Abstract: A nut cracking mechanism for shelling variable-sized nuts having a brittle shell and fragile nut meat, the nut cracker mechanism having a housing with a horizontally positioned rotatable drum contained in the housing, and an adjustable, substantially vertical compression plate mounted in the housing with a cracking surface displaced from a cylindrical slip resistant cracking surface of the drum to form a narrowing gap between the drum and the compression plate, the gap having an upper portion sized to accommodate nuts of varying sizes and a lower portion sized to compress nuts between the cylindrical surface of the drum and the compression plate until the nut cracks and releases its meat, the mechanism having associated components to feed nuts to the top of the mechanism and receive shells and meat from the bottom of the mechanism.

Abstract: An inflatable pipe plug having an improved mold-formed gripping surface and a method of fabricating the pipe plug. The pipe plug has a cylindrical elastic body with ends that are connected to rigid end caps by a swaging ring, the outer surface of the expandable elastic body having a series of raised ribs and textured bands formed by expanding an uncured cylindrical rubber sleeve in a mold and curing the sleeve to form the plug body.

Abstract: A pneumatic lift device that has a lift unit and an activatable air supply connected to the lift unit with the lift unit having a substantially rectangular base with four sides and a substantially rectangular lift platform connected to the base by a hinge mechanism that includes four foldable side panels connected to the four sides of the base and lift platform with the lift unit having an expandable bladder between the base and lift platform, wherein on expanding the bladder with pressurized air from the air supply, the lift platform rises from the base.

Abstract: A system for the duplication of binary data onto CD-R disks, the system including a copy unit, a host computer and computer software, the software being installed in the host computer to provide a user interface and to direct the transfer of data from the host computer to the copy unit, the copy unit including a set of multiple stacked recordable disk drives, a microprocessor electronically connected to the activating mechanism of a pivotal transport tower and to the set of multiple stacked recordable disk drives. A robotic disk pickup head on the pivotal transport tower is encompassed by a set of disk spindle members arranged in a symmetric semi-circular pattern around the central tower, the disk pickup head being connected to the pivotal transport tower with an elevator mechanism for lifting and transporting compact disks among the disk spindle members and any selected one of the stacked recordable disk drive members.

Abstract: A universal fuel injection system for liquid and gaseous fuels and mixes thereof the universal fuel injection system having a universal fuel injection module interposed between a liquid fuel injector nozzle the universal fuel injection module having a spring-biased gaseous fuel valve connected to a pressurized gaseous fuel source and to a conical poppet mixing valve in the fuel injector nozzle where liquid fuel from the liquid fuel actuator unit and gaseous fuel selectively admitted through the spring-biased gaseous fuel valve mix for discharge through a fuel nozzle discharge orifice.

Abstract: A compressed-ring pneumatic pipe plug having an expandable bladder in the form of an annulus, the bladder having open ends with end cuffs and a pair of rigid end caps that are constructed with a circular end plate having a perimeter rim over which an end cuff is installed and with a ring that is installed over the end cuff and compressed against the cuff and rim, with the rim and ring having a complimentary ridge and groove arrangement to lock the ring onto the rim with the end cuff of the bladder sandwiched between the rim and ring.

Abstract: A medication container having a removable cap with an electronic reminder unit in the cap, the reminder unit having a operational control allowing a health care provider to set a clock and a medication schedule having one or more medication times with an alarm signal generated at the medication times, the reminder unit having a user shut-off and an automatic shut-off for terminating the alarm signal, wherein upon a shut-off the reminder unit generates an alarm signal at the next medication time.

Abstract: A visual reference structure for a computer database for retrieval of information objects in the database, the reference structure is formed of discrete cell blocks that are assembled into a three dimensional structure having sixteen cubes containing one million cell blocks, seven plates containing one hundred thousand cell blocks, seven strings containing ten thousand cell blocks, seven cubes containing one thousand cell blocks, two plates containing one hundred cell blocks and a string of sixteen cell blocks, for a total of 16,777,216 cell blocks, the reference structure preferably providing locations for picoblocks which are bit cubes containing a maximum of 343 bits, and being displayable in the display of a computer.

Abstract: An emergency power station for traffic signal controllers having a general utility power supply, the emergency power station having a small footprint cabinet containing a fuel supply in a lowermost compartment, an engine and an electrical generator in a middle compartment, and a power station controller box in an uppermost compartment, the power station controller box having a power circuit connected to the utility power supply, the electrical power generator and the traffic signal controller, the power circuit including an activatable power switch selectively connecting the utility power supply or the power generator to the traffic signal controller, the power station controller box also including a control circuit with a power line monitor and a programmable timer system for sensing a power loss in the utility power supply, and, after a predetermined delay, activating the engine and switching the switch connecting the traffic signal controller to the power generator.

Abstract: A disk copying and dispensing apparatus including a disk processing module installable in a host device such as a disk vending machine, the module having a frame containing a displaceable carriage mechanism with a disk pick-up head, at least one disk recorder with an extendible tray for receiving or discharging a disk, a disk label printer and at least one disk parking tray with one embodiment having an actuatable disk dispensing chute, the disk carriage being movable from one device to another under control of a controller, in accordance with a programmed sequence of a processor.

Abstract: An electronic shopping-cart handle with a hand bar and a display unit having an informational display screen for a product directory and periodic display of advertisements, the display unit having operating controls operable by a user's thumbs while maintaining a hand grip on the hand bar for displaying select user information on the display screen.

Abstract: An adjustable bridge for stringed instruments that utilizes a wedge mechanism seated on a base that in turn is seated on the top surface of a stringed instrument, with the wedge mechanism supporting a saddle member engaged by the strings of the stringed instrument. The wedge mechanism having an adjustment screw for displacing a pair of wedge members which raise and lower the saddle member.

Abstract: A mechanical pipe coupling for thermoplastic pipe, the coupling including an outer sleeve with cuff portions at opposite open ends and an internally directed flaring, the sleeve having a central circumferential ridge between the cuff portions, the coupling also including a plurality of compression shoes with adjustment screws, with the compression shoes engaging the inside of the ends of the pipe and clamping the pipe against the inside of the sleeve.

Abstract: A system for the duplication of binary data onto caddy-loaded recordable disks, the system including a copy unit, a host computer and computer software, the computer software being installed in the host computer to provide a user interface and to direct the transfer of data from the host computer to the copy unit, the copy unit including a gravity-fed hopper holding a stack of caddy-loaded recordable disks, a caddy transport unit, a recordable disk drive, and a microprocessor. Caddies containing blank compact disks placed fed into the gravity-fed hopper and are transported to the recordable disk drive by the caddy transport unit for copying. After copying, each copied compact disk is inspected for errors and transported by the caddy transport unit to an accept or reject bin.

Abstract: A mobile phone system with a mobile phone having internal accounting capabilities for real time call debiting to account for the billing parameters of a mobile phone unit that is operated in a multi zone communication network with a complex rate structure, the mobile phone unit having an internal processor with accessible internal memory for storing the accounting program and call data for each call, a clock and circuit means for activating and deactivating the phone, the accounting program including an updatable rate table and a complex billing algorithm for calculating the account status on the fly including multiple rate structure factors such as long distance calls, international calls with country independent local charges, charges for roaming per day and/or roaming per minute, and call surcharges, where the account status of the mobile phone is calculated in real time for decrementing a debit account or calculating an account charge on demand, the mobile debit phone having a signal for alerting the user

Abstract: A slide hatch for a bulk carrier vehicle for removing a hatch cover from an access port on the top of a carrier tank on the vehicle, the slide hatch including a slide carriage connected to the hatch cover and to an actuator which displaces the slide carriage and back cover with the slide carriage mounted on a track and connected to a cam mechanism for forcing the cover against the access port when the cover is displaced over the port for sealing the tank.

Abstract: An electronic shopping-cart handle with a hand bar and a display unit having an informational display screen for a product directory and periodic display of advertisements, the display unit having operating controls operable by a user's thumbs while maintaining a hand grip on the hand bar for displaying select user information on the display screen.

Abstract: A spa cover lifting device for lifting a folding spa cover seated on a spa from a seated position to a vertical storage position, the spa cover lifting device having a frame apparatus with a horizontal cross member and a pair of side members with ends having pivotal mounts connectable with the spa, the horizontal cross member engaging the folding spa cover at the fold and transporting the cover when folded over the cross member from the seated position to the storage position when the frame apparatus is pivoted, the spa cover lifting device including a spring mechanism that assists raising the cover and cushions descent of the cover into its folded storage position.

Abstract: A drainpipe filter kit for installation on a sink drain, the kit having the parts necessary to install a substitute drain pipe with a filter canister between the sink drain and the sink trap, the kit including a drainpipe segment with end fittings for connection to a sink drain and trap, and a removable canister connected to the pipe segment having a drain spigot and a disposable filter packet. The filter packet includes a dissolvable sanitation tablet, the canister being easily removed after draining for disposal and replacement of the filter packet.