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 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: 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: An automatic water supply device and method therefore, comprising a water container, a pressure sensitive diaphragm refill valve, and a garden hose adapter. In a preferred embodiment, a pet is supplied automatically with fresh drinking water as needed. In another preferred embodiment, a tile saw cooling system is supplied with a constant flow of clean water.

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: AC/DC cascaded power converters having high DC conversion ratio and improved AC line harmonics provide low input harmonic currents, high power factor and efficient operation for low voltage DC outputs when coupled directly to a source of unfiltered rectified AC voltage. The power converter incorporates an intermediate storage element that provides most or all of the energy storage capacitance within the power converter and a blocking device that enables continuous energy transfer from AC line to output to achieve unity power factor and regulated output while maintaining low AC input current ripple.

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 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 palm-held acoustical sensing device provides improved accessibility within an engine compartment for sensing engine noise in order to perform diagnostics. Miniaturized electronics are provided within a compact housing that permits free use of the sensing device within an engine compartment, enabling access to engine components that have previously been accessible only with great difficulty. Clamping sensors having wider bandwidth than existing clamping sensors provide improved sensing capability and an electronics and battery housing having one or more sensor input jacks provides for attachment of multiple sensors, improved storage and a lower cost unit providing the advantages of both a flexible shaft sensing unit and a clamping unit.

Abstract: A portable ice storage and dispensing device has a portable container for housing the ice to be dispensed. An opening is formed on the portable insulated container. The opening is used for dispensing the ice out of the portable insulated container. An ice dispenser is located internal to the portable insulated container and extends partially out of the portable insulated container. The ice dispenser is used for moving and directing the ice out of the opening.

Abstract: A digital summing phase-lock loop circuit with sideband control provides high accuracy and high speed acquisition in a multi-loop frequency synthesizer. A digital phase comparator is used to control a voltage-controlled oscillator in response to inputs from multiple external loops. An initial sweep condition is set by a sweep control circuit to provide resolution of lock ambiguities in the multiple external loops. Sideband selection may be performed by selecting on of an inverted or non-inverted output of the digital phase comparator.

Abstract: A combination chair/ottoman and table assembly has a plurality of chairs/ottomans adapted to be alternatively positioned adjacent to one another and separated from one another. Each of the plurality of chairs/ottomans has a hollow interior section for storing items. A finished table surface is positioned at a top portion of each of the plurality of chairs/ottomans. A positioning member is adapted to position each of the plurality of chairs/ottomans adjacent to another of the plurality of chairs/ottomans. A “Lazy Susan” is located substantially at a middle portion of the positioning member.

Abstract: A butterfly knife has a locking mechanism. The butterfly knife has a first handle component, a second handle component, and a blade hingedly coupled at a proximal end of the butterfly knife. The first and second handle components are moveable to an open position and a closed position. The locking mechanism is coupled to the proximal end of the butterfly knife for securing the butterfly knife in an open position and a closed position.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling resonance within a resonator-enhanced optical system provides improved tracking performance in resonator-enhanced optical measurement and data storage and retrieval systems. The system includes an illumination subsystem and a detection subsystem with an optical resonator interposed in an optical path between the illumination subsystem and the detection subsystem. The resonance of the optical resonator is tuned, either by changing the wavelength of the illumination subsystem or the geometric path length within the resonator. Closed-loop feedback control signals can thereby maintain resonance at a desired operating point. The feedback control signal components can be further used to provide measurement data if the resonance of the optical resonator is a function of a measured surface, such as when a reflective surface of the resonator is a surface under measurement.

Abstract: A window safety guard is used for preventing an intrusive person or object from entering a home through a window when it is left open by the owner. It is also easily removable during emergency situations as it has a simple locking mechanism and may be removed as a single unit. The assembly has a series of vertical bars with tapered ends that are inserted into corresponding holes in a windowsill and in a bottom frame edge of a raised lower window. Support bars are coupled to the vertical bars to add strength and to help block the window opening. The window safety guard assembly also has a locking mechanism wherein a small rod is inserted in a corresponding hole in a side edge of an upper window frame. The small rod, when inserted, is also abutting the top frame edge of the raised lower window to prevent the lower window from being raised and the window safety guard from being removed.

Abstract: A soup contains natural herbs which is healthy for a consumer's diet and further helps to increase the consumer's energy level. The soup has a meat product in a range of from about 45% to about 49% by volume of total composition which provides flavoring and protein to the soup. A liquid in a range of from about 45% to about 49% by volume of total composition is combined with the meat product to separate and dilute the meat product. Spices in a range of from about 1% to about 3% by volume of total composition are added to provide flavoring to the soup. Chinese herbs in a range from about 1% to about 7% by volume of total composition are also added for providing additional flavoring to the soup and for increasing an energy level and muscle strength of the consumer.

Abstract: An optical inspection method and apparatus having an enhanced height sensitivity region and roughness filtering uses a Fabry-Perot cavity to increase the phase detection sensitivity for light reflected from surface defects having a height above a predetermined level. A partially reflective surface is inserted between an illumination subsystem and a surface under inspection. The position of the partially reflective surface with respect to the surface under inspection is adjusted to provide both filtering of defects below the predetermined level and enhance sensitivity for a region of defect heights above the predetermined level. The angular resolution of the inspection system is improved, providing far-field inspection that can detect small-profile defects having unacceptable heights. Media storage, semiconductor wafer and other precision surface manufacture may be improved by use of the techniques of the present invention.