Abstract: The present display is comprised of a first mounting bracket with holes spaced for attaching to a license plate on a vehicle. An arm is attached to the first mounting bracket. A first snap buckle is attached to an outer end of the arm. A display panel has a lower edge attached to a second mounting bracket. A second snap buckle is attached to the second mounting bracket. The display panel is attached to the vehicle by connecting the first and second snap buckles together. The display panel is easily detached or replaced by disconnecting the snap buckles. In a second embodiment, a flag is attached to a third snap buckle for being detachably connected to the first snap buckle.

Abstract: The present hair roller is comprised of a hollow tube with an elliptical cross section for producing hair curls of a novel shape. A fixed end of an elastic loop is attached to a first end of the tube. After hair is wrapped around the tube, the free end of the loop is stretched around the hair and across a second end of the tube to secure the hair. The opposite ends of the tube have scalloped edges that stabilize the loop in its selected radial position when stretched around the tube. The outside of the tube is textured for providing traction and preventing the hair from slipping. Holes are distributed around the outside of the tube to allow a perm solution to soak through the hair better for a perm, and to enable air circulation for drying the hair faster for a wet set.

Abstract: A microscope slide stainer includes a waste bin with an open top, and supporting notches arranged on the top edges of opposite sides. A slide supporting rack is supported in a horizontal position across the top of the bin in the supporting notches. The rack includes a pair of rails extending along a horizontal base. Brackets arranged on top of the rails define a plurality of spaced-apart slide holding positions. A hot plate is positioned between the rails and spaced above the horizontal base. A control box is attached to the hot plate for temperature control. Pins extending from opposite sides of the hot plate ride in direction-changing slots in the rails to enable the hot plate to be moved between a raised position engaged against the bottom of the slides, and a lowered position disengaged from the slides. Grooves are arranged on top surface of the hot plate to prevent the wet slides from sticking to it. A cover is removably positioned over the rack to define a heating and humidity chamber.

Abstract: The present motorcycle luggage is comprised of a storage container attached on a rigid base plate. The base plate is arranged to be snapped on to a conventional motorcycle body in place of the removable rear seat. Latching members arranged on the bottom of the base plate are arranged to mate with the existing latching receptacles on the motorcycle. Different latching members may be provided for mating with the latching receptacles on different motorcycles. The present luggage is thus quickly installable by a rider without modifying the motorcycle. It is secure from theft. It will never come loose or fall off, and it will never become tangled in the rear wheel like many strapped-on storage devices improvised by riders.

Abstract: The present gardening barrier is comprised of an elongated flexible sheet and a connector at one end of the sheet. The sheet is adapted to be partially buried edgewise into the ground for separating two distinct horticultural areas. Depending on the application, the ends of sheet can be connected together to form a small cylinder or planting berm to collect water, or a plurality of sheets can be connected together to form a long border for separating a garden area from a lawn area. The lower edge of the sheet is provided with a row of teeth for marking the ground during installation. Elongated stakes are provided among the teeth for temporarily holding the sheet upright on the ground while trying different positions. Foldable insertion limitation tabs adjacent the top of the sheet may be folded out to ensure that the sheet is buried at an even depth along its entire length. Foldable retention tabs adjacent the bottom of the sheet may be folded out and buried underground to retain the sheet in the ground.

Abstract: A computer network read-ahead caching method for servers and clients includes compiling a list of addresses associated with the links on a page. The addresses are ordered on the list according to the likelihood that they may be visited by a user. Different compiling methods are provided, including compiling in the order the links appear on the page, compiling only the links which are currently displayed to the user, and compiling currently displayed links and links in the direction the page is being scrolled. Requests are send out to the addresses which are not in a local cache. Any cacheable pages which are received are cached. If the page for the selected link is already cached, it is fetched from the cache and displayed almost instantly, so that the user does not experience the download delay. If the page is not cached, a request is sent out. In another embodiment, the requests identify the client as a read-ahead caching client, and the responses identify the server as a compatible server.

Abstract: A dry-erase marker eraser is comprised of a springy tubular sleeve with a closed end and an open end. An erasing pad is attached to the closed end of the sleeve. Longitudinal gripping ribs are arranged around an interior wall of the sleeve adjacent the open end. Longitudinal stop ribs are arranged around the interior wall of the sleeve adjacent the closed end. The open end of the sleeve is adapted to fit around a butt end of a marker. The sleeve and gripping ribs are sized to engage markers between a minimum diameter and a maximum diameter. When the sleeve is positioned around a marker of the minimum diameter, the gripping ribs are closest from each other and the open end of the sleeve has a circular shape. When the sleeve is positioned around a marker of the maximum diameter, the gripping ribs are spread apart and the sleeve is reduced in curvature between the gripping ribs to a polygonal shape.

Abstract: The present security tag is comprised of a generally flat body surrounded by a lip for improving grip. A socket is attached to one end of the body, and a card is attached to an opposite end. A strap is attached to a side of the body by a tear band, and offset from the socket. The strap is provided with a narrower waist portion for being easily bent. When a distal end of the strap is inserted into the socket, the offset positioning between the strap and the socket causes the strap to be bent in a way that helps the card to lay flat on an item being secured. A stud at the distal end of the strap is locked in place by radial fingers in the socket. Gussets behind the fingers help them resist being pried back to release the stud. The card includes a first portion and a separable second portion which can be detached from the first portion. Copies of a code are provided on the first and second portions, which can be compared to verify ownership of the item, or if the tag has been surreptitiously replaced.

Abstract: The present boat steering torque compensator is for being attached to a boat with a pivotable outboard motor, and a linearly movable control shaft with a first end connected to the outboard motor and a second end connected to a steering wheel. The compensator is comprised of a tube for being attached to the boat in a fixed position parallel to the control shaft. A compression spring positioned in the tube has a fixed first end adjacent the first end of the control shaft, and a movable second end. An elongated shaft positioned in the tube and through the spring has a first end connected to the first end of the control shaft by an adapter arm, and a second end positioned adjacent the movable second end of the spring. An engaging member on the second end of the elongated shaft engages the movable second end of the spring to compress the spring when the control shaft and elongated shaft are moved in the direction of the first end of the tube.

Abstract: The invention provides a method to transform large quantities of waste glass into useful ceramic products by a low-cost manufacturing process. The major steps of the method consist of dry preparation of glass powder, granulation with a non-aqueous organic binder system, dry pressing with adequate green strength, and firing at low temperatures. Water and clay are not required in the processing, which eliminates problems that were encountered in the past. Only one firing step is needed with a low peak firing temperature of about 750° C. The method conserves energy and natural resources compared to clay-based traditional ceramic manufacturing. High-quality impervious ceramic products with only a small amount of porosity can be produced by the invention.

Abstract: The present temperature monitor is comprised of a thermistor and a reference resistor connected to a capacitor in parallel. The capacitor is charged through the thermistor by a microcontroller to determine the thermistor charging time, discharged, and then charged through the reference resistor to determine a reference charging time. The thermistor charging time is divided by the reference charging time to determine the thermistor value, which is converted into an actual temperature by using a conventional algorithm. The microcontroller is programmed to activate various indicators to show the ambient temperature relative to one or more acceptable ranges, whether the temperature has reached the acceptable ranges within an acceptable time period, and whether the temperature has had an upward trend prior to reaching the acceptable ranges.

Abstract: The present golf ball catching funnel is comprised of a horizontal frame, a funnel-shaped sheet suspended within the frame, and legs elevating the frame and sheet off the ground. The frame is adapted to be positioned against the front of a golf ball driving net for catching golf balls as they drop from the net. Detachable fasteners along a rear edge of the sheet secure the golf ball catching funnel against the driving net, and thus prevent the golf balls from falling between the catching funnel and the driving net. A resilient tube with a longitudinal split is clipped around a front edge of the frame for preventing the golf balls from rolling off as they bounce back from the driving net. A hole is provided in the sheet for directing the golf balls into a bucket below to stretch taut the sheet and generally smooth out any wrinkles and ripples which might prevent the golf balls from rolling toward said hole.

Abstract: A mouth powered vacuum is provide with a cap with a lip at a lower end attached around a mouth of a bottle. The lip is made of a resilient material, so that it can be snapped on and off the bottle without twisting. A curved intake channel is connected between a side and a bottom of the cap. A flexible pickup tube is inserted into the intake channel at the side of the cap for being swept over objects to be picked up. A generally rigid mouth piece is integrally attached to the cap, and positioned sideward and upward for being sucked by a user. The angle between the mouthpiece and the bottle is selected to enable the bottle to be held comfortably when the mouthpiece is placed between the user's lips. A mouthpiece channel is connected between a distal end of the mouthpiece and the bottom of the cap. The inner end of the mouthpiece channel is enlarged relative to the outer end. A screen is positioned across the enlarged inner end of the mouthpiece channel for preventing the user from inhaling the objects.

Abstract: The present inverted bonnet hair dryer is comprised of a bowl with a closed end and an open end. The bowl is pivotally supported on a stand and is rotatable to a position with its open end facing upward. The bowl is comprised of a hemispherical concave inner wall which is generally spaced from an outer wall. The perimeter of the inner wall is connected to the outer wall to define a space between the walls. A hollow tube is attached to the outer wall. An aperture at an outer end of the tube is in communication with the space within the bowl. The aperture is adapted to receive the head of a conventional hand-held electric blow dryer. When the open end is facing upward, the bowl is adapted to be positioned under the head of a person. The head is inverted to hang the hair under the head. The inner wall of the bowl is adapted to evenly support the hair. When the blow dryer is activated, hot air is forced into the space between the walls and released through holes on the inner wall to dry the hair.

Abstract: The present carrying bag is comprised of a primary container with a primary opening which is closed with a primary zipper for receiving personal items, such as books. Primary straps are attached to the front of the primary container. A ball container is detachably connected to the back of the primary container with a connecting zipper along the periphery of the ball container and on the back of the primary container. The ball container is comprised of a basketball basket for clearly indicating that it is a place to put in a basketball. The ball container is maintained in its shape by a first rib in a rim of the basket, and second ribs in a conical panel of the basket. A lid attached to the top of the ball container is detachably connected to the rim of the basket by a rim zipper. Divided compartments are thus provided for the ball and personal items to provide enough room for them and to prevent them from mixing. The ball container may be detached from the primary container by unzipping the connecting zipper.

Abstract: The present clothes hanger organizer comprises a pair of vertical rods connected by a plurality of horizontal rods. Hooks at the top of the vertical rods are for hanging on a hanger rod in a closet. The horizontal rods are for supporting a plurality of extra clothes hangers several layers deep for conserving space on the hanger rod. Different styles of clothes hangers can be organized by hanging from different horizontal rods.

Abstract: The present pillow case is comprised of a tubular bag with a closed end and an open end. The bag has a predetermined length such that, when a conventional pillow of a predetermined size is fully inserted into the bag against the closed end, a loose extension is provided on the side of the open end. A flat pocket for holding a child's article is attached to the bag near the open end at a position substantially overlapping an adjacent end of the pillow. An opening on the pocket is angled sharply toward the closed end to more directly present the article to the child, and to hold the article more securely. The positioning of the pocket overlapping the edge of the pillow causes it to be raised by the pillow to about the top plane of the pillow case, and thus places the article within sight of the child for providing enjoyment and companionship.