Abstract: A unitary, reusable, deformable protective normally flat body spatially conformable to an object to define a protective carrier including a hollow case or body member defining a continuous, uninterrupted cavity, the cavity being filled with a preferably unitary preformed open-celled bat extending throughout the cavity, the body defining a central portion and opposed side portions contiguous thereto and a pair of opposed end portions defining cavities coextensive with the other cavities, unitary operative valve means for introducing air into and withdrawing air from all cavities, the central and opposed side portions being deformable to wrap around an article and the respective end portions being deformable to fold over the engaged side portions when enclosing an article, the valve means being accessible when the article is fully wrapped with the body member.

Abstract: A unitary, reusable, deformable protective normally flat body spatially conformable to an object to define a protective carrier including a hollow case or body member defining a continuous, uninterrupted cavity, the cavity being filled with a preferably unitary preformed open-celled bat extending throughout the cavity, the body defining a central portion and opposed side portions contiguous thereto and a pair of opposed end portions defining cavities coextensive with the other cavities, unitary operative valve means for introducing air into and withdrawing air from all cavities, the central and opposed side portions being deformable to wrap around an article and the respective end portions being deformable to fold over the engaged side portions when enclosing an article, the valve means being accessible when the article is fully wrapped with the body member.

Abstract: A cane having a base formed from a cup-shaped support having a concave bottom surface and a top surface defined by a circumscribing exterior sidewall having a bottom edge. The concave bottom surface is formed to have a plurality of resilient projections extending therefrom a distance to project slightly beyond the bottom edge of the sidewall. The projections are formed in a spoke-like pattern on the bottom surface such that the density of the projections is greater near the central section of the bottom surface than at the periphery of the bottom surface. The projections are also formed to have a length that varies according to their position on the bottom surface so that a substantially planar contacting edge is presented to a support surface.

Abstract: A cane having a base formed from a cup-shaped support having a concave bottom surface and a top surface defined by a circumscribing exterior sidewall having a bottom edge. The concave bottom surface is formed to have a plurality of resilient projections extending therefrom a distance to project slightly beyond the bottom edge of the sidewall. The projections are formed in a spoke-like pattern on the bottom surface such that the density of the projections is greater near the central section of the bottom surface than at the periphery of the bottom surface. The projections are also formed to have a length that varies according to their position on the bottom surface so that a substantially planar contacting edge is presented to a support surface.

Abstract: A multimedia document form system enables the definition, manipulation, storage and editing of a form which contains multimedia objects. Image objects and text objects can be displayed on the form in the conventional manner. Nonvisual presentation objects such as video objects and audio objects are represented by check boxes on the form. If a nonvisual object is to be associated with the form, then a mark is applied to the corresponding check box on the form. When the form is scanned-in in an optical scanner, presence of a mark in the check box prompts the operator to enter the nonvisual object. For example an audio object will be entered in digitized form and stored in association with the form. When the form is then displayed on a visual display device, the corresponding check box is highlighted to indicate to the operator the presence of a nonvisual presentation object which is stored in association with the form.

Abstract: An improved snowboard (10) having a convex bottom (44) with a flat area (28) formed therein to extend from the tail (16) to at least the nose (18) to facilitate balancing of the snowboard (10) and improve performance when cornering. An improved snowboard (23) illustrates the convex bottom (36) smoothly tapering into the body 34 at the longitudinal midpoint (50) to form a flat bottom (52) that then extends to the tip (44). To provide additional control and stability, a keel (56) extends from the flat bottom (52) a distance no further than the convex bottom (36) and having a width between 2% and 4% of the width of the body (34).

Abstract: A safety cap (10) having a sleeve (12) with a screen mesh (14) for slidable engagement with a gun barrel (16) to fragment an unintentionally discharged jelled paint pellet. The sleeve (12) has a longitudinal axially bore (22) sized and shaped to be slidably received over the gun barrel (16) with a tight fit. The plurality of filaments (34) on the screen mesh (14) form openings (36) that are sized and shaped to fragment the jelled paint pellet and permit all of the fragments of the jelled paint pellet to exit the gun barrel (16) to avoid plugging of the bore (18). A threadable fastener (52) can be used to secure the attachment of the safety cap (42) to the gun barrel (50).

Abstract: In a system for capturing an image of a document having a characterizing indicium associated therewith, the invention includes the step of storing in the system a plurality of document templates. Each document template defines locations of a first type and second type information blocks on a corresponding one of a plurality of document types. The document templates are accessible by an indicium value. The invention further includes storing in the system a table relating the first type information block to first type processing parameters and a second type information block to second type processing parameters. The invention further includes the step of capturing an image of the document and storing the image in an image buffer. Then, a characterizing indicium associated with the document is recognized by the system. Thereafter, one of the plurality of document templates is accessed in response to a value of the recognized characterizing indicium associated with the document.

Abstract: A Jacketed paint pellet (10) comprising a jacket (12) having a paint pellet (14) attached thereto. The jacket (12) includes a body (16) having a trailing end (18) and a leading end (20) with a forward facing mounting surface (22). Ribs 28 project radially outward from the body (16) to support the body within the bore of a gun barrel and to guide and stabilize the jacketed paint pellet (10) in flight. Flange members (30) extend laterally from the ribs (28) for additional support and stability. A counterweight portion (36) extends axially in the interior (32) of the body (16) to counterbalance the weight of the paint pellet (14).

Abstract: A modified snowboard (10) having transverse channels (28) formed in a convex bottom (14) to facilitate movement through the snow. The sides (46) and (48) project beyond the bottom (38) of a snowboard (36) to form longitudinal grooves (54) with downwardly extending edges (56) to increase maneuverability and stability of the snowboard both at slow and high speeds. Upwardly projecting flanges (74) extend the length of the sides (64) and (66) of a snowboard (62) to prevent snow from moving over the top (72).

Abstract: A boat hull is designed with air passageway slots positioned at the stern of the craft. If the bow begins to rise thereby presenting the danger of the craft flipping, the air pressure, at a given point, is allowed to escape through the air passageways. Once the air begins to escape through the air passageways, the forces tending to flip the craft diminish and the bow of the boat lowers to the water.

Abstract: An exhaust system (10) for a V-8 engine (14) mounted in a Porsche automobile (12) having a transaxle (16) with articulated axles (18). The exhaust system (10) comprises a pair of tubular headers (24) connected to an exhaust pipe (26) that extends over, around, and back under the transaxle (16) and is connected to a pair of reverse-flow mufflers (30). A balance tube (56) passes through a relieved portion (58) formed in the oil pan (22) of the V-8 engine to connect the exhaust pipes (26).