Abstract: A fastening element for operatively connecting masonry units together in a fixed relation. The fastening element comprises a body with a web having opposing surfaces, and a plurality of projections that extend in a generally perpendicular direction therefrom. The projections are spaced apart from each other and configured to engage portions of masonry units therebetween in a constrained relation. The fastening element permits two, three, or four masonry units to be operatively connected together in variety of configurations without the use of mortar.

Abstract: A block for use in constructing a retaining wall. The block has a bottom with a non-planar portion that forms a gap between the block and the top surface of a lower course of similar blocks when the block is placed thereon. This gap allows the block to rest on the lower course of blocks in a stable, level manner by providing a space that can accommodate small amounts of intrusive material such as rubble, dirt, or miscellaneous debris which would otherwise interfere with the stacking of the blocks. The block's bottom may also include a plurality of grooves that provide additional clearance in the gap for larger bits of intrusive material such as pebbles or small stones. Preferably, the grooves have angled walls which act to funnel the larger bits of intrusive material into an area of adequate clearance when the block is being placed on a lower course of similar blocks.

Abstract: The present invention is a safety hook (12, 12?) having a wire spring latch (26, 26?). The wire spring latch (26, 26?) is a wire loop pawl. The safety hook (12, 12?) is made of a heavy gauge wire form material, which is preferably bent only to form first and second ends (14, 14?, 16, 16?), a chain link securing end (14, 14?) and a hook opening end (16, 16?), respectively. The wire loop pawl (26, 26?) is preferably a rod of elastically deformable material, bent to form an open loop (28, 28?) and bent-over ends (32, 32?, 34, 34?) about which the pawl (26, 26?) pivots with respect to the body (12, 12?) of the safety hook (10, 10?) when the latch (26, 26?) is deformed and forced away from a distal end (38, 38?) of the hook opening end (16, 16?) of the safety hook (10, 10?). The bent over ends (32, 32?, 34, 34?) of the wire loop pawl (26, 26?) are not coaxial.

Abstract: A cylindrical magnetron target and spindle attachment apparatus for affixing a cylindrical magnetron target to a rotatable support spindle. The attachment apparatus includes a target and a spindle. The target defines a receiving portion. The spindle has a spindle plug. The spindle plug is disposed within the receiving portion of the target. The attachment apparatus increases the speed and ease of removing and installing cylindrical rotating targets onto a support spindle.

Abstract: Molding material consisting of resin coated reinforcing fiber strands in a molten mass of resin is prepared at a molding site for controlled supply to a molding machine. Continuous strands of fiber from supply spools are entrained with pressurized, molten resin flowing through a coating device and coated with the resin. The movement of the fiber and resin through the coating die may be controlled so as to accurately and predictably produce any desired quantity the molding material, i.e. the coating apparatus may be operated in a discontinuous manner to provide any predetermined quantity of molding material to a receiving device. The receiving device may be the feed screw for an injection molding machine or simply a plate movable to and from a compression molding machine. The fiber strands may be cut into predetermined lengths by a cutting device positioned downstream of the aforesaid coating device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a septic heater system and method for preventing a freeze-up in a septic system. The heater system typically is used with a previously-installed septic system that includes a septic tank, drop boxes, connecting sewer pipe, a drainfield, and one or more vertical access/cleanout pipes which rise from one or more portions of the septic system to corresponding access ports at ground level. The heater system, which is adapted for connection to the access ports of one or more of the vertical access cleanout pipes, comprises a heater and fan system defining an output port for providing a flow of heated air at the heater output port. The heater output port is defined by a structure configured for coupling the output port to one or more of the access/cleanout pipes. The heater and fan system, when activated to provide the flow of heated air and when coupled to an access/cleanout pipe, prevents septic-system freeze-up by delivering the heated air down the access/cleanout pipe to the septic system.

Abstract: A retaining wall block and a system and method for constructing a retaining wall with multiple blocks laid in successive courses. The system comprises a plurality of building blocks and a flexible anchor grid. Each block has top and bottom surfaces, front and rear surfaces, opposing side surfaces, and a downwardly extending engagement section. The downwardly extending engagement section is configured to be directly connected to a sheet of flexible, pliant anchoring material of the type having plurality of perforations. The sheet of anchoring material is laid over a course of blocks and extended into earth fill behind the wall. The downwardly extending engagement section is also configured to engage and position adjacent courses of blocks relative to each other in a predetermined, setback relation. Preferably, the engagement section has one or more teeth that are arranged in a linear row and which are constructed and arranged to project through apertures in the anchoring grid sheet.

Abstract: A tonneau cover apparatus for attaching a flexible cover about a cargo box of a vehicle, preferably a pickup truck. The apparatus preferably includes, a support frame removably attached about the perimeter of a cargo box of the vehicle, an elongated end plate attached to an end of the flexible cover, an end plate engagement member attached to the support frame, preferably one on each side of the support frame, and a locking member movably attached to the end plate. The end plate is preferably attached to an end of the flexible cover and is configured to cooperatively engage and pivot with respect to the end plate engagement member or members into and out of a fixed stretching position wherein the flexible cover can be correspondingly be tensed and relaxed. The end plate may be retained in the fixed stretching position by the locking member, in alternate embodiments, a plurality of locking members are provided, preferably locking members that slide within a channel in the end plate.

Abstract: A structure and arrangement for improving the accuracy and efficiency of an angular rate sensing gyroscope is herein disclosed. Voltage pick-off conductors are applied to an area of the surface of a resonating element of an angular rate sensing gyroscope that is subject to substantially zero stress when the gyroscope is rotationally stationary. Actuator conductors are similarly applied to a resonating element at a location bounded by areas of the resonating element subject to substantially uniform levels of stress when the gyroscope is rotationally stationary. A method for improving the voltage response of a piezoelectric resonating element is also disclosed.

Abstract: A high-power ion sputtering magnetron having a rotary cathode comprising a conducting member disposed within the rotary cathode being made of an electrically conductive material for conducting electrical current from the power supply to the rotary cathode. The ion sputtering magnetron also has an electromagnetic field shield disposed between the conducting member and the drive shaft portion. The field shield is made of an electromagnetic field-permeable material such as a ferrous material for reducing damage to parts adjacent to the conducting member that are susceptible to inductive magnetic heating.

Abstract: A block splitting tool having a splitting blade that is formed by edges of a plurality of smaller splitter segments. The splitter segments are arranged in a side-by-side relation such that the edges form a substantially continuous blade that is generally corrugated or jagged. The splitter segments may be operatively connected to a suitable support that, in turn, is attached to a block splitting machine. When the splitting blade of the tool engages and splits a block, the edges of the splitter segments form a plurality of fracture zones that are angled with respect to each other, which results in roughened facings on the newly cleaved smaller blocks. In a preferred embodiment, the splitter segments are removably attached to a support plate, so that they may be repositioned, replaced, and/or repaired.

Abstract: A self-adjusting snow plow for use with pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles is disclosed. The snow plow includes a mounting apparatus for attachment to a vehicle and a plow blade having first and second ends, a top, a bottom, a plurality of retention members and a rubber scraper. The mounting apparatus includes a pair of mounting uprights and a hitch tongue which is easily mounted in a hitch receiver which is secured to the front of a vehicle. The retention members are constructed and arranged to at least partially encircle and slidably engage one of the respective mounting uprights and the retention members allow the respective ends of the plow blade to slide upward relative to the mounting upright most proximate to that end of the plow while the other end of the plow remains generally in the same position relative to the mounting upright proximate that end of the plow blade.

Abstract: The present invention is a safety hook (12, 12′) having a wire spring latch (26, 26′). The wire spring latch (26, 26′) is a wire loop pawl. The safety hook (12, 12′) is made of a heavy gauge wire form material, which is preferably bent only to form first and second ends (14, 14′, 16, 16′), a chain link securing end (14, 14′) and a hook opening end (16, 16′), respectively. The wire loop pawl (26, 26′) is preferably a rod of elastically deformable material, bent to form an open loop (28, 28′) and bent-over ends (32, 32′, 34, 34′) about which the pawl (26, 26′) pivots with respect to the body (12, 12″) of the safety hook (10, 10′) when the latch (26, 26′) is deformed and forced away from a distal end (38, 38′) of the hook opening end (16, 16′) of the safety hook (10,10′). The bent over ends (32, 32′, 34, 34′) of the wire loop pawl (26, 26′) are not coaxial.

Abstract: A sealing gasket for sealing gaps adjacent to a pickup truck is provided. In alternate embodiments a combination pickup truck and sealing gasket is also provided. The sealing gasket of the present invention comprises an elongated member made of a deformable and a somewhat resilient polymeric material. The polymeric material is preferably a closed cell sponge material made of one of a number of polymeric materials which are the somewhat flexible, resilient, water resistant and the like. The cross-section of the elongated member, if divided into two parts, includes a generally triangular portion and a generally semi-circular portion which come together to form a teardrop-like shape. The elongated member preferably has a first lumen which is generally circular in shape when the sealing gasket is undeformed, and preferably a second lumen which has two converging tear surfaces which converge to join at one end and join to an arcuate inner surface at the other end.

Abstract: A protective holder for use with a paintbrush. The holder has a flexible sleeve that is configured to be snuggly positioned about a substantial portion of a paintbrush body. The sleeve has an aperture through which the handle of a brush may extend, and may also include absorbent material that captures liquid that dribbles down from the applicator portion of a paintbrush when the paintbrush is held vertically. The holder also has a protective, segmented skirt that is operatively connected to the sleeve and whose segments or panels may be selectively moved between a protective storage position where the skirt substantially encircles the applicator portion of a brush, and a protective use position where the skirt substantially encircles the handle of a brush. The holder also may have a fastener to maintain the skirt in either of its protective positions.

Abstract: A housing for protectively shielding control sensors detectors, or similar devices from harsh work environments. The housing comprises an enclosure having a sensing area transparent to electromagnetic waves. The sensing area is protected by a material that is arranged in an overlaying relation thereto, and which is of sufficient thickness to effectively protect the sensing area of the housing from harsh work environments while allowing the control sensor to operate therethrough in a normal fashion. The protective material may take the form of a laminate applied to a cap covering the sensing area, or the cap itself and/or housing may be made from the protective material. Preferably, the protective material includes material having a low coefficient of friction such as molybdenum disulfide, graphite, or polytetrafluoroethylene.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for maintaining policy compliance on a computer network is provided. The method provides the steps of electronically monitoring network user compliance with a network security policy stored in a database, electronically evaluating network security policy compliance based on network user compliance, and electronically undertaking a network policy compliance action in response to network security policy compliance.

Abstract: A container handling system includes a vehicle adapted to carry a container, the vehicle being equipped with a hoist for lifting containers, and, a trailer towable by the vehicle so as to provide tandem transport of containers. The trailer is adapted to receive a container from the vehicle via the vehicle hoist, and is further adapted to selectively hoist a received container in furtherance of unloading the received container, or dump contents therefrom.

Abstract: A lock assembly for attachment to an enclosure door. The enclosure door has a lock assembly receiving opening created to receive the lock assembly. The lock assembly includes a lock case assembly having a bolt that can be moved between at least two positions; a lock actuating assembly interconnected with the lock case assembly such that the lock actuating assembly can actuate a change in the position of the bolt from one position to another; and a mounting plate. The lock assembly is secured within the receiving opening of the enclosure door by an interior mounting plate securing bracket, preferably two such brackets, secured to the interior side of the mounting plate. A method of securing a lock assembly to an enclosure door is also disclosed.