Abstract: A computer implemented process compares signals communicated between a known position and a plurality of base stations in a cellular telephone system to determine the level of interference with a signal on a channel expected to serve the known position, and determines a value indicating a probability of interference with a signal on a channel expected to serve the known position.

Abstract: A seat suspended between two crutches in the manner of a sling, to provide the user of the crutches with a place to rest. The seat is attached to both crutches of a pair of crutches used by an individual needing crutches. The seat is attached by one or more adjustable straps and/or release clips. The seat allows the user to rest his body weight on the seat thereby relieving the arms of the user without placing weight on the lower limbs. The crutches are fully usable in the normal manner for walking while the seat is attached and suspended from the crutches. The seat hangs below and behind the user when the crutches are used by the user for walking. The feet of the crutched are placed adjacent one another, while the tops of the crutches are spread apart to raise the seat into a usable height, while providing a stable base for supporting the user. The crutches are then angled slightly forward with the tops of the crutches in front of the user and the crutch feet behind the user.

Abstract: A candle is disclosed, containing a candle-forming component including a paraffin wax and stearic acid, added and mixed with Tetrahydro methylabietate and dihydro Methylabietate, Isopropyl Myristate, &agr;-Amylcinnamic Alcohol, Iso Bornyl Cyclohexanol, and Tri Ethyl Citrate. The candle has an effect for suppressing the exhalation of a nasty odor (an odor at extinguishing) generated when a flame has been extinguished, as well as an effect that, when the odor at extinguishing is vaporized by heat and diffused into air, molecules of various odors hanging in the air are trapped, whereby the air in the whole of a room is made refreshed.

Abstract: A seat suspended between two crutches in the manner of a sling, to provide the user of the crutches with a place to rest. The seat is attached to both crutches of a pair of crutches used by an individual needing crutches. The seat is attached by one or more adjustable straps and/or release clips. The seat allows the user to rest his body weight on the seat thereby relieving the arms of the user without placing weight on the lower limbs. The crutches are fully usable in the normal manner for walking while the seat is attached and suspended from the crutches. The seat hangs below and behind the user when the crutches are used by the user for walking. The feet of the crutched are placed adjacent one another, while the tops of the crutches are spread apart to raise the seat into a usable height, while providing a stable base for supporting the user. The crutches are then angled slightly forward with the tops of the crutches in front of the user and the crutch feet behind the user.

Abstract: A safety switch for a lamp is disclosed. The safety switch comprises a pair of electrodes having cylindrical shapes. Each electrode comprises an internal face with a conical cavity therein. The electrodes are arranged so that they are adjacently mounted with an aperture formed between the two conical cavities. In addition, there is a metal ball placed within the conical cavity. The metal ball forms a connection or disconnection of the electrodes. In one embodiment of the invention, the electrodes are horizontally mounted, and when the lamp is displaced from an upright position, the ball rests along the aperture formed between the two electrodes, thereby providing a connection of the electrodes and power and luminescence to the lamp. When the lamp is displaced from the upright position, the ball moves away from the aperture, thereby disconnecting the electrodes and power and luminescence to the lamp.

Abstract: A lamp with a temperature-controlled automatically protecting circuit which includes a temperature induction circuit and a sampling circuit with its input end to connect with an output end of the temperature induction circuit, wherein the temperature control automatically protecting circuit further includes: a comparing circuit which has an input end to connect with an output end of the sampling circuit and when a positive voltage drop across the sampling resistance of the sampling circuit is lower than a reference voltage, the comparing circuit will have a high electrical level output; a trigger circuit which has an input end to connect with an output end of the comparing circuit and a thyristor which can be triggered by the high electrical level output of the comparing circuit to have the trigger circuit in the on state; and a maintaining circuit which has a capacitance in parallel with the thyristor in the trigger circuit and which, after being in series with a resistance, have a low electric level output

Abstract: A lamp incorporating one or more safety features for reducing the risk of fire or heat damage associated with improper operation of the lamp. One safety feature can be an automatic safety switch for terminating power to the lamp when the lamp is not in a proper operational orientation. The switch is mounted on the underside of the base of the lamp and only provides electricity to the lamp when the weight of the lamp rests properly on its base. A thermal switch which reduces or eliminates power to the lamp when the lamp is operating above a predetermined temperature can be provided, alone or in combination with a light level senor to adjust lamp power in response to room lighting conditions.

Abstract: An environmentally adaptable exterior heat exchange unit with a pot like base and a vertical component extending from the base. An artificial plant is incorporated into the structure to blend the unit with its environmental surroundings. The unit could resemble a fir tree, a shrub, a bush, a tree or the like. A compressor and condensing coil are located within the base which will reduce noise levels and increase efficiency of heat exchange. A set of vertically extending heat exchange coils circulate a second coolant and extend upward from the base and can be moved relative to the base without disturbing coolant flow or the components housed within the base. The unit can be operated with the lid off and mainatin refrigerant and coolant circulation. The refrigerant coil is run within the coolant coil in a tube-in-tube arrangement within the base to enhance heat exchange. The coolant tubes then carry the heat outside the base.

Abstract: A table lifting and transporting mechanism with ground contact wheels, a table support portion and a mechanism for transferring the majority of the weight of the table to the wheels so that the table is supported generally at its center of gravity. The mechanism is adapted to engage the underside of the table and includes a winch for lowering its wheels into contact with the ground after positioning. The winch allows for the table to be raised after the wheels have contacted the ground, thus transferring the weight of the table from the table legs to the wheels.

Abstract: A system for detecting and locating overboard personnel of a vessel. The system includes a plurality of transmitter units and an onboard receiver. A transmitter is assigned to be worn by each person to be monitored by the system. Each transmitter provides a unique identifier signal to the onboard receiver. The onboard receiver is initialized to establish an initial identifier configuration. The onboard receiver then continuously monitors its reception to detect any change in said initial identifier configuration. The onboard receiver triggers an alert in the event of detection of a change in said initial identifier configuration. In a first embodiment the assigned transmitters are activated prior to establishing the initial identifier configuration and the initial identifier configuration consists of all active transmitter identifiers present. In this first embodiment, the alert condition is initiated upon a failure of receipt of one of the identifiers.

Abstract: A system for alerting a golfer when the golfer has moved too far away from his golf club. One or more clubs are provided with transmitters which transmit on a specific frequency and may contain digital encoding. A common receiver is used to detect the signal from one or a plurality of transmitters. When the distance between the transmitter, attached to the golf club, and the receiver, carried with the golfer, is greater than a threshold distance, the receiver provides an alert to the golfer. The present invention can also include an audible or visual signal associated with the club to assist the golfer in locating the club when he returns to retrieve the club.

Abstract: Driver training obstacles which are designed to catch and retain the attention of drivers to force a conscious effort to avoid focusing on the obstacle and to take hitting the obstacle as a serious matter. The obstacles fit over conventional traffic cones or other conical supports. They are shaped, colored and designed to visually simulate a variety of objects, including common animal and objects found along the roads, as well as abstract or random designs and objects. Lights and reflective features are also incorporated into some obstacles. Constructed as an envelope from a single or multiple pieces of material, the obstacles fit over one or more cones and can be unitary, elongated or arranged as a flock or group of objects. The obstacles catch and retain the attention of drivers more effectively than conventional standard traffic cones, because of their interesting and attractive features and appearance, they are more difficult to avoid and are a more effective training tool.

Abstract: A musical instrument support strap worn around the neck of a musician to support an instrument adjacent the musician at a desired height and/or orientation. The strap provides a buckle for adjusting the height of the instrument and a fastener for opening the loop portion of the strap worn around the musician's neck. The strap can also include a pad positioned to cushion the weight of the instrument on the neck of the musician. A musical instrument support strap with a split neck loop avoids the inconveniences of convention support straps by eliminating the need to readjust the height setting of the supported instrument each time the strap is worm by the musician. The split loop strap also eliminates the disadvantages of having to pull a closed loop over the head of the musician each time the musician wears the strap. Providing a constant setting also improves a student's confidence and familiarity with the instrument.

Abstract: This invention has an Automatic Safety Turn Signal Adapter mounted on the steering shaft of a vehicle to control the flow of electricity. When the steering shaft is turned to the right or left the electric current from the vehicle battery is directed by the adapter to the electrodes that control the right or left side turn signals of the vehicle. The negative terminal of the battery is grounded to the vehicle frame. Power input flows from the battery positive pole, to the electrical apparatus of the adapter, to the turn signal lamps, to the negative grounded frame, and back to the battery negative pole, completing the electric circuit. As the current flows from the positive pole of the battery it passes through an electric circuit breaker which causes the turn signals to flash. The adapter has a switch to manually turn the turn signals off and on and a switch to manually turn the 4-way safety flashers off and on.

Abstract: An expansion indicator device is used around a waist of a user to indicate whether a threshold amount of stomach cavity expansion is achieved as the user breathes and includes a strap, a power source, a feedback indicator and a switch assembly. The strap is fabricated from a stiff yet flexible material and is sized and adapted to be secured around the waist of the user. The feedback indicator is operative between an activation state whereby the power source is connected to the feedback indicator thereby energizing the feedback indicator and a de-activation state whereby the power source is disconnected from the feedback indicator thereby de-energizing the feedback indicator. The switch assembly interconnected to the power source and the feedback indicator and is operatively connected to the strap so that, as the user breathes, the switch assembly is operative to move between a closed condition and an opened condition.

Abstract: An automated highway system reduces the data processing requirements on the vehicles and distributes the processing requirements throughout the automated highway system infra-structure. In this system, a vehicle is detected by use of a vehicle on-board transponder. This transponder responds to an omni-directional radio frequency transmission from a highway control facility used by the automated highway system in the vicinity of the vehicle. The highway control facility interrogates the vehicle transponder for identification, destination, and other pertinent travel parameters or user services to route the vehicle, schedule maintenance, provide user services, and so on. Additionally, the highway control facility calculates the location of the vehicle and energizes vehicle mounted actuators to steer, accelerate and brake the vehicle as necessary. The vehicle maintains constant communications with the automated highway system facilities while on the automated highway system highway.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of Gravity Guidance and Propulsion of Geosynchronous Satellites, other satellites and space vehicles using net kinetic energy PUSH of Gravity of the electromagnetic spectrum particles which continually irradiate the earth from space, based on the Oppositely Charged Twin Monopole (OCTM) Theory of Matter. Specifically Fully Stabilized Geosynchronous Satellites can be made with the same lift-off weight as Spin Stabilized Geosynchronous Satellites by using GG&P Methods and Rules of mass distribution in the satellite.

Abstract: A circle cutting devices includes a pair of opposing discs rotatably coupled together about a common axis by a spindle extending axially from one of the discs. A spring biasing assembly is coupled to the spindle to bias the discs together by a constant pressure. A cutting tool and a pair of rollers are positioned on an inner face of one of the discs to engage and cut the material by rotating the disc.