Abstract: The signal light alignment device of this invention is a portable alignment device having an upright supporting structure such as a tripod, a reflective head consisting of a center plate having a bracket to attach the head to the supporting structure, a front reflective surface and a back surface, which may also be reflective. The front reflective surface, center plate and back surface are attached together to form a single reflective head. The signal light alignment device is placed in an approaching lane of traffic coming towards the signal light to be aligned in a general position of a driver of a vehicle. The front reflective surface is positioned facing the signal light being aligned at a recommended height above the pavement and at a recommended distance from the signal light.

Abstract: A convex, hyperbolic mirror (70) has a concave depression (72) made in a truncated apex end of the mirror. Such a depression may be used for aligning the mirror with respect to a Hindle sphere (74) or a primary mirror (86) in an optical system. An additional depression may be placed in an opposite end of the mirror and used together with the first depression to position the mirror with respect to an axis of rotation thereof to facilitate machining (66) of the mirror or testing (68). Tooling balls (52, 54) may be placed in the depressions and gas passages may be provided in the tooling balls for forming a gas bearing between the depressions and the tooling balls.

Abstract: A picture frame stand is provided for supporting framed articles of varying sizes on a horizontal support surface such as a countertop or a desk. A rigid base member and a rigid upright member is connected to a flexible upright member to form a stand of essentially triangular shape. The stand operates by pressing the flexible upright member toward the rigid upright member, thereby urging the ends of the flexible upright member closer together, in order to position the ends against a top and a bottom shoulder of the picture frame, and subsequently releasing the flexible upright member which urges the ends against the top and bottom shoulder. In this position, the picture frame stand is detachably mounted with the base member extending outwardly away from the picture frame, thereby forming a tripod base with a bottom edge of the picture frame. Therefore, pictures previously hanging on walls may easily be converted for placement on a countertop or desk.

Abstract: A slip-on brace is provided for display stands, frames and easels of the type having an elongated frame element having front and rear legs defining a slot for the receipt of a generally planar display element. The brace includes a generally planar brace element having two opposite lateral edges angularly disposed relative to one another, and a pair of upstanding flanges each of which is joined to and along one of the lateral edges and is disposed generally normally to the planar brace element. At least one of the flanges is insertable into the slot of the elongated frame element in a friction fit manner between the display element and the frame element rear leg. The other flange can be inserted into the slot of another display stand to join the stands together or it can be used to prop up the first stand on a horizontal support, such as a table or shelf.

Abstract: A portable cosmetic mirror which includes a stand that may be adjusted to various heights for allowing a user to accurately position the mirror such that both hands may be utilized for cosmetic application, hairstyling, or the like. Alternate embodiments of the apparatus further include a hair dryer holding assembly for positioning a hair dryer for hands-free use with the mirror and a magnification assembly in which a magnifying lens is removably positioned upon the mirror.

Abstract: The present invention provides for an athletic skill practice mirror which is light weight and relatively portable. The mirror can have an alignment image whereby a participant can stand in front of the practice mirror and compare his reflective image with that of the alignment image to detect and correct improper body alignment.

Abstract: A picture frame assembly generally including a picture frame, support leg, key wedge, back and an optional front cover glass. The picture frame can be in any shape but in the preferred embodiment is oval shaped. The supporting leg attaches to the top and bottom of the back side of the picture frame. Typically, the supporting leg is attached by a dovetail connection, but it could be attached by other similar methods. The glass front, picture and back is placed into a rabbet on the frame trough an elongated slot formed between the picture frame and the supporting leg on the back side of the picture frame. A key wedge is then placed or wedged into the elongated slot to hold the front glass, picture and back in the proper position. The self supporting picture frame can then be placed on a shelf or table for viewing. The self supporting picture frame resting on the bottom side of the picture frame and the supporting leg.

Abstract: A shift travel device, exemplified by a vertical lift arm device, is described which provides for free rotation of its cylinder and arm about its shaft and free travel along the shaft without transfer of twist imposed by the arm and load to its shaft, constant sealing of operating air pressure within the cylinder during operation and load changes, and minimum friction during rotation when the cylinder and arm are in the extreme raised or lowered positions. The device includes unique self-aligning spherical bearings at the ends of the cylinder. The device is useful is a wide variety of environments, including those which are unusually dirty or clean.

Abstract: A lightweight mirror demonstration device (10) for allowing the overhead remote viewing of a demonstration taking place on a table (100); wherein, the device (10) includes a mirror unit (11), a pair of transverse support units (12), and a pair of vertical support units (13) provided with clamp members (40) to grip the opposite edges of a table (100) to provide additional lateral support to the mirror demonstration device (10).

Abstract: An apparatus for training athletes comprising at least one mirror assembly which permits the athlete to view all his body movements is disclosed. The apparatus comprises adjustable frame supports for positioning the mirror assembly for use in various sports, such as, golfing, bowling and swimming.

Abstract: A lightweight portable display support incorporating a display panel, including two vertical support columns, each column formed of two sections of elongated flexible material, typically plastic, wherein one section of material has a width dimension larger than the second section of material, both sections of material having an attachment device extending along their respective elongate edges to cause the wider section of material to bow outwardly when attached to the narrower section, and including an overhead horizontal beam supported between the two vertical support columns, the beam being constructed substantially the same as the respective vertical columns.

Abstract: A picture frame stand has a pedestal and tubular sleeve vertically mounted from the pedestal. An open vertical slot extends along a substantial length of the sleeve which houses a pole mounted for vertical movement in the sleeve. A screw is anchored near the lower end of the pole and is positioned for slideable movement in the slot and a nut is mounted on this screw for holding the pole in a fixed position in the slot when the desired height of the pole is reached. Accordingly, the adjustment of the pole in the sleeve is obtained by loosening the nut and moving the screw up and down in the slot. A peg is provided on the upper end of the pole adapted to receive a picture hanger. The hanger has a general horseshoe configuration terminated in a plate which is mounted on a picture frame. The plate has a horizontal slot therein with the screw positioned in the slot permitting horizontal movement of the hanger on the frame for providing an adjustment.

Abstract: A sign stand for supporting signs in windy environments includes a base, a lower staff portion secured to the base, and an upper staff portion for receiving a display sign. The sign stand includes a platform support having a bracket secured thereto. A platform connected to the upper staff portion is pivotally mounted upon the bracket so that the upper staff portion has a range of pivotal motion in a plane. A spring exerts a force to urge the platform toward the platform support and to control the deflection of the upper staff portion whenever a force is applied to the upper staff portion to tend to rotate the platform about the bracket.

Abstract: A picture stand for several pictures, which consists essentially of two prisms of equal length and size and whose section is a right-angled isosceles triangle. The prisms are located in a mount such that the two rectangular prism faces on a cathetus are mutually aligned and the two other rectangular prism faces on a cathetus are a small distance apart and pictures allocated to these prism faces are placed between them. Each of the plane rectangular prism faces on the hypotenuses also has a picture placed flat against it. The pictures are with their picture sides facing the prism faces.This picture stand represents a new interesting possibility for holding four pictures of which only two are visible at a time depending on the direction of view. Compared with conventional picture stands for several pictures the space required is significantly reduced and apart from standing firmly, an interesting optical effect is achieved.

Abstract: Formed steel channel members mounted horizontally on vertical rods to the back of a drafting reference table. Two channel members are vertically adjustable to allow drawings, layouts and the like of different dimensions to be conveniently located and supported, and a third channel member serves to prevent material from slipping off the back of the table.

Abstract: A sign standard in which flexible means for permitting resilient lateral displacement of the sign is mounted closely below the sign, and means for adjusting the height of the sign above the ground, or other surface or a base, is disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus for releasably attaching a sign to a display stand. The sign comprises a sheet of material folded into a central section and a pair of upstanding display sections. The sign support inludes a pair of pivotally connected support members. One support member is releasably attached to the support surface and supports the central section of the sign. The other support member engages the display sections of the sign and maintains them in an upright orientation relative to the support surface. Mating catches on the support members secure the support members to each other in order to securely engage the sign. The engagement between the mating catches may be released in order to pivot the support members relative to each other so that the sign may be removed from the sign support, without removing the sign support from the support surface. The sign support is preferably formed as a unitary, molded plastic article.

Abstract: A picture frame device for holding and displaying pictures and the like is provided which consists of a front and back sheet of clear acrylic plastic having holes drilled therethrough in registry in each of the corners thereof to receive the ends of the two bent rods which extend through the corner holes to anchor the front and rear plastic sheets together so that a picture or the like may be sandwiched therebetween. The rods are bowed in a horseshoe or wicket configuration in top plan and side elevation and resemble half an arch in end view such that the arcuate portions of the two rods tend to engage centrally of the rear of the frame device. A sleeve of clear plastic or the like retains the central portions of the two rods in juxtaposition at the central position over the rear surface of the frame to provide a four-legged, two-positioned stand for holding the frame upright at two different angles on a surface such as a table top.

Abstract: There is provided a novel device whereby a prospective purchaser of wigs is enabled to determine the appearance of the wig on said purchaser's head without actually placing it thereon. The novel device comprises a concave mirror of predetermined focal length and a wig support means in combination therewith whereby the wig may be placed above and around said mirror and the prospective purchaser can view the reflection of her face in the mirror in such a manner that the wig accurately reflects the appearance of said wig on and about the purchaser's face.