Abstract: A skate pole device can be used alone or in pairs by a roller skater in order to advance or retard movement along a skate surface. The skate pole has an elongated shaft with a handle portion on one end and a foot portion on the other end. First and second pads are mounted in the foot portion. The first pad is constructed of a type adapted to frictionally grip the skate surface so that the skater may exert a thrusting motion with the skate pole, and this material may be a stiff, yet resilient, rubber-like substance such as a soft thermoplastic. The second pad is constructed of a different type of material, such as a hard thermoplastic, that is adapted to act as a brake pad against the skate surface so that the skater may apply a drag force. A pair of such skate poles may be used and, if desired, interconnecting elements are provided to releasably secure two such skate poles alongside one another.

Abstract: An erectable tent structure is formed by a flexible roof covering that includes a central portion and a plurality of ridge portions that have inclined slopes and that extend along ridgelines radially outwardly and upwardly from the central portion to terminate in peaks located at the periphery of the roof covering. the slopes thus form valley portions between the ridgelines, and the valley portions have valley floors that slope radially outwardly and downwardly from the central portion. A support pole supports the roof covering at reach peak, and anchor structures secure the flexible covering to the support surface in a manner that a ridge tension force is applied upwardly and outwardly along the ridgelines and a valley tension force is applied downwardly and outwardly along the valley floors. The ridge and valley portions may be formed by joined panels so that there is a primary seam along each ridgeline and a secondary seam along each valley floor.

Abstract: The present invention is in the field of anchor bolt assemblies which are used as wall or ceiling mounts. The present invention includes a shaft with opposite first and second ends formed as a body and a neck joined at a shoulder. The body has a cross-section that is sized for close fitting insertion in the wall or ceiling. The neck extends longitudinally of the body to terminate in a second end. The neck cross-section is formed to have a longitudinal recess. The device also includes engagement means on the shaft for engaging a mounting element. A cross-piece having first and second arms is attached by hinge means to the shaft. The cross-piece is sized to fit within the longitudinal recess when the device is installed in the wall. Upon installation, the cross-piece snaps out of the recess and braces against the back of the wall or ceiling. The shaft maybe threaded or ratcheted.

Abstract: A shelf divider adapted to support and organize objects located on the shelf. The shelf divider includes an upper and a lower web portion adapted to be positioned against the exposed edges surface of the shelf, a base plate extending perpendicularly from the upper web and a clamp arm extending from the lower web in opposed relation to the base plate. The clamp arm is movable between a closed position and an open position. The clamp arm is biased toward the closed position so that, when in the mounted state, the clamps free-end portion bears against the lower surface of the shelf. The base plate has connected to it a relatively flat divider panel. The divider panel is adapted to have sides which are in facing relationship with the objects of the shelf. Further, the divider panel includes stiffening ribs on each side of the divider panel. The stiffening ribs project outwardly from the divider plane to resist deflection of the divider panel when it is mounted on the shelf.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of converting partially purified taxane mixtures into Baccatin III. The process for the preparation of Baccatin III includes contacting a mixture containing at least one taxane compound having an ester linkage at the C-13 position with at least one borohydride reducing salt in a reaction solvent in the present of a Lewis acid.

Abstract: The heat shield-parallax/glare reduction device described in this application is produced by conventional machining methods from tempered aluminum. It provides for the elimination of vision distortion from barrel heat and is an effective sunshield. With the addition of one or more types of optical filters and polarization devices the shooter is able to control the condition of the light entering the lens and adjust for different environmental situations. The shield due to its length is also effective in the reduction of parallax error.

Abstract: A spacer device for shopping carts mounts on the wheeled frame of a cart in order to prevent lateral binding of the frames of a pair consecutively nested shopping carts. The spacer has a central body portion that is secured alongside a frame portion of a first one of the pair of shopping carts by a mounting structure so that when the carts are nested, the central body is interposed between the frame portions of the two carts thereby preventing direct contact and, thus, binding. The central body has an exposed glide surface formed of a low friction material so that the frame portion of the second cart slideably contacts the glide surface for lateral sliding movement. The mounting structure may be C-shaped resilient clips that snap fir onto circular frame portions.

Abstract: A fastener assembly operative to interconnect flexible panels and other objects has a female piece and male piece which may be releasably fastened together. The female piece includes a web and a pair of opposed flanges which terminate in spaced-apart hook portions to provide a locking channel. The hook portions have interior first locking faces. The male piece includes a web with an enlarged male rib on an edge thereof so that the male rib provides outwardly projecting shoulders which have second locking faces. The male rib may be inserted through an entryway into said channel so as to be received in close-fitted engagement therein as it is engulfed by the flanges. The locking faces of the female and male piece engage one another to prevent withdrawal of the male rib under tension. However, the female and male pieces are constructed of stiff, resilient material so that the male rib may be cammed out of the channel by a torsional force.

Abstract: A case for electronic components of a computer has a base section and a central section hinged together along a pivot axis. The base section provides a base compartment for first electronic components and may rest on a support surface. The central section provides a central compartment for second electronic components and has a front face with a display panel. The hinge structure is positioned so that, in a closed position, the base section is folded against the back of the central section. In an open position, the central section is elevated at an angle to the support surface with the base section extending rearwardly of the pivot axis which is located proximately to the intersection of the top and front walls of the base section. A cover may be secured to cover the display, and this cover can include a keyboard input for the computer. The keyboard/cover may also be releasably securable to the base section.

Abstract: The present invention is a scissor assembly adapted to be in an open or closed position and to be manipulated by a user to cut a selected material. The scissors assembly includes a first scissors member and a second scissors member pivotally connect and biased into the open position. The first scissor member has a handle and a blade. The first handle is formed as an enlarged and elongated shaft sized to fit in a user's palm and be gripped by the fingers, the second scissor member likewise, has a handle and a blade. The second handle has a portion which defines a lever sized to be manipulated by the thumb when the first handle portion is fit in the user's palm and gripped by the user's fingers. In the preferred embodiment, the first handle is formed as a releasable container and the second handle is foreshortened relative to the first handle. In the alternative embodiments, the first handle is formed of implements such as a screw-driver, flashlight or pliers.

Abstract: A bait threading device receives a piece of bait on a shank longitudinally mounted to a handle. The shank terminates in a distal tip, preferably canted, that receives the barb of a fish hook, and the handle has an arm member that projects outwardly therefrom and includes structure, such as a notch, to receive a portion of fishing line connected to the hook so that the hook is securely retained with the line held tautly. A piece of bait may be advanced off of the shank and onto the hook and, if necessary, the fishing line. By canting the shank end and by selecting the shank and arm lengths, the end of the shank may be aligned with the barb portion of the hook and the line may be aligned with the shaft of the hook. To this end, the shank may be adjustably mounted to the handle. Either of the shank or the arm may be detachable, and the handle provides a storage compartment for one or both.

Abstract: Thermoforming apparatus and methodology is provided to form a breakaway port in a molded piece, such as a container lid. The apparatus includes a forging assembly that has a punch element and a striker assembly, so that a material blank that is heated to a plastic state by an oven may be advanced therebetween. When the thermoforming mold closes, a striker element and the punch element come together with a striking force so that a portion of the blank is forced against a male profile on the punch element to forge the port by forming lines of reduced thickness that are partible under mechanical force but which normally maintain the integrity of the molded piece against the passage of fluids. The striker element can be adjustably spring biased and can be mounted, for example, to the pressure box of the thermoforming mold while the punch element is positioned on the mold assembly that provides the mold configuration for the piece to be formed.

Abstract: A masking device is provided for use with projectors, such as an overhead projector, to selectively block the projection beam that carries an image disposed on a substrate, such as a transparency, for projection onto a viewing screen. The masking device has a framework having preferably guide rails that form slideways receiving a shutter panel. A transparency is aligned by the guide rails and the shutter panel has a leading edge that extends transversely across the aligned transparency so that only the image portion forward of the leading edge is projected. The shutter panel is constructed of a material that inhibits the projectiton beam, but allows the projection to read or view the image portion that is blocked. A base plate of transparent material supports the guide rails and provides a stage on which the transparency may be positioned for projection of the image disposed thereon.

Abstract: A doll house for use as a play and storage area for dolls and accessories has an exterior shell rigidly constructed as a modular unit with a pair of end walls, a side wall and a lower floor panel to define an interior with an open front. A ceiling panel is parallel to the floor panel and extends forwardly of the side wall. The ceiling panel is below the upper edges of the end walls to form end wall expanses, and a roof panel is rigidly mounted to extend between the expanses. A lid panel is hinged along a hinged edge of the roof panel and has a free edge opposite the hinged edge so that the expanses, the roof panel and the lid panel enclose a storage area. The lid panel may be opened to access the storage area. When closed, the free edge of the lid panel is proximate the front edge of the ceiling panel.

Abstract: A merchandise holder for use with slat-wall displays and merchandise display systems incorporating the holder provided. The merchandise holder includes a base member having a front and a back, a merchandise retention member mounted on and extending forwardly of the base member and a channel engaging structure on the back of the base member. The channel engaging structure also has a biasing element to bias the base member into positive engagement with a lower retention wall that forms the lower portion of the channel. This biasing element presses against either an upper retention wall forming the slot and/or channel or an upper side wall of the channel. The channel engaging structure may be a pair of flanges that are mounted on and extend rearwardly of the base member; a lower flange engages the lower retention wall, and an upper flange engages an upper retention wall. The biasing element is preferably a pair of resilient arms that extend outwardly from the upper flange.

Abstract: An oscillatory bed for a person operates to shift the person's weight in order to eliminate problems associated with convalescence. The bed has a main support frame which receives a cradle frame that is pivotally driven through a cycle about a pivot axis between opposite angular orientations. The cradle frame has side rails, and a support panel has longitudinal side edges fastened along the side rails so that it depends downwardly in an arcuate curvature therebetween. The support panel is constructed of a deformable sheet of stiff, resilient material so that the portion thereof that underlies the person during shifting remains somewhat flat as weight is shifted between the right and left sides of the body. The cradle frame is preferably mounted by trunnions, and a drive wheel is connected to one of the trunnions to be driven by a reversible motor though a gear box and, if desired, a clutch. Limit switches reverse the motor and back-up limit switches are used.

Abstract: A material separator for separating non-magnetic components from magnetic components in a material is provided. The material separator has a support frame, a magnetic roller, an idler roller and a conveyor belt. The idler roller is rotatably mounted on an inclined slideway so that tension on the conveyor belt is maintained by the weight of the idler axle and idler roller. The inclined slideways may be provided by pivot arms and adjusting elements are provided to adjust the angles of inclination to the horizontal, thereby allowing adjustability of the belt tension. Detectors monitor the tracking path of the belt so that an adjustment to the angle of inclination of one of the slideways automatically corrects deviations from the tracking path. The magnetic separator is preferably a modular unit mountable in framework having an upstream feed assembly and a downstream collection assembly, either in single or multi-stage separator apparatus.

Abstract: A material handling apparatus includes a tractor/trailer vehicle which can mount and dismount ore receiving containers, which can transport the containers between a collection site and a deposit site and which can dump ore out of a container at the deposit site. Each container defines a housing with an interior and an open rear area. A tailgate assembly includes a pair of bell crank arms pivotally secured on either side of the container and a tailgate mounted between first arm portions thereof to close the open rear area. A transport frame, preferable on the trailer section of the tractor/trailer vehicle, defines a support for a tiltable bed pivoted mounted on a rear portion of the frame. A linkage assembly is centrally mounted on each side of the tiltable bed and each linkage assembly includes a cam member driven by a pair of first hydraulic cylinders.

Abstract: A storage rack for supporting an ensemble of implements alongside an upright support surface includes a base member and a plurality of removable supports rods. The base member has a plurality of equidistantly spaced, angled support rod bores in its front face, and each support rod has a first end portion sized for close-fitting, slideable mated engagement in each of the support rod bores. Fasteners may mount the base member to the support surface. Preferably, the support rod bores are at an acute angle to the front surface so that, when a support rod is inserted, the rod extends forwardly and upwardly to terminate in a free end. The rod and bore sizes may be selected so that the free end of each support rod is in a common plane with the top surface of the base member. Tremendous versatility in the configuration of an array of active support rods is therefore provided, and, in the alternate exemplary embodiments, storage bores and a storage groove are respectively disclosed for holding extra storage.

Abstract: A hand held scraping device adapted for use by a person and having a handle portion and a concave scoop portion having a recess proximate the handle portion for receiving the user's thumb. This recess facilitates the user's grip and ability to manipulate the device. This recess can be further defined by a ridge and the side edges of the scoop. The scoop portion terminates in a distal cutting edge that extends transversely of the longitudinal axis. The scoop portion has a concavity with respect to a scoop plane. The distal cutting edge is upturned with respect to scoop plane when the concavity is upwardly opening. In the preferred embodiment the scoop portion includes a pair of side edges with an upturned side cutting edge. The scoop includes an interior scoop surface, a blunt flat distal end surface that is oriented transversely of the longitudinal axis and an exterior scoop portion. This flat distal end surface prevents inadvertent cuts and makes this scraper safer for child use.