Abstract: A device, easily assembled and disassembled for portability, for hoisting and skinning large game in the wilderness. A pair of upright members extend upward from base members, and a cross beam joins upper ends of the upright members to form a rigid frame. A winch mounted on an upright member includes a barrel sufficiently wide to accommodate two cables in side-by side relation and a handle for rotating the barrel. A first cable extends from the barrel of the winch through a dual-sheaved pulley suspended from the cross beam proximal to the winch and thence through a second pulley suspended from the cross beam distal to the winch. A second cable extends from the barrel of the winch through the dual-sheaved pulley. With the hind legs of a carcass attached to the cables, rotating the handle hoists the carcass and tensions apart the hind legs to facilitate skinning.

Abstract: A portable devic for bending and cutting rebar, reinforcing rod, and the like. For cutting, a shaft assembly is movable along a first longitudinal axis (A—A) between a retracted and an extended position. A movable cutting head carried by the shaft assembly coacts with a fixed cutting head to shear rebar disposed between the cutting heads when the shaft assembly is moved to the extended position. For bending, a push rod movable along a second longitudinal axis (C—C) parallel to the first axis (A—A) couples movements of the shaft assembly through a clevis to a crankshaft such that longitudinal movements of the shaft assembly cause rotational movements of the crankshaft about an axis substantially perpendicular to axis (A—A). A first driven wheel, mounted for rotation with the crankshaft, has one or more bending blocks attached to the wheel by a radial arm.

Abstract: A keyboard arrangement that assigns alphanumeric and special character symbols to keys based upon the shapes of the symbols in order to facilitate learning to type. Attribute classes are defined according to the number, position, direction, or contours of the line segments that comprise the symbols. As an aid to memorization of a keyboard arrangement, symbols are assigned to keys such that a substantial number of keys in a column of keys belong to the same attribute class. To convert any prior art or other kind of electronic keyboard to a keyboard arrangement within the scope of the invention, hardware and/or software components are provided that reassign the keys so that substantially all keys within the same column will correspond to symbols within the same attribute class.

Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation and processing device for a turbocharged diesel engine. A reactor comprises an inner chamber substantially surrounded by an outer chamber. Within the inner chamber, compressed air from the turbocharger mixes with engine exhaust gases discharged through the turbocharger. The mixture is heated and reacts to combust pollutants as it passes by a copper tube and baffle within the inner chamber. The reacted mixture exits the inner chamber and enters the outer chamber with which it communicates through apertures in a separating wall; from the outer chamber the reacted mixture is conducted to the engine intake. The copper tube and baffle are heated to within an optimal temperature range by directing gaseous engine combustion products through the copper tube. A heat exchanger thermally coupled to the reactor exchanges heat between the reactor and the engine cooling system to maintain reactor temperature.

Abstract: A keyboard arrangement that assigns alphanumeric and special character symbols to keys based upon the shapes of the symbols in order to facilitate learning to type. Attribute classes are defined according to the number, position, direction, or contours of the line segments that comprise the symbols. As an aid to memorization of a keyboard arrangement, symbols are assigned to keys such that a substantial number of keys in a column of keys belong to the same attribute class. To convert any prior art or other kind of electronic keyboard to a keyboard arrangement within the scope of the invention, hardware and/or software components are provided that reassign the keys so that substantially all keys within the same column will correspond to symbols within the same attribute class.

Abstract: A floral arranging device for supporting plant stems in a floral arrangement in transit from florist to customer, as well as in a floral vase. In a first embodiment, three sets of parallel, elastic bands are looped across and around a substantially annular ring. The three sets are oriented at angles with respect to each other, thereby defining a plurality of interstices between the bands through which plant stems may be inserted and grasped by the bands at two spaced-apart locations along the lengths of the stems. In a second embodiment, a fourth set of parallel, elastic bands is added, thereby defining additional interstices. In a third embodiment, an annular enclosure surrounds the second embodiment, and fifth and sixth sets of parallel elastic bands are looped across, around, and under the enclosure.

Abstract: A multi-grit manual finishing tool and method for making the tool. In a preferred embodiment, the tool comprises an ordered, linear sequence of pieces of coated abrasive connected by fully pliable hinges. The hinges allow virtually 360° rotation of the planes of adjacent pieces about each other, and permit the tool to accordion-fold together tightly, so that the tool becomes very compact for storage, transit and special uses. The grit sizes progressively increase from one abrasive piece to the next, thereby facilitating a choice of grit sizes within a single tool. On the non-grit surface of each piece is a distinctive labeling addition that includes indicia characterizing the grit size and abrasive nature of its corresponding grit surface. The distinctive labeling addition includes mechanical reinforcement, such as plastic, thin metal or cardboard. Each piece may abrade a work piece individually and without necessarily using any tool other than hand or fingers.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in an easy chair for manual fore and aft, longitudinal adjustments of the seat cushion. A flexible seat cushion rests upon a carriage assembly. The carriage assembly has a pair of straight, laterally spaced-apart, fixed tracks and, longitudinally coplanar therewith, a pair of pliable tracks that extend rearwardly from the fixed tracks. The fixed and pliable tracks are received by, and slidably engage, a pair of laterally spaced-apart channels mounted between vertical frame supports of the chair. The channels extend rearwardly from a front portion of the chair, behind and downwardly from the back of the chair. When fully retracted, the carriage assembly and seat cushion likewise extend partially behind and down from the back of the chair. The carriage assembly can be locked in any one of a plurality of positions by manual manipulation of a handle attached to a bale.

Abstract: A Christmas light string holder for use on interior and exterior surfaces of buildings. The holder comprises a flexible, resilient, helical wire, a fastener such as a nail or screw and, optionally, a convex cap with a hollow recess for dressing the head of the nail. To mount a light string on a surface, a holder is attached at each of several spaced apart locations on the surface, and the light string is wedged between, and retained by, adjacent turns of the helical wires. The light string is easily disattached from the holders by spreading apart the adjacent turns long enough to lift away the light string. The holders can remain in place year-round if desired, and can be used for mounting other objects to the same surface.

Abstract: A mold assembly and method for molding a substantially hemispherical construct from pre-expanded polystyrene beads. The mold assembly includes a female half mold; a mating male half mold; a first male mold insert mountable on the male half mold and having a continuous, peripheral, beveled edge; and a second male mold insert mountable on the first male mold insert. For forming a construct having an impact-resistant exterior layer and an energy-absorbing interior layer, such as a motorcyclist safety helmet, the beads are initially molded under heat and compression between the female half mold and the first insert to form a first intermediate product of a first volume having a continuous, peripheral, beveled edge; said product is thereafter molded under heat and compression between the female half mold and the second insert to a second, reduced volume to form a compressed, second intermediate product, the beveled edge of the first intermediate product serving to uniformly distribute the force applied thereto.

Abstract: A device for manual retrieval of solid pet waste. A funnel-shaped body is mounted on a shaft fitted with a handle. A plurality of ribs have first ends pivotally attached to a ring that is slidable along the shaft, and have opposite ends attached to a pair of jaws. Adjacent portions of the jaws are joined by flexible walls. A collar is slidably mounted on the shaft between the handle and the ring. For each rib, a straight, rigid strut is pivotally attached at one end to the collar and at an opposite end to an intermediate portion of the rib. A spring interposed between the collar and the ring urges the ring away from the collar. The jaws are slidable within the housing between a closed, retracted position and an open extended position. A button and catch arrangement is provided for reversibly locking and unlocking the collar and the jaws in the retracted position. A disposable bag is provided for placement over and around the jaws.

Abstract: A natural peanut butter blend gravitationally stabilized with chitosan to prevent separation of the oil and proteinaceous phases. The blend is prepared by adding chitosan and a fatty acid, preferably stearic acid, to the oil phase, blending the oil and proteinaceous phases, and then adding water until the blend noticeably thickens.

Abstract: A reduced volume scavenging system for a two cycle engine embodying a duplex cylinder having an upper cylinder bore and a reduced-diameter lower cylinder bore. The lower bore communicates with a crankcase that houses a crankshaft, connecting rod(s) and engine lubricating oil. A fixed sleeve lines the upper cylinder bore and extends up into the cylinder head. A piston disposed for reciprocating motion within the fixed sleeve has an attached cylindrical, reciprocating sleeve that extends down into the lower cylinder bore and moves with the piston. The reciprocating sleeve has compression rings that seal the lower bore and the crankcase against blowyby gases that might contaminate the oil. The fixed sleeve has an intake opening in registry with an inlet port in the upper cylinder bore for admission of fresh air-fuel mixture.

Abstract: A parallelogram gate for controlling traffic on a roadway, comprised of an arm assembly that is rotatable between a raised position and a horizontal, longitudinally-extended, roadway blocking position, a housing, and a drive assembly mounted within the housing. The arm assembly has parallel, elongated upper and lower rails, and a plurality of spaced-apart pickets pivotally attached to the upper and lower rails. A stationary pivot attaches a pivot end of the upper rail to the housing. A pair of vertical, grooved channel guides are attached to the housing at a location within the housing that is intermediate the stationary pivot and a lower portion of the housing. The drive assembly includes a hydraulic cylinder having a vertically-upward directed piston arm and mounted to the lower portion of the housing. A horizontal pin inserted through a traveling clevis carried by the piston arm, and inserted through a pivot end of the lower rail, extends into a groove within each of the guides.

Abstract: A method for cleaning teeth by abrasive oral irrigation with a slurry containing a granular dentifrice composition. The dentifrice composition is gravity fed to a liquid reservoir of an oral irrigation device of the type that provides a pulsed, liquid jet stream, and forms a slurry within the reservoir. The slurry is pumped from the device and applied under pressure to teeth and gums. The composition includes a particulate baking soda having granular particles with major dimension in the range 10 to 60 microns, and a flow agent in an amount sufficient to ensure smooth and continuous gravity feed of the composition into the reservoir. A method for making the composition is described.

Abstract: A rig for bait casting sandshrimp tails, and method for using the rig. A fish hook is attached to a forward end of fishing line leader. The forward end of a longitudinally elongated bait threader is attached to a rear end of the leader. A buoyant, bowling-pin-shaped, bobber is slidably mounted on the leader between the hook and threader. The rear end of the threader is pointed. In use, the pointed end of the threader is inserted longitudinally through a sandshrimp tail. The tail is moved forward over and past the threader, thence forward along the leader and onto the bobber so as to substantially enclose and surround the bobber. The rear end of the threader is then attached to a double swivel that is coupled to a weight and a fishing line.

Abstract: A rigid, inflatable dory and method for constructing the same. A pre-hull is constructed by attaching to a front end of a rigid, substantially, flat bottom a forwardly inclined stempost and, to a rear end thereof, a rearwardly inclined sternpost, and by attaching left and right garboard plank blanks to the sides of the bottom and to the sides of the stempost and sternpost. The stempost and sternpost are forced toward one another to impart camber and flare to the garboard plank blanks, as by connecting them by a taut rope, thereby converting the blanks into garboard planks. A hull frame is then constructed on the pre-hull, comprising longitudinally spaced apart ribs and laterally spaced apart stringers. A gunwale is attached to an upper edge of each side of the hull frame. An inflatable sponson is mounted exteriorly on each side of the hull.