Abstract: An epilator includes a pair of tweezers mounted at the leading end of a hollow wand body. An electrical circuit board for generating a radio frequency current is mounted in the trailing end of the wand body. The trailing end of the wand body is coated with a metabolized conductive coating to shield against electromagnetic interference. The tweezers are maintained in normally spaced apart relation to one another by a bias member that is compressed by a manually-operated actuator. The bias member includes an extension member that is in continuous contact with a first tweezer member and which makes contact with an electrical contact member mounted in the second tweezer member when the tweezer members are brought into hair-gripping relation to one another by actuator-driven compression of the bias member.

Abstract: A storyboard includes a sentence imprinted on it that has at least one missing word, and a hook and loop fastener is positioned in registration with the missing word. A plurality of mounting members, each of which has a word imprinted on its front side, is stored at a location remote from the storyboard and is detachably secured to a hook and loop fastener. A child selects a word from the remote location and attaches it to the hook and loop fastener on the storyboard to complete the sentence. The child then inverts the mounting member and views a picture on its reverse side to verify the meaning of the word. In a second embodiment, remote mounting members having words or pictures imprinted on them are stored under flaps that surround the storyboard and the child sequentially lifts the flaps, retrieves mounting members having words and pictures imprinted on them, and completes a sentence.

Abstract: A therapeutic gait harness worn by a patient includes a padded thoracic harness that substantially encircles the patient's waist and which includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced hand holds and clamp-engageable rings that facilitate lifting, holding, manipulation and guidance of a patient who requires help in sitting, standing, or walking. An adjustable belt spans the gap between the opposing ends of the thoracic harness and is used to comfortably tighten the thoracic harness about the wearer's waist. A pelvic support harness depends from the thoracic harness and is detachably secured to the thoracic harness by an elongate zipper. A pair of flat leg straps depend from the pelvic support harness and terminate in thigh straps. Hook and loop fasteners are employed to comfortably secure the thigh straps to the wearer's thighs.

Abstract: A garage door opener is retrofitted with a device that causes a garage door to close after it has been open for a predetermined amount of time. In a garage door of the type having a light that is activated when the door is opened or closed, a photocell is mounted in close proximity to the light to detect the presence or absence of light. When light is detected, the photocell conducts and prevents a first automatic switch, such as a silicon-controlled rectifier, from conducting. When absence of light is detected, the first automatic switch closes and a capacitor discharges through the first automatic switch and throws a second automatic switch, such as a transistor, that is electrically connected in parallel to a manually-operated switch for opening and closing the garage door. When the second automatic switch conducts, it mimics closing of the manually-operated switch and thus effects closing of the garage door.

Abstract: An improved tool for grooming pets, especially for the removal of loose hair and hair that is soon to become loose, comprised of a base (10) with comb extensions (12,14) mounted on either side at an angle of less than 90 degrees to the base. The comb extensions (12,14) are comprised of tines extending from a solid backbone or shoulder (16) that protrudes from the base (10). The comb extensions (12) on one side of the base have tines that are larger and spaced further apart than the tines of the comb extensions (14) on the other side of the base. A cleaning tool (18) comprised of a base (20) with tines (22) protruding therefrom is held in a compartment (24) on the side of the invention when not in use. As the invention is stroked through the hair of the animal, the angle of the comb extensions (12,14) causes a deep and prolonged penetration of the coat.

Abstract: A vehicle theft deterrent apparatus and method includes a flashing light emitting diode (LED) placed in a visible position within the passenger compartment of a vehicle to simulate an authenticate, armed security system. The flashing LED is powered by a DC power supply that is hidden behind a dashboard, under a carpet, in a glove compartment, or in some other remote, hidden location. An elongate, flexible conductor interconnects the LED and the power supply and is also hidden from view. The transverse cross section of the conductor enables it to be hidden at the base of a windshield or to extend through a small space between dashboard panels. The conductor is connected directly to the LED so that no housing for the LED is required and no holes need be drilled in the dashboard to accommodate a housing. A potential thief is deterred from a theft attempt because the only visible part of the apparatus is the flashing LED.

Abstract: A CO.sub.2 cartridge is permanently attached to a cartridge status indicator so that a user need not perform a detailed inspection to determine if the cartridge has been used or not. If the cartridge has been used, the status indicator will so indicate upon casual visual inspection, and if the cartridge has not been used, the causal inspection will also reveal that fact. The gas is released by two different methods. The first requires only that the user pull a cord. Pulling the cord shifts a support member laterally within the inflator, and previously misaligned legs and bores enter into alignment with one another. When aligned, the legs enter into the bores under the influence of a spring positioned in the inflator and the support member is driven into puncturing relation to a membrane. If moisture is encountered, the cord need not be pulled because the moisture collapses a dissolvable element, and the pierce pin is driven into puncturing relation with the membrane under the force of the spring.

Abstract: A security device for operating protected programs or data, or other functions performed by or within computers, the security device having both hardware and software keys and a reader for accepting smart cards. The smart card reader communicates with a control module having segmented non-volatile memory. Data from plural smart cards is entered into segmented NVM through the smart card reader. Each segment of segmented NVM creates a virtual token essentially duplicating enabling ability of the corresponding smart card or token. The control module has processing and memory means for encrypting and decrypting commands and recognizing encrypted passwords. The control module also has a plurality of interface apparatuses for enabling communicable connection to computers. When one or more virtual tokens is created by transfer of data from a smart card or cards, the smart card may be safely stored or discarded.

Abstract: A substrate upon which an advertising message may be printed is releasably attachable to the side of a truck in a way that prevents the substrate from flapping when the truck is moving at high speeds. The upper and rearward edges of the substrate are retained within rigid frames mounted to the truck and are quickly insertable into or removable from such rigid frames. The forward edge of the substrate is wrapped around the forward corner of the truck trailer so that wind cannot get under the substrate, and a plurality of front-mounted winches pull the forward edge toward them so that slack is removed from the substrate. Another plurality of winches mounted on the underside of the trailer engage straps that hold the lowermost edge of the substrate so that activation of the winches pulls the lowermost edge toward those winches to further remove slack from the substrate.

Abstract: An aquatic exercise device for use by an exerciser standing in a natural or man-made body of water. The device includes containers that fill with water when immersed and which have drainage openings formed in them so that they drain when lifted out of the body of water. The exercise device may include a single container that is lifted from the body of water by a pulley and cable mechanism, or it may include a single container connected to a rigid bar, mid-length of the bar, or it may be provided in the form of a barbell or a dumbbell having water containers at opposite ends of a rigid bar. In all embodiments, the flow rate of water draining from the container or containers may be adjusted to a flow rate selected by the exerciser.

Abstract: A pattern recognition device has a drawing area upon which a user may draw an image with a pen designed for that purpose. In a first option available to the user, a user-drawn image is analyzed and saved in the memory of a computer. In a second option, the image is analyzed and an image in a pre-existing image database of the computer is retrieved which most nearly resembles the drawn image. In both options, the user-drawn image is transformed into a target image which is then subdivided into a plurality of image subdivisions and each image subdivision is then further subdivided into sectors. A first binary value is assigned to each sector to indicate whether or not it has at least some graphical data and a second binary value is assigned to indicate whether or not the graphical data occupies a predetermined percentage of the area of the sector. These binary values are strung together, converted into an integer, and the integers are stored in a computer memory.

Abstract: A device that spaces fingers away from lids of the type having sharp metallic edges when such lids are removed from cans of the pull-top lid type. The device further prevents movement of the can during the lid-removing process. The device includes a flat base having at least one opening configured and sized to receive the rim of a can. The opening is lined with a liner having a vertical surface that is gripped by the fingers during the can-opening process. Thus, the fingers are spaced apart from the edges of the lid when the lid is removed from the can. The palm of one hand rests atop the base and prevents it and hence the can from lifting during the opening process. In a preferred embodiment, a pair of openings of differing sizes are formed in the base, with the openings overlapping to reduce the length of the device. The shape of the opening can be any shape to accommodate differing shapes of cans.

Abstract: This invention is a device to align objects quickly and efficiently on shelves or display. The device comprises an elongated arm with a handle and extension member in a "C" or "J" configuration. The device is positioned so that the extension member is behind the objects to be aligned, rotated to engage the objects from behind, and, when the device is pulled, move the objects into alignment. The handle or extension member can be movably or pivotably attached at or near the ends of the elongated arm. This device is particularly useful in aligning books and boxes on shelves or display cases. The length of the arm, handle, or extension member can be adjusted, so the device can be used on a variety of different size objects.

Abstract: A commercial mower support stand includes a cradle at its top that is adapted to engage a lifting bar that is secured to the front or rear end of a lawn mower, golf cart, or other light vehicle. The cradle is supported by a plurality of upstanding rigid legs that are secured at their respective lowermost ends to a base plate. A pair of laterally spaced apart support legs support a forward end of the base plate and a pair of laterally spaced apart wheels support the rearward end of the base plate when the stand is in its upright position on a support surface. A tube mounted at a predetermined angle to the base plate slidingly receives an elongate leverage handle that is used to manipulate the stand as needed when lifting and lowering a preselected end of a light vehicle. The stand includes storage receptacles for the leverage handle, replacement mower blades, a lubrication gun, or other items and tools.

Abstract: A lock and keeper assembly are employed to secure a pickup truck tailgate against theft. A conventional keeper is modified by flattening its bight region. The flattened bight is placed into capturing relation to a transversely disposed, inwardly extending protrusion formed in a side wall of the pickup truck adjacent the tailgate. A transversely disposed, outwardly extending hollow, "C"-shaped axle integral with the tailgate receives the protrusion, so the flattened bight and the lock body cooperate to trap the protrusion within the hollow axle. The hollow axle cannot be separated from the protrusion without first defeating the lock.

Abstract: A utility container is formed of a light-in-weight, durable, flexible and resilient elastomeric material and is constructed in open mesh design so that it drains quickly and completely upon being lifted from a body of water and so that it refills quickly when reintroduced into the body of water. Accordingly, its use substantially lowers the amount of effort expended by a fisher in lifting and lowering the container when fishing from a bridge, relative to bucket-type containers. The elastomeric material is inherently buoyant so that the container floats without external flotation devices. In a preferred embodiment, the container has a cylindrical sidewall and a pair of opposed, circular end walls. A leading and a trailing end of the sidewall are disposed in overlapping relation to one another to form a normally closed access opening that is silently opened and closed upon insertion into and withdrawal of a hand into and from the container so that creatures in the container are not startled.

Abstract: A pair of cooler inserts may be used as single units when immersed in a beverage in a container or as a pair when positioned in a cooler of the type designed to hold multi-pack beverage containers. Each insert has a flat top wall, a flat bottom wall, a pair of sidewalls and a pair of flat end walls. Plural concavities are formed in each side wall to accommodate cylindrical surfaces of beverage cans when the inserts are used as a pair to cool multi-pack beverage containers. Posts are formed in the top wall of each insert and post-receiving recesses are formed in the bottom wall of each insert so that a pair of inserts are easily interlocked to one another when a first insert is positioned in overlying relation to a second insert. The flat top and bottom walls ensure that the concavities abut the respective cylindrical surfaces of the multi-pack beverage cans along the entire vertical extent of the cans so that the cans are cooled to the maximum extent possible.

Abstract: A decorative aircraft has a rotatable propeller, a movable rudder, and a decorative pilot figure that also moves. The rotatable propeller is attached to a first output shaft of a motor positioned in the leading end of the fuselage of the aircraft. The motor is connected to a string of Christmas tree lights so that it is activated when the lights are turned on. A second output shaft is disposed normal to the first output shaft and oscillates an elongate control rod that extends from the motor to a rudder at the trailing end of the fuselage, and the decorative pilot figure is attached to the control rod. Motor operation causes the elongate control rod to oscillate, and the oscillation causes periodic movement of the rudder and the decorative pilot figure.

Abstract: A device for recording a series of exercises to be followed over a period of days and for indicating the order in which the exercises are to be performed on a given day. When the exercises are recorded in pencil, they may be erased and rewritten when the exercise regimen is changed by the exerciser. The device includes three flat, circular plates that are rotatable independently of one another about a common pivot point. A plurality of radially extending lines are disposed on a base plate and one exercise is written on each line. Exercises to be performed in one day are grouped together on contiguous radial lines. An intermediate plate has a window formed in it that exposes to view a group of the radial lines when the window is in registration with the group, and a pointer plate includes a pointer that points at an exercise written on a particular line of the group that is exposed to view.

Abstract: A golf putter alignment device includes a torsion spring clamp that firmly but releasably engages a shaft or a hosel of a golf putter. An elongate positioning rod is disposed within an elongate groove formed in a first arm of the clamp, and a transversely disposed end of a torsion spring overlies the elongate positioning rod to retain it within the elongate groove while allowing the elongate positioning rod to be slideably and rotationally disposed within the elongate groove for positioning purposes. A transversely disposed cradle is secured to a leading end of the elongate positioning rod and receives and supports an elongate alignment rod.