Abstract: A bifurcated, dual-compartment trailer having a front storage compartment and a rear storage compartment, each having a power driven live floor. The storage compartments are selectively separated by a moveable or openable partition having a closed position and an open position. In the closed position the partition divides the front compartment from the rear compartment and provides a barrier that prevents bulk material contained in either compartment from mixing with bulk material in the other compartment. The trailer includes a rear door, and when opened, the rear compartment may be unloaded using the rear live floor, after which the partition may be opened and the front compartment unloaded using both the front and rear live floors.

Abstract: An adjustable IV stand has an adjustable support, which can be adjusted from a first compact configuration to a second expanded configuration that provides increased stability and a stand suitable for use to assist an ambulatory patient with walking.

Abstract: An anti-snoring device that attaches to a specific area of the neck. The attachment means can be an adhesive, a clip or an implant. The device exerts a predetermined pulling force on this area of the neck, causing this area of the neck to expand outward from its normal position. This expansion opens a blockage in the throat of a sleeping person, thereby eliminating snoring and helping some people with obstructive sleep apnea.

Abstract: A furniture glide for installation in the leg of an article of furniture. The glide, which strongly resists removal after installation, includes a head portion having a center, a ground engaging side, and a furniture facing side, a stem disposed from the center of the furniture facing side of the head, and a plurality of truncated conical flutes, each having an angled side and a flat side and including at least one recess so as to create and define a plurality of anchor points that grip the interior side of an installation socket and effectively prohibit rotation and removal of the glide. In a preferred embodiment, one or more of the flute may be shaped eccentrically relative to the other flutes so as to accentuate its anchor points. A fin may be added to one or more of the flutes to provide auxiliary structure for resisting rotation.

Abstract: A multi-articular intramedullary fracture fixation device having a adjustable modulus of rigidity. The implant apparatus includes modular tensioning elements that can be disposed in a ball-and-socket linear array along a length of connecting wire within a medullary canal. The connecting wire includes a threaded end and a stop member at the opposite end, and when a lock nut is threadably disposed on the threaded end and tightened, at least two of the tensioning elements in the array may be swiveled relative to one another and arranged to introduce curvature as desired along the length of the array. Tightening the lock nut is also employed to adjust the modulus of rigidity to be retained during healing.

Abstract: An improved game of Shut the Box, including a game box and front and back rows of tiles in which tiles are pivotally arrayed in a side-by-side relationship. Each tile bears a number and may be selectively placed in either a vertical orientation so as to show the tile face or a horizontal orientation so as to obscure the tile face. The back row of tiles is positioned immediately behind and above the front row such that each one of the back row tiles is directly behind a corresponding front row tile. For any given pair of front and back row tiles, when the front row is in the vertical orientation, the face of the corresponding back row tile is obscured, and when the front row tile is in the horizontal position, the back row tile is revealed if it is in its vertical orientation. When both the front row tile and the back row tile are in the horizontal orientation, the face of each is obscured. The game is played with dice.

Abstract: A cable support apparatus for suspending audio and/or video system cables above the floor. The device is configured as a sandwich of at least three layers of electrically conductive foam, including first and second outer layers fabricated from a low density electrically conductive foam, and an inner layer disposed between said first and second outer layers and fabricated from a foam having a higher density and greater rigidity than the foam of said first and second layers. The inner layer includes a V-shaped crotch for supporting a cable with minimal surface contact. The cable support minimizes floor vibrations transmitted to the cable, breaks up resonant vibration modes within the cable support itself, and neutralizes static-electrical charge differentials between the cable and the floor.

Abstract: A dice cup for use in dice games involving concealment of the dice, including an open top end and an open bottom end, a closed opaque wall extending therebetween, and a longitudinal axis. A plurality of spaced-apart slats are disposed across the bottom end so as to define a plurality of viewing holes. The slats prevent dice from being ejected from the cup when said cup is shaken with said top end covered, and when the cup is inverted to cover dice on a flat surface, the slats provide an impediment to seeing the dice through the viewing holes unless viewed at a sufficiently small angle relative to said longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A multi-sport training apparatus for teaching and improving hitting and throwing skills, including an adjustable waist belt with a buckle; a resilient connector having a distal end and a proximal end, two clamps disposed on the waist belt such that when said waist belt is worn at least one clamp is located near the iliac crest of the user's leading hip and may be employed for adjustably capturing and retaining the proximal end of the resilient connector, a swivelable clip disposed on the distal end of said resilient connector, and a sports implement/hand connector having a hook for attachment to the clip. Also disclosed is a method of using the apparatus to teach hitting and throwing skills.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for geodesic sphere construction provides a construction framework from an extrusion system that, when fabricated, generates the geometries of the geodesic sphere or dome, and also is configured to interlock with the triangular exterior panels to form a waterproof system. The apparatus includes an extruded strut portion having a cross-section, and a vertex component having the same cross-section, with a sliding connector portion adapted to slide into and join the strut portion and vertex component to form the geodesic frame work of a geodesic strut and panel system. The extruded strut and vertex components have a centerline bearing opposing dihedral angles. The vertex connectors are each set at the appropriate face angle and axial angle according to their location on the geodesic structure. Thus, the vertex component generates both the surface angles on a geodesic sphere and the axial angles which produce the curvature of the geodesic dome.

Abstract: A recessed lighting unit that includes an adjustable lamp holder assembly, a fixture housing within which the adjustable lamp holder assembly is mounted; and a modular trim assembly, wherein the adjustable lamp holder assembly includes a pivot bracket detachably mounted in the fixture housing with a bolt that may be loosed and tightened for selected rotatable adjustment about a horizontal plane, and a vertical portion with a gear knob having a shaft disposed through an arcuate gear knob slot, and operatively connected to spur gear in mesh with gear teeth on an arcuate portion of a lamp support bracket, such that rotation of the gear knob rotates the lamp support bracket in a vertical plane.

Abstract: An improved radio frequency transparent utility meter cover for an automatic meter reading (AMR) system. The cover is manufactured from a strong and chemically inert polyolefin or polypropylene copolymer and includes a non-corroding lock to secure the cover to the meter box frame. The underside of the cover includes a plurality of ribs that lend strength and rigidity to the cover while increasing mounting points for meter unit interface devices.

Abstract: A method and system for keying media allows for the distribution of updateable content to an end user. The media are any type of processor readable, portable apparatus containing a preinstalled Keying Application and unique Source ID. A particular medium is provided to an end user and the end user runs the Keying Application on a network-connected electronic device, such as a computer or PDA. The Keying Application interacts with a Content Server via the network connection. The end user also interacts with the Content Server via the Keying Application. Through these interactions, the Content Server distributes specific updateable content to the Keying Application, which displays the specific content to the end user. The content may comprise catalog and directory information.

Abstract: A semi-continuous meat press includes a frame supporting an upper press pad and a lower press pad, positioned adjacent one another to define an open position and a closed position, the closed position having a selectable, adjustable gap between the pads. Upper and lower flexible belts are interposed between the upper and lower press pads, and serve to convey meat pieces between the press pads for the pressing step. The upper and lower press pads and upper and lower flexible belts are urged together by hydraulic cylinders through a four bar mechanical linkage. The press pads are made of a soft pliable plastic material to allow the meat pieces to sink into the pads and provide space for the pliable plastic material to move around and envelop the thick parts of the meat pieces.

Abstract: A low attenuation surface wave transmission line system for launching surface waves on a bare and unconditioned conductor, such as are found in abundance in the power transmission lines of the existing power grids. The conductors within the power grid typically lack dielectric and special conditioning. Accordingly, the present invention includes a first launcher, preferably including a mode converter and an adapter, for receiving an incident wave of electromagnetic energy and propagating a surface wave longitudinally on the power lines. The system includes at least one other launcher, and more likely a number of other launchers, spaced apart from one another along the constellation of transmission lines. The system and associated electric fields along any given conductor are radially and longitudinally symmetrical.

Abstract: A non-contact apparatus removes translational energy (slows movement) of a first magnetic assembly when it is moved through the magnetic field of a second magnet. The first magnetic assembly contains a magnet that can rotate, such as a diametrically magnetized cylindrical magnet in a cylindrical cavity. Rotation of the first magnet does work against a predetermined drag. The apparatus also forms a non-contact magnetic coupling that holds a predetermined relative position. The apparatus can be used as a door catch that slows down and quietly stops a door at a predetermined position.

Abstract: A locking programming interface (LPI) which prevents piracy of device-related user software. An LPI Code is generated from a variety of different parameters, including a software product ID, a Production Key, and a number of device-specific parameters for the device that the user software supports. The LPI Code is burned into a memory of the device using a Production Utility process which utilizes the Production Key supplied by the software manufacturer. When the user software is installed in a host machine such as a user's computer system, the software performs basic device validation and then validates the LPI Code burned into the device against codes embedded into the user software.