Abstract: A shelving system for use with a load cell has a frame, to which the load cell is mounted, and a rack residing within the frame and having a load cell proximity surface supported on the load cell by a pivotal contact element. The rack is stabilized by an anti-sway system having three lever arms connected between the frame and the rack and spaced apart from the load cell proximity surface. A first and a second lever arm are parallel and spaced apart from each other, and extend parallel to two faces of the rack, while a third lever arm extends substantially normal to the first and the second lever arms. A fourth lever arm can be provided, located in close proximity to the load cell proximity surface and extending parallel to at least one of the other lever arms.

Abstract: An audio visual system has a housing with a video display and one or more speakers. The speakers are housed in cavities which limit dispersion of the sound generated, and the video display is preferably a directional LCD display. The housing is preferably mounted to a base by an adjustable arm having passages to accommodate enclosed wiring. One adjustable arm has segments joined by dual-pivot joints, while another has segments joined by single pivot joints. In both types of arms, the frictional resistance of the joints can be adjusted. Preferably, the elements of the arm are strung onto the wiring prior to assembly. The housing can also contain a light source to provide a reading light.

Abstract: A pusher/bucket has back plate with wings pivotably mounted at either end, and a drop blade pivotably mounted thereto. The drop blade can be secured in a raised position where it is superimposed over the back plate; when in the raised position, the wings can be positioned relative to the back plate to provide a wing plow. The wings can be folded parallel to the back plate, with the raised drop blade residing therebetween. When the wings are normal to the back plate, the drop blade can be secured in a lowered, horizontal position; in this position, the drop blade acts as the bottom of a loading bucket, the sides being formed by the wings and the back plate. A float mechanism allows the pusher/bucket to push material across uneven terrain, and is preferably disabled when the pusher/bucket is configured as a bucket for loading and dumping material.

Abstract: A rescue device has a motion detector and a transceiver that either transmits a locating signal, which can be tracked by others, when worn by user and operated in a transmit mode or receives and tracks a locating signal transmitted by another transmitter when the device is operated by the user in a receive mode. A control logic circuit suppresses transmission of the locating signal unless a motion signal, generated by the motion detector responsive to the user's movement, indicates that the user has not moved for a predetermined time interval. Thus, the rescue device can transmit the locating signal when the user is motionless, providing notice that the user is immobile and aiding others in locating the user. When receiving, the device guides the user in locating the source of a transmitted locating signal to aid the user in locating an immobilized person or a building exit.

Abstract: A ceiling hatch employs a frame having an upper edge and a lower edge and a passage bounded by a sidewall passing therebetween, the passage extending from the lower edge to the upper edge and having its minimum cross section at the lower edge. This frame is employed with an insulating block bounded by a top surface, a bottom surface and a side surface, and which is configured to be positionable substantially within the passage and substantially filling the same. A hinge attaches the frame to the insulating block, providing pivotable action between the insulating block and the frame about a pivot axis and allowing the insulating block to be swung out of the passage on an interference-free path such that the bottom surface of the insulating block is in a horizontal plane when the insulating block resides substantially within the passage.

Abstract: A personal protection system has a shaft that can be secured into a pair of end bases that mount to a surface of the surroundings of the user. The shaft and bases are configured to appear as a natural part of the surroundings, such as a support bar or rail, when the shaft is stored. The shaft can be removed, and has an end portion adapted to provide a weapon for self defense. For example, the end portion can employ a piercing point, a syringe and needle for injecting a bio-toxin, a canister for spraying a chemical irritant, an appliance for generating an electrical shock, or combinations of these elements. Preferably, the shaft is secured into the bases so as to be usable for support. It is further preferred for the bases to be configured to disguise the fact that the shaft can be removed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a noise barrier apparatus for inhibiting external noise from causing the presence of noise in an audio chamber defined by a noise barrier device and including the user's ear canal. The noise barrier apparatus may be constituted by an in-ear noise barrier device or devices or an over-the-ear device or devices. An in-ear application of the present invention provides an in-ear-canal audio receiver comprising an in-ear-canal adapter body having a tapered ear plug portion that is inserted into the user's ear canal. The adapter body further has an opening in the plug portion, an exterior annular indent, and an inner chamber coupled to the opening of the plug portion. The inner chamber of the in-ear-canal adapter body holds a transducer assembly comprising a transducer housing and a transducer or speaker. The transducer is positioned in a passage extending through the transducer housing. A torus-shaped cushion is positioned in the annular indent of the in-ear-canal adapter body.

Abstract: A clip engages a pair of legs of a vibration attenuator to reduce the local separation of the legs, thereby increasing the force of friction pads, affixed to the legs, against a brake disk to compensate for reduced thickness of the friction pads due to wear. The clip has a first end region, which can preferably be snappably engaged with one of the legs so as to pivot thereabout. The clip has a second end region with a protrusion which can be engaged with the other leg so as to restrain it at the reduced separation. Preferably, a second protrusion is provided to allow restraining the other leg at an even smaller local separation from the leg that is rotatably engaged by the first end region. A tab preferably extends beyond the first protrusion to aid in engaging and disengaging the second end region from the other leg.

Abstract: A bi-directional drag grader comprising a rigid overhead support, attachable to a self propelled machine using a common receiver hitch or directly attached, a substantially rectangular rigid and collapsible frame, the frame having a leading edge and trailing edge with attachable blades, the blades having a planer sections along the length and inclined with respect to each other, the frame and support are operatively attached by forward and rearward chain lengths. Runners with stops are attached across the frame to support and position weights and prevent bending of the blades or frame while encountering loads in use. The frame and blades further comprise a design to use alternate configurations of cutting blades. The grader is configured so that the forward chains are in tension and the rearward chains are relaxed when the vehicle moves forward and vice-versa. This configuration allows for bi-directional operation.

Abstract: A grip heater has a tubular insulator that is designed to slip over a handlebar and has two interposed pairs of helical recesses. Each pair of helical recesses is formed by two parallel helical grooves and accommodates a heating element; the heating elements can have different resistances to provide differing degrees of heat when selectively connected to a voltage source. Preferably, the pairs of recesses overlap such that the heating elements reside in alternating grooves and cross over each other. The heating elements can be connected to a common ground to allow replacement of existing three-wire grip heaters. When a common ground is employed, the heating elements are preferably isolated where they cross.

Abstract: A board has an upper section, with an upper surface for supporting a patient, and a lower section, having two spars separated by a concave surface. The lower section is smaller than the upper section, forming longitudinal flanges through which hand passages are provided. Stiffening members can be housed in the spars. The board is combined with a pad that is attached to the upper surface. A beveled edge on the pad reduces shear forces. Indicia, such as a raised ridge, aid in properly locating the pad, which is preferably attached by a two-sided adhesive sheet with less adhesion on the side that adheres to the board. An IV support pole formed of collapsible segments can be attached to the board by a clamp. The pole has a hook on which an IV container can be hung, and an elastic wrap that encircles, stabilizes, and pressurizes the IV container.

Abstract: A rotor puller has two arm members, ending at claws, and a jack with an extendible piston. The arm members and the jack are pivotably attached together about a pivot axis. Springs bias the arm members toward each other. The claws are placed over a brake rotor and retained thereon by a pin. After the claws have been placed, the jack is centered and activated to extend the piston towards the claws. The piston forcibly engages a wheel hub while the claws forcibly engage the rotor, pulling it from the wheel hub. Handles on the arm members facilitate placement of the claws over the rotor.

Abstract: A fly-fishing reel has a reel body with a reversible pawl and an arbor. A spindle shaft with a gear rotates on the arbor, the gear and pawl limiting the direction of rotation. A spool and lockably engaged drive plate rotate on the spindle shaft and are secured thereon by a drag capsule which attaches to the spindle shaft. Tightening the drag capsule on the spindle shaft forcibly engages friction surfaces on the spindle shaft, the spool, the drive plate, and the drag capsule to provide an adjustable dual disk drag mechanism, as well as securing the drive plate and spool together. The spool can be readily replaced with a different spool and the spools are preferably reversible on the spindle shaft. A winding handle is attached to the drive plate to provide direct-drive action, or is attached to the drag capsule to provide a non-return action.

Abstract: A pavement dryer has a pick-up assembly operating with a gas processing system. The pick-up assembly has an assembly frame mounted on wheels and connected to the gas processing system, and a nozzle that is maintained in close proximity to a paved surface. The gas processing system has a system frame mounted on wheels, a compressor, and a collection chamber. The compressor draws air from the nozzle through the collection chamber. Water entrained in the air flow is removed from the paved surface and settles in the collection chamber. The water may be separated by gas centrifuges. The nozzle has a nozzle lip positioned to provide a controlled gap with the paved surface. The size of the gap can preferably be adjusted, preferably by a movable damper. The nozzle has a trailing edge seal that forcibly engages the paved surface, and preferably also has end seals.

Abstract: The bottle mold has dissimilar metal inserts embedded in regions where the bottle mold is most subject to attack by hot glass, such as the neck region and the baffle region, and has a glass contact surface with refined grain size. To fabricate the bottle mold, rough castings are made by pouring cast-iron into a composite mold having dissimilar metal insert blanks fixably positioned therein. The dissimilar metal insert blanks become embedded in the cast-iron matrix to form rough dissimilar metal inserts in the rough casting. The composite mold has regions which are formed by metal chills that are partially embedded in a sand mix. The chills and the exposed surfaces of the rough dissimilar metal inserts define a cavity surface of the rough casting, which is subsequently machined to provide the glass contact surface of the bottle mold. The chills serve to refine the grain size of the cast iron at the glass contact surface.

Abstract: The method allows fabricating a bottle mold having dissimilar metal inserts embedded in regions where the bottle mold is most subject to attack by hot glass, and has a glass contact surface with refined grain size. To fabricate the bottle mold, rough castings are made by pouring cast-iron into a composite mold having dissimilar metal insert blanks fixably positioned therein. The dissimilar metal insert blanks become embedded in the cast-iron matrix to form rough dissimilar metal inserts in the rough casting. The composite mold has regions formed by metal chills that are partially embedded in a sand mix. The chills and the exposed surfaces of the rough dissimilar metal inserts define a cavity surface of the rough casting, which is subsequently machined to provide the glass contact surface of the bottle mold. The chills refine the grain size of the cast iron at the glass contact surface.

Abstract: A collapsible boat has a frame covered by a hull skin, the frame having two gunwales and a keel stringer terminating at two stem elements. The ends of the gunwales can be secured to the corresponding stem element by end connectors that connect to the stem element and are held by skin tension. Alternatively, the hull skin can secure the gunwale ends to the corresponding stem element, the gunwales residing in closed-ended gunwale sleeves and the hull skin being configured to secure the gunwale ends together and prevent upwards motion of the stem element. The closed ends can be openable to install the gunwales. To tension the hull skin over the frame, the keel stringer can have a central joint to allow installation in a bent configuration. The keel stringer is straightened during assembly to increase its effective length, causing the stem elements to forcibly engage the hull skin.