Abstract: A fastener for securing an object is formed of a resilient material and includes an opening therethrough. At least two lines, such as a shoestring, cord, rope, twine, string, or similar article, extending from the object are disposed through the opening in substantially the same direction. By pulling on respective ends of the line in opposite directions, the fastener is distorted for providing a gripping action between the fastener and the lines. In one embodiment, the fastener is an annular member having the lines wrapped at least once around a wall of the fastener. As the ends of the line are pulled, the annular member twists and rolls into a shape having at least one loop, such as a figure eight type shape. In another embodiment, the fastener is a tubular member. As the ends of the line are pulled, one open end of the tubular member rolls toward an opposite open end of the tubular member.

Abstract: A fastener for securing an object is formed of a resilient material and includes an opening therethrough. At least two lines, such as a shoestring, cord, rope, twine, siring, or similar article, extending from the object are disposed through the opening in substantially the same direction. By pulling on respective ends of the line in opposite directions, the fastener is distorted for providing a gripping action between the fastener and the lines. In one embodiment, the fastener is an annular member having the lines wrapped at least once around a wall of the fastener. As the ends of the line are pulled, the annular member twists and rolls into a shape having at least one loop, such as a figure eight type shape. In another embodiment, the fastener is a tubular member. As the ends of the line are pulled, one open end of the tubular member rolls toward an opposite open end of the tubular member.

Abstract: A cord lock including a body of resiliently deformable elastomeric material containing a passage through which one or more cords extend, with the passage having walls urged by the resilience of the elastomeric material against opposite sides of a cord or cords in the passage to resist movement of the cord or cords longitudinally relative to the body, and with the body being manually compressible by a user in a manner spreading the walls of the passage apart against the resilience of the elastomeric material and thereby releasing the cord or cords for movement longitudinally relative to the body. The cords may be of a type having outer essentially smooth and essentially continuous preferably cylindrical surfaces for frictionally contacting the walls of the passage. Flexible resinous plastic tubing is the preferred material for the cords. The elastomeric body of the lock device has projections at its opposite sides to be engaged by the thumb and forefinger of a user's hand in squeezing the body of the device.

Abstract: A game device consisting of a large band of very strong and highly elastic material which is supported in use by the torsos of the players. When a player (or players) leaves his or her position against the band and dashes across and into another portion of the band, the force of the body's impact causes other players to be propelled across the band, repeating the sequence for a specified time period or indefinitely. No other pieces of equipment are required for the game, and no special field layout or other construction is necessary.

Abstract: A cord lock device for binding to a cord including a substantially flexible cord lock member having a predetermined length, width and thickness and first and second longitudinal ends and an aperture extending through the cord lock member proximate the first end of the cord lock member, the aperture having a predetermined configuration selected with respect to the cord lock member, the position of the aperture with respect to the first end of the cord lock member, the flexibility of the cord lock member and the particular dimensions and material of the cord so that after threading of a portion of the cord through the aperture, the aperture, the cord lock member and the cord cooperate to provide an engagement force between the cord lock member and the cord sufficient to restrict movement of the cord through the aperture.

Abstract: A cord lock of unitary construction comprising a body of resilient material and a slit through the center thereof that defines two cord gripping surfaces. A cord or cords threaded through the slit are securely engaged by a clamping effect at the slit and surface friction between the cords and the gripping surfaces of the slit. The clamping effect results from pressure being applied to the base of the cord lock by the article to which the cords are attached. One releases the cords by squeezing with the fingers the exterior sides of the cord lock body, which are perpendicular to the slit. This causes the slit to pucker and thus spread the slit walls. A hollow section in the base of the body allows the slit to open and release the cords when pressure is applied with the fingers to the base of the cord lock. The gripping surfaces of the slit can be modified to improve their cord-gripping or durability properties to meet specific cord-locking applications.

Abstract: A handle for exercise devices provides a flexible cord having a loop formed in one end for slidable extension through a medial channel defined in a handle. The handle provides a diametrically larger knob-like structure proximate the inner end of the loop with a diametrically smaller elongate body extending a spaced distance away therefrom. The loop extending from the handle has a tubular cover about its medial portion to protect a user and provide frictional engagement with a wrist. The handle allows varying degrees of user gripping from a completely passive to a completely active type as determined by a user.

Abstract: A tourniquet for restricting the flow of blood to and from a limb of an individual when assembled thereon, the tourniquet having a flexible and resilient elongated member and a tourniquet securing member fixedly secured to one end of the flexible and resilient elongated member and having an aperture therethrough to receive a second end of the elongated member once the elongated member is wrapped about the limb of an individual so that the second end of the elongated member can be pulled against the inner peripheral surface of the aperture causing the tourniquet securing member to bear against the individual's limb and the tightening of the elongated member about the limb so as to enlarge and expose the veins or veinlets of the limb. The tourniquet securing member includes a cavity at one end to receive the elongated member wherein the cavity has gripping teeth therein to fixedly grip the flexible and resilient elongated member.

Abstract: A clamping device for clamping onto a support element, the device being made of a semi-rigid material having a high coefficient of elasticity and preferably in the form of a unitary piece. The device has a peripheral portion with a geometry such as a parallelogram whereby when pressure is applied from opposite sides along the shorter axis the device expands along its longer axis. A pair of fingers are formed extending lengthwise along the longer axis, to provide gripping surfaces at about the center of the device, whereby the applied pressure moves the gripping surfaces away from the support element, and release of such pressure results in their returning into a gripping condition.

Abstract: A free-floating anchor sleeve is positioned on a telephone cord between the base unit and handset of a telephone. The weight of the straightener causes it to always find the low spot in the cord and thereby keep tension on each of the lengths of cord thereby keeping them separated and untangled. The straightener may be cylindrical or multi-sided in shape.

Abstract: An apparatus for retaining a weight on a barbell includes a collar member and a weight engagement portion. The collar member has an annular rigid outer section and a radially inner frictional gripping portion, and defines an opening through the collar member to allow the collar to closely and slidably receive the end of the barbell. The weight engagement portion is associated with the annular, rigid outer section of the collar member in such a manner that axially outward movement of the weight or axially outward force thereon will contact the weight engagement portion and/or increase the force thereon, causing the axis of the collar member to skew and/or increase its skewedness with respect to the axis of the barbell, thereby frictionally locking the apparatus onto the bar. This frictional locking may also be achieved by skewing the aforesaid axes by hand, separate and apart from any contact between the weight and the apparatus.

Abstract: The internally plugged ends of glowing liquid filled tubular jewelry are releasably clasped together for making necklaces, joining adjacent tubular sections together and the like, by means of a flexible plastic tubular clasp member, as of clear polyvinylchloride, into which the internally plugged ends of glowing liquid filled tubular jewelry are fitted snugly. The tubular clasp member is axially coextensive with the plugged end portions of the liquid filled tubular jewelry so that the inner wall of the tubular clasp member frictionally grips the outside wall of the tubular member of the jewelry.

Abstract: This method of covering a joint of two rope ends includes use of a joint cover constructed of plastic tubing, included heat shrinkable plastic tubing, with methods to form a conical wedge shaped cover. The joint cover functions to help provide a smooth movement of the joint around obstacles. Also included is the use of "selected area shrinkage.

Abstract: A device for automatically supplying water to house plants over a prolonged period of time including a body for the storage of water and an elongated neck with a small hole in its side attached to the body. When inverted the neck is stuck into the potting soil of a house plant so the body rests on the soil, water slowly seeps out into the soil. When in an upright position with holes made in the body portion, and the device is hung by appropriate means, it may also serve as a rooting device when plant cuttings are inserted into the water in the body through the formed holes.

Abstract: A connector for attaching two or more segments of lines, preferably lines which have looped end portions. The connector consists of a body with two apertures extending transversely therethrough, and two slots which extend obliquely from the apertures to the exterior surface of the body in a parallel and opposing fashion. The structure of the body and slots is that the slots are normally in a substantially closed position and portions of the body adjacent the slots have resilience to permit the opening of the slots and passage of the line therethrough for connecting or disconnecting the lines therewith. By placing the looped end portion of each segment in an outwardly most portion of the slot and pulling the loop in the direction of the aperture, the portion of the body adjacent the slot widens sufficiently to allow the link to pass through the slot to the aperture. The slot closes and thereby retains the line in the body, providing removable connection of the various line segments.

Abstract: A swing for both arcuate and rotational motion has a disc platform for passengers and multiple, congruently attached support strands adapted for securing to a horizontal support member. The bight of a strand passes around the support member such that two free ends of the strand may pass through the disc to locks to adjustably secure the ends to the disc. The strand pairs are fixed to the horizontal support member at spaced positions on the member congruent with the position of the strands on the disc. The disc is provided with a peripheral rim having top and bottom walls. Extending through the walls are a plurality of spaced apart vertical apertures. The lower wall is provided with a depression placed adjacent each aperture. Extending across the depression and spaced from the bottom of the depression is a rigidly attached lock bar.