Abstract: A novel molded fabric is made by bringing a first patterned group of numerous discrete disjoint elements positioned on a first side of a contact boundary extending throughout the thickness of the fabric being molded, together with a second patterned group of numerous discrete disjoint elements, over-lapping the first group of discrete disjoint elements, on the opposite side of the contact boundary, and joining the elements together at their tip portions. Various techniques are disclosed for maintaining separation of overlapping cross-over portions of the thread elements crossing each other during joining the terminal portions together, so that they simulate woven cloth. First and second rolls can carry the elements in molten form within cavities in the roller surfaces or patterns of solid elements within first and second matrices, can be joined together at the nip of the rolls by heat or chemical means to produce substantial savings in fabric manufacture.

Abstract: An EMI shielded isolation chamber is provided, having an integral manipulator for manipulating electronic devices such as cell phones within the chamber, whereby a probe can be precisely positioned to selectively and directly actuate controls, switches, and keypads upon the devices anywhere in the chamber upon rotation of a probe tip. Extensible collapsible shielding boots are coupled between wall portions of the shielded chamber, adjacent a wall mounted manipulator support gimbal, and forward or rearward portions of the mechanical manipulator for preventing EMI signals from entering or leaving the shielded chamber. Alternatively, the gimbal constitutes the shielding device whereby a metallic hollow ball, slidably and rotatably supporting and containing the elongated manipulator, is mechanically biased snugly against a concave metallic member to block radiation from entering or leaving the shielded chamber.

Abstract: A conical shaped engraving tool has a tip configuration for increased strength that is especially desirable when engraving stainless steel. The improved conical tip consists of a thin V or U shaped slot or channel that touches the central axis of the tool and provides the cutting edge while leaving the maximum amount of material on the tip of the tool for maximum tool strength. A back angle is rotated 90 degrees to the cutting edge so that cutting forces are directed along the cutting edge instead of just on a point for further increasing the tip strength to prevent it from breaking. Also the thin slot is tilted on a slight angle away from a central axis thereby creating a downward force on the cutting edge of the tool when the tool is rotated, which results in pushing burrs into the cut creating an engraved line with better appearance.

Abstract: An elongated clamping member upon a conventional pallet support table extends its clamping range by providing several screw-head receiving portions for receiving a conventional clamping screw that presses against a selected screw-head receiving portion to cause the clamping member to press against a work-piece. A first edge portion of the clamping member is positioned a first distance from a first screw-head receiving portion, and a second screw-head receiving portion is positioned a second distance from a second edge portion of the clamping member opposite the first edge portion, this difference ensuring that the clamping screw moves the clamping member in a forward direction toward the work-piece rather than away from the work-piece. A work-stop employing a conventional flat head screw has several peripheral flats, positioned at progressively increasing distances from each flat to a central portion of the work-stop member to further extend the clamping range of the moveable clamp.

Abstract: A docking mechanism comprises first and second units, operative to firmly attach and release a watercraft such as a ferry boat to a dock. This action can be produced by actuators that may be hydraulic or pneumatic actuators, or by other means such as manually actuated levers, electric motors or solenoids. A moveable locking piston acts to push locking cylinders or other locking members such as movable links against watercraft lock channels mounted upon the watercrafts. The apparatus results in very firm coupling of a watercraft to the dock, beneficially permitting ferry boats to load and unload cargo without keeping their engines running which wastes fuel and pollutes the environment. The lock channels on the watercraft are however configured to permit relative vertical motion between the watercraft and the latching assembly to account for water level changes and yet maintain very firm coupling of the watercraft to the dock.

Abstract: An ozone gas source supplies a high pressure ozone gas mixture of an oxygen carrier gas having a high ozone gas concentration of 5-14% of ozone gas to a pulse storage tank. A programmable controller causes a valve means to open and transport the ozone gas mixture within the high pressure pulse storage tank into an injection point when pressure of the ozone gas mixture in the high-pressure pulse storage tank reaches a high discharge pressure site-specific set-point, and causes the valve means to close when pressure within the high pressure pulse storage tank drops and approaches a low pressure site-specific set-point. This process is repeated for injection of a gas pulse into second and subsequent injection points. The high concentration of ozone dissolves a high percentage of ozone into groundwater, producing enhanced oxidation of contaminants and the high gas pressure forces ozone into smaller pores, enhancing contact with contaminants.

Abstract: The right handed hunter uses a special safety tool having a pistol grip handle firmly gripped by the hunter's left hand and having a slot formed in a forward portion of the safety tool for receiving a knife blade with its cutting blade up during dressing of the game. With the right hand of the hunter gripping the knife handle and holding the knife blade within the slot, he pushing the safety tool forward with his left hand while pushing the knife forward with his right hand to form an elongated cut in the game. This arrangement ensures that both hands are safely kept well away from the cutting edge of the knife blade while forming the elongated cut. The slot is a deep one, formed in the forward portion of the safety tool, enabling the tool to receive types of widely used knife blades of any shape.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided, for sanitizing feet of persons entering a particular area, such as a residential area, having a platform for transmitting sanitizing ultraviolet light to feet of persons standing upon upper portions of the platform, a germicidal light source for directing sanitizing UV-C ultraviolet light through upper portions of the platform, a power supply for energizing the germicidal light source, a switching device coupled between the power supply and the germicidal light source for energizing the germicidal light source and wherein the switching device energizes the germicidal light source in response to the presence of the person positioned upon upper portions of the platform. The germicidal ultraviolet light source includes one or more elongated bulbs, or one or more elongated linear arrays of solid state devices and a central light reflective wall portion is positioned to enhance support of the upper portions of said platform.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel accessory includes a hub, a plurality of blades having ornamental designs on opposite surfaces thereof, a plurality of radially extending spokes, coupled to said hub by a hinged spoke coupler; a biasing device contained within each blade for biasing the blade toward said hub and yet permitting said blade to be pulled outwardly away from said hub, enabling each blade to be rotated about an associated spoke for causing a first design on a first side of a blade to be displaced by a second design on a second opposite side of said blade; and wherein a plurality of anti-rotation locking devices are coupled to said hub for preventing blade rotation when lower portions of associated blades remain seated therein.

Abstract: The stabilizer works with any conventional cruise control (CC) and permits automatic CC in slower heavy traffic as it eliminates laborious frequent manual actuation of CC control buttons otherwise needed in such heavy traffic. More frequent automatic CC operation at slower speeds increases fuel efficiency. When the vehicle maintains a speed above a minimum speed and exceeds a brief preset period, the speed stabilizer sets the cruise control at that speed. When the cruise control is thus engaged, the driver's foot can move the accelerator pedal within a small tolerance range without canceling the cruise control. When the pedal is close to the bounds of the tolerance range, a warning signal such as a flashing LED display, is generated by the speed stabilizer to inform the driver that further movement of the pedal will cause acceleration/deceleration, automatically canceling cruise control. Actuation of conventional CC control buttons restores conventional CC.

Abstract: First and second elongated flexible insulated substrates have patterns of resistive liquid level sensor sections along the substrate lengths, each pattern comprising printable resistive ink of the same resistivity (ohms-squared), wherein the patterns can be simultaneously printed upon each substrate to save manufacturing costs. The substrates can be separated by an elongated spacer that couples longitudinal edges of the facing substrates together with an appropriate adhesive. Alternatively, the facing substrates can be folded along a central fold line to form a first longitudinal edge and adhesively joined along a second longitudinal edge opposite the first longitudinal edge. The flexibility of the substrates enables the low manufacturing cost liquid level sensors to be positioned in for example in a highly irregularly shaped vehicle fuel tank. Also, sections of varying lengths to be cut from the rolls on demand by users to form customized lengths of liquid level sensors for numerous applications.

Abstract: A convoluted internally stressed rubber member forms several twisted crossover loop portions. The user's fingers force open one or more loop portions to insert varying hair lengths, separate hair-pieces and/or decorative objects such as jewelry or strips of fabric, to be held therein. When the user's fingers separate from the device, the loop portions contract and grip the inserted items, with ‘non holding’ loops left free to contract onto themselves. The twisted rubber member is completely covered around its circumference with decorative fabric material. Many fabric compositions can be combined with varying rubber lengths, widths and shapes, and both can be incorporated into differing decorative or functional holding devices to create varying and unique holding embodiments. The device can further hold removable or attachable hair extensions, and or decorative items away from where the users hair is being held, or jointly together to create unique holding patterns.

Abstract: A floating tool-bit depth controlling nosepiece for a spring loaded tool holder is used to countersink holes of equal size when the height of the work piece material changes. The floating tool-bit depth controlling nosepiece, driven by a cnc machine, is rigidly coupled to the floating portion of the tool holding element. The floating depth controlling nosepiece has a bearing on the end to allow an area of the nosepiece to stop rotating when the nosepiece is pressed against the work-piece surface. Since the area of the nosepiece that comes into contact with the work-piece is no longer spinning in relationship with the work-piece, the possibility of scratching the work-piece surface is reduced. Additionally, the nosepiece has cutouts therein to expel machined chips during countersinking of holes.

Abstract: A double sided adhesive eye patch, bearing a new or old outdated corrective lens, is placed over the eye of the participant on the singles scene such as in nightclubs or while bathing on beaches, and the wearer can thus see clearly, or fairly clearly if an outdated old corrective lens was used. During normal everyday activities, such a patch would have a ridiculous appearance, but when used in socializing environments they become like small carnival masks and attract attention, which is desired for many folks in these environments. Messages can be affixed that can act as conversation pieces to help people meet each other. If desired, two patches can cover both eyes to form a pair of “crazy” spectacles. Unlike conventional eyewear with temples or straps, they are harder to dislodge by accident from the face of the wearer during swimming and dancing, and are cheap and easily replaceable.

Abstract: The higher the reading of relative density, liquid weight per unit volume, of pieces of produce such as fruits, the juicier the piece of produce is. By comparing a number of pieces of produce of the same type and species and ranking them, the juiciest pieces of produce may be easily selected and purchased by a shopper. An arrangement of linkages and a sliding spring element creates a device with two inputs, one input being proportional to the volume of the produce based on a representative diameter, and the other input being an approximation of the weight of the produce based on the deflection of a spring. The two inputs are mechanically combined to create one output indicative of density, and thus juiciness, and a pointer is employed whose deflection is proportional to the quotient of the weight and volumetric inputs of each piece of produce tested by the shopper.

Abstract: A lens injector includes a thin sheet-like lens glide member, mounted upon a tapered knife, that maintains a wedge-shaped opening in the cornea upon withdrawal of the knife. The lens is thereafter advanced under the cornea by a plunger in the injector that maintains the lens in place as the injector device is removed. A multiple point blade knife may simultaneously make a set of several small, connected incisions. The fact that each blade has only a limited depth means that the resulting wide incision can be created without the need to penetrate deeply into the cornea, as would be necessary with a single-point blade of the desired width. This is especially beneficial for creating Z-shaped incisions, which become self-sealing when internal pressure pushes the inner layer against the outer layer. This shortens the process significantly, which then results in less trauma to the eye and streamlines the entire procedure.

Abstract: An extremely high resolution holographic lens is provided, comprising an interference pattern between light emitted from at least one tiny point source of light such as the tip of an optical fiber, having a diameter in the nanoscale region, and at least one plane or quasi-plane broad light beam. The holographic lens is employed for example in pickups for reading data off of, and writing data upon terabit optical storage mediums and nanoscale resolution microscopic media.

Abstract: A cooling sink is positioned within a cooling chamber having a 0.75-1.50 gallon capacity, for directly contacting pressurized beer therein, the cooling sink having a substantial surface portion in contact with the beer for enabling heat extracted from said beer to be rapidly conveyed to said cooling device. The cooling sink has a deep trench therein for reducing the mass of the cooling portion while increasing the surface area contacting the beer. A valve is employed at the top of the cooling chamber to allow the cooling reservoir to be completely filled with beer during periods of use, and any developing undesired foam can be removed from time to time by opening this valve. Also, the pickup tube attached to the dispensing tap picks up beer from the bottom of the cooling chamber, to minimize foam in the beer dispensed.

Abstract: A realistic three-dimensional replica casting of naturally occurring samples of wood, rock and marine specimens produces realistic appearing landscape or indoor light modules that can simulate flickering candles in nightclubs and restaurants. The method employs a two-part barrier mold technique enabling production of an exact copy of the whole, full bodied, original specimen and includes a lamp unit pattern for creating a three dimensional space for containing a lamp module that is positioned adjacent a relatively flat face of the replica of the natural specimen. The final casting is made of fortified cement that is permanently stained with metallic salts in an HCL solution producing the desired coloration matching that of the original specimen while masking the color of the concrete. The replica is solid and heavy and need not be attached to the ground during outdoor use to maintain it in place, due to the weight of the concrete.

Abstract: A yo-yo is disclosed with a substantially frictionless freely rotatable ball bearing, positioned upon a spindle between two separate halves of rotatable yo-yo members, such ball bearing having a smooth, continuous, outer concave surface. The smooth concave surface constitutes a segment of a circle having a radius of about 0.225 inches, contacting the yo-yo string, and is shallow, continuous and uninterrupted by the presence of a prior art groove formed in the outer surface. This surface configuration tends to urge the string towards the center of the bearing to reduce string friction against inside walls of the yo-yo halves while the string is winding around the bearing, yet allows some lateral movement of the string, enabling efficient performance of string layering maneuvers.