Abstract: A dryer for drying textiles is disclosed. The dryer includes a blower for blowing air under the carpet, which includes a blower housing including a sleeve that forms an air outlet opening and a powered fan within the blower housing for blowing air out of the outlet opening. A tow handle is located on the blower housing above the fan and an indentation is included in the underside surface of the blower housing. The indentation has a shape corresponding to the shape of the tow handle such that the indentation can receive a tow handle from a second dryer to allow stacking of dryers. A maneuvering handle is rotatably connected at a first end to the tow handle. The maneuvering handle extends over the blower housing such that a foot located at the second end of the maneuvering handle rests on the upper surface of the blower housing sleeve.

Abstract: A tool for realigning or straightening the strings of a racquet. The tool has a generally rectangular tip which is precisely dimensioned to fit within the normal space between the strings of a racquet. To realign the racquet strings, the tip is placed into the space defined by the strings and the strings are automatically adjusted to their preferred alignment. The string straightening tool is portable and compact, allowing the user to carry the device on his/her person and to use the device during lulls in play during the game.

Abstract: A sink form for use in installing a sink having laterally extending flanges in a countertop is preferably formed of a plastic material, such as nylon or polypropylene resin. It is preferably made to the exact shape of the cut-out opening for the sink, although for round or oval sinks, the form may consist of a flexible strip of the proper cross-section cut to length as required to match the opening. The sink form has a cross section consisting of a downwardly extending portion which is secured to the edges of the opening, a laterally extending flange portion, and, at the outer edge of the flange portion, an upstanding vertical portion terminating in an outwardly curved part. The downwardly extending portion is secured to the edge of the cut-out opening with the laterally extending flange portion spaced away from the countertop to allow for a layer of concrete float material between the flange portion and the countertop.

Abstract: A cork remover for removing corks from bottles, particularly bottles having substantial internal gas pressure, such as champagne bottles, includes a tapered, generally tubular part, which is placed over the shoulder of the bottle. A hollow, threaded, tubular member is secured to the tapered part and is threaded to a tubular sleeve which has ports on opposite sides of its sidewall. Sharpened pins are movable through the ports to puncture and hold the cork. In one embodiment, the pins are threaded to the sleeve and are turned into the cork by means of handles secured to the pins. In another embodiment, the pins are replaced with C-shaped members having abrasive surfaces which are pressed into the sides of the cork, enabling it to be turned by use of the handles. Further embodiments utilize an L-shaped handle pivotally secured to the sleeve to force one or both pins into the corks. The handle can then be turned to break the cork loose and enable it to be removed.

Abstract: A portable seat belt assembly for school buses and the like which includes a belly pack with a seat belt secured thereto. A student wearing the belly pack approaching a school bus seat opens the belly pack, unwinds the seat belt wrapping it around the back of the seat, turns around, sits down and closes the seat belt buckle assembly. When leaving the bus, the student unbuckles the buckle assembly releasing the belt from the seat, folds the belt back into the belly pack and closes the belly pack. Another embodiment includes a seat belt arrangement carried in the belly pack including a pair of straps each having large hooks with spring clasps for attachment to the seat frame. The student must attach these hooks to the seat frame then sit down and close the buckle assembly. Other embodiments include retractors on the seat belt to assist the student in retrieving the belt after use and a camera case for housing the seat belt.

Abstract: A process for laying small decorative tiles on a surface includes the use of a lightweight plastic matrix having ridges of a desired pattern which are used to locate and space the tiles of different shapes in the desired locations. Tiles of the desired color and shape are placed face down on the matrix. A perforated paper matrix having an adhesive layer is then placed over the exposed back sides of the tiles to maintain their relative positions. The surface to be tiled is then coated with thinset adhesive and the tile strip with the matrix is removed and placed against the surface. Several such tile strips may be placed side-by-side or in a desired arrangement on the surface after which grout is applied between the tiles in a well known manner. The process for producing the paper matrix is also described.

Abstract: Flashing footwear includes at least one light source located within and/or on footwear so as to be visible directly or indirectly with the light pipe such as heel of the footwear or garment. A power source, such as a battery, provides sufficient power to light the light source. An inertia responsive spring mass electrical switch develops pulses that are directly related to the amount of force to cause illumination flashes in direct response to the force applied to the spring mass switch. The switch is actuated by the condition of motion of the footwear or garment so as to change between open and closed positions and count the number of times the switch is actuated and further to display that count as a set of either a division, multiple, addition, and/or subtraction of the number of times the spring mass makes electrical contacts and to further flash illuminate any number of lights in sequence based on a set count of spring mass electrical contacts.

Abstract: An electrical connector for use with a tractor-trailer includes a receptacle having a generally cylindrical outer body and a molded inner body encapsulating a plurality of conductors secured to connector pins. To provide additional current carrying capacity to accommodate an automatic braking system (ABS) one of the conductors designated as a ground conductor is larger than all of the other conductors. A conductor carrying ABS current is larger than all conductors except the ground conductor. The inner and outer bodies are fastened together by means of a bayonet connection. An additional securing device includes a projection on the inner body which is held in position by means of a bail attached to the outer body. To reduce resistance at the contacts, all contacts are soldered or crimped to their respective conductors and molded within the inner body to protect all wires and connections to the connector pins from environmentally caused corrosion or damage.

Abstract: A golf club includes a clubhead having a striking face, a threaded cylindrical chamber behind and generally parallel to the face, and a threaded cylindrical weight member in the chamber. A hosel is attached to the cylindrical weight member and has a shaft receiving socket with a non-circular portion and a threaded portion, the shaft having a hosel engaging end with a mating non-circular cross section and a ferrule having threads engagable with the threaded portion of the socket. A second embodiment includes a clubhead which is symmetrical so that the hosel may be attached at either end to make the club ambidextrous. Some different structures for attaching the hosel to the cylindrical weight member provide for variations in the loft of the club. Another embodiment includes an asymmetric movable weight member which engages the head within a cavity therein and is adjustable both longitudinally and by changing the location of its center of gravity.

Abstract: A fishing lure is formed of three principal parts, including a bullet-shaped nose section having a reduced diameter part toward the rear including an axial bore, a rear or plug section having a reduced diameter forward section which is a press fit into the axial bore, and a centrally positioned spinner consisting of an annular member surrounding said reduced diameter part and having highly reflective fins secured to its exterior surface. Grooves formed in the ends of the spinner serve as bearing races and bearings are located in the grooves to aid in causing the spinner to rotate freely when the lure is pulled through the water causing the fins to spin and flash in the light. The plug section has a collar of approximately the same diameter as the exterior surface of the spinner and a slightly reduced diameter toward the rear to accommodate a plastic streamer. The collar prevents direct impingement of the water against the forward edge of the streamer.

Abstract: A device for collecting debris flowing in an artery downstream from a percutaneous coronary intervention includes a hollow guidewire, a double walled balloon connected to the guidewire, and a filter secured to the balloon and to the guidewire, all of which are inserted into the artery downstream of the intervention. Prior to the intervention, the double walled balloon is inflated to occlude the blood vessel except for the open area of the filter. Any debris flowing downstream from the intervention is caught in the filter. When the intervention is completed, the balloon is deflated causing it to collapse away from the vessel wall, permitting blood flow past itself and trapping any debris caught by the filter between itself and the guidewire. Multiple inflation and deflation cycles may be performed if multiple interventions are required upstream. The entire device can then be removed from the artery.

Abstract: A laser light projector includes a housing having a plurality of apertures, a number of laser diodes and drivers mounted on said housing and aligned to direct laser light beams through the apertures, a controller connected to each driver for controlling the timing and sequence of laser light beams from the laser diodes, and a plurality of mirrors aligned to receive the laser light beams and deflect the beams in desired directions. A second embodiment includes connectors connected to the controller and utilizes plug-in modules, each including a laser diode and a driver to permit various types and numbers of laser modules to be operated by the controller.

Abstract: A decorative lamp fixture includes a housing with a generally rectangular cross-section formed of a pair of identical interlocking extruded members. An opening or window is formed on each side of the housing. The housing includes a plurality of internal grooves or channels for holding fasteners supporting a bracket which secures a glass block in position, such that its face surfaces are adjacent or protrude slightly from the openings. A lamp is positioned within the housing such that it directs light at an edge of the glass block. Other edges of the glass block are coated with a light reflecting coating, such as white paint. The housing includes a cover, and the lamp may be secured to the cover, or it may be positioned below the glass block.

Abstract: A water-cooled pump motor for delivering potable water in a demand system includes a centrifugal pump including a volute and an impeller in the volute, an electric motor driving the impeller having a hollow rotor shaft, a rotor on the shaft, bearings supporting the rotor shaft, a stator coaxially outward of the rotor, two water impervious liners, one located within the stator and the other coaxially outside the rotor, the liners being spaced to define a cylindrical passageway across the rotor and a cooling and lubricating water passageway for water to flow through the motor including flow from the impeller between the rotor shaft and the bearings, across the cylindrical passageway and through the hollow rotor shaft back into the volute.

Abstract: A catheter for insertion into an artery having deposits of plaque and/or thrombus includes, at its distal end an ultrasonic transducer and a dilatation balloon surrounding the transducer such that when the balloon is positioned in the artery adjacent the deposits and inflated, energizing of the ultrasonic transducer will focus the ultrasonic energy against the deposits to cause dissolution of the thrombus into microscopic particles and cause cracking and softening of the plaque. Other embodiments include the provision of a second ultrasonic transducer as a means for viewing the treatment site, and a second balloon to cooperate with the first balloon to define a chamber between the balloons and with a lumen and a port connected to the chamber to remove any debris of larger than microscopic size which might otherwise tend to move downstream and cause further obstructions. Also described is the use of an expandable filtering device distal of the dilatation balloon for trapping such particles.

Abstract: An interactive game is disclosed which may take the form of a board game, a hand held game or a yard game. It includes a series of printed circuits or devices which may be concealed within a playing surface and an electronic detector for the circuits. Easily as many as 8 or 16 different discrete device may be detected and distinguished. Stored messages associated with each device or combinations of devices is displayed or audibly reproduce the messages. This invention is also applied to interactive books and games which have multiple layers with superimposed pages or boards. Interference between superimposed pages or boards is eliminated by surrounding each concealed device with a conductive pattern which has no resonant frequency in the range of detection of the electronic detector or probe. Likewise, concealed devices are not located on immediately following pages or boards at the same location on the page. The method of manufacturing such interactive games or books is disclosed.