Abstract: A conduit network on a bristle face of a brush communicates with a supply of cleansing or rinsing effluent under pressure, and dispenses the effluent generally uniformly over a wide area of the bristle face through distributed outlet holes. A preferred quick connector couples the network to the effluent supply. A valve controls the rate of flow into the network. Control of brush movement during washing and grooming is facilitated by: an adjustable strap securing a user's hand to a top control face, a finger wall projecting from the control face including finger stops, a palm heel catch, liquid drain-off channels which also knurl the control face for better gripping, and a preferred length allowing a user's fingertips to overlap the front of the brush.

Abstract: A casino game apparatus having a table layout similar to, or the same as, a craps game table using conventional craps rules, but without the dice. The preferred embodiment uses a pair of ball blowers, each selecting a numbered ball from six balls, numbered from one to six. A pair of monitors display the selected balls as viewed from video cameras mounted above the ball blowers, one number per monitor. The sum of the pair of numbers displayed constitute the random number decision generation replacing the use of dice. An additional embodiment uses a random number generator to select two numbers for random number decision generation. Another embodiment uses two shuffled card decks from which to select two numbered cards for random number decision generation. An additional embodiment uses a remote control activated by a player to initiate the random number generator for selection of two numbers for random number decision generation.

Abstract: A roller skating device combining advantages of conventional roller and in-line skates, and skateboards is presented. A “boot” (as defined herein) for snugly encasing a selected foot of a user has an undercarriage, i.e. a frame, connected to it in fixed relation. A rigid member having a planar top is affixed to the undercarriage, preferably behind the heel of the boot, for engaging the free foot of the user, i.e., the foot not wearing this invention. A plurality of rollers, connected to the undercarriage, rollingly support the undercarriage, and all connected to it, on a skatable surface. The free foot engages the planar top by resting on and, at selected times, pressing forcefully against the planar top to help control the device during operation. Two exemplary embodiments are described herein: an embodiment having a rectangular pattern of rollers and an embodiment having a single line of rollers.

Abstract: A telescoping wand safely encloses the control ends of a set of lift cords of vertically raisable “blinds” (as defined in the specification). The wand includes a selectively releasable cord locking mechanism which cooperates with a lift cord tensioner and a cord locking mechanism in the blinds' headrail to allow a user to raise and lower the blinds by one-handed operation of the wand. The blinds are raised by reciprocatingly moving an outer handle tube telescopically along a stationary inner tube. Each time the handle is pumped up and down, the blinds are raised a discrete amount. The wand's cord locking mechanism allows the lift cords to slip through the wand on the handle's upward stroke, but grabs and pulls the lift cords on the handle's downward stroke. Two or three quick pumps of the handle are all that is typically needed to fully raise a set of blinds.

Abstract: A set of modules from which custom passive backplanes can be assembled coplanarly couple together and are mounted on a rigid base plate which holds them coupled and coplanar. Each module has a plurality of orthogonally oriented card connectors. Preferably there is a CPU module into which is plugged a CPU card from which an ISA and a PCI originates. On one edge of the CPU module is an connector communicating with the ISA bus. This connector is for chaining together one or more ISA modules, each of which expands the ISA bus to three more ISA connectors. On an opposite edge of the CPU module is an connector communicating with the PCI bus. This connector is for chaining together one or more PCI modules, either 32-bit or 64-bit, each of which expands the PCI bus to three more PCI connectors. Power and ground can be jumpered from module to module or can be directly connected to any module.

Abstract: A hair cutting device is connected to a vacuum source to draw hair into a cutting chamber and includes a mechanism for cutting which allows an operator to both position the cutting device and to activate the cutting mechanism with one hand. The cutting mechanism includes two blades and preferably at least one blade slidably moves against the other to cut hair. The cutting mechanism also maintains the blades in proper position and applies pressure to at least one of the blades to ensure the proper cutting of the hair. Preferably non-parallel cutting edges and the bowing of at least one of the blades act to provide an effective moving shear point between the blades. The cutting mechanism also allows for continued airflow through the cutting chamber regardless of the position of the blades during the cutting operation.

Abstract: Low voltage, high current electrical energy is supplied in a closed conductive loop. Preferably, the current is induced into the loop by a transformer. The loop has, at least in part, one, or a series of, conductive elements of a structure to be warmed. The amount of current is sufficient in relation to the inherent resistivity of the elements to cause the generation of heat within the elements. Preferably the current is an alternating current of a frequency which causes a majority of the current to travel at or near the skin of the elements in order to increase the effective resistivity of the elements and thereby increase the generation of heat therein, primarily around the skin of the elements.

Abstract: A pizza warmer and oven system in which a plurality of pizza warmers containing a phase change material can be charged to their preferred temperatures by resistance heaters positioned in shelves above and below each warmer in an oven. One embodiment has top shelves biased in close proximity with the warmers. Moving a lever causes the upper shelves to be raised by cams, allowing removal or insertion of warmers. Insertion of warmers into the oven trips switches, starting timing circuits which energize the heater and charging indicator lights. At the end of the timing cycle, indicator lights signal the warmer's charged condition. In another embodiment, the top shelves are gravitationally biased down but are each free to move upward slightly for warmer insertion or removal. Turning on the oven energizes the heaters. A thermostat in the heater circuit turns off the heater at a pre-selected temperature.

Abstract: A rigid surface upon which a person sits is elastically supported, preferably by a gas-filled bladder assembly which includes two inflatable bladders, one circumscribing the other. The bladders are preferably independently inflated, the inner bladder preferably being inflated to a higher pressure than the outer bladder to act as a fulcrum for the seating surface. The bladder assembly allows two degrees of movement for the seating surface, e.g., pitch and roll rotations about two mutually orthogonal medians. The two degrees of movement permits a user to exercise his or her lumbar cage muscles by seesaw movement of the lower body on the seating surface.

Abstract: An electric motor pump for corrosive, electric conductive, cryogenic and/or hazardous liquids which is submerged in the liquid, comprising a centrifugal pump in a pump housing and an electric motor in a separate motor housing, transmitting the power through a magnetic coupling, whereby a thrust equalizing device is mounted on the rotating pump shaft. The motor housing is connected to a tubular device and the power cable is inside the tubular device and on one end connected to the electric motor stator and on the other end to the electric power grid. The motor housing and the tubular device contain an inert fluid under higher pressure than the surrounding liquid. The electric motor pump is able to operate as a reverse running pump in the turbine mode, whereby the electric motor is an induction motor operating as an induction generator.

Abstract: A combination ball mark repair tool, golf club support and cigar cutter. The invention includes a prier for prying up ball marks which are depressions made particularly in golf greens by impacting golf balls. The prier includes a shank ending, in a pair of tines which are used to penetrate turf and pry up depressions in the turf. The prier is pivotally connected to an end of a handle for leverage, the handle defining a slot for retracting the prier. A push pin controls a detent which locks the shank in either a fully opened position or a fully retracted position. Depressing the push pin unlocks the shank. When the shank is unlocked, a torque spring urges the shank to pivot from its handle slot to its open position. The prier preferably has two tines to avoid damage to the turf. Inserting the tines into the turf at the edge of a ball mark and then pivoting the handle toward the surface causes the tines to raise the depressed turf, thereby repairing the ball mark.

Abstract: An industrial computer including a passive backplane generally compliant with the PCI/ISA industrial standard promulgated by the PICMG technical committee, but with certain exceptions. One exception being that the plug-in CPU card has been replaced by a plug-in "feature" card which includes features normally found on prior art CPU cards but not the microprocessor. Also the in-line ISA and PCI backplane connectors used for conventional CPU cards have been replaced by preferably two in-line SECC connectors for the feature card. In the preferred embodiment a third SECC connector is used to connect a PENTIUM II to the backplane, and a further connector is used to connect the PENTIUM II's voltage regulator module to the backplane. All communications between the processor, feature card, voltage regulator module, and backplane I/O buses are via signal lines in or on the backplane. This invention allows the entire CPU and associated features to be quickly swappable in case of malfunction.

Abstract: An apparatus for electrically coupling a plurality of DUT terminals to corresponding terminals of a circuit. The apparatus includes a corresponding plurality of contact devices aligned both with the DUT terminals and the circuit terminals. Each contact device includes a fulcrum on which a contact lever is rockable over a range by pressing a corresponding DUT terminal against it. Each lever includes a first arm of "X" length on a DUT side of the fulcrum and a second arm of "Y" length on an opposite side of the fulcrum. A biasing spring, having travel, reacts against and through the second arm to resist rocking of the lever. Included is a way for electrically coupling the contact lever and its corresponding circuit terminal. The contact device operates according to the principle that contact lever travel, during rocking caused by a pressing upon it of a corresponding DUT terminal, is greater than responsive travel of the bias means according to a ratio of X/Y.

Abstract: A ball pouch has a hollow defined by walls comprising a plurality of linked cells packed with a heat storage medium. The medium is a mix including phase change material ("PCM") having a phase change temperature within the preferred range of 130-150.degree. F. Preferably the PCM mix is in free-flowing powder or gel form, and includes paraffin, ultra fine silica, and an ingredient to convert microwaves, as from a microwave oven, into heat. The pouch is charged by heat soaking it, preferably in a microwave oven, until the PCM has fully absorbed its latent heat of fusion. A golf ball pouch according to this invention can be packed with a plurality of golf balls. Once charged the pouch heats golf balls contained therein to a desired temperature above ambient and keeps them well above ambient for more time than it takes to play a round of golf. The temperature to which the balls are heated depends on the phase change temperature of the selected PCM mix.

Abstract: A cap has a visor and a hole defined by its crown. The hole communicates with a pocket that extends from the hole external to the crown. The hole and pocket are sized to easily accommodate a ball to be caught, e.g. a baseball. A ball flying into the crown will be funneled by the crown through the hole and into the pocket to be trapped therein. The pocket prevents the ball from bouncing out of the cap's crown. The pocket can be folded and fastened against the crown, or concealed inside the crown, to give the cap a conventional appearance. The visor has a grip affixed to it to help a wearer securely grip the visor while trying to catch a flying ball in the crown's pocket. The force of a ball being caught releases the pocket and causes it to unfold, trapping the ball.

Abstract: A contact array includes a plurality of uniform columns each for providing electrical continuity between things respectively in contact with opposite ends of the columns, each column means having a memory urging it to be straight. In a first embodiment the columns are all affixed to plurality of polymeric carrier films for holding them parallel to each other, spaced apart, aligned along an axis normal to them, and preferably symmetrical with respect to the axis. Each column can include a plurality of aligned, elongated contact leaves, each leaf having a memory urging it to be straight. In a second embodiment the columns each comprise a set, preferably ten, of loosely aligned contact leaves held in place by being disposed in slots defined by a housing. The housing forces the columns to be uniformly arcuate along the axis. The opposite ends of the columns define respective opposite contact margins of the array.

Abstract: A method of installing a patch in a pothole in a paved road including the steps of (1) undercutting the edges of the pavement defining the pothole to a uniform angle from the vertical; (2) excavating a portion of substratum beneath the pavement to undercut the pavement around the pothole, both undercuttings to increase the size of the patch's footing; (3) lining the undercut with a layer of filler material and tamping; (4) inserting an underlining wire mesh fitted to reach into the undercut beneath the pavement; (5) inserting and tamping additional filler material to an intermediate level of the pothole; (6) inserting a second wire mesh preferably fitted to the periphery of the pothole at the intermediate level; (7) around the periphery of the pothole spacing and anchoring a plurality support dowels into the undercut pavement edges at about the intermediate level; and (8) filling and tamping the pothole level with existing pavement surface.

Abstract: A first major aspect of the invention relates to an active noise cancelling system which detects ambient noise and applies electro-accoustic processing thereto to produce an acoustic signal for cancelling out the ambient noise. The active noise cancelling system may be used to cancel all noise but an audio signal which is desired to be heard by the user. A second major aspect of the invention relates particularly to a system for electronically cancelling noise input to a user microphone, by utilizing known characteristics of speech signal and ambient noise. The first major aspect of the invention can be used in concert with the second major aspect in a communication system at the earpiece of a telephone and the mouthpiece of a telephone.

Abstract: In the preferred embodiment, opposing jaws are biased closed for grasping the clasp of a string type bracelet. Prior to grasping, as the clasp is being inserted between the jaws, a post or boss asserts a reactive force against an operating lever of the clasp causing the clasp to open. While the clasp is held open, the jaws are released to grasp the clasp and keep it open. Preferably the jaws are affixed to a wrist band which when wrapped around a user's wrist holds the grasped clasp in a position to loop the bracelet around the wrist and hook an eyelet at the opposite end of the bracelet onto the clasp. When the jaws are opened to release the clasp, the clasp closes capturing the eyelet. The wrist band is then removed leaving only the bracelet around the wrist. The clip can also be used to hold earring clasps for easy placement on earring studs, and for other kinds of jewelry.

Abstract: For a person who for whatever reason is required to remain prone, i.e. lying face downward, for long periods of time, a parallelepiped housing has a cushion top for comfortably supporting the head of the person. The cushion top defines an opening ("view port") through which the person can look into the housing. Within the housing is a series of mirrors for redirecting the person's field of vision from downward to forward through an front aperture defined by the housing. Preferably the aperture is the absence of a front wall. A manually turned crank reachable by the person allows the person to selectively vertically adjust the his or her field of vision. In the preferred embodiment, the crank rotates a plurality of eccentric cams which pivot a mirror either forward or backward depending on the direction of rotation.