Abstract: Disclosed is a stroage rack system for cylindrical cans which has a limted number of standardized component parts that allow assembly into a rack of any capacity desired. There are at least two rectangular panels each of which in its disassembled state has both of its major surfaces grooved with mortises. Flexible elongated moldings have tenon portions which are insertable in the panel mortises to form can-supporting rails. The assembled rack includes at least two upright panels, horizontally spaced apart and laterally aligned, with horizontally extending rod connectors supporting the panels in their spaced relationship.

Abstract: A device for storing and retrieving disc-shaped articles, such as compact recording discs, and including a support frame adapted to rest on a horizontal surface and including a tiltable housing that is pivotally mounted within the support frame for limited rotation about a horizontal axis from a rest position to a dispensing position, the housing including first and second spaced apart side walls. Mounted to the tiltable housing is slotted means for storing a multiplicity of upright, side-by-side discs, and there is a multiplicity of release elements adapted to releasably hold discs mounted in storage against forward movement out of their storage locations. A disc carrier, with a through-slot for releasably holding a disc, is slidably mounted on horizontal guide means for movement from one end of the disc storing means to its other end. The carrier is alignable with any selected one of the slotted disc storage locations.

Abstract: A security and protective cover for a padlock, which cover is releasably latchable to the padlock to cover the padlock case including keyway, and to shield the padlock shackle, is disclosed. There is a first cover portion having a lower part with spaced apart walls that form a case-receiving chamber with an open front to allow placement of the padlock case therein, with a top chamber wall having a spaced pair of semi-circular indentations for receiving the shafts of the shackle. Extending upwardly from the top of the lower part of the first cover portion is a shackle-shielding wall with a central slot extending downwardly from its top to define twin wall projections lying behind and adjacent the upstanding shackle shafts of a padlock mounted in the cover to surround first portions of these shafts.

Abstract: An apparatus for rebuilding the worn outermost edge of a flight of an auger section by depositing a continuous bead of weld material along the extent of that edge. Attached to a support frame is chuck means for releasably grasping opposite ends of the auger section and holding it horizontally so that it may be driven in rotation about its longitudinal axis, and a guide rail affixed to the frame to extend above and parallel to the auger axis. A carriage assembly is mounted to move freely along the rail and includes a carriage plate mounted for vertical movement; which plate has a follower wheel with a grooved rim, mounted to its lower end. This wheel is adapted to ride an upper portion of the auger flight and to thereby vertically support the carriage plate and to urge it in horizontal movement as the auger is rotated. The carriage plate also adjustably mounts the welding head of an arc-welder including an automatically fed welding wire that is aligned with the flight edge.

Abstract: A shackle-equipped lock with shielded shackle includes a housing enclosing a locking mechanism and a top wall with first and second bores therein. There is a shackle comprising a shaft and an inverted, generally U-shaped clasp, with the shaft lower end adapted for making locking engagement within the first bore and its upper end making a hinge joint with a first end of the clasp. The other end of the clasp is adapted for making locking engagement within the second bore, and in an unlocked condition the clasp is pivotable at the hinge about an axis which is perpendicular to the plane in which the shackle generally lies. A protective shield having a front wall, rear wall and spaced apart side walls, extends upwardly from the housing top wall, and surrounds the bores, and the front wall is spaced sufficiently from the second bore to allow the unlocked lower end of the clasp to pass when it is pivoted open.

Abstract: Disclosed is a protective wrist band having a composite body adapted to extend around a wearer's wrist and having complementary connector means on opposite ends for releasably holding the band around the wrist. The wrist band body has an inner layer of a porous, absorbent, fabric material and a significantly thicker shock-absorbing outer layer of a resilient, fluid-impervious, rubber-like closed cell material.

Abstract: A device for bolting an article to a wall board, using a pre-drilled hole in the wall, is disclosed. The device comprises a volt, and an anchoring portion threadedly mounted to the bolt. This anchoring portion is resiliently deformable in one direction which allows it to pass one way through the hole and has a normal configuration wherein it grasps the inside surface of the wall board to hold the attached bolt against removal from the hole. The anchoring portion comprises a resilient, ribbon-like strip spirally wound into a cone-like configuration and resiliently held therein with inner and outer edge portions of the strip overlapping and in close mutual proximity. A nut for receiving the bolt is affixed to a first, inner end of the spirally wound strip and is held with its bore aligned with the central axis of the conical configuration. The anchor may be uncoiled when the turns of the spiraling strip are urged apart in one direction axially.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for drawing an archery bowstring and for automatically releasing it when the draw weight of the bowstring exceeds a predetermined valve. This is a main body having a front end that anchors the terminal ends of a forwardly extending flexible cord loop, and having a rear end adapted to have attached an archer's hand loop. A lever mechanism is pivotally mounted to the body and has an initial position in which a lever edge portion is angled so as to releasably retain the bight of the loop after the loop has been engaged around the bowstring. A spring-biased member, with a screw to adjust spring force, is also mounted in the body, and provides a depressible projection which will engage one side of a cam-like protuberance carried by the lever mechanism to hold it in its initial position.

Abstract: Provided is a device for dissipating, safely and in an environmentally sound manner, a high pressure fluid discharge from a gas well. The device is locatable in an earthen pit and connectable to the end of a discharge conduit. There is an open-bottomed hood having a front wall, a rear wall and curved side and upper wall, with the well discharge conduit connecting through the front wall. Mounted within the hood is a first dissipator tube having a perforated wall and a significantly larger diameter than the discharge conduit, and including a front end connected to the discharge conduit. A deflector plate, having a multitude of perforations, is mounted across this first tube near its open rear end. A second, open-ended dissipator tube has a larger diameter than the first dissipator tube, and an array of apertures in its lower wall.

Abstract: A lightweight safety tray particularly suitable for use in the passenger compartment of a moving vehicle, and including a generally rectangular support frame of low density, highly resilient polymeric material, which frame has a flat bottom, front, rear and opposing side walls, with a sunken planar shelf in the upper surface portion of the frame which is bounded by upward extensions of the frame walls. The planar shelf has an array of regular shaped cavities in its upper surface which provides a grid of longitudinally and transversely extending ribs. A generally flat plastic corrugated board covers the planar shelf. There is a flexible, resilient plastic outer coating which envelopes the entire outer surfaces of the combined frame and corrugated board, and which holds the board in place, and whereby an upper tray working surface is provided which is bounded on four sides by the upward wall extensions.

Abstract: A padlock cover with storage compartment, having a first portion which covers the case of a conventional padlock, this first portion having a pair of openings for passing the legs of the padlock shackle. The cover has a second portion having spaced apart walls that define a storage compartment, with an access opening in one wall. A flexible, resilient, elongated lid member is mounted in guide means such that it has a closed position in which one end portion covers the storage compartment opening and the other end abuts the releasably locked leg of the shackle to hold the lid closed; and the lid member being slidable to an open position in which the compartment opening is uncovered when the shackle leg is released from the padlock case thereby unobstructing further guided movement of the lid.

Abstract: Water-powered rotating brush device for use in a shower, having an elongated handle portion embodying a supply channel and a return channel, a flexible supply and return hose-pair connectable to the lower end of the handle, and a head portion which rotatably mounts a pair of eccentrically located gear rotors with the larger of the rotors having more teeth than the smaller, the rotors arranged so as to be positively displaced into rotary action by the flow therethrough of water under pressure. A massage brush is coupled to the larger gear rotor. A diverter valve rotatably mounted in the handle may be operated to cut off flow to the rotors and to shunt water from the supply channel directly to the return channel. A relief valve includes a spring biased piston that is displaceable by excessive pressure at the rotor head to open a relief port which allows water to by-pass the rotors and flow directly to the return channel.

Abstract: Disclosed is a convertible computer desk with a construction that allows it to convert from a conventionally appearing desk into a configuration in which computer equipment, such as a monitor and related equipment, is raised to desktop level from internal storage and a keyboard is exposed. A pair of upright, space-apart support walls extend from the front to the rear of the desk and are provided with tracking means along their upper portions, and a concealable keyboard support shelf extends between forward parts of the support walls. A storage compartment located between the support walls holds an elevatable equipment platform for raising equipment from within the compartment to desktop level. A pair of rectangular desktop panels are mounted to the tracking means in a manner which allows them to be manipulated during conversion from one desk configuration to another.

Abstract: A pocket combination for holding a packet of dispensable paper tissue and for incorporation in a leather ski-glove or other like article of clothing, including a packet-receiving opening in the outer layer of the article, the edges of the opening holding the sides of the packet and an inner layer of material for supporting the bottom, major surface of the packet. There is a first, generally rectangular and flexible packet-retaining flap having a tissue-passing aperture therein and pivotally secured along one of its sides to the article outer layer, adjacent the packet-receiving opening. The periphery of the inner major surface of this first flap is equipped with a Velcro strip and the packet-receiving opening is bordered with a complementary Velcro strip. Thus the first flap is foldable to a closed position in which its Velcro strip engages the complementary Velcro strip, and inner surface portions of the flap engage the top of the packet to hold it against outward movement.

Abstract: A cover for the keyway of a lock comprising a multilayered disk-like lid adapted to allow penetration by a key therethrough, yet being resistant to ingress of environmental contaminants when the key is withdrawn, the lid being rotatably mounted to housing for the lock so as to rotate with a key that has been inserted therethrough for engagement within the keyslot of the lock, the lid having an upper and an intermediate layer of elastomer material, and a bottom support layer of material appreciably less resilient than the upper and intermediate layers. There is a first water impervious slit extending through the upper layer, and a second slit in the intermediate layer that lies in a vertical plan parallel to the first slit and laterally spaced therefrom. A slot in the bottom layer lies below the first and second slits. The first slit is adapted to be deformably opened by the downward passage of a key therethrough.

Abstract: A combination of components mountable to an electrical outlet cover and to a power cord in proximity to the male plug, for releasably retaining the male plug close to the outlet, and including a hook assembly with a hook portion that extends from a strap portion that has been tightly bound and locked around the power cord at a location near the plug, and a hook retainer adapted to engage an outlet face plate and mounted thereto, and providing a looping opening for engagement by the hook of the hook assembly.

Abstract: A valve activating system is provided, which is intended for association with a valve assembly including a valve housing defining a conduit therein which includes a fluid inlet opening and a fluid outlet opening, and a valve which is normally biased in a closed position in the conduit to control the flow of fluids therethrough. In order to activate the valve an opening is provided into the conduit for insertion of a valve activating element, such as a simple lever which is positioned at a location at which it can activate the valve. In the embodiment shown, the opening into the conduit has a circular cross-section and is fitted with a sealing O-ring. The lever is sized and shaped so that its insertion through the O-ring will complete a fluid tight closure of the opening so that fluid present in or flowing through the conduit cannot exit through the opening provided for the lever. Therefore the valve activating system remains dry.