Other

Michael C Thompson

Mark M Gottlieb

Pradeep M Bhagwat

Jiri A Janata

Gregory H Rice

Thomas F Roche

Robert J Huber

Stephen S Thompson

Bonnie L Goulding-Thompson

A vent pipe covering apparatus, kit, and related methods are provided. The vent pipe covering apparatus includes a tubular structure having a first end and a second end, wherein the tubular structure is positioned surrounding an exposed portion of a substantially vertical building roof-mounted vent pipe. A cap is positioned at the first end of the tubular structure, wherein the cap has a closed surface positioned directly above the building roof-mounted vent pipe. A venting structure is positioned in at least one of the tubular structure and the cap. A connection system is positioned between the tubular structure and the building roof-mounted vent pipe proximate to the second end of the tubular structure, wherein the connection system retains the tubular structure stationary relative to the building roof-mounted vent pipe.

Roof-mounted vent pipe covering apparatus, kit, and related methods

A convertible tow dolly supported upon a towing vehicle when in an elevated and non-use position. The dolly includes an elongated tubular support having a first end pivotally secured to a first bracket fixedly engaged to a hitch associated with a towing vehicle. A wheeled and crosswise extending portion exhibits a secondary bracket which is pivotally secured a second end of the elongated tubular support and which is locked into position to prevent up and down articulation relative to the brackets and for supporting a towed vehicle upon the crosswise extending portion in a use position. The elongated support is unlocked at the brackets, such as by removal of first and second clevis pins, to permit folding about the first and second pivotal connections and in a direction towards the towing vehicle, concurrent with elevating the wheeled and crosswise extending portion to a subsequently locked and non-use position.

Fold up/fold down tow dolly for use with a load bearing vehicle hitch

A self-contained excavation device, with specific application as a beach umbrella excavator and anchor apparatus, includes a cutting head with a stepped cutting edge to penetrate thin shell layers, recesses defining anchor shelves to prevent pullout from wind, and anchor sweep faces for severing a structural connection between the compacted formation material and the recesses for easy removal of the device. The self-contained excavation device also includes a pressure limit chamber to prevent overpressure of the drilling fluid, a floating piston with straight intake ports for easy maintenance, and a self-cleaning valve to prevent debris from accumulating and clogging the valve.

Self-contained excavator and anchor apparatus and method

An aesthetic and highly functional massage tool is disclosed which comprises a generally triangular frame adapted to be held in the palm of one hand. It has three leg members, each leg member extending generally from a bottom side corner portion of the frame a height generally exceeding the thickness of a finger. Each leg having a generally rounded bottom portion. The legs and triangular frame are monolithically molded from plastic. The frame has a generally triangular opening so that one may extend their fingers therethrough and around a side portion of the frame. This triangular design enables one to securely and comfortably hold the massage tool in multiple positions while during use. This is important because use in any one position tires particular muscles of the massageur. It also facilitates massaging different body portions in differing manners. The triangular void facilitates wrapping one's fingers around the massage tool. It enables one to slide the tool along while pushing downwardly on it. One's hand effortlessly falls within the triangular void and over the exterior of the triangular frame sufficiently to prevent the tool from slipping out from beneath one's hand. The triangular void also allows one to massage holding the tool in an upright position. In the most preferred embodiment the generally triangular frame has the shape of a heart and the plastic is marbled in more than one color.

Triangular hand massager

A method of forming boreholes using a cutting head having a low angle cutting face includes positioning orifices within the cutting head to direct pressurized streams of drilling fluid to impinge directly on the cutting face. The pressurized fluid streams clear excavated material away from the cutting face to increase the efficiency of the cutting head. In one embodiment, the orifices are positioned within the cutting face, while a second embodiment positions the orifices behind the cutting face. An alternative method provides for the stealthy formation of boreholes without disturbing the surrounding formation. The method includes positioning an orifice within the cutting head behind the cutting face to direct drilling fluid toward excavated material which has accumulated within the cutting head to a point behind the cutting face. The drilling fluid mixes with the excavated material to form a slurry while an interior pipe vacuums the slurry from the cutting head before the drilling fluid migrates to the surrounding formation.

Drilling technique utilizing drilling fluids directed on low angle

A method and article for facilitating the application of a wet suit to a human body having a torso portion with a first arm member and a second arm member extend outwardly from opposite sides of the torso portion. The first and second leg members extend downwardly from the torso portion. The torso portion, the leg members and the arm members are formed of a spun high density polyethylene fiber material. First and second mittens are also formed of the same material and are removably affixed adjacent to the first and second arm members, respectively. First and second boots are also formed of the same material and are removably affixed adjacent to the first and second leg members, respectively. The torso portion has a V-shaped open area formed on a back surface of the torso portion.

Method and apparatus for facilitating the application and removal of a

A method for forming substantially lateral boreholes from within an existing elongated shaft includes positioning a drilling unit within the existing shaft, bracing the drilling unit against a wall surrounding the existing shaft to transmit forces between the drilling unit and the medium surrounding the wall, and applying a drilling force from the drilling unit to cut through the wall of the existing shaft and form the substantially lateral borehole in the surrounding medium. A preferred apparatus for practicing the method includes an extendable insert ram within the drilling unit for extending a drill bit from the drilling unit and applying a drilling force to the drill bit to cut through the wall of the existing shaft. A supply of modular drill string elements are cyclically inserted between the insert ram and the drill bit so that repeated extensions of the insert ram further extends the drill bit into the surrounding medium to increase the length of the lateral borehole. The insert ram may also be used to engage and retract the module drill string elements from the borehole once the borehole has been completed. The drilling unit also includes a supply of modular liner elements which the insert ram may insert into the lateral borehole to line the borehole after the drill string elements have been withdrawn from the borehole.

Cutting head

A method of transporting material includes forming a structural encasement from the material and applying a force to the encasement to transport the material to a desired destination. The structural encasement allows for the transmission of applied forces through the encasement. A core material may be encased within the structural encasement so that both materials are transported together. Confinement forces are transmitted throughout the structural encasement to maintain the core material encased within the encasement. A preferred apparatus for practicing the method includes an inner nozzle for projecting core material and an outer nozzle surrounding the inner nozzle for projecting a hollow column of encasement material around the core material so that the core material is encased within the column. The outer nozzle further applies force to the column to direct the column and the encased core material to the desired destination. The column and the core material may constitute either the same or dissimilar materials and may be projected from the apparatus at either the same or different velocities.

Method and apparatus for transporting material

Method and apparatus for forming lateral boreholes

A microprocessor controlled automobile security system provides several features for enhanced operability. The system allows a receiving unit to learn a plurality of operating codes from a plurality of uniquely coded transmitters with which it can operate, thereby allowing each transmitting unit to be sold separately from each receiving unit. The system also allows for an operator to personally set the threshold at which a signal detected by a shock detector will result in an alarm being triggered. The system is further selectively operable in either a manual arming mode or a passive arming mode. The system also allows selective operation in either a full current sensing mode in which either a detected shock above an absolute threshold or a .DELTA. threshold, or current flow above a predetermined level, will trigger an alarm system or operation in a shock and current integration mode in which if a detected current exceeding a predetermined threshold and a shock above an absolute or .DELTA. threshold is required to trigger the alarm or a much greater current flow is required to trigger the alarm system.

Automobile security system

A chemical selective sensor system utilizes admittance modulated to detect the presence of chemicals or chemical species in a fluid. The sensor system includes a film or membrane adapted to pass ions when selected chemicals which are to be detected are present at the membrane surface. The membrane is attached to a hydrophilic layer of material which, in turn, is attached to a transformed layer which is deposited on a base substrate. When the selected chamicals are present in the fluid, the membrane interacts with the chemicals to allow ions, also in the fluid, to permeate the membrane. This ion current in the membrane is transformed or converted by the transformer layer to an electronic current which is measured by an electrical circuit coupled to the transformer layer of material. An alternating current source is coupled at one terminal to the transformer layer and to the measuring circuit, and at another terminal to a circuit return electrode.

Growing community of inventors

Southern Pines, NC, United States of America

Michael C Thompson