Abstract: A safety helmet has a battery operated, flashing rear light for wide angle visibility and a battery operated front light with a narrow projected forward beam to light the path being traversed. The front light pivots about a horizontal axis with manual control to adjust the attitude or inclination of the beam to enhance its utility.

Abstract: A modified glove makes it possible to treat selected plants with liquid without contaminating adjacent plants such as in use of herbicides for weed control. Adjacent thumb and finger(s) are absorbent pads which hold the treating liquid. When the plant is grasped between thumb and finger, the liquid is dispensed and coats the plant where touched. A special cuff forms a trough to protectively catch any drips. An abrasive element may be attached to one or more of the fingers of the glove to scarify the plant while stroking with the liquid loaded absorbent pad to enhance absorbtion of the liquid in plants with a liquid resistant surface.

Abstract: A topical medication for the treatment of skin pathology including acne is comprised of tetracycline, minocycline, clindamycin, erythromycin, or doxicycline and selenium sulfide or sulfur in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The lotion, cream or ointment is applied to the lesions, left in place briefly and washed off. This is repeated twice daily. The lesions generally clear up within a week. Because the treatment is local, the serious side effects of systemic administration of drugs is avoided.

Abstract: A system for playing performances recorded on disc, tape and records includes video display terminals with touch panel control for audience selection of particular performances to be played. The terminals display not only lists of performances but also the graphics and text on the album covers or disc jackets to enhance the selection process. A computer controller controls the apparatus that stores the recordings, selects, manipulates and plays the various performances selected at the terminals. The controller makes up the playlist based on the popularity of each performance as indicated by choices registered at the terminals, with a preset time interval delay before any performance can be repeated. When not used for selecting, the terminals may display advertisements, games and the like.

Abstract: A flotation fabric is composed of two opposed layers of water permeable flexable woven or knitted material. Sandwiched between the layers are small particles, pellets or beads of closed cell foam plastic material. The cloth layers are joined together by stitching, heat sealing or adhesive to trap and flexibly immobilized the pellets between the layers to form a breathable flexible flotation fabric. Personal flotation devices or garments such as T shirts are made from the fabric. They are light weight, flexible, breathable and comfortable enough to be worn by a child at play and will allow a child to return to the surface and cry out for help to prevent drowning if the child falls in a body of water.

Abstract: A swim paddle is attached by elastic loops to the palm of a swimmer's hand to increase hydrodynamic resistance. The paddle extends beyond the sides of the hand and is relieved on the thumb side so as to leave the two distal phalanges free to move. The paddle is relieved on the bottom edge so as to leave the wrist joint free to move. The paddle extends at the top edge only to the proximal phalanges of the fingers so that the distal two phalanges of the fingers and thumb are free to use while the paddle is in place on the hand. A discoidal weight is removably attachable to the paddle for enhanced training effect as desired.

Abstract: A hand and wrist protector for skaters has two rigid formed plates which are securely strapped to the wrist with wide hook and loop straps. A first plate extends from the wrist down to a palm portion with a concave inner surface and a hard abrasion resistant outer surface. A second plate extends from the wrist down to a dorsal hand portion with a convex inner surface which prevents hyperextension of the wrist joint. The inner surfaces are covered with a resilient moisture absorbing surface. The palm portion and dorsal hand portions are free of attachment at their anterior and lateral edges so that the thumb and fingers are unrestrained and perspiration is more readily evaporated.

Abstract: A cap, hat, or visor is provided with a headband. The headband has an inner face for engaging the head of a wearer and an outer face. An elongate pocket is formed in the outer face portion of the headband extending along at least half of the headband circumference. An outer closure in the pocket shields the pocket contents from view and contamination. A foldable neckpiece is attached to the interior of the pocket. It may be folded up and contained within the pocket or unfolded to protectively cover the ears and neck. The neckpiece may be detachable for laundering.

Abstract: A prefabricated wall forming structure for constructing reinforced concrete walls employs insulating foam plastic panels that are interlocked into two parallel concrete impervious walls by I beam channels that are spaced apart by tie elements. The tie elements can support horizontal or vertical reinforcing bars and prevent the foam walls from spreading apart under the hydraulic force of the poured concrete. The I beams snugly engage the edges of the foam panels to provide a concrete imprevious seal and align the panels vertically and horizontally. A corner connector performs a similar function.

Abstract: A system uses a single chute in a multi-story building to collect into separate large receptacles different categories of wastes already separated by the tenant for recycling. A turntable carries a large receptacle for each category of waste. Controls on each floor enables a tenant to operate the turntable to position a selected receptacle beneath the turntable to receive a particular category of waste. A microprocessor controller and interlocks on the access doors prevent conflicts between floors. A reciprocating ram automatically compacts the waste in the receptacle after a predetermined number of deposits into the receptacle. The compaction operation is delayed by preset time intervals to avoid conflicts with tenant use. One of those time intervals is proportional to the floor elevation to give waste a time to fall though the chute. The compression apparatus may be arranged to apply different compressive forces to different types of waste and to signal when a container is full.

Abstract: An assistive listening device has a housing enclosing both infrared radiation and FM radio receivers and audio amplifier for receiving audio information transmitted to the hearing impaired audience in an auditorium by either infrared or radio radiation. The received radiation is converted to an amplified electrical audio signal. The signal is converted to audible sound by two earphones at the distal ends of two extendable arms. The arms are attached at their proximal ends to the housing. The arms may have two configurations, a compact configuration in which the earphones are retracted to a position against the housing for storage or transport and an extended configuration in which the earphones are at a distance from the housing and spaced apart less than the distance between a user's ears. When the earphones are in the ears, the device is held in place by spring bias with the housing hanging below the chin. For folding into compact configuration the arms may be elastic to bend around the edge of the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cleaning used bulk or cargo bags enables a worker to vacuum clean the entire outside of the bag without climbing up and down. An air supply/fill clamp assembly attaches to the fill opening. It inflates and supports the bag. An air exhaust discharge clamp attaches to the discharge opening to carry away interior residue. A power elevation mechanism raises and lowers the air supply/fill clamp assembly under operator control to thereby position the bag at whatever level is most useful to the operator as the outside is being vacuum cleaned with a vacuum cleaner.

Abstract: A portable container device for carrying various items such as tools, instruments and photographic equipment has a flat top or cover strong enough to provide an elevated platform for a user. To raise the user even more when required, the device is provided with an extending mechanism to raise the entire container even more above a support surface. The device has at least two configurations, a compact configuration when the lifting mechanism is withdrawn and a raised configuration when the lifting mechanism is extended. The raising or lifting mechanism may take the form of a sleeve surrounding the container or extendable legs that withdraw into the container.

Abstract: A brush for scrubbing the side walls and gutter of a swimming pool provides enhanced access of the bristles to relatively inaccessible areas. An elongate straight pole handle allows the user to stand beside the pool while scrubbing. Bristles extend from a front face of a base member at various angles so that they project beyond the forward and side edges of the base to reach areas without interference from the base member. The base member is mounted on the pole so that the long axis of the pole passes behind the base member. This structure positions the bristles closer to the user while holding the pole vertically, to scrub the side wall without interference from overhanging coping at the top of the pool.

Abstract: A device for scooping up animal waste and sealing it in an ordinary plastic film bag has a long handle for one handed operation at a distance from the waste. At one end of the handle is a pair of openable and closable jaws. The closed end of the bag is secured to a releasable clip between the jaws. The open end of the bag is everted over the free edges of the jaws. The open jaws with the open bag stretched between is then placed over the waste and the jaws closed, thus scooping the waste into the bag. The edges of the bag are then removed from the jaws and sealed with a tie. A locking mechanism keeps the jaws closed until ready to dispose of the sealed bag. The opening and closing and locking of the jaws may be performed with one hand by an operator mechanism located away from the jaws.

Abstract: A fish cleaning board has a lower surface that slopes to the rear. A fence around the edges contains liquid and debris. An elongate, flat horizontal fish cleaning platform extends upward from the lower surface so that liquid and debris drain off. One or more additional platforms extend upward to the rear of the fish cleaning platform for holding cleaned fish portions. A depression at the center rear of the lower surface cooperates with a hole in the fence and a drain tube to drain material from the board. One or more recesses in the top of the fence hold tools or rigged baits away from the cleaning operation. The board may be vacuum formed from a single plastic sheet for economy of manufacture and easy cleaning, A flange around the perimeter extends downward. It is adapted to securely engage the top of a cooler chest and maintain the sloping angle of the lower surface when the cooler rests on a horizontal surface.

Abstract: A holder for valuables includes a thin flat container body (1) with one or more compartments with an open top edge and a closure flap (5) extending from a back panel and fastening onto a front panel. One or more elongate narrow strips of material (11) each have a first end secured to the upper portion of the back panel. A second end of each strip terminates in a belt loop (14) for threading onto a belt worn on trousers or skirt. The distance (20) between the loop and the container body of each strip is greater than the height (21) of the container body. This permits the container body to be moved between a concealed position behind the trousers or skirt and accessible position in front of the trousers or skirt while fastened to the belt without bending the container body or disarranging the clothing.

Abstract: A combined self-contained implement features a broom or brush assembly for sweeping large areas of debris into small piles with a rechargeable battery operated vacuum assembly for aspirating the dirt piles into a bag. The broom and vacuum assembly are slidably mounted relative to one another so that either the bristles or the vacuum extends below the other for unimpeded sweeping or vacuuming. The large areas are swept without battery power. A small, light vacuum pick-up will serve a large area because it is only used for efficiently picking up the small area dirt piles.

Abstract: A device to prevent rape of a person wearing trousers or shorts is in the form of a locking, cut resistant belt that has the external appearance of an ordinary belt. A flexible, cut resistant cable is secured to the underside of the belt. A special clasp is attached to one end of the cable. The other end of the cable is engaged by the clasp at adjustable distances from the end to thereby snugly encircle the waist with the belt. The clasp is locked in the cable engaged position by a small padlock held within an elastic pocket. The clasp, padlock and pocket are all concealed flat against the underside of the belt.

Abstract: A combined compartmented tray and tool holster is arranged to removably clamp onto the top step of a stepladder. The tool holster presents the tool to one side of the ladder or the other as desired. An opening at the bottom of the holster permits passage therethrough of the end of the tool with any tool bit attached thereto. The tool handle rests securely in ready reach of the worker without fear of dropping the tool, while both hands are free when required. Items in the compartments are also within ease reach and view of the worker. The clamping system for clamping the device to the top step is adjustable to steps of various thicknesses.