Abstract: The present invention provides an indicator system for an appliance to notify an appliance operator that an operable temperature is reached by an element of the appliance. The indicator system comprises a light source that provides light to a linear light enhancer. The linear light enhancer transmits light from the light source along the length of the linear light enhancer, to increase the ability of an appliance operator to observe the light from the light source. The light enhancer is an optical fiber or a light tube. The invention is also directed to the incorporation of such indicator systems in appliances that require a heating period, such as for example, laminators.

Abstract: A weighted jump rope for use by a person in an exercise routine which comprises a length of swingable rope, a pair of spaced apart handles, one handle on each opposed end of the length of swingable rope, each of the handles having a grip adapted for use by a person to swing the rope, and one or more weight elements removably secured on each handle, and a movable counterweight secured on the length of rope spaced apart from the handles for varying the swing of the rope. The invention includes a novel ball lock adapted to removable secure the weights on the handle and a snaphook assembly device for quickly attaching and detaching the rope from the handles when replacing or shortening the rope.

Abstract: A process for pre-emptive potential in bioremediation of oil spills comprising the steps of fabricating cells of micro-organisms capable of degrading hydrocarbons, encapsulating the cells into pods dissolvable in a non-hydrocarbon environment such as water, introducing the pods into a body of petroleum contained in a vessel which if unintentionally fractured to release the body of petroleum into the non-hydrocarbon environment will also release the cells, causing the cells to open and allow the micro-organism to degrade the hydrocarbon and consume the oil spill. The process may also include the step of recovering pods which are not released into the non-hydrocarbon environment from the body of petroleum.