Abstract: A powered golf bag cart (10) is shown which includes a frame assembly (20), a free wheel assembly (22), a drive wheel assembly (24), a power delivery assembly (26), a steering assembly (28), and a control assembly (30). For compact storage, the frame assembly (20) of the cart (10) further includes a base portion (32), central portion (34), and handle portion (36) which collapse into one another. The power delivery assembly (26) includes a drive motor (144), located in the drive wheel assembly (24). The cart (10) is steered by the steering assembly (28) changing orientation of the drive wheel assembly (24), under control of a user operating the control assembly (30). In this manner all control and motive force is applied via a single ground contacting surface in the drive wheel assembly (24).

Abstract: A cabin tent pole system (10) using side poles (14), gable poles (16), corner hubs (18), and roof hubs (20). The corner hubs (18) have two tubular members (50) which join forming a first obtuse angle (32), where a structural web (56) may be provided to help maintain the first obtuse angle (32) and strengthen the corner hub (18). Similarly the roof hubs (20) have tubular members (60) which form second obtuse angles (34) between any pair of the tubular members (60). The roof hubs (20) may include a series of webs (66) which act to maintain the angular relationships of the tubular members (60), including the second obtuse angles (34). Only larger embodiments of the tent pole system (10) require the use of ridge poles (40).

Abstract: An evaporative air cooler (10) employs a design in which admitted air flows over and along the surface of a wicking material (14) rather than through the wicking material (14) and, in the process, achieves a greater relative cooling ability thereby. The evaporative air cooler (10) has the primary components of a cooling chamber (12), the wicking material (14), a fan assembly (16), and, in the preferred embodiment, a feedback duct (18). The cooling chamber (12) includes a container portion (20) having an air outlet (40) in one end wall (36) thereof, and a cover portion (22) having an air inlet (44). The wicking material (14), which is towel-like in form, is draped upon the interior surfaces (56, 60, 62) of the container portion (20), with an opening (64) in the wicking material (14) cut so as to correspond to the location of the air outlet (40) and to allow an unimpeded passage of air therethrough.

Abstract: A method for identifying the limits of an object (10) in a digitized video display (12) having a series of video frames (14). A seed (26) is introduced into an initial object (18a) in an initial frame (14b) and the seed (26) is expanded to define the limits of the initial object (18a). The modified seed (26a) is then superimposed upon a modified object (18b) and a common area (36) is identified. The common area (36) is modified to become yet another iteration of the seed (26) for continuing the operation into yet another frame (14) having a subsequent version of the object (18). The video seed fill over time method (10) proceeds until no common area (36) is identified for a specified number of frames 14.

Abstract: A hand held intra-oral video camera (10) is provided for capturing images from inside a dental patient's mouth which has a housing (24) having a distal end (26) and a handle portion (30). Within the distal end (26) a view port (32) is located and a sensor assembly (18) is mounted. The camera (10) may include a full featured objective assembly (14) and a main lens assembly (17), for suitably manipulating image content; a reflector (16) for capturing images from an angle substantially away from a longitudinal axis (12) of the housing (24); and, an illumination assembly (20) to illuminate the surface from which images are captured. The reflector (16) may provide mirrored or conventional image orientation. Wide angles of view, high resolution, and great depth of focus are provided by the camera (10) due to the absence within it of any purely image relaying optical elements. The camera (10) may integrate with other dental tools, either in permanent or temporary modular manner.

Abstract: An adjustable balance weighting system (10) is provided for adjusting the weighting and balance of a golf club of either the "iron" or the "wood" type in order to encourage the golf club to be in tune with the golfer's swing and/or to correct any deficiencies that may exist therein. An eccentrically weighted balancing disk (32 or 82) is mounted on or in the club head (14 or 74) so as to be rotatable about a first Allen screw (60 or 84) and provides a mechanism by which the center of mass, and therefore the sweet spot, of the club head (14 or 74) may be varied. In the case of an iron-type club head (14), the balancing disk (32) is mounted in a substantially vertical orientation in a cavity (30) on a cavity back wall surface (40) at the rear face (24) of the club head (14). In the case of a wood-type club head (74), the balancing disk (82) is mounted in a horizontal orientation in a recess (80) in the top surface (78) of the club head (74).

Abstract: A modular construction system (10) which is directed toward the construction of structural walls (26). The construction system (10) employs precast wall units (12) and a variety of spacer/tensioning, spacer, tensioning, and extension assemblies (14, 16, 18, and 20). The wall units (12) contain a plurality of cavities (44) and are made of concrete with side walls (36) reinforced with prestressed tension wires (48). In the process of constructing a wall (26), the wall units (12) are stacked one upon the other onto threaded wall bars (24) that extend upwardly from a foundation (22). The spacer/tensioning assembly (14) and the spacer assembly (16) provide alignment during the stacking process and also create mortar joints (52). The spacer/tensioning assembly (14) and the tensioning assembly (18) are utilized in conjunction with the wall bars (24) to tension the wall units (12) onto lower wall units (12) and the foundation (22).

Abstract: A system and method is provided for learning, training and rehabilitation in which comparison is made of representative electrical signals produced by both a teacher (12) and a student (14) during attempted replication by the student (14) of a movement behavior demonstrated by the teacher (12), with corresponding feedback to the student (14) to inform the student (14) as to whether the replication is suitably compliant to the demonstration. The preferred embodiment is a myoelectric feedback system (10) employing wireless transmission of the myoelectric signals generated by the relevant muscles of the teacher (12) and the student (14) during the demonstration and attempted replication, with vibratory feedback to the student (14) upon comparison of the myoelectric signals at a remote processing station (18). A delayed or "non-live" teaching capability is provided by a videotape processing machine (28) and a computer (30).

Abstract: A saw assembly (10) for sawing portions of a floor (24) adjacent to a vertical wall (26) and below and overhang (28) including a blade driving subassembly (12) having housing (30) with a forward extending, low profile saw arm (52). The housing holds a trigger switch (36), an electric motor (32) and a drive shaft (34) with a threaded saw attachment end (62). The saw attachment end (62) extends beyond a rest ting (56) on the distal end of the saw arm (52). The electric motor (32) drives a blade subassembly (12) including a circular blade (66), a blade collar (65), and a locking nut (64) which are attached to the saw attachment end (62). The blade driving subassembly (14) is attached to a floor plate subassembly (18). A blade guard (22) covers a portion of the circular saw (66) exposing a downwardly extending cutting portion (76). An outrigger subassembly (16) includes two outrigger arms (116) which lock into an outwardly extending position, contacting a floor (24).

Abstract: A modular wall system (8) is provided for constructing ornamental, privacy and acoustical type walls having exterior surfaces of stucco and other decorative material. The system (8) features polymer spacers (14) and vertical metal sleeves (16) onto which are glued opposing pairs of substantially rectangular polymer panels (12). Spacers (14) and/or sleeves (16) that are present at the ends of some modules (10) extend out from between the pairs of panels (12) to allow adjacent modules (10) to be interlocked. A wall may be rapidly constructed since fabrication of the wall is almost entirely complete prior to transportation to the intended site, the only on-site construction being to dig footing holes (40) and pour concrete into the sleeves (16) to simultaneously form concrete footings (42) and concrete support columns (44). The slidably interlocking nature of the individual modules (10) makes the system (8) especially resistant to damage from earth movement.

Abstract: A gravity independent photosynthetic growing system (10) is provided for use in providing an environment conducive to growing plant materials under unusual conditions, such as are encountered in space or in locales isolated from sunlight. The growing system (10) includes a stationary core assembly (26), a rotating drum assembly (28) which is rotated by a motive assembly (30), an enclosing assembly (32), a growth requirements assembly (34) and a control assembly (35). Illumination lamps (42) situated in the central core (20) provide photosynthetic radiation which is transmitted through light transmissive sector walls (52) to be reflected inward from a surrounding cylindrical reflector (64) into growth sectors (50) within which the plants are grown. The growth sectors are adapted to receive seed mats (178), hard shell growth cases (204) and growth bags (188) which provide purchase for the plants.

Abstract: A base bracket (10) for tents and poles is provide having a first orifice (14) for accepting a tent stake (20), a second orifice (16) for accepting an end (42) of a tent pole (24), and an tent fabric attachment mechanism (18). The tent fabric attachment mechanism (18) includes capability for adjusting tension and taking up slack in straps (26) attached to tent fabric (28). If desired, the bracket (10) 7 may be permanently attached to tent straps to prevent misplacement and loss. Options of the bracket (10) include a tent option attachment mechanism (34), for attaching common tent options like canopies and rain flies, and shaping and structurally enhancing the region (40) around the tent pole orifice (16) to better accept stresses transferred by an assembled tent into the bracket (10).

Abstract: A locking system for beverage taps (10) is provided for use with conventional beverage faucets (12) such as those utilized to dispense kegged beer and the like. The system (10) incorporates an elongated valve stem (14) which protrudes from the proximal end (38) of the faucet body (12) and is provided with an axial end bore (66) having pin threads (68) therein. A lock subassembly (18) actuated by a key (20) attaches to the valve stem (14) by a threaded driver pin (118) which engages the pin threads (66). A case cylinder (80) encloses the engagement position and overlaps a portion of the faucet body (12) such that antirotation ears (113) prevent relative rotation and loosening of the engagement except when the key (20) is utilized. When tightened, the lock subassembly (18) forces the valve stem (14) into a closed position, preventing opening of the faucet and dispensing of beverages.

Abstract: A door security device (10) is provided for effectively locking a door (22) that has been partially opened. The device (10) includes a base plate (12) that is screwed onto a door frame (14), a first hinge plate (16) that is connected to the base plate (12) at a first hinge joint (56), a second hinge plate (18) that is similarly connected to the first hinge plate (16) at a second hinge joint (64), and a door plate (20) that is mounted on the door (22) and which incorporates a pair of hinge ears (92 and 94) between which is received a uniquely shaped hinge tongue (90) that is present at the end of the second hinge plate (18). A latch pin (24) that is also uniquely shaped, is insertable, when the door (22) is in a closed position, into ear bores (104 and 106) and a tongue bore (102) that are present within the hinge ears (92 and 94) and hinge tongue (90) to form a third hinge joint (108).

Abstract: A step motor and servo motor indexer (10) having an improved user interface (14) wherein an input capability for programming a full range of program parameters and values is provided, yet where the user input system (20) has few components. The user input system (20) for programming the indexer (10) is characterized by having a data entry unit (26) which includes only a toggle device (27) and a rotary device (28), both of which may be combined into a single component part. In addition to the typical turned clockwise and turned counter clockwise modes of the rotary device (28) the use of the rate of rotation permits an additional input mode which is used to accomplish rotational or software ballistics to input large ranges of values during programming of the indexer (10). The user interface (14) further includes a display (22), for presenting program choices and values to user during programming, and for reporting running parameters.

Abstract: A method and apparatus (10, 410) for testing magnetic media read/write head components such as a head element bar (46) and a slider assembly (546). The component to be tested is held in a head bar holding assembly (44) or an alternate head holding assembly (544), and positioned with a head gross positioning assembly (18) or a head fine positioning assembly (16) over a localized portion (50) of a flexible magnetic medium (28) which is caused to spin in relation to a stabilizer plate (20) by a media spin motor (28). The localized portion (50) is deformed to bring the localized portion (50) of the flexible magnetic medium (28) into proximity with the component under test.

Abstract: An in situ microwave insect eradication system (10) has a remotely deployed movable horn array subassembly (12), a proximity detector subsystem (14), a local control unit (16), and an energy absorbent backdrop (20). The horn array subassembly (12) can deploy a number of microwave horn units (32) in both horizontal or vertical arrays. The microwave horn units (32) are controlled by the local control unit (16) which determines the order, duration, and repetition of energy emitted. The proximity detector subsystem can immediately shut down the eradication system (10) upon detecting a body, such a human or pet. The backdrop (20) is deployed opposite the horn array subassembly (12) to absorb residual microwave energy.

Abstract: A bath shaker (10) is provided for agitating liquid baths. The bath shaker (10) incorporates a "flexible parallelogram" mode of movement wherein a bath shelf (20) is attached to and supported by two, parallel opposing flexible arms (112). Present on each flexible arm (112) is a first attachment portion (124) sandwichedly held by an upright extension (120) and a first hold plate (110), the arrangement causing the first attachment portion (124) to serve as a flexible hinge. A drive mechanism (16) produces a reciprocating action of the bath shelf (20) through the use of an eccentric (80) and a pivoting lever (46) attached to both the eccentric (80) and the bath shelf (20). The flexible parallelogram arrangement defines the reciprocating motion to be substantially rectilinear and makes for an entirely noiseless mode of travel, while producing an extremely smooth transition between reciprocations.

Abstract: An optical convergence apparatus (10, 310) having a projection screen (12) with a plurality of display areas (14) for displaying a like plurality of images (16). The images (16) are viewed by a plurality of lens assemblies (18) placed between the projection screen (12) and the user's eye (20). Prisms (322) are optionally provided between the lens assemblies (18) and the user's eye (20) for directing the images (16) to the user's eye (20). A stereoscopic pair (424) of the optical convergence apparatus (10, 310) is provided to enable stereoscopic reference cues.