Abstract: A method of reducing skin friction drag on a marine hull comprising imparting ultrasonically-induced cavitation at a boundary layer at the hull-water interface. The includes providing a sonification plate on at least a portion of a wettable area of the hull to establish a boundary layer interface between the sonification plate and the water medium, and energizing the sonification plate to produce microcavitation bubbles at the boundary layer interface whereby to alter the Reynolds number, kinematic viscosity, and coefficient of friction. The sonification plate is hermetically sealed and includes an array of ultrasonic transducers, which may be mounted on an interior or exterior surface of the hull. The energizing step nucleates microcavitation bubbles upon entrained gases and/or particulate matter residing in the water medium.

Abstract: An apparatus to reduce skin friction drag on a marine hull by imparting ultrasonically-induced cavitation at a boundary layer of a hull-water interface. The apparatus comprises a sonification plate mounted or adapted to be mounted on at least a portion of a wettable area of the hull (interior or exterior) to define a boundary layer region with the water medium, a power source to energize the sonification plate, and a controller to regulate the frequency and/or intensity of microcavitation bubbles produced at the boundary layer whereby to alter the Reynolds number, kinematic viscosity, and coefficient of friction. The sonification plate is hermetically sealed and includes an array of ultrasonic transducers therein, which may be mounted on all or a portion of the hull. Energizing the transducers nucleates microcavitation bubbles upon entrained gases and/or particulate matter residing in the water medium.

Abstract: A method of tiered promotion and distribution of a product comprises hosting a transactional applet accessible via the Internet; accessing the host to execute the applet for a first fan; enabling the first fan to process a voucher for the product; and enabling the first fan to propagate the applet to a terminal of a second fan wherein the propagated applet (i) renders content associated with the first fan and the product, (ii) accepts an input from the second fan to process a subsequent transaction relative to the product; (iii) credits the first fan with a credit, and (iv) generates a transactional record for delivery to the first fan. The generated record may include a notation of account credit, evidence of an entry ticket, or other information. The applet may be propagated to third or subsequent fans to provide further credits for the first, second, or subsequent fans.

Abstract: A stuffed animal or doll that holds, stows, or warms a feeding bottle of an infant. The stuffed animal or doll includes adjustable straps extending forwardly from arms and legs thereof to adjustably embrace the infant in a face-to-face posture; flexible appendages in the form of rabbit ears having a Velcro fastener to circumscribe, clamp, and hold the feeding bottle in a feeding position relative to the infant when embraced by the adjustable straps; a battery-powered warmer pouch disposed at a posterior region of the animal doll to provide stowage and/or warming of a feeding bottle when not in use by the infant, and a voice-activated record/playback to record and repeatedly playback an audio track recorded by a caretaker of said infant. In addition, a speaker may be embedded inside the stuffed animal to playback a music track for the infant.

Abstract: An apparatus to produce acoustic cavitation by controlling cavitation events in a liquid insonification medium utilizing a waveform to excite a transducer with a series of bipolar inharmonic tone bursts having medium recovery intervals between respective bursts so that the medium repeatedly recovers from cavitation events between bursts. The apparatus may be used to clean a semiconductor wafer, to de-coat a painted surface having, to induce a chemical reaction, and/or to provide recycled paper made from inked paper de-inked by cavitation. Cavitation events are generated using a transducer and a waveform generator, e.g., square wave tone bursts, to excite the transducer with a signal controlled in frequency, burst repetition rate, duty-cycle and/or amplitude, e.g., utilizing bursts having a frequency between 500 KHz and 10 MHz, and a duty cycle between 0.1% and 70%.

Abstract: An amphibious utility trailer to haul a load over land and/or to ferry a motorized vehicle over water. The trailer is adapted to receive marine propulsive power and/steering control from wheel torque and/or steering mechanism of a vehicle, such as an ATV. A propulsor such as a paddle wheel, propeller, or water jet propels the trailer through water when engaged with ATV wheel torque. A friction coupling such as a treadmill or set of rollers in the trailer bed removably interconnects the propulsor with ATV tires. The trailer may also include a rudder operable through a removable coupling with the ATV handlebars to steer the trailer in water. The arrangement enables the trailer to be “driven” over water utilizing the ATV and yet still provide a plain and simple utility trailer for hauling traditional items over land.