Abstract: An image processing apparatus (10) for scanning and printing images at the same time includes an input scanner connected to an imager, preferably: a) a rotatable drum (300) including a scanning portion (462) adjacent to an imaging portion (461), the drum (300) being mounted for rotation about an axis, the imaging portion (461) of the drum being arranged to mount a receiver sheet (32) and a donor sheet (36) in superposed relationship thereon, the scanning portion (462) of the drum being arranged to mount an input image (456) thereon; b) a motor (258) for rotating the drum (300); c) a printhead (500); d) an input scanner (455); e) a lead screw (250) for moving the printhead (500) in a first direction, the printhead (500) being mounted on the lead screw (250); and f) a linear translation subsystem (210) on which the printhead (500), scanner (455), drum (300), and lead screw (250) are mounted.

Abstract: A ramp device (10, 60) for assisting animals (44) in escaping a swimming pool, or another body of water with a vertical or near vertical side wall, the device comprising; (a) a buoyant central member (12); (b) two generally mirror image, buoyant wing members (13, 14) movably attached to opposite sides of the central member (12), the wing members (13, 14) being smaller in size than the central member (12); (c) movable attachment (16) of the central member (12) to a deck (48) of the pool or the side wall; and (d) a mechanism (23, 24, 65) for maintaining the wing members at a selected angle in relation to the plane of the central member (12); wherein, when the ramp device (10, 60) is in an open, deployed position, the central member (12) floats in the water at a generally horizontal angle in relation to the downward angled wing members (13, 14).

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 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: An easily inflated cover protecting occupants of a small vessel, preferably an inflatable dinghy, includes: (a) a flexible canopy comprised of a central canopy portion having side edges for contacting opposite sides of the vessel, a forward canopy portion having a lower edge for contacting a bow of the vessel, the forward canopy portion extending from one side of the central canopy portion, and an aft entrance portion connected to an opposite side of the central canopy portion; the aft entrance portion including an opening to an interior of the vessel; (b) a system of spaced-apart, flexible straps attachable across a bottom of the vessel for affixing the cover to the vessel, the strap system including a connector strap, the connector strap being detachably or permanently attached at its ends to two, opposite, lower edges of the canopy; and (c) at least one inflatable central support for supporting the canopy over the vessel interior, the inflatable support including an enclosed, inflatable support tube and

Abstract: An image processing apparatus (10) for forming images on a thermal print media includes: a) a rotatable drum (300); b) a motor for rotating the drum (300); c) at least one movable printhead (500) external to the drum (300); d) thermal print media (32) removably mounted on the drum (300), the printhead (500) being positioned to move over the thermal print media (32) on the drum (300); e) an imaging assembly (400); f) at least one connection means, preferably fiber optic cables (404), for connecting the imaging assembly (400) to the printhead (500); g) at least one conduit tube (510) for conducting the connection means (404) between the imaging assembly and the printhead (500), one end of the conduit tube (510) being affixed to the printhead (500), an opposite end of the conduit tube being connected to the imaging assembly (400); and h) an air moving device, preferably a cooler (710) or blower (730, 740), connecting directly or indirectly to the conduit tube (510) at the opposite end of the conduit tube.

Abstract: A magnifying safety glasses assembly (10) for use by persons with presbyopia, the assembly (10) including a front safety eyepiece portion (11) made substantially of a transparent, nonmagnifying, shatter-proof material, and matching right and left temple portions (12), each affixed to an end of the front eyepiece portion (11), wherein the front safety eyepiece portion includes at least one built-in magnifying corrective segment (13) for correction of a user's near vision. The safety glasses assembly (10) preferably also includes a retainer strap (16) and earplugs (17), each earplug (17) being attached to an end of the retainer strap (16).

Abstract: An intelligent feeding and separating device for consistently separating an outermost sheet of media from a stack and feeding it to an imaging rendering apparatus, includes: a) a sheet transport mechanism; b) a feed device for feeding sheets to the sheet transport mechanism; c) a separation mechanism adjacent to the feed mechanism; d) at least one drive mechanism in operable association with the feed or separation mechanisms, and comprising a feed or separation roller reversal mechanism; e) a plurality of different types of sensor devices adjacent to the feed mechanism for measuring characteristics of the sheets being fed; and f) a microprocessor in communication with the sensor devices and the feed or separation roller direction reversal mechanism; wherein, depending upon input from the sensor devices, the microprocessor outputs to the feed or separation roller direction reversal mechanism to address feed-related problems encountered during operation.

Abstract: A jetting device for installing a piling or post includes: (a) a cap including a generally conical or pyramidal shaped, perforated, hollow main body portion, and an upper flange portion for closely fitting over a base of the piling or post, the flange portion extending upward in a generally vertical direction from the main body portion; (b) attachment mechanism for attaching the flange portion of the cap to the base of the piling or post; and (c) a threaded fitting for receiving a detachable, generally vertical line for conducting a liquid or air into the cap, the fitting being in an upper section of the main body portion below the flange portion. Also included is a rectangular-shaped cap for a bulkhead section, and a method for installing a piling, post, or bulkhead.

Abstract: A rotatable tiller apparatus for use in mixing soils in situ, including: (a) a vertically oriented rotatable drive shaft, connected to and driven by a motor external to the apparatus; (b) a drive assembly connected to the drive shaft; (c) at least two vertically oriented, rotatable cutting shafts connected to the drive shaft through the drive assembly and at least one support plate; (d) a sprocket assembly within the drive assembly connected to the drive shaft, the sprocket assembly comprising at least one rotatable sprocket for each cutting shaft; (e) a device for rotating the sprockets in a direction counter to the rotation of the drive shaft, the device being driven by the motor, the sprockets being rotatable in the same direction and at the same speed as one another; and (f) at least two tine assemblies arranged vertically in tandem along each of the cutting shafts, each tine assembly including at least one tine with at least one blade at its end.

Abstract: A carry bag includes a closable, free-standing pouch including a central storage area; a closure mechanism in the top face of the pouch; a cover including an open cover compartment for closely accommodating the pouch, the cover compartment including two compartment ends opposite each other, and at least two magnetic fasteners secured to a face of the pouch and to the cover compartment; wherein the pouch is removably insertable in one or more different covers; and wherein the cover includes one or two carry straps, one or two bottom straps, each bottom strap being attachable to or contiguous with a carry strap, and at least one tier which is perpendicular to and intersects at least one of the carry straps; and wherein the pouch is supportable by the bottom straps and the tiers.

Abstract: An elongated, all-in-one applicator for dispensing and applying liquid nail polish includes: (a) an elongated, hollow, generally pen-shaped main housing having an aperture at one axial extremity; (b) an elongated cartridge housing disposed within an upper portion of the main housing; (c) at least one nail polish cartridge comprising a central chamber for holding a supply of liquid nail polish, the nail polish cartridge having a first, upper end and an opposite, second, lower end, the cartridge being disposable within the cartridge housing; (d) a brush having a plurality of bristles for applying nail polish, each bristle having a first end mounted in the main housing and an opposite, second end which is a free end; (e) a mechanism for dispensing nail polish from the nail polish cartridge in increments, the nail polish dispensing mechanism having a first position in which nail polish is contained within the cartridge and is not dispensed, and a second position in which nail polish is dispensed from the car

Abstract: A stroller for helping an individual to ambulate includes: (a) an upper ring assembly, including an upper ring member and a hinged upper gate segment having an open position and a closed position; (b) a lower ring assembly, including a lower ring member, the upper ring member being substantially parallel to and above the lower ring member, the upper ring member having a diameter between about ¼ and ½ the diameter of the lower ring member; (c) a seat assembly connected to the upper ring member; (d) at least three spaced-apart legs connecting the lower ring member to the upper ring member; and (e) at least three spaced-apart wheels connected to the base of the lower ring member.

Abstract: An easy to use, sanitary plunger device for clearing drains includes: a one piece, generally bottle-shaped, hollow, curved body portion extending into a narrower neck portion ending in a generally circular opening, the opposite end of the plunger device being closed; the device being made of a flexible, sturdy, compressible material that returns to its shape following compression. A preferred embodiment of the plunger device includes a butterfly valve or a stem valve. A method of clearing clogged toilets or drains is also included. The plunger device serves to unstop a clogged toilet without the up and down motion and resultant splashing of filthy water associated with a conventional plunger.

Abstract: A portable drawing board device adapted for helping art students to draw perspective drawings, includes: (a) a generally rectangular-shaped, flat drawing surface on an upper surface of the drawing board, the drawing surface being adapted for supporting a flat drawing substrate; (b) a pair of parallel side grooves in an upper surface of the drawing board, each being parallel and adjacent to one of two opposite sides of the drawing surface, and extending the length of the drawing surface; (c) a pair of first slide adjusters adapted for sliding up and down along the side grooves; and (d) a pair of movable pivot arms, each movably attached at one end to a slide adjuster; wherein, when the first slide adjuster is in the side groove, the pivot arm extends over a portion of the drawing surface, and is adapted for assisting a user in drawing horizontal and diagonal lines on the drawing substrate.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus (10) for scanning and proofing an image at the same time includes: a) a rotatable drum (300) having a hollowed out interior port ion (304), and an imaging portion (461) on its exterior surface, and a scanning portion (462) on its interior surface, the drum (300) being mounted for rotation about an axis, the imaging portion (461) of the drum being arranged to mount a receiver sheet (32) and a donor sheet (36) in superposed relationship, the scanning portion of the drum being arranged to mount an input image (456) thereon; b) a motor (258) for rotating the drum (300); c) a printhead (500) external to the drum; d) an input scanner (455) inside the hollowed out interior portion (304) of the drum; e) a first lead screw (250) for moving the printhead (500) in a first direction, the printhead being mounted on the first lead screw (250), and a second lead screw (465) for moving the scanner (455) in a first direction, the scanner being mounted on the second lead screw (465); and f)

Abstract: A reusable fastener for a strap of a carry bag, dog collar, shoe, necklace, watch strap, belt, or the like includes a plate member having a threaded opening, a generally flat retainer member attached to the rear of the plate member, and a connector having an enlarged head and a threaded post portion. A free end of the strap passes through the retainer member. The threaded opening receives the connector post portion. The remote end of the threaded post member is engageable with the strap to hold the strap in place against an abutment portion of the retainer member without damaging the strap.