Abstract: A game table is provided for a billiard-style game having a planform shape similar to an arrowhead with convering forward side rails and tapered rear rails shaped to cooperate with a pair of interior symmetrically disposed islands and a pair of pocket holes to provide a table of increased interest for playing a number of different billiard type games.

Abstract: A panoramic camera utilizes a rotating drum to mount the lens and front and rear vertical slits defined by the drum pass a narrow band of light through the lens and onto a cylindrically formed film sheet held at the rear of the drum by a frame. A small DC reversible electric motor drives the drum through friction wheels rather than gears to avoid play and backlash, and sweeps the drum through its exposure cycle, immediately upon the termination of which it reverses direction to return to the starting position.

Abstract: A ball picker dolly for retrieving tennis balls, or the like, comprised of a carriage having a shaft, a horizontal axle orthogonally attached to the lower end of said shaft and means mounted on said axle for motively supporting said carriage on a horizontal surface. Baskets or hoppers of varying configurations and sizes can be secured to the dolly by utilizing adjustable brackets. The various hoppers have gridded bottoms comprising a plurality of filiform members spaced apart to define slot openings dimensioned to admit tennis balls forcibly pushed therethrough. At least one elongated horizontal bracket has spatially disposed pairs of openings thereon and is slidably engageable on the shaft. Ancillary securing means comprise U-shaped prongs dimensioned to pass through spatially disposed openings in the bracket, mating with pairs of openings in either a horizontal or a vertical axis of the bracket.

Abstract: A front end shield is provided for a car which is rigid and has a peripheral soft resilient tube mounted around the underside to space the planar part of the shield from the surface of the vehicle, there being a pair of headlight covers attached to the retractable headlight mechanisms to complete front end coverage, the shield being made either as a single piece or in two halves to permit easy storage.

Abstract: A system and method of construction is described for use in the field of model rocketry. Large sizes of model rockets can be achieved for purpose of visibility and accuracy of simulation by use of a structural framework of disks, ribs, and lightweight covering without exceeding weight limitations of the model.

Abstract: A racket stringer tensioner is provided for use on a typical racket holding frame whereby the string being tensioned can be easily looped around and passed between the two separate portions of a split drum which compresses to pinch the string when it is tightened, tightening being accomplished by the force exerted by a weighted torque arm expressed to the split drum through a one-way mechanism which permits a ratcheting-type action to advance the string further in the string gripper if necessary, so that in the event the string is not advanced far enough in the split drum string gripper, a quick ratcheting action tightens the string while maintaining the weighted torque arm substantially in horizontal position, which is required to insure the accuracy of the weight setting.

Abstract: A closure is provided for a flexible bag such as a game bag used by skin divers which is very simply made of resilient metal bar stock which define two bails having handles acting as detents, the bails and handles being so configured and connected that the bails will open to a full-open position but no farther, and when closed a diver can close the bails and engage the handles in latched position with a single hand due to a double dimensional biasing created by the shaping and engagement of the bails and the bowed spanner bars of the handles.

Abstract: An advertising billboard is provided and various methods and means of its construction are described and claimed utilizing the basic concept of drawing a sheet of fabric having the advertising message on the front across the rigid billboard panel and then introducing a continuous stream of air, or maintaining a continuous pressure, between the panel face and the fabric to smooth the fabric into a continuous, slightly curved surface without wrinkles or sag lines.

Abstract: The invention is a multiple-mode energy utilization device combining elements which extract solar energy, those which utilize wind energy, and those utilizing rising convection currents caused by heated air. In one principal embodiment, a wind rotor on a vertical axis is provided with solar cells on its surfaces and a heat conductive axle in direct contact with a hot water tank in which there are paddle blades for pumping and frictionally stirring water or other fluid, and an electric heater in the water to utilize extra energy from the electric generator run by the shaft as well as the solar cells, which electrical energy would ordinarily charge storage batteries unless such charge was not needed which would cause the water heater to energize.

Abstract: An inflatable billboard or other display structure utilizing an elongated inflated bag for its principal structural support, bag defining one or more display surfaces to which billboard-sized display facings are releasably mounted with snaps or the equivalent, the entire structure being anchored by water-filled bags in one embodiment so that the entire structure is easily drained, deflated, and transported to another site. An optional, continuously operable blower motor is provided in one embodiment to insure the continuous inflated state of the billboard despite the presence of leaks along the seams and the like.

Abstract: A system of creating coils, windings, inductors and capacitors utilizes wafer stacks having suitable pass-throughs and voids in the insulation portion of the wafer to permit one of several different types of these electrical elements to be made according to the particular orientation and order in which the wafers are stacked, each wafer comprising a thin insulator panel with a conductive film across one surface, which could possibly be created photographically.

Abstract: A leg exerciser is provided in two hinged panels or subframes, each of which mounts parallel tracks in which slides a stirrup-foot piece which is connected through a rope and pulley system to a resistance spring so that each foot piece individually resists translation and acts as an exercise device for both feet individually, the two panels being collapsible together along their hinge line for storage when not in use.

Abstract: A survival tool has a cylindrical container portion for carrying small items helpful to survival, and a flattened plane-defining body portion with a large central void creating a hand grip, the edges of the body portion defining a straight axe edge, a game skinning notch, and a saw blade, the axe blade and container being oppositely positioned to make the tool useful as an axe by insertion of a stick into the container which acts as a socket to receive same.

Abstract: A prosthetic device for mastectomy patients is provided wherein a brassiere is modified by the incorporation of temporary fasteners in at least one cup which will hold in place a prosthetic pad of unique manufacture. The brassiere itself is preferably releasably retained by fasteners mounted to the frontal top portions of a slip.

Abstract: A precision hand-held pipe cutting tool is provided utilizing an elongated body which is hand-gripped and contains an axially aligned motor, and a rotating saw blade parallel and adjacent to an angularly adjustable dial with a variety of depth limiting notches in the circumference thereof such that a pipe may be cut all, or part way, through, or provided with an annular channel. The tool also incorporates an integral reamer which de-burrs the interior edge of the cut pipe.

Abstract: A slurry separator utilizes the power inherent in the pressurized slurry from the slurry pump through a reaction nozzle to drive a rotor, with the slurry distributed through the nozzle being distributed over the surface of a conical grid. The rotor structure also drives squeegee-like blades which scrape the solids downward inside the cone readying screen for the next discharge, and then sweeping them down into a cylindrical auger chamber where they are compacted downwardly against an inverted conical floor to further squeeze moisture through the sides of a housing cylinder. The conical floor of the compacting cylinder presses up against the particulates to be compacted with a resistance that is proportional to the speed of the rotor, achieved through the use of a centrifugal governor. This action makes it tolerant to variations in nozzle flow volume (pressure) and converts energy output into optimum separation.

Abstract: An article holder, being specifically tailored to the needs of surfers and the like for containing a key and strapping same to the wrist or ankle, utilizes a pair of mating strips of Velcro laid out side-by-side with proximal end portions overlapping, with a nylon fabric rectangular backing panel stitched behind the overlapping end portions to define a hinge line between them so they may swing together in engaged relation, the geometry of the situation being such that when engaged, the distal ends of the strips will also engage when wrapped around a wrist or the like. A pocket structure is defined behind one of the end portions of one Velcro strip in two of the embodiments illustrated and claimed.

Abstract: A can crusher is provided utilizing a single lever arm pivoted in two places to a pivotal link and a crusher plate respectively and having a unique action wherein upon lifting the lever arm space is provided for a can and a foot extended from the lever arm crushes one end of the can, and upon depressing the arm the can is completely crushed.

Abstract: A method and necessary apparatus for detecting the unauthorized operation or asportation of mobile or portable equipment. The apparatus comprises a concealable transmitter designed to re-transmit a coded message received from a check station. The check station may be stationary such as at the exit gate of a garage or at a fixed checkpoint along a thoroughfare; or may be carried on a vehicle such as a police car or other type of security patrol. The concealed repeating transmitter is switched on or off by means of a pocket-sized short-range coded remote switch unit not unlike those used for the remote control of household television receivers.