Abstract: A wild bird game feeder, having a cylindrical shell with a closed flat bottom and a lid which is removable or which has a bung, through which game bird feed may be introduced. Within the interior of the cylindrical shell is a partition and partition top which defines and encloses a smaller subspace within the interior space of the cylindrical shell. An opening in the partition allows feed to flow into the smaller space. An access opening is defined in the sidewall of the cylindrical shell, giving external access to the smaller space within the partition and partition top. A curvilinear hood is positioned medially above the access opening. A perch or ledge is provided along the bottom edge of the access opening for the benefit of smaller game birds.

Abstract: A parachute release apparatus for controllably and timely releasing a drogue parachute from a descending, aerially delivered cargo platform. The parachute release apparatus is comprised of a pendant body with multiple parallel plates. Cavities are defined between each two parallel plates of the pendant body. Latch mechanisms are disposed on either side of the pendant body. Each latch mechanism is comprised of an articulating outer and inner plate. Within each cavity is a pair of release arms which articulate with the pendant body. Either release arm engages with the inner latch plate of each latch mechanism. The latch mechanisms are maintained in a latched configuration by a cut loop attached to extension arms on either outer latch plate, and are released by a pyrotechnic cutter disposed on the cut loop. A plurality of suspension straps are coupled with the apparatus, which are enshrouded in a bifurcated sleeve.

Abstract: An automobile race game and method for playing same, is provided, comprised of a playing surface have printed on one side thereof a closed circuit race trace. The race track is divided across its width into parallel lanes. Each lane is divided into a sequence of spaces. A token is provided for each player set on a space on the race track. Players advance their tokens around the circuit according to the roll of three dice—two conventional dice and one supplemental dice. Some spaces are designated to “DRAW CARD,” requiring player landing on such spaces to draw an event card from the top of an invented stack of event cards. The supplemental die has one face permitting lane change, and another multiplying the value of the other two dice. Players may change lanes only if they roll doubles, roll appropriately on the supplemental die, or draw an appropriate event card. The first player to complete a pre-determined number of laps or circuits of the race track is declared the winner.

Abstract: A self-leveling bed support frame provides an automatically-controlled level sleeping surface in the sleeper cab of a semi-trailer rig. The self-leveling bed support frame is comprised first of a rectangular lower frame with four pneumatic actuators in each corner. A rectangular upper frame is above the lower frame and engages at its corners with the pneumatic actuators. An automatic control system operates the four pneumatic actuators to maintain a level upper frame by utilizing two pair of mercury switches disposed on two independent control axes. Each pair of mercury switches control the positioning of a pair of the pneumatic actuators, disposed at either end of a diagonal across the upper frame. An adjustable seat back assembly is also provided which can elevate one end of a mattress on the upper frame, using a pair of scissor jack mechanisms, which provide fine control when utilized with a pneumatically controlled actuator.

Abstract: A concrete finishing attachment for final finishing or troweling of concrete using a portable hand power tool, such as an angle grinder, comprised of a central hub formed into a frustrum shape with a hole located centrally for registration with the spindle or arbor of the tool, and having a plurality of vanes, preferably four, disposed radially around the perimeter of the hub. Each vane has a leading stabilizer, followed by an inclined tab orientated obliquely downward relative to the stabilizer, followed by a finishing blade oriented obliquely upward relative to the inclined tab, but still obliquely downward at a slight angle. Each vane engages with the hub along the inner edge of the arc sector formed by the stabilizer. The concrete finishing attachment is used by registering the spindle of the power tool with the hole in the hub and securing with a nut or other means.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sports training glasses for assisting a person training in a sporting endeavor requiring hand/eye coordination to focus on a specific object, such as a baseball or golf ball. The sports training glasses are comprised of a frame having a centrally disposed bridge. The bridge may be designed to rest directly on a wearer's nose, or to have engaged with it a nosepiece for resting on a wearer's nose. A pair of temple arms are articulated at either end of the frame by a flexible, integral hinge made of a shape memory material. A pair of opaque lenses are disposed along the lower edge of the frame, one opaque lens on either side of the bridge. An elongated slot, aligned horizontally, is disposed within each opaque lens. A sliding member engages with each opaque lens permitting horizontal translation behind the elongated slot. An aperture is disposed within the sliding member, within which may be disposed a transparent lens. A separate nosepiece may engage with the bridge to provide better comfort.

Abstract: Smart Wick is a wick for a candle that is designed with the ability to automatically extinguish a flame in equal-timed intervals as well as the ability to access a new wick for relighting.

Abstract: A novel parachute design is presented that is distinguished by having inverted-gores, producing a parachute having a unique shape, which can be, selectively, either ballistic or gliding and steerable, in addition to having a selectively variable rate of descent. Moreover, the parachute design allows for a very efficient use of materials.

Abstract: A screen repair apparatus is disclosed for temporarily repairing holes or worn screen elements of screens used in gyratory or vibratory screening machines in the coal mining and rock quarrying industries. The apparatus is comprised of a flat plate which covers the damaged area of screen on the screen's top, a number of duplex jaws which are used to clamp the apparatus to the lower surface of the screen elements, and a clamping means, including an attachment rod which draws together the plate and duplex jaws on either side of the screen elements, thereby clamping the two to the screen. The screen repair apparatus also is comprised of a set of cauls, which are disposed between the clamping means and the upper surface of the plate and which distribute the force exerted by the clamping means across the face of the upper surface of the plate.

Abstract: An apparatus and system are disclosed for retrofitting a septic tank from a failed residential wastewater treatment system to permit discharge to a surface water body rather than an underground drainage field. The apparatus is a chlorinating tank, comprised of a tank having an inlet and outlet pipe. An inlet diffuser and an outlet diffuser are posited within the chlorinating tank, the inlet diffuser is in hydraulic communication with the inlet pipe, and the outlet diffuser is in hydraulic communication with the outlet pipe. A filter is posited in the outlet diffuser for filtering any remaining solids in the treated wastewater. A chlorinating device is posited downstream of the filter within the chlorinating tank, for adding dissolved chlorine to the chlorinating tank volume.

Abstract: A tailgate aileron system is disclosed, in which a tailgate of a pick-up truck, dump truck or portable roll-off contained has a rectangular opening within which is installed an aileron capable of manual or powered operation. The aileron pivots on an axle disposed horizontally through the central axis of the aileron. The aileron axle registers with bushings disposed in the sides of the rectangular opening of the tailgate. One end of the axle protrudes beyond the side of the rectangular opening and conjoins with a means for operating the aileron. A manual means for operating the aileron is comprised of a positioning handle mounted orthogonal to the axle, which is rotated by hand and is fixed in a desired attitude by an index pin which registers with one of a plurality of indices on the positioning handle. A powered means for operating the aileron is comprised of an electric motor which turns the aileron through a system of gears.

Abstract: A farrier's measurement instrument is disclosed to use in locating the preferred position for affixing a shoe to the bottom of a horse's hoof. The invention is comprised of a base of a rectilinear shape with a lower surface, a flange disposed orthogonally to the base at one end of the base, such that a long edge of the flange is aligned with the lower surface of the base, a slot disposed centrally and longitudinally within the base, wherein the slot extends to the edge of the base opposite the flange, a sliding rule which can slide longitudinally within the slot and has a lower surface coplanar with the lower surface of the base forming a planar lower surface of the farrier's measurement instrument, and a first and a second measurement scales disposed on the lower surface of the farrier's measurement instrument. The increment of the graduations of the second measurement scale is either directly or inversely three times proportional to those of the first measurement scale.