Abstract: A tracheostoma valve includes a tubular housing with an inner aperture at an inner end, and a smaller outer aperture at an outer end. The inner end of the valve is for being attached to a stoma of a patient. A shaft is positioned axially within the housing, and a rigid piston is slidable along the shaft. The piston has a smaller diameter than the interior diameter of the tubular housing, so that air can flow around it. The piston is movable between an open position intermediate of the inner and outer apertures, and a closed position against the outer aperture. The piston is biased by a spring to the open position when the air pressure is relatively low, such as during relaxed respiration, so that air may flow through the valve in either direction. At a high enough expiratory air pressure, such as that used for producing speech, the spring is collapsed and the piston is moved against the outer aperture.

Abstract: The present fluid level controlled automatic shutoff valve is comprised of a tubular housing with an axial bore which has an upstream closure, a downstream opening, and an annular piston seat at the downstream opening. A movable piston is positioned in the bore, and biased to a retracted position by a tension spring connected between the piston and the closure of the bore. A plurality of channels on the wall of the housing extend between an upstream end of the housing and the bore. The channels terminate in venturis downstream of the piston in the retracted position. The shutoff valve is positioned in a fluid dispensing device. When pressurized fluid is delivered through the dispensing device, the fluid is directed through the channels and out the venturis at high speed and low pressure.

Abstract: A golf ball dispenser is comprised of a housing with a funnel for receiving golf balls which are simply poured in. A sloped track is connected between an aperture on the bottom of the funnel and a hole on a side of the housing. A lever arm has an inner end positioned through the hole and hinged to the housing. The lever arm is biased to an up position by a weight on the inner end. An agitator is positioned adjacent the aperture on the funnel and linked to the inner end of the lever arm by a rod for agitating the balls into the aperture whenever the lever arm is operated. A hump is provided at an intermediate point along the track for stopping the balls before they reach the hole in the housing. A ratcheting tab has one end hinged to the inner end of the lever arm, and another end positioned below the hump in the track. When the lever arm is pivoted down by a golf club, the golf ball at the hump is lifted by the ratcheting tab over the hump.

Abstract: A baked potato opener is comprised of a pair of side members with connected top ends, downwardly projecting middle portions, and outwardly flared bottom ends. The side members are generally bell shaped in an end view. A cutter is connected to the top ends of the side members, and has a serrated cutting edge positioned between and slightly higher than the bottom ends of the side members. The greatest width between the side members at the bottom ends is about the same as the width of an average potato. To use, the opener is positioned on top of a potato, aligned with its longitudinal axis, and pushed downward. The top of the potato is cut by the cutter. Any aluminum foil wrapped around the potato is cleanly cut by the serrated cutting edge. The sides of the potato are engaged by the flared bottom ends of the side members. The cut is spread apart when the sides of the potato are pressed down by the bottom ends of the side members.

Abstract: A heat absorbent device is comprised of a container filled with a phase change material selected to melt at about 75° F. It is arranged to be installed in a room with business critical electronics equipment that requires constant cooling by a cooling system, typically, to about 72° F. In some embodiments, the container is comprised of a container for attaching to a T-rail of a ceiling tile system. In another embodiment, the container is comprised of a container with hooks for attaching to holes on computer cabinets. In yet another embodiment, the container is comprised of a ceiling tile with a plurality of individually sealed cells containing the phase change material. In the event of a cooling system failure and rapidly rising room temperature, the phase change material will begin absorbing heat and cooling the room when the room temperature has reached its melting point.

Abstract: A guitar soundboard assembly is comprised a plurality of internal braces attached to an inner side of a soundboard for resisting warping. The soundboard is relatively thick for a longer useful life. The braces include two cantilever braces extending between opposite sides of the soundboard. Each cantilever brace is comprised of an elongated bar supported in a spaced position behind the soundboard by a pair of mounting blocks at its ends. Although the soundboard is relatively thick, the portions between the mounting blocks of the cantilever braces are free to vibrate, so that it can vibrate as much as a thinner conventional soundboard. The bases of the mounting blocks of the cantilever braces are slightly angled relative to each other to arch the soundboard forwardly for further increasing stiffness and resisting cave in.

Abstract: An articulated table for supporting a person is comprised of a frame with legs, an articulated tabletop supported by the frame, and a motorized actuator assembly under the tabletop. The tabletop includes a pivotable torso section hinged to a fixed seat section, which is hinged to a pivotable upper leg section, which is hinged to a pivotable lower leg section. The actuator assembly includes first and second pairs of actuating linkages for respectively moving the torso and upper leg sections. Each actuating linkage is comprised of a power axle spaced from a follower axle. A crank arm extends orthogonally from the power axle. A lifting arm extends orthogonally but unevenly in different directions from the follower axle. Rotation of the crank arm is transmitted to the lifting arm by a connecting arm pivotally connected between the crank arm and a shorter section of the lifting arm. A roller is attached to the end of the longer section of the lifting arm.

Abstract: A water-proof window flange is of an elongated, extruded shape. In an end view, it includes a vertical first member, a horizontal second member extending forwards orthogonally from an intermediate position on the vertical member, and a third member extending backwards from a forward end of the horizontal second member. An inner end of the third member is positioned below and forward of a lower end of the first member. The top end of the vertical first member is for being positioned between a siding and subsiding of a wall. The bottom end of the vertical first member is for being positioned on top of a window frame. The inner end of the third member is for being positioned in front of the window frame, and below a top edge of the window frame. The top of the vertical first member is positioned far above the lower edge of the siding to prevent rain water from seeping around the top of the window flange.

Abstract: A portable fire-fighting container is comprised of a box with a top opening and compartments on its sides. A liquid receptacle is positioned inside the box under the top opening thereof. An interior liner is positioned inside the liquid receptacle. An open top of the liquid receptacle is covered with a removable lid. Sling attachments arranged around the box enable the container to be airlifted by a helicopter. The lid is removed and positioned vertically on top of the box to provide directional stability in flight. When placed at a fire location, leveling jacks around the box provide stability on uneven ground. Trapezoidal frames are hinged along the edges of the top opening of the box. The frames are pivoted upward and supported at an acute angle by braces extending between the frames and the top of the box, thus forming an inverted truncated pyramid.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for indicating the status of a person occupying a cubicle, office or other enclosed space by means of automatically or manually initiated visual or audio-visual signals, particularly relating to the occupant's presence, the relative length of absences, the wish to work without being disturbed, and the need for emergency assistance. The system is controlled by a control unit with a micro-controller, a communications link, a red button, an amber button and a green button, each having a lamp of the corresponding color. A motion detector is connected to the control unit for detecting the presence or absence of motion in the monitored space. A proximity detector is connected to the control unit for detecting the passage of a person through the doorway of the monitored space. Also connected to the control unit is an indicator unit with a beeper and red, amber and green lamps functioning in tandem with the lamps of the control unit.

Abstract: A device which is shaped like a mitt or a glove with separate sheaths for the thumb and fingers. The mitt or glove has surfaces for covering the palm and back of the human hand. Each of the palm and back surfaces is formed as a plenum which is filled with a heat exchange material. The heat exchange material is selected to provide cooling over a reasonably extended period of time, at an appropriate therapeutic temperature. The heat exchange material is preferably a phase change material such as a paraffinic phase change material having a phase change temperature on the order of 50 degrees F. However, other temperatures and materials are contemplated. The mitt or glove is made of a flexible plastic sheet material such as a tripolymer material or polypropylene. The mitt or glove is formed of four die cut sheets of the plastic sheet material which are shaped in the pattern of the outline of a human hand and forearm. The patterned sheets are stacked together and heat sealed together along their periphery.

Abstract: A golf shoe sole comprising ejecting and retracting spikes, the improvement wherein said sole contains a high pressure liquid pump assembly in communication with a plurality of housed cylinder assemblies each of which contain a slidable spike with seal, wherein extreme pressure being exerted upon contained liquid equals extreme firmness of ejected spikes. Said pump having shifting means of a four way rotatory spool valve for the control of ejection and retraction in either auto or manual mode, or said pump being one of the two, the former manual operating by way of lever reciprocating upon a piston. The latter auto, operating by way of a diaphragm located on the bottom soul of the back of the heel. Said diaphragm being subject to intense momentary pressure generated by the weight transference from the forward walking motion of the human wearer. An exclusively manual pump requiring only a two way ball, seat, and stem control valve.

Abstract: A panel-mounted garage door remote control is comprised of a housing with a front end removably fitted into a sleeve on a mounting bezel. Conventional remote control circuitry is arranged in the housing. A pair of control switches at the front of the housing are in engagement with buttons on the bezel, and an indicator lamp at the front of the housing is positioned through a hole on the bezel. The remote control is inserted into an existing accessory mounting hole in an interior panel of a car. The bezel is sized to fit flush with the surface of the hole to provide a neat appearance. The housing is interchangeable with other bezels sized to fit accessory mounting holes in different cars.

Abstract: A pipe reinforcing device includes a tubular connecting member with a pair of internal threads at opposite ends thereof, and a pair of sleeves extending outwardly from the internal threads. The sleeves have a slightly larger inner diameter than the threads. Pipes are inserted into the sleeves, and screwed into the threads. The sleeves extend substantially beyond the external threads on the pipes and completely enclose them. When the pipes are deflected, stress on their external threads is relieved by the sleeves, so that the pipes are prevented from fracturing at the external threads. In a second embodiment, U-shaped sleeves are attached to the adjacent ends of a pair of pipes joined by a conventional connector. A connecting member is positioned against the pipes opposite the sleeves. The sleeves are secured to the connecting member by bolts.

Abstract: An overshoe is comprised of a plate with a plurality of straps attached to its edges. A cushion is removably attached to a bottom of the plate with hook-and-loop fasteners. The cushion is preferably comprised of loose absorbent fibers attached all across the bottom surface of a fabric substrate. A soft boot preferably made of a thick absorbent fabric is arranged for wrapping around the plate and the cushion. A conventional shoe is preferably worn on the foot prior to wearing the overshoe. To use, the cushion is attached to the bottom of the plate, which is strapped onto the shoe. The cushion is preferably much wider than the shoe, so that it projects substantially beyond the sides of the shoe. The boot is worn over the shoe, the plate, and the cushion. A small amount of cleaning fluid is applied to a floor, which is cleaned by moving the overshoe across it with a skating motion. Heavy pressure is automatically exerted on the overshoe by the user's weight for effective cleaning.