99results about How to "Inexpensive to construct" patented technology

There is disclosed an inflatable lining for selected inner surfaces of footwear, such as a shoe, boot or sandal. The inflatable lining is formed of first and second plastic sheets having the shape and size of the selected inner surfaces, e.g., a sole, or any portion of the upper surfaces of the footwear. The sheets are bonded together in a continuous seam about their peripheral edges thereby forming a sealed interior chamber. A plurality of discontinuous seams are formed between the first and second sheets to create within the sealed interior chamber a plurality of interconnecting tubular passageways, and at least one continuous seam can also be provided that subdivides the interior chamber into two or more subdivided interior chambers. The inflatable liner is provided with an air pump that preferably is a flexible bulb with an inlet valve which discharges into a flexible tube which extends to a pressure control valve and then to the interior chamber of the inflatable inner sole. Preferably the flexible bulb is mounted at the heel of the inner sole. The pressure relief valve is manually adjustable to control the pressure within the inflatable inner sole. Excess air from the pressure control valve can be directed into channels formed on the undersurface of the inner sole where it discharges through sealed apertures in the inner sole thereby providing forced air circulation in the footwear. Alternatively, manually operated air pumps can be provided.

A security system including several camera devices and a communication device in sites at which monitoring is required by a user. The several camera devices may constantly monitor the sites. The camera devices have motion detecting functions and provide unusual status reporting signals and necessary image information to the communications device when the movements of an intruder have been detected. The communication device communicates with and is connected to a server that serves as an information center via the internet line when unusual status signals have been received. The information from the camera devices is also sent to server. The server automatically notifies the user by a predetermined user-selected method. The notified user can access the server and confirm the information.

The present invention relates to an electric double layer capacitor comprised of carbonaceous electrodes enclosed in polymer housing, using conductive polymer current collectors intrinsically bonded to both the electrodes and the enclosure, and a method for constructing the same. The present invention also relates to bipolar stacks of electric double layer capacitor cells and a method for producing the same.

A multipoint conferencing system for allowing a conference to be held among a plurality of terminals capable of making communication via an IP network includes: a telephone conference server for, out of said plurality of said terminals, recognizing the terminal participating in the conference as a terminal belonging to either a speaker group or a listener group, and for generating audio data by making a mixing of audio data from the terminal belonging to said speaker group; and a audio delivering section for delivering the audio data for which a mixing was made by said telephone conference server to terminals belonging to said speaker group and said listener group. Further, the terminal is made movable between the speaker group and listener group.

A valve actuator apparatus and method comprises an operator housing secured to a bonnet assembly. The bonnet assembly is secured to the valve body, and includes a bonnet stem movably within a bonnet housing for moving a gate within the valve body to open and close the valve. A downstop member is fixably secured to the bonnet stem and engages removable stem spacers which are added or removed to obtain a selected bonnet stem drift setting. The operator housing connects to a base ring that surrounds the bonnet housing and rotates to allow positioning of a fluid port in the operator housing. The operator housing may removed and replaced without altering the bonnet stem drift adjustment. A top shaft extends from the operator housing and rotates with respect to the bonnet stem to prevent torque transmission from the top shaft to the bonnet stem. A replaceable sealing cartridge sealingly supports the top shaft for axial movement within the operator housing.

An electric system has a fuel cell for generating electric power by being supplied with a reactive gas, an electric storage device having a voltage lower than a voltage output from the fuel cell, a first power supply line connected to the fuel cell, a second power supply line connected to the electric storage device, and a first DC-to-DC converter for performing bidirectional voltage conversion between the first power supply line and the second power supply line. An inverter, a propulsive electric motor, and an air compressor are supplied with electric power from the first power supply line. An electrically operated air conditioner motor, windshield wiper motors, and power window motors, etc., which serve as a second electric accessory, are supplied with electric power from the second power supply line.

Devices for modification of a microwave signal using a magnetically saturated ferrite magnetoelectric device with electrical control are disclosed. The device is useful for microwave resonators, band pass filters, delay lines and phase shifters.

A mud motor bearing assembly for use in drilling a hydrocarbon well. The bearing assembly includes a bearing section containing stationary bearing rigs and rotating bearing rings in stacked arrangement. The bearing rings have wedge-shaped projections. The wedge-shaped projections of two adjacent stationary bearing rings form a recess to accommodate the projection of a rotating bearing ring in sliding engagement. The bearing assembly is capable of bearing both radial and axial loads.

Devices for modification of a microwave signal using a magnetically saturated ferrite magnetoelectric device with electrical control are disclosed. The device is useful for microwave resonators, band pass filters, delay lines and phase shifters.

A lamp (10) has a concave reflector (12) that includes an opening (14) in the bottom thereof and is substantially symmetrically arrayed about a longitudinal axis (16). A light source (18) is positioned in the opening (14) and has a symmetry axis (19) that is coaxial with the longitudinal axis (16) of the reflector (12). The light source (18) comprises a hollow ceramic member (20) with an inner surface (22) and an outer surface (24). First and second electrically conductive traces (26, 28) and first and second rows (29, 31) of first and second electrically conductive pads (30, 32) connected by the electrically conductive traces (26, 28) are formed on the outer surface (24). Light emitting diodes (34) are associated with at least some of the electrically conductive pads (30, 32); and a heat-conducting mechanism (36) is contained within the hollow ceramic member (20) for removing heat generated by the light emitting diodes (34) when the light emitting diodes (34) are operating.

Non invasive measurement of infant lung function during unsedated sleep is achieved by a plethysmograph which comprises of a rigid acrylic box (10) with integral water sealed spirometer (11) and a vacuum-actuated neck seal (20) allowing "head out" monitoring. The neck seal comprises particulate material entrapped in the space between two layers of rubber, which become rigid when a vacuum is applied to the space. Tidal volume, respiratory rate and changes in functional residual capacity (FRC) are able to be recorded during unsedated REM and NREM sleep whilst monitoring with conventional polysomnographic methods. The head out configuration allows additional instrumentation to be used, avoids facial stimulation and allows unimpeded access to the upper airway.

A composting apparatus and method is described. The apparatus comprises a cylindrical drum which is horizontally rotatably supported. A hopper is disposed at a feed end of the drum for receiving organic waste material in soft or hard form. A material shredding mechanism and a grinding mechanism are rotatably secured in the hopper and driven in counter-rotation for shredding and grinding the organic waste material and feeding it into an inlet opening of the drum. A series of material mixing and conveying vane assemblies are secured spaced-apart inside the drum and define sub-composting compartments therebetween. The material mixing and conveying vane assemblies have a plurality of vanes secured in spaced-apart relationship and project interiorly towards a central longitudinal axis of the drum and are oriented at a common angle to mix, further shred and displace shredded and ground material from the inlet opening towards the rear discharge end of the drum. The gases escaping from the drum are vented from an enclosure of the composting apparatus and the material inside the drum is discharged by suction.

A plug designed to seal an opening formed in a concrete wall. The plug comprises a main body portion, a first end, and a second end wherein the first end and second end are combined by a bolt having a fastener on one end. Washers are combined with the bolt on each end of the plug. The plug has a first diameter wherein it can be inserted into the opening and a second diameter wherein it plugs the opening in the wall. The plug is moved from its first position to its second position by tightening the fastener thereby squeezing the plug between the two washers. This tightening causes an expansion of the plug to its second position, increasing its diameter inside the opening and forming a seal between the plug and the wall of the opening.

A power control apparatus comprises a transducer having an output (12,13) which is connected to a remotely activated device (25) mounted in a mains consumer unit (14). When a predefined parameter is detected, the device (25) is activated to connect a load (29) between the switched live output (18) of a residual current device RCD (15) and the neutral input (17) thereof, thereby creating an imbalanced current flow on the live and neutral output terminals (18,19) of the RCD (15) which causes contacts (20,21) inside the RCD (15) to disconnect the supply to an appliance circuit (22).

A portable campfire apparatus has a base, a fire pan supported by the base, a gas manifold disposed in the fire pan and a quantity of low-density, non-flammable particulate material in the fire pan at a depth to cover the manifold. The fire pan and the base are substantially the same shape and size. A cylindrical spacer can be interposed between the fire pan and the base, and a lid of geometry similar to the base and fire pan is disclosed and rests on an inwardly projecting shoulder on the rim of the fire pan. When upright, the upper rim is parallel to the ground, but when tipped over the rim is at an angle of no less than ninety degrees to the ground. Different shapes of the base and fire pan are taught, and different configurations of the manifold are shown.

A rotary / pull switch , in particular a light switch for a motor vehicle, includes an actuating element having a base and axle that is guided in a housing. A permanent magnet is associated with the axle and several magnetic field sensors are associated with the base for determining the switching positions of the actuating element.

The present invention relates to squib connectors for instance for airbag ignition systems, which allow the electrical or electronic monitoring of the correct coupling of a squib plug-connector with its corresponding counterpart. According to the invention, a squib connector has at least two terminals having corresponding signal lines. In order to allow an electrical monitoring of the correct coupling of the plug connector, the terminals are in electrical contact with each other in the uncoupled or incorrectly coupled condition of the plug connector. This electrical contact between the terminals is adapted for being separated upon correct coupling to a corresponding counter-connector either automatically or by an actuating action. The disconnecting of the terminals may then be monitored by any suitable monitoring means.

The putter head is symmetrical about a plane and includes a toe member having an elongated striking surface and a heel member which extends to the rear of the toe member. In one embodiment of the putter head, a cavity extends inward from a rear or upper wall of the heel member. In another embodiment, a nut is attached to the rear or upper wall of the heel member. Plugs of differing weights are each adapted to be screwed into the cavity or into the central opening of the nut.

A chlorine generator cell (10) contains components that require physical isolation between the anode compartment (20), cathode compartment (30), and outside environment. The cell (10) also contains a membrane (50) that provides selective electrical conductivity between the anode compartment (20) and cathode compartment (30). The cell (10) consists of a series of pipe fittings that allow access to the interior of cell (10) for placement of water and salt to generate chlorine. The anode stem (71) and cathode stem (81) located outside of cell (10) are connected to a power supply (91). Power supply (91) may be further connected to a power controller (92) that allows for adjustment of the energy output of power supply (91) to the optimum energy level, thus the desired chlorine output. This invention provides a chlorine generator that is portable, yet is allows for expanded size with additional pipe fittings as needed. Furthermore, this invention allows multiple to infinite chlorine output levels with a single cell (10).

An illuminated garment holder includes at least one support member having a free end which is adapted to be secured to a wall or ceiling. The opposite end includes a connecting joint on which an elongated light fixture is rotatably mounted in a generally horizontal position. The light fixture includes a fluorescent bulb or the like, and a translucent lens through which light from the bulb is transmitted to the exterior of the fixture. The fixture can be rotated to any of the number of positions and locked in place to direct the light as desired. The fixture is dimensioned to support clothing hangers for garment displays.

A vacuum cleaner includes a device for dispensing atomized liquid, the device having a reservoir for holding liquid and an ultrasonic transducer arranged to atomize the liquid in the reservoir. An airflow is created through the reservoir via the exhaust gasflow from the vacuum cleaner, the airflow carrying the atomized liquid via an elongate tube to dispensing outlet provided on a cleaning head of the vacuum cleaner. The ultrasonic transducer is simple and inexpensive, yet is able to reliably atomize the liquid for dispensing.

A propelling transmission control apparatus for a working vehicle having a hydrostatic stepless transmission comprises a variable displacement type hydraulic pump (35), a change speed control mechanism (80) for converting a displacement of a control device (55) to a control displacement for varying a swash plate angle of the hydraulic pump, a fixed displacement main hydraulic motor (36) and a variable displacement auxiliary hydraulic motor (37) connected in series to the hydraulic pump. A common output shaft receives rotational output from both motors. A control piston (35) varies the swash plate angle of the auxiliary hydraulic motor, is connected to a pressure oil supply line (39) for supplying both hydraulic motors with pressure oil, and is operable to vary the swash plate angle of the auxiliary hydraulic motor (37) such that the auxiliary hydraulic motor (37) has an increased volume with a pressure increase applied to the control piston (38).

An individual transportation system (10) includes a track system (12), including a primary track section (14), a switching track section (16) and loading / unloading section (18). The transportation system (10) additionally includes a plurality of carriages (20) supported by the track system (12), and a plurality of underslung passenger vehicles (22) each matably engageable with one of the carriages, and adapted to hold at least one passenger therein. The transportation system (10) further includes a storage facility (24) for storing the vehicles (22) when they are disengaged from the carriage, whereby a carriage and vehicle combination traveling on the primary track can be switched between primary track section (14) via an associated switching track section (16), and can be switched to the loading / unloading track (18), wherein the vehicle may be disengaged from carriage (20) and stored in the storage facility (24).

A vertical axis wind turbine provides a rotor assembly which rotates on bearing assemblies affixed to a rotor shaft supported by a base, the rotor assembly having vertical blades mounted between top and bottom plates, and power takeoff means to provide power by direct mechanical linkage or to drive an electrical generator. The rotor assembly is partially enclosed by a housing. Attached to the side of the housing is a wind vane. Attached to the bottom side of the housing are rollers. The wind vane, in combination with the rollers, act to rotate the housing to a position that will permit the wind to act upon the exposed vertical blades.

The present invention provides a surface roughness / contour shape measuring apparatus that can move a probe relative to a workpiece within an orthogonal X-Y plane while employing a relatively inexpensive construction. In the surface roughness / contour shape measuring apparatus (1), the probe (6, 7) and a driving unit (4) for driving the probe (6, 7) in one predesignated direction are connected together by a connecting member (8) capable of moving the probe (6, 7) in one predesignated direction relative to the driving unit (4).

A barrel rack is provided for supporting a plurality of barrels thereon, and preferably also for being stacked atop barrels to stabilize them and permit the support of additional barrels. The barrel rack is preferably a unitary member molded of synthetic material, and may be symmetrical about a horizontal plane extending through its center. It is provided with a plurality of cradle beds which support the barrel in an elevated position and permit the circulation of air around the barells stored thereon. The barrel rack may receive casters permitting the barrel rack to be used as a transport device for moving barrels received thereon.