Abstract: An electrically operable valve assembly having an integral pressure regulator provides ease of installation and compact packaging for a water supply control system. The valve assembly is particularly useful for systems that control household water supplies to prevent flooding, but is also useful in other applications such as agricultural and industrial systems where water pressure determined water flow volume must be predicted accurately. The valve may also incorporate a flow meter having a positive flow characteristic permitting determination of very low flow rate flow and the valve may incorporate a manual control. All of the controls and features are integrable within a compact package that occupies essentially the same volume and piping space as a conventional electrically operable valve.

Abstract: A device for securing a towel to the ground so the towel will not be blown away by the wind is comprises a first anchor devices coupled to a first end of the towel and a second anchor device coupled to a second end of the towel. The first anchor device and the second anchor device are coupled to the ground to prevent the towel from being blown away by the wind. The first anchor device and the second anchor device each comprises a body section. A first arc member is coupled to the body section. The first arc member is rolled in the ground so that ground elements rest inside the first arch member such that the weight of the ground elements prevents the beach towel from being blow away. A second arc member is coupled to the body section for securing the towel to the body section.

Abstract: A pillow book holder capable of allowing a reader to read a book without unnecessary hand muscle strain while at the same time the pillow book holder is capable of falling without damaging itself, the book, or losing the page place.

Abstract: A musical instrument teaching calender has a plurality of pages coupled together. A date section is located on each of the plurality of pages for indicating the day of the year. A musical instruction section is located on each of the plurality of pages for teaching a musical lesson.

Abstract: An improved bolt action rifle. In its preferred embodiment, the improved bolt action rifle has at least one locking lug positioned within the bolt and having at its bottom a convex projection adapted to be inserted into a mating convex slot; a locking lug safety plunger located adjacent to a locking lug and adapted to prevent full insertion of the bolt without the presence of the locking lug; a bolt handle lock to lock the bolt in an upright position when the bolt handle is pulled rearward of the receiver; a bolt handle positioning detent to hold the bolt in a downward firing position when the rifle is in condition to be fired; a split receiver ring having two openings, one for permitting the ejection of a cartridge and the other for permitting the insertion of a new cartridge from the magazine; a bolt sleeve lock for locking together portions of the bolt; an ambidextrous magazine release; a magazine ejector; and an improved trigger mechanism based on the use of studs instead of pins.

Abstract: An automated therapy table having various support portions capable of being independently and automatically actuated by a physical therapist or other medical practitioner in order to move parts of a person's body medially/laterally, posteriorly/anteriorly and rotatably without causing physical stress to the medical practitioner.

Abstract: A dual compartment tire has a primary air compartment and a secondary air compartment that is internal to the primary air compartment. During ordinary travel, the primary air compartment is in contact with the road surface, with the secondary air compartment constituting an integral spare tire in the event of a flattening of the primary air compartment. Each of the primary and secondary air compartments is bounded by an exterior surface. In contrast to prior art dual compartment tires, the exterior surface of the secondary air compartment is relatively thicker than the exterior surface of the primary air compartment.

Abstract: A motroized vehicle has a circular platform. A hemispherical frame is coupled to the platform. A front axle and wheel assembly is rotatably coupled to a front section of the hemispherical frame. A rear axle and wheel assembly is rotatably coupled to a rear section of the hemispherical frame. A motor is coupled to the rear axle and wheel assembly for powering the vehicle. Control devices are coupled to the motor and the front and rear axle and wheel assembly for controlling operation of the vehicle.

Abstract: A flow meter and electrically operable valve assembly having integral flow meters provide detection of very low water flows, along with ease of installation and compact packaging for a water supply control system. The flow detection is particularly useful for systems that control household water supplies to prevent flooding, but is also useful in other applications such as agricultural and industrial systems where low water flow rates must be determined. All of the controls and features are integrable within a compact package that occupies essentially the same volume and piping space as a conventional electrically operable valve.

Abstract: A writing aid for helping to steady a hand of an individual to allow the individual to write in a more steady manner has a writing pad. The writing pad has a magnetic layer. A writing instrument is provided wherein the writing instrument has at least one magnet coupled to a bottom section of the writing instrument. The magnetic attraction between the magnet and the magnetic layer will steady the hand of the individual using the writing aid. The writing instrument is adjustable so that the individual can adjust a distance a writing tip of the writing instrument is deployed. By adjusting the length of the writing tip that is deployed, the individual can adjust the magnetic attraction between the magnet at the bottom section of the writing instrument and the magnetic layer.

Abstract: A toilet paper dispenser is disclosed which contains a spool that extends at a right angle from a mounting plate secured to a surface. The mounting plate may, optionally, be mounted to a wall surface or may be recessed. The spool receives a roll of toilet paper thereon, and has an end cap that is removably coupled to an end of the spool, after placement of the toilet paper roll on the spool to prevent the roll from coming off of the spool. The toilet paper dispenser includes a top cover positioned so as to conceal a top portion of the toilet paper roll when the mounting plate is mounted on a wall surface. When a drywall type surface is used, a butterfly type anchor permits attachment of the mounting plate to the drywall type surface.

Abstract: A telephone line connection and disconnection circuit has a diode bridge coupled to the telephone line which converts different voltages of the telephone line into a voltage referenced to ground. A switching circuit is coupled to the diode bridge which opens and closes a conductive pathway for connecting and disconnecting a telephony product from the telephone line. A resistive element is coupled to the diode bridge and the switching circuit which allows for the conductive pathway to be normally closed. An optical isolator is coupled to the switching circuit and the resistive element for sending a control signal to the circuit when required.

Abstract: A rotor of a synchronous motor and a method of manufacturing the same. The rotor of the synchronous motor comprises a main core, formed from a plurality of laminated thin iron sheets, the thin iron sheets having a hole at a center for receiving a rotating shaft, and a number of magnet holes and induced conductor holes radially disposed in the thin iron sheets at a predetermined space differently from the hole. A plurality of magnets are inserted into the magnet holes of the main core. Supplementary cores, having a hole and induced conductor holes corresponding to the hole and the induced conductor holes of the main core, are disposed at the ends of the main core wherein the magnet is inserted. An induced conductor formed by ingoting through the induced conductor holes of the main core and the induced conductor holes of the supplementary cores. Consequently, through the induced conductor and the magnet, the efficiency of the motor can be improved.

Abstract: A portable toilet has a support stem which may be inserted into a trailer hitch. A base ring is coupled to the support stem. An attachment device is coupled to the base ring. The attachment device is used for removably coupling a waste collection bag to the portable toilet. A toilet seat assembly is coupled to the support stem and rests on the base ring. A multi positional toilet paper holder is coupled to the support stem.

Abstract: A material handling apparatus comprising a charging hopper having an upper first opening through which material can be loaded into the charging hopper and a lower second opening through which material can be discharged from the charging hopper. The apparatus includes a control member having a work head having one or more sections which is mounted for movement within the charging hopper about a pivot axis which extends generally laterally with respect to the normal upright operative position of the apparatus. The control member is pivotally movable about the pivot axis between a first position in which the work head is spaced from and disposed above the second opening, and a second position in which the work head is adjacent or within the second opening. The control member has a plurality of arms for pivotally mounting control member. A pivot bar is coupled to the mounting arms for maintaining stability between the mounting arms and to ensure proper movement of the control member.

Abstract: A method and system for performing swept-wavelength measurements within an optical system provides improved operation in resonator-enhanced optical measurement and data storage and retrieval systems. The system includes an illumination subsystem having a swept-wavelength mode, a detection subsystem, an interferometer or an optical resonator interposed in an optical path between the illumination subsystem and the detection subsystem and a time domain analysis subsystem. Multiple resonance points of the optical resonator are detected by the time-domain subsystem when the illumination subsystem is in the swept-wavelength mode in order to determine resonator or interferometer characteristic changes. The resulting information can be used directly as a measurement output, or cavity length information may also be used to adjust the operating wavelength of a constant wavelength mode of the illumination subsystem.

Abstract: A locking lid and method for a valve box. The locking lid has a closure and surrounding external seal, which fit into the valve box opening and close/seal it. The locking mechanism of the locking lid preferably consists of an actuator spindle that extends through the closure, and that is received in an actuator follower positioned therebelow. The actual follower is in pivotal engagement with a plurality of locking pawls, such that turning of the actuator spindle causes movement of the actuator follower and thus pivoting of the locking pawls—moving the locking pawls into a locked or unlocked position relative to a lid seat within the valve box.