Abstract: A dental floss dispenser which, from a size and shape standpoint, looks very much like a credit card housed within a protective case. The dispenser includes a floss holder which can be described as flat, relatively thin, of a generally rectangular shape, and preferably made of a relatively rigid material. The case for the floss holder completely surrounds the holder and is open or openable at one end so that the holder may be easily moved in and out of its case. The case can be made of a flexible plastic material--with a clear plastic being preferred. The holder is provided with a supply of dental floss which is preferably wound from side edge to side edge of the holder and about the middle section thereof. This leaves the upper end of the holder free of floss. Near the upper end of the floss holder which is the end initially withdrawn from the case and on one edge of the holder is a notch which is used to engage and hold the floss after a length has been removed from the holder.

Abstract: A flushing apparatus for controlling water flow in a toilet flushing system. The flushing system includes a pressure tank and differential-pressure type flush valve that opens when accumulated fluid pressure above a piston is vented to atmosphere. The apparatus includes an actuator for venting the flush valve which includes a tubular member that defines an air flow passage through the flushing apparatus. The air flow passage is selectively controlled by a blocking member which slides within and relative to the tubular actuator. The air flow passage can be used to ventilate the corresponding toilet bowl when the system is at rest.

Abstract: An article of jewelry adapted to be worn over a human thigh. Included in the article is a substantially closed circlet having a length and flexibility that allows it to be draped loosely around the thigh. Supporting the circlet is a suspension member that is adapted to hang from an undergarment of the wearer. A link member loosely and slidably couples the suspension member to the circlet, allowing the circlet to move smoothly without irritating the skin of the wearer.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting and adjusting a solar oven with respect to the sun, the apparatus having a horizontally disposed main frame and a pair of vertical, spaced apart supports mounted to the main frame, the solar oven being pivotally mounted to the vertical supports; with means to lock the solar oven in a variety of positions with respect to the sun.

Abstract: A mattress like structure is provided which is designed to not only give good support to an infant while sleeping, but may hopefully reduce the possibility of the infant suffocating while sleeping on its stomach. It includes a generally rectangular shaped rigid frame with a resilient, flexible fabric of special construction tightly stretched over the frame to form a top and bottom surface. The fabric is of an open mesh type with relatively large openings to provide excellent air flow to the infant. The non-open area of the fabric is such that it will support the infant in a very comfortable manner without making any creases or lines in the infant's skin. Moreover, the openings, although relatively large are not so large that the infant's fingers can be caught in the openings. The special fabric is constructed in the form of a generally rectangular shaped sleeve closed at one end and provided with a zipper or other closure means about a portion of its perimeter.

Abstract: An improved bolt carrier for a gas operated automatic or semi-automatic firearm of the AR15 or M16 type having a substantial increase in the number and area of lands in the forward end of the bolt carrier. This results in increased accuracy of the firearm and makes the action smoother and more consistent.

Abstract: A toilet odor venting apparatus which fits over the top tank of a toilet in place of the usual tank cover. The apparatus draws air from the toilet bowl through the flush ring into the interior of the tank and then into the room in which the toilet is located. The apparatus includes a suction blower assembly which includes a low profile, disk-shaped impeller journalled for rotation about a vertical axis and one or more low profile electric drive motors, which are preferably DC and which operate at supersynchronous speed. The assembly further includes a special coupling for coupling rotary power from the motors to the impeller with the coupling assembly including a driven wheel journalled for rotation about a vertical axis and a drive wheel journalled for rotation about a horizontal axis. The electric motor is preferably powered by DC current from a battery.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for removing oily waste from articles which includes two tanks located in proximity, preferably in side-by-side relationship, to one another. The upper edge of one end of these tanks is provided with an overflow that causes the light surface fraction of the liquid in the cleaning tank to flow out of the cleaning tank and onto the surface of the liquid in the separating tank. The bottom edge of the opposite end of the separating tank is provided with an outlet through which the dense bottom fraction of the liquid in the separating tank may be withdrawn and pumped back into the cleaning tank. The effect of this top/bottom relationship between outlets and inlets is to establish a density gradient which favors the migration of oily waste from the cleaning tank to the separating tank.

Abstract: A method of preparing esters and water soluble soaps using intensive mixing. The esters are prepared by reacting fats & oils with methanol containing caustic as a catalyst wherein the glycerin formed is removed. The resulting esters are saponified with caustic along with an additional amount of methanol to form the soap.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for semi-permanently conditioning hair by treating the hair, preferably following shampooing, with a composition including a low viscosity oil-in-water emulsion of a mixture of two polysiloxane polymers, that is, a hydroxy terminated dimethyl polysiloxane and a methyl hydrogen polysiloxane, the composition being at an acid pH. It is a feature of this invention that the polysiloxane polymers in the hair-treating composition are in an unreacted or non-crosslinked state. After the composition is applied to the hair, the crosslinking of the two polysiloxane polymers takes place on the hair resulting in a semi-permanent conditioning effect. Although some crosslinking of the polymers will occur while drying the treated hair at room temperatures, increased crosslinking occurs when the hair is blow dried using heated air.

Abstract: A lock to prevent theft of a marine propeller assembly having a cylindrical shaped housing on which are exteriorly mounted a series of propeller blades, with the open end of the propeller housing being flared outwardly, the assembly further being mountable to a propeller shaft by means of a retaining nut. The propeller lock substantially covers the open end of the propeller assembly and effectively prevents access to the retaining nut and therefore prevents theft of the assembly. The lock has a flat, generally circular shaped face section, with a relatively short wall depending from the perimeter of the face section. The circular shaped face section is formed of two semi-circular sections with the two semi-circular sections being hinged at an edge so they can be closed to form the circular section or opened to form the two semi-circular sections. The depending relatively short wall is angled at an acute inwardly toward the center of the generally circular shaped face section.

Abstract: A belt tensioner employing helical compression springs in series arrangement in a housing located on a support structure to rotate another structure pivotally mounted on the support structure. An idler pulley is located on the rotatable structure and bears against a belt to both tension it and dampen vibrations. The helical compression springs operate on a plate rigidly attached to a movable shaft, which shaft bears directly or preferably indirectly through a thrust linkage on a shoulder of the rotatable structure. The springs, a thrust assembly and shaft are all mounted in a housing which is substantially filled with liquid which dampens the movement of the rotatable structure by the liquid being forced to flow through a restriction in the thrust assembly as it passes from one chamber to another inside the housing. The constant diameter shaft passes through the housing and its end cap, it being sealed hydraulically at each end.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for improving the ventricular activation sequence of the heart by pacing at an advantageous selected ventricular location to achieve shortening of the QRS complex or pacing at multiple advantageous selected ventricular locations, either simultaneously or with a programmed delay or delays between firings, to achieve shortening of the QRS complex in combination with producing a desirable and efficient ventricular motion. During a cardiac cycle initiated by intrinsic cardiac activity, stimulating impulses may be directed to advantageous selected locations of the ventricles by employing intrinsic cardiac signals to trigger the stimulating impulses, either simultaneously or with a programmed delay or delays between the sensed event or events and firing event or events, to provide improved mechanical and electrical ventricular function.

Abstract: A magnetic pickup tool including a length of highly flexible tubing with a permanent magnet secured to one end of the tubing. Removably positioned within the interior of the flexible tube is a [stiffening means] stiffener such as a length of iron wire of about the same length as the flexible tubing. The [stiffening means] stiffener is bendable but when bent has the ability to take a "set". A second length of flexible tubing completely surrounds the first or inner tubing and is slidable thereon. The function of the outer tube is to surround the magnetic tip when the tool is in the process of being positioned to pick up an object so as to prevent the magnetic tip of the tool from being attracted to an unwanted metal object. After the tool has been positioned at or near the object to be picked up, the user then grasps the outer tube and pulls it away from the magnetic tip exposing the tip to make contact with the desired object. A feature of the tool is that the [stiffening means] stiffener is removable.

Abstract: A martial arts training apparatus which includes a generally cylindrical shaped heavy bag having opposed ends and provided with means at its upper end for suspending the bag, and a simulated human leg which is positioned immediately adjacent the lower end of the heavy bag, with the simulated leg being generally cylindrical in shape and of a size which substantially replicates a human leg and is deformable. The simulated leg is secured to a frame means for properly positioning and suspending it from the heavy bag, with the frame means being positioned at the lower end of the heavy bag and external to the bag and shaped so as to conform to the shape of the lower end of the heavy bag. Means are also included for suspending and securing the frame means and the simulated leg to the heavy bag.