Abstract: An air freshening device is provided for detecting water leaks and protecting surfaces from water damage due to leaks. The device includes: a tray, configured for being placed upon a surface located under a water pipe; a removable and replaceable liner placed upon the tray, the liner comprising a material configured for releasing an air freshening substance into air, and for increasing the release rate of the substance upon contact with water. The increase of the release rate of the substance leads to an intensifying of the scent of the substance in air, and indicates the presence of a leak from the water pipe. The tray prevents water leaking from the water pipe from touching the surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for attenuating the intensity of light transmitted through the apparatus is provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus may comprise a first polarizer having a first polarizing orientation and a second polarizer having a polarizing orientation perpendicular to the first polarizer. First and second electrodes are disposed between the polarizers and a nematic liquid crystal layer is disposed between the electrodes. At least one light detector positioned for measuring the intensity of the transmitted light may be positioned on an outer side of the second polarizer. A voltage controller in electrical communication with the light detector is provided for controlling the voltage level applied to the electrodes based on the intensity of the measured light wherein the voltage determines the amount of light transmitted through the apparatus.

Abstract: A vertical axis wind turbine including a blade having a modular structure, comprising at least two connectable blade sections. Each section has an upper and lower panel with a cavity formed therebetween through which extends a spar.

Abstract: Novel vaccines include polypeptides that comprise regions corresponding to a chemokine and a hapten. The hapten can be an amino acid sequence corresponding to the Meningitis Related Homologous Antigenic Sequences (MRHAS) of bacterial and viral agents known to cause meningitis. Protective immunity in a host susceptible to meningitis can be induced by inoculating the host with immunogenic amount of such a vaccine.

Abstract: A custom fittable collar for an animal, useful to prevent the animal from contacting injured areas on the body, thus promoting healing of wounds. The collar comprises opposing sheets of flexible material with a resilient material held between them. The resulting collar is rigid enough to resist deformation thus preventing licking or biting of a wound by the animal, but soft enough that the collar is both comfortable to wear, and less likely to catch on other objects, thus improving the safety and wearability of the collar. The collar further comprises a closure assembly adapted for easy placement or removal of the collar. The collar further comprises stitching that creates fold lines to allow the collar to be conveniently folded.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for generating, responsive to user input from a user, a set of property results, said set of property results including data pertaining to one or more properties, the computer-implemented method comprising: (a) receiving the user input, the user input including one or more text strings; (b) checking the one or more text strings against one or more references to find one or more changeable text strings, the one or more references including a real estate dictionary; (c) forming one or more search criteria using one or more transformed terms, the one or more transformed terms pertaining to the one or more changeable text strings; and (d) searching in one or more databases using the one or more search criteria to produce the set of property results, the one or more databases include one or more property databases.

Abstract: A shell harness comprises particular harness slots for an attachment and a detachment of rubber bands. The rubber bands are covered with a protection sleeve that traps the band and slows it down in an event of a break. The rubber bands are connected to foot straps with stirrups that also comprise a vinyl hose. A hollow, cylindrical hand grip is comprised at an end of the rubber bands too after they are interlaced through the harness.

Abstract: An apparatus for protecting susceptible objects comprises a bracket having a pin receiving portion and hinge portion. The apparatus also includes a cover pivotally connected to the hinge portion of the bracket wherein the bracket is securable to a wall and the cover is pivotable over a susceptible asset to protect the object from harmful forces.

Abstract: A pet tether apparatus is described, comprising a stake assembly configured to receive a tether. The stake assembly has a tether attachment piece configured to rotate around a vertical axis of the stake assembly. A flexible rod having a first end and a second end, is attached to the tether attachment piece at its first end. A tether feeding top assembly is attached to the flexible rod at the second end of the rod and is configured for connection to a pulley for feeding of a tether. The pet tether apparatus is configured for attachment of a tether to the stake assembly and conduction of the tether through the tether feeding top assembly so that a user may attach the tether to the collar of a pet so as to confine the pet to a predetermined area while minimizing the risk of entanglement of the tether. Other variants are described.

Abstract: Coloring apparatus comprises a first marker pen having a housing including an absorbent nib containing a liquid or dye of a first color, and a second marker pen having a housing including an absorbent nib containing a liquid or dye of a second color. The housings of the marker pens are dimensioned and shaped to engage opposing end portions of a tubular docking member with their absorbent nibs spaced one from the other. Means are provided to enable relative movement to take place between the pens while in position within the docking member thereby causing the absorbent nibs selectively to make contact with one another within the docking member and to be released from such contact.

Abstract: An apparatus for preparing a beverage is provided. The apparatus may comprise a frame having a base, a top, front and back sides, and right and left sides; a beverage chamber disposed inside the frame; a heating element connected to the frame; a cooling element disposed inside the frame between the beverage chamber and the frame; a gas valve connected to the frame and penetrating the frame to extend into the beverage chamber; and a spigot connected to the frame, the spigot having a channel contiguous with the beverage chamber for emptying the contents of the chamber.

Abstract: A clamp type mortising jig is described that allows the user to create a slot mortise in a workpiece clamped in the jig, using a plunge router. The jig includes a clamp that includes a movable jaw assembly and a fixed jaw with a template carriage slidably mounted between them. Router guide templates can be replaceably mounted in the template carriage.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a decorative artificial twig structure for displaying a lamp, comprising a bendable rod serving as a structural foundation, an electrical wire, and a decorative lamp connected to the electrical wire. The rod and electrical wire are bundled together and wrapped in a covering to a position on the bundle below an end of the lamp such that the lamp can emit light visible to a viewer of the decorative artificial twig structure. In another embodiment, the decorative artificial twig structure comprises a plurality of lamps, a plurality of electrical wires connected to the lamps, and a plurality of bendable rods serving as a structural foundation for the lamps and electrical wires.

Abstract: A convertible support apparatus for supporting an object over a ground surface is convertible between an operating configuration and a storage configuration. The support apparatus may comprise side members, a support area configured to connect to the side members, and a bow truss configured to bow. When the device is assembled in the operating configuration, both the support area and the bow truss are connected between the side members and the bow truss is configured to bow and place the support area under tension. The bow truss may comprise a bow tube connected between two foot fixtures. In one embodiment, when the apparatus is supporting a sufficiently heavy object, the bow tube will bow and contact the ground surface and provide additional support to the apparatus.