Abstract: A storage container, pouch, panel or part of a bag for carrying reusable items such as recording medium cartridges, rechargeable batters, or other reusable media and having an indicating flag for determining which of the reusable items contained within the containers have been used or not used. The container comprises a plurality of pockets, wherein each pocket has an indicating flag which is attached to the lining of the pouch. The pockets enable the reusable items to be stored therein and then the indicating flag is then moved out of the pocket so that it is exposed over the cartridge, so that the user knows that the reusable item has already been used and has no additional storage capacity or knows not to reuse it to record over it unless they intend to do so.

Abstract: A one-piece highchair cover made out of washable fabric material such as nylon and which is designed to fit over and be retained on a highchair by having side openings to accommodate the respective side arms and/or highchair tray of the highchair, openings to accommodate a fastening means such as a seatbelt to retain the highchair cover on the highchair, and a stretchable rear fastening means such as a strap to retain the back portion of the highchair cover on the highchair, all of which enables the highchair to be fully protected and covered while permitting the baby to aggressively move around in the highchair while being fed and insures that the highchair cover will remain in its position and not expose a portion of the highchair or fall off the highchair during the feeding process. The washable fabric material also enables the removable highchair cover to be easily removed from the highchair so that it can be washed for subsequent use.

Abstract: A rotary blower with forced external air cooling having multiple interconnected and synchronized parallel multi-lobe rotors with the same number of straight lobes for propelling flow from a suction port to a discharge port of an inner casing without internal compression. The blower also has an outer cover with cooling air inlet and outlet openings and added centrifugal cooling fans mounted on the rotor shafts adjacent to the cooling air inlet openings for circulating cooling air through the space between the outer cover and the inner casing. The blower further utilizes wearable strip seal devices applied on the rotors for preventing internal leakage and accidental mechanical contact.

Abstract: A vertical shock responsive fluid valve assembly capable of automatically closing a fluid valve in response to earthquake forces or other shock forces of a predetermined magnitude. The vertical shock responsive valve assembly has a flow control mechanism having a cradle that holds a movable ball in a recess at a point perpendicular in relation to a horizontal base plate, where the ball can be rotated 360° in any direction during seismic actions or other shock forces and rolls out of its recess at a predetermined force such that it ricochets off a housing cover covering the cradle and pushes a trip fork mechanism having elongated walls to provide additional leverage when the force strikes the trip fork mechanism that is mounted on a pivoting mechanism, thereby releasing a swing arm which has a disc on the end that functions as a plug for the hole in the valve body to interrupt gas or fluid flow therein.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for computer hard disk drive (HDD) protection and recovery. The apparatus includes a HDD controller board and a back-up HDD, both installed in a computer system having a working HDD. The apparatus utilizes hardware switches electrically coupled to the controller board, including a HDD selection switch and a copy command button. During normal operations, the switch remains switched to the working HDD, and as a result, the back-up HDD is switched off and remains transparent to the computer system and therefore protected from software viruses and other intrusions. The method includes a first-time image back-up process. When there is a failure of the working HDD, the back-up HDD can be instantly used as a normal HDD by switching the switch to the back-up HDD, so the computer system can be up and running without any interruption.

Abstract: An improved vacuum cleaner has an acoustic dampening mechanism to substantially reduce the noise level generated from a suction unit of the vacuum cleaner while it is sufficiently cooled. Noise that radiates from the motor is continually sucked back into the motor and in effect, the noise is bent by using suction so that the noise is muffled by being pulled back into the motor.

Abstract: A vertical shock responsive fluid valve assembly capable of automatically closing a fluid valve in response to earthquake forces or other shock forces of a predetermined magnitude. The vertical shock responsive valve assembly has a flow control mechanism having a cradle that holds a movable ball in a recess at a point perpendicular in relation to a horizontal base plate, where the ball can be rotated 360° in any direction during seismic actions or other shock forces and rolls out of its recess at a predetermined force such that it ricochets off a housing cover covering the cradle and pushes a trip fork mechanism having elongated walls to provide additional leverage when the force strikes the trip fork mechanism that is mounted on a pivoting mechanism, thereby releasing a swing arm which has a disc on the end that functions as a plug for the hole in the valve body to interrupt gas or fluid flow therein.

Abstract: A portable and collapsible sunshade apparatus which can be conveniently folded up and carried in a bag so that the sunshade apparatus can be easily transported to the beach or other locations for attachment to a beach chair or lounge chair through use of a novel attachment clip. The universal clip enables any type of sunshade apparatus to be attached to any type of beach chair or lounge chair at any desired height above the occupant of the chair and at any desired angular orientation relative to the chair.

Abstract: An apparatus to support the curve of the posterior aspect of the upper and lower portion of the neck and upper thoracic portion of the spine and behind the ears to provide support to these areas so that the head and neck will remain in a supported position while the individual is asleep. The device also provides a residing area for the skull supporting the weight of the head posteriorly. The invention holds the spine in the ideal position during sleep. The device does not support the head and neck of a passenger when awake and holding his/her head and neck in the appropriate vertical position by the supporting contraction of the muscles. In such times, the passenger's head and neck area are completely free of any uncomfortable contact with the device. The device is not strapped to the neck and does not support the head or neck interiorly.

Abstract: The present invention is a souffle facial and body scrub which has enhanced properties to deep clean skin, exfoliate dead skin cells in an efficient manner, and at the same time not damage sensitive skin, especially oh a woman's face. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved facial and body scrub which will provide deep cleaning action to cleanse skin pores in an efficient manner and also to exfoliate skin in an efficient manner. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved exfoliating facial and body scrub which although effective for cleaning and exfoliating skin, is not so abrasive as to create any damage to sensitive skin areas, especially on a woman's face. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cost efficient combination of elements and process for creating an improved facial and body scrub.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for generating electricity from ocean waves by utilizing a float with excessive buoyancy. The basic arrangement and principle utilizes a float with excess buoyancy which exerts a primarily upward buoyant force on the float along a direction perpendicular to the isobaric surfaces of the ocean waves which changes as the ocean waves propagating through the water body. A holding device is used to hold the float under the ocean surface, which exerts a primarily downward holding force on the float while allowing the float to move back and forth in a substantially horizontal direction as a result of a substantially horizontal force which is a combination of the holding force and the buoyant force. A turbine is attached to the float or the holding device for generating electricity as the float moves back and forth in the liquid body.

Abstract: A wireless emergency lighting system for a structural object such as a transportation vehicle. The system includes a multiplicity of discrete wireless emergency lighting assemblies installed in the transportation vehicle at spaced apart locations for assisting passengers of the transportation vehicle to exit the transportation vehicle in an emergency situation. Each emergency lighting assembly has an emergency lighting component, a micro processor for controlling the operations of the emergency lighting component, a memory device for storing information of the emergency lighting component, a battery for providing electrical power to the emergency lighting component, and means for receiving and transmitting radio signals. The system also includes at least one control module for wireless interrogation of the multiplicity of discrete wireless emergency lighting assemblies.

Abstract: An improved spool assembly for non-explosive actuators used in electro-mechanical structural separation devices. The spool assembly includes two spool halves each having external surfaces and a generally flat internal surface, a unitary and integral internal member made of an electrically conductive material and having a link-wire portion and two electrical terminal portions, and an external wrap-wire wound around the two spool halves and having a connecting end connected to the link-wire portion of the unitary and integral internal member such that the wrap-wire tightly binds the two spool halves together to form a spool for retaining an external structural member.

Abstract: A sports bag which is defined to include any carrying bag such as a duffel bag, backpack, gym bag or other bag which is used to carry articles such as sports equipment, a thermos, sports clothing etc, which includes a mat which is conveniently stored inside the sports bag when not in use and can be removed through an opening in the sports bag to permit the mat to be extended transverse to the sports bag so that it provides a flat surface on which the user may rest or place articles. The mat can be permanently affixed to the sports bag or it can be removably affixed and attached by means of fasteners such as male and female mating hook and loop fasteners, snaps, etc. The mat can be rolled up and stored within the sports bag when not in use and unrolled and laid flat adjacent the sports bag when in use.

Abstract: An external impact protective apparatus for a vehicle, including a hood shield device which is detachably attached to the vehicle's hood, a gel-pac impact bumper device and a flexible spoiler device. The hood shield device covers the hood as well as the fenders of the vehicle. The gel-pac bumper device is detachably connected to the hood shield device and hangs down therefrom to cover a portion of the vehicle's grill to allow for airflow to the engine and protect the vehicle's bumper for heavier impact events and adding impact integrity to the overall apparatus' safety feature. The gel-pac bumper device is engineered to absorb light collisions to begin an impact event with a cushioning protection to absorb an additional 5 mph/hr impact in excess of the impact absorption of conventional bumpers. The flexible spoiler device is hingeably connected to the gel pac bumper device for reducing lift at high speeds and protecting the bottom of the vehicle from objects underneath.