Abstract: A file includes a support member having an abrasive surface treated with a sanitizing agent. The surface or the interstices between particles of abrasive hold the sanitizing agent which is released with use of the file. The sanitizing agent is either in a liquid carrier or contained within microcapsules. The microcapsules are frangible and break upon use of the file to release the sanitizing agent. The file surface may comprise granular abrasive particulates having a size ranging from 40 to 1200 grit which provide the interstices between at least some of the particulates. An aqueous coating having dispersed therein an adhesive and the microcapsules is applied to the granular particulates. The coating is dried to deposit in the interstices the microcapsules. The adhesive binds the microcapsules to the granular particulates. When a mixture of sanitizing agent and liquid carrier is used, the abrasive surface is coated with the mixture and then the carrier is removed to coat the surface with the sanitizing agent.

Abstract: A dual-chamber syringe has a plunger within an inner delivery chamber in fluid communication with an ejection port. The deliver chamber is formed within a tubular element axially slidable within a tubular guide. The tubular guide and the syringe outer barrel form an outer reservoir chamber. The outer reservoir chamber is sealed from the delivery chamber while the tubular element is in a first position within the guide. Upon withdrawal of the plunger, frictional contact imparted by the plunger seal causes the tubular element to slide away from sealing engagement with the barrel into a second position within the guide. In the second position of the tubular element, a fluid passageway is opened from the reservoir to the delivery chamber allowing fluid to be drawn into the delivery chamber. A porous seal between the plunger rod and barrel allows air into the reservoir during transfer of fluid to the delivery chamber.

Abstract: Adjustable pliers for a constant tension hose clamp include a pair of arms pivotally connected together at intermediate portions of the arms. Each arm has a handle portion and a gripping portion, and the gripping portions have opposed ends that are spaced apart a predetermined distance. Each end has a grasping element, with each grasping element adapted to hold one actuating member of the hose clamp. This enables the hose clamp to be held by the grasping elements between the gripping portions to enlarge the diameter of the hose clamp by pressing the handle portions together. One of the arms has two separate sections, a gripper section and a handle section. These sections are rigidly connected together by an adjustable rod mechanism that enables the two sections to be moved relative to each other to change the angular relationship between the two sections by adjustment of the rod mechanism.

Abstract: A jewelry piece 10 includes a light transparent, ornamental element 20 and a light emitting diode 16 positioned near the ornamental element. A battery case 12 has a side wall 12b having a threaded opening 29 therein providing access to a battery being held within the battery case. A clasp 14 has an outwardly projecting threaded element 14b adapted to be received in the threaded opening 29. There is a first conductive wire 26 having one end connected to one terminal of the battery and another end connected to the diode 16 and a second conductive wire 30 having one end connected to the light source and another end having a clasp 14. The clasp 14, when partially inserted into the opening 29, completes a loop but does not contact the other terminal of the battery, preventing the diode 16 from being energized. When completely inserted into the opening 29, the clasp 14 makes contact with the other terminal of battery to energize the light source.

Abstract: A dental flosser 10 includes a handle 12 having a hollow interior 14 adapted to hold a supply of dental floss 26. The handle 12 has an open end providing access to the hollow interior 14, and a cap has one end is connected to this open end of the handle 12. Another end of the cap includes a pair of fingers which are spaced apart. Each finger has a opening therein near a distal end thereof. The end of the cap connected to the handle 12 has a guideway which permits floss 26 to pass from the hollow interior 14 and be threaded through the openings in the fingers. A post 42 is attached to the cap member 16 between the fingers elements and the one end of the cap member 16. This post 42 includes a guideway 40 for the floss 26 and a blade 50 for cutting the floss. The post 42 has an underside which intersects the cap member 16 at an acute angle to provide notch structures 54 and 56.

Abstract: An assembly 10 of a writing implement 12 and a pick 13. The pick 13 is attached by a hinge 32 to a spring clip 18 for holding the writing implement 12 to a user's pocket. The hinge 32 enables the pick 13 to move between a first position where the pick is disposed in a slot in the spring clip and a second position where the pick extends outward from the slot. The pick 13 comprises a generally conically shaped body made of a polymeric material that is unlikely to injure the gums of a user and terminates in a point.

Abstract: An adjustable socket has a number of selectable socket size openings available. It includes a drive member, an indexing collar positioned within the drive member, and an axially moveable drive core positioned within the drive member that is manually rotatable to different positions corresponding to the selected socket size openings. There are a series of teeth on the drive core and the drive core has a cam surface with guide elements. Jaw members mounted to the drive member to move laterally between fixed lateral positions upon rotation of the drive core, each fixed lateral position corresponding to a selected socket size opening.

Abstract: A roller skate 100 includes a support 2a attached to a skater's foot. First and second non-aligned axles 9 and 10 are attached to the forward end of a support 2a and extend sideways from the inside of the support, with the second axle 10 being closer to the center c of the skater's foot than the first axle 9. Third and fourth non-aligned axles 18 and 19 are attached to the rear end of the support 2a and extend sideways from the outside of the support, with the third axle 19 being closer to the center c of the skater's foot than the fourth axle 18. Wheels 12 and 16 and wheels 13 and 15 are mounted for rotation on the axles.

Abstract: A conveyor indexing mechanism for a bakery production line includes a variable speed motor, a conveyor, a number of baking pans, a dough packet drop mechanism, a sensor, and a timing generator. The conveyor moves the baking pans under the dough packet drop mechanism at a base speed and a ramp-up speed based on input from the sensor and timing generator. The sensor senses pan pockets in the baking pans which causes the motor to assume the base speed. The timing generator periodically causes the motor to assume the ramp-up speed. The indexing mechanism ensures that a row of pan pockets will be below the dough packet drop mechanism so that a row of dough packets will consistently fall therein with maximum throughput. The absence of any clutch or brake reduces wear, as does the continuous motion of the drive train, which prevents backlash in the gear components. A programmable controller receives system inputs and instructs an inverter to change the motor speed.

Abstract: A fountain includes a container having a top with an opening therein, a bottom, and an interior for holding a liquid, such as water. An elongated, hollow support member is positioned within the interior and extending from the opening in the top. This support member has a first end mounted at or near the bottom of the container, a second end terminating a predetermined distance above the opening in the top, and an exterior surface over which liquid flows. A pump positioned within the interior and operably connected to the first end of the support member pumps liquid in the interior into and through the hollow support member to flow out its second end and then along the exterior surface of the support member to return to the interior of the container. A faucet is attached to the second end of the support member in a manner which allows the liquid to flow from the second end.

Abstract: A limousine type vehicle includes a standard electrical system, a coach section with an auxiliary electrical system, and an electric power generation system which has first and second batteries isolated from each other during normal operation of the vehicle's engine. The first battery is electrically connected to the engine to supply electric power for the operation of the engine and the standard electrical system, and the second battery is electrically connected to the auxiliary electrical system to supply electric power for the operation of said auxiliary electrical system. A first alternator is electrically connected to the first battery to recharge said first battery during operation of the engine, and a second alternator is electrically connected to the second battery to recharge said second battery during operation of the engine.

Abstract: A golf bag includes a bag body having a substantially cylindrical configuration with a closed end, an open end, and a sidewall between said ends forming an internal cavity which receives the shafts of golf clubs. A golf club receptacle structure at the open end has a lower portion with a circumferential section divided into a plurality of outer receptacle compartments, and, in outline, a substantially truncated, conical-like upper portion at least partially extending outward from the open end of the bag body. The conical upper portion has a raised, inner, central section with a divider member that segregates the inner central section into a plurality of inner receptacle compartments. A substantially cylindrical, hollow connector section fits snugly within the open end of the bag body, and includes a frame with radial arms.

Abstract: A novel irrigation valve having a single central inlet and a plurality of radially located outlets each covered by a sliding disk valve. Each disk valve is manually operable and in automatic mode is operated by the interference action of an innovative indexing mechanism which uses the hydraulic pressure of the inlet for its operation a single three-way solenoid valve is energized to actuate a piston within the indexing mechanism while a pin-teeth engagement of a cylinder-indexer assembly converts the linear motion of a piston rod into a rotary motion of an indexing arm. A battery operated timer controls the time intervals between each incremental rotation of an indexing arm in sequence until it is returned to its home position. The housing of the valve is compact and of low profile, thereby simplifying its manufacturing, assembling, installation and maintenance and reducing cost.

Abstract: A personal vehicle loading and unloading apparatus includes a support structure mounted to a platform such as a truck bed which supports the personal vehicle, and a moveable ramp mounted telescopically within the support structure. The ramp is manually moveable between a retracted position where substantially the entire ramp is within the truck bed and an extended position where substantially the entire ramp extends from the truck bed. The ramp and the support structure each have an upper surface over which the bottom surface of the personal vehicle, or a conveyor for the vehicle, rides as the personal vehicle is moved to and from the truck bed. These upper surfaces each comprise an anti-friction material having a kinetic friction coefficient no greater than 0.5. A winch mechanism mounted to the support structure pulls the personal vehicle into the truck bed during loading and lowers slowly the personal vehicle from the truck bed during unloading.

Abstract: A support rail for a boxspring includes a cross bar having opposed ends, and a bracket attached to each end. Each bracket has a gripper arm and is mounted to move laterally across the end to which it is attached between an extended position and a retracted position. An end section of each of end of the cross bar and a connection section of each of the brackets is made of a malleable material, from which a lock mechanism is formed to releasably interlocked together the cross bar and brackets when the brackets are in the retracted position. The lock mechanism includes a locking element and a receptacle, with the receptacle formed in either the bracket or the cross bar and the locking element formed in either bracket or the cross bar depending on the position of the receptacle.

Abstract: A corner connector for siding retainers having a unitary structure includes a base plate which is adapted to be attached to a wall that is to be covered with strips of siding. The base plate has a generally orthogonal-shaped edge portion formed by first and second members. Each member has a connecting end and a receiving end over which a siding retainer is adapted to slide and each sized to be received snugly within a channel in a siding retainer slid over an individual member. There is a corner section to which the connecting ends of the first and second members are joined so that the first and second members are at an angle of substantially 90.degree.. The corner section has raised segments where each of the connecting ends join the corner section. The raised segments serve as stops which abut an end of a retainer slid over an individual member.

Abstract: An anti-theft device disables the engine of an automotive vehicle during an attempted robbery by breaking the rotor of the engine's distributor. The distributor has a plurality of electrodes and the rotor is moved through a circular path during operation of the engine to make electrical contact with the electrodes to generate sparks in the engine's combustion chamber. A stopper element mounted to be moved between a first position where the stopper element is in the path of the rotor and a second position where the stopper element is displaced from the path of the rotor. A solenoid selectively moves the stopper element between the first and second positions by manual actuating a hidden switch. The rotor is made of a material which fractures upon engaging the stopper element, so that, with the stopper element in the rotor's path, the rotor is fractured to prevent contact with the electrodes and the generation of sparks.

Abstract: Disclosed is an assembly 10 of a writing implement 12 and a pick 13. The pick 13 is attached by a hinge 32 to a spring clip 18 for holding the writing implement 12 to a user's pocket. The hinge 32 enables the pick 13 to move between a first position where the pick is disposed in a slot in the spring clip and a second position where the pick extends outward from the slot. The pick 13 comprises a generally conically shaped body made of a polymeric material that is unlikely to injure the gums of a user and terminates in a point.

Abstract: A device 10 is used during washing of a brassiere 24 to protect the brassiere and maintain the shape of the cups 24a and 24b of the brassiere. It includes an inner spherical framework 12 contained within a larger outer spherical framework 14. Each framework is formed by a pair of hemispherical sections that upon being coupled together form the individual frameworks. With the inner framework 12 open, the brassiere 24 is fitted over the hemispherical sections, with one section being placed inside each cup of the brassiere. The sections of the inner framework 12 with the brassiere thereon are then closed and placed inside an open outer framework 14. The outer framework 14 is then closed to enclose the inner framework 12, and the assembly of frameworks is placed into a washing machine. The inner and outer frameworks are open structures that allow water to flow thereto during washing.