Abstract: The invention relates to amphibious and “ground affect” vehicles. The invention incorporates a special wheel consisting of a box portion affixed to a disc or wheel portion. A vehicle with such wheels can roll on most surfaces with easy transition from one medium to another. For example, it can roll from the terrain, onto the water and then back to the land. Such wheels enable vehicles to roll on top of the snow and other surfaces where conventional wheels cannot.

Abstract: The roof tile system of the present invention includes parallel patterns of channels or features which when viewed in a large pattern of identical tiles create the illusion of a surface made using a costly three dimensional roofing material such as Spanish tile. The patterns of channels or features may also function to direct the flow of water in a manner that is consistent with the apparent contour of the surface. The patterns of channels or features may also be arranged to direct the flow of rain water from a first area of a roof to a second area of a roof. An added water directing feature in the tiles of a bottom course of tiles can be used to direct rain water into an enclosed rain gutter.

Abstract: The present invention is an enclosed rain gutter for draining water from the surface of a sloped roof and conducting it to a downspout. The invention rain gutter includes a channel that is covered by a mounting flange suitable for insertion under the material covering the roof of a building and a collecting flange connected to the mounting flange by a rounded edge. The collecting flange has openings for delivering water into the channel and features for delivering water to the openings. While the collecting flange features and openings deliver water into the channel, they also exclude debris from entering the channel and in particular they exclude debris might obstruct a downspout.

Abstract: The roof shingle system of the present invention includes rows of shingle elements having parallel, slanting lower edges that are aligned to divert the flow of water away from areas where high flow volumes are not desired toward areas where high flow volumes will not cause harm. Because water flowing down a surface will tend to adhere to that surface, the water flowing down the surface of the shingle system of the present invention will tend to follow the slanting lower edges of the shingle elements in the direction of the slanted edges so as to provide a way to control the flow of water on the surface of a roof.

Abstract: The roof shingle system of the present invention includes rows of shingle elements having parallel, slanting lower edges that are aligned to divert the flow of water away from areas where high flow volumes are not desired toward areas where high flow volumes will not cause harm. Because water flowing down a surface will tend to adhere to that surface, the water flowing down the surface of the shingle system of the present invention will tend to follow the slanting lower edges of the shingle elements in the direction of the slanted edges so as to provide a way to control the flow of water on the surface of a roof.