Abstract: A snowboard has a removable tripod at the rear. A tiller mounts atop the tripod. The rider end of the tiller supports a motor. The distal end of the tiller supports a powered wheel. The power assembly doesn't compromise the shape and dynamics of a traditional snowboard as much of the prior art has. Another advantage is that it can be made integral with the snowboard and also easily removed. The ease of control with the handle and radical turning ability of over 180° make it unique in this field. The tripod mounting and balancing are also unique and useful. It is lighter in weight and simpler than previous embodiments in this are. The tiller can be locked with the wheel up for freestyle snowboarding.

Abstract: A system and method forming near diffraction limited size beacon for adaptive optical system using a temporally partially coherent laser source. Comprises projection of laser beams through turbulent medium having non-cooperative target using combination of adaptive optical system and short temporal coherence length laser source forming controllable focused laser target beacon. Combines adaptive optical system technology using any wavefront sensing technique making complex field measurements with short coherence length and associated broad spectral bandwidth. The partially coherent laser source forms narrow (near diffraction limited) size region of coherent laser light at target. The coherent region of return dominates signal for any measurement technique computing average of field over wavelength bandpass and can be used to pre-compensate either the partially coherent laser beam, a long coherence length beam of different wavelength or wavelength in bandpass, or both.

Abstract: Rod segments can be adjoined with a simple hinge. Various embodiments of hinges include locking, non-locking, spring biased open or closed, and aligned rod segments or non-aligned rod segments.

Abstract: A gardening plant support can be a plastic semi-circular base which can face another base to form a circle on the ground or in a flower pot. At the end of each base may be a removable spike to allow shipping in a flat box. When in use the spikes are pressed into the ground. Then wires are pushed through holes in the base to reinforce the footing on the ground. The wires protrude upward one to four feet to allow clipping plant stalks thereto. A straight head version can have eight or more wires and a central spike.

Abstract: A brake assembly is activated by a vehicle brake. The brake assembly is mounted upstream from a transmission and either up or downstream from a clutch. A controller for the transmission brake allows the driver to adjust both a transmission brake lead/lag time and force relative to the vehicle wheel brakes.

Abstract: A laptop stand for a vehicle is rotatably secured to a post on or near the floor of the vehicle. It is usually mounted between a driver and a passenger seat on a custom bracket. Two handles can be loosened to quickly rotate both a base support rod and a cradle support rod to desired positions, either for the driver's use or the passenger's use. A tilt and a forward/backward adjustment is located under the cradle. A height adjustment is located on the base support rod.

Abstract: A powered saddle rack can be mounted in a trailer tack room. A mounting rod rotates from a storage to a load/unload position. A working frame assembly further rotates to the load/unload position. Once in the load/unload position, a rack raising rod is lifted or lowered, thereby raising or lowering several saddle racks up and down. A portable version doesn't rotate.

Abstract: A prior art backflow bonnet and poppet is replaced by a functionally equivalent new bonnet and poppet. The new bonnet and poppet reduces risk of freeze damage with about a 50% greater strength against pressure. The new bonnet and poppet has only three parts when assembled versus six parts in the prior art. A hollow in the valve plug holds the biasing spring. The bonnet shaft rides in the hollow.

Abstract: Rain gutter and downspout cleaning tongs. The rain gutter cleaning tongs include a pair of arms, each having a distal portion and a proximal portion that are arranged at obtuse angles relative to each other. A gripping head is located at a distal end of the distal portion of each arm. The proximal arm portions are pivotally attached to each other and are spring loaded to bias their gripping surfaces away from each other. Optionally, a guide is attached to one of the arms for guiding the two arms relative to each other during operation.