Abstract: A practice board holder for use in combination with a martial arts practice board having side edges of substantially equal thickness or having formed depressions in both side edges. The device in one embodiment features tapered handles to improve grip and cooperatively slots for engagement the side edges of conventional martial arts practice boards. Further increase in grip of the board is provided by location of the cleats in the slots which frictionally engages depressions in the side edges of the practice board. The device in another embodiment also employs a pointed piercing cleat to engage practice boards by piercing the side edge and may also be used as a kit in combination with handle mounts and a belt to attach to a conventional heavy punching bag. Additional utility is provided by handle mounts which allow for attachment of the board holders to a wall mounted or swivel mounted rail.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for aligning the exposed drain in finished surfaces in construction with the underlying drains and conduits of the construction infrastructure. The device features an inner generally planar center section, preferably round, with an off center drain aperture communicating between a top surface and a bottom surface. The center section is rotatably in a similarly shaped aperture formed in the surface material surrounding the underlying drain which can also be formed in a surrounding tile to be placed over the drain or in the finished material itself. Once the off center drain aperture is aligned with the underlying drain with the perimeter of the center section aligned with the aperture in the surrounding material, the center section is placed into the similarly shaped aperture and fixed in position with adhesive or grout and the drain strainer may be mounted into the off center drain aperture.

Abstract: An external jet nozzle mixer (20) includes identically formed lobes (48), equal in number those of the internal mixer (42). External mixer (20) works with internal mixer (42), further to mix the engine internal bypass flow with the internal jet engine core flow, to level the disparate exhaust flow velocities, to reduce the peak velocities from the jet engine core and increase the lower bypass velocities of the engine internal bypass flow, and thereby to reduce noise. The internal lobe contours act as lifting flutes, causing mixing of the primary hot and cold flows before exiting the nozzle. The external lobe contours act as venturi chutes, accelerating the cooler ambient air secondary flow. The lobes thus act collectively as an injector to force the cooler ambient secondary flow into the previously mixed primary flow as it exits the nozzle. Also obtained is an increased thrust efficiency and a consequently decreased fuel consumption and engine emissions.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine having inline opposing pistons stationarily mounted to a frame. A finned cylinder having a divider therein forming two chambers reciprocates upon the two stationary pistons during operation of the engine to provide power to a device requiring translational or rotational power connected externally. Optionally, the pistons can be formed of front and rear components with the front component being replaceable by mounting it to the rear. A case mounted about the exterior can be vented by an impeller to cool the finned cylinder along with lubricating fluid.

Abstract: The disclosed device features is a contacting three dimensional sole measuring device to produce accurate three dimensional renditions of the bottom of a human foot placed thereon. The device features one or a plurality of sensors groups communicating with the top surface of a case. Each sensor group is dimensioned to accommodate the area of a footprint of a human foot when placed on top of it. Each sensor group is composed of a plurality of linear displacement sensors which measure the displacement caused by the bottom surface of the foot and communicate that displacement to a data processing device which compiles a three dimensional rendition of the bottom of the foot surface from the individual data points from the displacement senors. Accurate renditions of the bottom surface of a human foot may be achieved by a person simply standing on the sensor groups barefoot.

Abstract: An improved battery cell having electrodes formed of active material adhered to a conductive substrate with active surface areas communicating along an entire edge portion with conductors thereby minimizing resistance and allowing for communication of electrical current to and from the battery at a high rate with an even discharge from the electrodes. The plurality of electrodes is then stacked or wound to a desired configuration with a porous separator separating each adjacent electrode from the other. Communication along the entire edge of the formed electrodes on the conductive substrate with a conductive edge portion of the substrate, provide for maximum current flow in and out of the battery as well as well as reducing thermal concerns in high current applications. Elongated electrical conductors best made from copper are attached to substantially the entire length of the positive and negative edge portions.

Abstract: An electrical power control apparatus and method for a conventional 60 hertz or other conventional frequency electrical AC power supply voltage waveform to proved an effective output current and voltage to an intended load whereby the output frequency is the same as the input frequency. Using a switching means capable of micro switching the current on and off, and a plurality of substantially equal length and duration interruptions of current on both sides of an AC current oscillation, the output effective voltage and resulting current may be preset and controlled to a pre-programmed output level regardless of input voltage having one or more phases. Or, the output voltage and resulting current may be continually monitored with the load integrated into the circuit being monitored and continually adjusted to yield maximum power use savings while avoiding damage to the components attached to the circuit.

Abstract: A dual frequency antenna providing nulling of adjacent radio signals. The antenna is formed on a single substrate of dielectric material and features a first antenna for a first frequency on top surface of the substrate mutually coupled to a second antenna formed for reception of a second frequency on the bottom surface of the substrate. A single antenna feed communicates through the substrate with the first antenna communicates both received frequencies to an attached device. Feeding the single antenna feed through the substrate wall inside the interior of both antenna perimeters provides for an unobstructed view above the first antenna. The nulled portion of the reception pattern may be steered by tilting the antenna.

Abstract: A dispensing device adapted for operative attachment to flanged cartridges containing viscous material. The device features an elongated support tube having a laterally translatable rod assembly therein which translates through rotation of the rod assembly to disperse material from an attached cartridge. The elongated device allows for the vicious material to be deposited in hard to reach areas between and behind appliances. Activation by rotation of the rod assembly allows for extremely accurate placement of material from the cartridge. Rotational activation also allows the device to reach under very low sitting appliances. The support tube and rod assembly may be assembled in various lengths from individual components allowing the device to be changed from an elongated form to shorter components for shipping or storage. An optional light is provided to illuminate target for deposit of viscous material.

Abstract: An improved card scanner for imaging and decoding indica such as bar codes on a side surface of an inserted card. The device is electrically powered and features a double scanning method using an electronic imaging element and processor which turns off unnecessary power when not required. This is accomplished through the use of a processor and software to determine if a complete image of the bar code on the inserted card has been captured and allowing immediate removal of the card. Should the image of the bar code be incomplete, a second scan is conducted of the bar code as it is removed and a complete image formed from the two individual scans. The device can also be used to compare photographs scanned from a card with the digital photograph scanned from a two dimensional bar code and to display both photos for viewing.

Abstract: A compact, hand carryable, closed-loop refilling, purging, and pressure testing device adapted for use liquid motor vehicle cooling systems. The disclosed device performs the full range of filling, removal of gasses and contaminants, and pressure testing, in a small unit that can sit on a workbench or the floor to perform the tasks. The device requires no removal or possible damage to any of the hose connections of the cooling system. Another advantage is the limitation of accidental spillage or leakage of the antifreeze fluid into the environment due to the closed nature of the system. Additionally, utility is provided by a surging and unloading valve which causes system fluid to surge toward an exit upon reaching a designated pressure, thereby purging gas from the cooling system by carrying it along in such surges.

Abstract: An adjustable trigger assembly adapted for installation into the carrier of an AK-47 and similar rifles. The assembly features a plurality of adjusting screws to adjust the force required for trigger pull, the over travel of the trigger after firing, and the forward rotational force and angle of a disconnector rotationally engaged in a slot in the trigger to thereby allow for adjustment of the force required during both stages of pull of a two stage trigger to fire the weapon. The device is adapted for engagement with the receiver of a conventional AK-47 in replacement of the original trigger mechanism and may be used with the original hammer or optionally may employ a replacement hammer which features limited contact with the trigger assembly to lessen the trigger pull required for firing.

Abstract: A DC power converter enclosing a regulated AC power supply within the overall design topology. The power transfer function incorporates a process wherein a portion of the negative AC signal, generated across the input winding of a power transformer, is intercepted by a power switch transitional state. The volt-second product of the intercepted AC signal is reflected into the DC input line voltage as an additive element allowing a resonant inductor to absorb the sum of both components. Thus peak voltage transferred to a resonant capacitor is two times the sum of voltage absorbed by the resonant inductor as opposed to simply doubling the DC input line voltage. Voltage across the resonant capacitor remains constant for variations in DC input line voltage within the limits of the input voltage regulating band. This is due to an inverse relationship between the DC input line voltage and voltage yielded by the negative AC signal, at point of interception by the timing pulse.