Abstract: For a stringed musical instrument of a type that includes guitars, electric bass guitars, and two-handed tapping instruments including the Chapman Stick ®, in departure from conventional frets inserted individually into slots or channels in a wooden fretboard/neck, a Railboard (TM) is made with frets that are precision-machined under CNC (computer numeric control) integral with the fretboard from a single block of rigid material such as aluminum. Optionally the instrument neck, whether body-attached or of through-neck construction, may also be integrated into the Railboard along with the fretted fingerboard. The fret-tips are initially machined with a sharp apex, then machine-dressed to form narrow flat fret-tip plateaus all aligned in a common plane, then selected frets are further precision machine-dressed to provide “relief” in a lower-pitched region of the fretboard for optimal “low action” playing characteristics, thus producing instruments of uniform quality in a cost-effective manner.

Abstract: A dual-inline neck truss system in a stringed musical instrument is disposed uniformly along the instrument neck, generally toward the rear side, opposite the front side that forms or supports a fingerboard or fret-board. The truss system may be a two-portion single member or two separate in-line members, and is enclosed close to the rear surface of the neck or else with a surface exposed along its full length and made flush with the rear neck surface, smooth to the touch. The truss system is secured to the neck at a designated intermediate location so as to form two substantially co-linear truss portions, either of which can be adjusted for tension independently via manual adjustment hardware for applying pressure against opposite end regions of the neck, thus enabling special desired instrument setup for optimal string-to-fretboard/fingerboard spacing, e.g.

Abstract: A weight device for golf clubs can be secured at a selected location within the shaft. A cylindrical weight element is typically disposed between two expansion elements, all three elements being traversed by a machine screw that engages a threaded lower end plate. The screw head is made to be engaged and driven by a special elongated tool to put the device in a sliding-friction mode for moving to any desired location within a golf club shaft, where the device can be secured in place by rotating the screw clockwise to expand the expansion elements against the shaft bore in a compression-secured mode. A permanent magnet affixed to the tool enables upward relocation or removal of the weight device.

Abstract: In a reflector dish, a small quantity of elongate mirror-surfaced reflector panels are structurally integrated with a support framework that is configured to enable convenient shipping and on-site assembly and erection of a reflector dish assembly with an effective reflecting surface that closely approximates a desired parabolic dish shape with short focal length, synthesized from combination of the reflector panels originally procured as flat rectangular sheet metal panels and formed to provide the desired dish curvature. The panels can be conveniently shipped to location along with a corresponding quantity of reinforced crescent-shaped support frames to which the panels are made to attach as structural elements, by novel attachment hardware, for erection at the operational site.

Abstract: An asymmetric folded spring flexure suspension system can enable an ultra-compact linear reciprocative device wherein a reciprocative mass suspended from a base by a single folded flexure assembly extends in a single generally radial direction perpendicular to the intended travel path. The folded flexure assembly can be configured as three side-by-side stacks of flexure strips of spring material, tied together at a “yoke-idler” end; at the opposite “working” end, a central stack of nominal width is tied to the mass, and, flanking the central stack, a pair of half-width stacks are tied to opposite sides of the base. In an embodiment for active vibration control, a cylindrical enclosure, of magnetically-permeable material and attached to the working end of the flexure assembly, contains a driver system including an internally-mounted pair of permanent magnets that provide a magnetic flux gap and also constitute the main portion of the mass.

Abstract: A root-repellant underground drain-pipe coupling, which may be made of the same resilient rubber-like material as sleeve-type drain-pipe couplings of known art, is made somewhat longer than conventional coupling sleeves and is fitted internally at each end with a thin collar of root-repelling material such as copper sheet. Each collar is located just inside the outer entrance to the interfacing regions, held in place by a clamp strap around the sleeve, and optionally made with a portion extending outwardly as an extension or flange for purposes of inspection and increased effectiveness.

Abstract: Interlocking plastic blocks, trademarked as PIXELBLOCKS, are configured to serve as basic pixels, i.e. picture elements, in the creation of a variety of two- and three-dimensional graphic artifacts. The pixel blocks can be made in various equilateral polygonal cross-sectional shapes of designated length, typically embodied in an equilateral cube shape. All side facets in the outline of cross-sectional shape, e.g. four facets of the cube, are made identical, each facet configured with a tongue alongside a groove in a symmetrical complementary configuration such that adjacent blocks can be interlocked together to form one- and two-dimensional arrays; thus pixel blocks of uniform depth front-to-back can form two-dimensional artifacts. A 3D embodiment includes posts and post holes for Z axis attachment to form multi-layer three-dimensional artifacts.

Abstract: A line of recessed low-glare lighting fixtures, known as HITC (hole-in-the-ceiling), provide an authentic architectural built-in appearance. A mounting unit is cast in plaster material with a vertical duct extending upwardly from a light-exit opening in a horizontal face flange that becomes plastered in place in the ceiling. The duct supports a light source and associated components above, producing a light beam of designated beam width, typically +/?45 degrees. From any room viewpoint outside the light beam, the only component of the fixture that is visible is the mounting unit, of which all visible regions, both internal and external, are made to have finish, appearance and texture that match and blend in harmoniously with the surface of the surrounding ceiling.

Abstract: A platform for performance of personal combat martial arts is made with a concave upper surface having a central generally flat region for main performance surrounded by a border region that slopes upwardly to the platform periphery, so that instead of the traditional impasse and fight interruption experienced when a combatant is forced into the border region, ropes or corners of conventional flat fight rings, the action tends to continue and automatically gravitate back into the main central region without interruption. A full-height constraint net that slopes upwardly and inwardly further urges combatants away from the periphery and safely prevents bodily ejection, thus protecting ringside spectators while providing all spectators with a good view of the sports action.

Abstract: A versatile four-way adjustable truss system in a stringed musical instrument is disposed uniformly within the instrument neck that provides or supports a fingerboard or fret-board on its top side. The bottom surface of the truss may be exposed along its full length and made flush with the bottom neck surface and smooth to the touch. The truss is made adjustable at both ends in either tension or compression and is securely fastened to the neck at an intermediate fastening point so as to form two substantially co-linear neck sections either of which can be adjusted independent of the other, via an associated adjustment nut constrained in a corresponding thrust cavity configured in the neck, to satisfy a desired section profile requirement in a range that includes both concave and convex curvature.

Abstract: An ultra low temperature freezer is optimized with a combination of vacuum and fiberglass insulation for long-term biological storage with accurate process cooling with critical temperature performance. A programmable cooling and cryogenic freezing system uses sealed liquid nitrogen for cooling and freezing. A hybrid completely non-mechanical system exhibits temperature uniformity and reliability, saves space, requires extremely low operating energy and minimizes need for air conditioning in the operating environment. Top-located components control the flow of liquid nitrogen even under flooding conditions. Sectioned inner doors mitigate thermal transfer to other samples and maintain ULT while accessing the freezer.

Abstract: In a swivel water spout assembly, two spouts are arranged one above the other with the upper spout extending past the lower spout at the distal end region where each spout is configured with a downwardly-facing outlet, typically a nozzle with a strainer screen. Each spout is configured with a circular hub portion at the proximal end. The two hub portions are stacked one above the other, surrounding a tubular support sleeve connected to a supply of pressurized water. Each spout can swivel independently about the support sleeve to service two sink regions or two different items in a sink simultaneously.

Abstract: A family of flexure suspension systems for reciprocating linear motors, especially voice coil type, wherein basic flexure span elements, each a flat spring or typically a stack thereof, are arranged in a folded flexure configuration to suspend a moving armature from a base in a compliant manner with a precise linear stroke path along a central axis. Typically two tiers of folded flexures suspend the armature, each tier having at least two array members, each a balanced quad or triad side-by-side row of span elements, disposed in a plane about the central axis in a polar/radial or rectangular pattern. Inherent overall balance and cancellation of unwanted forces acting on the system components achieve a consistent operating air gap, eliminate undesired torque imposed on the armature, coil, and entire mechanical assembly, and reduce mass and space requirements.

Abstract: For conserving bedding material such as wood shavings when cleaning livestock environments such as horse stalls, a lightweight manure fork, specially configured with an open flat working region with relatively short tines, is combined with a highly efficient fan-type blower unit attached to the handle. Delivering air-flow onto the tined working region in short blasts under finger control, the worker simply manipulates the fork in the normal manner to remove the manure; the loose bedding material is blown off the fork and back onto surrounding regions of the stall, thus saving a substantial portion of the usual replenishment costs. The invention thus accomplishes substantial overall cost savings and environmental conservation without requiring special supervision, unusual diligence, effort or skill on the part of the worker.

Abstract: A golf club grip of conventional appearance and resilient material is configured internally at its upper end with a specialized hole for accommodating a counter-weight assembly, extending into the upper end of the shaft, that is user-selectable from various available weights, which may be added to the counter-weight assembly and secured in place by a machine screw, which tightened in place, compresses a compliant bushing expanding it radially against the inner wall of the shaft, locking the grip and counter-weight assembly to the shaft to act as a single unit. This configuration of counter-weight assembly known as “TOUR LOCK Technology” provides the ability to easily interchange counter-weight assemblies of different mass.

Abstract: A laminated structure for pick guards and back plates for guitars or other stringed instruments, electric or acoustic, utilizes a layered composite material typically featuring two metal facers bonded together with a composite plastic non-conductive core material, and typically coating the exterior surfaces with a durable anti-scratch layer. The pick guard is machined to shape, edge-beveled, edge-polished and drilled custom to each make and model. The non-conductive core between metal layers forms an electrical capacitor. The composite laminated stack serves as an electrostatic shield to reduce pickup interference, and is much lighter in weight than an equivalent all-metal panel. Providing scratch protection, control mounting, shielding and aesthetic benefits, the pick guard can be retrofitted to instruments after-market or incorporated in original manufacture.

Abstract: A metal guitar slide ring, for playing a stringed musical instrument such as a guitar in a slide style, is configured to accept insertion of a musician's finger and still allow the fingertips to remain flexible and free to play instrument strings. The ring is configured with non-parallel ends so that the effective slide bar length that contacts the strings can be varied by the musician by rotating the ring about the finger. The range of adjustment along with the capability of wearing a plurality of rings simultaneously enable a musician to play up to 12 possible intervals on a guitar without retuning compared to 4 intervals with a conventional guitar slide. At least a portion of the ring may be coated with a hard smooth slide surface for substantially improved playing qualities, aesthetically appealing appearance, and superior comfort.

Abstract: For battery-operated guitars and other stringed musical instruments, a coaxial battery-access cover cap mounts an audio phone jack that delivers the instrument's audio output. For battery access, the cover cap, which has a knurled rim for easy finger-gripping, can be removed from an attachment collar secured to the instrument with simple rotation of less than a half turn. As an option to enable the cap assembly to be installed in the instrument in place of an existing strap-peg, a strap-peg may be formed integrally on the cover cap around the jack opening. Extended embodiments can include an integral battery compartment with provision for mounting an electronic module enabling features including amplification, buffering, DSP and other effects in a self-contained system that requires only a single round opening for mounting in the instrument. The invention can be incorporated in original manufacture or as an after-market upgrade to practically any stringed instrument.

Abstract: A basic version of the Bed Lounge™ includes a removable, inter-changeable, and washable fabric slip cover enclosing a foam, fiber, filled-pillow, layered padding over a flat light-weight inner body/frame structure, forming a layered composite that is exceptionally lightweight (2-3 lbs.), extremely durable and yet highly comfortable and supportive to the upper body of the user. Due its compact size, the basic bed lounge can be used on existing seating and furniture to augment support and comfort. It has the ability to be flattened to a very low profile so it can be easily carried in one hand, slung over the shoulder, hung like a suite bag on a hanger in the closet and stored under furniture, under a bed or in an automobile trunk for use when traveling.

Abstract: Improved serviceability of cold metal cutting machines is accomplished in a modified gearbox structure enabling several annular components that are conventionally attached by press-fit to be attached instead by slide-fit for easy removal and replacement, eliminating hammering and/or heating required conventionally to release press-fit components. Press-fitting of a motor shaft coupling is eliminated by introduction of clamping slide-fit structure. Press-fits of two thrust bearings to the housing are eliminated by introduction of slide-fit adaptors. Instead of the conventional practice of making the saw rotor integral with the low speed shaft, a separate saw rotor bolted to the shaft enables easy replacement of the oil seal.