Abstract: A spacer device for maintaining separation of a plurality of utility lines. The spacer includes a series of non-conductive, insulator members extending in longitudinally spaced relation to one another along a common longitudinal axis, and being interconnected to one another by an elongated rod which also extends along the common longitudinal axis. The insulator members each include respective conductor engaging portions, body portions, and a passageway extending longitudinally therethrough. The rod engages and extends through the passageways of each insulator member. The conductor engaging portions each include bar members that have a v-shaped notch removed therefrom to facilitate stable and secure engagement of the insulator members on top the conductors.

Abstract: A method for controlling the fuel-air ratio of a burner having a blower responsive to a blower drive signal for injecting air into the burner. The method is based at least on the concentration of a gas in an exhaust gas product of a combustion chamber of the burner and includes measuring the gas concentration in the exhaust gas product, deriving a gas concentration signal from the measured gas concentration, determining the fuel-air ratio from the gas concentration signal and the sign of the derivative of the gas concentration signal with respect to the blower drive signal, and controlling the fuel-air ratio by adjusting the air flow rate into the burner. The burner may be, for example, in a Stirling cycle engine.

Abstract: A sail body (3), which can be finished along its edges and corners to create a finished sail (2), includes a number of sail sections(46) joined along their edges (47). Each sail section includes a reinforced material (20) laminated between first and second films (32,42). The reinforced material includes sectors of reinforced material (30,31), each sector having a set of generally parallel reinforcement elements (24), such as fibers. The sectors of reinforced material are preferably elongate sectors in which at least the majority of the sectors have lengths (34) at least five times as long their widths (36). The sectors are arranged in an overlapping pattern and so that the set of reinforcement elements are generally aligned with the expected load lines (28)for that section of the sail body. Sections can be made of different shapes but are typically triangular or quadrilateral. The reinforce material is typically a mesh or scrim containing sets of parallel, transversely oriented fibers (24,26).

Abstract: A folded linkage for coupling a crankshaft and a piston undergoing reciprocating linear motion along a longitudinal axis. The folded linkage has a guide link with a first end coupled to the piston. A connecting rod couples the distal end of the guide link to the crankshaft which rotates about an axis that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of piston motion and located between the proximal end and the distal end of the guide link. A guide link guide assembly supports lateral loads on the guide link at its distal end. The folded linkage may be applied to couple the compression piston and displacer piston of a Stirling cycle machine to a common crankshaft.

Abstract: A method of combusting fuel and air in a burner of an external combustion engine having a heater head. The fuel and air are combined to form a fuel-air mixture which is characterized by a fuel-air ratio. An exhaust gas product is produced when the fuel-air mixture is combusted in the burner of the external combustion engine. A flame is formed by igniting the fuel-air mixture at a first fuel-air ratio produced by a first air flow rate and a fuel flow rate. The air flow rate is then increased to produce a second fuel-air ratio. The fuel flow rate is also controlled based upon a temperature of the heater head of the external combustion engine. The flame is maintained at the second fuel-air ratio by adjusting the air flow rate based on the fuel flow rate. The external combustion engine may be, for example, a Stirling cycle engine.

Abstract: An advertisement system and method are provided for inserting into an end user communication message a background reference to an advertisement. In some embodiments, the background reference causes an advertisement image to be tiled, or watermarked, across an end user screen behind the text of an e-mail message or public posting. A message server inserts the background reference after receiving a message originally sent from an end user originator and before sending the message to be delivered to an end user recipient. When necessary, the message server will convert at least a portion of the message into a proper format, such as HTML, before inserting the background reference to an advertisement, which is preferably selected in accordance with end user recipient demographic information and/or ad exposure statistics.

Abstract: A hitch assembly for use with a vehicle, where the hitch assembly incorporates a tow loop adapted to be easily coupled to a claw, hook or other like implement of a towing chain or alternatively to a towing strap or rope. The hitch assembly comprises a receiver and a hitch member. The hitch member includes a base portion which slides into the receiver such that only a tow loop of the hitch member is exposed. When not needed, the hitch member can be easily removed from the receiver and a different hitch implement attached to the receiver.

Abstract: A plurality of methods of training golf putting skills are provided, namely to assist a golfer in developing a pendulum-type swing, improving a sweet spot type putting shot, reducing tendencies to push or pull shots, and improving follow through. An apparatus for training a plurality of golf putting skills and being adapted to connect to a shaft of a golf putting club is also provided. The apparatus preferably includes a housing and an optical transmitter positioned in the housing for transmitting light therefrom. Light pattern configurator is associated with the housing for selectively configuring the transmitted light into either a line pattern of light or a spot pattern of light. The apparatus also preferably includes shaft mounting device connected to the housing for adjustably and detachably connecting the housing to the shaft of a golf putting club.

Abstract: An oral hygiene appliance for cleansing the dorsum by both scraping and irrigation includes an irrigational applicator having a bored stem, the proximal end of which is connected to the mouth of a container filled with an irrigating medium. The distal end of the stem includes an open head configured with a transverse blade supported by a pair of diverging struts. A surface of the blade is roughened for scraping the dorsum. The distal end of the stem includes a nozzle with irrigating medium being discharged onto the dorsum surface on the labial side of the blade when the container is squeezed.

Abstract: A sail body (3) includes first and second skin layers (40, 42), each skin layer having an outer film (22) at an outer side (34) and reinforcement elements (28, 30) at an inner side (36). The skin layers are laminated with the inner sides abutting to form the sail body. The skin layers are each made up of skin components (38) joined to other skin components of the same skin layer another along their aligned edges (43). The joined edges (44) of the first skin layer are offset from the joined edges of the second skin layer to strengthen the sail body. The sail body is preferably a three-dimensional molded sail body. The fibers or other reinforcement elements are preferable generally aligned with the expected load lines (32) of the sail body.

Abstract: A hydrotherapy jet assembly includes a resilient grommet and a jet valve body. The grommet has a lip, a body having an inner surface and an outer surface, and a raised bead running the inner surface circumference. The inner surface includes a tapered portion tapering away from the lip. The jet valve body has a water entry port, an air conduit, a lip, and an external circumferential groove for interlocking with the raised bead of the grommet, and a water fitting. According to a method of the invention, the grommet is inserted from the inside of the tub through a hole drilled in a tub wall until the lip of the grommet seats flush with the tub wall. The jet valve body is inserted from the inside of tub until the bead of the grommet interlocks with the groove of the jet valve body and the lip of the jet valve body abuts the lip of the grommet.

Abstract: A breath system appliance includes a planar thin elongate body having an applicator head at one end and a scraper head at the other end. The applicator head includes a sponge impregnated with a dorsal conditioning medium. The medium may include an antibacterial agent, an antiseptic agent, a flavoring agent, an oxidizing agent and an anesthetizing agent. The conditioning medium is applied as a coating to dorsal surfaces of a user. The scraper head is thereafter applied against dorsal surfaces of the user to dislodge food debris and other odor generating matter from the dorsum of the user. The appliance may be carried in a liquid impervious sealed packet.

Abstract: A comb for treating hair which is simple to use effectively by either a professional hair stylist or a non-professional. The comb includes tines, the free ends extending to form an arcuate plane, and forwardly deepening retaining areas between adjacent tines for retaining treatment material, such as highlighting gel. The comb also includes pairs of forked teeth at the free ends of the tines. Each pair of teeth define a recessed groove therebetween which tapers back from the top surface to the bottom surface of the tines. Connected to these grooves are channels which extends along the bottom surface substantially toward the spine of the comb to guide the hair not being treated away from the retaining area. In use, the comb is swiped through the hair, the hair is channeled between the tines so that the hair receives treatment material which has been previously charged in the retaining areas.