Abstract: A process for making a porous ceramic composite with a bimodal pore size distribution includes the steps of mixing an organosilicon precursor, an alcohol, water, a catalyst, granules, particles, whiskers or powders of a fumed silica and granules, particles, whiskers or powders of a ceramic material and a combustible material having a diameter in a range of 500 angstroms to 500 microns to form a mixture, pouring the mixture into a mold, allowing the mixture to gel form a ceramic composite and drying the ceramic composite. The process also includes the step of heating the ceramic composite in either air or oxygen to burn away the combustible material. The organosilicon precursor is selected from a group consisting of tetramethoxysilane, tetraethoxysilane, tetrapropoxysilane and tetrabutoxysilane. The alcohol is selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, propanol and butanol.

Abstract: A photo-luminescent/electro-luminescent display screen includes an electro-luminescent display, a photo-luminescent layer optically coupled to the electro-luminescent display. The photo-luminescent layer includes a transparent layer coated with an amorphous silica with fluorescence behavior. The screen further includes liquid crystal light valves which have a polarizer layer, a transparent glass substrate, a set of transparent electrodes which are formed by indium titanium oxide, a liquid crystal layer, a common transparent electrode formed by indium titanium oxide and a second polarizer layer.

Abstract: An adjustable mount for use with a snowboard and a snowboard binding. The snowboard has a center-line and a channel which longitudinally extends along the center-line of the snowboard. The snowboard binding includes a binding base plate and a disc. The disc has a center-line and a bottom surface and is rotatably coupled to the binding base plate. The adjustable mount includes a rail, a bar and a locking mechanism. The rail is disposed in the channel and is fixedly coupled thereto. The rail is a flexible member and has a key slot and two series of parallel notches. The binding base plate is disposed on the snowboard. The disc has a center-line and a bottom surface. The bar is disposed about the center-line of the disc and fixedly coupled thereto. The bar engages one opposing pair of the series of parallel notches of the rail. The disc is rotatably coupled to the binding base plate. The locking mechanism securely couples the rail to the bar.

Abstract: An optical parking guide includes a container, a mounting element, either a laser diode or a light emitting diode and a control circuit. The mounting element is pivotally coupled to the container. The laser diode is disposed within the mounting element. The control circuit couples the laser diode to the garage door opener. The control circuit turns on the laser diode in response to the presence of a car with a front window and a dashboard so that the laser diode generates an output light. The mounting element directs the output light through the front window onto the dashboard of the car so that a driver of the car can guide the car into the car's parking place.

Abstract: A lunch and book carrier includes a container, a divider, a first zipper, a second zipper, a book with a back, a fastening strip and a complementary fastening strip. The container has a first half portion with a first side edge and a second half portion with a second side edge. The divider has a first side edge and a second side edge. Each of the first and second zipper has a fastening track, a complementary fastening track and a track linking the fastening track to the complementary fastening track. The first zipper mechanically couples the first side edge of the container to the first side edge of the divider to form a first compartment. The second zipper mechanically couples the second side edge of the container to the second side edge of the divider to form a second compartment. The fastening strips are mechanically coupled to the back of the book and the container adjacent to the second compartment. The book is disposed in the second compartment and detachably coupled to the container.

Abstract: An educational vehicle for exploring and viewing earth's surface includes a body, a plurality of wheels, a transparent plate, a removable cover and a mirror assembly. A child sits on the body. The wheels are rotatively coupled to the body. The transparent plate mechanically coupled to the body. The transparent plate forms a window through which the child is able to explore and view the earth's surface. The transparent plate also forms a magnifying lens. The removable cover is placed over the transparent plate.

Abstract: A loudspeaker includes a compresion chamber, a first electroacoustic transducer and a horn. The first electroacoustic transducer is disposed inside the compression chamber. The horn is mechanically and acoustically coupled to the first electroacoustic transducer. The loudspeaker also includes a second electroacoustic transducer. The second electroacoustic transducer is disposed outside the compression chamber. The second electroacoustic transducer is mechanically and acoustically coupled to the horn.

Abstract: An adjustable mount for use with a snowboard and a snowboard binding. The snowboard has a center-line and a channel which longitudinally extends along the center-line of the snowboard. The snowboard binding includes a binding base plate and a disc. The disc has a center-line and a bottom surface and is rotatably coupled to the binding base plate. The adjustable mount includes a rail, a bar and a locking mechanism. The rail is disposed in the channel and is fixedly coupled thereto. The rail has at least one series of notches. The binding base plate is disposed on the snowboard. The disc has a center-line and a bottom surface. The bar is disposed about the center-line of the disc and fixedly coupled thereto. The bar has at least one peripheral edge which has a series of notches which engages the series of notches of the rail. The disc is rotatably coupled to the binding base plate. The locking mechanism securely couples the rail to the bar.

Abstract: A system for measuring and analyzing body mechanics of a subject includes receivers, transmitters, a display and a processor. The processor which includes a controller which controls the timing of signals from the transmitters so that a signal from each of the transmitters contains an encoded signature which unambiguously identifies the signal as coming from that particular the transmitter. The processor also include a detector which detects signal transmissions as the signal transmissions arrive at the receivers, a signature determinator which recognizes the signature and determines from which particular transmitter the detected signal originated, a local timer which measures a temporal delay between times of emission of the signals from the transmitters and their detection at the receivers.

Abstract: A lighted fishing lure includes a rod, a collar, a light source, an electrical source, first and second tubes, first and second caps. The rod has a first end, a second end and a groove which is disposed between the first and second ends and is formed out of a light transmitting plastic material. The collar is mechanically coupled to the rod adjacent to the groove thereof. The light source is mechanically coupled to the collar. The electrical source is mechanically coupled to the collar and electrically coupled to the light source. The first and second tubes are concentrically aligned and rotatively coupled to the rod and disposed between the groove and the first and second ends, respectively. Each of the first and second tube has an outer sidewall through which the output of light passes. The first and second caps secure the first and second tubes to the rod.

Abstract: A rug rake is used for removing dead and unwanted hairs from a pile of a floor covering, such as either a rug or a carpet. The rug rake includes an elongated handle and a rake-head. The handle has a proximal end and a distal end. A person grips the proximal end of the handle. The rake head is coupled to the distal end of the handle. The rake head includes a rectangularly shaped steel support plate and a rectangularly shaped matrix of a plurality of tin plated wire bristles. Each tin plated wire bristle has a distal end and is bent at the distal end thereof.

Abstract: A removable handle for use with a wheelchair having two handles includes a handgrip crossbar which has two ends, two support posts, each of which is hollow and has a wall, and two connectors. The handgrip crossbar is coupled to one of the two ends of the handgrip crossbar in spaced parallel relation. Each connector connects one of the handles to the other end of one of the support posts. Each connector is cylindrical and has a first end, a second end and a wall. The connector is fixedly coupled to one of the two handles. The connector is slidably and detachably coupled to one of the support posts. Each support post has a hole in the wall. The connector has an inner surface with a groove adjacent to its first end. The connector also has a flat spring and a disc. The flat spring is disposed in one of the support posts. Each disc is fixedly coupled to one of the flat springs and is inserted in its hole. When each support post is inserted into one of the connectors, the groove securely engages the disc.

Abstract: Living tissue cells such as from an animal or a plant are encapsulated in inorganic microspheres. An organosilicon precursor such as tetraethoxysilane or an organometallic precursor such as aluminum tri-n-propoxide is hydrolyzed in an aqueous acidic solution to form a gel forming solution. Tissue cells are mixed with a salt solution such as Hanks' Balanced Salt Solution to form a solution containing the tissue cells. The solution containing tissue cells and the gel forming solution are mixed to form a mixture. The mixture is mixed with an oil that is immiscible with the mixture and has a lower specific density than the mixture. The resultant mixture is stirred to form microspheres encapsulating the tissue cells. The mixture containing the tissue cells and the gel forming solution may be formed into droplets and added to the top of a column containing the oil to form the microspheres.

Abstract: The present invention is an exercise fluid bottle which contains a liquid nourishment and which is used by a user during a strenuous physical activity. The exercise fluid bottle includes an integral container formed out of a plastic material and a dispensing cap for retaining and dispensing the liquid nourishment. The integral container has a first portion which is a hollow cylinder with an enclosed end and a partially enclosed end and a second portion which is a hollow cylinder with an enclosed end and a partially enclosed end. The integral container also has a handle portion which is a hollow cylinder which has corrugated ribbing axially aligned therewith so that the user can more comfortably grip the exercise fluid bottle and which is disposed adjacent to the partially enclosed ends of the first and second portions. The dispensing cap is fluidly and mechanically coupled to the enclosed end of the first portion.

Abstract: A towboat uses a dampening system with a towline to tow a vessel. The dampening system includes a housing, a beam, a first towline connector, a second towline connector, a spring and a plurality of shock absorbers. The housing is attached to the towboat. The beam is slidably coupled within the housing. The spring resiliently couples the beam to the housing. Each shock absorber is connected to the housing and mechanically coupled to the beam. The towline connector is mechanically coupled to the beam. The towline is connected to the towline connector.