Abstract: A mirror for viewing the face at different magnifications selectable by the user includes a first, oval primary mirror comprised of a front mirror plate having a first magnification and a rear mirror plate concavely curved to provide a second, greater magnification, the front and rear primary mirror plates being held in a back-to-back arrangement within a bezel ring. The ring is pivotably supported within a yoke attached to the upper end of a stanchion which protrudes upwardly from a base, allowing the primary mirror to be pivoted about a horizontally disposed minor axis of the primary mirror, or about a vertical axis through the stanchion, thus presenting either the front or rear reflecting surface to a person located in front of the mirror.

Abstract: A cable reel lifter/transporter apparatus for elevating a heavy cable reel above a surface to permit free rotation of the reel, thereby allowing cable or tubing to be payed off the reel, and for manually transporting cable reels includes a pair of L-shaped planar frames each having a long straight handlebar arm and a relatively short straight leg which depends perpendicularly downwards from a lower surface of the handlebar, near a front transverse end thereof, each leg having at the lower end thereof a short tubular foot. A tubular bearing support protruding upwards from each handlebar rotatably supports opposite ends of a horizontal cable reel support shaft. A pair of arbors slidable on the shaft have inner tapered portions insertable into a separate spindle hole in each of two disk-shaped end plates of a cable reel, and subsequently secured to the shaft to hold the shaft and cable reel in a fixed position between the frames.

Abstract: A golf putter is provided in which the lie and/or loft angle thereof may be semi-permanently but reversibly adjusted by a golfer prior to playing, to suit the individual golfer's stance, swing dynamics, playing skill and/or condition of the greens on which the golfer intends to play. An adjustable lie/loft angle putter according to the present invention includes a hollow tubular shaft and a head coupled together by a reversibly bendable coupling element which preferably is fabricated from a relatively ductile metal such as stainless steel which is formed into an elongated, hollow tube which has a circular cross section. A first, upper longitudinal end of the coupling element is insertably received in the lower opening of a bore within the shaft, while the other end of the coupling element is attached directly to the putter head or to a hosel protruding from the head.

Abstract: A frequency adjustable antenna for transceivers operable at different frequencies, having electrically isolated fixed and extensible mast sections separated by a loading coil in continuity with the fixed mast section and insulated from the extensible mast section and a contactor carried by the extensible mast section commutating with the loading coil for tuning the frequency response of the antenna; and a servo for remote extension and retraction of the extensible mast section selectively positioned thereby.

Abstract: A golf putter which aids a golfer in aiming a putt and avoiding twisting of the shaft in the hand during a swing includes a head provided with a pair of laterally spaced apart trailing members which protrude rearwardly of the rear surface of the head and function cooperatively as weighting/aiming members. The trailing members are preferably located equidistant from a vertical center plane through the sweet spot of the head and have in plan view longitudinally directed visual features perpendicular to the front ball-impacting face of the head, which assist a golfer in visually framing an intended initial ball trajectory to a target hole on a golf green, along with a ball impact vector perpendicular to the center of percussion or sweet spot of the head. Each of the trailing members is preferably laterally symmetric, and may include a longitudinal index line marked on the upper surface of the member, to facilitate visual framing of a putt.

Abstract: A drill case (10) includes a case box (20) having a longitudinally elongated rectangular cross-sectional shape closeable at one transverse end thereof by a lid (23). The case includes a slidably removable longitudinally elongated drill stand base (50) having in the upper surface thereof a plurality of longitudinally disposed, laterally spaced apart grooves (51) for receiving rectangular block-shaped drill stands (60) having longitudinally spaced apart vertical bores (61) for receiving drill bits (1). Stand base (50) has protruding outwardly from opposite lateral sides thereof a pair of parallel longitudinally disposed ribs (52) which are slidably receivable in a pair of upper or lower grooves (27) and (28) formed in the inner side walls of box (20), depending on whether short or long shank drill bits are contained in stands (60).

Abstract: A system for manipulating and transporting relatively large, flat, heavy tabular articles such as portable folding conference tables and construction materials such as plywood or plasterboard sheets comprises a leveraging dolly for lifting an article from a horizontally oriented position at a first location to a vertically oriented position in which the article may be rolled on the dolly to a second location, and a racking cart for receiving and transporting a plurality of articles individually loadable from and onto the leveraging dolly which includes a base rollaby supported by a pair of laterally spaced apart casters, one having a horizontally disposed axle fixed with respect to the base, and the other having a horizontally disposed axle rotatable in a horizontal plane on a vertically disposed swivel attached to the base.

Abstract: A mirror ideally suited for use in a shower enclosure, bathroom or other high humidity environment is adjustable by a user to provide a magnification increasable from unity to three times or more, as well as being resistant to condensation fogging of viewing surfaces thereof. A fogless adjustable magnification mirror according to the present invention includes a ring-shaped frame which holds within an inner peripheral wall surface thereof a clear front viewing window and a rear flexible mirror plate or diaphragm having a reflective surface and a circular shape. The viewing window and mirror plate are held within the frame in a fluid pressure-tight seal, and form therebetween a sealed hollow cylindrically-shaped interior space or plenum bordered on a peripheral longitudinal surface thereof by the inner annular surface of the frame.

Abstract: A golf putter in which both the tactile response and ball launching characteristics may be independently varied over relatively wide respective ranges includes a head in the face of which is formed a stepped cross-section cutout portion which receives a stepped cross-section insert. The putter head includes an outer insert lamination which fits into a complementarity-shaped front recessed portion of the cutout, the outer lamination having an outer generally flat face flush with the front face of the head. Inwards of the recessed portion of the cutout in the front face of the putter head is a pocket adapted to receive and enclose from exterior exposure an inner insert lamination.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring pressures exerted on human feet or horses' hooves comprises a rectangular array of piezoresistive force sensors encapsulated in a thin polymer package that is inserted into a shoe, or incorporated into a sock that may be pulled over a foot or hoof. The preferred embodiment employs novel piezoresistive normal force or pressure sensing elements which include a polymer fabric mesh impregnated with conductive particles suspended in an elastomeric vehicle, preferably silicone rubber. The piezoresistive mesh layer is sandwiched between an array of row and column conductor strip laminations, preferably made of a nylon mesh impregnated with printed metallic paths. In a variation of the basic embodiment, each normal force sensor element is bordered by laterally and longitudinally disposed pairs of shear force sensor elements, each of the latter comprising a pair of adjacent resilient piezoresistive pads that have longitudinally contacting lateral surfaces.

Abstract: A method for making air turning vanes each having formed therein a pair of locking protuberances which adapt the vanes to self-gripping attachment between a pair of rails to fabricate an air turning vane and rail assembly utilizes an elongated length of double plate airfoil vane stock including a front plate having an outer concave surface arcuately bowed about the central longitudinal axis of the plate, and a rear plate having an outer concave surface arcuately bowed about the central longitudinal axis of the rear plate. A vane of a desired length is severed from the vane stock, and the outer concave surface of the rear vane plate is impacted by a punch with sufficient force to deform from the inner surface of the plate a generally hemispherically-shaped button having a lower severed wall which forms a locking lip. The apparatus according to the present invention includes a guillotine-like shearing structure/vane stock support fixture which vertically slidably supports shear blade.

Abstract: A push broom operable by a person in a more comfortably upright stature and with less force than required in using straight-handled push brooms has a front handle portion which extends conventionally upwardly and rearwardly from a brush block having downwardly depending bristles. The handle includes a posterior portion which angles upwardly and rearwardly from the front handle portion, thereby orienting the rear, upper end of the posterior handle portion is in a more nearly vertical position than that of straight handled brooms. Preferably, the handle is doubly bowed, the posterior portion of the handle including an intermediate handle portion inclined upwardly and rearwardly from the front handle portion, and a rear handle portion inclined upwardly and rearwardly from the intermediate handle portion.

Abstract: A micro-manipulator apparatus for precisely positioning the tip of an ultrasonic bonding tool or similar implement relative to a work piece includes a pantograph-like input manipulator mechanism coupled by a downward depending ball joint coupling to the rear end portion of a tool support plate comprising part of a follower mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling air turning vane and rail structures of the type having a plurality of turning vanes consisting of longitudinally spaced apart curved airfoil plates disposed between a pair of parallel upper and lower plate-like rails, and used to promote laminar air flow in heating, ventilating and air conditioning ducts, compresses an array of vanes between a pair of rails to interlock upper and lower transverse edges of the vanes with the upper and lower rails. The apparatus includes a work table for holding the lower rail of a vane and rail structure to be assembled, and lower and upper laterally disposed comb-like vane guides disposed above the work table provided with laterally spaced apart, vertically aligned pairs of slots, each adapted to receive a vane in an upstanding position above an intended fastening location in the lower rail.

Abstract: A mirror device includes a frame comprising a circular ring-shaped light transmissive body which supports a concave magnifying mirror plate. The body has a front beveled annular light exit surface which angles inwardly and rearwardly from the outer side wall of the body to the inner side wall of the body, which has an annular shoulder flange which supports the peripheral edge of the mirror plate. The outer and inner side walls of the body curve longitudinally rearwardly and inwardly, terminating in an annular-shaped rear leg portion located behind the mirror plate. The rear leg portion has an inner, longitudinally disposed, cylindrical light entrance surface within which is located a ring-shaped lamp.

Abstract: A method and apparatus (68, 40) for measuring pressures exerted on 6 human feet or horses' hooves comprises a rectangular array of piezoresistive force sensors encapsulated in a thin polymer package (40) that is inserted into a shoe, or incorporated into a sock that may be pulled over a foot or hoof. The preferred embodiment employs novel piezoresistive normal force or pressure sensing elements (36) which include a polymer fabric mesh impregnated with conductive particles suspended in an elastomeric vehicle, preferably silicone rubber. The piezoresistive mesh layer (33) is sandwiched between an array of row (34) and column (31) conductor strip laminations, preferably made of a nylon mesh impregnated with printed metallic paths.

Abstract: A tie rod for reinforcing heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) ducts against excessive wall flexure in response to positive and/or negative static or dynamic pressure differentials between the interior and exterior of the duct includes a threaded steel rod having a pair of abutment structures irrotatably fastened to longitudinally opposed end portions of the rod. Each abutment structure has a central coaxial bore which receives the rod, and includes a tubular portion terminated at an outer longitudinal end thereof by a transversely disposed, radially outwardly protruding annular flange. The bore wall of the abutment structure's tubular portion flares in an arcuate curve radially and axially outwardly to join the outer transverse wall surface of the flange, forming a tapered annular cavity between the bore wall and the end portion of the threaded rod protruding out from the abutment structures.

Abstract: A modular disk memory apparatus provides a modularly expandable, multi-gigabyte auxiliary memory for a computer or other host electronic device, and includes multiple, parallel serial data channels to maximize bidirectional data transfer rates between the apparatus and the host device. Maximization of READ/WRITE data transfer rates within the apparatus is achieved by utilizing a large number of small hard disk drives, typically eight 2.5-inch drives on each of a plurality of Disk Storage Modules, each including a plug-in printed circuit board capable of holding two 5-1/4 inch drives, thereby increasing the maximum data transfer rate per unit volume of the modules by a factor of two.