Abstract: A device for absorbing or blotting grease from the surface of foods such as pizza comprising a support member having a handle for manually gripping the device and an absorbent or oligiophilic pad attached to such support member for blotting the surface of a food item.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for installing and replacing a valve stem from the valve stem rim opening defined in the rim of a tubeless tire from the outside of the rim, such tool including a threaded rod for engaging the valve stem and pulling the valve stem through an inwardly tapered first tube into a second tube dimensioned to fit into the valve stem rim opening, the flange of the valve stem is gradually compressed, and after the tapered tube is removed the second tube is placed in the rim opening and the valve stem is pushed into the valve stem opening using only manual force.

Abstract: A dispensing container is provided having a side discharging dispensing cap which is smaller than the end of the container and hinged to the container at a position slightly beyond the opening of the container and includes a position control arrangement for the cap to releasably position it in closed and dispensing positions including a protrusion from the inside of one side wall near the top and two spaced depressions in the structure of the dispenser cap.

Abstract: A game board having a representation of a baseball playing field is provided. Cards containing questions about the sport are divided into regular question and “challenge” question cards. When batting, a player uses a chance determining device to determine the outcome of an at bat, preferably either a “hit” or “out”. If the outcome is a “hit”, such player is then asked a question taken from a regular question card. If answered correctly, a playing piece is moved to the designated base. If the “hit” is a home run, a run is tallied on the scoreboard. Next, at the battling player's option, he or she may then ask an opposing player a question from a “challenge” question card. If the opposing player answers incorrectly, the battling player will advance his or her playing piece an extra base. The team with most runs at the end is declared the winner.

Abstract: A highly automated hog housing, feeding and sorting system and method comprising a finishing barn partitioned into two separate pens each capable of holding at least 400 hogs in a large open area, with each room having a living area and central shared but divided feeding area, such that through the adjustment of a gating and fencing system enclosing the feeding area, two pens of hogs can be sorted using a single electronic sorting scale, and wherein hogs are made to sort themselves by weight upon passing through the electronic sorting scale, which designates the animals as either light or heavy, and whereafter a diversion gate ushers them either into the regular feeding area with access back to the living area if they are designated as “light,” or into a separate holding pen if they are designated as “heavy. A sick pen area at each end of the building, having its own feed and water supply, is also provided.

Abstract: A method for removing hairs from living skin is provided which includes steps of measuring with a colorimeter the color of the area of the skin where the hair is to be removed to obtain a color value, employing the color value to select an optimum range of laser energy necessary to kill hair follicles in the area yet minimize inflammatory reaction, and directing the laser energy of the optimum range at the skin area.

Abstract: A slatted recycling and refuse receptacle is provided with detents at the top for the mounting of a demountable top on the receptacle. Various tops can be mounted with various decorative treatments. Having the decoration on the top itself enables such decoration to be removed with the top so it doesn't interfere with removal of trash and recyclables from the receptacle through the top.

Abstract: An annular diffuser has its inlet located at the exit of a last row of blades of a gas turbine having initially very slowly increasing cross-sectional area with distance to accommodate the diffusion produced by the decaying wakes in the diffuser so as to prevent flow separation from diffuser walls and as a result to foster the diffusion process and to increase the efficiency of the gas turbine. The rate of increase of cross-sectional area, which is much smaller than that appropriate in diffusers having uniform flow at their inlets, allows wakes which form near the trailing edges of the last turbine blades to dissipate while avoiding flow separation. In the diffuser of this invention, at a distance from inlet of one half of diffuser height at inlet, the cross-sectional area increase is smaller than 6.5% of the inlet cross-sectional area. This is equivalent to the corresponding two-dimensional straight-wall diffuser angle of, approximately 3.7 degrees.

Abstract: An interconvertible article of clothing which can be converted from a jacket form to a backpack form, the jacket having an oversized pocket concealed in the back panel of such jacket for holding a full size tent, a warning or signalling flag disposed on the tent pocket cover, a plurality of pockets on other areas of the jacket for storage of emergency blankets, first aid, and other survival necessities, and having shoulder straps and a waist belt for supporting and distributing the weight of the tent and carrying the backpack.

Abstract: A flow by-pass system is provided in a downward-discharging exhaust hood of a steam turbine to by-pass a small percentage of the total steam flow from the top portion of the exhaust hood to the vicinity of the condenser and in that way relieve excess pressure in the top portion incident to the more convoluted path of the main portion of steam passing from the top to the bottom and to decrease energy loss caused by friction and thus to improve turbine efficiency. The flow by-pass system includes by-pass conduits within the front portion of the exhaust hood extending from the top portion to the vicinity of the condenser.

Abstract: An informational card is disclosed incorporating a plurality of separable, functional articles that are removable from such card and capable of being applied to a separate article or articles, either independently of, or in conjunction with each other. The removable articles, such as a patch, embroidered emblem, heat transfer or the like, may be removed from the card and adhesively or heat applied to a separate article, with indicia that bears some relation to the information conveyed on the card. One of the removable articles has a cutout to accommodate the placement of a first removable article during the conjunctive application of a series of removable articles to an article separate and distinct from the informational card.

Abstract: A combination guitar and bass guitar and method of playing is provided in which the bass strings are distributed between matched guitar strings so that adjacent bass and guitar strings can be plucked substantially simultaneously by a player, resulting in the simultaneous playing of bass and guitar by a single player. Various combinations of bass strings interspersed in or between guitar strings are disclosed. The guitar and bass can also be played independently of each other in the normal manner.

Abstract: A refuse and recycling receptacle assembly is constructed of two half round slatted receptacles hingedly secured to an intermediate stand upon which plastic garbage bags and the like can be attached. When it is wished to empty the plastic containers, the slatted receptacles can be pivoted out of the way allowing convenient access to the actual containers, which are protected at other times by the slatted half round receptacles which serve as covers for the actual trash receiving containers.

Abstract: A bed skirt having a downwardly extending ruffle and panel sections that are tucked between an upper and lower mattress to maintain such bed skirt in a proper position and alignment with respect to the lower mattress. The panel sections are discontinuous or partially discontinuous and are equipped with adjustable fasteners that are used to secure the positioning of the panel sections with respect to each other. The panel sections are designed to be incrementally inserted between an upper and lower mattress, and the fasteners allow a user to secure the panel sections in proper alignment with respect to each other and with respect to the lower mattress once inserted and positioned between the mattresses.

Abstract: An annular diffuser having its inlet located at the exit of a last row of blades of a steam turbine having initially very slowly increasing cross-sectional area with distance to accommodate the diffusion produced by the decaying wakes in the diffuser so as to prevent flow separation from diffuser walls and as a result to foster the diffusion process and to increase the efficiency of the steam turbine. The rate of increase of cross-sectional area, which is much smaller than that appropriate in diffusers having uniform incompressible flow at their inlets, allows wakes which form near the trailing edges of the last turbine blades to dissipate while avoiding flow separation. In the diffuser of this invention, whether it is one of fixed shape or one whose cross-sectional area can be changed by making use of an adjustable guide vane which surrounds at least a portion of the bearing cone, at a distance from inlet of one half of diffuser height at inlet, the cross-sectional area increase is smaller than 5.

Abstract: A garment primarily for use as a hospital gown having three adjacent panels with the central panel being sandwiched between the outer panels. Two of the panels are unitary, while the third panel is split into two sections along a more or less vertical line and held together by a fastening means. The garment may be worn with the human torso disposed between the split or openable panel and the central unitary panel, or between the central panel and outer unitary panel. The gown provides added dignity to the wearer as well warmth and protection from cold drafts, while still allowing the wearer's body to be easily and quickly accessed through the gap between the side seams of the middle and third panels.

Abstract: A resilient dielectric wiper blade is mounted between electrodes and a workpiece, particularly in an anodizing operation, to wipe bubbles of oxygen from the anodic work surface, to remove a surface layer of excessively heated electrolytic solution and replace with fresh cooler solution, and in the case of flexible strip processing, to stabilize the strip between cathodes. The resilient dielectric wiper blade is preferably used with perforated electrodes to facilitate removal of overheated electrolytic solution and replace with freshly circulated solution.