Abstract: A capo for fretting the neck of a stringed instrument, comprising a barr member for fretting the strings, a housing member coupled to the barr member, a forcing member for engaging the neck on a side of the neck substantially opposite the strings, a slide bar coupled to the forcing member, first biasing member disposed between the housing and the slide bar and operable to bias the slide bar in a direction away from the neck, a braking lever pivotally engaged with the housing, the braking lever having an opening through which the slide bar passes and second biasing member operable to bias the braking lever in a direction away from the neck. Other systems, devices and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: An ice maker module is built on an integrally formed plastic base. One or more ice making modules are stacked on top of an ice bin. Integrally formed within the plastic base is "wet" compartment within which are disposed multiple numbers of evaporators on which water is frozen into ice cubes. The plastic base also separates the wet compartment from a dry compartment in which is mounted refrigeration components and control circuitry. The evaporators are constructed of two plates of stainless steel. Icing sites are located on the flattened sides of a serpentine refrigeration channel formed between depressions in the stainless steel plates. A microcontroller operates the ice making process. Harvesting of the ice cubes is initiated after the ice maker has used an amount of water necessary to make the ice. An ultrasonic range finder monitors the amount of ice in the bin.

Abstract: A firearm sighting device is disclosed that prevents dominant eye crossover and ensures proper shoulder placement of the firearm for increased accuracy. The sighting device includes an elongated housing having an opening at one end, and a light source is disposed in the housing oppositely from the open end. The housing is adapted to be mounted on the barrel of a firearm with the opening directed toward the butt end portion of the firearm and with the light source near the muzzle end. The housing has a diameter and length sufficient to prevent the shooter's non-aiming eye from seeing the light source, so dominant eye crossover is prevented. The diameter of the housing also prevents the shooter's aiming eye from seeing the light source unless the aiming eye is properly aligned with the barrel, so the sighting device ensures that the firearm has been properly shouldered.

Abstract: There is provided an elevated plant holder which is supported entirely from an ordinary plant or flower pot having a tapered interior surface. The plant holder includes an upstanding pole having a lower end near the bottom of the plant pot and an upper end. A pair of horizontally extending cross arms is provided for securing the pole at a point intermediate its ends and within the plant pot to the tapered interior surface of the plant pot. The upstanding pole passes through a central orifice in each cross arm. The opposite ends of the cross arms are disposed against the tapered interior surface of the plant pot. The longitudinal axes of the cross arms are disposed substantially perpendicularly to one another and lie in substantially adjacent planes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pole. A wire basket is attached to the upper end of the pole for homing the plant. In an alternative embodiment, a wire frame is provided for securing the pole to the interior surface of the plant pot.

Abstract: In one form of the invention, an integrated wellhead tubing string (100) having a reduced overall height is disclosed, comprising an integrated casing (104) having a first vertical bore (110) therethrough having a first inside diameter, a second vertical bore partially therethrough and having a second inside diameter, the second inside diameter greater than the first inside diameter, a first horizontal bore (108) therethrough in communication with the first vertical bore and a second horizontal bore (132) partially therethrough and in communication with the first vertical bore and positioned above and orthogonal to the first horizontal bore, a blowout preventer (106) comprising horizontally opposed, reciprocable rams disposed within the first horizontal bore, a production tee (128) formed by a threaded coupling (130) disposed on an outer surface of the integrated casing, the threaded coupling being in communication with the second horizontal bore, a stuffing box (134) disposed within the second vertical bore

Abstract: Quality of a matrix body of a matrix body drill bit is tested by forming an extension of the matrix material near the nose of the matrix body drill bit. A notch is formed in a mold used to form the matrix body drill bit. The notch is filled with matrix powder during loading of the mold and subsequently infiltrated with binder alloy during infiltration of the matrix body. A matrix body extension is thus formed in the notch. The notch, and thus the matrix body extension, has a ratio of length versus diameter sufficiently high to allow the extension to be removed without permanently damaging the matrix body. The removed extension may then be subsequently tested.

Abstract: A hangered shirt collar protector is provided comprising a strip of flexible material formed into a substantially cylindrical shape by fastening together opposite edges, and the flexible material further having a hole to receive the hook portion of a garment hanger. The protector will support the collar portion of a hangered shirt so that the collar will not become bent and wrinkled.

Abstract: A service station dispenser for gasoline with a vapor collection system is disclosed which processes the electrical signal typically produced by the fuel meter which represents the volume flow rate of fuel to the tank to control the displacement volume of an electrically driven vacuum pump so that a simple vacuum intake disposed preferably inside, but not sealed with, the filter neck can be used to collect only the vapors displaced from the fuel tank by the fuel. The vacuum pump is preferably controlled by the same digital processor which calculates and displays volume and cost to the customer, and a single vacuum pump can be used in connection with single point of sale, multiple fuel grade systems or with multiple point of sale, single grade systems for enhanced economy of cost.

Abstract: A service station dispenser for gasoline with a vapor collection system for processing the electrical signal typically produced by the fuel meter which represents the volume flow rate of fuel to the tank to control the displacement volume of an electrically driven vacuum pump so that a simple vacuum intake disposed preferably inside, but not sealed with, the filter neck can be used to collect only the vapors displaced from the fuel tank by the fuel. The vacuum pump is preferably controlled by the same digital processor which calculates and displays volume and cost to the customer, and a single vacuum pump can be used in connection with single point of sale, multiple fuel grade systems or with multiple point of sale, single grade systems for enhanced economy of cost.

Abstract: An ice maker module is built on an integrally formed plastic base. One or more ice making modules are stacked on top of an ice bin. Integrally formed within the plastic base is "wet" compartment within which are disposed multiple numbers of evaporators on which water is frozen into ice cubes. The plastic base also separates the wet compartment from a dry compartment in which is mounted refrigeration components and control circuitry. The evaporators are constructed of two plates of stainless steel. Icing sites are located on the flattened sides of a serpentine refrigeration channel formed between depressions in the stainless steel plates. A microcontroller operates the ice making process. Harvesting of the ice cubes is initiated after the ice maker has used an amount of water necessary to make the ice. An ultrasonic range finder monitors the amount of ice in the bin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a self-sealing refillable plastic balloon valve produced from at least two sheets of plastic film of equal size and shape, cut and heat sealed to form an elongated plastic fill having an operable channel between an inlet and outlet end. The elongated plastic fill valve being affixed to a plastic balloon stem interior and being capable of cyclic self-sealing and reinflation operation of the balloon body. The plastic balloon valve which is capable of multiple self-sealing and refilling cycles, functions through the use of internal self-sealing means either singly or in combinatoin. The self-sealing refillable plastic balloon valve is mounted within a balloon neck with the outlet end extending into the body of the balloon. During assembly of the balloon, the valve can be mounted within the neck in a manner such that the heat bonding does not close the interconnecting channel from inlet to outlet ends of the valve.