Abstract: A stencil assembly for applying a stenciled design or message on a surface includes: (a) a reusable stencil base framing an elongated opening straddled by two opposite, spaced-apart interior long edges; the stencil base further including at least one exterior long edge parallel to the interior long edge, and a number of female stencil base cut-outs along the long edges; and (b) a number of stencil pieces of sufficient size for close insertion in the opening; the stencil pieces being formed of a common material and generally having a common length; the stencil pieces being interchangeably arrangeable in the opening between the interior long edges; a majority of the stencil pieces each including an individual character cut-out for receiving a stenciling material; the stencil pieces further including at least one male stencil piece projection on at least one of its sides, the male stencil piece projection being insertable in at least one of the female stencil base cut-outs. A stencil kit is also included herein.

Abstract: A security latch for a double gate or door includes: a. a striker unit for attachment to a first side of the gate or door, including: 1) a striker with at least two notches at its top, a first notch being proximate to a horizontal center of the striker, a second notch being proximate to a right end of the striker; 2) a security plate adjacent to the striker; 3) a striker bracket attached to the security plate and through which the striker slides; and 4) a locking member slidably attached to the security plate, the striker being slidable through the locking member, a portion of the locking member being slidable into at least one of the notches; b. a separate keeper unit for attachment to an opposite, second side of the gate or door, including: 1) two matching C-brackets for receiving the striker, and 2) a keeper plate, each C-bracket being attached to the keeper plate; and c.

Abstract: A movable mounting bracket arm assembly for use in a monitoring well or the like includes: (a) mounting bracket attachable to a wall of a well; (b) a movable mounting bracket arm including a posterior segment attachable at one end to the mounting bracket, and a breakaway anterior segment removably attachable to an opposite end of the posterior segment, the anterior segment being pivotally coupled to the posterior segment; and (c) a means of suspending at least one monitoring or sampling device in a downward direction from the anterior segment.

Abstract: An input document detecting method includes the steps of: (a) modulating a light source of a relative-type optical sensor with a coded digital/analog signal; (b) emitting a code-modulated light beam and directing it toward the object; (c) collecting the reflected code-modulated light beam with a receiver portion of the optical sensor; (d) forwarding the signal from the reflected light beam through an AC amplifier; and (e) feeding the amplified signal to a decoder. Also included is a system (10) for detecting the presence of an object including: a) a modulator (11) and a driver (12); b) a reflective-type optical sensor (13) with an analog output, and a lightsource; an IR transmitter and a receiver portion with a built-in IR filter for collecting a reflected code-modulated light beam; c) a high gain AC amplifier (14) for amplifying the signal from the reflected light beam; and d) a decoder (15).

Abstract: An interchangeable passive electric guitar circuit control and switching module is integrated into an existing guitar to dynamically alter the electronic relationship of the guitar's electric components (i.e. the existing pickups, volume and tone controls, at least one tonality select switch, and output jack) which are connected to the module through a wiring harness. Individual interchangeable modules connected through the wiring harness establish finite and discrete electronic relationships through the guitar's existing electric components to produce a plurality of selectable desired tonality sounds from a single guitar.

Abstract: A support surface for patient comfort, maintaining a cool skin temperature, or reducing the incidence and promoting the healing of bedsores, includes: (a) a central portion including a hollow, enclosed bladder containing a pre-determined amount of liquid refrigerant with a boiling point between about 23 and about 35 degrees Centigrade; (b) a flexible spacer mechanism contained in the bladder, the spacer mechanism separating an upper bladder wall from a lower bladder wall; and (c) conductive end portions attached to opposite ends of the bladder, the conductive end portions including a flexible heat conductive material layer.

Abstract: An adjustable, removable shelving system for separating items stored in a cooler from ice or water in the cooler, including: (a) at least one generally flat, rectangular-shaped, one-piece, stackable, generally horizontally oriented shelf; (b) a number of generally circular, spaced-apart apertures in the shelf; (c) a number of evenly spaced, same-sized stationary legs projecting down from the shelf; and (d) a plurality of same-sized, reversible leg extensions, each including a projection on one end of the leg extension, which extends in the same direction as the remainder of the leg extension, each of the leg extensions further comprising a bore in an opposite end; wherein the projection of the leg extension is closely insertable in one of the apertures of the shelf, and a portion of the stationary leg is closely insertable in the bore of a leg extension.

Abstract: A hydroplane board member which is placed in very shallow water and launched by the user with a shove of their foot. The user walks, jogs, or runs and jumps onto the moving board inducing hydroplaning. The user may jump off, simultaneously accelerating a slowing board, and then jump back on, thus indefinitely extending the hydroplane action.

Abstract: A cooling body wrap for rapidly inducing hypothermia, includes: (a) a fluid-impermeable, flexible, conformable envelope; (b) a mixture of from about 20 to about 90 weight % of alkanes having a carbon chain length of between 10 and 14, and from about 10 to about 80 weight % of a gel or viscous fluid carrier in which the alkanes are relatively evenly distributed, the mixture being sealed within the envelope; (c) at least one layer of insulation adjacent to a first side of the envelope; and (d) fastening means for fastening the body wrap around a body part.

Abstract: An automatic method for processing a color form includes: a) scanning the color form in color space, forming a digital color image, and converting the digital color image into a two-dimensional binary image in chrominance space; and b) conducting a color form dropout process.

Abstract: A spreader device for distributing particles over a large area of ground includes: (a) a hollow, barrel-shaped body including a distribution door covering an opening at a front, lower end of the barrel-shaped body, and a fill door covering an opening in an upper, rear portion of the barrel-shaped body; (b) a frame on which the barrel-shaped body is mounted at a forward angle, with the front portion of the barrel-shaped body being substantially lower than the rear portion; (c) a remote-operated door opening mechanism attached to the barrel-shaped body for periodically opening and closing the door; and (d) a remote switch mechanism for activating the door opening mechanism.

Abstract: A safe, quick-drawing holster includes: (a) a frame support (23) with an open top, the frame support comprising a bottom end (22) and at least one side panel (15); (b) a retention assembly (30) including a retention bracket (31), a retention plate (34) adjacent to a side of the retention bracket, and a trigger-impinging means (37) projecting from a side of the retention plate (34) into the retention bracket (31); (c) a spring-loaded actuator assembly (29) including an actuator (40) connected to an actuator arm (42), a portion of the actuator (40) extending through the side panel (15) to the outside, a portion of the actuator arm (42) extending inwardly through the side panel 15 into the retention bracket (31) and to the retention plate (34); and (d) a stabilizer spring assembly (79) including a stabilizer pin (81) having a base affixed to panel of the holster, and a movable power spring (80) substantially surrounding the stabilizer pin. A method of using the holster is also included herein.

Abstract: A hand tool for extracting an elongated object that is embedded in the surface of a body includes: a) an elongated, movable first handle member; b) a corresponding second handle member pivotally attached to the first handle member, the second handle member including a first jaw member; c) a floating head portion pivotally attached to the first and second handle members, the floating head portion including a second jaw member and an adjacent curved edge; and d) a lever bar connected at one end to the second handle member and at an opposite end to the floating head portion; and wherein the extracting tool generally has an open position for placing the jaw members on opposite sides of the elongated object, and a closed position for grasping and pulling the elongated object; and the second jaw member is engaged against the first jaw member when the tool is in the closed position, and disengaged from the first jaw member when the tool is in the open position.

Abstract: A freight gate assembly (10) for retaining freight in a trailer (11) or van includes: (a) a track system (12) including at least two matching tracks (18), each of the tracks being affixable to opposite, longitudinal side walls (19) of the trailer, each of the tracks (18) including a longitudinally oriented channel (24) and a plurality of spaced-apart, substantially same-sized notches (25), the notches (25) being accessible from the channel (24); and (b) a freight gate restraining system (13) including at least one adjustable gate rail (32), each gate rail (32) having a first end including a latching mechanism (33) for detachably latching the first end of the gate rail (32) to a first one of the tracks (18) by means of the notches, and an opposite, second end including a joint mechanism (34) that is slidably movable along the second track by means of the notches (25) in the second track (18); wherein the adjustable gate rail (32) is substantially perpendicular to the tracks (18) when it is in a closed posit

Abstract: An image processing apparatus (10) includes: a) a rotatable, magnet-attracting imaging drum (300) arranged to mount a receiver sheet (32) and a donor sheet (36) in superposed relationship; b) a motor (258) for rotating the imaging drum; c) a sheet transport assembly (91); d) a printhead (500); e) a lead screw (250) for moving the printhead; f) a linear translation subsystem (210); and g) a magnetic load roller (350) for eliminating entrained air.

Abstract: A chute apparatus for collecting leaves and debris includes: (a) an upper chute portion having an open front portion, the chute portion including a back portion with a front end that is wider than its rear end, and two smaller, matching chute sides attached to either side of the back chute portion; and (b) an open-ended lower channel portion connected to the chute portion, the channel portion having four sides: an upper section, a channel back section opposite to the channel upper section, and two narrower channel side sections, which are opposite to one another and which connect the channel upper section to the channel back section. The chute apparatus may also include clips on the sides, or an external ridge, for removably attaching the edges of a trash bag. In one embodiment, which does not include a channel portion, the chute sides are hinged for achieving a folded, storage position and various open positions with different degrees of angle.

Abstract: A steering apparatus for a motor-driven watercraft includes: (a) a movable, two-directional joystick including a steering arm (b) a depressible throttle trigger affixed to an upper end portion of the joystick; and (c) a pulley system including a steering cable attached to a lower end of the steering arm, the steering cable extending around pulleys affixed to the starboard or port side of the watercraft in matching pairs; a front, matching pair of the pulleys being pivotably affixed to a hull of the watercraft on either side of the joystick, a rear pair of the pulleys being affixed to the hull of the watercraft on either side of the motor; wherein depression of the throttle trigger and relatively simultaneous movement of the joystick in a first direction, or in a second, opposite direction causes the watercraft to turn in the direction of the movement.

Abstract: An automatically adjusting trim system for a watercraft having an outboard motor mounted on its stern, includes: (a) a pivotable mounting mechanism connecting the watercraft and the outboard motor, a shaft of the motor being rotatable about a trim axis, the trim axis being horizontal and disposed perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the watercraft, the pivotable mounting mechanism including a movable swing arm; and (b) a spring mechanism including at least one spring, a portion of the swing arm of the pivotable mounting mechanism being pivotable against the spring; wherein, when the motor is powered, the thrust of the motor automatically pushes the swing arm, which pushes in the spring, which changes position of the motor, lifting the stern, driving a bow of the watercraft down, and moving the watercraft into a planing position. Also included is a method for improving planing performance by an outboard motor-driven watercraft.

Abstract: An accurate system (501) for the magnetic alignment of an imaging subsystem (468) of an image processing apparatus (10) includes: 1) a master alignment fixture (534) including: a) two like, magnet-attracting translation-bearing rods (206, 208); b) a drum axis tool (526) or drum (300); c) a device (535) for supporting the translation-bearing rods (206, 208) in a parallel, planar relationship; d) a device (540) for supporting the drum axis tool (526) or drum (300) parallel to the translation-bearing rods (206, 208); and e) a device (546) for measuring and aligning the translation-bearing rods (206, 208) in relation to the parallel drum axis tool (526) or drum (300); and 2) a removable set apparatus (502) attachable to the master alignment fixture (534), including: a) a tube (506) or rod; b) aligned, downwardly extending first set arms (510) with magnets (518) attached, the magnets being detachably attachable to the translation-bearing rod; and c) at least two second, extended arms (511) that are detachably at