Abstract: An automotive windshield visor and glare screen is provided comprising an opaque windshield visor defining a compartment for storing a glare shield or light filter. The visor is pivotable about a longitudinally extending round wire pivot. The visor is pivotable upward to a stored position and downward to an operative position for shielding the operator's eyes from the sun. The glare screen extends from an opening in one longitudinal edge of the visor. Preferably, the round wire pivot and the opening from which the glare screen extends are adjacent the same longitudinal edge of the visor. The glare screen is slidably received in the compartment for deployment downward to an operative position for reducing glare when the visor is pivoted upward in its stored position. This allows the operator to alternately choose a sun visor or filter. First and second longitudinally extending wipers are slidably received in the visor.

Abstract: An impact absorbing strut or shock absorber is disclosed comprising at least two telescoping tubes defining a damping fluid chamber. A quantity of damping fluid partially fills the chamber and a quantity of compressible gas fills the remainder of the chamber. The compressible gas absorbs small loads imposed upon the shock absorber. A fluid throttling port communicates with the chamber and a blowout plug is normally disposed in the fluid throttling port. When the shock absorber is heavily loaded the plug is ejected from the port to allow the damping fluid to be throttled through the port. A frangible polymeric encasement surrounds the shock absorber and seals the damping fluid and compressible gas therein. Relative movement between the encasement and one of the telescoping tubes is provided to absorb small deflections of the shock absorber without rupturing the encasement.

Abstract: A combination humidifier and moving indoor sculpture is provided comprising a reservoir containing a body of water, an upright helix rotatable about its longitudinal axis, and means for pumping water to the top of the helix. The helix floats on the surface of the body of water, and the water pumped to the top of the helix flows down the helix under the influence of gravity adding humidity to the surrounding atmosphere and rotatably driving the helix due to the change of momentum of the water flowing down the helix.

Abstract: The assembly includes a strike component comprising a headed screw and a catch component comprising a base member with a protruding catch member for engaging the head of the screw. The fastener compensates for misalignment by longitudinal motion of the catch component along an elongated screw receiving slot and by screwing the strike component in or out thereby positioning the head. The base member is mounted on an integral flange thereby spacing the slot from the mounting surface so the perimeter of the slot can be deformed when a mounting screw passes through. The perimeter of the slot thereby provides a biasing force resisting longitudinal motion of the base member.