Abstract: A tissue box holder includes a frame composed of a generally planar base and a normally upstanding sidewall attached to, and surrounding, the base within which a tissue box can be seated. A gripping device is provided for gripping the tissue box mounted on the sidewall. At least one portion of the sidewall is hingedly coupled to the planar base for movement between a open position, in which the at least one portion is pivoted away from adjacent portions of the sidewall of the frame, and a closed position, in which the at least one portion is pivoted to an upright position abutting the adjacent portions of the upstanding sidewall of the frame.

Abstract: A hybrid air vehicle having a gas-filled contoured flattened hull including a pair of longitudinally extending side lobes defining, on the underside of the hull, a longitudinally extending central recess, a payload module received in the central recess and air cushion landing gear units on the underside of the side lobes of the hull. The landing gear units are spaced apart on either side of the payload module. The hybrid air vehicle has characteristics of an airplane, a lighter-than-air airship and a hovercraft.

Abstract: Gaming devices and methods of playing games wherein an indication of the cards which have already been discarded or dealt is displayed for a player to view prior to making a decision. One embodiment is directed to a gaming device comprising a video display which is designed for the play of Blackjack. Other embodiments are directed to table versions of the present invention wherein physical playing cards are actually dealt to one or more players. At the conclusion of each hand, an indication of the cards dealt is displayed for viewing by all of the players.

Abstract: Frame vehicle clamp adapters which allow a frame of a frame-type vehicle to be connected to a pinch weld-type clamp. One embodiment comprises a first section having an elongated rigid protrusion extending from a base. The elongated rigid protrusion is adapted to be secured to a pinch weld clamp. A second portion of the adapter is provided with a clamp for securing a frame thereto. A preferred embodiment comprises a mechanism for adjusting the height of the adapter.

Abstract: A clip disk assembly according to the invention includes an adapter hub which attaches to the motor of an existing crimping machine and a plurality of clip disks, each being removably attachable to the adapter hub. Each clip disk is provided with a different sized peripheral notches to accommodate a different sized eyelet. According to the presently preferred embodiment, the adapter hub has four threaded peripheral studs and the clip disks have four corresponding holes. Four wing nuts are used to removably attach the clip disks to the adapter hub. Preferably, one stud has a larger boss than the others and one hole in the clip disks is correspondingly larger. The assembly permits changing of clip disks in about one minute.

Abstract: Hybrid lighting systems use light distributor tubes to distribute artificial light and natural sunlight through the same distributor tubes. Devices for gathering uncollimated light from conventional sources (such as electrically energized arcs or filaments housed in evacuated or gas filled glass envelopes) and directing the light into the ends of tubes designed to distribute such light. Devices for gathering and concentrating inherently collimated sunlight to be fed into the same light distributing tubes used by the artificial light. One preferred embodiment comprises a light gathering and concentrating system in the form of a pair of opposed parabolic reflectors, one which is preferably large, e.g. having a diameter of five feet, and the other much smaller, e.g. the size of the much smaller distribution tubes. This light gathering system is connected to the light distribution tubes through a pair 90° elbows which are rotatable in the X and Y axis in order to track the location of the sun in the sky.

Abstract: An improved flyscreen to be slidingly deployed across an opening of window or door, the window or door having a static glazing pane or panel and an opening pane or panel, the flyscreen comprising a frame dimensioned to correspond to the dimensions of the window or door opening to be covered by the flyscreen and having a mesh screen therein extending thereacross, the frame having a brush or filamentous pad strip extending substantially the full height of an upright of the frame and which when the screen is slidingly mounted adjacent to a window or door to be slidingly moved back and forth across the opening of the window or door, is substantially able to brush over the surface of the static pane or panel of the window or door.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sphincter exerciser for strengthening the sphincters of persons in an effort to prevent diseases, such as aconuresis or encopresis caused by weak sphincters. This sphincter exerciser consists of a body (10), which has two depressions (4), two hinge holes (6) and a window (8). Two footholds (20) are hinged to the two hinge holes (6) by means of two hinge shafts (18). A roller (30) is shafted to the roller bracket (14) of each foothold (20), and is laid on the inclined bottom of an associated depression (4). The exerciser also has a momentum adjuster (40), which is installed in the body (10) and allows a user to adjust momentum while exercising. This momentum adjuster (40) has an adjusting block, two guide rollers (38), a wire (46), and a coil spring (48) connected to the hinge shafts (18) by the wire (46).

Abstract: A sheath and needle assembly of the type including a length of tube with a hollow needle at one end, and a pair of outwardly projecting flexible wings adjacent the end of the tubing with the needle and a protective sheath slidably disposed on the tube and adapted to be slid over the needle to cover the needle after use. The sheath has a hollow generally tubular body slidably received on the tube. A forward end of the body has at least two fingers defining slots extending from the forward end of the body toward a rearward end through which the flexible wings slide so that the needle after use is substantially covered by the fingers. At least one of the slots having a z-shaped bend through which at least one of the wings slides into a locked position.

Abstract: A flower pot assembly for keeping at least one plant temporarily alive without having to water it, includes a pot permeable to water in which the plant is potted with the required amount of soil, and a container impermeable to water in which the pot is received, so that a space is formed between the pot and the container. A gel formed of a water-absorbing polymer and water at least partially fills the space between the pot and the container. The container and gel are used as a packaging for the potted plant in order to keep this plant alive without having to water it during transport and when put on display for sale.

Abstract: A vertical bagging apparatus includes a vertically mounted spool for dispensing a roll of centerfold plastic film with the fold in the upper position. A pair of vertical metering rollers are mounted adjacent to the spool for advancing the film from the spool. An adjustable generally inverted-V-shaped film inverted is mounted downstream from the metering rollers. A sealing and severing system is located beneath the film invertor and a trim spool is located beneath the sealing and severing system. The film invertor turns the film inside out, relocating the fold from the horizontal axis to the vertical axis. The film invertor also causes the open end of the folded film to be accessible from either above or the side. The film invertor is adjustable by raising and lowering the apex of the inverted-V which relocates the horizontal location of the fold in the film. According to a presently preferred embodiment, the film invertor is made from flexible wire and the free ends of the wire are attached to a takeup shaft.

Abstract: A filtration apparatus includes a tank having an upper chamber and a lower baffle, layers of stone and carbon between the upper chamber and the lower baffle, a water inlet to the upper chamber, and a water outlet below the lower baffle. The upper chamber is divided by a vertical baffle which separates the water inlet from a backwash outlet. A backwash inlet is provided below the lower baffle. An air manifold coupled to an air pump is placed between the lower baffle and the upper chamber. During backwash, air is mixed with water to cause a turbulent flow. The baffle in the upper chamber prevents filter media from exiting the apparatus during backwash.

Abstract: An electric blind, which is efficiently raised and lowered and controlled in a tilt angle of its vanes by a single drive motor, is disclosed. The electric blind includes a mount frame, fixedly mounted on a wall over a window and having a certain length, a pair of housings attached to both ends of the mount frame, a pair of take-up cylinders rotably coupled to the housings, lifting cords wound around the pair of take-up cylinders and unwound therefrom to be suspended by a certain length, a rotating pipe, disposed between and joined to the pair of take-up cylinders and rotated in forward and reverse directions, a drive motor connected to the rotating pipe, a plurality of vanes disposed below the pair of housings to be raised and lowered by the lifting cords, and means for controlling tilt angle of the vanes by a turning force of the rotating pipe.

Abstract: Fluid processing apparatus comprising a vessel containing a hydrocyclone and defining an inlet chamber, the vessel having a vessel inlet arranged to feed fluid into the inlet chamber, being arranged to receive fluid from the vessel inlet and to pass the fluid to an inlet of the hydrocyclone. The inlet chamber includes coalescing means arranged to coalesce relatively small droplets contained in the fluid received at the vessel inlet into larger droplets before passing the fluid to the hydrocyclone inlet. The coalescing means having a substantially predetermined external shape which defines at least one elongate liner hole for receiving a respective hydrocyclone liner.

Abstract: A method of decorating an article, the method comprising mixing a thermochromic ink with a transparent lacquer, applying the mixture on to part or all of the surface of an article, once the mixture is set, applying a second layer of dishwasher proof transparent lacquer.

Abstract: The tap has a tap bushing (10) with a passage opening (34) for the liquid to be discharged. A piston (12) is guided so as to move axially within the tap bushing (10) and has an entry opening (36) and an exit opening (38) for the liquid. The piston (12) closes off the passage opening (34) in a locked position when it is moved in. The entry opening (36) of the piston (12) is in connection with the passage opening (34) in an extended position of the piston (12). A locking bushing (14) that is guided to rotate on the piston (12) is seated in the piston (12), which locking bushing (14) optionally closes off the exit opening (38) or brings it into connection with a passage opening (44) of the locking bushing (14).

Abstract: Frame vehicle clamp adapters which allow a frame of a frame-type vehicle to be connected to a pinch weld-type clamp. One embodiment comprises a first section having an elongated rigid protrusion extending from a base. The elongated rigid protrusion is adapted to be secured to a pinch weld clamp. A second portion of the adapter is provided with a clamp for securing a frame thereto. A preferred embodiment comprises a mechanism for adjusting the height of the adapter.