Abstract: An oil retrieval system comprising a large sheet which is adapted to be spread over an oil spill, having weights provided at the respective corners of the sheet and air bags attached to the respective weights, so that when the air bags are deflated the weights will sink and draw the sheet into a canopy over the oil trapping the oil in the canopy, and a retrieval hose extending through the sheet which may be attached to an appropriate pump for retrieval of the oil trapped in the canopy.

Abstract: A vehicle having spherical-shaped wheels and which may be steered, and whose speed may be controlled, by varying the inclinations of the wheels about respective horizontal axes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

Abstract: An improved transportation system is provided by which vehicles may be propelled along the top of a duct on a cushion of pressurized air. The duct is provided with a grating on its upper surface through which the pressurized air is emitted from the interior of the duct, and a longitudinal slot extends along the grating. The lower surface of the grating is normally closed by a flexible belt which extends along the interior of the duct. The belt is depressed down from the grating as the vehicle moves along the top of the duct to permit air pressure in the duct to escape through the grating and thus support the vehicle on a cushion of air. At least one vane is attached to a carriage, the vane being supported on the lower end of an arm which depends from the vehicle and extends down through the slot into the interior of the duct. The vane extends across the interior of the duct. A pressure differential created within the duct on opposite sides of the vane serve to propel the vehicle along the top of the duct.

Abstract: A game-playing method and apparatus, which includes a frame, one or more sets of balls, and a series of at least three wheels rotatably mounted adjacent to each other on the frame in a common horizontal plane. Each wheel includes a plurality of peripheral ball-carrying pockets having outwardly facing openings. A mechanism mounted in the frame effects continuous rotation of the wheels automatically circulating the balls from wheel to wheel in continuous movement. In particular, the balls are retained in the pockets of a rotating wheel except at transfer zones to adjacent wheels. A ball tends to move out of its pocket whenever it comes to a transfer zone and to pass through that zone to a receiving pocket on the adjacent wheel. If the receiving pocket is already occupied by another ball, no transfer occurs. A manually-actuated stop-gate enables a player to directly control the transfer of balls by blocking or unblocking at least one transfer zone.

Abstract: An electrically energized toy racing car is provided which includes an improved steering mechanism that permits the car to be steered to the right or left depending upon the polarity of the direct-current voltage applied to its drive motor. The car is intended to be raced on a specially constructed track which includes electrically conductive strips extending along its length, the strips providing electrical energizing current for the drive motor. The steering is accomplished by a gear train which causes the front or rear axle of the car to turn in a limited amount in one direction or the other depending upon the polarity of the voltage applied to the drive motor, as the car is driven in the forward direction.

Abstract: A toy racing car is provided which may be steered from one slot to another on a multi-slotted wide track. The car is electrically energized through electrically conductive strips extending along both sides of the slots either internally or externally of the slots, and the car has a solenoid operated pin which extends down into the slot to hold the car on course. The car may be turned in one direction or another by selecting the polarity of the voltage applied to the electric motor in the car, and the pin may be released from the slot by a high voltage pulse, or, alternately by the interruption of a high voltage, thereby permitting the car to be steered either to the left or to the right to the next adjacent slot on the track.

Abstract: A closure assembly is provided which is mounted on the end of a collapsible tube or pouch dispenser through which liquid or soft solid substances such as toothpaste, shaving cream, catsup, mustard, shampoo, glue, and the like, may be dispensed. The closure assembly allows the particular substance to flow through it only when the tube is squeezed, and it automatically closes to prevent further flow of the substance when the squeezing pressure is removed. The closure member includes a tubular tip mounted on the mouth of the collapsible tube. The distal end of the tip is flattened, and an opening is provided on one or both sides of the flattened end of the tip, with the opening extending into the interior of the tip. A flexible open-ended sleeve is drawn over the flattened end of the tip and over the opening, and the sleeve normally exhibits a closed slit at its distal end to seal the opening and to maintain the particular substance in the tube.

Abstract: A closure assembly is provided which is mounted on the end of a collapsible tube or pouch dispenser through which liquid, or soft solid substances such as toothpaste, shaving cream, catsup, mustard, shampoo, glue or the like, may be dispensed. The closure assembly allows the particular substance to be dispensed only when the tube is squeezed, and it automatically closes to prevent further flow of the substance when the squeezing pressure is removed. The closure member includes a flexible sleeve which is closed at one end and which is inserted into the neck of the dispenser. The sleeve normally expands against the inner peripheral surface of the neck to close and seal the opening to the tube or pouch. However, when a squeezing pressure is applied to the collapsible tube or pouch, the substance in the tube or pouch is forced out through the space between the inner peripheral surface of the neck and the outer peripheral surface of the resilient sleeve, to be dispensed so long as squeezing pressure is applied.