Abstract: A tornado resistant dome house. The shape of the dome house is a spheroid section, and is given by a formula. The dome house shell is made up of a plurality of tiles formed to conform to the shape of the dome house. The tiles are mutually connected by means of horizontally and vertically disposed elongate members extending through lumens in adjacent tiles. The tiles are also attached to a dome house foundation. The curved, low-profile shape of the house, combined with the mutual attachment of the tiles, and their attachment to the dome house foundation, improves the resistance of the dome house to high winds associated with tornadoes and hurricanes. Adjacent tiles are cushioned by springs, and are maintained in position relative to each other by means of a tongue-in-groove attachment between adjacent tiles.

Abstract: A chain link overlay and method of improving chain link aesthetics. The chain link overlay is designed to be permanently attached to a chain link. The overlay has an overlay front side with adornment, coloration, art work, or embossment, and also an overlay rear side which is intended to be attached to a chain link. The overlay rear side includes a pin head bore corresponding to each pin head extending from the chain link. When the overlay is attached to the chain link, each pin head extending from the chain link is disposed within a pin head bore. The overlay may be attached to the chain link with adhesive, solder, welding, or any other appropriate means of attachment. The overlay front side may feature artwork, coloration, decoration, and/or embossments, to increase the aesthetic appeal of a chain link to which the chain link overlay has been attached.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring volumes. The apparatus includes a base having a central processing unit, a receiver and 3-D radar; and a scanner having a transmitter, a penetrating sensor, and a trigger in communication with a microprocessor, and a plurality of radio frequency identification tags. An alternate embodiment scanner may include an exclusion control, which instructs the central processing unit to exclude floor, ceiling, and/or walls from the volume calculation. The method of measuring volumes includes the steps of the central processing unit determining a position of the scanner relative to the base, scanning an object with the penetrating sensor, transmitting the points scanned to the central processing unit, and calculating the volume of the object(s) scanned by summing a base vector with a scanner vector to determine a target position vector for each point scanned.

Abstract: An insect trap and method of use. The insect trap has a roof, side walls, rear wall, front wall, and floor. The front wall has a front wall aperture, and the rear wall has at least one rear wall aperture. A plurality of dividers are disposed within the insect trap, with a divider aperture associated with each divider. The divider apertures alternate between being adjacent the floor and adjacent the roof in successive dividers. The method includes the steps of mounting an insect trap in a structure opening, allowing insect-enticing chemicals to waft from inside the structure opening to outside the structure opening through the insect trap, enticing the insect through a front wall aperture, divider apertures, and into an inner chamber adjacent the rear wall, and entrapping the insect within the inner chamber because the rear wall apertures are too small to admit passage to the insect.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to reinforce doors against windstorm. The apparatus includes a bar, and at least one bar bracket with a bar aperture sized to admit the bar, at least one pair of opposed ears, and an ear aperture in each ear. At least one bar bracket is mounted to an existing door hinge using a bracket fastener through a pair of ear apertures and a hinge bore in the hinge. Shims may be installed between the bar and the door and/or wall. The method includes the steps of removing a hinge pin from an existing hinge, positioning a bar bracket on the hinge such that the hinge is disposed between a pair of ears, inserting a bracket fastener through the ear bores and the hinge bore, and inserting a bar through at least one bar aperture. The bar may then be shimmed in place.

Abstract: An improved lariat comprising a honda arm sock around each honda arm adjacent the honda knot. The honda arm socks are manufactured of low-friction material. When the lariat loop closes, its tail slides against the honda arm socks. Due to the low-friction characteristics of the honda arm socks, closure rate of the lariat loop is increased, and heat and friction are reduced. Consequently, a roped animal has less chance to shake off the lariat, and rope breakdown is decreased in the rope from which the improved lariat is made, thus increasing lariat life. Optimized honda arm sock weight and dimensions and materials are disclosed. An additional improved lariat embodiment incorporates a tail sock disposed around the improved lariat tail adjacent the honda knot. The tail sock helps maintain rope stiffness in the tail in the vicinity of the honda knot, thus favorably affecting the handling characteristics of the improved lariat.

Abstract: A skull-shaped air filter housing comprising a housing removably attached to a fitting. A jaw is hingedly attached along a lower edge of a face on the housing. The face has eye intake(s), a nose intake, and a jaw intake. When the jaw is open, air enters a housing cavity through the jaw intake. Means of rotating the jaw are disclosed, including cable actuation, spring biasing, and pneumatic actuators. The housing may contain a light for aesthetic purposes. The fitting may incorporate a fitting lumen diameter reduction at its intake to cool and compress air sent to the carburetor. When ram air enters the skull-shaped air filter housing and is sent to the carburetor, it is compressed and therefore denser, and fuel in the carburetor bowl is also compressed, resulting in a power increase in the engine.

Abstract: A self-limiting occlusal reduction burr and method of use. The self-limiting occlusal reduction burr comprises a shank rigidly attached to one end of a conical shoulder, and a burr rigidly attached to an opposite end of the shoulder. The shank, shoulder, and burr are all axially symmetrical about an axis. A shoulder angle is defined by a shoulder outside surface and the axis, and in the preferred embodiment was 39°±20°. The self-limiting occlusal reduction burr may include indicia specifying a length of said burr and/or a diameter of said burr.

Abstract: A razor magnifying glass having a magnifying lens adjustably attached to a handle clamp. The handle clamp is sized to attach to a razor. The razor magnifying glass may incorporate an extension shaft, the magnifying lens being adjustably attached to one extreme of the extension shaft, and the handle clamp being adjustably attached to another extreme of the extension shaft. The handle clamp may be a frictional handle clamp which incorporates a frictional handle clamp aperture sized to frictionally admit a razor handle. An alternate embodiment razor magnifying glass incorporates a spring handle clamp having a pair of mutually opposed spring handle clamp arms embracing a spring handle clamp aperture. The spring handle clamp aperture is sized to frictionally admit a razor handle, and the spring handle clamp arms are made of resilient material.

Abstract: An oxygen monitor for a smokestack installation. The oxygen monitor includes a probe assembly mounted to the smokestack, a sensing assembly mounted to the probe assembly, and a monitor cabinet electrically connected to the sensing assembly. The probe assembly has an intake tube within an exhaust tube. Because the intake tube mouth is smaller than the effective exhaust tube mouth, the pressure reduction effect due to fluid travelling past the exhaust tube is greater than at the intake tube mouth, so fluid such as exhaust gasses tends to be drawn into the intake tube and towards an oxygen sensor. The fluid travels past the oxygen sensor and exits the probe assembly through the exhaust tube and its exhaust tube mouth, back into the smokestack. In addition, the hot oxygen sensor heats the fluid, causing it to rise into the exhaust tube and exit through its mouth. These two effects cause a self-circulation of the fluid being monitored for oxygen content, and eliminate the need for a separate fluid pump.

Abstract: A folding mammography table having a folding thorax support hingedly attached to an upper base. The upper base is attached to a lower base by a means for adjusting the height of the upper base over the lower base. In use, the folding mammography table is sized to accommodate a mammography patient. Then the folding mammography table is folded down into the folded configuration, wherein the folding thorax support is disposed substantially horizontal. The mammography patient is then positioned on the folding mammography table, with one breast pendulously extending through a breast orifice in the folding thorax support. Gravity causes the breast to extend downwards, and X-rays are then taken of the breast. In folding mammography table embodiments incorporating two breast orifices, a breast orifice cover is used to block the breast orifice associated with a breast whose X-ray is not being taken, in order to prevent the non-X-rayed breast from interfering with the photography of the breast which is being X-rayed.

Abstract: An automatic shut-off valve for installation on a swimming pool or spa main drain. The automatic shut-off valve has a ball and ball spring between a diaphragm and a housing. The diaphragm is made of resilient material. Downward force on the diaphragm urges the ball into sealable engagement with a valve seat in the housing. During operation, a swimmer covers sufficient diaphragm base apertures so that the diaphragm center is moved downwards as urged by the main drain suction, towards a swimming pool or spa main drain over which the automatic shut-off valve is mounted. The downward motion of the diaphragm urges the ball into sealable engagement with a valve seat in the housing, where it is securely held by the main drain suction. In this fashion, the ball is entrapped instead of the swimmer, thus avoiding possible disembowelment and/or drowning on the part of the swimmer. Back-up shut-off function is provided by a cap spring-loaded into a closed position whence it migrates should the ball become dislodged.

Abstract: A strapless swimsuit top and method of donning same. The strapless swimsuit top comprises waterproof adhesive attached to a fabric cup sized and shaped to admit a female breast. The waterproof adhesive co-extends with the fabric except in an adhesive-free nipple area. An adhesive backing sheet co-extends with the adhesive and protects the adhesive until such time as the strapless swimsuit top is to be installed.

Abstract: An automatic shut-off valve for installation on a sing pool or spa main drain. The automatic shut-off valve has a soft gasket, ball, and ball spring between a grate and a housing. The grate is free to reciprocate up and down relative to the housing. Downward reciprocation of the grate urges the ball into sealable engagement with a valve seat in the housing. During operation, a swimmer covers sufficient grate apertures so that the grate is moved downwards as urged by the main drain suction, towards a swimming pool or spa main drain over which the automatic shut-off valve is mounted. The downward motion of the grate urges the ball into sealable engagement with a valve seat in the housing, where it is securely held by the main drain suction. In this fashion, the ball is entrapped instead of the swimmer, thus avoiding possible disembowelment and/or drowning on the part of the swimmer.

Abstract: ‘Namib Sun’, an Ornithogalum dubium cultivar. ‘Namib Sun’ has a robust and vigorous growth pattern producing leaves 20-30 cm in length. The most striking characteristic of the mature plant is its spike-shaped inflorescence (raceme) which is between 30 and 50 cm tall and includes 50-60 flowers. The flowers are RHS7B yellow with green centers. Each ‘Namib Sun’ flower is cup-shaped to stellate with age, and two to three cm wide.

Abstract: ‘Croton Zulu’, a Codiaeum cutivar. ‘Croton Zulu’ has a bushy growth habit. It features an uneven variegation beginning yellow (upper surface RHS 5A; lower surface RHS 5D) and maturing to red and orange colors (RHS 59B, RHS 169A, RHS 60A and RHS 17D). When potted in 14 cm pots in shade house conditions, ‘Croton Zulu’ plants attain a height of 30 cm and are about 30 cm wide, giving the plant a rounded shape.