Abstract: A ball thrower having a resilient ball holder attached to a flexible line, which may be used to play with a pet dog. After the ball is loaded into frictional engagement with the resilient receiving end of the holder, the user can grip the opposite end of the flexible line before undertaking a forward throwing motion like a pitcher. The user first moves the thrower backward in a cocking phase, and then whipping forward in an acceleration phase until the ball has enough angular momentum to overcome the frictional engagement of the resilient receiving end of the holder such that the ball is thrown forward from the holder while the user holds onto the end of the line in a release phase.

Abstract: A plunger assembly includes a cage having a body extending from a first end to a second end, the cage having a bore extending from the first end to the second end and one or more radial openings. The plunger assembly also includes a stinger positioned at least partially within the bore, the stinger being axially movable along an axis aligned with the bore between an open position and a closed position, wherein at least a portion of the stringer blocks at least a portion of the one or more radial openings in the closed position. The plunger assembly further includes a magnetic positioning system configured to hold the stinger in at least one of the open position or the closed position, the magnetic positioning system having one or more magnetic components that interact with at least one magnetic portion of the stinger.

Abstract: A plunger assembly includes a cage having a body extending from a first end to a second end, the cage having a bore extending from the first end to the second end and one or more radial openings. The plunger assembly also includes a stinger positioned at least partially within the bore, the stinger being axially movable along an axis aligned with the bore between an open position and a closed position, wherein at least a portion of the stringer blocks at least a portion of the one or more radial openings in the closed position. The plunger assembly further includes a magnetic positioning system configured to hold the stinger in at least one of the open position or the closed position, the magnetic positioning system having one or more magnetic components that interact with at least one magnetic portion of the stinger.

Abstract: A platform having a plurality of specialized openings shaped to accept specialized pegs to act as immobilizers for objects to be placed on the platform. The pegs have a shaft and at least one pair of nubs protruding from the shaft of each peg. The openings are shaped to allow the first end of the shaft to pass therethrough but not the nubs unless the peg is positioned so that the nubs are aligned with a notched portion of the opening, and the head at the second end stops further movement of the peg through the opening. When the nubs do not pass through the opening, the nubs act as a pivot axis where a portion of the peg remains above the platform. Pegs so adjustably positioned in the openings can be arranged to surround and immobilize an object on the platform.

Abstract: A process is disclosed of preparing a high bromide tabular grain emulsion comprising (1) in a grain nucleation step creating in a dispersing medium tabular grain nuclei containing parallel twin planes and (2) in a grain growth step subsequently growing the grain nuclei into tabular grains by running into the dispersing medium high bromide silver halide grains having a maximum equivalent circular diameter of less than 40 nm, wherein (a) the high bromide grains are formed prior to the grain nucleation step and then held in the presence of a grain growth restrainer adsorbed to the grain surfaces to inhibit grain ripening and (b) during the growth step the restrainer is desorbed from the high bromide grains and silver and halide ions forming the high bromide grains are released by ripening into the dispersing medium in the growth step.

Abstract: A method of making articles of manufacture, such as automobile bumpers and other components, formed from thermoplastic olefin compositions, having improved resistance to gasoline and other fluids when painted with flexible coatings such as two component polyurethane paints, and the like, are disclosed. The compositions used to form these articles include a thermoplastic olefin such as crystalline polypropylene, crystalline polyethylene or mixtures thereof with a first rubber component of an ethylene propylene diene rubber having a high molecular weight and a second rubber component of an ethylene propylene diene rubber having a low molecular weight, wherein the first rubber component has a molecular weight of 4 to 200 times that of the second rubber component.