Abstract: A gear train apparatus including a gear and a cone disposed in contact with the gear. The cone includes a plurality of conic teeth, between which are a first plurality of spaces, and a plurality of scaling teeth, between which are a second plurality of spaces. The conic teeth are arranged about the cone to form a plurality of conic rings, which disposed about a plurality of nascention circles. The rings are dimensioned to mate with the teeth of the gear such that the conic teeth neutralize a change in surface speed of the cone along the conic teeth. The scaling teeth form at least one acceleration channel and at least one deceleration channel extending from each of the conic rings and intercepting an adjacent conic ring, with each acceleration channel and the deceleration channel being disposed along a nascention offset line between nascention circles of adjacent conic rings.

Abstract: An inflatable cast system for immobilizing a lower extremity of a human. The system includes a pair of outer shell members shaped to conform to the lateral and medial sides of the lower extremity, respectively. A base member is fastened to the shell members to form a substantially U-shaped stirrup member. The upstanding sidewalls of the shell members are maintained in position relative to the lower extremity by a plurality of elongated, circumferentially extending, longitudinally spaced, flexible fastening straps. A pair of inflatable air bags are attached to inside surfaces of the shell members. The air bags include at least one chamber and a valve that is sealed along one edge of the air bag and is adapted to allow the chamber to be automatically sealed once the brace is attached to the extremity of the user. A unidirectional air pump is provided to allow the chamber of the air bag to be selectively inflated and deflated.

Abstract: A garment storage apparatus that includes a housing having a first portion, a second portion, and a central portion. The first portion and the second portion are dimensioned to fold about the central portion and fasten together to form an interior compartment of the apparatus. The combination of a clamp plate, a clamping means, a central rod assembly and a second rod assembly holds a garment in tension when the first portion of the housing and the second portion of the housing are folded about the central portion of the housing.

Abstract: A grinding attachment for use in conjunction with hand-held grinding or drilling power tools such as are commonly found around the house, and method for using this attachment. The purpose of the invention is to allow the homeowner and the like to have greater facility in performing surface sanding, grinding, or finish work on pieces of wood and the like. In particular, the goal is to provide proficiency in working with surfaces that are not planar or otherwise simple. By providing an appropriate compound support against which an abrasive belt or the like is to run as it works the surface, it is possible to have a variety of backing shapes ranging from a strictly planar backing to one that allows the abrasive material to take the shape of whatever piece is being pressed against it. The invention derives its motive power from a coupling to a power tool, typically by the insertion of a drive axle of the attachment into the chuck of a hand drill.

Abstract: A stack of gears including and a first and a second gear disposed in parallel relation to, and sharing a common axis with, the first gear. Each gear is of a different diameter and each includes a plurality of teeth. At least one transition train is teeth disposed between the first gear and the second gear. Like the first and second gear, the transition train also includes a plurality of teeth that are disposed in substantially perpendicular relation to the common axis. The transition train is dimensioned to form at least one deceleration channel and at least one acceleration channel extending from each of the first gear and the second gear. The stack of gears may be dimensioned for use with a pinion gear, or with a continuous loop drive, such as a chain or belt.

Abstract: A lighting apparatus and method. The apparatus includes a light source, counting means for counting an actual amount of time that the light source has been used, and recording means in communication with the counting means for recording the actual amount of time that the light source has been used. The method includes the steps of supplying power to the light source, counting an actual amount of time that the power has been supplied to the light source, and recording the actual amount of time that power has been supplied to the light source.

Abstract: A technique for hiding information in an image that is based a property of the human vision system. Because of its relation to human vision properties, the technique of the present invention provides an information hiding capacity is as large as 50% of the original image data. The method includes the steps of segmenting each region of a vessel image into informative and noise-like regions by using a threshold value, arranging the data into a series of data blocks, and embedding each data block into the noise-like regions of the image.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus for randomly dispensing objects, such as chocolate candies, a kit of parts, and a method for playing games, or educational exercises. that utilizes the random dispenser apparatus. The apparatus includes a housing having a substantially hollow interior portion for holding a plurality of the objects and a dispensing opening dimensioned to allow a single object to be dispensed. An object sorter is provided for aligning the objects for individual dispensing through the dispensing opening of the housing. Finally, an actuator is provided for individually dispensing the single object from the object sorter through the dispensing opening of the housing. In operation, the objects are held within the housing and are randomly aligned within the object sorter such that a user will not know which of the objects will be dispensed when the actuator is actuated. The objects are then dispensed through the dispensing opening in the housing when the actuator is actuated.

Abstract: An entranceway for a disaster shelter and a disaster shelter. The entranceway include a substantially hollow main manway, a hatch dome ring disposed about, and extending outward from, the open top of the main manway; and a hatch dome cover removably attached to the hatch dome ring such that the hatch dome cover forms a weather resistant seal with the hatch dome ring. The exterior surfaces of the preferred hatch dome ring and hatch dome cover are manufactured of an intumescent laminate material. A substantially hollow emergency escape manway is disposed through the main manway wall to allow an alternate point of egress from the shelter in the event that the hatch dome cover is blocked by debris. The preferred entranceway also includes an air filter and a septic tank, each located exterior to the manway such that each may be accessed by a shelterist within the manway.

Abstract: A fixture apparatus and system. The fixture apparatus includes a base plate. A clamp block extends from the base plate and has a clamp surface disposed at a first angle from the top surface of the base plate. A locator block extends from the base plate and includes a locator surface disposed opposite the clamp surface of the clamp block. An alignment means is provided for aligning the workpiece relative to the locator surface of the locator block. A clamp wedge is disposed between the clamp surface and the locator surface. The clamp wedge includes a drive shaft, a bearing surface and a wedge surface disposed at a second angle relative to the bearing surface. The second angle of the wedge surface is complimentary to the first angle of the clamp surface such that the wedge surface is substantially parallel to the locator surface. A drive means is provided for extending and retracting the clamp wedge.

Abstract: A method of making a brazing flux compound including the steps of dispensing a desired amount of each of a plurality of ingredients. Adding potassium bifluoride to a bowl and adding boric acid on top of the potassium bifluoride. Mixing the boric acid and potassium bifluoride to form a substantially smooth wet first paste. Adding potassium tetraborate to the first paste and mixing the potassium tetraborate with the first paste to form a substantially creamy second paste. Adding potassium fluoroborate to the second paste and mixing the potassium fluoroborate with the second paste to form a third paste. Adding potassium carbonate to the third paste and mixing until the potassium carbonate is completely dissolved thus forming a fourth paste. Heating the fourth paste for a predetermined time at a predetermined temperature such that the said fourth paste is substantially dried into a substantially solid flux and then reducing the substantially solid flux to a powder flux.

Abstract: A disaster shelter for mounting under ground. The shelter includes an entranceway having at least one air vent and a substantially hollow paraboloid shaped shelter cell. The shelter cell includes a paraboloid focus portion attached to the entranceway and paraboloid base portion disposed opposite the entranceway. A gravity ring is attached to the paraboloid base portion and is dimensioned such that the shelter is constrained within the ground when the water table reaches ground level.

Abstract: An object retrieval apparatus including a base plate having an opening disposed therethrough at a predetermined location. At least two jaws are pivotally attached to the base plate. An actuator is movably disposed through the opening in the base plate and is fixedly attached to a retention member. At least two pivot arms are pivotally attached to the retention member and the jaws. Finally, a closing means is provided for closing the jaws. In operation, the actuator is positioned such that the jaws are in open position. The actuator is then caused to contact the object to be retrieved, or a surface proximate to the object, such that the retention member and the pivot arms are moved towards the base plate, causing the jaws to pivot inward. Once the actuator is moved past a trigger point, the closing means is engaged and acts to drives the jaws inward.

Abstract: A sweat flange, piping system utilizing the same, and method of installing a circulator to a copper pipe. The sweat flange includes a base portion having a predetermined shape and at least two bolt openings dimensioned to accept at least two mounting bolts. A shoulder portion extends from the base portion and includes a substantially circular pipe opening that extends through the base portion and the shoulder portion. The pipe opening includes a first portion dimensioned to accept the pipe and a second portion of decreased diameter in order to limit the travel of the pipe through the opening. The sweat flange is attached to the pipe by inserting the pipe into the pipe opening of the flange and soldering the two together using art recognized soldering techniques. The piping system includes at least one pipe, a sweat, a pair of mounting bolts and a circulator or other pump.

Abstract: The present invention is a resin-starved pultruded-impregnated panel, wood composites utilizing said panel, and a method of making the same. The panel of the present invention comprises a pultruded center portion made from a plurality of fibers bound together by a resin such that the surfaces of the center portion contain significantly less resin than the core, and a layer of an impregnating adhesive, having similar chemical properties to chemical properties of a bonding adhesive used to laminate layers of the wood composite, bonded to each surface to form the surfaces of the panel. The wood composite of the present invention comprises a plurality of wooden members disposed in substantially parallel relation to one another, at least one resin starved pultruded panel disposed at a predetermined location between two of the members; and a bonding adhesive disposed between the surfaces of the members the panel to bond them together.

Abstract: A non-corrosive, non-hygroscopic silver brazing flux compound. In the preferred embodiment, the flux compound consists of potassium fluoroborate approximately 26% by weight, boric acid approximately 26% by weight, potassium bifluoride approximately 24% by weight, potassium tetraborate approximately 20% by weight, and potassium carbonate approximately 3.5% by weight. The method of making the flux compound and its non-corrosive and non-hygroscopic properties enables the flux compound to be especially suitable for use as either as a flux paste or dried and milled into a powder to be dispensed within a sheath of silver based filler material to form a flux cored brazing wire.

Abstract: A hairbrush having a head that may be quickly removed from the brush handle and a hairbrush system utilizing the same. In its most basic form, the hairbrush includes a brush head having a plurality of bristles, a removable brush handle, and a quick disconnect mechanism for removably attaching the brush handle to the brush head such that the brush handle may be quickly removed from the brush head. In the preferred embodiment, the quick disconnect mechanism includes a rod extending from the brush handle with a spring loaded ball partially extending from the rod, and an opening disposed within the brush head for accepting the rod and retaining the ball. The preferred ball presses against a sleeve disposed within the opening in the brush head. In some embodiments, however, the sleeve is eliminated and the opening includes a keyway and retainer mates with the ball and holds the ball in place.

Abstract: An all-purpose cleaning apparatus and kit. The cleaning apparatus includes a head having a substantially triangular shape. The head includes a front portion having an interior and an exterior, a plurality of substantially long hard bristles extending from the exterior of the front portion, and a plurality of substantially short soft bristles extending from the interior of the front portion. The head also includes a rear portion manufactured of a sponge material. In the preferred embodiment, the head of the cleaning apparatus includes a top surface and a bottom surface, disposed in substantially parallel relation to one another such that the head has a substantially low profile, and a rounded front portion. The preferred cleaning apparatus also includes a telescoping handle removably attached to the rear portion of the head via a pivot joint, and an accessory holder dimensioned to secure a bottle to the handle.

Abstract: A method of altering an insert blank by disposing one or more of four shapes at a predetermined location on the blank to provide at least one sharpened edge. The blank can be either a new insert or one that has been dulled and is due to be discarded. The four shapes are a compound shape, a radius and flank shape, a bias helical shape and a helical rake shape. The bias helical shape and the helical rake shape can be either positive or negative. The radius and flank shape can be either concave or convex. The shapes can be ground on a blank using standard grinding machinery.

Abstract: The present invention is a prestressing system for wood elements and structures and a method from prestressing wood beams. In its most basic form, the system for prestressing structures comprises a plurality of members arranged in a predetermined configuration, at least one non-metallic prestressing tendon, having a material stiffness less than that of steel, disposed in such a manner as to fasten together the members, and stressing means attached to at least one end of the prestressing tendon to exert a tensile force on the tendon and an equal and opposite compressive force drawing the members together. In the preferred embodiment, the tendons are manufactured from fiber reinforced plastic and the members are arranged in side by side relation to form a deck. The deck includes a series of aligned holes through the members, through which the prestressing tendons pass and are secured and prestressed.