Abstract: Wall reflectors work in conjunction with devices that emit wall laser beams, for assisting the attachment on a wall of items such as pictures. The wall reflectors are constructed to be attached on the wall, and to provide surfaces for reflecting the laser light beam into rays. Multiple wall reflectors can optionally also provide a whole pattern on the wall, such as a grid.

Abstract: A ship convoy is provided that is towed by an ocean tug, and includes a series of specially made ocean going, modular, self propelling cargo ships, for transoceanic voyages. The tug also controls the cargo ships remotely. Each cargo ship is a medium tonnage, independently powered, independently controllable, freight carrying vessel with an oceanworthy hull. The hulls preferably have a standardized external design, which makes them modular. Inside, each has cargo space for either generic cargo, or for special cargo, such as refrigerated cargo or containers. Their engines need be no more powerful than is required for river navigation, but with a tank that holds enough fuel for a transoceanic voyage. The special cargo ships go up a river preferably using autonomous navigation. Upon reaching a port, the cargo ship is loaded, and then exits the river. Then it is combined with the tug and the other cargo ships for the transoceanic voyage.

Abstract: A reflective liquid crystal display panel has a two-dimensional array of reflective pixel electrodes. A diffraction grating is provided in the border spaces between the neighboring reflective electrodes. The diffraction grating diffracts the incident light sideways, thereby subtracting it from the total returned light, which increases the available optical contrast. The diffraction grating is tuned to the peak wavelength of the ambient illumination. It is formed as additional structure on the substrate during fabrication. The structure uses raised mesas arranged in a checker board pattern. The mesas define floors between them, and have roofs that are raised from the floors by a quarter wavelength.

Abstract: An improved tow truck is provided, that includes special accommodations for the former occupants of the stranded vehicle, and ergonomic improvements for the tow truck operator. The tow truck provides an additional rider compartment that includes a passenger door, foldable seats, floor tracks and brackets for restraining a wheelchair. The rider compartment is preferably a rider cabin that is distinct from, but communicates with the driver cabin. The tow truck further includes an automated ladder with deployable steps and/or a wheelchair lift with a deployable platform, both for serving the rider compartment. These are operated electronically, and are preferably coordinated to work in unison with opening and closing the passenger door. Ergonomic improvements include an enclosure around the boom that defines a space for secure storage of miscellaneous equipment. The storage space is accessed through utility openings that are closeable by shutters, which can be locked.

Abstract: A disposable toothbrush assembly has a special hollow handle that contains enough toothpaste for one use. The handle includes a dispensing orifice, preferably at the head. An external plug seals the orifice, and thus also the toothpaste from the exterior. The plug is manually removable to unseal the orifice. A compressed spring within the handle can be released by removing a stop. This causes a piston at the end of the spring to eject the toothpaste through the dispensing orifice on the bristles. The stop is advantageously formed integrally with the plug.

Abstract: A storage system for a building such as a house. Specially sized containers are kept in the unused space under the raised floor of a building. An opening in the floor provides access, and is closeable by a cover. A translation means supports the containers, and moves them from exactly under the opening to a space for stowage. The preferred translation means includes a rail system supporting a train of serially coupled wagons. Each wagon has a guard sized to receive matingly one container. The train is moveable to align one of the wagons with the floor opening, for access of its container. A dust cover protects the contents. Being transparent, the cover allows quick inspection of the contents. A jack includes moving arms that push the container upwards through an opening in the wagon, and then also through the floor opening. The rail system includes rails that are closed loop, and are either attached to the underside of the floor, or supported by the grade.

Abstract: A switched mode power supply circuit is provided that converts an input DC or AC voltage to a constant DC output voltage. The circuit uses a combination of a switch and an inductor at the output stage. When the switch is open, a current through the inductor decreases linearly until it reaches zero. Then the switch is closed, and the inductor current increases linearly until it reaches an upper limit, at which time the switch is opened, and the inductor current starts decreasing again. The upper limit of the inductor current is computed by a support circuit, and thus it does not need to be provided by sensing the input voltage independently. The computation uses the durations ratio D of a recent fall time duration of the inductor current divided by a recent rise time duration of the inductor current. The maximum inductor current is computed by multiplying a constant current value by D.times.(1+D). The result is a circuit with resistive only input impedance.

Abstract: A special woman's under garment is provided. The under garment comprises a flexible half slip body that is worn around the waist, and covers the thighs and sometimes the knees. The under garment further comprises a flexible separator panel that is supported by the half slip body between the thighs. This way it prevents contact and thus friction of one pantyhose segment against another. Further, the panel is preferably made from friction reducing material, which thereby reduces friction between the panel and each of the pantyhose segments.

Abstract: A pipe straightening press is provided with a wheel coupled to its underside. The wheel protrudes below the lowest point of the outer surface of the lower mandrel jaw when the mandrel is contracted, but does not so protrude when the mandrel is expanded. This way the wheel allows rolling the mandrel for positioning within the pipe, but does not interfere with straightening it. In the first embodiment the wheel is rollable around an axle that is fixedly attached to the support arm. The contracted mandrel expands by lowering the lower jaw, which thus lifts the support arm and the wheel with it. In the second embodiment the wheel is located within the mandrel, is fixedly attached to the upper jaw, and protrudes through an opening in the outer surface of the lower jaw only when the mandrel is contracted. In the third and preferred embodiment, the wheel is coupled to the mandrel, and biased downwards and out of the lower jaw by the upper jaw acting on the wheel axle through a spring.

Abstract: An abdominal incision suturing apparatus includes a guide element that is inserted and maintained in an abdominal incision by a guide handle. The guide element has a passage for receiving slidably the shaft of a reverse needle. The shaft can be moved axially and rotationally with respect to the guide element by a shaft handle. The reverse needle has a needle at the distal end of the shaft, with a pointed end and an eye for receiving a suture. The guide element defines a sheath for receiving the pointed end of the needle. The guide element and the reverse needle together present a substantially airtight surface for maintaining the pneumoperitoneum pressure in a cannula site incision. Further, the guide element includes markings on its surface, for the user to monitor the depth of insertion via a laparoscope. The shaft handle has a specially shaped groove, and the guide element has an internal pin that protrudes into the groove.

Abstract: A stand alone Personal Electronic Telephone Directory (PETD) apparatus is provided, that includes an internal telephone line segment, an off hook circuit, a Dual Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) receiver, a ring detection circuit, a micro-controller, a memory, a speech synthesizer, and a DTMF generator. The PETD apparatus is a stand alone device intended for connection to an individual user's home telephone line, and for access by using a common touch tone ("DTMF") telephone. The user can access the memory of the PETD apparatus of the present invention locally or remotely. Then the user can issue coded instructions by simply pressing the keys of the DTMF telephone. By giving specific instructions, the user is allowed to add, retrieve or delete data from the memory of the PETD apparatus. The PETD apparatus communicates with the user by voice, generated by the speech synthesizer.

Abstract: Game equipment and a method for playing a new class of board games are provided. Board games of this class are played on a specially designed game board featuring a closed loop track, that is subdivided in token spaces. Track movement of the players' tokens depends on chance. Some groupings of token spaces form stations along the track. There are also passage routes that connect one station to another. The passage routes are provided for a passage route movement of the tokens that is preferably advantageous over and an optional alternative to track movement. A player may establish and/or acquire control of these passage routes to the exclusion of the other players. The game ends when there are no passage routes left. The preferred embodiment is an airline game of purchasing air routes. Each player is assumed to be operating an airline, and the board presents a map. The track is a roadway that is subdivided in token spaces, some groupings of which are stations shown as cities. Each city has an airport.