Abstract: An apparatus is provided for producing periodic lateral displacement of a cruise control cable associated with the engine of an automotive vehicle. The periodic displacement is produced by an activation arm which attaches to the cable and is caused to undergo reciprocal linear movement produced by a rotating disc that is driven at a controlled speed by a motor that operates off the electrical system of the vehicle.

Abstract: A device to be worn beneath footwear or an unshoed foot for increasing stride and reducing fatigue while providing comfort and stability by absorbing the energy in a stride and by releasing that energy to user. The invention accomplishes this by providing a cantilevered leaf spring joined to but separated from a platform supporting the user. As the user enters a stride weight of the user flexes the spring to store the energy of contact with terrain. Then during the completion of the stride the spring releases that energy to the user.

Abstract: A device for improving the thermal efficiency of an internal combustion engine by incorporating a hot gas jet ignition system and a burned gas purge system. The hot, high velocity gas jet generated by the system promotes rapid combustion and helps to insure better combustion of the fuel-air mixture. The invention accomplishes this by providing a spark plug or spark plug/adapter assembly with a mini-combustion chamber having an outlet nozzle. As the engine cycles into and through the combustion phase of operation, a hot, high velocity gaseous jet issues from the mini-combustion chamber and penetrates deep into the combustion chamber of the engine to ignite the main fuel-air mixture. The burned gases in the mini-combustion chamber are than purged by ambient air flow through an air inlet check valve communicating with the mini-combustion chamber during the next intake phase of the associated internal combustion engine cylinder or combustion chamber.

Abstract: Pinking shears are disclosed comprising a pair of blades having cutting teeth and tips on one end and a handle on the other end, a common pivot assembly for the pair of blades, and an adjustable ball assembly for adjusting the pressure applied at the tips of the blades. The ball assembly is mounted in one blade between the handle thereof and the pivot assembly bears against the other blade to urge the blades away from one another adjacent the handles of the shears. As a result of this arrangement, the pressure between the tips is increased and a smooth cutting action is obtained when the pinking shears are being used to cut different types of materials of varying thickness.