Abstract: The present invention involves multi-utility energy control system with at least one control center computer which is connected to various utility consuming systems and has specialized software that formats pertinent systems energy data, stores it, retrieves it, diagnoses it and acts in response to changes and includes a multi-utility master meter device and a plurality of sensors. The meter device and sensors monitor consumption of a plurality of different utilities meter and will generate selected information, including recognition of surges, of increase in usage versus historical data. The master meter has a central processing unit, visual display means, programming controls and a power source connection. The sensors connections transmit real time rates to the master meter central processing unit.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to decorative three-dimensional, detailed, sculptured items formed of foam plastic with contours and impressions of varying depth. It is attached to a desired surface via an adhesive layer. The items include detailed, sculptured, three-dimensional, predetermined ornamental creations on their front side with varying thicknesses and areas of impressions of varying thicknesses, and having substantially flat surfaces on their backs. There is also a reinforcement grid of a plurality of strands of material which have a tensile strength greater than the tensile strength of the semi-flexible material contained within the semi flexible material. There is an adhesive applied to the flat surface of the present invention item, which may be protected before its use by a removable, peelable non-adhesive layer that attaches to the back of the item over the applied adhesive.

Abstract: The present invention planter water level control device includes a pot with water level indicators and a drainage mechanism to prevent or eliminate overfill of liquid. In some embodiments it includes both a pot and a pot holder. Either the pot or the pot holder of both may contain the water level indicator and may contain the drainage mechanism. One version of the water level indicator is a housing with a water inlet opening in the form of a tube, and this may or may not include a float or stem. Alternative indicators include vertical transparent sections as well as electronically based signaling.

Abstract: The present invention is a spinal nucleus implant for replacement of at least a portion of nucleus pulposus tissue removed from a spinal disc of a living vertebrate to restore function of the spinal disc and related vertebral joint. The implant is an anisotropically swellable, biomimetic xerogel plastic, having a two phase structure with a hydrophobic phase having high crystallinity and low water content and with hydrophilic phase having low crystallinity and high water content and having a negatively charged lubricious surface. The xerogel plastic is capable of rehydration and of osmotic movement of liquid therethrough in response to osmotic pressure change to thereby increase and decrease liquid content in its hydrated state. The present invention also relates to surgical implant procedures utilizing this spinal nucleus implant.

Abstract: A modular shelf moving cart includes a base with a plurality of wheels for permitting movement of said base, a first shelf retaining unit which is removably fastened to the base and which extends vertically from the base, and a second shelf retaining unit removably fastened to the base adjoining the first shelf retaining unit. The second unit is configured so as to permit 180 degree rotation thereof in order to engender a first configuration having dual open sided shelf unit with a central dividing wall and a second configuration having a single open sided shelf unit with a rear wall thereby doubling the side-to-side storage depth capacity of the modular shelf moving cart.

Abstract: A mobile ultraviolet substrate coating curing device which is adapted to cure substrate coatings in inaccessible areas, such as floor corners, walls, overhangs, edges and ceilings includes a curved or generally bent ultraviolet vapor lamp source which is coupled with a power efficient mobile curing unit. The present invention is particularly well adapted to cure any expanse with the unique ability to cure even extraordinarily inaccessible areas. The curved ultraviolet vapor lamp may be shuttered, either manually or automatically. The carriage unit may be operated at constant speed to provide uniform curing energy. The curved ultraviolet vapor lamp is preferably situated adjacent to the coated surface and is preferably backed by a reflector which enhances the curved ultraviolet vapor lamp emissions so as to more adequately broadcast the emissions toward all bordering expanses of the substrate coating.

Abstract: A reversible, portable winch for attachment to a utility rack. It includes a shaft for rotation; a take-up reel for winding and unwinding a flexible securing strap, the take-up reel being connected to the shaft and affixed thereto for rotation therewith; a flexible securing strap attached to the take-up reel at a first end thereof; a plurality of bidirectional pawl-engaging teeth located about the shaft and so as to prevent and permit rotation of the take-up reel and the shaft by being engaged and disengaged with a pawl; a winding mechanism connected to the shaft or the take-up reel for winding the shaft and the take-up reel; support for supporting the shaft and the pawl. The winch is connected via its shaft to a support and the pawl may be movably connected to the support as well. In preferred embodiments, the support is a component of a utility rack such as a ladder utility rack attached to the cargo bed of a pick-up truck or the top of a motor vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention is a push and twist locking child-resistant cap and container. It includes a squeeze tube container having a neck and a dispensing orifice at an outer end of the neck, and the neck has one of a locking track and a locking lug. There is also a cap having at least three components and being assembled to move together as a single unit. This cap includes an outer shell having a sidewall and a top, the outer shell being adapted to receive and contain an inner top and an inner collar member; an inner top inserted into the outer shell, and; an inner collar member fixedly inserted into the outer shell below the inner top and having the other of the locking track and said locking lug.

Abstract: A mobile, motorized washing and drying apparatus is described which includes a mobile cart or base which is formed for the attachment of both a motorized washing device and a motorized drying device. The motorized washing device is attached to the base and has a motor capable of pressurizing and discharging washing fluids for the washing and cleaning of something, for example, an automobile. The motorized drying device is also attached to the base and has a housing formed with an inlet and an outlet and a motor therein. The motor of the drying device has a shaft with a blade means attached thereto for producing an air flow. The drying device further has a hose extending from it to direct the produced airflow for drying something, for example, a freshly washed automobile. In some embodiments, the motor of the washing device and the motor of the drying device are both electric; and, in other embodiments the motor of the washing device and the motor of the drying device are both internal combustion type.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improvement for a child resistant overcap with safety collar for screw-on pump sprayers. The device includes a main closure base for attachment to a container, an outer ring, a spray mechanism attached to the base and an overcap. The overcap is child resistant and can only be removed when corresponding protrusions and cut outs are in alignment. The sprayer mechanism has an inside threaded sprayer neck and the container has an outside threaded container neck upon which the threaded sprayer neck is attached. The device relates to the improvement of providing a child-resistant safety feature of including a non-flexible ring collar attached to the outside of the sprayer neck and adapted to rotate about the sprayer neck to inhibit undesired unthreading or threading of the sprayer neck from or to the container neck.

Abstract: An air blower apparatus is described which has a blower unit, an attached base and a length of flexible hose used in combination to move volumes of air at speeds for the purpose of accelerating drying processes, for example, the drying of a freshly washed automobile. The apparatus is designed for operation with the blower unit remotely located from the user proximate ground level. The blower unit has a housing formed with an inlet and an outlet, and a motor inside having a shaft with blade means attached thereto for producing an air flow. The present invention also includes a base which is formed to attach the blower unit thereon for use close to or proximate ground level, and the base is also formed to position the blower unit thereon so that the inlet of the blower unit does not draw in debris close to or from the ground. The present invention also includes a hose which is flexible and attached to the blower housing outlet.

Abstract: A retracting hairholder device includes a main body casing for retaining a tensioned coilable flexible non-elastic cord member. The flexible non-elastic cord member extends from the main body casing to form a loop and has a wound position and a plurality of measurable unwound positions. The flexible non-elastic cord member is coupled with a tension member contained within the main body casing which imparts sufficient tension upon the flexible non-elastic cord member such that it is pre-disposed toward a wound position so as to securely bind a lock of hair once placed within the loop. The flexible non-elastic cord member may be manually loosened or unwound in order to permit removal of the lock of hair. In one embodiment, the flexible non-elastic cord member may be locked into any position by a locking member. In another embodiment, a torquing member may be employed to confer added binding capabilities.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved horse rein with a main leather rein member and a hook stud assembly. The main leather rein member has a hook stud area located between the bit end and the hand end. The hook stud assembly is a heterogeneous structure with: (i.) the hook stud area of the main rein member being a leather base; (ii.) a hook stud having a stem and a hook stud base, with the hook stud base being located on the leather base; (iii.) a synthetic fabric reinforcement layer atop the base and atop the hook stud base. The synthetic fabric reinforcement layer has an orifice thereon through which the hook stud stem passes. It is preferably formed of nylon; and (iv.) a leather backing atop the synthetic fabric reinforcement layer and having an orifice thereon through which the hook stud stem passes. The assembly is permanently attached to one another, e.g. by stitching. In other embodiments, plural hook studs are used, with and without a synthetic fabric interlayer.

Abstract: The present invention is a protective system for a plurality of pills contained within a blisterpack. It includes a plurality of hollow modules formed of a non-flexible plastic material, each hollow module having a sufficient size and shape to fit over individual blister-contained pills in the blister pack, and a plurality of spacing bars connecting the plurality of modular hollow modules. The hollow modules may be arranged in predetermined geometric patterns linearly or in an x-axis, y-axis plane to coincide with the pattern of blisters of a blisterpack so as to fit over the blisterpack for packaging and shipping to prevent breakage and damage to the blisters and the pills contained therein.

Abstract: A toy block set includes a plurality of toy block configurations that are slidably, pivotally and fixably coupled to one another and which are further capable of three dimensional slidable and pivotal maneuvering with respect to one another by virtue of rail extension members, rail guide members and pivot members. A first group of the block configurations includes embodiments with a rail extension member which consists of a first thinner segment and a second wider segment. A second group of the block configurations includes embodiments with rail guide members which are configured to permit multi-directional movement of the rail extension members therethrough. A third group of the block configurations includes embodiments with pivot members which are configured to permit multi-directional pivotal and slidable movement of the rail extension members therethrough. In an alternative embodiment, the rail extension members may be independent pieces.

Abstract: A multi-utility energy control system has control center computer(s) connected to various utility consuming systems and software that formats pertinent systems' energy data, stores, retrieves, diagnoses and acts in response to changes and includes a multi-utility master meter device and a plurality of sensors. The system includes at least one dashboard screen as a control screen, and a plurality of interconnected utility related subscreens. The meter device and sensors monitor consumption of a plurality of different utilities and will generate selected information, including recognition of surges, of increase in usage versus historical data. The master meter has a CPU, visual display means, programming controls and a power source connection. The sensors connections transmit real time rates to the master meter central processing unit.

Abstract: The present invention is a child resistant rotating disk pill dispenser with a main housing to receive a circular pill package and pill package tray for rotation. The tray contains annularly arranged pill-drop orifices, and hold in place a circular pill package with a plurality of pills arranged to coincide with the pill-drop orifices. The tray has ratchets for engagement with a rotating knob for advancement thereof and the knob is connected to a said main housing central shaft so as to be selectively rotatable and reciprocally movable, with a first vertical position upwardly relative to the pill package tray and a second vertical position downwardly toward the pill package tray. When the knob is in its first vertical position, it is not in rotatable engagement with the ratchets, and when it is in its second vertical position it is in rotatable engagement therewith. A plunger is included for pushing pills through a pill package, through a pill-drop orifice and out the dispensing orifice.

Abstract: A double-ended wrench is described having a movable wrench grip which may be positioned at either end of the double-ended wrench, thereby providing a user with improved comfort, torque and continuous use capabilities at both ends of the wrench. The wrench includes a movable wrench grip which may have one or more seams extending the entire length thereof to facilitate the attachment and detachment of the movable wrench grip to the double-ended wrench. Also, the movable wrench grip may have means to temporarily fix the grip at different locations along the extended central portion of the double-ended wrench, or to increase friction between the movable wrench grip and the double-ended wrench. In one preferred embodiment, there is a double-ended wrench, having a movable wrench grip thereon which has a single, wide seam extending the entire length thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a device for removing liquid from solid canned goods such as tuna. More specifically, the present invention is a hand held strainer device which operates in scissor-like fashion and includes opposing, hinged members with one having a can support and the other having a free floating strainer. The device further includes a quick-release, thumb activated ratchet-locking and engaging mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention is a child resistant cap and dispenser. It includes a dispensing container, a flange located non-rotatably connected on the container neck with one-way ratchets, located thereon, said flange being non-rotatably connected to said container neck; a ring collar, non-removably and rotatably connected to the container neck with one-way ratchets located thereon, in functional and cooperative contact with the flange ratchets to permit rotation of it about the neck in one direction and so as to prevent rotation in the opposite direction. The ring collar has an outer circular wall, with one of (i) at least one keyway track and, (ii) at least one keyway protrusion, located thereon, the other being located on a cap, adapted to fit onto the said ring collar. There is a spring mechanism located on at least one of the necks, the collar and the cap, to bias the cap upwardly away from the dispensing container when the cap is connected to the ring collar.