Abstract: A rotatable swing set for providing amusement to children by spinning children secured within swing seats around a central point includes a main support post, a horizontally-disposed circular plate secured to the upper end of the support post for selective rotation thereon, and a plurality of arms radially mounted on the upper surface of the circular plate with the distal ends of the arms projecting outwardly past the circular plate and from which swing seats are suspended with one swing seat suspended from each arm. In addition, a support plate is mounted to the main support post subjacent the circular plate. The support plate supports thereon a drive motor, a chain linkage arrangement driven by the drive motor, and a drive wheel which frictionally engages the bottom surface of the circular plate.

Abstract: A berm clearing attachment for removable securement to a road clearing vehicle, such as a bulldozer, road grader, hi-lift, dump truck, tractor, or skid-steer loader, for side or lateral dozing accumulated dirt and debris off of roads and road berms and away from guiderails by reciprocating laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the road clearing vehicle as the vehicle travels on the road and road berm. The berm clearing attachment includes a support framework removably securable to the front of the road clearing vehicle, and when used with the skid loader, the support framework would be removably securable to the front mounting plate of the loader.

Abstract: A boat dock bumper is provided for protecting the hull of a watercraft when the watercraft is moored to a dock, pier, piling, or like structure, and includes a flexible, generally rectangular-shaped member attachable to the watercraft, a flexible upper portion for resting on the gunwale of the watercraft, and a deformable major body portion which can be conformably positioned contiguous to the hull of the watercraft. Disposed within and extending through the rectangular-shaped member from the upper portion to the major body portion are a plurality of flexible, bendable, elongated batten members which provide support and stability for the rectangular-shaped member when the boat dock bumper is attached to the watercraft.

Abstract: An oiling device for distributing fluid, such as oil, onto a continuously moving strip of sheet material, such as steel or other non-ferrous based materials, includes an oil reservoir which is in flow communication with an elongated manifold disposed above and extending the width of the moving sheet material and through which fluid is distributed, a plurality of pumps serially mounted superjacent to and in flow communication with the manifold, and a plurality of springs serially mounted to the bottom of the manifold with each respective spring paired with each respective pump. The springs deflect to or away from the moving sheet material due to the changing physical characteristics of the material as it passes beneath the springs, and each spring includes an applicator disposed immediately above the sheet material and through which oil flows for distribution on the entire width of the material.

Abstract: A mechanical device for throwing projectiles is disclosed which is disposed on a ground surface to throw variously-sized balls to a practicing basketball shooter or a practicing baseball hitter. The device includes an elongated base disposed on the ground surface, a pivoting arm which is attached to the base and which throws the ball, and an electromechanical solenoid whose actuation causes the arm to pivot and throw the ball. When the device is used for basketball practice shooting, a frame is disposed on the ground and around the device, and the frame includes a pole, a backboard secured to the pole, and a rim extending perpendicular from the backboard. A plurality of support arms are attached to the frame, and the arms include an integrally attached net which is disposed around the backboard for collecting thrown basketballs and directing them to the device.

Abstract: An apparatus for spreading and depositing a viscous liquid or paste-like material on a substrate includes a housing removably insertable into a diamond- or square-shaped squeegee blade holder, the blade holder itself mounted to a squeegee head assembly of a screen or stencil printer. The squeegee head assembly is driven in a linear direction over and above the substrate, dragging the blade over the substrate and forcing deposition of the material onto the substrate. The housing includes a pair of oppositely-disposed locking clamps that attach to both ends of the housing. A shaft having a blade secured thereto is disposed through the channels of the clamps and within a groove of the housing, and the shaft is rotatable within the housing and the locking clamps so that the angle of attack between the blade and substrate can be selectively adjusted and, once the appropriate angle of application is selected, the blade is fixed in position by tightening the clamps against the shaft.

Abstract: A portable eating table is provided for securement to a user's neck whereupon the portable eating table is pendent therefrom and can support and hold articles, such as food and beverage items and eating utensils, thereon so that the user's hands are free for other purposes, and includes a foldable main body member comprising a first article supporting portion which rests against the user's chest and a second article supporting portion attached to the first article supporting portion and which can pivot to or away from the first article supporting portion. In order to provide rigidity and stability to the first and second article supporting portions, flat insert members are insertable into respective insert pocket members of the first and second article supporting portions.

Abstract: A suspended ceiling system for suspension from an overhead ceiling of a room is disclosed which includes a plurality of wall trim members secured to the room walls, a plurality of main runner members extending from the wall trim members in a horizontal plane for spanning the room and a plurality of cross braces interlocking with the main runner members and forming a grid for receiving ceiling tiles, panels, fixtures, and the like. A plurality of clips are slidably disposed on the wall trim members, main runner members, and the cross braces to suspend those members from the ceiling and to support the main runner members and cross braces at intersection points in the grid.

Abstract: An assist device is disclosed for use with a drinking water dispenser of the type utilizing a large inverted water bottle mounted in a recess or reservoir located on the top flat surface of the dispenser. The assist device is used by a person in replacing the water bottle on the dispenser. The assist device includes a base member for resting against one side of the dispenser in a horizontal orientation with respect to the floor supporting the dispenser. The base member includes a recess into which the bottom of the water bottle is set and an elongated support member having an upper end which is secured to the base member and a lower end which rests on the floor when the base member is disposed against the dispenser. The support member spaces the base member from the floor an appropriate distance so that the top rim of the water bottle is adjacent an upper edge of the dispenser.

Abstract: An automatic electromechanical gear changing system for automatically derailing the endless chain of a multi-speed bicycle from one rear transmission sprocket to another rear transmission sprocket to effect rear transmission gear shifting. The automatic gear changing system includes a main housing member mounted to a down tube of the bicycle, a handlebar-mounted console which displays various system parameters for the rider (type of program in use by system, speed, gear, battery level, trip miles), and a microprocessor unit disposed within the console for initiating, controlling, and terminating transmission gear shifting of the endless chain on the rear transmission sprockets.

Abstract: A liquid-shooting target game is disclosed which includes a flat, vertical panel foldable into sections and which is unfolded for disposition in an upright position on a floor or table surface. A flat, horizontal panel is attached to the lower end of the vertical panel and lays upon the floor or table surface. On the facing surface of the vertical panel are scenes of natural habitats from various geological eras. The vertical panel also includes a plurality of apertures formed thereon whose contours define the physical shape of fauna found in the particular habitat of the geologic era depicted on the vertical panel. A plurality of hollow figurines are provided so that each figurine can be inserted into the corresponding aperture. In addition, each figurine has a hole on its body so that a continuous jet of liquid shot from a squirt pistol held by a player can enter and fill the figurine.

Abstract: A basketball retrieval and return apparatus is used in combination with a pole-supported basketball backboard to collect shot basketballs that either ricochet off the backboard or fall through a rim attached to the backboard for returning the basketballs to the practicing player or players. The apparatus includes a bracket removably mountable to the lowest portion of the backboard, an elongated support bar pivotally mounted to the bracket, and a U-shaped ring bar attached to the support bar and which extends outwardly from and perpendicular to the backboard when the ring bar is pivoted from a non-use to a use position. In order to maintain the ring bar in its use position, a U-shaped support member is attached to the ring bar and pivots downward toward the level surface or ground so that a pole brace attached to the support member can have one end mounted to a pole bracket which is secured generally to the mid-point of the pole.

Abstract: A ski stabilizing device used in combination with a pair of skis to assist a novice skier in learning to ski includes a pair of block members, each block member attached to the inner edge of one ski adjacent the inflected tip of the ski. Each block member encases a spherical region which registers with a circular aperture located on an inside face of the respective block member. Disposed within each spherical region is a ball. Extending between the block members for connecting each ball is a connecting rod which maintains the skis at a generally fixed distance from each other. The encasement of the balls within the block members allows for the independent angular, rotational and longitudinal movement of the skis with respect to each other and with respect to the ski slope on which the novice skier is skiing. The device includes the capability to gradually enlarge or reduce the amount of angular, rotational, and longitudinal movement of the skis.

Abstract: A turn stand is disclosed for moving an individual who has physical impairments but can support himself in a standing position for a short time. The turn stand is utilized for moving the individual from one location to an adjacent location, for example, from a bed to a wheelchair, and comprises a base member disposed on a floor surface and a platform secured superjacent to the base member which is capable of selective rotation with respect to the base member and upon which the individual stands. A ball bearing swivel is attached to the base member and is also secured subjacent to the platform for permitting selective rotation of the platform relative to the base member. An upright pole is attached to the platform and terminates at a pair of handles which can be gripped by the individual so that the individual can support himself on the platform during the transfer or movement from one location to another.

Abstract: The invention comprises a ceiling mounting bracket for securement to a mine tunnel ceiling and which is used for suspending a monorail therefrom; a mobile advancing conveyor system is, in turn, suspended from the monorail and used to facilitate removal of ore from the mine tunnel. The ceiling mounting bracket includes a flat mounting plate disposed contiguous to the mine ceiling, a longitudinal slot formed on the mounting plate and which is parallel to the monorail when the monorail is pendent from the ceiling mounting bracket, and a pair of opposed lateral slots perpendicular to the longitudinal slot for permitting lateral adjustment and positioning of the ceiling mounting bracket prior to securement to the mine ceiling. A ceiling bracket bar is disposed subjacent to the ceiling mounting plate and is capable of slidable, longitudinal, reciprocable movement parallel to the slot.

Abstract: A liquid circulating device is provided for submersion in a large holding tank to effect continuous mixing and circulation of a liquid material, such as sewage sludge, contained therein in order to facilitate the digestion of the liquid material for environmentally safe disposal. The device includes an upright, elongated stackpipe secured to the floor of the holding tank and a gas bubble generator mounted to the stackpipe for generating gas bubbles into the stackpipe. The gas bubble generator includes an interior chamber with a substantially open bottom, a pair of baffle members transversely extending within the interior chamber and an inverted cone-shaped member positioned between and in spaced adjacency to each baffle member. Gas under pressure is discharged into the interior chamber of the bubble generator by a gas supply line attached to an externally located compressor.

Abstract: A holiday Bingo-type game which incorporates motifs from various holidays, such as Easter, Christmas, and Halloween, includes a master calling card having grids each of which contains indicia or symbols representative of a particular holiday, a plurality of game playing cards having grids which contain indicia or symbols corresponding to those found on the master calling card, and a plurality of markers containing symbols or pictures representative of the particular holiday. Also disclosed is a Bible story Bingo-type game which includes at least one master calling card whose grids contain illustrations of Biblical events, a plurality of playing cards whose grids contain illustrations of Biblical events and which correspond to the illustrations on the master calling card, and markers having Biblically-oriented symbols placed thereon.

Abstract: A linear winding assembly for reeling in the fishing line of a fishing reel, the winding assembly for retrofitting in the housing of the reel so the user can reel in the line without turning the handle, thus freeing one of his hands for other purposes. The winding assembly includes a cylindrical pulley housing disposed on the shaft of the reel, a roller retainer positioned within the pulley housing and having a pair of spaced-apart rollers that rotate within the pulley housing and a flat clutch plate abutting the pulley housing and having a surface upon which the rollers ride. Concentric with the shaft and positioned in linear axial alignment adjacent the pulley housing counterbore is a pulley gear pressed to the pulley housing and a driven gear mounted to a clutch bearing which is mounted on the shaft. A trigger is mounted to the slider member, and the slider member is mounted within the stem of the reel for reciprocable upward and downward movement.

Abstract: A prosthetic device for simulating the movements of a natural human ankle and foot throughout all the phases of the gait cycle and which is adapted for the removable attachment to the stump of a lower extremity amputee includes an ankle block member having an aperture in which a universal joint is disposed for allowing the ankle block member to simulate the movements to the anatomical limits of the natural human ankle. Attached to the universal joint and extending upwardly therefrom is an elongated tibial component having an upper tibial end to which is attached a tibial shock member for shock absorption of the prosthetic device during phases of the gait cycle when the prosthetic device strikes any walking surface.