Abstract: A trimmer wheeled accessory for a gas or electric powered line trimmer used to support the distal end of the trimmer pole during operation. The accessory includes an extension arm that is longitudinally aligned with the trimmer's main pole and selectively attached thereto via a first clamp. The distal end of the extension arm extends from the trimmer head. Attached to the distal end of the extension arm is a wheel assembly that supports the trimmer head at a constant elevation when cutting grass or weeds. The extension arm is sufficient in length so that the wheel accessory is located in front of the trimmer head. The extension arm may be rotated around the trimmer's main pole so that the wheel assembly may be used to support the trimmer head in both a horizontal or vertical alignment.

Abstract: A window assembly (10) with its glazing frame that stays independently from lateral movement of building main structure (44) is disclosed. The window assembly (10) includes an outer retaining frame (12) and an inner glazing frame (14). The outer retaining frame (12) is attached to the building main structure(44). The glazing frame holds glass pane (20), and sits inside the outer retaining frame (12). Between the outer retaining frame (12) and the inner glazing frame (12) is a predetermined clearance space (X) and (Y), at their vertical edges and their top edge. The resulting window assembly allows the glazing frame to retain its shape, while the outer retaining frame (12) moves laterally with the main structure (44) during an earthquake or blast, thereby minimizing the chance of glass breakage. Application of glazing gasket (32) or sealant (54) provides watertight result to the window assembly (10).

Abstract: An improved electromagnetic work coil for use with an electromagnetic force machine that produces a pulling (tension) force on a conductive panel work piece. The electromagnetic work coil comprises a coil with insulated conductor windings passing through a clamped stressing region. The work coil further contains mating terminals and is encapsulated in a nonmagnetic housing. A clamp on the stressing region comprises two clamp surfaces and a part in tension outside of the stressing region to tangentially compress the windings in the stressing region. The preferred embodiment the winding paths around the stressing region are made symmetric to provide a centered linear pulling area with a symmetric magnetic field. The conductor windings are tapered that increase in height and width outside of the stressing region to improve thermal and electrical conductivity and decrease the magnetic field outside of the stressing region.

Abstract: A concrete block lifting device used to lift at least two blocks off a pallet for repositioning on a wall. The device includes a rigid, horizontal, support bar with a block gripping assembly attached thereto designed to selectively attach to blocks on a pallet and then securely engage the blocks when the device is lifted by the backhoe. The block gripping assembly includes a insert member perpendicularly aligned and extending downward from the support bar. Mounted pivotally on each insert member is an actuator arm. The upper end of the actuator arm is pivotally connected to a linking arm and a release handle. The upper ends of two linking arms converge and attach to a central plate. A cable connects the central plate to a bucket on a backhoe. When the central plate is lifted, the linking arms force the upper end of the actuator arms inward which forces the lower ends of the actuator arm outward to engage the inside wall of a central hole formed on the block.

Abstract: A small, portable device used to exercise and train the fingers of a stringed instrument player. The device is a rigid, short neck body, u-shaped in cross-section and designed to simulate a short section of the neck of a stringed instrument, such as a guitar. The neck body is hollow with an elongated main cavity with two or more, transversely aligned finger bars located thereover. Each finger bar is mounted on two or more coil springs enabling it to move up and down on the neck body. The top of each finger bar is flat and includes four to six raised string lines that represent strings on a stringed instrument. The main cavity is divided into a plurality of finger bar cavities by a plurality of support ribs. When at rest, the top surfaces of the finger bars are elevated above the support ribs and represent frets on the neck body.

Abstract: A system for mechanically lowering a load from an elevated position to a lower position in a relatively slow and controlled manner using only gravity and frictional forces. The system includes a vertically aligned glide rod, a glide collar that moves longitudinally over the glide rod, two vertically mounted friction rods mounted on opposite sides of the glide rod, a friction collar that moves longitudinally along each friction rod, and a support platform coupled to each friction collar and to the glide collar. The glide rod includes spiral vane along its entire length upon which the glide collar rides when a load is placed on the support platform, allowing the support platform to descend at a safe speed via gravity.

Abstract: A higher efficiency roller screw system that includes a nut body designed to engage a threaded shaft. The nut body includes a center bore with closed, partial helical grooves formed therein. Disposed inside the center bore is a shaft with open helical threads formed thereon. A plurality of rollers with non-helical grooves formed thereon are also disposed inside the nut body's center bore and longitudinally aligned with the shaft. The grooves on each roller are designed to engage the grooves on the nut body and the threads on the shaft. The nut body includes a cross-over region where the trajectory of the internal grooves extend radially outward and axially. When the rollers' grooves contact the grooves in the cross-over region, the rollers are forced outward to maintain contact with the grooves on the nut body and are deflected axially. When they move outward, they disengage from the helical threads on the shaft.

Abstract: A motor vehicle window cage that fits into and extends through a motor vehicle opening that allows a pet to safely place it's head through the window opening when the motor vehicle is moving or parked. The cage is made up of a mesh-like material with a top mesh surface, two side mesh surfaces, and a front mesh surface. Formed on the cage is a rear opening and a bottom base. The bottom base acts as a shelf that allows the pet to stand in the seat and rests its front paws on the shelf. The cage is designed to confine the animal inside the motor vehicle yet allow the window to be extended downward to provide fresh air. The cage component can be easily attached and detached from the motor vehicle with two sets of adjustable straps that extend around the door's upper and lower frames without modifying or alternating the motor vehicle.

Abstract: An inflatable hot tub kit that includes a self-supporting tub structure that can be used on ground or used in a body of water. The kit includes a thermostat and hoses designed to connect to an external fresh water supply system. The tub structure comprises three inflatable ring sections that form the sidewalls designed to hold warm or hot water. The upper ring section is octagonal-shaped when viewed in plan view. In cross-section, the upper ring section is circular and relatively large so that when the tub structure is placed in a body of water, the water edge is approximately 8 to 10 inches below the top surface of the upper section. The middle ring section is flat in cross-section and vertically aligned under the center axis of the upper ring section. The middle ring section provides buoyancy and supports the upper ring section when used on the ground or extends into the body of water to provide buoyancy. Attached to the middle ring section is an inflatable lower ring section.

Abstract: A personal traffic congestion avoidance system for drivers of motor vehicles traveling on roadways in motor vehicles with GPS-based navigational systems. The system includes a GPS-based navigational system that includes a GPS receiver connected to a visual display, a map database and a wireless communication device for communicating with a remote computer over a wireless communication network. The GPS-based navigation system continuously determines the motor vehicle exact physical location in a region that is intermittently or continuously uploaded to a remote computer via the wireless communication network. The remote computer is connected to a traffic monitoring database or service that provides current traffic affecting events in the region thereto.

Abstract: An anti-theft system for a portable recordable media that contains a downloadable, user-sensitive software program files or data that the publisher wants to prevent multi-installations and unauthorized copying. The system uses three separate components—a portable recordable media, a linking object, and a second recordable media. In the preferred embodiment, the portable recordable media is a CD or DVD disc body with a unique first code number encoded into the software program files or data identifying the particular copy of the software program files or data. In the preferred embodiment, the linking object is a removable plug that fits into the center spindle hole formed in the disc body. Encoded into the linking object is a unique, temporary second code number that is associated or encoded with a plurality of alphanumeric characters also used in the first code number.

Abstract: An improved canoe including a hull has sidewalls extending fore and aft and a gunwale on the sidewalls. The gunwale has longitudinal slot extending for a substantial portion of the entire hull. A canoe accessory has a thickened attachment portion for engagement in the slot to attach the accessory to the canoe. A method of canoeing includes inserting a thickened portion of a canoeing accessory into a slot at a canoe gunwale to retain the accessory in place and paddling the canoe on a body of water.

Abstract: A portable worklight designed to illuminate a 360 degree area. The worklight includes a triangular-shaped base with three side members. Mounted on each side member is a rotating and pivoting light head that includes two diagonally aligned light cavities. Mounted inside each light cavity is a horizontally aligned halogen bulb with a concave reflective shield mounted behind the bulb. Mounted over the front face of each light cavity is a glass plate and a chevron-shaped frame. Attached to the rear surface on each worklight includes a handle. Each light head is mounted on a rotating U-shaped bracket that allows the head to rotate upward and downward approximately 45 degrees. The bracket is also able to rotate 360 degrees over the side member. Each light head also includes a separately operated ON-OFF switch that controls the operation of the halogen bulbs contained therein.

Abstract: Flashing used on curved exterior wall projections designed to stop water intrusion and provide a permanent, attractive, paintable surface that is safe from UV radiation. The flashing includes a Z-shaped or L-shaped body bonded with a flexible flashing material along its front and back surface. The metal body includes at least two perpendicularly aligned flange members. Formed on the top flange member is a plurality of transversely aligned slits evenly spaced thereon that allow the flashing to be bent around a curved wall projection. The flexible flashing material is adhesively bonded to the inside and outside surfaces of the top flange member thereby covering the slits to create a water barrier. During installation, the top flange member and flexible flashing material are covered by external wallboards or siding.

Abstract: A laptop computer including a display securely attached by one or more swing arms, pivotally mounted at their opposite ends to the laptop body and the display, which allows the display to be manually elevated and rotated forward to a position over the keyboard of the computer. The swing arms are sufficient in length to allow the display to be positioned along the rear edge of the computer for normal viewing or rotated and elevated forward or upward for close-up viewing in tight viewing situations. The invention is ideal for near sighted individuals and for use in tight, restricted locations, such as an airplane seat, because the monitor can be moved upward and forward so the display screen is closer to the user and he or she can still adequately type.