Abstract: A light bulb tester includes a body having first and second opposite ends. A pair of parallel cylindrical electrically-conductive wire probes on the first end are spaced apart a distance of from about 4.5 mm to about 6.0 mm, said distance including the widths of the two probes and the length of the gap formed between them. A pair of male and female nine-volt battery contacts are attached on the second end of the body so that the tester may be powered by a standard battery of the 9V (household transistor) size. The tester is used for testing a bulb of a holiday light bulb string of the standard type having a plurality of bulbs in sockets wired in series. The bottom of each socket forms an aligned pair of apertures or a slot leading to a pair of electrical socket contacts inside the socket. There is enough room in the apertures (or slot) to insert the probes and to connect them to the socket contacts in order to test the bulb while it remains in the socket.

Abstract: A method for treating ambulatory disease in a human patient having a torso, buttocks, legs, feet and hands, which legs and feet execute a normal stride pattern. A walker has a chassis having interconnected tubes all contained within a single plane, which chassis fits within the normal stride pattern without substantial obstruction thereof. A telescopically adjustable straddle seat is affixed to the chassis which allows the patient's legs to be disposed moveably forward and backward on opposite sides of the seat. A rotatable handlebar rotated at least one wheel of the walker. Wheels are affixed on the underside of the chassis. The patient is seated on the walker so as to support a portion of the patient's weight, but not the entirety thereof, when the patient is standing in a normal upright positure with the buttocks resting on the seat. The patient walks in the normal stride pattern while steering the walker with the hands on the handlebar.

Abstract: A detachable grip supplements the handle pair of a single plastic bag, or the handle pairs of a number of bags. The grip has a bar which comfortably fits in the palm of the hand. One end of a cord (which cord could be wire, line, belt or cable) is permanently attached to one end of the bar. The other end of the cord has apparatus for removably latching itself to the other end of the bar, temporarily forming a closed loop of fixed length. The distance along the handle between the two ends is at least as wide as an adult human's hand. The latching apparatus preferably is a stop, such as a ball or a cylinder, on the free end of the cord, which ball or cylinder fits into a socket on the free end of the bar. However, other latches or clasps are disclosed for use as substitutes for the stop and socket latch.

Abstract: A reaction containment drive apparatus for a power tool includes a motor having an outside case free to rotate within the tool casing, and an internal drive shaft. A planetary gear set is an integral portion of the drive. It has three parts, namely, a central sun gear part, a middle planet gear part (the planet gear part having a planet carrier and preferably three planet gears on the planet carrier), and an outside ring gear part coaxial with the sun gear part and the planet carrier. The planet gear part is rotatable between the sun gear part and the ring gear part.

Abstract: The present invention combines data gathering and processing methodology with computer apparatus to produce a system whereby a list of stocks and a cash position is generated and purchased for investment and operating accounts. Specifically, the system integrates three areas of data: investment performance for investment managers (the investment manager database); federal Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) reports filed quarterly by investment managers (the government report database); and financial characteristics for a large number of stocks (the stock database). Various screens and criteria are applied to the three data areas. The investment managers in the investment manager database are screened to find investment managers with top performances who meet a series of other criteria. The government reports are screened based upon the largest stock holdings for the investment managers chosen in the first step.

Abstract: Alphanumeric keyboard input apparatus has a mount and a plurality of keys on the mount arranged in four V-shaped rows, the four rows nested together, one within the other, so as generally to form a chevron. Alphanumeric indicia on the keys are arranged in QWERTY typing layout. At least two keys have base perimeters forming chevrons, one in a first row of the four rows and one in a second row of the four rows. Four keys of the first plurality have base perimeters forming irregular trapezoids, two in a third row of the four rows and two in a fourth row of the four rows.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for the uniform irradiation of the inner wall of a hollow organ. A catheter has a translucent balloon on its end. An optical sensing fiber is affixed to or within the balloon wall material. The apparatus is employed according to the following steps: inserting the catheter into the interior of the organ; inflating the balloon until it forms a predetermined configuration and distends the inner wall of the organ to be irradiated into a contiguous and congruent configuration; inserting a light transmission fiber having an isotropic light diffuser tip into the catheter so that the tip is positioned at the center of the balloon and, hence, automatically positioned at the center of the wall to be irradiated; transmitting light through the fiber out the tip, whereby light of uniform intensity irradiates the wall; and monitoring with the sensing fiber on the wall of the cavity the light to which the sensing fiber and, hence, the cavity wall are exposed.

Abstract: Protector apparatus for a hasp of a shipping container of the type having a pair of alignable hasp apertures includes a metal box-shaped body having a top plate, a bottom plate, right and left side plates, an open rear face, and a front face. The apparatus further includes a shield plate on the face of the body extending transversely between the side plates and forming a top opening in the face between the shield plate and the top plate and forming a bottom opening between the shield plate and the bottom plate. A shield aperture in the shielf plate is alignable with the hasp apertures, through all of which apertures a breakaway seal may be threaded for securing the breakaway security seal to the hasp and to the body of the protector. The body supports itself on the hasp and protects the hasp from intentional breakage.

Abstract: Typing brace apparatus includes a rigid yoke having an upper pair of yoke arms, each yoke arm having a forward end; a leg of the yoke depending downwardly from an intersection of the yoke arms; padding affixed to an inner surface of the yoke; and a pair of straps depending downwardly from the forward end of each yoke arm. A first step of each of the two strap pairs is an elbow strap having an elbow cup at a distal end of the elbow strap and a second strap is a wrist strap having a first human wrist engaging-loop at a distal end of the wrist strap. Buckle for adjusting the length of the straps are included. In one preferred embodiment a waist band for encircling a human waist is operably connected to the yoke leg for stabilizing the yoke leg with respect to the two pairs of straps and the trunk or waist of the typist's body. In a second preferred embodiment, a bracket for attaching the yoke leg to a chair is connected to the yoke leg, again for stabilizing the yoke leg with respect to the two pairs of straps.

Abstract: A shower flange thermometer includes a circular casing having a planar front face, the center of the front face forming a circular pipe-receiving aperture. Inside the casing is a thermometer having a temperature-sensitive foot adjacent to the aperture for transferring heat from and to the shower pipe. A transparent window in the face displays temperatures of the shower water as indirectly indicated by the temperature of the pipe.

Abstract: Translation/rotation conversion apparatus includes a rotatable follower shaft having an oval follower slant mounted thereon at an oblique angle with respect thereto. A rotatable drive shaft is disposed parallel to the follower shaft and has an oval drive slant mounted on it at the same oblique angle with respect to it that the follower slant makes with respect to the follower shaft. Planar faces of the two slants are engaged together in flat overlapping relationship. At least one shaft, preferably the drive shaft, is free to translate back and forth as it rotates.

Abstract: A caulk mix and transfer apparatus includes a caulk jar for holding uncolored caulk and for receiving unmixed pigment. The jar has a mix lid and a transfer lid. Empty caulk tubes are attached to the transfer lid and the mix lid includes a rotatable blade. A machine for mixing the pigment and caulk in the caulk jar and for transferring the mixture to the caulk tubes includes means for engaging the jar and mixing the pigment and caulk therein with the mix lid and includes means for engaging the jar and transferring the mixture to the caulk tubes through the transfer lid.

Abstract: A mail drop box includes four sides, a top and an open bottom, which together form a rectilinear sexahedron. A door on the top is slideably engaged in between a pair of opposed horizontally aligned channels for preventing the door from opening when the box is moved from a first vertical position to a second horizontal position. A plurality of brackets affix the box to a vertical surface, such as a garage door. Means for altering the height of at least portions of the sides are provided.

Abstract: A bookmark includes a plurality of strings; two moveable place markers on each string; at least one moveable reference marker bead on each string; and anchor means interconnected with the strings for securing the strings to the book. The anchor means may comprise either a spring clamp for grasping the spine of a book or VELCRO-type hook and loop fastener material for adhering to the book spine.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the uniform irradiation of the inner wall of a hollow organ, including the steps of inserting a catheter having a deflated translucent balloon into the interior of the organ; inflating the balloon until it forms a predetermined configuration and distends the inner wall of the organ to be irradiated into a contiguous and congruent configuration; inserting a light transmission fiber having an isotropic light diffuser tip into the catheter so that the tip is positioned at the center of the balloon and, hence, automatically positioned at the center of the wall to be irradiated; and transmitting light through the fiber out the tip whereby light of uniform intensity irradiates the wall.

Abstract: A logic design slide rule comprises, in a preferred embodiment, front and rear cover plates coupled together; interior slide channels formed between the covers; and a plurality of slides disposed between the covers and able to move horizontally from left to right within the channels. The slides may be moved to display indicia on beams for observation through a single column of truth-table windows and to display corresponding indicia printed on interior slide plates for observation through an array or grid of K-map windows, which column and grid of windows are located in the front cover of the slide rule. Indicia are also displayed through a set of output variable slots, preferably in the rear cover. Operation of the preferred slide rule will aid the designer to obtain a minimum set of combinational logic functions for up to four input variable from a given truth-table.

Abstract: An intravenous tube attachment board has a padded base about which are encircled two straps of hook and loop material such as that sold under the trademark VELCRO. The hook and loop material is modified by adding an inner adhesive layer covered with a paper strip and a plastic flap. By removing the paper strips, the IV tube may be firmly grasped between the adhesive layers and the flaps when the straps are used to hold a patient's arm or hand to the base of the board.

Abstract: A game table has a rectilinear bed with a playing surface adapted to the game of billiards. Four circumferential rails are moveable from a first to a second or third position. In the first position, pockets are formed at the corners of the playing surface and at the centers of two edges thereof, whereby the game of pocket billiards may be played. In the second position, the notches in the bed for forming the pockets are covered, whereby the game of carom billiards may be played. In the third elevated position, in which the rails are elevated, air panels may be laid on the bed, whereby the game of air hockey played.

Abstract: An abdominal muscle exerciser includes a seat and a lever arm which is rotatable in directions toward and away from the seat. The seat and lever arm are attached to a base. A pneumatic cylinder is biased between the base and the lever arm. The cylinder has a resistance stroke which provides significant resistance against rotation of the lever arm in the direction toward the seat. A cross bar is mounted transverse to the lever arm and a pair of foot stirrups are rotatably mounted on the cross bar.

Abstract: A comminuting apparatus uses a vacuum hose to draw fibrous vegetable matter, such as leaves, twigs or the like, into a shredder for disintegration. A flexible hose leads to a shredding chamber surrounding a rotating shaft to which whips are loosely attached. The whips are preferably made of stiff metal wire, but chains, knives or rods could be substituted therefor. The shaft is journalled within a bearing supported by radial struts attached to the inner wall of the cylindrical shredding chamber housing. A single fixed whip may be attached to the shaft outward from the struts for clearing leaves from the struts. The remainder of the whips are on the portion of the shaft inward of the bearing and struts.