Abstract: A retractable tether for a pet. A leash is retractably connected to a collar by a pair of retractors. Each retractor includes a housing and a retracting mechanism. The retracting mechanism includes an axle and a recoilable spring. In one embodiment, the recoilable spring allows the leash to freely recoil and be automatically wrapped around the axle when tension is removed from the leash. In another embodiment, each retractor further includes a ratchet mechanism. The ratchet mechanism does not allow the leash to freely recoil and be automatically wrapped around the axle when tension is removed from the leash, but rather requires an initial tug on the leash and maintaining tension thereon to cause the leash to wrap around the axle.

Abstract: A renewable sponge. A body includes a non-abrasive layer and an abrasive layer that overlies, and is attached to, the non-abrasive layer. Each of the non-abrasive layer and the abrasive layer include a plurality of peel-off layers that are substantially separated from each other by strategically positioned slits so as to allow each of the plurality of peel-off layers to be peeled off when exhausted and expose a next peel-off layer so as to renew the renewable sponge. The strategically positioned slits extend between adjacent ones of the plurality of peel-off layers completely across the body, from one side of the body to the other side of the body. The strategically positioned slits that are between adjacent layers of the plurality of peel-off layers are separated from each other by non-slitted portions of the body.

Abstract: A deflection wall. Channel-shaped studs are physically attached to a channel-shaped sole plate, but floatingly attached to a channel-shaped top plate. The webs, of the sole and top plates have tabs stamped therefrom which are spaced longitudinally therealong at predetermined intervals so as to provide for desired spacing of the studs. A tab of the sole plate is physically attached to either the web or a flange of the stud and a tab of the top plate abuts against, but is not physically attached to, one side of the web of the stud so as to allow the stud to axially float. To prevent lateral floating of the stud, either an angle plate sandwiches the web of the stud between the tab of the top plate and itself, the flanges of the stud are cut and wrapped around, so as to abuttingly engage against, the tab of the top plate, or the tab of the top plate is split heightwise into a pair of tabs that straddlingly engage the web of the stud.

Abstract: A lock striker plate. A first portion attaches to a doorjamb, over a bolt-receiving blind bore therein. A second portion extends perpendicularly forwardly from the first portion, contacts, and extends forwardly past, a stop of the doorjamb, and blocks insertion of a thin card into the bolt-receiving blind bore therein. A third portion extends perpendicularly sidewardly from the second portion, after the stop of the doorjamb and attaches thereto. In one embodiment, the third portion extends forwardly of the first portion so as to lie in a plane parallel to that of the first portion when the stop of the doorjamb is not a separate piece therefrom. In another embodiment, the third portion lies in a same plane as that of the first portion when the stop of the doorjamb is a separate piece therefrom.

Abstract: A sidewards opening rain tight electrical enclosure including a box and a door pivotally and slidably mounted to the box by a hinge. The box has a front, a pair of side walls, and a top wall with a lip depending therefrom over, but slightly spaced away from, the front and the pair of side walls of the box so as to form a gap therebetween. The hinge allows the door to slide down relative to the box, pivot relative to the box onto the front of the box, and slide up relative to the box and be positioned in the gap for allowing the lip to prevent rain from entering behind the door. The box has a latch slidably mounted to the bottom wall thereof and extendable therefrom through the door so as to prevent the door from sliding back down relative to the box once closed.

Abstract: A hydrofoil system for lifting a boat out of water an amount sufficient to reduce drag while still allowing the boat to be powered by a conventional inboard-outboard drive. The hydrofoil system includes a front hydrofoil unit, a center hydrofoil unit, and a pair of rear hydrofoil units. The front hydrofoil unit includes a hydrofoil portion that dependingly mounts to a mounting portion thereof that depends from the bottom of the hull at the bow thereof. The center hydrofoil unit includes a hydrofoil that dependingly extends equidistantly outwardly from a pair of stanchions thereof that depend from the bottom of the hull at the substantial center thereof. Each rear hydrofoil unit includes a hydrofoil that dependingly extends equidistantly outwardly from a pair of stanchions thereof that depend from port and starboard trim tab units of the hull, respectively.

Abstract: A solar rechargeable battery. A storage battery is contained in a case, on which is disposed a solar cell that electrically communicates with, and charges, the storage battery. In two embodiments, the case is cylindrically-shaped. In one of which, the solar cell forms a longitudinal segment of the case so as to maintain the cylindrical shape of the case, and has a V-grooved block that receives and holds the case in a supine position. In the other of which, the solar cell is on one end wall of the case surrounding the positive contact. In a third embodiment, the case is rectangular-shaped and the solar cell forms a longitudinal segment of the case so as to maintain the rectangular shape of the case, and the positive and negative contacts are on the same end wall of the case.

Abstract: A mortarless concrete wall system. An insulation panel is connected to a brick by a connector. The insulation panel is spaced inwardly from the brick so as to form a space therebetween that is filled with concrete. The brick includes a plurality of bulbous projections, a first plurality of blind bores, a second plurality of blind bores, and a plurality of alignment pins that are received in the first plurality of blind bores in an associated brick and in the second plurality of blind bores in a brick of a next upper course. The insulation panel has a plurality of dove tail slots for plaster to grip, a dove tail slot, a dove tail projection received in the dove tail slot of an insulation panel in a lower adjacent course. The connector includes a pair of end pieces, a center piece, a pair of intermediate pieces, and an end cap.

Abstract: An increased sensitivity condom for reducing the transmission of diseases. A penis-facing inner sheath extends in a vagina-facing outer sheath, and together therewith, cooperate with a ring. The penis-facing inner sheath is attached to the vagina-facing outer sheath by a web that has apertures therein extending between the penis-facing inner sheath and the vagina-facing outer sheath. The ring is a pump that upon a thrust compresses and draws air in from the ambient through a first check valve in a male-facing side of the ring, out a second check valve in a female-facing side of the ring, and through the apertures in the web to inflate the increased sensitivity condom, while the relief valve prevents rupturing of the increased sensitivity condom. The web contains at least one of a spermicide, an anti-bacterial agent, and an anti-viral agent.

Abstract: A disposable container for disposing of used oil. The container includes a housing, tin foil, an oil absorbent material, and a filter. The housing is made from cardboard and has a substantially open top and an interior. The tin foil lines the interior of the housing and prevents the used oil poured into the housing from leaking therethrough, so as to form therewith, an oil-proofed housing. The oil absorbent material fills the interior of the oil-proofed housing and absorbs the used oil poured thereon. The filter is sandwiched between the oil absorbent material and the substantially open top of the housing and filters particles in the used oil as the used oil is poured through the substantially open top of the housing.

Abstract: A multi-terminal electrical safety switch that simultaneously closes or simultaneously opens electrical circuits connected thereto. The switch includes a terminal block and a current path completer/breaker. The terminal block has the electrical circuits connected thereto and the current path completer/breaker is replaceably engaged with the terminal block. The current path completer/breaker simultaneously completes current paths through the terminal block when engaged with the terminal block and thereby simultaneously closes the electrical circuits connected to the terminal block.

Abstract: An exercise device for the upper torso of a user that includes a base, a plurality of wheel assemblies, and a handle assembly. The base is equilateral triangular-shaped and has an uppermost surface and a lowermost surface. The handle assembly is swivelly positioned in the uppermost surface of the base so as to allow the handle assembly to achieve a desired hand position relative to the plurality of wheel assemblies. The plurality of wheel assemblies are three and in combination with the base being equilateral triangular-shaped, prevent rocking. Each wheel assembly is rotatably mounted in the lowermost surface of the base.

Abstract: An apparatus of a game method for sharpening anagramming skills. The apparatus includes at least one game card, a plurality of tiles, and a tile bag. The plurality of tiles are selectively positioned on the at least one game card to form words and the tile bag holds the plurality of tiles. The at least one game card has nine rows of a plurality of playing squares thereon, a draw column, a play column, and a bonus column. The plurality of tiles are positionable on the nine rows of a plurality of playing squares to form words. The draw column indicates the amount of the tiles to draw from the tile bag when playing each of the nine rows of a plurality of playing squares, the play column indicates the amount of tiles needed to be used to qualify for a bonus, and the bonus column indicates the amount of the bonus.

Abstract: A dentally retained intra-oral appliance worn at night for treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea and its fabrication process. The appliance maintains the patient's mandible in an anterior, protruded position to prevent obstruction of the pharyngeal airway. The appliance allows a limited degree of lateral movement of the mandible relative to the upper jaw in the protruded position to prevent aggravation of the patient's temporomandibular joint and associated muscles and ligaments. The appliance includes a lower bite block conforming to the patient's mandibular dentition, an upper bite block conforming to the patient's maxillary dentition, and a hinge connecting the upper bite block to the lower bite block. The upper bite block and the lower bite block are thin walled polyamide eliminating the need for dental wires to maintain them to the mandibular detention and the maxillary dentition and the problems associated therewith.

Abstract: A truck for preventing damage thereto when attached to a skate board and negotiating and contacting a curb. A body attaches to the skate board and an axle extends rotatably through the body and terminates in a pair of wheels, respectively. A roller is rotatably positioned in the body and has the axle extend rotatably therethrough so as to prevent damage to the axle when the truck negotiates and contacts the curb, by virtue of the roller contacting the curb and rotating relative to the axle as the truck negotiates the curb.

Abstract: A personal water rescue device. A gas device is connected to a housing and releases gas bubbles. A light device is contained within the housing and illuminates the gas bubbles. The light device includes a pair of vials that contain chemicals that when mixed form chemical illuminance and which communicate with inwardly deformable bulging ribs on the housing so as to allow mixing the chemicals and forming the chemical illuminance when the inwardly deformable bulging ribs are squeezed and their displacement ruptures the pair of vials. A tubular member of the housing terminates in a pin that punctures the gas device when the tubular member is further threaded into a connector sleeve of the housing, and in so doing, releases the gas bubbles for heads up surface positioning for a disoriented water victim, while the chemical illuminance from the light device provides illumination therefor.