Abstract: A vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) unmanned aircraft system (UAS) may be uniquely capable of VTOL via a folded wing design while also configured for powered flight as the wings are extended. In a powered flight regime with wings extended, the VTOL UAS may maintain controlled powered flight as a twin pusher canard design. In a zero airspeed (or near zero airspeed) nose up attitude in a VTOL flight regime with the wings folded, the unmanned aircraft system may maintain controlled flight using main engine thrust as well as vectored thrust as a vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. An airborne transition from VTOL flight regime to powered flight and vice versa may allow the VTOL UAS continuous controlled flight in each regime.

Abstract: A combination rotor and wheel assembly for an unmanned vehicle with ground and aerial mobility has a rotor arm adapted to be attached at an inner end thereof to a vehicle body. A rotor is rotatably connected to an outer end of the rotor arm about a rotor axis, and a rotor drive mounted on the rotor arm rotates the rotor such that the rotor exerts an upward lift force on the rotor arm. An open spoked wheel is rotatably connected about the rotor axis independent of the rotor The diameter of the wheel is greater than that of the rotor, and a bottom edge of the wheel is below the rotor. A wheel drive rotates the wheel. Vehicles can have various numbers and orientations of the rotor and wheel assembly to provide aerial and ground mobility.

Abstract: A vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) unmanned aircraft system (UAS) may be uniquely capable of VTOL via a folded wing design while also configured for powered flight as the wings are extended. In a powered flight regime with wings extended, the VTOL UAS may maintain controlled powered flight as a twin pusher canard design. In a zero airspeed (or near zero airspeed) nose up attitude in a VTOL flight regime with the wings folded, the unmanned aircraft system may maintain controlled flight using main engine thrust as well as vectored thrust as a vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. An airborne transition from VTOL flight regime to powered flight and vice versa may allow the VTOL UAS continuous controlled flight in each regime.

Abstract: A combination rotor and wheel assembly for an unmanned vehicle with ground and aerial mobility has a rotor arm adapted to be attached at an inner end thereof to a vehicle body. A rotor is rotatably connected to an outer end of the rotor arm about a rotor axis, and a rotor drive mounted on the rotor arm rotates the rotor such that the rotor exerts an upward lift force on the rotor arm. An open spoked wheel is rotatably connected about the rotor axis independent of the rotor The diameter of the wheel is greater than that of the rotor, and a bottom edge of the wheel is below the rotor. A wheel drive rotates the wheel. Vehicles can have various numbers and orientations of the rotor and wheel assembly to provide aerial and ground mobility.

Abstract: A rotary wing aircraft apparatus has arms extending from a body, and a rotor assembly attached to an end of each arm. Each rotor assembly has a rotor blade releasably attached by a lock mechanism. A clockwise rotor blade is releasably attached to a first rotor assembly by engagement in a clockwise lock mechanism, and a counterclockwise rotor blade is releasably attached to a second rotor assembly by engagement in a counterclockwise lock mechanism. The clockwise rotor blade is engageable only with the clockwise lock mechanism and the counterclockwise rotor blade is engageable only with the counterclockwise lock mechanism and cannot be engaged in the clockwise lock mechanism. A leg extends down from each rotor assembly to support the apparatus on the ground.

Abstract: A combination rotor and wheel assembly for an unmanned vehicle with ground and aerial mobility has a rotor arm adapted to be attached at an inner end thereof to a vehicle body. A rotor is rotatably connected to an outer end of the rotor arm about a rotor axis, and a rotor drive mounted on the rotor arm rotates the rotor such that the rotor exerts an upward lift force on the rotor arm. An open spoked wheel is rotatably connected about the rotor axis independent of the rotor The diameter of the wheel is greater than that of the rotor, and a bottom edge of the wheel is below the rotor. A wheel drive rotates the wheel. Vehicles can have various numbers and orientations of the rotor and wheel assembly to provide aerial and ground mobility.

Abstract: A rotary wing aircraft apparatus has arms extending from a body, and a rotor assembly attached to an end of each arm. Each rotor assembly has a rotor blade releasably attached by a lock mechanism. A clockwise rotor blade is releasably attached to a first rotor assembly by engagement in a clockwise lock mechanism, and a counterclockwise rotor blade is releasably attached to a second rotor assembly by engagement in a counterclockwise lock mechanism. The clockwise rotor blade is engageable only with the clockwise lock mechanism and the counterclockwise rotor blade is engageable only with the counterclockwise lock mechanism and cannot be engaged in the clockwise lock mechanism. A leg extends down from each rotor assembly to support the apparatus on the ground.

Abstract: A circular folding wheel has a center wheel section encompassing the center of a circle and adapted to be mounted to an axle at the center, with a side substantially corresponding to a chord of the circle. A wheel segment is pivotally attached to the center wheel section about a pivot axis extending along the side of the center wheel section. The wheel segment is movable from a rolling orientation, where the outer edge of the wheel segment is aligned with an outer edge of the center wheel section such that the folding wheel takes a rolling circular shape, to a folded orientation where the wheel segment extends laterally away from the pivot axis. Two, three, or more wheel segments can be pivotally attached to corresponding sides of the center wheel section.

Abstract: A circular folding wheel has a center wheel section encompassing the center of a circle and adapted to be mounted to an axle at the center, with a side substantially corresponding to a chord of the circle. A wheel segment is pivotally attached to the center wheel section about a pivot axis extending along the side of the center wheel section. The wheel segment is movable from a rolling orientation, where the outer edge of the wheel segment is aligned with an outer edge of the center wheel section such that the folding wheel takes a rolling circular shape, to a folded orientation where the wheel segment extends laterally away from the pivot axis. Two, three, or more wheel segments can be pivotally attached to corresponding sides of the center wheel section.

Abstract: A rotary wing aircraft apparatus includes a body and a rotor pair connected to the body by an arm. The rotor pair has an upper rotor driven by an upper motor and rotating about an upper rotor axis and a lower rotor driven by a lower motor and rotating about a lower rotor axis. The upper and lower rotor axes are tilted with respect to each other. Tilting the axes away from the arm increases the distance from the rotor blades to the arm, and decreases the risk of the blades of the rotor contacting the arm. In an aircraft with a plurality of arms extending from the body, and a rotor assembly connected to each arm, the arms can be pivoted from a flying position, where the arms extend laterally outward to a folded position where the arms are positioned substantially parallel and adjacent to each other.

Abstract: A rotary wing aircraft apparatus includes a body and a rotor pair connected to the body by an arm. The rotor pair has an upper rotor driven by an upper motor and rotating about an upper rotor axis and a lower rotor driven by a lower motor and rotating about a lower rotor axis. The upper and lower rotor axes are tilted with respect to each other. Tilting the axes away from the arm increases the distance from the rotor blades to the arm, and decreases the risk of the blades of the rotor contacting the arm. In an aircraft with a plurality of arms extending from the body, and a rotor assembly connected to each arm, the arms can be pivoted from a flying position, where the arms extend laterally outward to a folded position where the arms are positioned substantially parallel and adjacent to each other.

Abstract: A rotary wing aircraft apparatus includes a body and a rotor pair connected to the body by an arm. The rotor pair has an upper rotor driven by an upper motor and rotating about an upper rotor axis and a lower rotor driven by a lower motor and rotating about a lower rotor axis. The upper and lower rotor axes are tilted with respect to each other. Tilting the axes away from the arm increases the distance from the rotor blades to the arm, and decreases the risk of the blades of the rotor contacting the arm. In an aircraft with a plurality of arms extending from the body, and a rotor assembly connected to each arm, the arms can be pivoted from a flying position, where the arms extend laterally outward to a folded position where the arms are positioned substantially parallel and adjacent to each other.

Abstract: A rotary wing aircraft apparatus includes a body and a rotor pair connected to the body by an arm. The rotor pair has an upper rotor driven by an upper motor and rotating about an upper rotor axis and a lower rotor driven by a lower motor and rotating about a lower rotor axis. The upper and lower rotor axes are tilted with respect to each other. Tilting the axes away from the arm increases the distance from the rotor blades to the arm, and decreases the risk of the blades of the rotor contacting the arm. In an aircraft with a plurality of arms extending from the body, and a rotor assembly connected to each arm, the arms can be pivoted from a flying position, where the arms extend laterally outward to a folded position where the arms are positioned substantially parallel and adjacent to each other.

Abstract: A rotary wing aircraft is provided having at least three rotor pairs. Each rotor pair has an upper rotor and a lower rotor. During operation, the upper rotor and lower rotor rotate around a shared rotor axis with the upper rotor rotating in a first direction and the lower rotor rotating in an opposite direction By independently controlling the speed of rotation of each upper rotor and each lower rotor the aircraft can be made to ascend, descend, move forward, move backward, move side to side, yaw right and yaw left by only varying the relative speeds of rotations of the upper rotors and lower rotors.

Abstract: The invention provides a dispensing machine which delivers or dispenses a uniform volume of a fluid, in particular, viscous fluids such as a topping for ice cream, frozen yoghurt, etc. The dispensing machine includes a reservoir and a control and dispensing module in which a tilting disk acts as both a piston and an inlet valve to a measuring chamber for delivering a fixed volume of a fluid through a valve.

Abstract: A pontoon boat is manufactured using sectional pontoons of rotationally molded thermoplastic material. The pontoon sections are engaged end to end using integral lugs and sockets on the ends of the pontoon sections. Each section has a head located above the main hull portion of the pontoon. Channels engage opposite sides of the heads and extend along the pontoons to ensure the coupling of the pontoon sections. These channels also couple the pontoons to a deck carried on transverse beams joining the channels.

Abstract: A dispenser is used for dispensing plastic film from a roll. The dispenser has a housing that may be mounted under a shelf or cupboard or on a wall. The housing consists of a cover unit that is installed in the place of use and a releasable base unit that fits into the bottom of the cover unit and is held in place with resiliently biased locking tabs. The base unit carries the roll of film, so that the roll is readily installed on the base unit when separated from the cover. The loaded base unit is easily lifted into place. The film is dispensed through a dispensing slot at the back of the base unit. Lengths of film are severed using a cutter at the front of the base unit. The length of film between the dispensing opening and the cutter is prevented from clinging to the underside of the base unit by using a non-planar, roughened surface on the under side of the base plate.

Abstract: The device consists of a base channel detachably secured to the buckle element of a seat belt so that the buckle rests in the channel and secures the channel to the buckle. A hinged cover can be closed and detachably locked over the buckle so that the release button, either on top or in the front of the buckle assembly, is covered. Pressure on the two sides of the cover releases the latch connection on each side of the device which normally holds the cover closed over the buckle mechanism of the seat belt.

Abstract: A flashlight includes a flashlight body which is formed in two portions second of which is pivotally mounted on the first portion. A forward end of the flashlight body is generally rectangular in cross-section with a rearward end being approximately one half of the cross-section of the forward end with the second body portion being of a similar cross-sectional shape to the smaller end. In this way the second body portion can be pivoted from a position in which it constitutes an extension of the first portion as a handle therefore or can be moved to a folded position lying alongside and underneath the smaller end so that in the folded condition a continuous rectangular shape is formed. In this condition the flashlight body can be inserted into a sleeve of rectangular cross-section for storage with a charging device at the base of the sleeve having terminals for cooperation with the terminals of the second body portion for charging a battery.