Abstract: A bed covering retention apparatus comprising a planar anchor plate having a proximal portion and a distal portion, an upper surface and a lower surface, a first and a second anchor point at the proximal end of the anchor plate to which first and second elastic bands are removably connected. The first and second elastic bands have a proximal end and distal end and extend from the anchor points along the bottom surface of the anchor plate until each emerges upwardly through respective apertures to the top surface of the anchor plate. The bands further include releasable jaws having an adjustable opening and adjustable tension so that the jaws will clamp securely to sheets and covers of varying thicknesses.

Abstract: A shield splice for terminating the individual shields on individual wires in multiple wire bundles includes a generally elongate section of transversely deformable material, preferably fabricated from aluminum or tin plated copper metal. The elongate section is open at each end and has a plurality of longitudinal passages which may be any of a number of geometrical shapes. The exterior surface is surrounded by a stainless steel or plastic tie strap, which may have a preinstalled ground strap. In use, wires with exposed shields are inserted through the passages in the elongate section, and the tie strap is cinched down and tightened, thus crushing the splice material around the individual wire shields and grounding them collectively. A method for grounding multiple internal braid splices is also disclosed.

Abstract: A selectively tuned vibration absorber comprising a stack of viscoelastic polymer damping plates, secured together with spacers at both ends and having metal tuning weights attached onto the topmost plate in the stack. The apparatus is secured to the low frequency drive unit of an in-wall loudspeaker with a metal mounting plate between the vibration absorber and the low frequency drive unit. Both ends of the vibration absorber are cantilevered over a tuning mounting plate centered between the ends of the unit, the degree of cantilever and the mass in the metal weights added to the topmost damping plate being variable such that the vibration absorber may be tuned to resonate at the fundamental resonance frequency of the low frequency drive unit.

Abstract: A liquid level control system utilizes a sensor that is attached to a fixed support relative to a liquid container and transmits radio-frequency signals to a remotely located liquid supply system depending upon fluctuations in the liquid level. In the context of a swimming pool, the sensor housing is attached to a sidewall of the pool, at the desired water level. A sensor circuit located within the housing floats at the liquid level, and as changes occur, movement of the floating sensor results in the transmission of signals to either activate or deactivate a supply valve that supplies replacement water to the pool. A small opening located at an upper portion of the sensor housing cooperates with the floating sensor to dampen the motion of the sensor, providing a more accurate reading of the liquid level.

Abstract: Material utilization and process stability for a rotating cylindrical magnetron target used in a sputtering system are improved by incorporation of a second magnet structure or “race track”, allowing the power density on the target surface to be reduced by approximately 50% for any given point where magnetic confinement of the plasma exists. Offsetting one race track relative to the other along the longitudinal axis of the target reduces the power density at each turn-around area (relative to the longitudinal area). Modestly increasing the target material thickness at the ends of the target allows nearly all of the material between the turn-around areas to be sputtered.

Abstract: A grooming brush adapted to dispense medicinal or pesticidal powder into the hair or fur of an animal through the action of brushing alone, having a handle and a head, the head having a top, a bottom, and four sides, the fourth of which is integral with the handle. The head is divided into a first and second chamber for storing and dispensing powder, the chambers defined by two partitioning walls. The bottom of the head has a plurality of bristles, an elongate opening which runs the length of the head, and a rotatable cylinder set into the elongate opening, the cylinder having a plurality of shallow depressions and a cog wheel with an circumferential border at approximately the tip of the bristles. When in use, the cog wheel engages the hair of the animal and the cylinder rotates alternatingly within the powder reservoirs and without, thus alternately collecting powder from the reservoirs and depositing it onto the animal.

Abstract: A truss rod for selectively bowing the neck of a stringed instrument includes a segment of round stock having a pair of threaded ends, one set of threads in a first thread direction, and the other set of threads in the reverse direction. Complementary threaded blocks are threaded onto these threaded ends, and the blocks are secured to a length of flat bar stock. A head bearing a socket is fixed to an end of the round stock, so that turning of the head turns the round stock. The reversed nature of the respective threaded ends causes the length of the portion of the round stock between the fixed blocks to either increase or decrease when the round stock is turned, which correspondingly causes the flat bar to bend either in or out.

Abstract: An improved paddle for use with shallow draft watercraft, including kayaks, canoes, rafts, and the like, having a paddle blade with surface topography for geometrically channeling water across the surface of the blade when in use so as to reduce user fatigue and increase efficiency. A second embodiment of said paddle incorporates a crooked loom to increase leverage applied to said paddle blade by altering the stroke force from 90 degrees to 45 degrees.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mixing materials comprising a unitary sheet of fiberreinforced plastic tarpaulin having reinforced stitching along the sides of the fabric and handles for grasping the tarp attached at the corners of the tarp, primarily intended for use in the preparation of small quantities of concrete in the residential setting, but adaptable for preparing and mixing of a variety of other materials, including mortar, soils, compost, and the like.

Abstract: An improved propulsion apparatus for use in propelling shallow draft watercraft and adaptable for use as either an oar or a paddle, said apparatus comprising at least one split blade. The split blade has a front and at least one back blade section, each of which has surface topography on its working surface comprising channel dividers and fluted channels defined thereby for channeling water across the front surfaces of the front and back blade sections of the blade when in use. The paddle may be either single or double-bladed, suitable, e.g., for canoeing or kayaking, respectively. A second embodiment is adapted for use as an oar. In either embodiment, the front and back blade sections are preferably conjoined to form an oblique opening the two sections for advantageously channeling water.

Abstract: A mason wall cementitious building block system comprising two lightweight dry-stackable block units and methods of using such units, including a wall unit and a corner/end unit, connected one to another in an interlocking fashion by means of male posts and female sockets, and variants on each of said units for capping the uppermost course of an assembled wall. The male posts angle rearwardly to define partial apertures, such that adjoining blocks define an aperture which extends vertically between the adjoined blocks for placement of vertical reinforcement, electrical and plumbing chase, and for the introduction of mortar or cement. The top surface defines a recessed cavity for placement of rebar when stacked. The corner/end unit of the present invention interconnects with wall units also by means of posts and sockets and may function as either an end or a corner, requiring only the removal of a small portion of the block at prescored cut lines to alter functions.

Abstract: A method of using nuclear waste material and exploiting heat generated by radioactive decay of said radioactive waste, comprising the steps of incorporating solid nuclear waste into glass, ceramic, or cementitious blocks, covering the blocks in heat absorbing sealed containers, placing the sealed containers in a columnar arrangement in a gas tight containment room, circulating a heat exchange gas around said containers, passing the heated gas through a sealed heat exchanger, and using the heated water for useful work.

Abstract: A thermally powered variable air volume diffuser is provided, comprising a diffuser housing and a thermally powered actuator assembly mounted therein which varies the size of a supply air discharge opening. The actuator assembly comprises four thermal actuators and means operatively connecting the thermal actuators to a flow control disc defining the discharge opening. The volume of air supplied to a room is varied in response to changes in air supply temperature and room temperature. In the heating cycle, the first thermal actuator lowers the flow control disc, causing increased supply air output. Heated air from the air supply duct causes the second thermal actuator to engage the third thermal actuator. As room temperature rises, the third thermal actuator pushes the second thermal actuator, raising the flow control disc and reducing supply air output.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for extracting resin from plant material. Conventionally, plant resins, which are useful in many products, are extracted using chemical solvents, which may alter the extract, and may produce a by-product or residue that may be unusable or problematic. The present invention overcomes these drawbacks by using cold water in a wash process to cause the resins to become brittle, while the remaining plant material becomes more flexible. Separation is accomplished using an extractor (10) having a washing chamber (12) with an open top (14) and a screen filter (16) disposed above a settling chamber (18). A collection bottle (24) is placed below a valve (22), and may include a filter (26) to separate resin particles from the solute. The washing chamber is first filled with cold water and then a quantity of plant material (P) is placed therein, followed by an ice layer (30). An agitator (32) is then actuated to mix the contents to separate the resins.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for collecting manufacturing equipment downtime data which electrically blocks stopped equipment (production) from restarting until an acceptable reason (either by code or direct identification) has been entered and recognized by an electronic logic system. Locking out the restart capability until the downtime cause has been entered ensures that the causes for all downtimes are recorded in a timely fashion. This data is gathered and recorded to measure and define explanations for lost equipment running time. Other related data may also be gathered.