Abstract: A portable hoist assembly is provided for lifting a hitch to be installed on the underside of a vehicle platform. The hitch has a hitch ball hole and the vehicle platform has a hole to be aligned with the hitch ball hole when the hitch is installed. The hoist assembly includes a hoist frame and a winch for paying out and drawing in a cable. The winch is supported by the frame above the vehicle platform hole. An elongated member is attached to the cable. The elongated member can be oriented in a first position wherein it can pass through the vehicle platform hole and the hitch ball hole. Also, the elongated member can be oriented in a second position wherein it cannot pass through the hitch ball hole. The elongated member can be lowered through the vehicle platform hole and the hitch ball hole in the first orientation and can secure the cable to the hitch in the second orientation.

Abstract: A carrier for large objects includes a bag made of a sheet of plastic film material. The bag is sized to receive a large object and has an opening for placing the object into the bag. An extension on at least one side of the bag has a plurality of layers of the plastic film material formed with a gusset. Handles are formed as openings in the extension. The bag has a seal for bonding the layers of film together along at least a portion of the length of the side having the extension. The seal is formed along a line between an outer edge of the gusset and an inner edge of the gusset.

Abstract: A mattress carrier includes a bag made of a sheet of plastic film material. The bag is sized to receive a mattress and has an opening for placing the mattress into the bag. An extension on at least one side of the bag has a plurality of layers of the plastic film material formed with a gusset. Handles are formed as openings in the extension. The bag has a seal for bonding the layers of film together along at least a portion of the length of the side having the extension. The seal is formed along a line between an outer edge of the gusset and an inner edge of the gusset.

Abstract: An apparatus provides for coupling a trailer lighting circuit including a light emitting diode to towing vehicle lighting circuit. The apparatus includes a connector having a first contact for coupling to a trailer lighting circuit input and a second contact for coupling to an electrical ground. The connector includes a resistive component coupled between the first contact and the second contact. The connector is configured to couple the first terminal to an output of the towing vehicle lighting circuit. The resistive component can include a resistor, an incandescent light or another component having suitable electrical resistance. The connector can be in various forms, including a trailer harness plug, a towing vehicle harness plug, or an adapter for coupling a towing vehicle electrical harness plug to a trailer electrical harness plug.

Abstract: A method for providing one or more shared-ownership lottery plays using a computer system is provided. Information regarding lottery plays or pools of plays available for shared ownership for a selected game and drawing date is stored A request is received for a shared-ownership lottery play or pool for the selected game and drawing date. The stored information is used to issue an interest in a shared-ownership lottery play or pool in response to the request. Each of the issued shared-ownership lottery plays or pools is selected from the one or more lottery plays or pools available for shared ownership. The ownership of each issued shared-lottery play or pool is assigned an ownership percentage increment of less than 100 percent. A ticket or other receipt represents an ownership percentage in the shared-ownership lottery play or pool equal to the assigned ownership percentage increment.

Abstract: An interactive catapult training device is provided for teaching and demonstrating the principles of problem solving using tools and techniques of applied statistics, Six Sigma, lean manufacturing and other process excellence techniques. The device includes a base and a hub fixed to a position with respect to the base and removable from the base. A swing arm is coupled to and rotatable about the hub from a first angle to a second angle, the swing arm being removable from the hub. A cup is fixed to a position with respect to the swing arm and adapted to receive a projectile, the cup being removable from the swing arm. A spring is coupled between a first coupling point fixed with respect to the base and a second coupling point on the swing arm. The spring provides tension for setting the swing arm in motion from the first angle to the second angle. The spring can be removable from the first and second coupling points.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fender including an offset light housing installed on a trailer or tow dolly for towing a vehicle or other piece of equipment. In a preferred embodiment the fender further includes a clearance increasing portion. The fenders minimize the possibility of damage to the vehicle or other piece of equipment. Also disclosed is a tow dolly including a tire platform that is positioned such that when an automobile is placed on the tow dolly, the axle of the automobile is positioned forwardly of the front-most axle of the tow dolly.

Abstract: A dedicated information display in a vehicle is provided, the display having a rearview mirror with a reflective surface. The display also includes a label having an adhesive side and a display side, and a size and a shape that covers a portion of the reflective surface of the rearview mirror. The adhesive side of the label is affixed to the rearview mirror such that the rearview mirror is converted into an effectively dedicated information display. The information display may also be constructed using an electronic display.

Abstract: A method and system verify the accuracy of weather forecasting entity, such as a television station, a radio station, newspaper or other the like. A weather forecast for the entity is obtained for a given geographic region and a given forecast time period, the forecast including a set of one or more forecast data elements. The set of forecast data elements is converted to a set of one or more numerical values. A set of one or more actual weather condition data elements is obtained for the given geographic region and period of time. The set of actual weather condition data elements is converted to a set of one or more numerical values. The set of actual weather condition numerical values is compared with the set of forecast numerical values. A forecast accuracy score is computed based on the comparison of the set of actual weather condition numerical values and the set of forecast numerical values.

Abstract: A trailer including an inner frame that is made of metal, an outer shell that is made of a non-metal and that at least partially surrounds the inner frame, and at least one wheel rotatably secured to the inner frame. In a preferred embodiment, the outer shell is made of a plastic. The inner frame includes a lower frame portion with which the at least one wheel is rotatably secured, and an upper frame portion that supports at least a portion of the weight of the outer shell. Preferably, the upper frame portion includes a middle support member that extends upwardly from the lower frame portion, and a first bar assembly that is hingedly connected to the middle support member. In another embodiment, a second bar assembly is hingedly connected to the middle support member.

Abstract: A method of growing quaternary epitaxial films having the formula YCZN wherein Y is a Group IV element and Z is a Group III element at temperatures in the range 550-750° C. is provided. In the method, a gaseous flux of precursor H3YCN and a vapor flux of Z atoms are introduced into a gas-source molecular beam epitaxial (GSMBE) chamber where they combine to form thin film of YCZN on the substrate. Preferred substrates are silicon, silicon carbide and AlN/silicon structures. Epitaxial thin film SiCAlN and GeCAlN are provided. Bandgap engineering may be achieved by the method by adjusting reaction parameters of the GSMBE process and the relative concentrations of the constituents of the quaternary alloy films. Semiconductor devices produced by the present method have bandgaps from about 2 eV to about 6 eV and exhibit a spectral range from visible to ultraviolet which makes them useful for a variety of optoelectronic and microelectronic applications.