Abstract: A canine waste collection appliance and waste disposal method are disclosed. The collection appliance includes a handle connected to a frame. The frame includes a right portion, a left portion and an end portion. The right portion includes a proximal end and a distal end. The left portion includes a proximal end and a distal end. An end portion is provided intermediate the distal end of the right portion and the distal end of the left portion. The end portion includes a thin slot thereon. A paper element, such as a paper towel would be partially threaded through the thin slot and folded about the end portion. The paper towel would be also folded about the right portion and the left portion and the excess paper towel would be wound about the connection of the handle with the right portion and the left portion. The dog, in preparation for defecation, rounds its back, then squats and defecates.
Abstract: A retractable bike fender and housing are provided. The bike fender resides in the housing while it is in its retracted position and depends from the housing when it is in its extended position. The bike fender includes an integral light at the distal end. The light is powered by a battery and may flash. Elements of the fender may be coated with a reflective material which may be illuminated by the integral light as well as other light sources. The housing is designed to mounted about the seat stem to provide a barrier against water and debris being flung against the rider by the rear wheel. The housing may also be mounted about the handlebar stem to provide a barrier against water and debris being flung against the rider by the front wheel. The fender housing has an opening which permits the elongated fender to be extended and retracted from the housing. A hand operated drum within the housing may be rotated manually by grip hubs which extend through both sides of the housing.
Abstract: An air boat with retractable wheels is provided. The wheels are moved from the first position to the second position by a hydraulic system. The hydraulic system is actuated by the air boat user. The first wheel position is retracted, giving continuity to the hull, permitting the fan to drive the air boat over water. The second position is extended, bringing the wheels into contact with the ground, and permitting the fan to drive the air boat over the terrain of the land. The two wheels are in parallel relation with each other and are located in and under the hull of the boat at about the middle section of the air boat. The wheels, when in extended position, only breach the hull by a small amount as there is no propeller or rudder to clear when traveling over the land. The fan provides enough lift to prevent the bow and stern from coacting with the ground.
Abstract: A vehicle mounted soil sampler is provided. The soil sampler is designed to be mounted inside the vehicle proximal the operator. A mounting plate secures the soil sampler to the interior of the vehicle. A opening is provided in the floorboard underneath the soil sampler to permit the soil sampler to leave the vehicle, take a sample, and return to the vehicle with the sample. The soil sampler includes a first hydraulic motor and a second hydraulic motor. The first hydraulic motor is operates a chain drive which moves a guide member in an upward or downward fashion. The guide member is affixed to the auger assembly. The auger assembly includes an auger, a second hydraulic motor which rotates the auger as well as a sample chamber. The operator will drive the vehicle to a location where a soil sample is desired to be taken. The first hydraulic motor is actuated, lowering the auger assembly through the floor of the vehicle to the soil surface.
Abstract: The present invention discloses a portable arm and mouse support device to be affixed to a desk proximal the keyboard of the computer. The invention supports the computer mouse and the lower arm as well as aligns the arm with the mouse in a horizontal fashion. The portable arm and computer arm support has three arm elements which are rotatably connected, permitting articulation with respect to one another, and a clamping means, designed to secure the device to a desk. The first arm includes a front portion, a rear portion, a top side and a bottom side. The second arm includes a front portion and a rear portion. The third arm includes a front portion and a rear portion, a top side and a bottom side. The third arm rear portion is rotatably affixed to a clamping means and the third arm front portion rotatably affixed to said second arm rear portion. The second arm front portion is rotatably affixed to said first arm rear portion.
Abstract: A portable indicating and protective structure for underground utilities is provided. The portable structure is designed to be erected about a utility located at ground level on a construction site, to permit construction workers to avoid inadvertent damage to such a utility. Such damage occurs when the utility is impacted by construction machinery, delivery trucks, and other vehicles on the construction site. The portable structure is a protective barrier which would enclose or encircle the utility. The sidewall elements may be secured in place by stakes or the like. The sidewall may be cylindrical, rectangular, or some other geometric configuration. The top portion and the lower portion would be open to permit access to the utility. Two poles will be affixed proximal the sidewall and will extend vertically several times the height of the sidewall. These pole elements may secure the sidewall in place by passing vertically through a plurality of ring elements which are connected to the sidewall.
Abstract: A connector having apertures to be used to secure different pieces of construction material in relation to each other is provided with structure to hold a nail thereto. This structure permits the nail to be brought into selective alignment with the aperture allowing the nail to be driven home without the workman holding the nail. The invention includes aperture engagement structure which is located in the aperture of the connector. The nail is held in a fastener engagement structure, which has the structure of a sleeve. The fastener engagement structure is attached to the aperture engagement structure on their common first side by a hinge. The fastener engagement structure further has a male portion located on its second side. The aperture engagement structure further has a female portion located on its second side. In a first configuration, the nails are held flat against the body of the connector.
Abstract: A testing and indexing apparatus and method for shoes is disclosed. A block is inserted into the interior of the shoe and clamps the heel portion of the sole fixed flat in relation to a plate. This plate is moved on rails until the ball or widest part of the shoe is set between laterally disposed clamps. The clamps are tightened on the ball of the shoe and the plate is fixed in position on the rails. Both the lateral clamping mechanism and the heel block clamp mechanism are attached to a generally rectangular base, however they are separate and the lateral clamping mechanism is axially rotatable along the axis of the clamped shoe and is attached to a torque wrench type device. Thus the shoe may be twisted axially to a pre-desired point and a reading taken to index the flexibility of the shoe in this dimension.
Abstract: A glove having a pinky finger, ring finger, middle finger, index finger and thumb receiving portion in communication with a hand receiving portion is provided. The pinky finger, ring finger, middle finger and index finger receiving portions each have a top panel and a bottom panel, which are connected to form each of the finger receiving portions. Each finger receiving portion includes a distal region, an intermediate region, and a proximal region, the proximal region connected to the hand receiving portion, the distal region surrounding the fingertips and the intermediate region residing about the middle knuckle (proximal interphalangeal joint) of the hand. The intermediate region of each finger receiving portion includes a right and left insert, the insert being generally of a triangular shape and provided on the bottom panel. The inserts are sewn in the bottom panel after the bottom panel has been rotated to approximate the bending of the middle knuckle (proximal interphalangeal joint) of the finger.
Abstract: A fast and economical method for speeding up an audio signal without changing pitch can be accomplished by eliminating unneeded information from an audio signal. First, the signal is divided into chunks (frames or subframes), on which a mathematical manipulation such as a Fourier transformation is performed to identify the amplitudes of the componenet sinusoids (sines and cosines). These absolute values of the sine and cosine amplitudes for each frequency are averaged together, and the highest value(s) represents the signature, or dominant frequency/frequencies. The dominant frequency/frequencies or signatures from one chunk are compared to those of the next, and when identical the latter unit is marked as redundant. The final step consists of discarding redundant chunks from the original data, thus providing a shortened signal for replay. The pitch will not change because the only modification to the original signal was the elimination of redundant data.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 3, 1999
Date of Patent:
July 24, 2001
Inventors:
Kenneth Canfield, Bruce deGraaf, Kathyrn deGraaf
Abstract: An apparatus for the capture of overspray, blast media particles, and errant particle generated during spraying without employing an enclosure is disclosed. The apparatus is to be employed proximal a worker on a platform. The overspray capture mechanism is located intermediate the platform and the object being sprayed of coated. The mechanism includes a centrally supported suction duct which exerts a negative pressure in the area, the duct extends from the work area to a filtration area proximal a pump. A generally rectangular, flexible capturing device surrounds the duct. The flexible capture device is located intermediate a first and second support. The first and second supports include hydraulic elements which control the position of the supports and hence the flexible capture device. By use of the capturing device, liquid buildup, overspray or errant particles will be caused to move to and into the suction duct and then to a filtration system.
Abstract: A wagering game for casinos and the like is disclosed. The wagering game includes a game table, a plurality of decks of cards, and a pair of dice. The object of the game is to have the highest total score by combining the score of a card summed with the score rolled on a die. All face cards count as 10 with the exception of the Ace which counts as 1. The numbered cards have a numerical designation which is identical to the number which appears thereon. Two die are provided, the die may preferably be of different colors. The general course of play is as follows. The players make a wager. A side bet that a 16 will be dealt may also be made. The dealer deals a single card to the players as well as to himself. The dealer then rolls the two dice. A first color die represents the dealer and the second color die represents the players. The cards of the players are summed with the player's die score and the card of the dealer is summed with the dealer's die score. The highest possible score is 16.
Abstract: A vortex tube is affixed in a first case to a turbocharger in an engine, in a second case to a supercharger in an engine, or in a third case to the intake manifold of an engine. A vortex tube includes an entry port, a cold exit port and a hot exit port. By employing different structural interconnections of the vortex tube with the turbocharger or supercharger, compressed air is cooled prior to entering the engine's intake manifold. The same effect is achieved when the vortex tube is affixed directly to the engine intake manifold. Additionally, the fuel may be heated or cooled, depending upon the specific fuel type utilized.
Abstract: A multipurpose exercise device is disclosed. The apparatus has a generally rectangular, boxlike main body. The top surface of the body is hinged transversely to create a storage container and an adjustable section that can be fixed at various angles in relation to the main body by using a pivotal adjustment arm extending the bottom of the boxlike body. In the first embodiment, a plurality of clip rings is provided along both the side of the boxlike main body and a depending inner lip of the adjustable upper section. The user may attach resistive elements to various of these clip rings to allow for a wide variety of different exercises. The resistive elements may be color coded to indicate greater or lesser resistance. The resistive elements are stored in the provided storage container within the main body when the apparatus is not in use. In a second embodiment, there is no depending inner lip on the pivoting sections.