Abstract: A lighting device convertible between reading light and flashlight configurations has separate off/on light actuating switches. The lighting device includes a case, an elongated arm, hinge, light cap, light element, batteries, first switch and second switch. The hinge pivotally mounts a rear end of the arm to a rear end of the case to allow pivotal movement of the arm between an erect position angularly spaced from the case, the reading light configuration, and a lowered position against the main body, the flashlight configuration. The light element is mounted to the light cap which, in turn, is pivotally mounted to a front end of the arm for positioning the light element at various angles to provide light therebelow at various angles with the arm in the erect position and for positioning the light element at first and second angularly displaced positions to provide light directly forwardly of the case in the first position but not in the second position with the arm in the lowered position.

Abstract: A bridge device for providing a transition between two bordering floor segments of different levels includes a securement shank, a terminal shank and a transition shank. The securement shank is positionable under one of the bordering floor segments which are separated by a space. The terminal shank has spaced upper and lower ends and opposite sides extending between the upper and lower ends. The terminal shank is attached at the lower end to the securement shank and is positionable in the space between the floor segments. One side of the terminal shank is disposed adjacent to and faces toward the one floor segment whereas the other side of the terminal shank faces toward the other floor segment.

Abstract: An electronically controlled anti-dive suspension apparatus for a two-wheeled vehicle includes a suspension system, a sensor, an electronics module, and an actuator. The sensor mounted to the vehicle senses deceleration of the vehicle due to a braking action and produces an input representative thereof. The electronics module mounted to the vehicle and connected to the sensor receives and processes the input from the sensor and produces an output corresponding to a desired predetermined response to the deceleration of the vehicle. The actuator mounted to the vehicle and coupled to the suspension system receives the output from the electronics module and in response thereto causes the suspension system to reduce its amount of contraction and thereby prevent any resulting dive of the front end of the vehicle downward toward the ground.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a data and access protection system for a computer via the use of a hardware key, comprising a non-volatile memory for storing a first access code, a hardware key having a second access code, means for determining whether the hardware key is connected to the computer and whether the first access code is different from the second access code, and means for disabling the computer when the hardware key is not connected to the computer or when the first access code is different from the second access code. Additional aspects of the present invention provide that the hardware key is capable of being carried on a key chain on a person and capable of starting a computer through wireless means. A further aspect of the present invention provides that the hardware key can be used to secure electronic transactions conducted over the Internet.

Abstract: A bird observatory assembly includes an enclosure, an annular mounting frame and complementary first and second magnetic elements. The enclosure has a plurality of panels interconnected to one another and to the mounting frame so as to define an interior cavity for one or more birds to nest within the enclosure and an opening at an inner end of the enclosure. One of the panels has an aperture defined therein that permits birds to enter and exit the interior cavity. The mounting frame has a surface positioned adjacent to an exterior surface of a window pane. The mounting frame is mounted to the inner end of the enclosure and defines a viewing portal in communication with the opening of the enclosure and the interior cavity. The first magnetic elements are mounted to the surface of the mounting frame.

Abstract: A passive vibration isolation device includes a support frame, an instrument support platform and a plurality of vibration isolators. The support frame is adapted to rest on a support surface. The instrument support platform is adapted to support an instrument thereon. The vibration isolators are spaced apart from one another and disposed between and interconnect the support frame and the instrument support platform such that the instrument support platform is suspended by the vibration isolators in a position spaced from the support frame and above the support surface.

Abstract: A safety wall socket assembly includes a housing, a pair of outer switches, a pair of inner contacts, a pair of conductor wires and a pair of interconnection wires. The outer switches are pivotally mounted to the housing and disposed in the respective cavities thereof. The outer switches are biased to a circuit break condition between the conductor wires and interconnection wires and pivotally displaced to a circuit make condition between the conductor wires and interconnection wires in response to partial insertion of the prongs of an electrical plug into the cavities. No electrical connection is established between the outer switches and the prongs of the plug. The inner contacts are mounted to the housing and disposed in the respective cavities thereof spaced inwardly from the outer switches.

Abstract: A device (1) for carrying out continuous electrolytic precipitation processes has a cathodic live cylinder (3) whose top surface is electroconductive over its whole useful width. An anode A is arranged concentrically to and spaced apart from the cathodic live cylinder (3). An electrolyte flows through the space (6) separating the live cylinder (3) from the anode A. Shielding strips (9, 9′) associated to the live cylinder (3) are located between the cathodic surface of the live cylinder (3) and the anode A and electrically shield the marginal regions of the live cylinder (3), thus protecting them from electrolytic coating. The useful region N of the live cylinder (3) for carrying out the electrolytic precipitation processes is located between the shielding strips (9, 9′).

Abstract: An exhaust gas purification system for denoxing exhaust gases has a converter containing a substance thermolytically separable into NH3, a feed line connecting the converter with an exhaust gas line for supplying NH3 into the exhaust gas flow therein, a dosing device in the feed line for dosing the NH3 to be introduced into the exhaust gas flow, a heatable cold-start store connected to the feed line between the converter and dosing device for providing the substance during starting of a combustion unit connected to the exhaust gas line, an air feeding device having two air conduits provided with valves wherein one conduit is connected to the feed line between the cold-start store and dosing device and the other conduit is connected to a mixing chamber located in the feed line after the dosing device, and a reservoir container for storing the substance connected to a filling pipe terminating in the converter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an unthrottled internal combustion engine of segregating, spark ignited, form, i.e. in which the bulk of the fuel does not begin to mix with the bulk of the air until near the end of the compression stroke, shortly before spark ignition. The invention utilizes a second cylinder in communication with the main cylinder, fuel being delivered to vaporize within the second cylinder. Attached to the second cylinder is a cavity containing the spark ignition device, into which cavity is delivered a controlled quantity of fuel which mixes with air entering into the cavity during the compression stroke of the engine to provide a spark plug with substantially stoichiometric fuel/air mixture at the moment of ignition, irrespective of the output of the engine.

Abstract: A nail instrument includes an elongated handle, a first implement and a second implement. The elongated handle has opposite end portions. Each of the first and second implements have a connecting portion and a working portion. The connecting portion of the first implement is removably mounted to one of the opposite end portions of the elongated handle. The working portion of the first implement is in the form of a conical structure substantially comprised of emery material for providing a filing action. The connecting portion of the second implement is removably mounted to the other of the opposite end portions of the elongated handle. The working portion of the second implement is in the form of a sleeve merging into a flattened blade for providing a prying action and a scraping action.

Abstract: An enhanced flocculation and energy dissipation feedwell assembly includes an influent feedwell and a plurality of feed outlet structures. The influent feedwell is disposed about an influent riser pipe of a clarifier from which a liquid enters the influent feedwell. The influent feedwell has a bottom wall and a continuous side wall. The bottom wall has a plurality of holes therethrough. The feed outlet structures are supported below the influent feedwell such that adjacent ones are directed to achieving opposing jets of liquid flow to enhance flocculation and distribution and dissipate energy and thereby minimize formation of currents. Each feed outlet structure includes a first tubular portion and a plurality of second tubular portions.

Abstract: A coin-operated item vending and game apparatus includes a coin-operated item vending machine and a game module. The vending machine includes a support base, coin deposit, vendable items dispenser, globe and elongated central support member. The game module includes a housing, target and flexible resilient lever. The housing is disposed within the globe. The target is disposed within the housing. The lever is disposed below the target and extends through the housing and globe such that an outer end of the lever is disposed exteriorly of the globe. A depression defined on the lever receives a coin. The outer end of the lever is manually depressed downwardly by the user causing bending of the lever from an initial condition and creating an upward force because of the resiliency of the lever. Release of the lever by the user allows the lever to spring back to its initial condition and toss the coin upwardly such that the coin will either make or miss the target depending on the skill of the user.

Abstract: A portable electric railroad rail drill apparatus includes an elongated main shaft, a support frame, an electric drill, a clamp, a handle and a support leg. The support frame is reciprocally mounted to the main shaft for movement therealong between first and second ends of the main shaft. The electric drill is fixedly mounted to the support frame and reciprocally movable therewith along the main shaft. The clamp is mounted at a location adjacent to the first end of the main shaft for mounting the main shaft to a railroad track rail such that the electric drill is disposed adjacent to the rail and movable along the main shaft toward and away from the rail and is operable for drilling a hole through the rail concurrently with movement toward the rail.

Abstract: A racket for a ball to be hit and guided at the ground includes a frame of an oval shape and surrounding a central opening through the frame. The frame has opposite arcuate-shaped top and bottom portions being oppositely curved away from another and opposite arcuate-shaped lateral end portions extending between the top and bottom portions and being oppositely curved away from one another so as to provide the frame with the oval shape. The racket also includes a striking face mounted to the frame and extending across the central opening thereof and an elongated shaft joined with the frame at one of the arcuate-shaped lateral end portions thereof and extending from the frame in a generally tangential relationship to the frame. The striking face has a pair of opposite sides.

Abstract: A polygonal illumination reflector includes a support base and a configuration of discrete reflector elements supported by the support base. The reflector elements have respective pairs of opposite side edges and respective interior reflective surfaces. The reflector elements adjoin one another in providing the configuration. The support base has a plurality of adjacent side portions and a plurality of retaining pockets defined between and interconnecting the adjacent side portions to one another. The adjacent side portions of the support base correspond in number to the reflector elements. The retaining pockets are arranged in pairs wherein the retaining pockets of each pair are open in a facing relationship toward one another so as to receive therein and set in engagement therewith the opposite side edges of the reflector elements in a first sequence in the configuration.

Abstract: A medication for treatment of disease caused by virus, and particularly retrovirus, and a method of production of the medication are based on use of the active agents, polycyclic diones (hypericin, pseudohypericin and/or salts thereof), of the plant Hypericum (St. John's Wort) with other components occurring in the plant wherein the concentration of polycyclic diones is between 0.05% and 50% whereby a therapeutic antiretroviral effect is attained while undesirable side effects are largely avoided.

Abstract: What is disclosed herein is a seating and kneeling appliance which is adaptable to and is useful for providing comfort and support to a person who is cleaning a bathtub or assisting another person in the bathtub. The device is fabricated from essentially from plastic and is foldable. In use, the device rests on the outside wall of the bathtub and on the floor to provide support for an individual that is using the device.