Abstract: A nitrous oxide nozzle for inserting a mixture of oxidizer and fuel into a passage of an engine's intake manifold has two inlet ports, each of which communicate with a conduit. A nitrous oxide conduit vents into the apex of a bell-shaped emitter, and a fuel conduit vents into a side portion of an atomizing cavity adjacent the emitter, so that high-pressure nitrous oxide gas flowing through the emitter entrains fuel flowing through the fuel conduit, then atomizes the fuel and mixes with the fuel. The bell shape of the emitter provides improved mixing of fuel with the nitrous oxide; the discharged fuel/oxidizer mixture from the emitter is introduced into air flowing through an engine's intake manifold, and is conveyed to a cylinder for burning.

Abstract: A propulsion device for persons in an upright position in water has a loose flexible panel within a reinforced border; the panel is attached to the frontal lower leg by a knee strap at its top and by ankle and foot straps at its bottom. Walking or striding motions of the wearer's legs cause the material of the panel to billow out and provide resistance against the water when the wearer's leg moves backward, propelling the wearer forward through the water; the panel collapses against the leg and conforms to its shape when the leg is moved forward, offering little or no increased resistance to the water.

Abstract: A system for visually monitoring infants in rear-facing infant carriers in the rear seats of autos includes a front mirror mounted in the driver's forward field of vision, and a rear mirror mounted in a rear mirror assembly on the backrest of the auto's rear seat. Front and rear mirrors are adjustable so the driver can visually monitor the infant without taking her eyes from the road. The rear mirror assembly is made attractive to the infant by being in the likeness of a teddy bear, a clown, or an activity center with an assortment of devices to engage the infant's attention. The rear mirror assembly also includes pockets on either side, battery-powered lights, cassette tape players, etc.

Abstract: A low-cost capsule filler has a capsule holder with a medication tray, and cavities in the tray for receiving capsule bodies and capsule covers for filling with powdered or granulated medication. A wall around the medication tray contains loose medication, and the tray surface slopes toward each cavity to facilitate filling. Medication is tamped into the capsules with posts on an extractor; the extractor after tamping is inserted from beneath into the base of the capsule filler so the extractor posts push the filled capsules upward from their cavities where they can be gripped and removed.

Abstract: A multifocal contact lens is made of hard or soft lens material in an ellipsoidal shape with a base-down prismatic cross section. Lens geometry improves translation characteristics and maintains rotational stability of the lens. Near- and distance-correcting zones of the lens are separated by an arcuate junction which is convex upward.

Abstract: A restrainer for shopping cart wheels is a strip of stainless steel or other resilient metal, bent into a generally C-shaped curve. The restrainer is compressed and inserted into the space between a shopping cart wheel and its frame; a shoulder and a tab on a straight end of the restrainer engage the wheel frame to hold the strip in place. A curved end of the restrainer bears against the wheel with sufficient force that resulting friction will prevent the cart from rolling freely down an incline of less than about 15.degree., while allowing the cart to be pushed by shoppers in the usual way. Corrugations in the curved midsection of the strip add stiffness to increase the amount of friction applied to the wheel.

Abstract: A weight for kilties on boots and shoes is a thin strip of pliable metal with a serrated edge for attaching to the forward edge of the kiltie on the underside, where it weighs the kiltie to prevent curling and may be bent to conform to the shape of the shoe upper. Attachment to the kiltie is by a coating of adhesive covered by a peelable backing. A liner of leather or fabric or a coating of other material on the lower surface of the weight prevents discoloration of the shoe vamp by contact with the metal.

Abstract: A safety cover for electrical outlets includes a center locking block which is attached to an electrical outlet by a screw, and which has grooves to receive elongate members integral with individual receptacle covers. Matching cross-sectional shapes of the grooves and members fit closely so that the elongate members are retained in the grooves. A flexible latching arm on the front of a receptacle cover engages the locking block to latch the cover in place; the latching arm is pressed aside with a fingertip to permit removal of the receptacle cover. One of the covers has prongs which engage openings in the receptacle to prevent the safety cover assembly from being rotated around the mounting screw.

Abstract: A fingernail color display device has two or more platforms attached to a shaft which is rotatably mounted on a base. Apertures around the perimeter of each platform receive and hold for display colored artificial fingernails, so that the platforms may be rotated for viewing a variety of colors and a customer's finger may be placed under a nail for comparison with skin color, etc.

Abstract: An improved process for treating grain used for animal feeds includes steps of conditioning the grain to soften the grain coats, quickly heating the grain to a temperature just below a temperature sufficient to cause the grains to burst, compressing the heated grain between rollers to cause the grain to burst, further pressing the burst grains into flakes, and cooling the flaked grain. During the cooling step water is added to bring the moisture content of the final product to a desired level; digestibility enzymes and other additives are added with the water.

Abstract: The forward portion of a cargo trailer bed is pivotally supported within a U-shaped frame; the rearward portion of the bed is supported by a lift bar pivotally attached to a rear of the frame, the lift bar acting as a lever to lower the rear end of the bed to ground level and to raise the bed to a loaded position for towing.

Abstract: A wrench for turning locknuts has a C-shaped head pivotally attached by an extension member to a handle. A recessed step extends part-way around an interior arc of the head, and has a radius sufficient to receive the overall diameter of a locknut. The recessed step is terminated by a shoulder at the end of each arcuate arm forming the head; the shoulders extend toward the center of the head and have dimensions and spacing to fit into the spaces between lugs on a locknut. A notch has a common distal boundary with the recessed step and provides free play in the fit of the wrench over a locknut. When the wrench is placed over a locknut the shoulders fit between and engage lugs on the locknut for turning.

Abstract: At a restricted-access facility such as a toll booth, queries are transmitted through an antenna having a restricted zone of transmission and reception. Cellular telephone stations aboard vehicles within this zone of reception respond to the query by transmitting an electronic identification number, which is received by the same or another antenna. The identification number is then encoded in binary format and transmitted by a transceiver connected to the antenna to a computer controller, where the identification number is compared to a list of valid user identification numbers. If the received identification number is found to be valid, the computer controller transmits a "Go" command to the traffic control equipment of the restricted-access facility.

Abstract: Directional antennae on aircraft and on cellular telephone base stations, having a polarity opposite that of potentially interfering ground system signals, minimize signal strength of air cellular signals received by ground cellular stations. Aircraft directional antennae comprise patch antennae or vertical arrays of loop elements or vertical arrays of virtual loop elements. Additionally, air cellular signals are switched to channels not currently in use by ground cellular systems.