Abstract: Method and apparatus for a low floating boom curtain constructed of absorptive material made for use in waters polluted by oil, fuel, diesel fuel, chemicals such as dispersants or other petroleum based contaminants or the like wherein the boom curtain is comprised of an upper and a lower portion wherein the upper portion is the buoyant portion and the lower portion is a skirt portion, wherein the skirt portion has a weighted portion on the bottom of the skirt portion so that together they form an absorptive boom curtain for removing oil from oil containing waters. The upper portion, which provides the main flotation for the device, has an internal float/foam member which provides sufficient flotation and which foam member is wrapped in a single or double layer of absorptive material and wherein the entire device is made of and or covered by absorptive material.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for holding a pillow on an upwardly extending end of a mattress having a single sheet of material having a upper end and a lower end along with a first side and a second side having an upper surface and a lower surface. The lower end is folded back upon itself to form an enclosure so that the upper surfaces of the folded section are adjacent to each other having a pillow disposed in the enclosure. The upper end is wrapped around the upwardly extended end of the mattress, using straps to hold the upper end in place.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a hand tool useful for gripping a chain or chain portion of a chain hoist. The tool comprises a shaft having a handle portion on one end and a body or ring portion on the other end which ring has an slot or cut-through therein through which a chain can be inserted into a central hole or opening of the ring; furthermore, an indention is provided in the ring wherein a link of a chain is captured in the indention thereby allowing the user to pull on the handle so as to move the chain a given distance. Thereafter, the chain is removed from the indention, repositioned in the center hole and the tool repositioned to a different link of the chain wherein the succeeding link is captured in the indention and the chain is again pulled another distance. By repeating this process, the chain can be pulled a great distance in a much easier manner than is currently available.

Abstract: Method and apparatus discloses a modular furniture construction having interlocking connections which are formed by upright standing legs having vertical grooves therein for receiving interlocking connecting members therein disposed on the ends of cross members. The cross members can be arranged in many different arrays so that a table top support or legs and/or other configurations, e.g., forts and houses, can be constructed. The cross members are designed so that a table top or tray can be placed thereon for receiving various items therein and/or a cup can be placed thereon for receiving containers holding liquid therein.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for a quick-change caster system for removing and replacing the casters which are used to support articles such as steel racks, containers, crates and the like. The caster system having a housing which is attached to the article so that a caster mounted on a plate can be slidably inserted and removed from the housing in a very quick and easy fashion. Also disclosed is a dampening pad disposed between the caster plate and the housing which is designed to decrease noise, vibration, etc. Also shown is a bolt or the like used for locking the caster plate and dampening plate inside the housing so that it cannot be accidentally removed therefrom.

Abstract: A foldable urine collection device which comprises a pair of wire members having first and second opposed ends and having an upwardly disposed urine collection cup intermediate said first and second ends so that the urine collection cup is generally centrally disposed within a toilet bowl for use by a user wherein the first and second ends of the wire frame connect to opposing rims of the toilet bowl so as to secure the device therein. Also shown is an intermediately disposed net having a plurality of flexible fingers disposed so as to capture the collection cup therein in a manner so that a plurality of sizes of collection cups can be captured with the flexible fingers. The flexible fingers secure the cup within the urine collection device.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for an elevation tray that quickly and easily adjusts the nut of a stringed musical instrument by containing, elevating, and lowering a traditionally fixed nut. The elevation tray attaches and detaches in the same manner, location and position as the traditional stationary nut blank between the headstock and fingerboard of the instrument. The elevation tray comprises a first and second side along with an interconnecting channel which contains a lift plate which contacts and adjusts the nut. A threaded screw passes through a cap and a bushing disposed in each side of the elevation tray to a mating threaded hole on each end of the lift plate so that the lift plate and the nut are moved up or down in response to the screw being turned clockwise or counterclockwise.

Abstract: A method and apparatus which will allow a single person to launch and secure a boat or watercraft to a pier without the user getting into the water and which allows the user to maintain control of the vessel or watercraft. Disclosed is a bracket mounted near the tongue of a boat trailer which has a tube for holding a telescoping pole which pole is removably, insertable into the tube so that when the boat on the trailer is backed into the water in preparation for launching the boat an attachment ring on the end of the boat lanyard is attached to the bow cleat of the boat so as to assist in maneuvering the boat off of the trailer. Thereafter, the pole is removed from the tube and the loop on the end of the pole is connected to a stern cleat on the rear of the boat so as to then allow the user to pull the boat toward the pier.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for an automatic mechanically-operated tarp/cover system specifically built for boats but which can be used with other types of vehicles. The present invention is intended for use with conventional boat trailers having a tongue and a pair of rear wheels which is designed to be attached to and pulled on the rear end of a towing vehicle. The present invention comprises a U-shaped hoop which is connected approximately intermediate the length of the trailer having one end of the a cover/tarp connected on the distal end of the hoop and the other end of the cover/tarp rolled up on and stored on a tarp bar mounted by a frame to the front portion of the trailer wherein the tarp/cover is carried on the tarp bar, which bar is turned by an electrical motor adapted for connection to the tarp bar.

Abstract: A hay rake having a central main frame member with left and right extendable spinner arms so that they swing toward and away from the main frame from a closed position for transportation to an open position for raking hay. Each spinner arm comprises at least one spinner disposed on its outer surface. Each spinner arm is attached to the main frame using a spinner arm knuckle-like joint which allows the spinner arm assemblies to move in both a horizontal and a vertical plane. Hay deflectors are attached under each spinner arm in front of the spinners to prevent wrapping of hay around rotating parts and to assist in moving tile hay toward the entrance of the baler.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for treating air containing hydrogen sulfide gas, volatile organic compounds, heavy metals and other mercaptans in order to reduce odor and corrosion related to wet wells, dry pits, grease traps and the like. The system comprises a first and second stage air treatment system. A vacuum pump in the primary (stage 2) treatment housing vacuums the contaminated air from the source and pumps the air through a set of diffusers into a treatment fluid wherein the air is then passed through a pair of porous plates and upward through a discharge pump and then into the atmosphere. Prior to treating the air in the primary housing, it is treated in a pretreatment dry air filter wherein the air is inlet into the pretreatment (stage 1) housing and then through a microfilter prior to being passed into the primary housing for further treatment.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for a safety lock for a cam lock fitting contained in a housing mounted onto the outside of the cam lock fitting so that the housing is in close proximity to the cam lever so that when the cam lock fitting is pressurized and the lever is in a down position a pin can extend from the housing so as to secure the lever in a downward position and therefore prevent operation or release of the male and the female portions of the fitting. The housing has a piston therein which moves along a bore so that the piston can be moved by the pressure of fluid contained inside the cam lock fitting so that in a low pressure condition the pin is retracted so that the cam lever can then be raised. The pin is connected to the piston with an L-shaped arm which has a pivot point so that when the piston is in the down position the pin is in a retracted position.

Abstract: A method and system for a Virtual Video Store (VVS) System for distributing video. Shown is an on-premise locked storage vault or remote video rental storefront vault, wherein multiple purchased copies are physically placed in the vault and at least one is digitally stored. The vault contains a plurality of copies of a title which titles have been purchased. The VVS Digital Encoder System would store the titles into the video server storage unit so that the vendor could get multiple plays from a single digitally stored copy. Content control is provided prior to storage in the Administration Database Server for the Middleware. Also, Cover Art is provided for scanning prior to storage in the video server storage unit. Meta Data is input into the Administration Database. The Movie ID number is input into the Virtual Video Store System Database Control Server to allow Database and Control Exchange.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for a propulsion system for a vehicle or the like having a two part turbine system comprising a main turbine portion for driving the vehicle drive train and a smaller, accessory turbine system to provide auxiliary power for other components of the engine and vehicle. The turbines are both liquid driven by having a two-stage pressure system wherein the first stage raises the pressure to approximately 50 psi and the second stage system raises the pressure to approximately 3,000 to 5500 psi which pressurized fluid is then sprayed or injected onto the blades of a turbine so as to make the turbines rotate about a central drive axle. The fluid chosen as the hydraulic fluid of the present invention is extended life antifreeze.

Abstract: A transparent rollout pantry organizing system for kitchen cabinets has at least two rollout shelf units that are constructed of planar clear sheet material that is cut and fused together to form a rigid structural shape with shelves having heavy duty drawer guides fastened to the rollout unit which can be extended out of the pantry cabinet so that items can be easily accessed, and having at least one pair of side by side drawers above the rollout units also made of clear material used for the rollout units. By using clear material, items on upper shelves can be seen through the drawer bottoms, and by using the drawers in pairs, items on upper drawers at the rear of the drawer can be easily accessed by extending one drawer at a time and reaching over the sides.

Abstract: A foldable urine collection device which comprises a pair of wire members having first and second opposed ends and having an upwardly disposed urine collection cup intermediate said first and second ends so that the urine collection cup is generally centrally disposed within a toilet bowl for use by a user wherein the first and second ends of the wire frame connect to opposing rims of the toilet bowl so as to secure the device therein. Also shown is an intermediately disposed net having a plurality of flexible fingers disposed so as to capture the collection cup therein in a manner so that a plurality of sizes of collection cups can be captured with the flexible fingers. The flexible fingers secure the cup within the urine collection device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for aerating liquid which includes an aeration chamber having an inlet port at its lower end an outlet port at its upper end wherein the chamber is divided into multiple internal chambers using a plurality of internal divider walls. The chamber is weighted with a base member so that it will not float. Air is inlet at its upper end through an air inlet hole into an upper air manifold wherein the air then travels downwardly through an air feed pipe to a plurality of air outlet holes wherein the air is released and rises thereby causing a flow of material through the inlet ports upwardly along the internal divider walls and aeration chamber and then out of the chamber at its upper outlet port so that the stream of material is directed onto a series of stationary concentric ridges wherein the solids in the liquid material are forcefully impacted against the stationary concentric ridges so as to break the solid particles up into smaller particles.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for an adjustable trailer hitch which allows the ball to be adjustable laterally and longitudinally so that the tongue of the trailer can be can be more easily attached to the ball of the towing vehicle. A body portion is mounted on a slide-tube for insertion in a receiver-tube wherein the body portion has an interior pocket or space which allows the draw bar having the ball mounting thereon to move laterally inside the pocket along with a plurality of apertures so that the draw bar can be laterally adjusted using the apertures and a first locking pin. The slide-tube also has a longitudinal adjustment slot in it which allows it to slide longitudinally inside the receiver-tube wherein a second locking pin holds the slide-tube in the receiver-tube allowing the entire trailer hitch to be longitudinally adjustable along the longitudinal axis of the towing vehicle.

Abstract: A method for identifying tools using the steps of providing a tool, wherein the tool is chosen from the group including a wrench, a socket, a nut, and a bolt; applying an indicator being a color-coded indicia onto the tool, wherein the indicia is visible to a user, wherein the indicia aids in identifying the tool, wherein the colors are chosen from the group including blue, red, orange, yellow, green, brown, violet and light gray; wherein the indicia is a band, the band being substantially flat, the band being raised an effective distance above the surface of the tool, wherein the band can be felt by a user, wherein the band aids in identifying the tool; and, wherein the band has a single portion, wherein the single portion can be felt by a user to identify English size tools. The method uses a band having two interconnected portions, wherein the two interconnected portions can be felt by a user to aid in identifying metric size tools.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for a wheeled attachment for use with a conventional pressure washer wherein the attachment comprises a wheeled platform having an inlet to receive fluid, i.e., water or cleaning fluid, from the pressure washer along with a plurality of outlets for spraying water directly onto a relatively wide area of the surface to be cleaned. The attachment is expected to be most effective for cleaning horizontal surfaces such as sidewalks, driveways, decks, docks and other horizontal surfaces. The attachment further comprises first and second height-adjustable wheels for attachment to the sides of the platform along with a splash guard disposed on the rear of the platform for protecting the user from overspray. A manifold connects the single inlet to the plurality of outlets in order to transfer fluid from the inlet to the outlets so that fluid is uniformly applied to the surface to be cleaned.