Abstract: The present disclosure describes a structure for a portable tire inflator that includes a triangular housing comprising a triangular face, a triangular back, two sides extending between the triangular face and the triangular back on first and second sides of the triangular face and back, and a support base on a third side of the triangular face and back extending between the triangular face and the triangular back, a pump motor within the housing. The inflator may be configured such that a majority of the total weight of the portable tire inflator is positioned between the middle of the triangular face and the base. The tire inflator may also include a reflective border on at least two of three edges of the triangular face and an air pressure indicator responsive to air pressure within the air hose, the air pressure indicator visible on an external surface of the housing.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pinch resistant buckle assembly to reduce the potential for pinching the skin of a person when connecting a female receptacle and a male latch of the assembly. The male latch has an outwardly extending engagement portion which is received by a female receptacle. The female receptacle has a body having a chamber adapted to releasably engage the engagement portion of the male latch. The chamber has an opening at the engagement end of the female receptacle body through which the engagement portion of the latch passes to engage the chamber.A guide shield is located adjacent the opening and extends substantially away from the opening in a direction from which the male latch is inserted. Extending the shield outwardly away from the opening effectively enlarges the area of the opening by providing a larger effective area to guide the engagement portion of the male latch into the opening. The guide shield provides an extended surface leading into the chamber through the opening.

Abstract: A portable headlamp that is particularly designed for use with bicycles integrates a number of essential features and functions desired by modem bicyclists. The headlamp has an easily removable and universally mountable fastening system that requires no tools to install. The mounting system includes a rotary joint that enables a headlamp to be pointed in any desired direction while maintaining a constant friction that can be set by the user. A focussable light beam enables the operator to vary the light distribution pattern, thereby making the headlamp suitable for use under a number of different conditions. The electrical system for the headlamp can be readily upgraded to accommodate the needs of different riding conditions, without requiring additional parts.

Abstract: A portable headlamp that is particularly designed for use with bicycles integrates a number of essential features and functions desired by modern bicyclists. The headlamp has an easily removable and universally mountable fastening system that requires no tools to install. The mounting system includes a rotary joint that enables a headlamp to be pointed in any desired direction while maintaining a constant friction that can be set by the user. A focussable light beam enables the operator to vary the light distribution pattern, thereby making the headlamp suitable for use under a number of different conditions. The electrical system for the headlamp can be readily upgraded to accommodate the needs of different riding conditions, without requiring additional parts.

Abstract: One or more superluminescent light emitting diodes (SLDS) are driven with an oscillatory square wave pulse drive signal Vd varying between OVDC and 1.8-3.2VDC at a frequency between 1Hz to 12Hz, preferably between 6Hz to 8Hz, and having a pulse duty cycle between 5% to 10%, preferably between 6% to 8%, to periodically forward bias the SLDs into illumination and produce a brilliant rapidly flashing light having high on-off contrast for enhanced visibility and perceptibility at a distance, thus being usable for battery-powered visual indicator and warning flasher applications. A low frequency oscillator stage generates an oscillatory square wave voltage signal Vo which drives a power driver stage to produce the correspondingly oscillating drive voltage signal Vd which is supplied to the SLDS.

Abstract: A flashing safety warning light in which a superluminescent light-emitting diode (SLD) light source is driven by an oscillatory drive signal at a visually imperceptible but highly efficient operating frequency, the oscillatory drive signal preferably being a pulse signal of 1 to 5 KHz to cause the SLD to be illuminated and extinguished at the oscillatory drive signal frequency, such that extinction of the SLD is not visually perceptible. The oscillatory drive signal is in turn gated on and off in accordance with a gating signal at a low, highly visually perceptible frequency in the range of 3 to 12 Hz with a pulse duty cycle of between 10 to 60% in order to cause the SLD to be visually perceived as flashing on and off at the gating signal frequency in an attention-getting manner. An implementation of the flashing safety warning light for use as a bicycle safety flasher is described, and offers enhanced warning visibility with extended battery life.

Abstract: A telephone call responding system which allows the user to respond to an incoming telephone call without actually speaking to the caller personally, and, if desired, without having to pick up the telephone to answer a call. To activate the responder system, the user, upon receiving an incoming telephone call, selects one of a plurality of call response messages by actuating a control key of the responder system corresponding to the desired message. Once activated, the responder system connects itself to the telephone line and, utilizing speech synthesis or digital-to-analog conversion, delivers the selected message for putting-off an unwanted or nuisance call, asking the caller to call back later, or instructing a person on an extension telephone to hang up. After delivering the message, the responder system disconnects itself from the telephone line until once again activated by the user.