Abstract: An improved dental floss applicator is provided in the form of a compact case for receiving and storing a spool of dental floss together with an applicator fork for use in manipulating a length of dental floss for cleaning a person's teeth. The applicator fork is pivotally mounted to the case for movement between a normal stored position within the hollow interior of the case, and a deployed position extending outwardly from the case for use. In the stored position, the spool of dental floss is nested within the fork to provide a compact overall geometry. A lock tab on the case engages mating recessed seats on the fork for securely retaining the fork relative to the case in each of its stored and deployed positions.

Abstract: An improved dental floss applicator is provided in the form of a compact case for receiving and storing a spool of dental floss together with an applicator fork for use in manipulating a length of dental floss for cleaning a person's teeth. The applicator fork is pivotally mounted to the case for movement between a normal stored position within the hollow interior of the case, and a deployed position extending outwardly from the case for use. In the stored position, the spool of dental floss is nested within the fork to provide a compact overall geometry. A lock tab on the case engages mating recessed seats on the fork for securely retaining the fork relative to the case in each of its stored and deployed positions.

Abstract: An improved respiratory face mask is provided for filtering inhaled and exhaled air, while discharging exhaled gases in a manner reducing undesired re-inhalation, and reducing capture and retention of exhaled air within the mask and against the face of the wearer. The face mask comprises a mask base adapted to fit in close conformance over a person's nose and mouth, in combination with a generally cup-shaped receiver formed from a porous filter material and carried by the mask base to define a rearwardly open chamber for receiving exhaled gases. In use, exhaled gases flow with minimal resistance to the receiver chamber, at a location spaced forwardly from the person's face, for discharge through the substantial surface area of the receiver material to the surrounding environment.

Abstract: A gear cutter is provided as an accessory to a milling machine. A single gear cutting blade makes successive passes across a continuously rotating gear blank to cut a desired number of gear teeth. The cycle time of the cutting blade and the angular velocity of the gear blank are such that the gear blank increments a number of cut positions after each cut which number is greater than one and prime to the total number of gears to be cut. The accessory includes a pivotal and oscillating gear blank carriage. A blank on the carriage is rotated through change gears by a main timing shaft. The timing shaft also controls vertical movement of the cutting blade through a cam, a rack and pinion assembly and change gears. Further, through another cam the timing shaft controls retraction of the gear blank from the cutter blade. Proper selection of change gears enables cutting of gears of any pitch or diameter.

Abstract: The largest structural member of the book holder is its back which is formed of injection molded flexible synthetic polymer composition material. The support for the back is molded in the plane of the back and is joined thereto by means of living hinge structure. A book clamp is formed so that it faces the back to resiliently engage the edge of a book therebetween. The book clamp is preferably unitarily formed with the back and is pivoted with respect to the back by means of a living hinge.

Abstract: Shielded dental contact marker has a thin, supple support layer which carries thereon a thin marker layer, such as carbon. A thin, hard protective shield layer of wax overlies the carbon layer. The shield layer is of such thickness and appropriate density as to compensate for periodontal ligament compression so that only forceful dental contact will penetrate the protective shield layer and only those points of forceful contact pressure between teeth are marked. The wax layer is sufficiently thin and hard that lateral shield layer flow does not smear or distort the mark on the dental surface.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for obtaining and maintaining optimum performance of inter-jaw biting musculature for seating and cementing dental crowns and bridges, such method including utilizing the biting musculature only within the limits of relaxed muscle-fiber length, using said apparatus as physiologically-appropriate contact and pressure reference for sensory-motor innervation feed-back from muscles and dental structures to determine and control muscle performance and using said apparatus as means for controlling inter-jaw muscle-fiber length and for pressure mediation and delivery between the upper and lower dental arches. A wafer is used between the teeth of opposing arches to mediate and transfer pressure during seating and cementing of dental crowns. The wafer is of one piece construction, injection molded of specifically resilient synthetic polymer composition material.

Abstract: A pungent liquid dispensing apparatus for repelling animals, such as dogs, which comprises a pair of connected housing sections forming an enlarged internal chamber. Within the internal chamber is to be located a flexible walled bladder. Within the bladder is to be located a quantity of the pungent liquid. Compressing movement of the pair of housing sections results in discharging of a stream of the pungent liquid through an outlet valve assembly. An appropriate inlet valve assembly is mounted within one of the housing sections to provide for resupply of the pungent liquid within the bladder.

Abstract: An animal amusement device wherein a radio transmitter of limited range is carried by the animal. A ball, or other type of movable structure is to be located upon the ground or other supportive surface in close proximity to the animal. Upon the animal moving to within a short distance of the ball, the ball will become randomly movable by being activated by the radio signal mounted within the collar of the animal.

Abstract: Thermodynamic unit comprised of a pair of vessels which alternately raise and lower pressure in thermodynamic fluid is connected in a closed system to an engine, which utilizes the fluid in its gas phase, with the vessel raising pressure having a gas outlet connected to the engine and with exhaust therefrom being connected to the vessel lowering the fluid pressure. The vessels are alternately heated and cooled so that each alternately acts as a fluid pressure raising and lowering vessel, and each operates at the function opposite from the other vessel. Heat for the pressure raising vessel is any conventional terrestrially available heat source such as nuclear, geothermal, waste heat, electrical, solar, fossil fuel, and the like. The pressure lowering vessel delivers its heat to any conventional terrestrial sink. The gas engine is preferably a turbine, but may be another conventional gas-expanding engine.

Abstract: Thermodynamic unit comprised of a pair of vessels which alternately generate and condense vapor are connected in a sealed system to drive a turbine with the vessel generating vapor having an outlet nozzle directed to the turbine and with the turbine exhaust being connected to the vessel condensing the vapor. Thermal control shutters and particular thermal radiation shutters control the alternate impingement of radiation onto the vessels so that the vessels each alternately act as vapor-generating and vapor-condensing vessel, and each operate at the function opposite from the other vessel.

Abstract: In combination with a suction apparatus to eject saliva from the mouth of a human being during dental procedures, an attachment to be attached to the open end of a suction tube. The attachment comprises a suction apparatus cover in the form of a cloth, a fine mesh screening or a porous plastic material which is to evenly distribute the application of the vacuum across the exterior surface of the cover.