Abstract: A power option is provided for a manually-operated material lift that employs a telescoping mast system which is extended or retracted by a winch. A reversible electric motor is connected to the winch via two-way reduction gearing that remains in the drive train during manual operation and requires no clutches or disconnect means. The power option is initiated by selecting the position of a reversing switch that controls the motor, and closing an on/off switch which energizes the motor for rotation in the selected direction. When the on/off switch is open, the lift may be manually operated in the conventional manner.

Abstract: A form tie for joining the sidewalls of a polymeric concrete form comprises a pair of end trusses with an intermediate web truss. Each end truss comprises a pair of vertical struts with interior and exterior pairs of horizontal struts extending therebetween. The width of the web truss corresponds to the desired lateral distance between the interior surfaces of the form sidewalls. Upper and lower rectangular trusses and an intermediate truss are formed within each truss and rigidified by diagonal struts. The exterior struts of each end truss are embedded in the polymeric form of the sidewalls during the molding process with the interior struts of each end truss sealing the mold openings to prevent expansion of the foam from the mold. The interior struts are coplanar with the form sidewalls and serve as a visual gauge that the form and tie have been properly positioned. End ties having a height of one-half of the form sidewall are extended between the sidewalls at the ends of each form.

Abstract: A method for engraving an image pattern onto an impression die plate utilizes laser engraving and acid attacking techniques. In one embodiment, a brass plate is provided having a nickel coating thereon. A laser removes selected portions of the nickel coating according to a preselected image pattern so as to expose the underlying portions of the brass plate. Upon immersion of the plate into an acid bath, the acid attacks the exposed plate portions so as to present depressions in the plate. Upon removal of the plate from the bath a series of depressions and remaining coating portions on the plate present undulations thereon corresponding to the desired pattern image. This image is then impressed onto a medium, e.g. as a foil or the like. Various materials may be used for the plate, coating and acid bath. An electrically charged chrome coating may also be used with a non-electrically charged chrome being the acid bath.

Abstract: A sports shoe with replaceable and retractable spikes. The shoe has a sole, comprising a plurality of spikes releasably and retractably mounted in the sole, a rack and pinion member mounted in the sole and in engagement with the spikes for extending and retracting the spikes from the sole and a release member for removing the spikes from the sole. The rack and pinion member includes a rack member with a rack gear which engages a pinion member at one end of each spike. The rack gear moves linearly and imparts rotational movement to the pinion members to extend and retract each spike from the sole. The rack member further includes an actuation tab extending exterior of the sole for easy movement of the rack. The release member includes a plurality of threaded members extending into the sole and a disengaging member at the rack member, which prevents extension and retraction of the spikes so that they are removable through the threaded members.

Abstract: An illuminated lighting fixture having a central housing for a powered light source with fiber optic cables in communication with the housing. The light source emits light within the housing for direction to the fiber optic cables in communication therewith. The fiber optic cables, upon extension from the housing, define selectable illuminated configurations, the now preferred overall configuration being a butterfly with the housing presenting the body of the butterfly and the fiber optic cables tracing the illuminated butterfly wings or portions thereof.

Abstract: A walkway system for roof, truss or elevated workers or the like is attached to a structure, e.g. a building wall of an unfinished building. The system utilizes first and second longitudinally spaced-apart support assemblies for releasable attachment to a top of a building wall. Each assembly presents a depending support bar extending along an exterior surface of a building wall. A horizontal support brace is attached to each depending support bar at selectable positions therealong, the horizontal support brace providing support for overlying boards of a walkway. Attached to the free end of the horizontal support brace is a vertical post having a plurality of vertically spaced-apart brackets thereon for receiving a portion of a plurality of vertically spaced-apart hand rails therein. A series of hook-like brackets are releasably placed along the rails for positioning a reinforcing strut adjacent each hand rail.

Abstract: A smoke/heat detector in the form of a Christmas tree ornament utilizes a spherical ornament housing divided by a fire-resistant barrier into lower and upper chambers. A transmitter circuit is mounted atop the barrier and transmits signals to a remote receiver upon detection of entry of smoke or heat into the lower chamber by means of sensors therein. Upon receipt of the transmitted signals by a remote receiver, an energized alarm circuit sounds an alarm indicative of the smoke or fire presence. Both circuits include SCR components and internal power sources so that the circuits, once initially energized, will continue to transmit signals and/or sound the alarm after initial start up.

Abstract: A filter system for an HVAC system includes a rectangular frame with a central opening. A conventional filter spans the central opening for interaction with the incoming forced air. A grid spans the filter on the incoming air side thereof, the grid presenting a plurality of horizontal and vertical spaced-apart strands having aromatic particles impregnated therein. Upon contact of the incoming forced air with the grid, the aromatic particles are transferred to the incoming air so as to scent the conditioned air. The period of material transfer of the scent particles to the incoming forced air preferably corresponds with the useful filter life, such that a cessation of delivery of the scented air is indicative to the user that the filter proper needs to be changed.

Abstract: A security device for attachment to a child by a support, such as a wristband, having a housing mounted thereon. The housing includes a first chamber and a second chamber sealed from one another until the device is armed. The first chamber stores an inert pressurized gas, such as carbon dioxide, and the second chamber stores a harmless, sprayable powder. An arming member is mounted substantially adjacent the first chamber for unsealing the first chamber to allow the gas to travel through the passageway into the second chamber. An activation member is attached to the housing for spraying the mixed powder and gas therefrom. Preferably, the device includes a clock having an exterior time display mounted to the housing.

Abstract: A tool for producing a loop in a straight wire includes a base having a vertical wall extending therefrom. A shaft extends from the wall and has a crank rotatably mounted thereto. Indicia on the wall measure the degrees of a circle about the shaft. A linear groove radially extends from the shaft and to the 12 o'clock position. Upon placement of a first portion of a straight wire in the linear groove, the remaining second wire portion extends out of the linear groove and towards the six o'clock position. The length of this extension is measured by indicia on the wall. Upon placement of a crank on the shaft a post on the shank seats into a circular groove about the shaft. Rotation of the crank about the shaft causes the post to contact the second wire portion and bend the wire about the shaft to form a loop. Indicia in the form of the degrees of the circle enable the user to measure the degree of crank rotation so that consistent wire loops may be subsequently formed.

Abstract: A doll having body features and garb indicative of a selected food product. A storage compartment, e.g., as a pouch, is incorporated into the doll's clothing so as to contain a booklet containing nutritional information about the food product. The booklet is in the form of the food product and may contain either printed information about the food product or prerecorded information on a speech module assembly which is attached to the booklet. A tether is attached at one end to the doll and extends into the pouch with the booklet releasably attached to a second end of the tether. The tether allows the booklet to be positioned within the pouch and displaced therefrom without separation of the booklet from the doll.

Abstract: A bracelet for identifying to third parties that important legal and/or health care information of the wearer is stored therein. The bracelet includes a bracelet chain having first and second layers of link-like elements connected to a front panel, the front panel having a configuration and/or indicia thereon indicative of the type of information stored therein. The housing within the panel receives a storage medium, e.g. a computer chip, having the information recorded thereon in a machine-readable form. A releasable cover closes said housing. The housing is preferably made of a non-permeable material so as to preclude the passage of magnetic flux therein and deleteriously modify the encoded information on the storage medium.

Abstract: A propulsion system for converting rotary motion of a pair of weighted rotor arms into linear motion includes a support frame with a drive unit mounted thereto. The drive unit includes a rotatable shaft with a pair of rotor arms pivotally mounted thereto. Upon rotation of the shaft the rotor arms rotate about the shaft. A cone surrounds the rotor arms so as to present a course for rolling movement of the weight elements on said rotor arms. The cone is mounted to a platform which is pivotally mounted to said support frame. Upon movement of said platform and associated cone from a horizontal position the interior surface of the cone presents an asymmetrical course for the weight elements about said shaft. Upon rotation of the shaft the travel of the opposed weight elements through said asymmetrical course produces a resultant linear force on the cone which is transferred to the object attached to the support frame.

Abstract: A biodegradable target for use in skeet/trap shooting environment comprises a cellulose wood flour of at least fifty percent (50%) of the weight of the target which is combined with water so as to form a malleable mass. Added to the mass are selected items, preferably one and one-half to five percent by weight, such as a surfactant, to facilitate the mixture of the wood flour and other elements, an organic binder to hold the elements together and a release agent to allow for release of the formed target from the mold after heating. Control agents to either hasten or retard the drying of the mixture after the heating step can be used. A brittle agent is added to the malleable mass so that the target will break apart upon impact with gun shot or the ground. A moisture repellant coating can be in the form of a resin-like shell which covers the outside of the target with slight penetration thereon.

Abstract: A flossing tool includes a handle, a neck and a head at the distal end of the neck. A spool of floss is placed in a compartment within the handle with the free end of the floss being extended from the compartment and over a series of ridges traversing the neck. The floss is wound about four lobes on the head so as to present first and second laterally spaced-apart stretches of floss. The free end of the floss is then wound about a pin on the neck so as to place initial tension on the wound floss. A locking device engages the ridges on the neck so as to clamp the dental floss to the neck and place additional tension on the wound floss. Accordingly, first and second opposed stretches of tensioned floss are available to clean the upper and lower teethlines. A cutter blade on the neck allows the user to sever the end of the floss upon use. The angles between the handles, neck and floss head are selected so as to assist the user in flossing.

Abstract: A travel hanger including a hanger support member adapted for hanging a garment therefrom, including a central hook member and a first and second supporting arm. The arms extend oppositely outwardly from the hook member and are adapted to suspend a garment therefrom. A first sheet is securely attached to the hanger's support across its arms and extends from the arms opposite the hook member. The sheet is intermediate first and second fabric layers of the garment upon the garment being suspended from the arms. A second sheet is removably attached to the hanger support at its hook member, and the sheet extends therefrom adjacent the first sheet with at least one of the fabric layers of the garment therebetween.

Abstract: A hatch cover system for a railroad car employs a longitudinally extending series or end-to-end main hatch covers wherein each adjacent pair of covers has proximate, concave ends defining a circular port that permits access to the interior of the car when the covers are in their closed positions. A relatively small, circular cover is provided for each port and, in its closed and locked position over the associated port, also serves as a batten to hold the adjacent main covers closed. For operations not requiring that the entire hatch be open, the ports provide easy access to the interior of the car without the need to raise the heavy main covers and swing them to their open positions. The number of hinges required by the cover system is significantly reduced by the use of a special hinge device adjacent each port that serves as a mount for the associated port cover and both or the adjacent main covers.