Abstract: New types of “airborne spinnaker sails” are disclosed, made from high-strength straps that are interwoven in a manner that preserves open space between them. These devices, referred to as “webbing sails” or simply “web sails”, are designed for use in conjunction with buoyant lifting devices, to capture and harvest wind energy in a way which will generate large mechanical pulling forces, which can be used to drive electric power generators. These types of web sails are designed to operate in winds that exceed 100 or even 150 miles per hour.

Abstract: Systems for generating electric power from wind are disclosed, which use buoyant aircraft and spinnaker sails to generate very large pulling forces, which will be used to drive electric generators. The buoyant aircraft, referred to as “airbarges”, will have large, wide, and flat shapes which combine various traits of kites, manta rays, and “flying wing” aircraft. They can be flown “nose up” during the pulling stage of each power cycle, and “nose down” during retrieval. Spinnaker sails are comparable to horizontal parachutes, with tethering systems that will enable them to be pulled back to a starting location in a “luffing flag” or “closed umbrella” configuration. Because of various factors, spinnaker sails can generate much greater power output and operating efficiency than 3-blade wind turbines. “Webbing sails” made from interwoven straps also are disclosed, which can be used even in extremely high winds.

Abstract: An electric generating system uses a zeppelin filled with helium or hydrogen, and a spinnaker sail, to provide pulling power that will lift a heavy railcar to an elevated height on a track, such as on a hill or mountainside, or in an elevator-type shaft in a tall building. When the heavy car reaches the top of the track, it is released, and its descent drives an electric generator. The generator can be carried by the car, and can send the power to batteries on the car, or to conductive rails. Alternately, if the car is inert weight, cables can drive stationary generators. The zeppelin will be inflated and deflated repeatedly, using equipment to recapture energy during each gas expansion, to help drive subsequent recompression into high-pressure tanks. The spinnaker sail will use a cable-handling device and spreader bars to deploy the sail and keep it at an elevated height. Various advantages are provided compared to wind turbines and pumped-storage hydroelectric facilities.

Abstract: An electric generating system uses a zeppelin filled with helium or hydrogen, and a spinnaker sail, to provide pulling power that will lift a heavy railcar to an elevated height on a track, such as on a hill or mountainside, or in an elevator-type shaft in a tall building. When the heavy car reaches the top of the track, it is released, and its descent drives an electric generator. The generator can be carried by the car, and can send the power to batteries on the car, or to conductive rails. Alternately, if the car is inert weight, cables can drive stationary generators. The zeppelin will be inflated and deflated repeatedly, using equipment to recapture energy during each gas expansion, to help drive subsequent recompression into high-pressure tanks. The spinnaker sail will use a cable-handling device and spreader bars to deploy the sail and keep it at an elevated height. Various advantages are provided compared to wind turbines and pumped-storage hydroelectric facilities.

Abstract: Sloping panel assemblies are disclosed, for protecting coastal homes and other buildings against hurricanes or very high winds. Long waterproof panels with widths up to 12 feet, made with fibers from recycled carpets, can be rapidly affixed to anchoring devices that have been shallowly buried around the periphery of a building. After anchoring, the panels will lean against the eave of a building, creating an enclosed pyramid-like structure capped by the roof of the building. Wedge-shaped nose and tail sections can similarly be affixed to the ends of A-frame buildings. Hinged cover panels, over drainage trenches, can be raised and locked at a sloped angle, to provide windbreaks and floodwater drainage on the windward sides of coastal buildings.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for lifting a rocket into the upper atmosphere and establishing forward flight at several hundred miles per hour, before the rocket engines are ignited and the rocket is released from the lifting system. The main subassemblies of this lifting system comprise: (1) an array of large helium-filled dirigibles, of a size that can provide hundreds or thousands of tons of lifting force; (2) a tank-holding assembly that will be tethered to the dirigibles, and that will contain pumps and high-pressure tanks, to recapture and store the helium for use in subsequent launches; and, (3) a winged platform, with wings that can be rotated vertically during liftoff, and horizontally to establish forward flight after a desired altitude has been reached, and having conventional aircraft engines on each wing. This system enables safer, less expensive, and more efficient launching of rockets and heavy payloads into space, using easily reusable subassemblies.

Abstract: An aqueous douche or enema is disclosed, containing a water-soluble zinc salt at an anti-viral concentration, designed for use shortly before and/or shortly after intercourse. Unlike a lubricant for use during intercourse, this type of rinsing liquid will not contain glycerine or similar lubricating components, and will be designed to not leave behind a film-type residue. However, this type of “pericoital” rinse (i.e., intended for pre-coital or post-coital use) will leave behind positively-charged zinc ions. Due to electrostatic attraction, these Zn++ ions will cling to negatively-charged canyons and other “binding sites” in proteins that are exposed and accessible on the surfaces of cells and virus particles. The binding of Zn++ ions to negatively-charged sites in these surface proteins will alter and disrupt the ability of viruses (including herpes and HIV) to bind to and infect human cells.

Abstract: An aqueous douche or enema is disclosed, containing a water-soluble zinc salt at an anti-viral concentration, designed for use shortly before and/or shortly after intercourse. Unlike a lubricant for use during intercourse, this type of rinsing liquid will not contain glycerine or similar lubricating components, and will be designed to not leave behind a film-type residue. However, this type of “pericoital” rinse (i.e., intended for pre-coital or post-coital use) will leave behind positively-charged zinc ions. Due to electrostatic attraction, these Zn++ ions will cling to negatively-charged canyons and other “binding sites” in proteins that are exposed and accessible on the surfaces of cells and virus particles. The binding of Zn++ ions to negatively-charged sites in these surface proteins will alter and disrupt the ability of viruses (including herpes and HIV) to bind to and infect human cells.

Abstract: This invention relates to the use of water-soluble zinc salts as anti-viral agents in condom lubricants. Such zinc-containing anti-viral lubricants can be coated onto condoms during manufacture and enclosed in sealed watertight packages containing the lubricated condoms. Preferred lubricants contain at least one water-soluble lubricating agent, such as glycerin or polyethylene glycol, and a suitable zinc salt, as well as some quantity of water to promote ionization of the salt and release of zinc ions (Zn++). If water is used, such lubricants may also contain a thickening or suspending agent, such as a cellulose derivative, a natural gum compound, or a hydrophilic polymer, to provide a gel; alternately, the carrier may be a different type of water-containing formulation, such as a cream, emulsion, or ointment. Suitable zinc salts include water-soluble organic salts having relatively low molecular weights (including zinc acetate, butyrate, gluconate, glycerate, glycolate, lactate, propionate, etc.).

Abstract: This invention relates to the use of water-soluble zinc salts as anti-viral agents in genital lubricants (such as condom lubricants or stand-alone gels), to reduce the risk of infection by sexually transmitted viruses. Such zinc-containing anti-viral lubricants can be spread on the shaft of the penis or inside the vagina before sexual intercourse, or applied in other suitable manners that causes the lubricant fluid to be coated on one or more genital surfaces during intercourse. These lubricants also can be sealed in watertight packages containing lubricated condoms, or packaged and sold as "stand-alone" lubricants in watertight containers without condoms. Preferred lubricants contain a water-soluble lubricating agent, such as glycerin or polyethylene glycol, and a suitable zinc salt, and water, to promote ionization of the salt and release of zinc ions (Zn.sup.++).

Abstract: This invention relates to an article of manufacture including a genital lubricant containing a selected non-irritating, water-soluble zinc salt at an anti-viral concentration, within a package that is provided with a label indicating that the lubricant is effective as an anti-viral agent against at least one type of sexually transmitted virus (such as genital herpes viruses, human immunodeficiency viruses, hepatitis viruses, or papilloma viruses). One such lubricant includes a lubricant gel in a plastic-walled tubular package, for use with or without a condom; another such lubricant includes a condom lubricant, coated on a condom and sealed along with the condom inside a disposable plastic pouch. The zinc salt must be water-soluble and have substantial dissociation rates to release divalent zinc ions, and the lubricant must not cause genital irritation or other adverse effects, even if used repeatedly over a period of months or years.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for using a topical genital lubricant with a non-toxic, non-irritating zinc salt during sexual intercourse. The lubricant is spread upon one or more genital surfaces to create an anti-viral chemical barrier that reduces the risk of infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS. Suitable zinc salts include zinc acetate, zinc propionate, and other non-irritating water-soluble organic zinc salts that dissociate readily. When dissolved in water, these salts release divalent zinc ions (Zn.sup.++), which apparently can reduce HIV infectivity by at least three mechanisms. First, zinc ions form crosslinking bonds with cysteine and histidine residues in proteins (such as the gp120 protein of HIV), thereby "gluing" HIV particles to each other, to proteins in vaginal fluids, and to dead or dying cells that will soon be sloughed off from the genital surfaces. This reduces the ability of the HIV to infect susceptible cells.

Abstract: This invention relates to an article of manufacture comprising an aqueous gel containing a selected zinc salt contained within a deformable plastic-walled tubular container, for convenient and consistent use as a topical genital lubricant during acts of sexual intercourse. The zinc salt must be organic, water-soluble, and have substantial dissociation rates to release divalent zinc ions. Suitable zinc salts include zinc acetate, zinc propionate, zinc butyrate, zinc formate, zinc gluconate, zinc glycerate, zinc glycolate, and zinc lactate. The gel must also contain a thickening agent (such as chemically treated cellulose) and a lubricating agent (such as glycerin), and it must be free of heparin, dextran sulfate, or any other anti-coagulant or other component which poses a substantial risk of adverse effects if the lubricant is used frequently and repeatedly over a period of months or years.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for reducing the risk of infection by sexually transmitted viruses. This method involves spreading a lubricant fluid containing a selected zinc salt across the surfaces of the penis or vagina, before intercourse, in a manner that causes the lubricant to coat and remain in contact with the genital surfaces throughout intercourse. The zinc salt should be organic, water-soluble, non-irritating, physiologically acceptable, and have a high rate of dissociation, which allows it to release substantial quantities of divalent zinc ions. Suitable zinc salts include zinc acetate, zinc propionate, zinc butyrate, zinc formate, zinc gluconate, zinc glycerate, zinc glycolate, and zinc lactate. A preferred carrier fluid comprises a lubricant gel, which also contains water, a thickening agent (such as chemically treated cellulose) and a lubricating agent (such as glycerin).

Abstract: This invention relates to the use of a water-soluble zinc salt, such as zinc acetate or zinc propionate, as an anti-viral agent in condom lubricants. Such lubricants can be coated onto condoms during manufacture and enclosed within condom packages, to provide an additional level of protection (beyond the level of protection already provided by the condom). The anti-viral zinc salt will help reduce the risk that a previously uninfected person will become infected by genital herpes viruses; it may also reduce the risk of transmission of HIV, hepatitis, and papilloma viruses, and other sexually transmitted pathogens.

Abstract: This invention relates to the use of zinc salts as anti-viral agents in sexual lubricants. A zinc salt which releases divalent zinc ions in an aqueous carrier fluid is provided in a sexual lubricant formulation which is spread on the genitals before sexual intercourse. The mixture is non-irritating, and the zinc ions serve as an anti-viral agent to reduce the risk of contracting genital herpes if a sexual partner is infected. These lubricants may also reduce the risk of infection by other sexually transmitted viral diseases, such as hepatitis, papilloma viruses, and AIDS. A preferred lubricant formulation comprises water, a thickening or suspending agent, a lubricating agent, and a suitable zinc salt. Salts which have been tested and shown to be non-irritating during sexual intercourse include zinc acetate, zinc propionate, and zinc gluconate. Other zinc salts have also been identified which are soluble in water and have low pK values, which indicates a high rate of zinc ion release.