Abstract: A handheld canister vacuum cleaner device includes a canister assembly with a canister having a hollow interior and a suction-producing subassembly mounted on the canister that sucks air from the hollow interior. An attachment-coupling component is provided on the canister that serves to hold a vacuuming attachment on the canister while coupling the vacuuming attachment in fluid communication with the hollow interior of the canister. The attachment-coupling component holds the vacuuming attachment pivotally so that a user can pivot the vacuuming attachment relative to the canister to multiple user-selected angles for operating convenience. Preferably, the attachment-coupling component includes a ball-and-socket arrangement that includes a ball-shaped portion of the attachment-coupling component held pivotally by a socket-shaped component on the canister so that the user can pivot the attachment-coupling component to and lock it in place at a desired one of multiple pivotal positions.

Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating manual movement of a trash container having an upwardly opening container component with a pair of handles, a set of wheels, and a lid, includes an elongated apparatus or “tool” for the user to attach to the handles. A mid section of the tool engages the handles, an upwardly extending upper section provides a lever arm for the user to grasp, and a downwardly extending lower section contacts the container component in opposition to pivotal movement of the object about the handle axis. Preferably, a lid-restraining section is included that restrains pivotal movement of the lid about its hinges when the trash container is tilted on the wheels and moved. A first embodiment hooks onto the handles. A second embodiment includes a bifurcated mid section that engages the handles by extending downwardly through the spaces between the handles and the container component.

Abstract: A semi-trailer or other cargo vehicle enclosure includes a rearward end portion extending between opposite left and right sidewalls. The sidewalls include vertically extending rearward corner portions that define air passageways for directing rearwardly flowing air from alongside the sidewalls toward a region of low pressure behind the rearward end portion of the enclosure. Preferably, the rearward corner portions include vertically extending rearward corner posts and deflector components that are formed to cooperatively define circularly shaped passageways for gradual air-flow redirection, with the sidewall exterior surfaces and the deflector exterior surfaces being within prescribed maximum semi-trailer widths while the interior corner post spacing does not reduce the usual width of semi-trailer cargo space.

Abstract: An apparatus for holding a plurality of rearwardly extending coiled lines on a truck in an elevated side-by-side position for line-protection purposes includes an assembly having a first section, a second section, and components for holding the assembly together. A plurality of at least two line-gripping portions (preferably three) extend away from the elongated portion radially relative to the axis of elongation and in spaced-apart relationship to each other. The line-gripping portions define line-receiving openings with central axes extending intermediate the first and second sections generally parallel to the axis of elongation. So constructed, the apparatus provides sidewardly extending openings for receiving upwardly disposed and sidewardly extending loop portions of the rearwardly extending coiled lines.

Abstract: A VAWT wind engine includes a support structure, an articulating rotor mounted on the support structure for rotation about a vertically extending axis, and at least one airfoil on the rotor for rotor-powering purposes. The articulating rotor is mounted in a manner enabling tilting movement of the rotor during rotation so that the airfoil produces rotor rotation and rotor tilt as the airfoil orbits the rotational axis. At least one mechanical linkage is included to actively vary airfoil pitch according to rotor tilt. The partially articulating rotor of a teetering-rotor embodiment seesaws up and down about a horizontally extending pivotal axis. The fully articulating rotor of another embodiment supports three airfoils as it tilts in any direction by virtue of a gimbal or other rotor hub assembly providing a 360-degree swiveling action, while furling hinges help protect the airfoils against damaging winds during wind engine shutdown.

Abstract: A semi-trailer or other cargo vehicle enclosure includes a rearward end portion extending between opposite left and right sidewalls. The sidewalls include vertically extending rearward corner portions that define air passageways for directing rearwardly flowing air from alongside the sidewalls toward a region of low pressure behind the rearward end portion of the enclosure. Preferably, the rearward corner portions include vertically extending rearward corner posts and deflector components that are formed to cooperatively define circularly shaped passageways for gradual air-flow redirection, with the sidewall exterior surfaces and the deflector exterior surfaces being within prescribed maximum semi-trailer widths while the interior corner post spacing does not reduce the usual width of semi-trailer cargo space. Bi-folding doors open to wide-open positions that clear the deflectors.

Abstract: A portable voting booth for a user to erect at a voting place when needed and disassemble thereafter for transportation and storage includes a base portion and a plurality of legs for assemble onto the base portion. The base portion defines a plurality of leg-receiving bores for receiving hollow tubular end portions of the plurality of legs. The base portion also includes leg-gripping components within the bores for gripping the tubular end portions in order to restrain the legs from falling out of the leg-receiving bores under influence of gravity. The leg-gripping components of one embodiment include four resiliently deformable, axially extending fingers within each of four leg-receiving bores, the fingers resiliently deforming so that they fit axially into the tubular end portions to bear radially outward against the inwardly facing inner walls of the tubular end portions for leg-restraining purposes.

Abstract: A test probe assembly includes a probe-supporting component and a test probe on it. According to one aspect of the invention, the probe-supporting component takes the form of a probe-supporting housing in which the test probe is partially disposed so that two test probe legs extend out of the housing to spaced-apart distal end portions of the legs, with the housing enhancing leg stability and limiting leg contact for less stray-impedance influence on test results when a user holds the housing and squeezes the distal end portions toward terminals on a device under test (DUT).