Abstract: A heat attenuating spacer device interconnects an endoscope to a first end of a fiberoptic conductor. The opposite end of the conductor is operably engaged with a fiberoptic light source. The endoscope has an entry port for introducing light into the endoscope, which entry port is communicably engaged with the first end of the conductor. The spacer device includes a spacer body and an inlet formed in the spacer body. The inlet is communicably engaged with the first end of the conductor to receive light therefrom. An outlet is formed in the body and spaced apart from the inlet. The outlet is communicably engaged with the entry port of the endoscope. The body transmits light from the inlet to the outlet, which light is discharged from the outlet and introduced into the endoscope through the entry port. The spacer body and/or a filter contained by the body thermally insulates the light conductor from the endoscope.

Abstract: A multiple component tassel assembly includes a cord component that engages and hangs from a conventional supporting article. There is a head component having a decorative configuration and a tassel component, which includes a support member and a plurality of tassel strands that are suspended from the support member. The cord and the support member are releasably attached to the head component such that the head component depends from the cord component and the tassel component depends from the head component when the cord component is hung from a conventional supporting article.

Abstract: A fiberoptically illuminated medical appliance, and in particular, an illuminated tongue depressor includes a light conducting blade, at least a portion of which is light projecting. The blade includes a light inlet that is operably engaged with the outlet of an optical fiber. The opposite inlet end of the optical fiber is operably interengaged with a fiberoptic illuminator.

Abstract: A collapsible spa unit is disclosed including a base and a peripheral wall mounted to and extending above the base. The wall includes a plurality of discrete panels that are releasably interconnected to define an enclosed area. There is a liner that extends across an upper surface of the base and across an inside surface of each panel for holding water within the enclosed area. A conduit having jets is formed through the peripheral wall and the liner for conducting water into the enclosed area of the spa. A suction line is formed through the peripheral wall in the liner for discharging water out of the enclosed area. A pump located outside of the panels, and communicably interconnected with the conduit and suction line, draws water out of the enclosed area through the suction and reintroduces water into the enclosed area through the conduit.

Abstract: A pressure adjustable, anatomically contoured mattress includes an elongate body supporting member that has a resilient, air pressure adjustable, self-inflating foam core and a flexible covering that encloses the core. The body supporting member further includes a contoured recess formed in an upper surface of the body supporting member and extending laterally relative thereto. The recess accommodates the breasts of the female user lying face down on the body supporting member. The recess also accommodates the shoulder of a user lying sideways on the mattress. One or more valves are connected communicably to the core and extend through the covering. The valves are opened to exhaust air from and at least partially collapse the core and, alternatively, to allow a core that is at least partially collapsed, to draw in air and expand. The valves are closed for maintaining a selected air pressure within the core.

Abstract: A method of forming a decorative surface texture on a plastic component is disclosed. A planar component, composed of PVC or other plastic material, is cut and routed according to a desired size and shape. The plastic component is then heated to a temperature and for a duration such that the upper and lower surfaces of the panel shrink and the corners or edges of the panel, as well as its cut portions, melt. This produces an antique effect on the surface of the plastic component.

Abstract: A boat lift locking apparatus is disclosed for releasably fastening a cable to a structural component of a boat lift. The apparatus includes a bracket secured to the structural component and having a channel, which has a relatively wide portion and a relatively narrow portion. A locking element is slidably mounted in the channel. The cable extends through the channel between the locking element and the bracket. The locking element is urged selectively toward the narrow portion of the channel to frictionally lock the cable between the locking element and the bracket and toward the wide portion of the channel to unlock the cable and permit the cable to slide longitudinally through the channel between the locking element and the bracket.

Abstract: A shoe rack includes an elongate shaft that is supported to extend generally vertically relative to the floor. A plurality of generally horizontal shelves are mounted to and disposed about the shaft such that the shaft extends generally centrally through the shelves. A heel elevating support includes a fastener section that is attached directly to the shaft above a respective shelf. A support rail is spaced outwardly from the fastener and extends at least partly about the shaft. An intermediate section interconnects the fastener section and the rail section such that the rail section is supported above the respective shelf. The rail section is engaged by the heel of a shoe stored on a respective shelf to elevate and support the heel of the shoe above the shelf.

Abstract: A releasable light adjustment mechanism is used in combination with a fiberoptic illuminator and a fiberoptic conductor that is communicably attached to the illuminator. The conductor transmits light from the illuminator to a distal second end portion of the conductor from which the light is emitted. The adjustment mechanism includes a housing having an inlet that is communicably and releasably interengaged by the distal end portion of the conductor, an outlet and an interior passageway communicably connecting the inlet and the outlet. A color wheel or an intensity wheel is mounted rotatably in the housing and extends across the passageway. By rotating the wheel, the light transmitted through the passageway is adjusted.

Abstract: A light adjustable endoscope is disclosed for use in combination with a standard fiberoptic illuminator having a light output port. The endoscope includes a scope portion and an apparatus interconnected between the illuminator and the scope for transmitting light to the scope and adjusting the intensity and/or color of that light.

Abstract: A valve free oxygen concentrator includes first and second nitrogen filters. Air is pumped into and through the first filter while the second filter is simultaneously evacuated. Alternately, air is pumped into and through the second filter while the first filter is simultaneously evacuated. The filters extract nitrogen from the air pumped therethrough to produce concentrated oxygen. The extracted nitrogen is subsequently exhausted from the filters. The concentrated oxygen is directed from the filters to a patient or other destination that requires concentrated oxygen.

Abstract: A boat lift apparatus includes a support structure located proximate to a body of water. An elongate threaded shaft is located adjacent to the support structure and extends in a substantially vertical direction. A nut threadably engages the shaft. A boat accommodating platform is connected to the nut. The shaft is rotatably mounted to the support structure and selectively driven rotatably relative to the nut in a first direction to raise the nut relative to the shaft and in an opposite, second direction to lower the nut relative to the shaft. As a result, the platform and the boat accommodated thereon are selectively lifted and lowered relative to the body of water.

Abstract: An adjustable coupler apparatus for a trailer hitch includes a drawbar assembly and a hitch head assembly. The drawbar assembly is interconnected to a tow vehicle and includes an elongate bar and a drawbar angle adjuster that is pivotally interconnected and angularly adjustable relative to the bar. The hitch head assembly includes a ball component and a channel that is pivotally interconnected to the ball component. A horn is slidably received by the channel. The horn and the drawbar angle adjuster are selectively coupled to interconnect the trailer to the tow vehicle.

Abstract: A fluid driven reciprocating engine includes a main body having an inlet for receiving a primary fluid and an outlet for discharging the fluid. A drive piston is sealingly mounted in the main body for reciprocating movement in response to flow of the primary fluid through the body. The drive piston divides the body into first and second chambers. A first valve selectively transmits the primary fluid from the inlet to the first and second chambers and a second valve selectively transmits the primary fluid from the first and second chambers to the outlet. An overcenter linkage mechanism that operably interconnects the drive piston and the first and second valves.

Abstract: A combined drinking cup and releasably attached eating utensil device includes a cup and a cup handle attached to and extending outwardly from the cup. An eating utensil includes a slot that receives the cup handle to mount the utensil on the handle in interengagement with the cup.

Abstract: An illuminated dental suction appliance is disclosed. The appliance includes a suction component having a tubular member and a light projecting tip. The light projecting tip is formed at one end of the tubular member and also at least partially defines an inlet for the tubular member. The opposite end of the tubular member is operably interengaged with a source of suction. Light is transmitted from a fiberoptic illuminator along the length of the tubular member to the light projecting tip. That tip projects light from the illuminator into the patient's mouth.

Abstract: A safety hose apparatus is provided for delivering water from a standard threaded hose bib to an appliance. The apparatus includes a first end fitting that has a first pipe. A first threaded connector is rotatably attached to the first pipe for communicably connecting the first pipe to the hose bib. A second end fitting includes a second pipe and a second threaded connector is rotatably connected to the second pipe for communicably connecting the second pipe to a standard threaded appliance inlet. An elongate outer hose segment extends continuously between the first and second fittings and includes a first end interengaged with the first end fitting and spaced apart from the first connector to fully expose the first connector. A second end is interengaged with the second end fitting and spaced apart from the second connector to fully expose the second connector. An elongate inner hose segment extends through the outer hose segment and communicably interconnects the first and second pipes.

Abstract: A positive drive boat lift apparatus includes a support structure located proximate a body of water. There is an elongate threaded shaft disposed adjacent to the support structure and extending in a substantially vertical direction. A nut threadably engages the shaft. There is a boat accommodating platform and one of the shaft and the nut are attached to the platform. The other of the shaft and the nut are rotatably mounted to the support structure. The shaft and the nut are rotated relative to one another in a first direction to raise the shaft relative to the nut and in an opposite second direction to lower the shaft relative to the nut, whereby the platform and a boat accommodated thereon are selectively lifted and lowered relative to the body of water.

Abstract: A cam actuated apparatus is provided for frictionally controlling trailer sway. The apparatus includes a support frame mounted to the trailer and accommodating an elongate sway bar, which bar pivotally engages and extends rearwardly from a ball mount on a standard trailer hitch. A brake assembly is mounted to the support frame and includes first and second brake components sandwiched about the sway bar. The brake components are mounted so as to be selectively compressible and separable with respect to one another and the sway bar. A cam element is mounted to the support frame such that the cam element is axially pivotable. The cam element is pivotally driven, such as by a handle or a motor driven worm gear, into a selected one of a plurality of positions. A resilient biasing assembly interengages the cam element and the brake assembly and is responsive to pivoting of the cam element into a selected position for applying a corresponding degree of compressive force to the first and second brake components.