Abstract: An elongated horizontal extension table for miter saws for cutting molding for the sides of equiangular polygonal frames such as picture frames. The extension table has upper and lower surfaces, first and second ends, front and back edges, a hinge on the lower surface at the first end, a vertically adjustable support leg on the lower surface at the second end, and a vertical fence along the back edge. A simple stop arm extends obliquely across the upper surface of the table from the front edge to the fence and angled toward the first end of the extension table. The stop arm has a clamp that wraps around the front edge of the table, and also serves as a releasable slide for the arm. The extension table is attached to the frame of a miter saw by the hinge, and is aligned with the miter saw table by adjusting the length of the support leg. A template with angled scale lines is adhered to the horizontal surface of the extension table.

Abstract: A reel mounted at the midpoint of a telescoping mast for antennas. The reel winds a multi-celled ribbon cable in two directions at once. The cable passes through the hub of the reel to feed in both winding directions. The reel is mounted on the mast with a clamp that fits a range of existing mast sizes, and distributes the stress of the reel on the mast sufficiently to avoid distortion of the mast. The reel preferably has a cable tensioner wheel on both cable feeds to prevent the cable from slipping off the reel. A selection of cables can be pulled through the multi-celled ribbon sheath by an installer to support a given installation. The outer plate of the reel can be easily removed to remove the cable sheath from the hub for changing the selection of cables in the sheath.

Abstract: A frame with two parallel foot-retention bars (1) and two handles (7) that extend beside the hips of a user lying on a horizontal surface. A user inserts his/her feet between the foot-retention bars, and pushes downward on the handles to stretch the spine. The handles preferably are adjustably extendable to accommodate different user sizes. The foot retention bars push the feet away from the body, producing traction in the spine. Preferably, the foot retention bars are adjustably separable. Preferably, each of the handle assemblies (5-7) is pivotable 180 degrees to a compact storage position within the respective frame portion (3). Optionally, the device can be shipped partially assembled, for completion by the user.

Abstract: An inexpensive jig for holding a piece of crown molding, and guiding a hand-held jigsaw at a particular angle to aid in coping the molding. The jig has a horizontal base plate 1 and two vertical side fences 2A, 2B. A guide plate 3 is attached between the front ends of the fences, and is spaced from the base plate by a gap 5. The guide plate is oriented as if rotated through two particular angles about two respective axes from a position normal to the fences and base plate. The resulting front surface of the guide plate guides a jigsaw in the coping process. An opening 4 in the guide plate is aligned with the upper surface of the base plate, and allows molding to be placed on the base plate with an end in the opening to interfere with the jigsaw blade at a desired coping angle. First, the molding is placed inverted against a miter saw fence, and an end of the molding is cut at a 45-degree angle. Next the molding is placed in the jig, with the cut end in the opening of the guide plate.

Abstract: Flexible strap is passed around an elongated portion 11 of load-bearing hardware 10, and the two ends 2, 3 of the strap are overlapped, held in a curve, and stitched together. The overlapped strap portion is then centered around the elongated hardware portion and is formed into an eye that retains the elongated hardware portion. The eye is closed by stitching through all four strap layers of the strap extending from both sides of the hardware portion. A confluence wrap 5 is preferably wrapped around the eye closure area before this stitching. Preferably a nylon buffer is placed in the eye between the hardware and strap, and stitched in the eye closure area, to prevent chafing of the strap on the hardware. The curvature sewn into the overlapped strap ends provides even distribution of stress on the two ends when a load is placed on the hardware.

Abstract: A trailer hitch drawbar 1 having a cam bar 4 mounted along one side such that rotating the cam bar extends or retracts the side of the cam bar 4a along the side of the drawbar. This cam action firmly wedges the drawbar inside a receiver tube 9. An adjustment set screw 2 is provided to set the cam for optimum expansion force in a given receiver tube. A locking pin 5 extends from the drawbar when the cam bar is rotated to the lock position. The locking pin is operated by a second cam surface 4b on the cam bar moving against the inner end of the locking pin. The pin extends into the standard locking pin hole 11 in the receiver tube to prevent longitudinal slippage of the drawbar in the receiver tube. An adjustable drawbar stop 13 sets the penetration depth of the drawbar into the receiver tube to align the locking pin with the locking hole in the receiver tube. This allows instant insertion and locking of the drawbar without searching for pin alignment.

Abstract: A dual ignition system for a truly opposed piston engine providing offsets from the standard timing separation, which is 1440 degrees divided by the number of pistons. Timing is obtained from a timing mark on the flywheel. An ignition transformer is provided on each cylinder. Each transformer has two output coils, and fires two cylinders on the same side of the engine that are separated by 360 degrees of timing plus or minus the offset. A cam position disk is provided on a camshaft of the engine. Half of its circumference is marked sensibly differently from the other half. A cam position sensor adjacent this disk provides input to a logic circuit that determines which of the two adjacent offset timings to send to each transformer depending on which half of the 720-degree engine cycle is in effect.

Abstract: A self-closing bottle cap having a cover plate (1) that is easily pushed aside with a light touch from a swab stick (17). The cover plate pivots aside and upward on a hinge (6) with an oblique pivot axis (10) that provides an ideal trajectory and gravity component for the cover plate motion. The cover plate is held aside with the swab stick while dipping the swab (18) into the bottle contents. When the swab is removed, the cover plate returns by gravity and closes the bottle. This allows an operator to easily open the bottle for each dipping of the swab, using only one hand with little distraction. The bottle remains closed at all times except briefly during each dip. This minimizes evaporation of chemicals into a working environment.

Abstract: An electrically conductive wire wound into a conical coil 1 with leads from the small and large ends of the coil. The coil is filled with fine-grained magnetic material 11, and is mounted in a thin-walled, electrically non-conductive carrier 21 designed for precise automated assembly onto a circuit board 15. The wire leads are plastic-welded onto the carrier, and no metallic pads are used, greatly increasing the effective bandwidth of the choke. The small end 4 of the coil is positioned precisely on a micro-strip 17 on the circuit board. Attachment of the wire lead from the small end of the coil to the microstrip is done with minimum lead length and minimum conductive material for the highest possible frequency response. Precise coil positioning, minimal lead length, and a totally non-conductive carrier virtually eliminates electrical reflections and resonances to yield a broadband choke with exceptional frequency range.

Abstract: An attractive convenient money clip made by attaching a folding cover to a conventional paper binder clip of the type having a spring steel clamp and two pivoting arms made of wire loops that fold back against the clamp for opening the clamp. This type of binder clip provides both strong clamping force and easy opening with one hand. It holds paper money, business cards, and a credit card safely and securely. The cover presents a professional appearance and a front and back external surface for logos. By using a conventional binder clip as the basis for this product, manufacturing cost is low, since only the cover is custom made.

Abstract: A cartridge just large enough to hold a cutter tooth and a setscrew. The cartridge has an open-sided tap for the setscrew, exposing part of a side of the setscrew. A cutter body has a slot to receive the cartridge. The slot has a leading side with a generally cylindrical smooth wall portion that surrounds the exposed side of the setscrew. The cylindrical concave portion is uniquely angled to wedge the setscrew firmly against the cylindrical concave portion as the setscrew is tightened, and to force the cartridge against the bottom and trailing side of the slot. The cartridge and slot have parallel interlocking interfaces on both their leading and trailing sides. These are slidable interlocks, allowing the cartridge to slide into the slot while engaging both the leading and trailing interlocks. The setscrew can easily be manually tightened while the interlocks hold the cartridge steady in the slot.

Abstract: A shipping envelope having an outer surface, an inner surface, a closure flap with first and second adhesive strips and on opposite surfaces of the flap, and a perforation between the adhesive strips. The first adhesive strip is nearest the outer edge of the flap, and is used to close and seal the envelope for the first time. The recipient opens the envelope along the perforation. If return shipping is desired, the recipient turns the envelope inside out, exposing a second shipping label. The second adhesive strip is now in position to close and seal the flap for a second shipment, such as a return shipment for refund or exchange.

Abstract: A hunting bow hanger in the form of a cylindrical shaft of substantially the same length and diameter as a hunting arrow, having self-starting wood screw threads on one end, and a hook that includes a crank portion on the other end. The crank is used to turn the shaft manually to screw the threads into a tree trunk. To prevent bending of the shaft under load, a cable tether is provided that spans from the hook end of the shaft diagonally upward to an anchor higher on the tree trunk. The anchor has self-starting wood screw threads and a crank portion for tool-less threading into the tree trunk. The cable is attached to the hanger shaft near the hook end, and has a free end with a loop that slips over a retention portion of the anchor crank. This provides a sturdy bow hanger that is carried in the quiver in place of one of the arrows.

Abstract: An internal combustion piston engine with horizontally opposed cylinders. Each opposed pair of cylinders fires simultaneously, providing symmetric cranking force on the crankshaft 13. Each cylinder 1 is a simple solid of rotation with air-cooling fins 10. The cylinder heads 5 are modular. Each module covers two adjacent cylinders, and has liquid cooling channels. All cylinders are identical, and all cylinder heads are identical. The cylinders are held inward against the crankcase by the cylinder heads. Each cylinder head is held inward against the cylinders by two tension bolts 42 that span to the opposite cylinder head. One tension bolt crosses above the crankcase, and one below it. In a preferred 12-cylinder engine embodiment, each opposed pair of cylinders is separated from the other opposed pairs in spark timing by a sequence of 105 and 135 degrees that reduces torsional harmonic resonance in the crankshaft, eliminating harmonic balancers.

Abstract: A compact, covered front wheel drive assembly that replaces the handlebars on an existing bicycle frame. It drives the front wheel while standard bicycle foot pedals and drive train drive the rear wheel. However, it can also be operated independently of the foot pedals, or locked for use of the foot pedals alone. It has drive ratios and shifting that are independent of the rear drive train, and are configured for selectable, comfortable hand cranking rates, including normal bicycle cruising speed. Shift levers are mounted within reach of a rider's thumbs, without removing a hand from the cranks. A brake lever on each handle holds the brake cables forward at all times, eliminating interference both with the hand cranks and with obstacles brushing beside the bicycle.

Abstract: A hair colorant applicator in the form of a hollow comb 1 with a threaded receiver top 2 that accepts standard plastic bottles 8 of hair colorant in the inverted position. The teeth of the comb are in the form of tubes. A hollow channel 5 in each tube 3 of the comb terminates in an orifice 4a at the tip of each tube. Hair colorant 9 flows from the bottle, through the body of the comb 6, through the channels in the tubes, and exits the tips of the tubes. This applies the colorant at the base of hair near the scalp to maintain uniform hair coloring as the hair grows. Newly emerged uncolored hair near the scalp can be colored without deepening the color of the rest of the hair. The user squeezes the bottle of colorant as it is applied to control the flow rate.

Abstract: A quick-release bicycle axle fastener comprising a lever-operated cam which presses a follower disc inward against the outer surface of a conventional safety dropout. The dropout has an outer surface with retention means for the disc, such as a concavity, tab, or ridge. A spring urges the cam lever toward its dosed position. If the cam is left open by the user, the spring causes it to hold the follower against the retaining surface of the dropout, preventing accidental release of the axle. This safety feature is constant, automatic, and convenient. No action is needed beyond normal operation of the lever. The cam provides full clearance for releasing the axle, so the adjustment nut is only needed for initial installation, not for operation.

Abstract: An enclosed tank with a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet, a gas inlet, and a gas outlet. A liquid is forced to flow turbulently through the tank. Simultaneously a scrubbing gas is pumped through the tank. Turbulence induced in the liquid encourages gasses dissolved in the liquid to transfer to the scrubbing gas and thence to exit the gas outlet. Liquid pressure is provided externally to the invention, such as by a water utility or house water pump. The liquid inlet has a nozzle that injects the liquid against baffles in the tank to create turbulence. The liquid level in the tank is stabilized by controlling the scrubbing gas pressure. A lower layer of liquid and an upper layer of scrubbing gas are maintained in the tank as they flow through the tank together. Various liquid level stabilizing means are shown as examples. An electronic feedback system optionally controls the scrubbing gas flow rate according to the contamination level of the liquid.

Abstract: A telescoping series of coaxial nested tubes 1-4 extend to provide an elongated handle. Each inner tube of the series has a back end with a gradual conical flare. Each tube that encloses a smaller tube has a front end with a gradual conical reduction. At full extension the tubes stop and bind against each other, so no clamps or screws are needed. A pruning saw blade 7 is attached to the front end of the innermost tube 4. The innermost tube is shorter than the outer tube 1 by at least the length of the saw blade, so that all the tubes and the blade retract within the outer tube. Caps 10 and 13 close the outer tube on each end. A resilient damper in each cap presses against the ends of the inner tubes, preventing motion and noise among them. A spare saw blade can be enclosed in the innermost tube 4. It can be retained in a hole in the back damper 11, or in a resilient slotted plug in the innermost tube. The front cap 13 preferably includes a direction-finding compass 15 for wilderness use.

Abstract: An adjustment nut for a cam operated quick-release axle having a mechanism to stop the adjustment nut at a predetermined position. In the preferred embodiment, the adjustment nut 20 has a set-screw 21. On initial installation, the closing force of the cam lever is tested and adjusted by rotating the adjustment nut 20 until proper force is obtained, as with existing instructions for cam operated quick-release fasteners. At this point, the set-screw 21 is tightened against the end of the skewer. Wheel removal is performed by opening the cam and loosening the adjustment nut 20 for adequate clearance of the safety tabs 33. These operations are reversed for wheel installation. Unlike existing quick-release fasteners, readjustment of the cam clamping force is not needed, since it is fixed with the set-screw 21. The set-screw 21 is coated with a material to create additional friction to prevent it's loosening through subsequent operations.