Abstract: For camping trips and other activities it is useful to have a solar reflector for cooking or electricity generation. It can be made form a flat piece of material and folded into a three dimensional parabolic dish for concentrating solar radiation. The flat disk has a plurality of spirally cut segments, which can overlap when the segments are made to stand extending in a parabolic shape from their central circular base. The segments will overlap on their edges and can be fastened together near the circumference to form a parabolic dish for reflecting solar rays toward a central area used for cooking. The parabolic reflective dish can be disassembled and stored flat by removing the fasteners and urging the spiral side segments to lie flat. The number of spiral side segments and their size may vary. The parabolic reflector is easy to assemble and disassemble and easy to carry.

Abstract: A wire-less dart adapted to be projected by a gun and capable of applying an electrical pulse of sufficient energy to stun a target. The dart includes a photovoltaic cell responsive to a coherent electromagnetic energy source, such as a laser, for converting the beam energy to an electrical pulse. The dart also includes a pair of barbs extending from its distal end which penetrate the target's skin to a non-injurious depth. These barbs serve as electrodes and deliver the electrical pulse to the target. The projector, such as a gun, includes a pulsed laser light source which is aimed at the same location as the projector. Accordingly, the laser source focuses the pulsed laser energy source upon the dart PV cell. The projector includes a propellant sufficient to launch the dart, but with only enough kinetic energy such that the dart barbs penetrate the assailant's skin. The device has a long operating range.

Abstract: This invention is a novel technique for making a solar energy collector in a fresnel configuration by using unique hot-wire tools. This process uses either a hot-wire radial cutter to produce concentric grooves and a hot-wire beveled cutter to produce angled concentric surfaces in a base material in combination, or a hot-wire combination cutter to simultaneously produce a single concentric and angled concentric surface in a base material. This shaped base material is now suitable for affixing reflective material.

Abstract: A firearm breech locking mechanism which includes a receiver having a longitudinal track guiding an actuating rod in reciprocating motion, and two guide slots for guiding a bolt carrier member mechanically coupled to the operating rod. Two roller receiving slots are also formed in the receiver member. A roller is disposed in these slots. It extends transversely to the direction of motion of the operating rod. A cam surface on the operating rod raises the roller as the operating rod reaches its forwardmost position to thereby lock the bolt relative to the receiver and shell chamber. As the operating rod is moved rearward, a cam surface on the bolt carrier forces the roller to its unlocked position. The invention further includes a latch pivotally secured to the bolt member which cooperates with a recess formed along one of the guide slots.

Abstract: Page turner apparatus that includes a book support having a transverse ledge and a top flange, a slide plate on the support for transverse movement, the slide plate having a plurality of parallel slots for the pages to be turned extended therethrough, and operable mechanism for mounting the slide plate and selectively moving the slide plate to turn a page. The operable mechanism of each of the first and third embodiments includes a toothed rack slidably mounted on a slide rod and attached to the slide plate, and a foot pedal operated cable for selectively moving the rack in a page turning direction. In the second embodiment the operable mechanism includes a motor for driving a rod having a threaded portion cooperating with the threaded portion of a slide plate mounting block for transversely moving said block.