Abstract: A skimmer protector having an integral blow tube is formed from two parts. First, a hollow, blow-molded body of resilient thermoplastic resin material having a cylindrical projection on one end with external screw threads for threading into the intake pipe of a swimming pool skimmer. Second, an open integral tube running from and through said screw threaded portion to an opening elsewhere on its blow-molded body. The cylindrical projection on the body of the device is intended and designed to be threaded into the intake pipe or other part of a pool skimmer. When connected thereto, the skimmer protector is positioned to absorb/buffer the forces exerted by the expansion of ice as it freezes within the walled regions of the skimmer. Welding the aforesaid integral tube to the body serves to create a hermetically sealed air space between the tube and the outer walls of the body. This hermetically sealed air space helps to resiliently stiffen the body of the skimmer protector.

Abstract: A skimmer protector having an integral blow tube is formed from two parts. First, a hollow, blow-molded body of resilient thermoplastic resin material having a cylindrical projection on one end with external screw threads for threading into the intake pipe of a swimming pool skimmer. Second, an open integral tube running from and through said screw threaded portion to an opening elsewhere on its blow-molded body. The cylindrical projection on the body of the device is intended and designed to be threaded into the intake pipe or other part of a pool skimmer. When connected thereto, the skimmer protector is positioned to absorb/buffer the forces exerted by the expansion of ice as it freezes within the walled regions of the skimmer. Welding the aforesaid integral tube to the body serves to create a hermetically sealed air space between the tube and the outer walls of the body. This hermetically sealed air space helps to resiliently stiffen the body of the skimmer protector.

Abstract: A skimmer protector with integral blow tube is a hollow, substantially closed, blow-molded body of resilient resin material having a cylindrical projection on one end with external screw threads for threading into the intake pipe of a swimming pool skimmer with an open integral tube running from and through said screw threaded portion to an opening elsewhere on its blow-molded body. The cylindrical projection on the body of the device is intended and designed to be threaded into the intake pipe or other part of a pool skimmer. When connected thereto, the skimmer protector is positioned to absorb/buffer the forces exerted by the expansion of ice as it freezes within the walled regions of the skimmer. The aforesaid integral tube serves to create a sealed air space between the tube and the outer walls. This sealed air space helps to resiliently stiffen the body of the skimmer protector, allowing it to better perform its function in absorbing ice expansion pressure.

Abstract: A connector provides access to intravenous fluid lines, bags, and vials with either conventional needles or needleless fittings. The connector has a housing with at least one input port and an output port. Two valves normally biased to closed positions control passage of fluid between the one input port and the output port, One of the valves is displaceable to an open position by a needleless fitting, and the other valve is displaceable to an open position by a conventional needle.

Abstract: A dobule-walled plastic box 20 is molded from a single parison 50 in an unlimited depth by closing the bottom of parison 50 and draping it downwardly over a core 60 so that a leading part of the parison forms an inside wall of the box and a following part of the parison forms an outside wall of the box. After parison 50 is draped over core 60, outer mold parts 61 close around the core and the draped parison; and the box is blown in a cavity between the core and the outer mold parts. The parison can be ballooned while draping down over the core to enlarge the parison to stand out from and surround the core, which can be raised during the draping process. Parison 50 can also be deballooned after draping to stay within the confines of outer mold parts 61 while core 60 raises and while the outer mold parts close.

Abstract: A gusseted double-walled box is formed of a parison that is draped and blow molded according to the following process. A blow molding parison (10) being draped around a generally rectangular mold part (12) is spread from its extruded cylindrical shape into a generally rectangular shape (14), as it descends from an extrusion head (11). Before the open bottom (20) of the parison reaches a clamp (25) on the mold part, a jet of air is blown downward through the open bottom to draw in the parison's side and end regions (21 and 22 respectively). This reduces the size of parison (10) and helps it fit within the clamp and also forms the end regions (22) of the parison into a pair of opposed pleats (23) extending inward from the ends of the pinch-off line when clamp (25) closes. Further descending of the parison unfolds the pleats into gussets (24) extending toward corner regions (27) of mold part (12) so that the parison can drape around the mold part corners.

Abstract: A double-walled plastic box (20) is molded from a single parison (50) in an unlimited depth by closing the bottom of parison (50) and draping it downwardly over a core (60) so that a leading part of the parison forms an inside wall of the box and a following part of the parison forms an outside wall of the box. After parison (50) is draped over core (60), outer mold parts (61) close around the core and the draped parison; and the box is blown in a cavity between the core and the outer mold parts. The parison can be ballooned while draping down over the core to enlarge the parison to stand out from and surround the core, which can be raised during the draping process. Parison (50) can also be deballooned after draping to stay within the confines of outer mold parts (61) while core (60) raises and while the outer mold parts close.

Abstract: A pinch-off clamp 20, built into a top 12 of a hollow core 11 within a blow molding machine 10, has jaws 21 and 22 that open to receive a leading end 18 of a parison 15, which descends into the hollow core. Then jaws 21 and 22 close together to pinch off and hold a leading region of parison 15 at top of core 11. Once parison 15 is pinched off and held closed, it can be ballooned and draped over core 11 and then blown into a double-walled box formed between the core and cavity mold parts closed around the core.

Abstract: A blow molding parison (10) being draped around a generally rectangular mold part (12) is spread from its extruded cylindrical shape into a generally rectangular shape (14), as it descends from an extrusion head (11). Before the open bottom (20) of the parison reaches a clamp (25) on the mold part, a jet of air is blown downward through the open bottom to draw in the parison's side and end regions (21 and 22 respectively). This reduces the size of parison (10) and helps it fit within the clamp and also forms the end regions (22) of the parison into a pair of opposed pleats (23) extending inward from the ends of the pinch-off line when clamp (25) closes. Further descending of the parison unfolds the pleats into gussets (24) extending toward corner regions (27) of mold part (12) so that the parison can drape around the mold part corners.

Abstract: A double-walled plastic box 20 is molded from a single parison 50 in an unlimited depth by closing the bottom of parison 50 and draping it downwardly over a core 60 so that a leading part of the parison forms an inside wall of the box and a following part of the parison forms an outside wall of the box. After parison 50 is draped over core 60, outer mold parts 61 close around the core and the draped parison; and the box is blown in a cavity between the core and the outer mold parts. The parison can be ballooned while draping down over the core to enlarge the parison to stand out from and surround the core, which can be raised during the draping process. Parison 50 can also be deballooned after draping to stay within the confines of outer mold parts 61 while core 60 raises and while the outer mold parts close.

Abstract: An eyeball fitting 10 for directing return water into a swimming pool has an eyeball 20 with a smooth and even inside surface 25 curving continuously from an entrance opening 26 to a discharge opening 21 having a sharp edge 22. The curvature of inside surface 25 has a radius that gradually increases as inside surface 25 gradually diminishes in cross-sectional area proceeding from larger diameter entrance opening 26 to smaller diameter discharge edge 22. Fitting 10 includes a seat 30 having a spherical recess 33 to receive a spherical outside surface 24 of eyeball 20, and seat 30 has an internal surface 35 continuously curving at a gradually increasing radius of curvature proceeding from an entrance side toward the spherical recess 33.

Abstract: The inventive system interconnects molded resin panels to form a secure and reliable pool wall. Each panel 10 has a facing wall 11, base flange 12, and top flange 13, and each end of facing wall 11 has vertical margins 15 approximately aligned with wall 11 and juxtaposed between adjacent panels. Each margin has an outer groove 16 and an inner groove 17 that extend for the vertical length of margin 15 and are spaced laterally and disposed obliquely to each other. Panels 10 are positioned in a predetermined orientation to each other and are joined together at their margins by vertical locking strips 20. Locking strips 20 have an H-bar shape with a cross web 21 positioned between juxtaposed margins 15 and inner span 22 and outer span 23 overlapping margins 15. Acutely in-turned ribs 14 on the vertical edges of inner and outer spans 22 and 23 engage in margin grooves 16 and 17 and secure margins 15 together.

Abstract: A pool wall is formed of resin panels 10 that are reinforced and connected end to end with inward facing walls 11 having peripheral flanges and strengthening ribs 16-19 that extend outward. End flanges 14 and 15 have longitudinal alternating projections 20 along their inner and outer edges, and the alternation of projections is reversed on opposite panel ends to form mating interlocks holding panels 10 against vertical relative movement. Projection free spaces between projections 20 form vertical channels 25 extending up end flanges 14 and 15, and holes 24 on end flanges 14 and 15 are spaced along channels 25. Horizontal channels 26 extend along the top flange 12 to join and extend between vertical channels 25. Strip-shaped lengths of reinforcing material extend along the vertical and horizontal channels, and the vertical strips lock the connected panel ends to resist transverse horizontal movement between panels 10.

Abstract: A swimming pool wall is formed of interconnected panels extending a substantial distance along the pool wall and upward for only part of the height of the wall which is formed of at least 3 tiers of panels. The panels are formed of resin material to have an inward facing wall and flanges extending outward along top, bottom, and end edges. The top and bottom flanges have mating tongues and grooves extending along the length of each of the panels to interlock the tiers together, and the flanges are connected to hold the tongues and grooves together. The flanges at the ends of the panels are interconnected and arranged so that the end joints in one of the tiers are located in central regions of panels in an adjacent tier. A strengthener is fitted into a tongue and groove relationship with the lowermost of the bottom flanges to extend across end edge joints for strengthening the bottom tier.

Abstract: A swimming pool wall is formed of uniform sections of molded structural foam secured together, and the sections include: a front facing wall; a base integral with the bottom edge of the facing wall; a coping wall integral with the top edge of the facing wall; end walls integral with the facing wall, the base, and the coping wall; the end walls having projections and recesses fitting together for alignment of the sections; and a rib integral with the base, the coping wall, and the back of the facing wall.