side plate includes a laterally extending foot with an abutment edge formed or attached thereto a design to limit lateral movement of the upper link over a lower link when the belt is aligned in a helical configuration. The abutment edge is formed by at least one downward extending step structure. The step structure is offset with the vertical surface of the side plate thereby forming a rest surface that the upper edge of the lower link supports. Formed on the side plates is a guide tab that includes a beveled inner surface that prevents the upper edge of the lower side plates from moving inward and prevents or limits stretching along the direction of the belt.

Abstract: An anthropomorphic phantom used as a training tool by healthcare workers for learning ultrasonic imaging procedures. The phantom is made of a moldable, elastomeric tissue-simulating chemical composition that may be easily processed to create an anthropomorphic phantom: that has the “look and feel” and self-sealing characteristics of human tissue. During the mixing processes, scattering agents and pigments may be added to provide a phantom that simulates the sonographic characteristics on living tissue. The phantom body may contain objects and empty or liquid filled cavities and conduits that simulate normal internal structures and abnormal artifacts and conditions. In one embodiment, hollow rods are disposed longitudinally inside the primary mold that forms blood vessels inside the phantom. When the phantom is removed from the primary mold, the hollow rods are removed thereby forming a hollow conduit.

Abstract: A card game designed to simulate movements and activities between two combatants. The object of the game is to force all the other players to lose their game points before the winner does. The game uses a unique set of playing cards each containing one of three possible main color codes, and up to three out of four possible activity symbols. Each activity symbol is associated or linked to a second color code that matches one of the three main color codes. The game is presented herein as a sword fighting game between combatants. The activity symbols represent various offensive and defensive activities performed by opposing players during a sword fight. During the game, an offensive player selects an opposing player to attack after reviewing his or her holding cards and the top card in the discard pile of the other player. The defender must either dodge, parry or riposte the attack.

Abstract: A massaging sink pillow structure disclosed herein designed to be placed over the edge of a standard sink used by a barber or beautician for shampooing or rinsing hair. The sink pillow is a waterproof, saddle-shaped structure with a front section designed to be placed against the front outside surface of the sink and a rear section designed to be placed against the front, inside surface of the sink. The sink pillow includes an upper, U-shaped indented section designed to fit into the U-shaped opening on the sink. Mounted inside the sink pillow is a neck massaging mechanism designed to massage the user's neck in one direction or in alternative directions from front-to-back and back-to-front directions when the user's neck is placed over the U-shaped indented section. Located inside the sink pillow is a printed circuit board, which is connected to a D.C. motor that rotates the eccentric element against the elongated member.

Abstract: A putting training device used to teach a new method of putting that teaches the golfer to swing the putter along a target line that extends between the golfer and the hole and to adjust the angle of the putter head to match the final slope angle of the putting green. The device includes an elongated planar member with a longitudinally aligned target line indicator, a plurality of left and right swing-force indicators, and a putter head angle scale printed thereon. The planar member lays flat on the ground and is aligned so that the target line indicator is longitudinally aligned with the target line that points directly to the hole. The user then determines the final slope angle of the green and then identifies a reference line on the putter head angle scale that matches the final slope angle. The user then swings the putter with the face maintained in an opened or closed position that matches the selected reference line.

Abstract: A paper back tape dispenser that includes a cylindrical outer shell with a center cavity designed to receive a standard roll of paper back tape. The outer shell includes a side opening with a forward extending lip. Formed on the distal edge of the lip is a serrated cutting edge. Aligned and attached to the rear surface of the outer shell is a hollow pipe Formed on the inside and outside surfaces of the short pipe are two longitudinally aligned slots. Located inside the short pipe is a sliding piston. Extending through the piston and the pipe is an axle that partially extends into the cavity to hold a spool that fits inside a roll of tape. A spring is disposed inside the pipe that automatically holds the axle in an upward position on the pipe. During use, the portion of the axle that extends outward acts as a finger bar that is used to lift the axle upward so that new, large roll of tape may be placed over the axle and into the cylindrical cavity.

Abstract: A voltage detector used to determine if an exposed or unexposed wire or terminal is “hot.” The voltage detector includes a low density EMF field detecting circuit and a high density EMF field detecting circuit each coupled to an indicator to inform the user that the “hot” wire or terminal is nearby. In the preferred embodiment, the voltage detector includes an LED flashlight that uses a voltage multiplying circuit that enables it to use a single AA or AAA battery. The voltage multiplying circuit raises the battery voltage from 1.5 volts to approximately 5 volts required to sufficiently energize the main LED. In the preferred embodiment, the LED's reflector acts as the sensor probe for detecting the presence of electric field densities.

Abstract: A dual actuator arm assembly system that uses two pairs of actuator-carriage arms that linearly move over a stationary micro-rail independently. The geometric shape of the two pairs of actuator carriage arms conform to the arcs of the data tracks at an acute angle. System enables micro-actuation that is integrated to actuator arm and is a function of its geometry. Uninterrupted data stream and sector coverage and thus parallel data transfer scheme is made possible. Each actuator move only within a limited range of disk area, thus precision is increased, vibration is minimized and external transfer rate is speeded up and overall access time is shortened. Instant access to two quarters of the disk with two pairs of actuators and to park these without landing the heads—by positioning and constant fly height during idle mode, or when system is turned off, are introduced as what are new in the art.

Abstract: An orbital sander liquid dispenser that includes an adapter that attaches to the head on a sander. Attached to the adapter is a hollow fluid distribution ring with jet openings formed on its bottom surface design to spray a desired liquid onto the working surface. A liquid is pumped by means of a submerged electric pump to the adapter and into the ring from a reservoir. An optional foot switch is provided for control the flow of liquid to the adapter. The adapter may be attached to a pneumatic or an electric sander. Holes are formed on the adapter through which the air conduit and exhaust valve extend to attach the adapter to the sander head.

Abstract: A lightweight, portable lateral heat press machine that allows an operator to quickly and economically transfer graphic characters or images using an ink transfer paper process or a sublimation process, or vinyl onto the surface of a garment or an object. The device includes a vertical aligned sliding arm assembly perpendicularly aligned to a horizontally aligned chassis assembly. Attached to the chassis assembly is at least one workstation assembly and a console. The workstation assembly includes a pedestal with an exchangeable, horizontally aligned lower platen that may be selectively rotated and locked in portrait or landscape orientation and a height and pressure adjustment feature. The sliding arm assembly extends upward and forward and includes a heated, upper platen attached to a manually operated plunger. The console contains the controls for operating the heating element inside the upper platen and a timer.

Abstract: A heat exchanger liquid refrigerant defrost system disclosed herein specifically designed to defrost the coil subsystems used on an outdoor heat exchanger used on a building heat pump unit or combination heat pump/air condition unit. The outdoor heat exchanger contains at least two coil subsystems each including having a first secondary bypass check valve, a secondary liquid line, a bypass solenoid, a suction solenoid, and a metering device. During use, the flow of warm liquid refrigerant through the coil subsystems is selectively controlled to defrost the coil subsystem one chamber at a time. The other coil subsystems continue to exchange heat and warm the building. When all of the coils systems are sequentially defrosted, all of the coil subsystems may operate in a heating mode or begin the defrost cycle again. Two important benefits of the system over a conventional heat exchanger are the amount of energy required to defrost the coil subsystem is reduced and a supplemental heat source is not needed.

Abstract: A germicidal toothbrush that includes a head with perpendicularly aligned bristles made of an optical fiber capable of transmitting germicidal ultraviolet light. The toothbrush includes a main optical fiber that extends longitudinally inside the handle and terminates inside a brush head cavity. Perpendicularly aligned and attached to the brush head is a plurality of bristles. The distal end of the main optical fiber includes a sloped surface so that coherent ultraviolet light may be emitted at a critical angle so that it enters the ends of the bristles and then travels longitudinally therein to the surrounding teeth and gum surfaces. The ends of the bristles are coupled to a metal bar that connects to a connecting rod. The connecting rod is coupled to an internal electric motor that that causes the bristles to reciprocate back and forth on the head.

Abstract: A hand tool used to quickly and easily remove an aluminum window frame from a window casing that comprises a slide hammer assembly with an adjustable clamp attached to one end. The slide hammer assembly includes a handle that slides longitudinally over an elongated rod. Attached to the proximal end of the rod is a replaceable stop cap. Attached to the opposite distal end of the elongated rod is an adjustable clamp. During use, the elongated rod is perpendicularly aligned with a surface on the window frame. The adjustable clamp is then securely attached to the surface. The handle then slides downward over the elongated rod and against the stop cap to generate a pulling force to the member. Using the above described hand tool on all of the attached members, is a quick and easy method for removing an aluminum window.

Abstract: A combination LED flashlight and garage door opener transmitter with at least one LED disclosed that uses a voltage multiple circuit that enables the use of a single AA or AAA battery. The voltage multiple circuit raises the battery voltage from 1.5 volts to approximately 5 volts and then maintains it to energize the LED. The voltage multiple circuit is connected to the garage door opener transmitter.

Abstract: A dual adjustable feather jig for simultaneously holding a piece of wood stock firmly against a stationary rip fence and against the top surface of a worktable. The feather jig includes a lower feather board with a ‘T’ in channel bar adjustably mounted on the bottom surface of the lower feather board to laterally adjust the lower feather board over the worktable. Mounted transversely on the lower feather board is an upper feather board assembly that includes a vertical feather board to hold the wood piece against the worktable. The vertical feather board is connected to a slider arm that slides longitudinally over a riser block securely mounted to the lower feather board. Formed on the lateral and lower edges of the lower and vertical feather boards, respectively, are diagonally aligned fingers that press the wood piece against the rip fence and against the top surface of the worktable.

Abstract: The bed sheet set with two or more bed sections with different thermal properties for occupants who share the bed and desire to sleep with bedding having different thermal properties. The invention includes a top bed sheet and a bottom bed sheet divided into two adjacent bed sections made of thin and thick cotton, respectively. In the first embodiment, the two bed sections are longitudinally aligned and sewn together along the sheets' longitudinal center axis. The top sheet includes a decorative inside surface and a transversely aligned decorative band, which provides an attractive edge when the top edge of the top bed sheet is partially folded over. The top and bottom bed sheets are made of cotton, polyester or nylon that can be frequently laundered and changed like normal cotton bed sheets.