Abstract: A faucet installation system and method for use on faucets that include a valve stem that is adapted for insertion through an aperture in a sink or a countertop is disclosed. The system uses a valve having a valve stem that is adapted for connection to a water supply line that connects to a water supply valve. The valve stem includes an external surface that cooperates with a retention nut that is split, so that retention nut may be attached to the valve stem after the valve stem and water supply line have been attached to one another and inserted through the aperture in the sink or countertop, eliminating the need to attach the water supply line to the stem from under the sink or countertop.

Abstract: A system and method for creating a storage enclosure in a vehicle having a cargo area defined by a floor a pair of spaced apart side panels and a tailgate is disclosed. The system includes a forward bushing that is mounted from the top panel and an aft bushing that is also mounted from the top panel at a distance from the forward bushing. The system the tailgate and a locking mechanism to create a lockable, secure space. The locking mechanism includes a forward plate having a forward aperture having sides adapted for accepting the forward bushing, and an aft plate that is connected to the forward plate. The aft plate having an aft aperture adapted for accepting the aft bushing and having a stop that allows the forward bushing to travel along the forward aperture until the stop prevents the aft bushing from advancing towards the forward plate, thereby preventing the forward bushing from advancing forward and out of the forward aperture.

Abstract: A modular, expandable, and flexible computer system device is provided. The computer system device comprising a multiple number of individual modules interconnected physically via ‘backplane’ means with each module independently processing and executing specified computer functions utilizing internal or shared resources. Electrical power distribution and data communications are positioned between modules with the electrical power distribution and data communications internal to the base unit module.

Abstract: An oxygen therapy humidification device is disclosed. The humidification device includes a hollow water reservoir that includes an upper end that has an upper cross-sectional area and a lower end that has a lower cross-sectional area. The lower cross-sectional area is smaller than the upper cross-sectional area. The device also includes an oxygen inlet and an oxygen outlet, both of which are positioned at the upper end of the hollow water reservoir and provide fluid communication to and from the hollow water reservoir. The oxygen inlet includes a bypass valve that is connected to a duct that extends from the oxygen inlet to a diffuser that is positioned at the lower end of the hollow water reservoir. The bypass valve allows the user to control the proportion of water vapor or humidity delivered to oxygen that is passed through the device, with the oxygen entering through the inlet and leaving through the outlet at the desired humidity level.

Abstract: An elevated retainer is disclosed for retaining roofing tile that include tile lugs against a roofing surface. The elevated retainer includes a retainer head, the retainer head having a base and a top. Extending from the retainer head is a reinforcing strip with as nail slot. The reinforcing strip being adapted for extending in generally parallel to the roofing surface when the base of the retainer head is placed against the roofing surface. The device also includes lug retainer that engages lugs of the roofing tile while the tile lies between the reinforcing strip and the lug retainer.

Abstract: A hand-held hair dryer and hair styling system that uses a magnetic field to index the location of a brush or combing device relative to the nozzle of the hair dryer is disclosed. The system allows the nozzle to follow the brush or combing device. The system includes a hair dryer that has a fan and a heating element, the fan forcing air over the heating element. The dryer also has a nozzle with ferrous or magnetic components, and that is supported from the body by bearings that allow rotation of the nozzle about a central axis. The system includes a brush that includes a magnet that provides a magnetic field that attracts or repels the magnetic or ferrous components of the nozzle, so that holding the hair dryer next to the comb causes the nozzle and the brush to be coupled through the magnetic field, so that the nozzle rotates or moves in response to movement of the brush.

Abstract: A snap hook that includes gate that includes and aperture that accepts a male portion that protrudes from the nose portion of the hook is disclosed. The coupling of the nose portion and the gate prevents the unwanted opening of the gate while the hook is under extreme loads. Still further, the use of a slide bar that is moved through translation and rotation when opening the gate of the hook is also disclosed. The translation and rotation motion provides improved cooperation of the components and improves the resistance of undesired movement of the slide bar by forces against a protrusion on the slide bar, and thus provides greater resistance to unwanted opening of the gate.

Abstract: An elevated retainer is disclosed for retaining roofing tile that include tile lugs against a roofing surface. The elevated retainer includes a retainer head, the retainer head having a base and a top. Extending from the retainer head, is a reinforcing strip with as nail slot. The reinforcing strip being adapted for extending in generally parallel to the roofing surface when the base of the retainer head is placed against the roofing surface. The device also includes lug retainer that engages lugs of the roofing tile while the tile lies between the reinforcing strip and the lug retainer.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for collecting, animating in chronological sequence, and presenting the progression of events is disclosed. The method includes providing a set of event data to form a database, the data relating to events that constrained or led up to some of the events. Then presenting the database as a grid to allow user selection and editing of the Event data in the database to create a set of Events to be presented in an animated manner, and then assigning properties to the manner of presentation of the set of Events to be presented in an animated manner to create a movie. The movement of the movie is provided by an engine that moves a cursor along the timeline to represent the forward or backward change of time and displaying a marker representing an Event from Event data contained in the database.

Abstract: A system for locating the midpoint of an arc of a bull-nose while masking surfaces adjacent to the bull-nose corner between a pair of flat walls is disclosed. One example of the system uses a flexible planar sheet that has a lower surface having a low-tack adhesive and includes a semicircular edge that is used to mask trim next to the bull-nose corner. Another example uses a tool that includes a semicircular edge that commences tangentially from a straight edge and includes indicia along the concave arc. The arc portion of the shape is positioned against the bull-nose while the straight edge portion the shape is positioned against one of the planar walls so that the midpoint of the arc may be read from the indicia along the concave arc.

Abstract: An oxygen therapy humidification device is disclosed. The humidification device includes a hollow water reservoir that includes an upper end that has an upper cross-sectional area and a lower end that has a lower cross-sectional area. The lower cross-sectional area is smaller than the upper cross-sectional area. The device also includes an oxygen inlet and an oxygen outlet, both of which are positioned at the upper end of the hollow water reservoir and provide fluid communication to and from the hollow water reservoir. The oxygen inlet includes a bypass valve that is connected to a duct that extends from the oxygen inlet to a diffuser that is positioned at the lower end of the hollow water reservoir. The bypass valve allows the user to control the proportion of water vapor or humidity delivered to oxygen that is passed through the device, with the oxygen entering through the inlet and leaving through the outlet at the desired humidity level.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a storage area within a box spring is disclosed. The system uses a storage box having a storage compartment and a locking door that provides access to the storage compartment. Attached to the storage box is a base plate that is attached to the storage compartment, the base plate includes an engagement hook. The box spring includes a stringer, and is used to support a mattress. The engagement hook of the base plate of the storage box engages the stringer of the box spring while the storage box is in use, so that the storage box is retained within the box spring.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the radiation emissions from an x-ray tube having an anode, a cathode, and a grid is disclosed. The system and method uses a continuous high voltage across the cathode and the anode of the x-ray tube, so that a high voltage is continuously applied to the x-ray tube between the cathode and the anode. The flow of electrons between the cathode and the anode is then controlled by a pulsed high voltage to the grid, the pulsed high voltage being of substantially the same magnitude as the continuous high voltage and being switched at a frequency of about one microsecond to provide alternate the polarity of the switched high voltage to the grid, so that voltage between the cathode and the anode is switched by the voltage applied to the grid by the source of pulsed high voltage, so that soft radiation emissions from the x-ray tube are minimized or eliminated.

Abstract: A retractable lanyard mechanism that includes a housing, a frame and a drum that is rotatably supported from the frame mounted within the housing. The drum includes a pair of spaced apart disks, the spaced apart disks being attached to opposite ends of a spool, each spaced apart disk having a perimeter including at least one sperrad.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the radiation emissions from an x-ray tube having an anode, a cathode, and a grid is disclosed. The system and method uses a continuous high voltage across the cathode and the anode of the x-ray tube, so that a high voltage is continuously applied to the x-ray tube between the cathode and the anode. The flow of electrons between the cathode and the anode is then controlled by a pulsed high voltage to the grid, the pulsed high voltage being of substantially the same magnitude as the continuous high voltage and being switched at a frequency of about one microsecond to provide alternate the polarity of the switched high voltage to the grid, so that voltage between the cathode and the anode is switched by the voltage applied to the grid by the source of pulsed high voltage, so that soft radiation emissions from the x-ray tube are minimized or eliminated.

Abstract: A snap-hook having a locking element and a gate, where the locking element cooperates with the gate to place stresses on the gate in tension instead of shear is disclosed. The tension loads are achieved by using mating generally cylindrical surfaces on the gate and on the lock.

Abstract: A medical method and dressing for application, and maintenance of medication on healthy, damaged diseased or infected living tissue. Medication is applied to body tissue and then coated with a bioadhesive providing medication maintenance on tissue and protection from body and other liquids or abrasion thereby preventing removal of the medication during a healing or treatment process.

Abstract: A rotary latch mechanism that includes at least one support plate that pivotally supports both a latch fork and a lock cam is disclosed. The lock cam is movable from a first position where the lock cam prevents rotation of the latch fork to a second position where the lock cam does not interfere with the movement of the latch fork. A spring is attached to the latch fork and the lock cam and extends between the latch fork and the lock cam, so that the spring biases the lock cam towards the first position while biasing the latch fork to a release position.

Abstract: A system that provides multiple therapies to a given area of the body of an animal, the system includes a pad for use against the area of the body. The system includes at least one light source, at least one electrical impulse source, and a control module for controlling the frequency of light emitted from the light source and the frequency of the electrical impulses created by the electrical impulse source. The light source provides light-therapy to areas of the body under the pad.

Abstract: The use of a fall arrest lanyard that provides fall arrest forces at least two primary levels is disclosed. One example provides a lanyard with a pair of shock absorbers of different capacities in series. Other examples use a single shock absorber that provides at least two distinct levels of arrest force. Varying the strength of the attachment area that is to be separated to provide the arrest force and by varying the amount of area being separated at one time varies the levels of arrest force.