Abstract: An arm rest and support for aiming. The arm rest and support consists of an upper member hingedly attached to a lower member. A pair of straps attached to the lower member wrap around the torso of the user for support. A third strap attached to the upper member is adapted to wrap around the aiming arm of the user. When not in use, the arm rest and support may be folded, allowing the user to move about. When the support is needed, the user simply raises his or her arm, causing the upper member to pivot and lock at an approximate right angle in relation to the lower member, providing the user with support for aiming resulting in greater accuracy and reduced fatigue.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a system for use in filtering a variety of environmental substances, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for filtering such substances as soil, sediment, and debris from such things as water runoff that may be entering storm drains or catch basins for example. The filter may be comprised of a base and a readily visible top portion. A storm sewer grate may then be inserted within the filter and placed in an opening of the inlet. Water may then be filtered, through either or both the top portion and/or through the base, before entering the inlet. The top portion functions as a visual aid, thereby allowing workers, inspectors and equipment operators to easily locate the storm sewer grate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a blade clamping mechanism in a woodworking plane that allows a plane iron as wide as the plane body itself to be clamped in a wedge shaped slot in the plane body. The slot begins at a point tangent to a waste ejection hole proximate a front area of the plane running diagonally towards the spine of the plane body before looping back short of the spine to return diagonally through the sole forming the mouth together with the waste hole. The loop forms the widest point of the slot, while the tangent forms the narrowest point of the slot. The rear surface of the slot serves as the ramp for the plane iron. The plane iron is clamped by a floating pin mounted in a hole drilled longitudinally through the spine, perpendicular to the ramp, and terminating at an inspection hole. The floating pin is retained between the under side of the plane iron and a conical shaped point of a screw threaded from a back of the plane body diagonally to the floating pin.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device and method for separating electrical connector assemblies. Electrical connector assemblies typically comprise a male connector, commonly called a plug, and a female connector, commonly called a receptacle. The separation of an electrical connector assembly is accomplished by at least one lever disposed in the body of at least one of the connectors. The lever is attached to the body of the connector such that when the lever is “up” the lower portion of the lever is flush with the mating surface so as not to not interfere with the coupling of the connector. Actuation of the lever, i.e., moving the lever to its down position, causes a displacement of at least one of the connectors comprising the electrical connector assembly. The present invention may be adapted to a wide range of electrical connectors including, but not limited to: standard household plug and sockets, parallel connectors, serial connectors, and inline connectors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a manually installable and removable sunroof system comprising a roof with an opening, a roof panel that is removeably secured in the opening, and an upwardly biased and retractable wind deflector assembly stowable within an area near the opening. During installation of the roof panel, the deflector assembly may be held into place by a pivoting and engagingly-biased latch. In one embodiment, as the roof panel is installed, an extension, protruding therefrom, confronts the pivoting latch, at which point the wind deflector is disengaged from the latch and thereafter held in a substantially retracted position by the roof panel. When the roof panel is next removed, the previously retracted wind deflector is automatically deployed into an operational position. In some embodiments, the deflector assembly may be fabricated from a flexible material and may be maintained in a retracted position and subsequently deployed using a manually actuated latch.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for core extracting plug aerator comprises a main frame, a draw bar coupled to the main frame and configured to couple a motorized device to the main frame, and pivoting side supports coupled to the main frame, wherein the side supports pivot between and are secured in a moving position and an aerating position. The plug aerator further comprises rotating wheels coupled to the side supports and a longitudinal support system coupled to the main frame, the longitudinal support system comprises a plugger system comprising articulating tines.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a pop-up vehicle wind deflector. The wind deflector comprises a lower frame member coupled to the vehicle proximate an opening in the roof, an upper frame member pivotably coupled to the vehicle proximate the opening, a flexible material coupled between the upper and lower frame members and a biasing means acting upon the upper frame member effective to extend the upper frame member away from the lower frame member. The flexible or elastic material coupled to the upper and lower frame members provides a wind-confronting surface when the upper frame member is extended away from the lower frame member. The upper frame member may be upwardly bowed to provide additional tension on the central portion of the flexible material when the upper frame member is extended away from the lower frame member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are taught for driving a gate of a power device to turn on the power device utilizing a lossless gate driver circuit. The circuit comprises in parallel a power section, a rectifying section, a switching section, a capacitance, and an anti-spiking section. The circuit further comprises a transformer section coupled to the rectifying section, the switching section, and the anti-spiking section and a power device coupled to a portion of the anti-spiking section. The system is configured to regenerate substantially all energy utilized to power the power device via the coupling of the transformer section to the rectifying section, the switching section, the capacitance, and the anti-spike section.

Abstract: A method and system are taught for a system comprising an LED package. The LED package may comprise an anode, a cathode coupled to the anode, an LED die coupled to the cathode and the anode, a lens coupled to the anode, and a viscous or silicone material located in a cavity defined by the lens, the cathode, and the anode. The viscous or silicone material may be a gel, a grease, a non-resilient material, or a non-liquid material. The method and system may further comprise a mounting device, wherein the lens is mechanically coupled to the mounting device in a socket, bayonet, or screwing like fashion. The method and system may further comprise an anode strip comprising an array of anodes utilized to form an array of the LED packages and a carrier strip comprising receiving devices to receive the array of LED packages. A portion of the lens may either be coated with or comprise light excitable material or the viscous material may comprise light excitable material, such that the system emits white light.

Abstract: An object that includes a sound chip coupled to a receiving and audio (R/A) device. The sound chip may preferably be either static or dynamic in regards to its recording capabilities in the field, i.e., outside the manufacturing environment. Through this coupling data stored on the sound chip is played back through an audio system in the R/A device. This stored data is correlated to a type of the object, e.g., a person, a color, a shape, a machine, an animal, a planet, a trading card, etc. Optionally, the R/A device can be coupled to a computer, and the stored data in the object can control the computer such that the type of object initiates playback through the computer of either data stored in the computer or related data on the Internet or Intranet. Also, an alternative R/A device has a rotating section so that the object can be seen by more people in an area. Further, the object can have LED circuits to illuminate predetermined parts and motors to move predetermined parts.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is taught for engaging, positioning, and splitting logs. A wedge section of a skid steer loader coupling device is received in a lip section of a log splitting system coupling device. A body section of the skid steer loader coupling device is urged into a flush position with a body section of a log splitting system coupling device. Levers on the skid steer loader coupling device are actuated from a first position to a second position so that pin devices coupled to the levers move from a disengaged to an engaged position with respect to apertures in the log splitting system coupling device. Hoses are coupled at a first end of the log splitting system and at a second end of the skid steer loader. The skid steer loader is maneuvered proximate a first one of the logs to be engaged from above the first one of the logs.

Abstract: A circuit comprising a primary section and a multiple voltage secondary section. The multiple voltage secondary section includes a multiple voltage resonance section, a filter section, and a load coupling section. The circuit also includes a transformer, which is operatively configured to couple the primary and secondary sections. The multiple voltage resonance section includes a capacitance, i.e., an Alexander Topology. This capacitance, which is preferable based on series capacitors, operatively generates a predetermined voltage, such that a turns ratio of the transformer is lower than a non-multiple voltage resonance section to generate the predetermined voltage. Hence, this configuration decreases energy loss from the transformer, thereby increasing efficiency.

Abstract: A folding chair having adjustable rear legs for use on flat, even ground and in addition, on sloping terrain from about zero degrees to twenty degrees and being continuously adjustable over this range by a user in a seated position.