Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for quadrupedal exercise, i.e. exercise by walking or running on all fours in a manner similar to four-footed animals. The apparatus is composed essentially of a forward continuous tread and a rear continuous tread, in which the forward continuous tread is disposed at a higher level than the rear continuous tread, the relative heights of the two being adjusted so that when the hands of the user are placed upon the forward tread and the feet are placed on the rear tread, the angle of the body through the spine will be essentially horizontal, or a little greater than horizontal. In most cases, the tread for the hands or support of the upper portion of the body will be divided into two parallel treads while the tread for support of the feet will be a single tread positioned more or less in a central position with respect to the forward tread. A method of exercising involving movement relative to a two-level track is also disclosed.

Abstract: A rapidly deployable protective enclosure is constructed from a flexible membrane surrounding a framework of inflatable support members each individually coupled to a central fluid distribution system. Each inflatable support member is individually repairable or replaceable from within the enclosure without effecting the structural integrity of the remaining framework. A system is provided to make the enclosure air tight, and air tight passage between modularly connected enclosures is also provided.

Abstract: A sanitary clip-on handle arrangement that may be clipped onto a toilet seat when needed by a user. The clip-on handle includes a handle portion that is fixed to a clip portion. The clip portion provides a clamping arrangement that may be operated by a user to enable the clip-on handle to be temporarily clipped onto a hinge mounted toilet seat for use in lifting and lowering the toilet seat. The handle portion may be rotatable fixed to the clip portion to be movable between a first extended position enabling a person to easily grasp the handle portion, to a second tucked position that is less obtrusive, to a third, even less obtrusive position for storage of the handle portion.

Abstract: A system of sensors to prevent cheating at a casino gaming table, where the sensors are strategically positioned about a casino gaming table to monitor the movement about certain established areas on the gaming table during certain established times during the play of the game. The tripping of a sensor in response to the detection of unauthorized movement about a certain area of the table sends a signal to a monitoring system which in turn alerts the casino so that the casino may respond to the unauthorized movement accordingly. The system of sensors can be used with a wide variety of card-based or chip-based casino gaming tables.

Abstract: A continuous strip is electrochemically processed in an electrolytic processing bath using either a thin flexible or resilient dielectric wiping blade or an open web, plastic mesh to wipe bubbles of gas from the surface, sever dendritic material, if such is present, and to remove a surface layer of partially depleted electrolytic solution in the form of a barrier or depletion layer including a heat zone, replacing with fresh cooler solution and to stabilize strip portions extending between support rolls. The resilient dielectric wiper blade is preferably used with perforated anodes which allow fresh electrolytic solution to flow into the space between the anodes and the strip surface after being expelled by passage of the strip past the wiping blade. It may also be used with electrode baskets in electroplating, however.

Abstract: A screw-threaded counterweight adjustment apparatus is journaled in end journals provided with brackets for attachment to the interior of a railroad crossing gate arm casing preferably by jam-type threaded fittings. A traveler is threaded over an elongated helically threaded rod rotatably mounted in the journals. A guide on one side of the traveler fits in an adjustment slot in the casing and a counterweight supporting rod or pin extends from the guide for attachment and support of the counterweights. The helically threaded rod is manually rotated by a wrench or by a motor to move the traveler and guide longitudinally on the counterweight section of the gate when it is desired to adjust the position of the counterweights.

Abstract: An improved collision impact absorber for mounting upon a vehicle is formed of an elongated structural member both pivotally and longitudinally movable with respect to the vehicle. Impact force upon the outer end of the structural member is initially absorbed by longitudinal deflection of the structural member, and further absorbed by the rotation of the structural member with respect to the vehicle. The rotation of the structural member with respect to the vehicle transfers and dissipates the impact force into a reactive lifting of the vehicle, the weight of the vehicle acting as a resistant force to the lifting of the vehicle. A catch, or detent, allows the elongated structural member to longitudinally move or deflect a certain, predetermined distance prior to initiating rotation of the member about a pivot point.

Abstract: An improved inflatable medical patient transfer apparatus has a combination of transverse partition members and a raised perimeter section to reduce deleterious ballooning and uneven inflation as well as quick emergency deflation and provide additional security for a patient supported upon such transfer apparatus. Additional differentially inflatable patient rolling chambers are preferably supplied on the top of the transfer apparatus to provide assistance to medical personnel in beginning to roll patients reclining or lying upon the transfer apparatus particularly in a deflated condition on a hospital bed. An improved air inlet arrangement is also provided along with certain indicia upon the surface of the transfer apparatus to expedite use by hospital personnel.

Abstract: An inserted tongue adapted to slip into a T-shaped, undercut groove of a profiled bar has an essentially wedge-shaped cross section, the wedge apex line of which intersects the bottom center of the groove at a clamping point when the inserted tongue is in the groove. A threaded bore is provided in the inserted tongue perpendicular to the wedge apex line. In order that the inserted tongue can be manufactured more easily and cheaply, it is designed so that a portion of the wedge cross section is formed into a plastic spring clip, which extends longitudinally in the region of its wedge apex line, the free, spring-elastic end of which leg has a clamping point making contact with the floor of the contoured groove to stablize the inserted tongue within the groove of the profiled bar.

Abstract: The nature of a metal sample, such as the purity of precious metals and metal alloys, such as gold, is determined using a handheld probe having an electrode embedded in an electrolyte in a reservoir of the probe and arranged to conduct electrically with the sample through the electrolyte and a fibrous tip. The tip can resemble the point of a marker or writing instrument. The tip is in fluid communication with the reservoir containing the electrolyte, and preferably has the electrode embedded therein. An electrical connection with the electrode is made at the rear of the probe. For testing gold purity, the electrode is preferably a thin platinum wire extending through the reservoir and into the tip to just behind the tip surface. A battery is coupled to a calibration potentiometer whereby the voltage on a millivoltmeter is set to full scale when the probe is open circuited.

Abstract: A bed skirt having a downwardly extending ruffle and panel sections that are tucked between an upper and lower mattress to maintain such bed skirt in a proper position and alignment with respect to the lower mattress. The panels sections are equipped with adjustable fastening implements that are used to secure the positioning of the panel sections with respect to each other. The panel sections are designed to be incrementally inserted between an upper and lower mattress, and the fastening implements allow a user to secure the panel sections in proper alignment with respect to each other and with respect to the lower mattress once inserted and positioned thereupon.

Abstract: The outer two layers, composed of an undercoat of an ionomer and a topcoat of polyurethane, on a wooden core of a bowling pin are bonded together by use of either of a polyfunctional aziridine or polyfunctional carbodiimide providing superior adhesion under shock plus several shop advantages including lessened air pollution and ease of application.

Abstract: A pair of restraints, preferably in the form of handcuffs, are separately connected to a housing assembly by way of elongated cables. The cables are attached at their other ends to a rotatable spool sturdily housed within a box ratchet assembly. Each restraint is first separately applied to a resisting arrestee's wrists. The cables are then reeled into the spool member with a ratcheting motion, enabling a law enforcement official to maintain a controlled joinder of the handcuffs and the arrestee's wrists.

Abstract: A device for placement into a gap or crevice of a piece of upholstered furniture such that debris and small articles that fall below the seating cushions of such furniture are retained on the device as opposed to passing through the gap or crevice area and into the interior of the piece of furniture. Frictional protuberances on the device maintain the device firmly in the gap or crevice area such that the device's seal integrity in the gap or crevice area is not interrupted by normal movement by a person on the piece of furniture.

Abstract: A door-hanging jack for adjustably supporting doors in door openings while installing doors in building structures. The jack structure has a generally triangular base with a pivoted rectangular framework secured to the top and has a structural angle shaped door-supporting member on one side overlying one edge of the triangular base. A threaded member at an apex of the triangle provides movement of the door supporting member through the interaction of a female threaded member having foot engageable handles.

Abstract: A catheter reinforced to prevent luminal collapse and tensile failure thereof, comprising an elongated tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal extent, the elongated tubular member defining at least one lumen therethrough for enabling fluid flow between the proximal end and at least one opening defined in at least one of the distal end and the elongated tubular member proximal to the distal end thereof; the elongated tubular member including an outer tubular cover and at least one helical reinforcing member for reinforcing the outer tubular cover to prevent radial collapse of the outer tubular cover during being and pinching of the elongated tubular member and to prevent longitudinal breakage of the outer tubular cover under tension, the at least one helical reinforcing member having an unwound length and a wound length, said at least one helical reinforcing member being wound around the longitudinal axis of said elongated tubular member with a length ratio LR less than one (1) pl

Abstract: A fishing seat assembly includes a pivoted arm journaled on a pivot at the top of a rotatable post on a pedestal mounted on the after deck of a sport fishing boat. A seat is supported on one end of the pivot arm and a rod holder is attached to the arm close to the pivot point and preferably under the pivot point. A fisherman sits on the seat, and by controlling the weight on the seat with his legs, controls the relative height of the seat and therefore the altitude of the fishing pole, enabling the fisherman to move a fish closer to the boat by placing more weight on the seat and, while relieving weight from the seat, reel in excess line while moving the pole in a downward arc.

Abstract: The nature of a metal sample, such as the purity of precious metals and metal alloys such as gold, is determined using a handheld probe having an electrode embedded in an electrolyte in a reservoir of the probe and arranged to conduct electrically with the sample through the electrolyte and a fibrous tip. The tip can resemble the point of a marker or writing instrument. The tip is in fluid communication with the reservoir containing the electrolyte, and preferably has the electrode embedded therein. An electrical connection with the electrode is made at the rear of the probe. For testing gold purity, the electrode is preferably a thin platinum wire extending through the reservoir and into the tip to just behind the tip surface. A battery is coupled to a calibration potentiometer whereby the voltage on a millivoltmeter is set to full scale when the probe is open circuited.