Abstract: A modular headphone system and method of assembling a pair of headphones to satisfy individual personal fashion, comfort and performance preferences. The inventive headphone system is comprised of a plurality of modular interchangeable headphone components, each component being interchangeable and having a plurality of unique fashion, comfort or quality grade variations.

Abstract: A system and method of disposing nuclear waste and other hazardous waste includes means for, and the steps of, blending a waste stream, which includes either a radioactive waste or a hazardous waste (or both), with a liquid and, optionally, a solid material to produce a dense fluid and pumping the dense fluid into a tubing string of an injection boring. The dense fluid then exits a perforation in a casing of the injection boring and enters a fracture in a rock strata, where it continues to propagate downward until it reaches an immobilization point. The dense fluid may be a slurry formed by a metal and a cross-linked polymer gel or hydrated clay slurry. The metal can be one that has a melting temperature less than the temperature at the bottom of the injection boring. The solid material could also be other nuclear waste or a radionuclide.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing annular jewelry rings employing multiple annular elements, at least one of which is composed of tungsten carbide. All annular ring elements composed of tungsten carbide are produced directly from tungsten carbide plate. Using an electrical discharge machining apparatus employing a preformed cylindrical electrode, an aperture of predetermined diameter is drilled through a planar, tungsten carbide plate. Using a wire electric discharge machining apparatus, annular blanks are cut from the planar tungsten carbide plate, the outer surface of the annular blank being cylindrical and concentric with the inner, drilled surface of the annular blank. The inner and outer surfaces of the tungsten carbide annular blanks are cooperatively machined to allow additional annular elements composed of tungsten carbide and other materials to be integrally coupled to one another to form jewelry in the form of rings.

Abstract: An exercise device comprises a pair of outer handles and an inner, central disk, rotatable relative to the handles. The disk includes at least a pair of orifices formed therein or therethrough. At least one tether or cord extends between the handles and through the orifices in the central disk. Manipulation of the handles by a user results in cyclic spinning of the disk.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an infrared-style broiler sized to be portable, safe, and occupy minimal space, while still providing surface area for use in warming foods. The warming surface may be heated from below by way of radiant heat and/or may be heated by way of venting hot air from the inside of the broiler to the warming surface by way of vents.

Abstract: A method for providing secured vehicle remote function control signals to a vehicle using a smart phone. The method provides communicating secured pairing and command signal transmissions to a vehicle remote convenience system. The method allows for the use of a smart phone to replace the factory remote fob for remotely starting the vehicle and controlling the vehicle ignition and locking systems through generating local radio frequency transmission and signal encryption that are transmitted to and authenticated at an in-vehicle transceiver.

Abstract: A pressure sensor is claimed for measuring the pressure of a fluid. The pressure sensor comprises two or more half bridges, an analog-to-digital converter, a microcontroller, an output generator, and one or more redundancy circuits. Each half bridge comprises two resistive pressure sensing elements (RSPE) electrically coupled to the analog-to-digital converter. Each redundancy circuit comprises a switch and resistor electrically in series. A redundancy circuit may be disposed electrically in parallel with any or all of the RSPEs of the half bridges such that when an RSPE fails open, its corresponding redundancy circuit may be activated in order to permit the resistor of the redundancy circuit to take the place of the RSPE. This permits the analog-to-digital converter to continue to operate normally, even with a failed RSPE. The pressure sensor may then base its calculated pressure on the remaining half bridges which do not have a failed RSPE.

Abstract: A drill bit for use in horizontal directional drilling. In a preferred embodiment the drill bit has a connector section having a first axis of rotation. The connector section is used to connect the drill bit to a beacon housing for thrust and rotation therewith. A bit body is disposed next to the connector section and slopes from the connector section to a front nose section. The front nose section has a frontwardly facing surface that supports a plurality of cutting teeth. The front nose section and the bit body comprise a second axis of rotation about which the front nose section and the bit body are rotated. The first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation are angularly offset at an offset angle of between four degrees and ten degrees.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an infrared-style broiler sized to be portable, safe, and occupy minimal space, while still providing surface area for use in warming foods. The warming surface may be heated from below by way of radiant heat and/or may be heated by way of venting hot air from the inside of the broiler to the warming surface by way of vents.

Abstract: A pressure sensor is disclosed for measuring the pressure of a fluid, the pressure sensor comprising an atmospheric pressure sensing element, a fluid pressure sensing element, a processing unit, and a switch. The atmospheric pressure sensing element measures atmospheric pressure and the fluid pressure sensing element measures relative pressure of the fluid with respect to the atmospheric pressure. The switch is electrically coupled to the processing unit and comprises a first state and a second state, wherein: when the switch is set to the first state, the processing unit determines the absolute pressure of the fluid, and the processing unit generates an output corresponding to the absolute pressure of the fluid; and when the switch is set to the second state, the processing unit determines the relative pressure of the fluid, and the processing unit generates an output corresponding to the relative of the fluid.

Abstract: An automated vehicle shutdown and user notification method and device for shutting down an engine in a vehicle having a passive keyless entry and start ignition system where the engine has unintentionally been left running by the user is disclosed. In one aftermarket embodiment, the method is implemented in an aftermarket remote start interface module. The module comprises a micro-controller, a memory, a vehicle data bus connector that provides for interface through the vehicles onboard diagnostic (OBDII) port to the vehicle data bus. The system includes a remote start module having a radio frequency transceiver and a cellular telephone transceiver, and provides audible, visual and electronic notifications that the vehicle has been left running and that the engine will be shut off unless the shutdown sequence is deactivated. If the shutdown fails by any malfunction, the system will go into an alternative notice mode.

Abstract: An atmospheric pressure sensor is disclosed which comprises an atmospheric pressure sensing element, a processing unit, and an interface unit. The atmospheric pressure sensing element is operable to measure the atmospheric pressure, and the processing unit is electrically coupled to the atmospheric pressure sensing element and is operable to read the measured atmospheric pressure from the atmospheric pressure sensing element. The processing unit is operable to generate a message if the measured atmospheric pressure meets one or more criteria. And the interface unit is electrically coupled to the processing unit and is operable to electrically receive the message from the processing unit and transmit the message to a receiving device.

Abstract: A system and method for installation of “solid edge banding” for the exposed edges of kitchen and bath cabinetry to provide a finished look and aesthetic appeal is disclosed. The solid edge banding can be used on framed cabinets, frameless cabinets, cabinets with end skin-panels and shelves. The disclosed system and method can also be used to reface cabinetry without the use of tools, adhesives or specialized labor, and further without the need for replacement of the base, wall and tall cabinet boxes, and while keeping countertops and appliances intact and untouched. The solid edge banding can also be used in conjunction with ready-to-assemble furniture and closet organizers.

Abstract: A pressure sensor is claimed for measuring the pressure of a fluid. The pressure sensor comprises two or more half bridges, an analog-to-digital converter, a microcontroller, an output generator, and one or more redundancy circuits. Each half bridge comprises two resistive pressure sensing elements (RSPE) electrically coupled to the analog-to-digital converter. Each redundancy circuit comprises a switch and resistor electrically in series. A redundancy circuit may be disposed electrically in parallel with any or all of the RSPEs of the half bridges such that when an RSPE fails open, its corresponding redundancy circuit may be activated in order to permit the resistor of the redundancy circuit to take the place of the RSPE. This permits the analog-to-digital converter to continue to operate normally, even with a failed RSPE. The pressure sensor may then base its calculated pressure on the remaining half bridges which do not have a failed RSPE.

Abstract: An exercise device comprises a pair of outer handles and an inner, central disk, rotatable relative to the handles. The disk includes at least a pair of orifices formed therein or therethrough. At least one tether or cord extends between the handles and through the orifices in the central disk. Manipulation of the handles by a user results in cyclic spinning of the disk.