Abstract: A laminating system includes a feeder apparatus, a laminating apparatus, and a trimmer apparatus mounted on a movable support structure that is adapted to maintain alignment in order to enable a user to move the system without upsetting the alignment. Simultaneous and differential speed control components for the feeder apparatus and the laminating apparatus are provided according to a separate aspect of the invention to enable the user to control spacing between individual sheets as they move along a feed path to the laminating apparatus. A guide plate provided on the feeder apparatus according to another aspect of the invention has an upwardly extending surface that faces the leading edges of sheets in a stack of sheets.

Abstract: A watercraft constructed according to the invention includes at least one hull according to the invention described in the grandparent and great-grandparent patent applications that issued as U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,314,903 and 6,250,245, which hull includes first and second channel defining structures connected to the hull that define a first channel on a port side of the hull with a forwardly facing first channel entrance and a second channel on a starboard side of the hull with a second forwardly facing channel entrance. According to one aspect of the invention, the hull has a bow that extends to a vertical knife edge, and the first and second wing channel entrances are arranged to form a near horizontal knife edge at the deck level in order to enhance high speed operations. According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an onboard air system for injecting air into the first and second channels in order to enhance high speed operation of the watercraft.

Abstract: A fishing lure includes a shaft having a first end for connection to a line and a second end for connection to a hook. An outer body is provided on the shaft to conduct water through its hollow interior during retrieval while an inner body gating component rotatably mounted on the shaft within the hollow interior repetitively interrupts or gates the flow of water in a way that produces low frequency vibrations. As an angler retrieves a line attached to the shaft, water flows into an outer body input port, through the hollow interior, and then out a plurality of outer body output ports located at a rearward end of the outer body.

Abstract: A method for installing a sheet of wallboard over a previously installed junction box includes the steps of providing a magnet and a magnet-sensing device adapted to produce a human discernible signal when placed against an outwardly facing side of the sheet of wallboard in close proximity to the magnet. The method proceeds by mounting the magnet on the junction box, installing the sheet of wallboard over the junction box, searching for the junction box by moving the magnet-sensing device along the outwardly facing side of the sheet of wallboard until the sensor produces the human discernible signal, and then cutting an opening in the sheet of wallboard at the location of the junction box. A magnet-sensing device includes a housing supporting an electrical circuit that is adapted to produce a human discernible signal when placed in close proximity to a magnet located behind the wallboard.

Abstract: A fishing lure includes a shaft having a first end for connection to a line and a second end for connection to a hook. An outer body is provided on the shaft to conduct water through its hollow interior during retrieval while a gating component rotatably mounted on the shaft within the hollow interior repetitively interrupts or gates the flow of water in a way that produces low frequency vibrations. As an angler retrieves a line attached to the shaft, water flows into an outer body input port, through the hollow interior, and then out a plurality of outer body output ports located at a rearward end of the outer body.

Abstract: A method for delivering fuel oil from a pressurized fuel oil source to an airblast atomizer subassembly on a low firing rate fuel oil burner includes providing a flow control device having a body defining a bore extending between and inlet end of the bore and an outlet end of the bore. The flow control device includes a rod disposed coaxially within the bore in a close fitting relationship. At least one of the bore and the rod is threaded (i.e., includes a groove extending along a helical path) to define a passageway extending along a circuitous, helical path intermediate the input and output ends of the bore through which the fuel oil must pass in flowing from the input end to the output end. The passageway has a size and shape adapted to achieve a desired rate of flow of the fuel oil to the airblast atomizer subassembly (e.g., less than 1.0 gallons per hour and typically less than 0.5 gallons per hour). The method proceeds by delivering the fuel oil through the passageway in the flow control device.

Abstract: A tool for removing tile spacers includes a barrel having a bushing on its distal end portion, and a tile-spacer-engaging member disposed partially within a bore in the barrel. The tile-spacer-engaging member is disposed within the bore moveably for linear movement along the central axis of the barrel between a withdrawn position of the tile-spacer-engaging member in which a pick-shaped distal end portion does not extend out of the distal end of the bore and a deployed position of the tile-spacer-engaging member in which the pick-shaped distal end portion does extend out of the distal end of the bore. Components are provided for spring biasing the tile-spacer-engaging member in the withdrawn position. First and second handle members are attached to respective ones of the barrel and the tile-spacer-engaging member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a watercraft having a wave suppressing “M-shaped” hull design. The hull comprises a central displacement body flanked by two downwardly extending outer skirts. The outer skirts are attached to the displacement body by planing wings having wing channels. The bow wave is directed into the wing channels, thereby increasing planing efficiency and reducing the effect of such waves on other boats and the shoreline. One embodiment takes the form of a twin-hull catamaran with two M-shaped hulls and four arcuate channels for containing the spiraling bow waves from the two central displacement bodies, thus to increase lateral stability and to suppress boat waves to protect nearby boats and structures at the water/land interface.

Abstract: A device for single-handedly moving folding tables, plywood sheets, doors, and other large objects, includes a first component having first and second oppositely facing sides and a size and shape enabling a person to carry the first component with one hand. A holding arrangement extends outwardly from the first side of the first component for holding the marginal edge portion of the object to be moved with the flat surface of the object to be moved extending vertically and facing the first side of the first component. A wheel mounted on the first component functions to wheel the first component and the object to be moved along a desired direction of travel, with the wheel rotating about an axis of rotation that is perpendicular to the flat surface of the object to be moved so that the flat surface of the object to be moved is parallel to the direction of travel.

Abstract: A cooking appliance that facilitates preparation of dry packaged foods includes a base and a removable pot on the base. The base is adapted to rest upon a horizontal countertop surface as a support for other components of the cooking appliance. The base includes an electric line adapted to be plugged into a source of household electricity and an electric motor connected to the electric line. The pot is adapted to be placed removably upon the base for food preparation purposes and to be used apart from the base as a serving dish. An electric heating element is included for heating the pot when the pot is on the base using electric power from the electric line. A stirring mechanism on the pot is adapted to connect to the motor when the pot is placed on the base and to stir packaged foods within the pot using rotational power from the electric motor.

Abstract: A laptop computer workstation accessory for an automobile includes a portable case adapted to be transported manually by the driver and placed in an automobile intermediate the driver seat and the passenger seat. The case includes a lower portion with a pivotal laptop computer support structure on which to mount a laptop computer with hook-and-loop fabric fastener, and a lockable upper portion pivotally connected to the lower portion for movement between a closed position in which the upper portion covers the laptop computer support structure and an open position in which it exposes the laptop computer support structure to the driver. The upper portion is adapted to hold a pad of writing paper and the lower portion includes a moveable printer support structure behind a moveable side panel on the passenger side. One embodiment includes a carrier harness with a shoulder strap arrangement for use in manually transporting the accessory to and from the automobile.

Abstract: An appliance for cooking fajitas and other tortilla cuisine includes an electric grill plate having a plate component with a cooking surface, an electrical heating element component adapted to heat the plate component for purposes of cooking foodstuffs placed on the cooking surface, a portion of the plate component that defines a compartment adapted to hold a stack of tortillas for purposes of warming the tortillas with heat derived from the electric grill plate, and a cover for the compartment. One embodiment includes a removable tortilla tray within the tortilla warming compartment for holding the tortillas while they warm so that the cook can lift the tortilla tray from the tortilla warming compartment for purposes of transporting the tortillas to the table. Ribs on the plate component facilitate drainage of grease, oil, and other runoff liquids from the fajitas and other foodstuffs through a hole in the plate component to a removable collection drawer.

Abstract: The present invention relate to a watercraft having a wave suppressing “M-shaped” hull design. The hull comprises a central displacement body flanked by two downwardly extending outer skirts. The outer skirts are attached to the displacement body by planing wings having wing channels. The bow wave is directed into the wing channels, thereby increasing planing efficiency and reducing the effect of such waves on other boats and the shoreline.

Abstract: An artificial larynx includes a case containing a circuitboard subassembly, a battery subassembly, a transducer subassembly, and a switch subassembly that are interconnected to function as means for producing an artificial larynx tone. A radially inwardly extending flange component is bonded with glue or other suitable bonding agent to the cylindrically shaped interior wall of a central case component to provide a screw-less circuitboard mounting stop component for stopping the circuitboard from moving forwardly within the central portion of the case interior in response to battery terminals bearing against a set of rearwardly facing battery connectors on the circuitboard.

Abstract: A device for protecting a brassiere and other delicate undergarments during laundering includes a pair of domed or hemispherically shaped shells adapted to assemble together over a cup of the brassiere as a protective covering for the cup. The outer shell has a circularly shaped first rim portion and a hemispherically shaped first dome portion larger than the cup of the brassiere that extends to the first rim portion. The inner shell has a circularly shaped second rim portion and a hemispherically shaped second dome portion that extends to the second rim portion, said second dome portion having a size adapted to fit within the first dome portion of the outer shell with the first and second rim portions in concentric relationship and the cup of the brassiere disposed intermediate the first and second dome portions.

Abstract: A hydraulic clutch assembly for a motorcycle having a handlebar, an engine, and a clutch, includes a master hydraulic cylinder assembly, a slave hydraulic cylinder assembly, and a hydraulic line adapted to communicate hydraulic fluid pressure between the two hydraulic cylinder assemblies. The master hydraulic cylinder assembly is adapted to be mounted on the handlebar of the motorcycle and it includes a clutch lever portion that is adapted to actuate the master cylinder assembly. The slave hydraulic cylinder assembly is adapted to be mounted on the engine of the motorcycle and to pull on the clutch when actuated in the place of a conventional clutch cable. The hydraulic line is adapted to communicate hydraulic fluid pressure between the master cylinder assembly and the slave hydraulic cylinder assembly so that pulling the clutch lever portion of the master hydraulic cylinder assembly actuates the slave hydraulic cylinder assembly and causes it to pull on and disengage the clutch.

Abstract: External cavity micro laser apparatus comprises at least one multimode micro laser having an emission aperture with a relatively long dimension lying in a slow axis plane and a relatively short dimension lying in a fast axis plane. The laser produces multiple transverse lasing modes, the multiple modes having multiple lasing lobe components. External cavity means embracing the laser has an output section including spatial filter means, which may be the input aperture of an optical waveguide, for effectively selecting at least one of the transverse lasing lobe components. The cavity output section includes imaging means for imaging at the spatial filter means a far field spatial frequency distribution in the slow axis plane of the emission aperture, at which distribution the lasing lobe components are spatially distinguishable.