Abstract: A sleep apnea avoidance process includes selecting a pillow having a pair of sides, angled at a predetermined angle and shaped to hold a person's head face down on one side thereof. The selected pillow has a pair of arm openings thereunder to position a person's arm to assist in holding a person's head face down on the pillow angle side such that the user can use one or the other arms when placing the head on one or the other angled side of the pillow. The process includes resting on one of the pillow's angled sides with one arm placed through the arm opening whereby jaw movement and sleep apnea are avoided.

Abstract: An audible test circuit has a body having a plurality of prongs extending therefrom and having a plurality of lights thereon. A four way bridge rectifier circuit has a voltage steering circuit for producing a DC output voltage of known polarity located in the body. An audible alarm, is coupled to the four way bridge rectifier circuit for producing an audible alarm when power is applied to the rectifier circuit while lamps indicate the plurality of circuit connections. The audible test circuit may include a lamp socket-to-alligator clip attachment for coupling the alligator clip to the circuit. There is also a lamp socket-to-alligator clip attachment.

Abstract: A bird deterrent apparatus has a base for attaching to a surface and a post attached thereto and extending therefrom in a generally vertical direction when attached to a top of a pole. A plurality of moveable fingers are attached to the post and each of the attached fingers extend at a downward angle and away from the post so that a bird landing on one of the plurality of movable fingers will cause the movable fingers to move and prevent the bird from perching thereon. A plurality of fingers are spaced around the post and may be flexible metal members, or alternatively, may be a plurality of rigid rods each forming a pair of fingers by the rod extending through a bore in the post and being bent downward on each side of the post so that a pair of fingers are attached and swing in seesaw fashion so that a bird landing on the one finger of a pair will move it downward while moving the opposite attached finger upward.

Abstract: A vehicle brake pedal has first and second master cylinders and the first pedal arm removably attached to the vehicle having a brake pedal foot pad movably attached thereto. A second brake pedal arm is operatively coupled to the first master cylinder and coupled to the brake pedal foot pad on one end portion thereof for movement of the second brake pedal arm responsive to movement of the brake pedal pad. A third brake pedal arm operatively coupled to the second master cylinder is coupled to the brake pedal foot pad on another portion thereof. The movement of the third brake pedal arm is responsive to movement of the brake pedal foot pad so that the brake pedal foot pad can be rotated to different angles on the first pedal arm to thereby apply different pressure to the first and second master cylinders by carrying the brake pedal foot pad while applying pressure.

Abstract: A process of micro-encapsulating a volatile liquid includes selecting a volatile liquid, such as Isophorone, and porous ceramic particles for encapsulating the volatile liquid. The volatile liquid and porous particles are mixed and a vacuum is applied to the mixture to impregnate the volatile liquid in the porous particles. A polymer catalyst for the polymer resin, such as an epoxy catalyst for use with an epoxy resin, is mixed with the volatile liquid and porous particles to saturate the particles. The polymer resin, such as epoxy resin, is added to the mixture for forming a resin cured shell around the porous particle holding the volatile liquid to form a microencapsulated volatile liquid. The resin is only cured on the outer shell of the porous particle when coming in contact with the catalyst supported with the volatile liquid in the porous particle.

Abstract: A post and beam construction system has a plurality of telescoping posts, and a plurality of post support bases, each of the bases supporting one of the telescoping posts on one end thereof. A plurality of generally U-shaped brackets are attached to the other end of each telescoping post. A beam is supported and attached to each of the generally U-shaped brackets on the end of each telescoping posts. A decorative foamed polymer cover covers the beam and each of the plurality of telescoping posts and is coated with a fiber reinforced cement coating. The beam has a first and second elongated rib extending from two sides thereof, each rib having a T-shaped cross-section for attaching another structure component thereto.

Abstract: A sheet vinyl flooring asbestos sampling method includes taking a sample of sheet vinyl flooring without dispensing airborne asbestos fibers. The process includes selecting and cleaning a floor sampling site for attaching a floor sampling template to guide the cutting of the flooring and to limit the liberation of asbestos fibers to the ambient air. A sampling container has an opening thereinto with a flat cutting surface adjacent the opening and a cap to fit over the opening so that the sample may be removed by pushing the cutting edge into the vinyl flooring to cut loose a sample which is pushed into the opening of the container. A cap is then placed over the opening of the container and the sampling container and sample is placed within a storage bag for delivery to a testing lab. The process also includes covering the sampling site with a seal having identification material thereon and also the placing of identification information in the storage bag.

Abstract: A laser apparatus is described having multiple modes of operation using intracavity optical switching within a laser resonator. The laser resonator has a solid state gain medium and one or more optical switches located between a pair of end reflectors. The pump for the gain medium has controlled duration to allow varying the pumping energy and pulse repetition rate. The laser has a Q-switched mode for generating energy from the laser resonator at a fixed level of outcoupling when the laser pump is operated to produce a range of predetermined pulse, rates and durations. The laser also has a cavity dumped mode of operation in which the laser pump is operated to produce a second range of predetermined higher pulse repetition rates and shorter pulse durations so that the pulse energy, rate and duration are selected by first Q-switching with essentially no outcoupling and then rapidly cavity dumping all the optical energy in the resonator.

Abstract: A method of making a coating for deterring woodpeckers from damaging wood using Isophorone and the composition made therefrom. The Isophorone is combined with heated wax and combined with a thickener, such as a clay thickener and a silica thickener, and mixed with an acrylic resin. The composition is cooled and blending with ceramic pellets under a vacuum and dried. The dried pellets are then added to a polymer resin, such as an epoxy resin to form a coating material that will deter woodpeckers.

Abstract: An underwater flashlight has an adjustable focusing beam and a waterproof battery pack which can be removably changed underwater. The flashlight includes a watertight housing having a slidably mounted lamp therein slidable by an external sliding focus member having a permanent magnet mounted therein. The permanent magnet moves an internal sliding focusing member also having a magnet therein coacting with the external magnet. The slidable inside focusing member is connected by a link to the lamp for moving the lamp into and out of a reflector when focusing the lamp. An on/off switch is attached to the slidable outside focusing member and has a magnet mounted therein for actuating a pickup coil attached to the slidable inside focusing member. The flashlight includes a waterproof attachable battery pack which has a magnetic switch therein actuated by a magnet in the watertight housing of the flashlight so that the batteries do not provide an electrical connection until the contacts are brought together.

Abstract: A three dimensional family tree display has a plurality of family member blocks with each block having a plurality of edges and having a family tree member identification thereon. Each block has a plurality of openings therein and at least one edge of each block has a connected portion for connecting one edge of one block to one edge of a second block. Each pair of edge connected blocks being illustrative of the spousal relationship with the family members on each of the pair of edge connected blocks. A plurality of connecting tubes or rods are each attached to one opening in each of a pair of blocks to thereby connect the two blocks. The rod connected blocks being illustrative of the parent child relationship of the connected blocks. A base supports a plurality of attached blocks so that a family tree is displayed in a three dimensional display. Each block can have a family name as well as photographs of the family member thereon.

Abstract: A process for anchoring a water line to a building wall for supporting an attached spigot is the step of selecting a spigot water line anchor having a generally spool shape having a center support member having a pair end flanges attached thereto having an opening slot extending through the spigot water line anchor for sliding over a water line adjacent a spigot in a building wall for supporting the spigot and sliding the selected spigot water line anchor over a water line adjacent a spigot within the wall of a building having each anchor flange extending over adjacent opposite sides of a building wall for supporting the water line and spigot.

Abstract: A coffee filter pack apparatus has a coffee filter bag formed with a plurality of coffee filter sheets attached together to form a plurality of enclosed spaced therein, each enclosed spaced having a plurality of measured amounts of predetermined ground coffee. One of the coffee filter sheets has indicia thereon to indicate the direction of flow of heated water through the coffee bag during brewing of the coffee. A method of making a coffee filter bag includes the steps of selecting predetermined amounts of first and second ground coffee, closing each into attached first and second coffee filter bags, and labeling the combined coffee filter bags to indicate the direction of flow of heated water therethrough.

Abstract: A vacuum molding process includes selecting a flexible polymer cover for covering a selected cement container and at least partially filling the container with a cement mixture. The polymer cover is removably attached to the partially filled cement container and a vacuum is applied to the cement mixture in the container. The process may also include connecting a vibrator to the container for simultaneously vibrating the container and the placing of a hollow mold core member having a plurality of apertures therein in the middle of the container for the gas bubbles to escape as a result of the vibration of the cement mixture in a vacuum.