Abstract: This invention generally relates to a connector for attaching an electrical power source to a conductive fiber tow comprising: a flat surface having an upper and a lower mating portion substantially opposing each other; said upper portion includes a plurality of parallel ribbed troughs and said lower portion includes plurality of parallel ribbed protrusions wherein the upper and lower portions of said surface engagingly fasten a portion of said fiber tow between the ribbed protrusions and the ribbed troughs to hold the said fiber in a fixed position; and at least one electrical contact integral to the flat surface to supply electrical energy to said fiber for producing heat energy.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a storage facility containing consumable items that updates an inventory when items are stored, removed and consumed. A product scanner and a computer installed in the facility use RFID technology to determine if an item has been consumed or removed from a locale. Items in the facility have RFID tags attached. The system interrogates the tags and if a tag becomes disabled, displaced or non-existent due to consumption or removal from a locale the system provides instantaneous status. The computer transmits consumption information to a central location for billing, inventory management, market research information and can transmit the same to other processing units such as hand held computers possessed by staff that replenishes the facility. This system prevents used items from being placed back into the housing facility and being incorrectly accounted for as usable/billable and provides for greater room servicing efficiencies.

Abstract: An occupant propelled vehicle is provided that includes a frame having a front portion and a rear portion, front and rear wheels, a platform for the occupant, an integrated articulating steering mechanism and a drive mechanism. The steering mechanism provides the multiple function of power transmission to a drive train, maneuvering the vehicle through a 360° turning radius and reversing the direction of the vehicle, so that it can travel both forward and backward. In one embodiment, the driving mechanism includes a power transfer means having a first end connected to a drive sprocket through a chain and a second end connected to another drive sprocket through the chain both sprockets mounted on a front wheel for propulsion. The steering means transfers power through the chains that in turn rotate the sprockets and associated wheel propelling the vehicle.

Abstract: This invention relates to a backpack having enclosed compartments suitable for storing and transporting articles requiring thermally insulated and waterproof protection. The backpack is comprised of two-sections, one of which is a thermally insulated compartment for carrying articles that need to be kept cold or warm. The structure of the apparatus is flexible and formed from a combination of composite material sandwiched between an inner and an outer flexible material. Shoulder or carrying straps and a waist strap are integrally connected to the housing so as to adapt to the wearers shoulders and waist.

Abstract: The board game apparatus is intended primarily to provide a game involving trading, negotiating, and sailing. In order that the principle of the invention can be readily understood, a single embodiment thereof is discussed. The object of the game is to accumulate wealth through transporting goods on a cargo sloop and trading with other players. The game apparatus allows the sloops to be realistically sailed from port to port purchasing and trading cargo. Movement of the sloop is governed by wind, tide, current and the skill of the player. An array of playing spaces arranged in a grid allows a plurality of paths between any two ports. Value of the cargo changes as it is transported from port to port increasing as the distance from the port of origin increases, which reflects the added cost of transportation. A doubling of cargo value occurs if the market for that commodity is cornered. Unforeseen events during the game may resupply cargo at ports. Thus, trading of cargo is stimulated.

Abstract: A device worn on a musician's wrist used in combination with a fastening means on the lower end of a clarinet for supporting the weight of the clarinet and thus relieving the strain on the musician's thumb and hand muscles. The device is to be worn about the wrist and thumb and attached to an instrument comprising an elongate flexible means having an attachment means at one end and a wrist band at the opposite end. There is a means to secure the flexible means to a lower end of the instrument. The device includes a wrist band that is circumferentially disposed about a wrist joint over the area of the wrist's transverse carpal bones and ligaments. The wrist band has an attached strap which extends over the webbed portion of the space between the thumb and the index finger which courses downward upon leaving the webbed area, finally attaching to a clarinet lift point on the bell end of the clarinet.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device which serves as a stand for a golf club. In addition the device can be used to mark the location of the ball, clean the accumulation of debris from the bottom of the golfer's shoe, and clean the debris often formed on the face of a golf club. The device consists of a rod with various bends so as to lodge a golf club. The rod is covered with a frictional material to aid in the balance of the golf club. There is a first vertical member which is used to stand the device erect in the ground. Above and connected to the vertical member is a C-shaped frame which is used to support the shaft and head of a golf club when the club is not in use. The first standing member has a spiked end for facilitating the insertion of the device into the ground. The spiked end is also used to remove dirt and grass from the sole and heel of the golf shoes, as well as to scrape dirt that may be lodged in the grooves of a golf club's face.

Abstract: In certain types of firearm competition bowling pin-like objects are shot at, with the goal of knocking them off of a platform. To accomplish this with conventional bullets having a standard tapered bullet requires great skill. This invention relaxes the precision requirement by using a bullet which has a sawtooth section cut from the face of the bullet. A bullet fired from a firearm normally rotates axially due to the rifling in the gun barrel. The rotation coupled with a sawtooth edged slug causes the bullet to penetrate the bowling pin-like object by boring into the surface. The kinetic energy of the bullet's forward movement impacts the bowling pin-like object moving it away from the line of fire. The kinetic energy of the bullet's rotational moment causes the bowling pin-like object to rotate about the axis of the bullet. The composite forces cause the pin to be knocked off the platform.

Abstract: There is a rail connecting and alignment device for a railway track disclosed for interconnecting I-shaped rail members. The connecting and aligning device is vertically supported on rail ties, and in turn supports the I-shaped rail member which may lie such that abutting ends are located over a space between rail ties, and the abutting ends are located within the connecting members.The present invention is concerned with the alignment and connection of railway track. More specifically, the invention is an improvement relating to a rail connecting and alignment device for a railway track and for interconnecting I-shaped rail members which constitute the track. There is a plurality of spaced apart rail tie members, which normally lie upon a rail tie support bed. The tie members are able to support the railway track. A device is provided for vertically supporting a series of the I-shaped rail members so that abutting ends of the rail members may be located over a span between the spaced apart rail tie members.

Abstract: Disclosed is a permanent magnetic direct current motor apparatus which provides high constant torque and constant speed through a large stepping angle under varying output shaft load conditions. The apparatus includes a rotor, a plurality of stators and an electronic control device for providing a constant torque and speed. The rotor is constructed of a cylindrical homogeneous core having an outer, segmented ring formed from a plurality of permanent magnets. The magnets are of alternating polarity and are divided into groups. There is a stator apparatus surrounding the rotor which is composed of cylindrically spaced rows of electrically conductive coils radially spaced apart. A timing disk concentric with and rotating with the rotor senses the speed of the rotor and feeds back periodic timing pulses to an electronic switching system to control the current through the stators. The stators are electromagnetically coupled to the permanent magnet rotor surface.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for controlling operating pressure within a mold cavity of an injection molding die. Finely detailed, and parts having thin walls are molded with the invention providing a process for eliminating defects. There is a pressure control apparatus which is preset to provide varying degrees of negative and positive pressure during the mold cycle, and to reset to repeat the procedure for subsequent cycles. The procedure includes a cleaning stage for preparing the mold cavity for the following mold cycle.

Abstract: A wrist and hand support device to be worn on a user's hand in combination with a glove for supporting and strengthening the user's arm and hand movements to thereby minimize hyperflexion and hyperextension and generally assist the user to increase proper control of a golf club during a golf swing, is disclosed.