Abstract: A bat rack having a generally L-shaped elongated member with a series of recesses adapted to receive the handles of baseball bats. The bat rack includes two spaced apart hooks, one of which is fixed to the member while the other is laterally moveable to adjust the spacing between the two hooks and thereby facilitate the rack's engagement with the wire of an ordinary chain link fence. The hooks are constructed to have a U-shaped cross-section in which the base of the U is folded at about a 45 degree angle to better align it with the wire of the chain link fence.

Abstract: A lamp module apparatus which may be used with theatrical lighting fixture, the module including a lamp, an elliptical reflector, a secondary spherical reflector, a heatsink, a forced air system, adjustment clamps and a mirror. The module may be removed from a fixture and easily reinstalled allowing for added safety for the lamp and a more efficient fixture system. The lamp is adjustable relative to the module so that lamp modules may be interchangeable.

Abstract: An apparatus (20, 30) operative from a first liquid pressure only and configured to generate and selectively direct a stream of first liquid or a third liquid is disclosed. Since no electrical power is used, the apparatus can be safely operated in any moist environments (e.g. a shower). In preferred embodiments, the apparatus is configured to operate in series with a showerhead (22) and a sink tap (32) for dental irrigation. Either water or dental solution which is comprised of water mixed with dental concentrate, can be independently selected. A mixer valve (48) controls the concentration of the irrigating solution. A handheld syringe (40) contains all other controls necessary for operation.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for rapidly rotating a small enclosed transparent container and introducing a plurality of visually different materials into the rotating container to produce distinctive multi-aspect designs. The illustrated apparatus includes a support for releasibly holding one of the containers at a time for rotation about an axis, and a drive mechanism for causing the held container to rotate rapidly about that axis. The container has an entrance and the apparatus includes dispensers for selectively and sequentially introducing two or more of the visually different materials in flowable form into the entrance while the container is rotating. The materials have the capacity for maintaining themselves generally separate from the other materials in the rotating container. By way of example, the materials could be sands or gels of different colors or appearances. There may be a plurality of containers with a variety of different shapes.

Abstract: An improved bracket for mounting a carrier on a vehicle for carrying various articles such as skis and ski poles, bicycles and luggage. The illustrated bracket supports the carrier at the rear of the vehicle. The bracket is firmly and rigidly supports the carrier so as to limit tilting or swaying of the carrier as the vehicle moves. In a preferred form the bracket allows the carrier to be moved out of the way when access to the rear of the vehicle is desired. One form of illustrated carrier, for carrying (1) skis and ski poles and (2) bicycles, includes an elongated upright section that supports holder units for holding those articles. Another form of illustrated carrier, for carrying luggage, simply extends rearwardly and supports a horizontal platform.

Abstract: A casino game using three dice, one having the color red and the other two having bodies of white. The red die is rolled first followed by a roll of the two white dice. A better wins when the two white dice show a total number larger than the number on the red die and the total number on the white dice and the number on the red die are both odd or both even. Payoff ratios can be varied and various side bets, depending upon the outcome of the dice rolls may be arranged.

Abstract: A toy for interacting with a series of bubbles to play a tune. The illustrated toy has a housing that includes a handle and at least two spaced-apart electrical contacts. Housed within the housing and electrically connected to the contacts and to one another in a circuit are a microprocessor chip, a speaker and a holder for a power source such as a battery. Each time the contacts strike a bubble, the circuit is completed, which causes a note to be emitted from the speaker. The microprocessor is programmed so that when the contacts sequentially engage a plurality of bubbles, a series of notes are emitted that create a tune. The illustrated toy also includes a blower mechanism for producing a plurality of bubbles for use with the toy.

Abstract: An oral irrigating liquid dispenser (20) is disclosed which operates from a liquid pressure source (22) to dispense two liquids (54, 72) from an orifice (26). A valve member (24) moves to different positions to couple the source respectively to a piston face (64A), a conduit (60) and an outlet port (71). Flow control valves (80, 89) are provided to control flow from the orifice. Since no electrical power is involved the dispenser may safely be used in the presence of liquids and electrical grounds.

Abstract: An apparatus for enhancing the face of a masonry building block including a frame for supporting a conveyer belt, three cutting tools, rollers for constraining the building block and a water system for spraying the cutting tools and the building block. The cutting tools each have a rotatable horizontally disposed disk containing a plurality of synthetic diamond cutting segments. The disk is mounted to a vertically disposed shaft which in turn is mounted within a housing. There are threads on the outside of the housing which mate with a horizontal plate to allow the disk to be vertically positioned relative to the block. A locking nut is placed around the housing.

Abstract: This system is for use by a visitor to a facility that has multiple occupants, public-subscriber or other phone service, and an individual phone outlet at each occupant's part of the facility. A microphone and speaker are provided so that a visitor seeking access can speak with an occupant. A communication circuit carries signals between (1) the mike and speaker and (2) the phone service--to enable the conversation through an individual phone outlet. Manual controls, preferably including a standard phone keypad, are positioned for use by the visitor. An electronic memory holds directory information, particularly including occupant names and corresponding dial-up codes. An LCD, behind a protective window, shows the visitor the directory data. Names and other directory data can be fed into the memory remotely, preferably through either: ordinary phone connections using standard DTMF signals--with automated confirmation of input data by a voice-synthesis chip--or a modem.

Abstract: A compact hand-holdable implement or key for controlling an electronic lock mechanism is disclosed. The implement is sized and configured for easy, convenient and comfortable gripping, aligning with a mating receptacle of the lock mechanism, and bringing into and out of desired engagement with the receptacle. The illustrated implement includes a memory chip. It has an elongated handle with a front-to-rear axis and electrical implement contacts at its front end connected to the memory chip. The user grips the handle with the user's thumb and at least one finger generally aligned with the handle axis for clear visibility of the front end and the receptacle. This also allows for easy and comfortable combined movement which both aligns the implement with the receptacle and moves it forwardly into the receptacle.

Abstract: A play device for being thrown generally like a football. The device has a tubular body that has a generally barrel-like external shape and a large central through-passageway. Its shape, light weight and central passageway combine to provide relative slow, soaring and irregular flight characteristics, making its path somewhat erratic and the device often a challenge to catch. It is made of a lightweight but shape-retaining, tough, resilient material such as polyethylene that will bounce harmlessly off walls or a person it may engage. The device may be formed with one or more openings through its wall such as a continuous or intermittent spiral groove that extends from end to end.

Abstract: An improved bracket for mounting a carrier on a vehicle for carrying objects such as skis and ski poles. The illustrated bracket supports the carrier at the rear of the vehicle. The bracket is firmly and rigidly supports the carrier so as to limit tilting or swaying of the carrier as the vehicles moves. In a preferred form the bracket allows the carrier to be moved out of way to the side when access to the rear or the vehicle is desired. The illustrated carrier includes an elongated upright section that supports holder units for holding the skis and poles.

Abstract: A solution for treatment of cement, glazed or porcelain surfaces to increase the coefficient of friction of that surface, whether dry or wet to greater than 0.6, preferably to about 0.8, wherein the solution comprises about 10% phosphoric acid, less than about 40 gms. of sodium bifluoride and a wetting agent in water.