Abstract: A lid assembly that can be placed on a pan having a bottom surface that is configured for placement on a burner of the stove top with one or more foods to be cooked supported above an inner bottom surface of the pan by a rack. The lid assembly covers the pan and thereby encloses the one or more foods to be cooked and the rack within a cavity defined by the pan and the lid assembly. An air flow generator mounted on a shaft that extends through a cover portion of the lid from a motor disposed on an opposite side of the cover portion rotates the shaft to produce airflow within the cavity. The lid assembly cooks foods in less time and using less energy than normally required with a conventional oven.

Abstract: A lid assembly that can be placed on a pan having a bottom surface that is configured for placement on a burner of the stove top with one or more foods to be cooked supported above an inner bottom surface of the pan by a rack. The lid assembly covers the pan and thereby encloses the one or more foods to be cooked and the rack within a cavity defined by the pan and the lid assembly. An air flow generator mounted on a shaft that extends through a cover portion of the lid from a motor disposed on an opposite side of the cover portion rotates the shaft to produce airflow within the cavity. The lid assembly cooks foods in less time and using less energy than normally required with a conventional oven.

Abstract: A stepless ratchet one way clutch mechanism, which provides an improved ratchet tool, is disclosed. A drive head is rotatably fitted into a cylindrical recess in a wrench housing. The drive head includes a partially triangular shape with three flat sides equally spaced around its circumference. A latch is positioned between each flat side and the internal wall of the recess. A selector mechanism provides a rotational bias to the three latches about the rotational axis of the drive head. The drive head may rotate in the wrench in the same direction that the selector is turned. The drive head is prevented from rotating in the opposite direction by wedging the latches between the drive head and the cylindrical internal wall of the recess. The selector bias may be switched either way. When the bias is switched, the latches rotate slightly about the drive head and corners of the drive head contact spaced apart segments of each latch.

Abstract: A simplified fastening tool which uses the energy stored in a spring to install fasteners by an impact blow is disclosed. A housing body is preferably cast or molded. A one-piece plastic hand lever is pivotably attached to the body where the pivoting action is by sliding in a circular arcuate channel. A staple feeding track is slidably mounted to the bottom of the housing and includes a rear end element with forwardly extending resilient latching elements to secure the track. A hand grip opening extends forward up to the plunger and the hand lever is hinged at the rear of the housing.

Abstract: A self-forming socket having a plurality of retractable pins bundled in parallel within a housing is disclosed. The bundled pins may displace longitudinally and are biased by spring force away from a frame onto which the pins are slidably held. A spacer pin may be positioned at the center of the socket and is similarly biased away from the frame under spring force. When the socket is forced over a fastener, nut, or bolt head, groups of pins are pushed inward toward the frame and into the housing thereby conforming the pins to the contours of the fastener. Applying a torque to the socket transfers the torque through the bundled pins to the fastener. Each pin has a circular cross-section and the interior walls of the housing containing the bundled pins has a hexagonal shape and does not contain any right angles. The pins are packed in a hexagonal arrangement.

Abstract: A simplified fastening tool which uses the energy stored in a spring to install fasteners by an impact blow is disclosed. A housing body is preferably cast or molded. A one-piece plastic hand lever is pivotably attached to the body where the pivoting action is by sliding in a circular arcuate channel. A staple feeding track is slidably mounted to the bottom of the housing and includes a rear end element with forwardly extending resilient latching elements to secure the track. A hand grip opening extends forward up to the plunger and the hand lever is hinged at the rear of the housing.

Abstract: A low profile, flexible windshield wiper assembly has a frame constructed from flat sheet spring steel. The frame attaches to a semi-rigid spline at distinct pressure points, while the spline supports a rubber wiping blade. At least some of the pressure points are located at the end of cantilevered fingers formed in the frame so that the spline may flex independently from the frame. The cantilevered fingers allow semi-pivotable portions of the frame to flex independently from the rest of the frame to enhance curve conformance on a windshield. The frame attaches along the center of the spline while the blade attaches along the edges of the spline. The present invention allows the pressure points to be efficiently formed out of the frame material.

Abstract: A windshield wiper adaptor system that fits hook, bayonet and small and large pin wiper arm styles is disclosed. A bracket semi-permanently snap fits to a spring steel flat strip wiper frame. Adaptors fit to the bracket. The bayonet arm adaptor uses an easily molded slot to provide the detent for holding the arm. A resilient element presses the bayonet arm from below. The hook/bayonet adaptor pin, and pin arm adaptors, are held in the bracket by a barbed resilient arm attached to the pins. A further extension on the resilient arm of the pin arm adaptors engages the pin arm annular groove. Deflecting the arm causes the barb to engage the bracket while the same motion engages the pin arm groove. The adaptors could also be used in a convention frame where the bracket is not applicable.

Abstract: A manually powered fastening tool which stores and instantly releases the energy of a spring such that it may force a staple or other fastener into an object by an impact blow is disclosed. An actuating lever engages a plunger in an upward motion against a spring bias and in a sideways direction in a release motion. An arcing motion of the lever causes an element of the lever to rotate and slide rearward from the plunger and disengage from the plunger, thereby allowing the lever to slide sideways off an angled surface of the plunger. The plunger, once released and under spring bias, strikes a staple and drives the staple out from the tool into the object.

Abstract: A manually powered fastening tool which stores and instantly releases the energy of a spring such that it may force a fastener into an object by an impact blow in which the operating handle is hinged near the end of the tool body opposite the end from which the staples exit. The main spring is a single piece flat torsion spring which decreases in cross-section away from its fulcrum point to enable the entire spring to provide energy storage. The operating handle is linked to the spring through a low friction rolling element which provides varying leverage to allow a constant operating force through the operating handle motion. The staple guide track includes position and latch feature within a one piece assembly.