Abstract: A swivelable mount for the boot bindings of a snowboard or the like, including a low profile housing with walls enclosing a cylindrical cavity, the housing bottom having a bore concentric with and smaller in diameter than the cavity, the bore being surrounded by an upward-facing annular surface, the housing top adapted for the mounting of a boot binding. A circular member for rotatably mounting the housing is secured to the snowboard and has a stem journaled in the housing bore and a larger diameter cap fitting in the housing cavity. The cap provides a downward-facing annular flange positioned opposite the upward-facing annular surface of the housing, and prevents upward movement of the housing from the snowboard. A circular locking plate rotatably mounted in the cavity above the top of the housing mount has a top surface characterized by a plurality of radially extending undulations, and the top wall of the housing cavity is provided with a similar undulating surface.

Abstract: Disclosed is a corner protector used for packing framed pictures, mirrors, and the like, the protector formed of a single block of expanded polystyrene-like lightweight material and having an upright and a horizontal external wall, spaced-apart parallel side walls, and a forward wall that inclines at 45.degree. to the upright and horizontal walls. A shaped cavity for receiving the corner of the framed article is provided in the inclined wall, the cavity characterized by a tiered structure of progressively wider slots.

Abstract: A heater for the rapid heating of water includes a main body having plural vertical upwardly opening chambers, combined with a molded cover plate that can be removably installed over the upper part of the main body. A plurality of combination heating and chamber partition assemblies extend downwardly from the bottom surface of the installed cover plate and one each of the assemblies resides in a main body chamber, each assembly including a generally flat and vertically elongated partition member and a pair of heating coils mounted to each partition member, one each coil on opposite sides of the partition member, and each partition member cooperates with a chamber to form a first channel for conducting water downwardly and a second channel for conducting water upwardly.

Abstract: Disclosed is a dog sled that has improved steering capabilities, and includes spaced-apart sideframes and a plurality of rigid cross ties that hold the sideframes spaced apart in parallel relationship, the cross ties connecting to the side frames by flexible joints, and a flexible bumper or brush bow interconnects front ends of the sideframes. A runner is secured to each sideframe, the front end of the runner connects to the front of the sideframe and a central part of the runner connects to the lower end of the sideframe, providing the runner with a long, rearwardly extending portions. A handle extends transversely from the upper part of one sideframe to the upper part of the other sideframe, and each opposite end of the handle pivotally connects to the sideframe for rotation about an axis in the vertical plane of the sideframe and inclined at a substantial angle between the horizontal and the vertical.

Abstract: Disclosed is a portable sports goal and pitch back assembly of tubular construction including a U-shaped main, generally upright frame with a horizontal top bar and two side posts, and a foot member that extends rearwardly at a right angle from the lower end of each side post. There is also a ground-engaging U-shaped base frame that includes a rear cross member and a pair of laterally spaced side members with front ends that connect to the rear ends of the foot members by way of adjustable, releasably lockable hinge joints that are used to lock the main frame at a desired inclination. In one configuration of the assembly, the main frame is vertical, and a net is mounted about the peripheries of the frames, and the assembly serves as a sports goal. The assembly is adjustable to another configuration for use as a pitch back device, by substantially inclining the main frame, and mounting a tensioned rebound net across the face of the inclined frame.

Abstract: Disclosed is a handling device for a plastic trash bag including a bag-support frame having a general D-shaped configuration including a base and an arching portion having an apex, and an elongate tubular handle is pivotally connected to the frame apex of the support frame for rotational adjustment about an axis parallel to the frame base such that the handle can be rotated to, and frictionally supported in a variety of angles with respect to the plane of the frame. A resiliently spreadable clamp ring embraces the handle, and the open mouth of a trash bag can overlap the frame, and a portion of the bag can be embraced between the clamp and the handle to temporarily secure the bag in place.

Abstract: A dog boot for use on a hunting dog, the boot having a lower paw-receiving portion of flexible, moisture-resistent material, and a generally tubular elongate legging portion extending upwardly from the paw-receiving portion, a vertical slit in the legging portion providing first and second overlappable flap portions, and a buckle-equipped securing strap at the lower part and at the upper part of the legging portion, the boot securable to the leg to provide protection as well as buoyancy, shock absorbency and thermal insulation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tong-like hand implement for collecting solid animal waste within a small plastic bag, including a pair of pivotally connected levers having loop handles at one end. The other ends of the levers support a pair of resilient, bendable, bag-engaging arms that lie parallel to the pivot axis of the levers. These resilient arms are engagable within the open end of a plastic bag, and then the loop handles can be manipulated to space the arms from each other, the arms resiliently bowing as they are spread apart against the open end of the bag, the open bag then being invertible to form a cavity for receiving the waste material, the handles then being manipulated to close the bag about the waste material.

Abstract: Disclosed is an in-line roller skate including an elongate base plate having a top side to which a boot is secured, and an underside that mounts four wheel assemblies, the front wheel assembly having a fixed orientation and the remaining assemblies each having a caster-like construction. Springs bias each of the caster-like assemblies in a straight-ahead orientation, and first and second near-vertically extending fixed brake surfaces are spaced on opposite sides of the rearwardmost wheel such that the wheel frictionally engages a brake surface whenever the wheel is substantiallly turned to one direction or the opposite direction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a portable electric power drill having a rotatable cylindrical magazine within the drill housing for storing a tool bit element in each of its plural bores, the magazine being rotatable to bring a selected magazine bore in alignment with the central bore of a chuck assembly at the front of the drill. A flexible cable is slidable by hand between forward and rearward positions to eject a tool bit element from the magazine to the chuck and to return a tool bit from the chuck to the magazine, and the drill includes mechanism to allow the chuck to be tightened and loosened without the use of a chuck key, or without having to otherwise manually grasp the chuck or associated rotatable parts.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hand glove or mitt that has a semi-rigid polymeric molded construction with an open back, and includes a first portion having a recess for loosely receiving the thumb of the hand, another portion having a recess for the opposing fingers, and a central, palm-covering portion that adjoins the first and second portions, the molded glove being self-supporting in an initial configuration with the thumb-receiving portion spaced from the fingers-receiving portion so as to provide an article-receiving gap between these opposing portions, the glove being resiliently manipulatable from its initial configuration so as to widen or close the gap.

Abstract: A martial arts throwing and hand-held weapon that has a generally oblong frame that includes parallel opposite side members, a rear bar that connects rearward ends of the side members, and a pair of oblique front members that converge from forward ends of the side members to an apex from which extends forwardly a pointed weapon tip.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus that uses UV energy to seal articles in plastic clamshell packages, and which employs a portable tray that can hold a plurality of packages to be sealed, each package having a bottom piece shaped to hold an article and a top piece with a periphery which nests within the periphery of a bottom piece supplied with UV curable adhesive. The tray is mountable on a loading platform which is operative to position the tray within an enclosure below a raised pressure plate having UV transparent portions, and below a UV light source and a shutter mechanism for controlling exposure of the transparent portions of the pressure plate by the UV source.