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: An exercise glove for intrinsic muscles and method of use. The exercise glove incorporates rigid ribs having rib distal end angles corresponding to patient metacarpal phalangeal joint angles. The ribs passively hold the patient metacarpal phalangeal joint angles in extension, while the patient actively flexes the proximal interphalangeal joints and distal interphalangeal joints to obtaining optimal intrinsic muscle stretching. The rib distal end angles may be set by a physical therapist to correspond to individual patient metacarpal phalangeal joint angles, or alternately an array of ribs of different rib distal end angles may be provided with the exercise glove, from which rib assortment the physical therapist may choose ribs having appropriate rib distal end angles ribs to attach to the exercise glove. The method includes the steps of using the exercise glove to passively hold metacarpal phalangeal joints in extension, while actively flexing proximal and distal interphalangeal joints.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for changing barbell weights. The apparatus includes at least one stand having a ramp sloping upwards to a first cradle and a second cradle. The first cradle is sized to hold a circular barbell weight. The height of the first cradle exceeds the height of the second cradle by at least the difference between a weight bore diameter and a bar diameter. When a barbell is supported in the stand, only an innermost weight at each barbell end rests against the cradle floor; the other weights all depend from the bar and are easily slid off of, and onto, the bar. Method steps include rolling the barbell onto one or more stands, changing weights as desired, and rolling the barbell off of the stand(s).

Abstract: An apparatus and method to protect fiber ribbons. A router having a body and cap are disclosed. Fiber cable sheath is stripped from one end, and the fiber ribbons thus exposed are inserted through the body and through cap bores in the cap. The cap is frictionally pushed into the body, and transportation tubes are installed over the fiber ribbons. The cap bores are sized to frictionally admit one end of a transportation tube, which has the effect of holding the transportation tubes in place. An optional insert is disclosed which has the function of reducing the body minor barrel bore diameter through which the fiber cable enters the router.

Abstract: A self-contained hydraulic thruster for vessel. The hydraulic thruster incorporates an elevated helm platform mounted to a base having reinforced base feet, and a hydraulic fluid reservoir mounted on the helm platform. The elevation of the hydraulic fluid reservoir facilitates flow of hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic power pack mounted on the base. A lower unit mounting tube is attached to the base, and at least one lower unit is mounted at an end of the lower unit mounting tube, laterally offset from the helm platform, so that when the lower unit is retracted and tilted up, it lies on one side of the platform, and the platform doesn't interfere with retraction and tilting of the lower unit. Lower units are pivotably mounted in lower unit housings with lower unit bushings, and steering is provided by a steering motor through an overhung load adaptor to a drive gear.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for changing barbell weights. The apparatus includes at least one stand having a ramp sloping upwards to a cradle. The cradle is sized to hold a circular barbell weight, and slopes downward from a cradle inner edge to a cradle outer edge. When a barbell is supported in the stand, only an innermost weight at each barbell end rests against the cradle floor; the other weights all depend from the bar and are easily slid off of, and onto, the bar. Thus, when the barbell rests on the stand(s), weights may be quickly and easily changed. After the desired weights have been changed, the barbell is rolled out of the cradle(s), down the ramp(s), and off of the stand(s). Method steps include rolling the barbell onto one or more stands, changing weights as desired, and rolling the barbell off of the stand(s).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring volumes. The apparatus includes a base having a central processing unit, a receiver and a dock; and a scanner having an inertial navigation system, a transmitter, a sensor, a reset control, and a trigger in communication with a microprocessor. An alternate embodiment scanner may include an exclude control, which instructs the central processing unit to exclude floor, ceiling, and walls from the volume calculation. The method of measuring volumes includes the steps of placing the scanner in the dock, actuating a reset control which establishes a reference point for the inertial navigation system, scanning objects, transmitting the data points scanned to the central processing unit, and calculating the volume of the object(s) scanned.

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 angle gauge and method of use. The angle gauge has a housing with a housing probe wall and a housing foot defining a gauge angle. A pair of probes extends from the housing probe wall. A light and a battery are electrically connected in series between the probes. A pre-determined angle between an object and a flat surface can be gauged by placing the angle gauge with its housing foot flat on the flat surface, and then sliding the angle gauge across the flat surface until at least one probe is in electrical contact with the object, and then adjusting the angle of the object relative to the flat surface until both probes are in contact with the object, thereby illuminating the light. A conductor may be attached to non-conducting objects. A method of calibration is disclosed using a calibrated angle.

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: A method and apparatus to manufacture a leaf display device. The method includes the steps of positioning a top leaf on a broadleaf stem substantially co-linear with the broadleaf stem; positioning a leaf adjacent the top leaf substantially parallel to, and on top of the top leaf; positioning a leaf adjacent the leaves already stacked substantially parallel to, and on top of the previously stacked leaves; and repeating the previous step until all leaves desired to be stacked have been stacked. The method may include the additional steps of employing a notched broadleaf stem holder to hold stacked broadleaf stems in the correct configuration until they are ready to be used for assembly. The notched broadleaf stem holder may be supported on a table or a transportation device by means of a broadleaf stem holder support. An alternate embodiment broadleaf stem holder comprises a recess sized to admit and hold at least one stacked broadleaf stem.

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: A float retractable landing gear. The float retractable landing gear incorporates a wheel support, a side gear door, a bottom gear door, and one or more hinges and strut ears attached to a spine. At least one hinge is rotatably attached to a float. The float incorporates a float side cutout communicating with a float bottom cutout. A spring-loaded strut incorporating on over center toggle down lock feature is attached between the float retractable landing gear and the float. A float side wall skin is attached to an upper portion of the float side wall cutout. The side gear door is sized to cover the lower portion of the float side wall cutout, and the bottom gear door is sized to cover the float bottom cutout. The float retractable landing gear may be specified to default into the extended or retracted position depending on the strut spring constant selected.

Abstract: ‘Mary’, a Dieffenbachia cultivar. ‘Mary’ is a compact Dieffenbachia of medium size, with oval, yellow-green variegated leaves emarginated in dark green. The leaves are held tightly to the stem with distinctive short white petioles. ‘Mary’ exhibits strong suckering ability. Its plant growth habit is small and compact, leaf shape is oval, leaf size is approximately 23 cm×14 cm with a length to width ratio of 1.6, leaves are yellow green and variegated, petioles are predominately white, and the distance from apex of wing to leaf base is small and bout 0.5 cm.

Abstract: ‘Ely’, a Dieffenbachia cultivar. ‘Ely’ is a compact Dieffenbachia of medium size, with orbicular to oval, yellow-green variegated leaves emarginated in dark green. The leaves are held tightly to the stem with distinctive short white petioles. ‘Ely’ exhibits strong suckering ability. Its plant growth habit is small and compact, leaf shape is orbicular to oval, leaf size is approximately 25 cm×17 cm with a length to width ratio of 1.5, leaves are yellow green and variegated, petioles are predominately white, and the distance from apex of wing to leaf base is small and about 2 to 4 cm.