Abstract: The present invention is a basketball rebound training apparatus including a rebound unit and an installation tool. The rebound unit includes a dome portion as well as a rim mount structure including a rim catch tab and a latch mechanism. The dome portion is shaped to deflect a basketball shot in a direction that will generally correspond to the likely path and direction of a similar missed shot. The rim catch tab projects under the basketball goal rim while the latch mechanism engages the opposite side of the rim. The installation tool is used to raise the rebound unit for installation on a basketball goal rim.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for making a composite structure that includes three resin impregnated structural cloth layers including a bottom sheet, a top sheet and a core sheet. The core sheet is a continuously curved shape with flat valleys that are bonded to the bottom sheet and flat peaks that are bonded to the top sheet. In the invention process, a dry core sheet is sandwiched between two wax core molds that form the core sheet. The core molds and the core sheet are sandwiched between dry top and bottom sheets by rigid molds as the flat peaks and valleys of the core sheet make contact with the top and bottom sheets through openings in the core molds. Liquid resin is transferred into the dry sheets and then cured. The lay up is disassembled and the wax core molds are melted and drained from the finished, rigid structure.

Abstract: The present invention is an enclosed rain gutter for draining water from the surface of a sloped roof and conducting it to a downspout. The invention rain gutter includes a channel that is covered by a mounting flange suitable for insertion under the material covering the roof of a building and a collecting flange connected to the mounting flange by a rounded edge. The collecting flange has openings for delivering water into the channel and features for delivering water to the openings. While the collecting flange features and openings deliver water into the channel, they also exclude debris from entering the channel and in particular they exclude debris might obstruct a downspout.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for treating a cattail blossom. A cattail blossom is soaked in a thinned adhesive mixture. When dry, the resulting treated blossom does not burst and can be used for a very long period of time as a decorative item.

Abstract: The trencher includes a wheeled carriage which has a steering mechanism and a digging which operates along an upright path. The trencher includes an upright boom structure that is mounted to the carrage and a digging chain support frame that can be raised and lowered relative to the trencher carriage along an upright path. The digging chain is mounted to the digging chain support frame by a powered sprocket wheel and a freely turning pulley wheel. The sprocket wheel the pulley wheel are positioned so that the digging chain describes an upright path. The path described by the digging chain is sufficiently upright so that the trencher can excavate a curved trench without the digging chain interfering with the walls of the trench to a degree that is sufficient to impede the operation of the trencher.

Abstract: The present invention is a lifting system that can be used to construct cylindrical grain bins. It includes sets of identical, telescoping jacks actuated by hydraulic cylinders and an hydraulic system having separate hydraulic circuits that serve each set of jacks. The separate hydraulic circuits include identical pumps and control valves. The pumps and the control valves can be operated in unison to supply equal amounts of hydraulic fluid to the sets of jacks so that all of the jacks may be raised or lowered in unison. The lifting system can be used to uniformly lift successive rings of a grain bin structure made up of connected panels. After a first ring is lifted, a second ring can be attached to the lower edge of the first ring. The second ring is then lifted and the process is repeated until the grain bin is completed.

Abstract: The repair stake for reinforcing a post includes an upper portion, a central portion and a lower portion. Fastener holes are present in the upper portion. The repair stake can driven between a deteriorating post and a concrete cast and attached to the deteriorating post to anchor the post.

Abstract: The roof shingle system of the present invention includes rows of shingle elements having parallel, slanting lower edges that are aligned to divert the flow of water away from areas where high flow volumes are not desired toward areas where high flow volumes will not cause harm. Because water flowing down a surface will tend to adhere to that surface, the water flowing down the surface of the shingle system of the present invention will tend to follow the slanting lower edges of the shingle elements in the direction of the slanted edges so as to provide a way to control the flow of water on the surface of a roof.

Abstract: The present invention is an enclosed rain gutter for draining water from the surface of a sloped roof and conducting it to a downspout. The invention rain gutter includes a channel that is covered by collecting surface. The collecting surface has openings that divert water into the channel by using the surface tension property of water that causes water to adhere to a surface. While the collecting surface openings divert water into the channel, they also exclude debris from entering the channel and in particular they exclude debris that would be large enough to obstruct a downspout.

Abstract: The exercise apparatus of the present invention includes a base, a resistance device mounted to the base, a pair of foot pedal assemblies mounted to rotate in relation to the base, a pair of upright support assemblies mounted to the base and a pair of hand crank assemblies mounted to the upright support members. The resistance device includes a rotating element which turns when a torque is applied to it. The hand crank assemblies, the foot pedal assemblies and the rotating element of the resistance device are all operatively interconnected so that an operator can turn the rotating element of the resistance device by turning the foot pedal assemblies, by turning the hand crank assemblies or by turning both the foot pedal assemblies and the hand crank assemblies simultaneously at the same rate.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for forming sheet material into contoured parts. The invention method includes these steps: A die is fashioned having an outside surface corresponding to the inside surface of the desired part. A plastically deformable sheet of material is clamped to the die so that the material is tangent to the die at a tangent area. A forming path is defined that follows the part's outside surface definition beginning at a point adjacent to the tangent area and tracing around the tangent area in circuits that incrementally offset away from the tangent area until all of the outside surface of the part is traced. A forming tool is then moved along the forming path as the die and the sheet of material remain stationary so that the end of the forming tool presses the sheet material against the die thereby gradually forming the sheet material against the die to produce a finished formed part.

Abstract: The present invention is a rain water downspout for shooting water away from a building. It includes a vertical downspout column for receiving and holding rainwater. The downspout column has an outlet at its lower end. A buoyant column inside the downspout column rests on the bottom of the downspout column and blocks the downspout column outlet until the downspout column fills with enough water to cause the buoyant column to float. A nozzle is attached to the downspout outlet. The nozzle can be oriented to shoot a stream of water away from the building. When the buoyant column inside the downspout rises, water flows out of the downspout column under pressure and shoots out from the nozzle away from the building.

Abstract: The system of present invention is intended for use with a bed having a drive system for moving at least one movable section of the bed and a weight meter which receives transducer signals from transducers in the legs of the bed and displays a patient weight. In the system of the present invention the weight meter is operably coupled to the drive system so that when the drive system is activated, the weight meter automatically enters a hold mode wherein the weight meter stores the most recent weight value as a hold weight value. When the bed drive system is deactivated, the weight meter automatically returns to the operating mode by converting changes in the signals from the transducers into a change in weight value that is added to or subtracted from the hold weight value.

Abstract: The ergonomic chair of the present invention provides a seating system that allows an occupant, while seated, to shift his or her position while exercising major muscle groups. The present invention chair includes a seat support frame that supports a seatrest and a backrest. The seatrest and the backrest are connected so that they can pivot relative to each other. The backrest of the invention chair can move along backrest tracks mounted to the frame between a lower resting position and a raised extended position. Because the seatrest is hinged to the backrest, it moves with the backrest by translating and rotating in relation to the frame. The seatrest is supported by the seat support frame so that the seatrest can slide and rotate in relation to the seat support frame. The occupant of the invention chair can push against the backrest, translate the backrest along the backrest tracks, stretch out into the extended position and then return to the resting position.

Abstract: The invention waste heat conversion system for a motor vehicle includes a waste heat converting vapor engine coupled by a one way clutch to a motor-generator which is coupled through an engageable clutch to the vehicle drive train. The motor-generator of the invention system is also electrically connected to a storage battery and can either charge the battery or be powered by the battery to provide added power to the drive train. The invention system is capable of numerous modes of operation and can also be configured to convert braking energy for storage in the battery.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for constructing cylindrical grain bins. The method employs a sets of identical, telescoping jacks actuated by hydraulic cylinders and an hydraulic system having separate hydraulic circuits that serve each set of jacks. Using the set of identical, hydraulic, telescoping jacks, successive rings of a grain bin structure made up of connected panels are lifted. After a first ring is lifted, a second ring can be attached to the lower edge of the first ring. The second ring is then lifted and the process is repeated until the grain bin is completed.