Abstract: A lawn sweeper is provided having rotary brushes mounted in a housing and projecting through a bottom opening in the housing for sweeping up debris. A vacuum fan with an internal shredder is also mounted to the housing and communicates through a vacuum chute with the bottom opening for drawing in, shredding and discharging debris swept up by the brushes. A damper valve plate is disposed in the vacuum chute between the brushes and the vacuum fan and is operable for closing off the vacuum chute to provide a leaf vacuum port. A linkage is connected to a damper valve plate and also to the drive for the brushes to simultaneously disengage the drive for the brushes and to close off the vacuum chute with the damper valve plate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing electronic concurrent delivery of multimedia content to general purpose computers over a computer network. A host computer having web server capabilities is coupled to a computer network and is provided with a storage medium which stores a database of multimedia experiences. The host computer is further provided with a management delivery system for managing the delivery of multimedia concepts from the host database for experiencing by a participant on a computer display device. A general purpose computer is coupled through the computer network to the host computer for downloading the delivery system over the computer network for managing the delivery of selected of the multimedia experiences from the host database to the general purpose computer for display on a computer display device.

Abstract: A war game wherein multiple sets of moveable game figures are provided with each set having game player alignment identification indicia, such as different color glow, and each figure has removable and replaceable body parts which also glow in the dark so that the game may be played in the dark. Chance selection devices, such as dice and cards, are provided for chance selection of respective opponent players of body parts of the figures aligned with another opponent to be removed as an inflicted injury based upon designations indicated by this chance selection device or devices. The selection device is manipulated by the respective opponent players to sequentially chance select what opponent figure part is to be removed and then that particular body part, including armor and weapons, is removed from the opponent figure as directed by the selection device.

Abstract: A surgical hand support for performing surgical procedures on the volar side of the human thumb. The support includes an elongate forearm support plate with a hand support plate and a thumb support plate extending from this forearm support plate. The hand support plate and thumb support plate are dimensioned for respectively engaging the back of an individual's hand and thumb. The hand support plate extends upwardly from a wrist bend on the forward edge of the forearm support plate at an obtuse angle. The thumb support plate extends upwardly from a side edge of the forearm plate adjacent the wrist bend at an obtuse angle and the thumb support plate also extends forward from the side edge of the forearm plate at an obtuse angle and adjustable straps are provided for securing the forearm to the forearm plate, the hand to the hand plate and the thumb to the thumb plate whereby the volar side of the thumb is suitably presented for surgery.

Abstract: A self-adjusting locking plier having a stationary assembly providing a stationary handle and a stationary jaw and a moveable assembly including an operating lever and a moveable jaw that is supported on the stationary jaw with a slidable pivot connection whereby the moveable jaw is permitted to automatically close down on an object disposed between the jaws for providing self-adjustment for different sized objects to be gripped between the jaws. The operating lever is spring biased to move away from the stationary handle. In addition, a dual link past-dead-center toggle locking mechanism is provided to lock the pliers on to an object gripped between the jaws. The specific arrangement of the locking toggle mechanism in combination with the moveable operating lever to which it is connected in further combination with the fact that the front end of the lever mechanism is connected with a slidable pivot to the stationary jaw provides a self-adjusting locking plier.

Abstract: A fluid filtering system for filtering dirt and other debris from fluids being conveyed in a pipeline for snow making apparatus and other devices. An upright pipe segment is connected to a horizontal pipe segment through a pipe elbow or angle for conveying fluid such as water and/or air under pressure from the horizontal pipe segment through the pipe angle and upwardly through the upright pipe segment. A filter is provided in the upright pipe segment adjacent its lower end and an external drain is disposed in the pipe angle directly under the filter to automatically flush and clean the filter when the drain is opened.

Abstract: In an ion implantation system including (a) an ion source (b) a mass analyzing portion, (c) an ion acceleration portion, (d) an ion beam focusing/deflecting portion, and (e) an end station chamber for implanting ions onto a semiconductor substrate. The ion source consists of plural ion sources being connected to the same mass analyzing portion in which any one of the plural ion sources is selected. Mass-separated ions from the ion source are led to the acceleration portion, and a stencil mask is arranged approximately to the semiconductor substrate in the end station chamber.

Abstract: Vertical prefabricated drains are installed into soil underlying a body of water for soil stabilization and thereafter from the surface of the water the drain member is captured within a drain cutting assembly which is lowered by an operating line that is tethered to the assembly into the water as guided by the captured drain. Then the prefabricated drain is severed below the surface of the water by actuating the cutter assembly at the water surface with the operating line.

Abstract: A protective poncho type outer garment to be worn about the upper body torso of a person wherein the main body panel has a shoulder portion with a neck opening for passage of a wearer's head and front and back panel portions which are open at the sides. Outwardly extending sleeves are provided for the wearer's arms and the sleeves have forearm and upper arm portions wherein the forearm portions are continuous closed tubular sleeves and the upper arm portions are open at the bottom for alternate protrusion therethrough of the wearer's arms. A first adjustable waist belt is secured to opposite sides of the front of panel portion and it is provided with a buckle fastener for securement of the first belt at the back of the wearer. Similarly a second adjustable waist belt is secured to opposite sides of the back panel portion and is also provided with a buckle fastener for securement of the second belt at the front of the wearer.

Abstract: The effectiveness of a prefabricated earth drain installed in a generally vertical manner in soil is improved for enhancing the expelling of pore water from the soil to the surface. The soil surrounding the earth drain is hydraulically fractured either while the drain is in place or while the earth drain is being installed. Propping agents may also be supplied to the surrounding soil after hydraulic fracturing for propping fractures in the soil to maintain continuous flow to the drain. Radially extending fissures may also be formed in the surrounding soil either mechanically or through the use of hydraulic jetting and a propping agent is supplied to these fissures either in the form of particulate material or a continuous ribbon of porous filter fabric.

Abstract: In a brake control method for a motorcycle which includes a front master cylinder, front wheel cylinders hydraulically connected to the front master cylinder, a rear master cylinder, a rear wheel cylinder hydraulically connected to the rear master cylinder and a hydraulic pressure pump. When only the front master cylinder is operated, brake pressure fluid is supplied to the front wheel cylinders and the fluid pressure pump is driven to supply discharging pressure fluid to the rear wheel cylinder, and when only the rear master cylinder is operated, brake pressure fluid is supplied only to the rear wheel cylinder.

Abstract: A below ground wall anchoring and straightening device including a horizontally disposed elongate rod member and an earth anchor secured to one end of the rod member. An elongate wall brace plate is attached intermediate its ends to the other end of the rod member and a wall brace plate extends upright in its direction of elongation and this elongate plate is secured at its bottom end to a base portion of the wall structure to be straightened. The rod member includes a fastener for engaging the rod member and thereby pressing the elongate plate against the wall to anchor and straighten the wall.

Abstract: A game of skill wherein a database of advertisement segments from published advertisements is generated and stored and selections of the advertisement segments are displayed or presented to a player for sponsor source identification. The player makes identifications of sponsor sources for the respective advertisement segments presented and these identifications are evaluated for correctness and then displayed to the player. A reward for winning may be provided.

Abstract: A device for testing a cable deroped magnetic proximity detector positioned adjacent a cable sheave or sheave assembly on a cable operated ski lift. A sleeve of non-ferromagnetic material is temporarily secured coaxially over the steel lift cable and the sleeve is dimensioned in length and thickness in amounts sufficient to raise the cable simultaneously away from the detector and the adjacent sheaves whereby the detector indicates a derope condition. When the ski lift is operated to thereby move the sleeve over the detector and adjacent sheaves, a derope condition will be simulated and the alarm tested to determine whether it provides the appropriate signal.

Abstract: A process for modification of a surface structure by exposing the surface to a flow of neutral atomic or molecular gaseous medium excited to metastable level which is produced in a process of blowing a working gaseous medium through a discharge gap filled with plasma generated from this working gaseous medium.

Abstract: An RF loaded line type CCP source-having two collar type electrodes with an operating tube passing through these electrodes. One of the electrodes (high voltage electrode) is connected with the core of a feeding coaxial cable leading to a power supply, and another one is grounded by connection to a braid of the feeding coaxial cable, and the grounded electrode is further extended to form an outer cylindrical shield enveloping the operating tube with the high voltage electrode to provide a termination of an RF loaded line wherein the high voltage electrode with a plasma beam excited within the operating tube by action of an electric field between the electrodes form a core of this RF line. To provide effective contribution of RF energy in the plasma beam, the impedance of this line can be matched to the impedance of the plasma beam and matched also to the impedance of the feeding cable.

Abstract: A double-locking mechanism for handcuffs, which include a pawl-and-ratchet mechanism wherein the ratchet pawl is spring biased to couple with a pivotal ratchet jaw arm within in a shackle casing and a bolt is provided for engaging the pawl to prevent the coupled jaw from pivoting in either direction in order to double lock the mechanism. A pivot slide mechanism is provided whereby either the pawl or the bolt is not only permitted to pivot about an axis within the casing, but is also permitted to have limited displacement in a direction transverse to its pivot axis which thereby causes the pawl to engage a stop within the casing to double lock the pawl from pivoting in either direction and also causes the bolt under bias to displace from a first bolt position to a second bolt position and thereby engage and retain the pawl in the double lock position against the stop in order to ensure that the mechanism will remain double locked until opened with a key.

Abstract: A master cylinder including a cylinder body having a cylindrical bore and an opening in the circumferential wall for a relief port communicating with the interior of hydraulic reservoir. A piston is slidably inserted into the cylindrical bore to form a hydraulic pressure generating chamber in the cylindrical bore. A cup seal is provided with an inner circumferential lip portion contacting with the piston, an outer circumferential lip portion slidably contacting with the inner circumferential wall of the cylindrical bore, and a base portion connecting the lip portions, which are so arranged as to face to the hydraulic pressure generating chamber. The cup seal cuts the communication between the hydraulic pressure generating chamber and the hydraulic reservoir through the relief port when the top end of the outer circumferential lip portion passes by the relief port.