Abstract: A child's stuffed pillow and a play item concealable within a pocket in the pillow. Two cushioning members, each including a cushioning medium and having a flexible fabric covering thereover, are attached together as by sewing in a side-by-side arrangement around common perimeter edges of inner covering panels of the coverings. A pocket is formed between the inner covering panels into which a play item is concealable within the pocket. A tether is connected between the bottom of the pocket and the neck of the play item to hold the play item in close proximity to the pocket during play wherein the child may grasp the play item like a handle of the pillow.

Abstract: A four-wheel steering system for a remote control vehicle. The system includes a pair of steering actuators driving a pair of front bell cranks. A front toe link is pivotally connected to each of the spaced front bell cranks for lateral translation. Right and left front tie rods are each pivotally connected between corresponding ends of the front toe link and a corresponding front steering knuckle. An elongated center tie rod is pivotally connected between one front bell crank and one of a pair of rear bell cranks. An elongated rear toe link is dependently pivotally connected to the pair of rear bell cranks for lateral translation. Right and left rear tie rods are each pivotally connected between corresponding ends of the rear toe link and corresponding right and left rear steering knuckles whereby the front knuckles steer in one direction while the rear knuckles steer in an opposite direction.

Abstract: A railroad crossing gate height adjustment assembly and method for reestablishing a height of the crossing gate of a railroad crossing gate apparatus. An elongated externally threaded pipe has a reducer threadably engageable at a lower, smaller end thereof onto, and is adjustably positionable along a length of the threaded pipe. A larger, upper end of the reducer is threadably lockable with a coupling previously secured at a lower end of a wiring conduit of the gate apparatus whereby the length of the wiring conduit is adjustably increased by an exposed length of the threaded pipe. A bushing having an external thread is lockably engageable onto a top surface of a gate base of the gate apparatus after the coupling and connected wiring conduit are removed, the bushing also having an external thread thereon for supportively receiving a lower end of the threaded pipe.

Abstract: A reversible license plate holder attachable to a prepared rear panel of a vehicle. A rectangular perimeter frame has an obverse and a reverse side and an open central area, the frame having an L-shaped cross-section defining a flange sized to be aligned with and receive a license plate positionable thereagainst. The frame also has spaced mounting holes which are alignable with mounting holes in the license plate and with threaded holes in the rear panel for attaching the holder against the rear panel. When the holder is attached to the rear panel so that the reverse side faces outwardly in a temporary use mode by a car dealer, an upper retaining tab forming a first U-shaped channel with the frame trappingly receives an upper edge of the license plate and a lower retaining tab forming a second U-shaped channel trappingly receives a lower edge of the license plate when a lower edge of the flange is resiliently flexed downwardly, then released.

Abstract: A flotation apparatus including a frame configured to support a snorkeler lying in a prone position. A plurality, preferably six, of elongated arms are each pivotally attached at a proximal end thereof to the frame with a buoyant float positioned on a distal end of each arm for enhanced stability. Preferably, a propulsion apparatus is mounted to the frame and a control apparatus for operating the propulsion apparatus in a prone position is provided.

Abstract: A bottle cap orienting apparatus including a cap transfer assembly having a pair of opposing transfer belts each having curved first and second ends and upright facing straight sides opposingly spaced apart to define a gap sized to be equal to or greater than a height of the caps being transferred and reoriented for subsequent feeding into a bottle capping apparatus. A cap feed chute is positioned centrally between the first ends for conveying unoriented bottle caps in edge upright orientation into the gap. Each of the transfer belts have suction holes positioned along each of the transfer belts. A vacuum source within each belt draws air inwardly into the suction holes which holds caps against the belt. The belts move in unison to carry the bottle caps to the second ends where a cap stripper detaches each cap from the transfer belts.

Abstract: A disposable urine control device for females during urination when in a crouched position. The control device is provided preferably folded flat and preferably packaged in a stack, each including an elongated flexible folded panel formed of disposable material and having side margins preferably narrowing toward a central portion from enlarged end portions thereof. A perimeter sealing bead extends upwardly from, and substantially continuously around the panel perimeter to provide stiffness and sealing against the labia majora of a female to contain urine within the perimeter sealing bead during urination. A flexible elongated conduit is connected at one end thereof in alignment with a urine drainage aperture formed into a central portion of the panel. When the panel and conduit are unfolded for use from a substantially flat folded orientation of the panel and a folded orientation of the conduit, urine is directed through the conduit into a toilet bowl.

Abstract: A pet washing restraint including hollow support member, preferably having a pyramid-like shape and also having a base end and a distal end, the support member tapering from the base end. Spaced apart suction members are connected to, and face away from, the base end and are adapted for releasable attachment to an upright wall surface of a bathing tub. A pet torso-engaging strap is attached to, and extends from the distal end for engagement around a torso of the pet. The support member is sized in length to position and restrain the pet held within the strap encircling the torso of the pet from substantial movement centrally within the bathing tub. A second restraint acting together in side-by-side fashion may also be provided for enhanced pet movement control.

Abstract: A decorative panel for installation on a ceiling or wall as part of a grid of panels. Each of the panels includes a formed sheet of thin sheet metal or plastic material having a main decorative portion and side edges forming a perimeter of the panel. Each side edge includes a flange offset from and extending outwardly from the main decorative portion and a groove positioned between the decorative portion and the flange. Each flange in the grid capable of overlapping the next adjacent flange and to receive a fastener through both overlapping flanges to secure the panels against the ceiling or wall. Adjacent side edges define a gap therebetween into which a resilient concealment strip having flexible sides is resiliently securable into the gap to conceal the fasteners.

Abstract: An electrolytic cell and a method for accelerating the reduction of gamma ray emissions from a radioactive substance. The cell includes a non-conductive housing and a conductive end member sealingly positioned in and extending from each open end of the housing. Gamma ray emitting material such as powder, granules or gases in an admixture with palladium black powder or particles are closely packed into the chamber. A longitudinal gas passage extends through each end member in gas communication with the chamber. Each gas passage is sealably closeable, one gas passage being connectable to a source of pressurized hydrogen or deuterium gas deliverable under pressure into the chamber to charge the catalytic particles. A distal end of each end member is connected to an electric power source wherein, when electric current flows through the chamber, the gamma ray emission count decays at an abnormally high rate.

Abstract: A hemostatic composition for stopping or decreasing blood flow from an open wound or medical or surgical procedure. Compositions of the invention comprise a mixture of a cationic polymer and a cation exchange material. In one embodiment, the composition comprises a mixture: (1) a high molecular weight copolymer of diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (DADMAC) and acrylamide [DADMAC copolymer], and (2) the hydrogen form of a crosslinked, sulfonated polystyrene (hydrogen resin). In an exemplified embodiment, a composition of the invention comprises the mixture of DADMAC copolymer and hydrogen resin provided in a dry powdered form. The compositions of the invention may be applied directly to a wound or treatment site, or they may be incorporated into a wound dressing, such as a bandage. The seal formed at a wound or treatment site treated with the present invention is adhesive and exhibits considerable toughness.

Abstract: Underpants particularly worn during intercourse which include a front panel, a rear panel, and side panels interconnecting and extending between the front and rear panels. Leg straps interconnect and extend between respective lower corners of the front and rear panels. Lower margins of the front, rear and side panels collectively define an open crotch area while padding arranged over a lower area of the front panel protectively covers a symphysis pubis area of the wearer during intercourse.

Abstract: A golf swing training apparatus including a golf club guide and, preferably, a support frame having spaced apart front and rear frame members connected together by a base frame member. The support frame is adjustably inclined at the lie angle of the golf club by a support arm. The golf club guide includes closely spaced apart front and rear guide ring segments which define a substantially planar circular shaped golf club swing slot therebetween, the swing slot having an unobstructed preferably adjustable width for free swing a golf club therewithin. The front guide ring segment is attached to and is supported by the front frame members while the rear guide ring segment is attached to and is supported by the rear frame member. An economy embodiment is also provided. A substantially flat club shaft guide supportively aligns the golf club shaft at the lie angle of the head.

Abstract: A vehicle hand control apparatus for controlling the throttle and brake pedals of a motor vehicle. A support shaft pivotally supports a transverse control arm tube which holds a control shaft for rotation coaxially within the control arm tube. A handle extends from one end of the control arm tube for actuating the brake pedal and also for separate limited pivotal movement about a handle pivot axis orthogonal to the rotational axis of the control arm tube for actuating the accelerator pedal. Pivotal movement of the handle about the handle pivot axis causes separate interacting transfer rods dependently extending from the handle and the control shaft, respectively, to effect rotation of the control shaft and accelerator pedal movement.

Abstract: A lift system for raising and lowering a load including a rigid platform, four spaced fixed supports positioned around corners of the platform, and a power source connected to a first of the supports. First and second inextensible lines are each preferably fastened at one end to a third support diagonally opposing the first support, and at another end thereof to the power source. The first line preferably extends from the power source to the third support, passing to a plurality of four pulleys each attached to a corner of the platform and over a pulley attached to the second support. The second line preferably extends from the power source to the third support, passing to a plurality of four pulleys each attached to a corner of the platform and over a pulley attached to the fourth support. The lift system produces a mechanical advantage of four.

Abstract: An orthodontic flossing implement for facilitating positioning and manipulating of a portion of a length of dental floss into the interdental space between adjacent teeth and proximate to and beneath an orthodontic wire which defines an arch extending between adjacent orthodontic brackets on the teeth. An elongated handle dependently supports an elongated, slender shaft formed as a unit with, and extending from a proximal end of the handle. The shaft is dimensionally smaller in thickness than that of said handle and preferably oriented at an acute angle to the handle. A tip, formed as a unit with, and extending from a second end of the shaft, is oriented at an acute angle to the handle, the tip having an aperture formed therethrough sized to just receive a length of dental floss. The tip with the dental floss positioned through said aperture, is manipulable by said handle to pass beneath an arch of the orthodontic wire and to floss the interdental tissue.