Abstract: A water intake open cavity drum for ponds, which includes a drum body with a lower portion defining a cavity and an upper portion defining a cavity in fluid communication with the lower portion cavity but having less volume than that of the lower portion. The drum includes a plurality of stabilizing feet, at least one water inlet disposed in the lower portion, a water outlet disposed from the upper portion, and a venturi interposed between the water inlet and water outlet. Filtering media is disposed in the cavity, and when a pump is applied to the water outlet, a vortex is formed in the drum body interior which rapidly circulates water throughout the filtering media before it passes out the water outlet.

Abstract: A quick-disconnect coupling device for use in plug and receptacle style electrical connectors, fiberoptic connectors, pneumatic and hydraulic couplings or any other application where a secure quick-disconnect connection is desired. Under normal operation, the coupling device incorporates a sliding outer sleeve to activate and release latching features within the retention system, which engages with an appropriate mating receptacle. An emergency release feature is included to allow the coupling to disconnect at a selectable, predetermined axial pull-force on the rear of the coupler. The secondary release feature prevents damage to the components and, in many applications, increases personal safety, by providing an emergency release feature, while still maintaining standard coupling and decoupling functionality.

Abstract: A seismic anchoring system to prevent damage to wine bottles during earthquakes, including a resilient leash having a ring on a free end and connected at its other end to or proximate to a holding bin. In use, the ring is disposed over the neck of a bottle in a bottle holding bin and thus prevents excursion of the bottle from the bin. The leash further provides means for displaying bottle content information.

Abstract: An articulated seating mechanism including a rocker base, a seat plate, and a pair of side rails, each having an arcuate side. The side rails may be disposed downwardly from the seat plate or upwardly from the rocker base. First and second arcuate gear portions are disposed on the arcuate side of each of the side rails and a first and second substantially flat or linear gear racks are affixed either to the underside of the seat plate or the upper side of the rocker base, so as to bring the linear gears and the arcuate gears into intermeshing relationship. A back support is pivotally connected to the seat plate and to first and second back links, and the back links are pivotally connected to the rocker base to provide a rocking motion of the seat plate and a dynamic synchronous adjustment of the angular variation between the seat plate and the back support. The linear gear racks move in a tangent to the arcuate gear portions to provide a moving fulcrum during rocking movements.

Abstract: A strutless building module comprising a polygon having a plurality of inclined faces that converge at the module center, said module center having a center connector, said module further having sides that angle downwardly from their respective module faces and including a plurality of insertion holes passing entirely through the side, wherein adjoining modules may be connected by placing modules side-to-side and passing bolts through aligned insertion holes. The modules have an elevated center formed at the convergence of the inclined module faces.

Abstract: An improved rattle-free door catch is provided. The apparatus includes a catch retaining assembly having wall mounting plate with a concave ball-retaining member integral with its front side. The concave ball-retaining member includes a keyhole-shaped slot including a lower vertical portion and an upper open portion. A swivel ball is disposed within the concave ball-retaining member, and a rigid Catch retainer arm is affixed to the swivel ball at one end. At its other end, the rod has a ball cup, which includes an open end, a cylindrical lower interior portion, and a domed-shaped upper interior portion. The catch retaining assembly interacts with a catch assembly, which includes a catch mounting plate, an arcuate catch ball arm disposed from and terminating at one end in the front side of the catch mounting plate, and having a spherical catch ball disposed at another end. The catch ball is sized to fit snugly within the ball cup to create a non rattling fit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for isolating and/or eliminating RFI, EMI, and noise transients in power supply circuits. The circuit isolates DC to DC and AC to DC power coupling by use of dual, parallel current paths that are alternately gated. The gating of the switches is controlled by a control module, which ensures that the input and output of the circuit is electromagnetically blocked during any instant in time, while simultaneously ensuring proper and continuous delivery of current to the circuit output load.

Abstract: A method for improving lossless image compression by using multiple lossless image compression techniques and adapting the best one to each image. An RGB compressor receives an image file and splits the image into rectangular block types. Different digital image and/or sub-image (block) types are optimally compressed using a compression techniques particularly well-suited for the particular kind of image or block.

Abstract: A hybrid personal flotation device includes a flotation vest body having a front, back, shoulder straps, and adjustable buckle straps. An expandable cover over at least a portion of the vest body covers an inflatable chamber having a front chamber portion connected to a back chamber portion by a single shoulder pass-through. Inflation of the inflatable chamber is accomplished by an oral inflation tube and/or a manually activated cylinder containing compressed CO2. The low-profile, narrow single shoulder pass-through permits fluid communication for both inflation and deflation between the front and back chamber portions, but does not restrict the wearer's neck or shoulder range of motion. The inflatable front and back chamber portions remain covered when fully inflated, and require no folding or re-packing when deflated.

Abstract: A roof shake which simulates a conventional wooden shake includes an exposure portion, a toplap portion, a headlap portion, a butt end, an upper edge, an upper surface, and a lower surface. The shake tapers from the butt end to the upper edge. The exposure portion of the shake includes at least one cavity which functions as an insulative chamber and may be filled with insulative material.

Abstract: The present invention is a sliding ruler square that provides an adjustable and extendible straightedge element permitting a user to conveniently scribe lengthy cut lines at pre-selected angles across a work piece typically utilized in the construction industry without the necessity as exhibited by the prior art to reposition the tool. The inventions comprises a right triangularly shaped base with a fence on one base edge, a sliding straightedge on the other base edge and markings along the straightedge and the hypotenuse and other edges of the base to present a variety of ways to measure and mark. The tool combines a number of measurement and scribing functions typically requiring several tools.