Abstract: A manual glass lathe used for shaping and coloring clear glass tubes. The manual glass lathe, in the preferred embodiment, comprises a tubular handle, designed to be held in one hand, and a thumbwheel located towards the working end of the handle, and is used by a glass-blower to precisely control the spin of a glass workpiece and the proximity of the workpiece to a flame and to various shaping tools and/or fuming rods. The handle makes use of an interior arrangement of bearings and o-rings to center and hold the mandrel, and also comprises an inner sleeve used as an inertial weight to enhance spinning momentum. Also a method for using such a manual glass lathe to shape and fume glass workpieces.

Abstract: Illuminated message displays improve improving traffic safety by notifying drivers of the turning characteristics of semi trailers. Lamps mounted on the front of a circuit board and controlled by a microprocessor display a pattern of messages to warn motorists of the need to not be adjacent to a semi trailer when it makes a right hand turn, to notify motorists when a right hand turn is imminent, and to thank motorists for their cooperation. A wire connects the microprocessor and circuit board to the taillights of a semi trailer so that they are powered when the taillights are turned on. Circuit board holders releasably attach the circuit board to the rear door of a semi trailer. A pair of brackets with end caps are attached to the bottom of the rear bumper of a semi trailer to hold the circuit board and plates safely out of the way when the rear door of the semi trailer is opened.

Abstract: A tossing game with apparatus and an accompanying method of play, the apparatus comprising a target surface, a plurality of tossing disks, and a scoring peg. The game offers opportunity for variety and strategy of play by allowing for a multiplicity of games with the same apparatus, thereby increasing the enjoyment of the participants. In the preferred method of play, each player tosses three rings onto the target surface. The toss is scored according to the landing position of the rings and the scoring position of the “power key.” The first player to reach a predetermined score without faulting wins.

Abstract: A unique drive circuit for a fluorescent lamp, as well as a housing for such lamp and drive circuit, designed for mineral museum displays, are disclosed herein. The drive circuit comprises a ballast subcircuit, a separate filament transformer subcircuit for pre-heating the lamp cathodes, and a relay between the subcircuits. The separate filament transformer subcircuit obviates the need for a conventional starter circuit for the fluorescent lamp. This way of pre-heating the cathodes prolongs the useful life of the lamp by making it possible for the lamp to undergo thousands of “on-off” cycles without the heretofore usual deterioration of the cathodes. The relay prevents the high voltage of the ballast from “hitting” the lamp cathodes before the cathodes have been pre-heated by the transformer subcircuit. Also disclosed is a method for using such a lamp, drive circuit, and housing to irradiate fluorescent minerals in a display case.

Abstract: The toe guard assembly is for use on a surgical boot which is open toed and has an inner sole. The parts of the assembly are the guard and a piece of double stick tape which attaches the guard to the inner sole. The guard has a cup-like toe portion which fits around the toes to be guarded, a sole tab which extends from the bottom of the toe portion over the inner sole, two side tabs, each of which extends from a side of the toe portion along the sides of the boot and an upper tab which extends from the top of the toe portion over the top of the boot. The side tabs may be detachably adhesively attached to the sides of the boot. One or more of the tabs may be a separate part attached to the toe portion. The guard may be a molded part, or have a molded toe portion with tabs attached or made from flat material in a pattern which, when folded, forms the guard.

Abstract: A Method for Decorating a Shoe is a process whereby a shoe is covered with several layers of an acrylic polymer emulsion gel, which layers may be matte or gloss finish, tinted, or clear. One or more of the polymer gel layers is used to affix onto the shoe various sizes and types of paper and/or other decorative items, and the overall process may make use of elements of collage or decoupage. The basic steps of the decorative process in the preferred embodiment are roughly as follows: the shoe is cleaned; the paper or other decorative items to be affixed are immersed in the polymer gel to coat; the decorative items are applied to the clean shoe, forming a first layer of gel next to the shoe and a second layer of gel on top of the items; and two layers of (typically gloss) gel, which may be tinted, are applied to finish the decorated shoe. In alternate embodiments, three-dimensional decorative items may be applied, or one or more layers of the gel may be shaped and textured so as to enhance the overall design.

Abstract: An automatic knot-tying device for tying a discrete knot about a workpiece, such as a bundle of wires, has been developed. The present invention works by pulling a filament, such as the FAA-approved lace, transversely around the workpiece. The preferred embodiment of the device comprises a hand-held housing and a knot-tying mechanism within that housing comprising a plurality of carriage rings, for wrapping the filament around the workpiece, at least one shuttle for moving the filament between the carriage rings and along the workpiece at the appropriate steps, and a plurality of hooks for pulling the filament away from the workpiece at the appropriate steps. The operation is finished by cinching, cutting, and reloading so that the resulting knot is discrete and secure. A method for automatically tying a knot around a workpiece uses the present invention to pull, instead of push, a filament around the workpiece.

Abstract: A height-adjustable and collapsible seat for a child stroller. In the preferred embodiment, of the height-adjustable, collapsible seat is the second, or rear, seat of a tandem stroller, and is such that the child can sit in the seat either forward-facing or rearward-facing. Using the height-adjustable, collapsible rear seat, the pusher is able to adjust the seat height according to his/her preferences and needs (for instance, he/she can place the child at eye-level), or can even remove the seat entirely to provide for additional storage space or room for a second child to ride on the standing platform at the rear of the stroller, if such a platform is provided. In the preferred embodiment, the rear seat is also fitted out with the necessary attachments for an infant carrier, so that the stroller can accommodate any combination of child and infant, facing forward or rearward.

Abstract: A drum pillow for use in a bass drum is disclosed herein. The drum pillow can be permanently or removably inserted into the interior of the bass drum shell. The preferred embodiment of the drum pillow is used to “deaden” or modify the sound, esp. overtones, of the bass drum during live performances, particularly when the drum is being struck by a typical foot-operated bass beater. An alternate embodiment is designed for use in studio recording sessions, where the situation calls for an even “deader” sound. Also disclosed herein is a method for using the drum pillow for the purposes described.

Abstract: A unique drive circuit for a fluorescent lamp, as well as a housing for such lamp and drive circuit, are designed for mineral museum displays. The drive circuit comprises a ballast subcircuit, a separate filament transformer subcircuit for pre-heating the lamp cathodes, and a relay between the subcircuits. The separate filament transformer subcircuit obviates the need for a conventional starter circuit for the fluorescent lamp. This way of pre-heating the cathodes prolongs the useful life of the lamp by making it possible for the lamp to undergo thousands of “on-off” cycles without the heretofore usual deterioration of the cathodes. The relay prevents the high voltage of the ballast from “hitting” the lamp cathodes before the cathodes have been pre-heated by the transformer subcircuit. Also a method is designed for using such a lamp, drive circuit, and housing to irradiate fluorescent minerals in a display case.

Abstract: An automatic knot-tying device for tying a discrete knot about a workpiece, such as a bundle of wires, is disclosed herein. The present invention works by pulling a filament transversely around the workpiece. The preferred embodiment of the device comprises a hand-held housing and a knot-tying mechanism within that housing comprising a hollow nozzle for leading the filament toward the workpiece, a wrapping ring for wrapping the filament around the workpiece, and a plurality of pins that extend into and retract out of the path of the filament to form the knot. The operation is finished by cinching and cutting the loose filament so that the resulting knot is discrete and secure. Also disclosed is a method for automatically tying a knot around a workpiece by pulling, instead of pushing a filament around the workpiece.