Abstract: A flood vent is provided that allows the unimpeded flow of floodwater in a shuttered duct formed in a housing installed in a structure such as a building. A lower region of the duct is angled down between two and eight degrees from a horizontal plane to form a sill that sheds water to an exterior of the structure, and an upper region of the duct is pivotally fixed to a shutter positioned within the duct. The shutter is capable of swinging between a closed position and an open position in response to the presence of floodwater within at least a portion of the duct. Movement of the shutter to, from or through a closed position is hampered by a releasable coupling of the shutter to the sill by a fin.

Abstract: The present articulating overhead storage device is used to support and store articles such as athletic equipment, sporting goods, clothing, tools upon or in a modular article holder releaseably connected to a spine articularly fixed to an overhead surface. The spine can be move between a generally horizontal and a generally vertical position. In another embodiment, the spine is detachable from the overhead surface and releasably attached to a floor stand.

Abstract: A fish stringing device which includes a spring loaded connector designed to simultaneously releaseably couple and sheath a rod used to string fish upon a cord. The spring loaded connector includes a rod receptacle inside a helical spring fixed within a tubular shaft housing. The helical spring is formed with a securing member projecting away and across a chord distance at one end of the helical spring. The securing member is slideably coupled to the rod receptacle by a slot diagonally formed in a wall of the rod receptacle. The rod has a groove formed about its circumference at a predetermined distance from a conical end of the rod. The groove releasably couples with the securing member to provide a quick connection by simply inserting and sheathing the conical end of the rod into rod receptacle. Quick disconnection and unsheathing of the rod requires pressing the spring loaded connector to compress the spring which in turn causes the securing member to disengage from the groove and retract along the slot.

Abstract: An inflatable air spoiler for the use with a vehicle to reduce wind resistance. The inflatable air spoiler is made from abrasion resistant materials capable of forming a wedge shaped air spoiler. Securement of the inflatable air spoiler to a vehicle can be achieved with hooks, snaps and other fasteners. In another embodiment, securement of the inflatable spoiler in a vehicle's cargo bed is achieved by pressurizing the inflatable spoiler so its side panels or portions of its exterior surfaces are urged against the side walls of the cargo bed. Further securement is achieved by ballast chambers located on the bottom region of the inflatable air spoiler.

Abstract: An improved livestock latch assembly which includes a latch pin receiver assembly coupled to a rotatable camshaft, which moves the latch pin receiver assembly in a linear fashion between, deployed and retracted positions. In a deployed position, a latch pin receiver locks a pivotable restraining stanchion into a substantially vertical position when moved by an animal or operator. In a retracted position, a latch pin receiver assembly releases a pivotable restraining stanchion to freely pivot about its arc of swing. The improved latching mechanism may also include a decoupling member that allows a user to move a selected latch pin receiver assembly to a retracted position by uncoupling a selected latch pin receiver from a camshaft.

Abstract: A mounting assembly for attaching lightweight articles to surfaces incorporating an article fixation region opposite and distal to a poly-fastening region. A poly-fastening region includes at least one selective adhesive region adjacent to at least one magnetic region. In one embodiment, a selective adhesive region includes an adhesive layer covering a magnetic region comprising a magnet with sufficient magnetic strength to magnetically attach an article to a surface. In another embodiment, a selective adhesive region includes an adhesive surface of an adhesive layer adjacent to and co-planar with a magnetic surface of a magnetic region. In an alternative embodiment, a selective adhesive region is capable of variable planar alignment with respect to an adjacent magnetic surface. The selective adhesive region of a mounting assembly has sufficient strength to adhesively attach an article and mounting assembly to a surface.

Abstract: A connection assembly for constructing animal stalls including a connection body that is rigidly constructed and adapted for releasable and variable positioning upon an elongate support rail. A first releasable connector is formed in the connection body and is adapted for releasable fixation to an animal stall divider. The connection body is elongately constructed along a longitudinal axis with first and second ends that are distally located one from the other. The first releasable connector is positioned at the first end of the connection body. The connection body has first and second side flanges that are connected together by a webbing. At least a portion of the first and second side flanges project away from the webbing to form a receiving area between the portions of the first and second side flanges that is configured to insertibly accept a portion of an animal stall divider to be secured therein.

Abstract: A method of constrcuting a precast, modular marine structure for offshore use, including but not limited to drilling, oil and gas production, and oil storage in a variety of water depths. The marine structure includes an equalized pressure system and concrete modular components cast with at least one cell and a central longitudinal passageway. The equalized pressure system fluidly connects the cell(s) to the adjacent body of water by at least one substantially vertical segmented water column to equalize the hydrostatic pressure differential experienced at a wall of the marine structure. A truss section may be attached to the concrete portion of the marine structure to form a truss spar. A mooring and tether system may be included to maintain the marine structure's station and attitude.

Abstract: A method for removing residual VOC components from a fluid stream used in the sweetening of sour gas at gas processing plants. In a retrofit configuration, the method includes interposing a supplemental VOC removal station after a primary VOC removal station in an absorbent fluid stream. The absorbent fluid stream incorporates fluid into which sour gas components and VOC have been absorbed from a treated gas stream such as produced natural gas. The primary VOC removal station is configured to remove an initial portion of the absorbed VOC from the absorbent fluid stream. The supplemental VOC removal station is configured to liberate a portion of residual absorbed VOC remaining in the absorbent fluid stream downstream from the primary VOC removal station. Further, the supplemental VOC removal station is configured to avoid liberating absorbed sour gas components from the absorbent fluid stream.

Abstract: A precast, modular marine structure and method of constructing the same for offshore use, including but not limited to drilling, oil and gas production, and oil storage in a variety of water depths. The marine structure includes an equalized pressure system and concrete modular components cast with at least one cell and a central longitudinal passageway. The equalized pressure system fluidly connects the cell(s) to the adjacent body of water by at least one substantially vertical segmented water column to equalize the hydrostatic pressure differential experienced at a wall of the marine structure. A truss section may be attached to the concrete portion of the marine structure to form a truss spar. A mooring and tether system may be included to maintain the marine structure's station and attitude.

Abstract: An apparatus for managing urinary flow in a host and having normally closed and actuated open states; operating similar to properly functioning sphincter. The apparatus consists of a funnel, at least one fixing arrangement, a closure member, a motive member, and an external control member. In one embodiment, the funnel is adapted to be located inside a host's bladder and urethra and is adapted to be removably fixed in place by the fixing arrangements. A housing separates the motive member components from the external environment such as urinary tract tissue and fluids. In an alternate embodiment, the housing also separates the closure member from the external environment. The motive member is in communication with the closure member and both are positioned with respect to the funnel for changing the state of the apparatus from normally closed to actuated open and vice versa.