Abstract: An article for magnetically attaching a purse to a vertical magnetized surface such as a public restroom stall partition. The article includes enclosed magnet(s) joined to a clasp or ring, which is removably attached to a purse strap or purse hardware. Once attached to the purse, the article may be removably adhered to a magnetized surface.

Abstract: Enclosure assemblies for managing air flow. Such assemblies include an enclosure and at least one inclined pathway in contact with the enclosure, each pathway including a pair of side wall portions and a top wall portion that collectively extend between spaced apart openings to define an air mass. One opening having a lower boundary and the other opening having an upper boundary, with the lower boundary being at an elevation higher than that of the upper boundary, such that when a temperature differential exists within a given pathway, warmer air will be trapped in an upper portion of the air mass and above the upper boundary, thereby impeding air flow from the enclosure.

Abstract: A controllable Continuously Variable Transmission, of the V-belt type, wherein an auxiliary belt surrounds the V-belt at the one pulley side; a lever—having free rollers around which the auxiliary belt rides—controls, through the auxiliary belt, the transmission ratio.

Abstract: A motor vehicle for independent use by an individual in a wheelchair, comprising an open air vehicle body including a floor further comprising a front, a rear, and lateral sides, said floor sized and shaped to receive and retain a wheelchair; a motor; at least one front and at least one rear wheel supporting said vehicle body and floor, each of said front and rear wheels attached rotatably near an underside of a corner of the vehicle body; at least one actuator attaching said floor to said at least one rear wheel, wherein said floor can be lowered to a ground surface and raised to a level floor position; wherein a rear portion of said floor is structured to fold upward to form said rear side and fold downward to be in line with said floor; and a steering control assembly coupled to said at least one front wheel.

Abstract: A panel comprised of at least one connector that facilitates connection with an adjacent panel. An exemplary embodiment of a panel may be comprised of a female connector and a male connector such that the male connector may be inserted in a female connector of an adjacent, substantially similar panel. The female connector may include a ridge, and the male connector may include a flange. An exemplary embodiment of a panel assembly may be formed when a male connector of one panel is inserted in a female connector of another panel such that the flange of the male connector slides over the ridge of the female connector to interlock the panels.

Abstract: A non-chemical apparatus and method to lower the surface tension of a solution of liquid water and gaseous oxygen. An apparatus of the present invention comprises a source of chilled purified water, and gaseous oxygen fed into a positive displacement pump, followed by a cylinder reduced at one end by means of a convergent cone, a section of a smaller diameter cylinder attached to a divergent cone tapering up to another cylinder of a diameter the same or larger than the original cylinder. A coil of refrigeration tubing is wrapped around the smaller center cylinder to control the temperature of the inner cylinder surface.

Abstract: A truss jigging system has an elongated table forming a support plane and formed with a plurality of parallel slots extending between the two long edges. The table has a plurality of the following: locating pins, carriages, endless belts, idler wheels, and, drive wheels. Each endless belt is strung around a respective one of the idler wheels and a respective one of the drive wheels to form a pair of elongated runs, one run being an elongated return run and the other run having a respective one of the carriages affixed thereto and coursing through a respective slot such that, driving the drive wheel moves the locating pin back and forth along the front to back axis of the respective slot.

Abstract: The invention includes a work platform and support system that includes a hub and joist configuration, wherein the hubs and joists are capable of articulation, or pivoting. One method of installation allows for sections of new work platform system to be extended from an existing suspended work platform system. The system is also capable of supporting, without failure, its own weight and at least four times the maximum intended load applied to it.

Abstract: A container with a divider designed to hold two liquids separately inside. A cap on the container includes a twist mechanism that permits separate access to one side or the other side of the container without mixing the two materials within the container. The container can have installed infant holding handles. These handles are used to equal out the bottle weight, and are small enough for an infant to grab and hold. Instead of making two bottles to hold each liquid, one bottle can support two separate liquids.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the propulsive power required to overcome drag forces on a vehicle mounted within a wind tunnel. The apparatus includes a running belt platform driven by a dynamometer and supporting the vehicle placed inside a wind tunnel and controlled by a closed-loop servo control system, which maintains the vehicle centered on the running belt under varying operating speeds and headwind conditions. The power dissipated in drag is measured as the power transferred through ground contact with the wheels of the vehicle.

Abstract: A building block has opposing like outer members spaced apart by at least two risers as cross members inward from outer member ends leaving a center open with a void between the outer members and the risers. The risers extend from the bottom of the block to above the outer member tops. A continuous tongue projects upward from the top of the outer members parallel thereto along the length of the outer member and mates with grooves along the bottom of a similar outer member stackable thereon for ease of block alignment. A next stacked block is nailed to the risers projecting into its center.

Abstract: A method and a system for fastening an object to a façade comprising at least one supporting wall made in a hard material coated externally with a thermal insulation coat made in a crumbly material, the object being fastened to the wall by means of a fastening member received in an area for receiving a plot made in a hard material arranged in projection out of the wall. The object is fastened to the wall in an indirect way offsetting towards the outside of the façade the area of the plot. The plot is fastened to the wall by a fastening area extending between the wall and the receiving area. The plot is a straight cylinder extending through the insulation coat.

Abstract: The present invention is realized by apparatus and methods for harvesting, storing, and generating energy by permanently placing a large rigid buoyant platform high in the earth's atmosphere, above clouds, moisture, dust, and wind. Long, strong and light tethers can connect the buoyant structure to the ground which can hold it in position against wind forces. Weights suspended from the buoyant platform with cables are raised and lowered by electric winches to store and release gravitational potential energy. High voltage transmission lines electrically connect the platform to the earth's surface. Electrical energy from the high voltage transmission lines or from photovoltaic arrays on the platform can be stored as gravitational potential energy and subsequently released as electricity from generators driven from the stored gravitational potential energy and used on the platform or transmitted via the high voltage transmission lines.

Abstract: A baseboard for use in preheating water has a heating element having a plurality of heating surface areas, a continuous coiled pipe member having a plurality of 180 degree bends adapted and formed to cover at least one of the surface areas of the heating element. The pipe member include a cold water intake pipe at a first end and a warm water outflow pipe at a second end dedicated and adapted to send warm water to a water heater. A cover member adapted to cover the heating element and the coiled pipe member includes at least one opening therethrough adapted to allow air to pass through and circulate around the heating element and the coiled pipe member and create a convection effect capable of adding additional heat to the water while passing through the coiled pipe member.

Abstract: A fire and water resistant expansion and seismic joint system has a cover plate; a spline attached to the cover plate along a first edge of the spline; and a core comprising a first core portion and a second core portion, each portion being located on an opposing face of the spline. The first core portion and the second core portion have a fire-retardant material infused therein. The spline depends from the cover plate in a one piece construction and extends into the core to a depth within the core, and is positioned in a gap between substantially coplanar substrates such that the cover plate overlies the gap. Each portion of the core is compressed between a respective face of the spline and a face of one of the coplanar substrates.

Abstract: A fire and water resistant expansion joint system has a cover plate; a spline attached to the cover plate along a first edge of the spline; and two portions of foam, each portion being located on an opposing face of the spline. The foam has a fire-retardant material infused therein. The spline depends from the cover plate and is positioned in a gap between substantially coplanar substrates such that the cover plate overlies the gap. Each portion of the foam is compressed between a respective face of the spline and a face of one of the coplanar substrates.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fishing rod holder that permits the fishing rod to pivot itself, so that the bait can stay relatively stable in the water when fishing.

Abstract: Exemplary systems and methods for storing a food item prior to cutting, for cutting the food item, and for supporting the food item for serving to a user after it has been cut are described herein. The exemplary system may include a cutting apparatus removably couplable to an open end of a collapsible apparatus having a collapsible region between the open end and a base. The system may be configured to store the food item until cut. Upon application of a sufficient compressive force, the collapsible apparatus collapses and causes the food item to be cut and moved out of the collapsible apparatus through the cutting apparatus. The system is configured to operate while maintaining the coupling between the cutting apparatus and the collapsible apparatus in all of a food storage configuration, a food cutting configuration and a food serving configuration, and transitions therebetween.

Abstract: A roof access hatch, which utilizes thermal breaks is disclosed. This roof access hatch has a cover with a first metallic exterior surface spaced from a first metallic interior surface by at least a first insulation layer, where the first metallic exterior surface is thermally isolated from the first metallic interior surface. A first thermal break spans the insulation layer and is in contact with both the metallic exterior surface and the metallic interior surface. A frame supports the cover. This frame has a second metallic exterior surface separated from a second metallic interior surface by at least a second insulation layer, where the second metallic exterior surface is thermally isolated from the second metallic interior surface by a thermal break component. A non-metallic, thermally insulating gasket is disposed between the cover and the frame.

Abstract: A system for automatically retracting a vehicle fueling receptacle lid, storing the lid within the body of the vehicle, and automatically returning the lid to its original protective position, such that the vehicle fueling receptacle lid will retract automatically upon instruction from the vehicle's onboard electronic control system and, further, will return to its original position, wherein it serves to protect the fueling inlet (whether such inlet allows for the storage of liquid fuel or for electrical charging), upon completion of a fueling or charging session, as instructed by the vehicle's onboard electronic control system.