Abstract: A fireplace downdraft regulator having a first end and a second end, such regulator extending across the top of a fireplace opening, such regulator having an aerodynamic draft header portion having a front face and a height and length, such draft header portion extending downwardly and rearwardly from the fireplace top at approximately 45 degrees to a vertical to form a corner angle and then extending upwards at approximately 90 degrees to the aerodynamic draft header portion to form a deflector portion with the deflector portion angled upwards into the chimney such that the inside portion of the regulator deflects downdrafts back upwards within the chimney and the aerodynamic draft header portion aids in drawing air from the room, which air travels down its front face and around the corner angle and back up the outside face of the deflector portion to help increase the updraft of air within the chimney.

Abstract: An automated transdermal robotic treatment and drug delivery system to provide multimodal therapies and treatments to a patient. The movement of a robotic arm is preprogrammed to apply such treatment and medicine delivery to the skin of the patient in a desired sequence of movement. The robotic arm can fuirther be used for diagnosis and other medical treatments.

Abstract: A telephone interface system for the transmission and reproduction of an audio performance, particularly a musical performance, at separate locations utilizing an amplitude modulated carrier frequency is disclosed. The system serves to both transmit a performance at one instant location to one or more remote locations and to receive and reproduce a similar performance from the remote location(s) transmitted to the instant location. The performer(s) at a first location each hear the audio output of the performance(s) at the other location(s) as though such other performer(s) were actually present at the first location and vice versa.

Abstract: A device and method for removal of a tick from the skin of a host, such device having an open-ended casing for receiving the tick in a V-shaped slot defined in the casing, such tick to be trapped at the narrow end of the slot with means to apply heat in proximity to the tick to cause it to release its grip from the skin of the host after which it can be removed.

Abstract: A valve system for use in conjunction with a hot water heater where the water line to the hot water heater passes through the valve system which, when a leak is detected by an electrical sensor, causes a motor to drive a gear which moves a gear rack laterally to pull a rod attached to a gate which gate moves over a valve outlet to block further flow of water to the hot water heater.

Abstract: A hog-ring type clip-applying device having an upper jaw and a lower jaw with a clip receipt area defined therebetween to receive and clench a hog ring clip. The lower jaw is attached to a rear handle, and the upper jaw is attached to a diagonally disposed lever bar which is pivotally attached near its top to the lower jaw. The lever bar is pivotally attached at its bottom to a front handle member which has a guide opening disposed at the top thereof to receive therethrough the upper and lower jaws. A spring member urges the front handle member apart from the rear handle. A clip slide directs clips forward into the clip receipt area between the upper and lower jaws such that when the front and rear handles are moved together, the jaws grasp a clip from the forwardmost end of the clip slide and move forward through the guide opening in the top of the front handle to a position such that when the front and rear handles are further moved together, they clench the clip.

Abstract: An apparatus for protecting wine aging in one or more cask containers from exposure to air caused by depletion of wine in such casks by providing a reservoir of wine in a flexible bag suspended above the cask(s) with a tube(s) directing such wine through an aperture in the bung(s) of the top bunghole(s) of the cask(s) to maintain the cask(s) in a full state while the wine ages therein.

Abstract: A tethered golf ball return device is disclosed which includes an elongated tube member with a piston disposed therein, the front end of which piston is attached to the golf ball's tether line and a pull cord is attached to the rear of the piston such that when the golf ball is struck by a golfer, the tether line pulls the piston forward which forward movement is resisted by air pressure within the tube member and which golf ball can be returned to the vicinity of the golfer by manual pulling of the pull cord which action causes the piston to return to its original location within the tube member.

Abstract: A wire mesh lobster trap having a pair of concrete runners positioned on, and extending below, the side edges of the trap and a method for producing same are disclosed.

Abstract: A tri-clad metallic semiconductor strip with self-contained heating and cooling to cause the controlled expansion and contraction thereof to more the strip to accomplish work.

Abstract: A device for removing a tick attached to a host, such device having a tweezer with first and second tweezer arms disposed on a slide member movable within an outer casing, such tweezer arms movable within first and second channels defined on the inside of the outer casing with the front tips of the tweezer arms extendible and retractable through an opening in the front of the outer casing, with the channels tapering inwardly to compress and force the tips of the tweezer arms together as they pass through the opening to grasp a tick. A power source is provided in the rear of the slide member which can be a battery disposed within a chamber in the slide member and interconnected through a manually controlled switch to a heat member.

Abstract: A device for bowing the brim of a cap and for storing, transporting, washing and/or displaying such cap having a body portion with first and second retention arms extending upwards at each end thereof forming first and second receipt areas at their junctions for receipt therein of the first side and second side of the cap brim, to form such brim into a desired curve. Notches can be disposed inward of each of the receipt areas for receipt of one side of the brim to form alternate brim receipt areas for different desired brim curvatures.

Abstract: A method of processing refuse wherein layers of resin-coated pulverized refuse are cross-blended, compressed, heated, recompressed, shaped and cured to form useful structural members.

Abstract: A chimney draft inducer installed on a chimney flue having a feed tube extending from the chimney flue with a plurality of vortex stabilizers extending radially from the feed tube to a cylindrical negative pressure plenum member forming a plurality of quasi-venturi chambers therebetween with a conical member positioned above the chimney flue in contact with the vortex stabilizers having an opening between such conical member and feed tube, the conical member having a plurality of arches formed in its bottom, each arch coming to a pointed tip with such pointed tips positioned within each of the quasi-venturi chambers such that air passing down the conical member speeds up when passing by the pointed tips, forming dual air vortexes of low pressure to provide a suction at the chimney flue opening to improve the draft of the chimney.

Abstract: A tracing tool for marking an outline of an irregular surface onto a sheet of material so that the sheet of material can be cut along such outline to fit snugly against the irregular surface, such tool including a case having a cavity in communication with an opening in the case, such case enclosing a piston having a shaft linearly extending therefrom through the case opening with a spring biasing the piston toward the case opening, and a marking device passing through a marking hole in the shaft which marking hole is perpendicular to the plane of the sheet of material. The shaft at its end includes a horizontally disposed guide roller for facilitating sideways rolling of the shaft along the irregular surface while the shaft moves back and forth perpendicularly to the irregular surface which movement moves the piston in the cavity as the marking device marks the outline of the irregular surface on the sheet of material.