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: An improved switching system for controlling a radar control unit includes a radar hold switch and lock release switch on a remote control. Depression of the hold switch places the radar in a hold or standby mode. Upon depression and holding of the lock switch tracking of the target vehicle occurs. Upon release of the lock switch the displayed vehicle speed will be locked on the lock window of the radar with the radar unit being placed in a standby mode. A subsequent depression and release of the lock/release switch clears the locked target speed and maintains the unit in a standby mode. Underlying logic utilized by the signal processor analyzes signals corresponding to the positions of the hold and lock switches so as to direct the radar into the appropriate mode.

Abstract: A drinking cup system comprises a holder for releasably engaging a drinking cup therein. The holder presents a base formed by a plurality of horizontal ribs extending from a hub, each rib having a depending offset at the end thereof. A plurality of ribs vertically extend from each offset to form a holder sidewall. The cup includes a depending flange adapted to be releasably received within the channel and supported by at least the channel and the plurality of horizontal ribs. Alternatively, a conventional cup can be supported with the holder atop the horizontal ribs. The cup includes a releasably engageable lid.

Abstract: A track circuit with diagnostic capability differentiates between an occupied track circuit and one in which a conductor of the track circuit (one of the rails) is broken. Transceiver units are provided at the respective ends of the track circuit and operate alternately in transmit and receive modes. The applied voltage and current are measured at the transmitting unit, and the received voltage and current are sensed and measured at the receiving unit. From these measurements made successively as the units alternately transmit and receive, each unit can determine whether the track is available or unavailable and, if unavailable, whether the track has a broken rail. A microprocessor in each unit distinguishes a broken rail from an occupied track when an increase in the applied transmitting voltage at the unit occurs simultaneously with a decrease in each of the other voltage and current measurements.

Abstract: A storage rack for a wheelbarrow includes a lower hook attached to a wall, the hook being configured to receive a portion of a forward lip of the wheelbarrow pan therein. A bar assembly is mounted above the hook and includes a U-shaped bar swingable between a first position with the bar adjacent the wall and a second position displaced from the wall. Upon the user rolling the wheelbarrow to the wall, the forward lip of the wheelbarrow pan is placed in the hook. Upon swinging the handles toward the wall the hook presents a pivot point for the wheelbarrow and supports the weight of the wheelbarrow. Upon the handles being placed adjacent the wall the bar is swung to its second position such that it bears against the handles. The bar precludes the handles from swinging away from the wall so as to maintain the wheelbarrow in a vertical position, the weight of the wheelbarrow being borne by the lower hook.

Abstract: A lift assembly for a toilet seat includes an arcuate housing mounted to the underside of the toilet seat. First and second socket arms are received within the housing and present a socket at the ends thereof, the sockets positioned at the sides of the seat proper. The sockets releasably engage hubs extending from each handle, the handles being rotated between a depending position and second functional position for raising or lowering the seat. Flanges on the handle hub are releasably engageable with grooves and a slot within the socket so as to provide for positioning of the handle.

Abstract: A walk board system comprises at least first and second platform assemblies, each assembly having first and second pairs of support legs pivotally connected to the platform. At least one of said pairs of legs presents a staircase for user entry onto the platform. The legs are selectably extensible to vary the height of the platform above the underlying ground surface. The legs are pivotable to a position within the confines of the platform so as to allow for easy transport of the platform assembly between work sites. About the perimeter of each platform are a plurality of slots designed to engage a depending flange of a fastener member therein. Upon placement of the platforms in a side-by-side relationship and alignment of selected slots therebetween, insertion of a fastener within the aligned slots will maintain the platforms in selectable adjacent relationships.

Abstract: A radiator cap for closing the filler neck of a vehicle cooling system includes a numerical display assembly embedded in the top surface of the cap. A temperature probe extends from the bottom surface of the cap and is connected to the display assembly, the assembly being powered by a solar cell battery in the cap. Upon securing the cap to the filler neck the temperature probe senses the temperature of the associated cooling system, this information being delivered to the display assembly for conversion into numerical form. The cap enables a user to ascertain the cooling system temperature at the filler neck site.

Abstract: A mold especially adapted for forming precast, waffle-shaped concrete panels employs a one-piece mold body of flexible plastic sheet material to which rigid side rails are secured by tongue and groove longitudinal joints. The mold may be rapidly stripped and reset due to a hinge action provided by partial sides of the flexible body to which the rigid side rails are joined. The side rails and other structural features provide a simple mold structure that may be readily and efficiently employed for on-site production of panels. The configuration of the side rails and associated joints facilitates the replacement of a wornout mold body.

Abstract: A holder for a propane gas torch or the like and an item to be heated by the torch comprises a generally horseshoe-shaped base presenting first and second legs having first and second free ends in a normal contiguous relationship therebetween. The base is of a resilient material allowing for the free ends of the base to be spaced apart to place the item to be heated therebetween. Upon return of the free ends of the legs to the normal relationship the item is clamped by the base. A cradle assembly is mounted to the base in swingable and longitudinal movement relative thereto. Upon placement of the propane gas torch within the cradle, cradle movement is transferred to the propane gas torch. The cylinder further allows for a rotation of the torch about is own central longitudinal axis. The cradle enables the user to position the torch discharge head onto a desired portion of the item to be heated. In turn, the hands of the user are freed for other purposes.

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 an interior vertical strut and a longer exterior strut with interior and exterior pairs of horizontal struts extending therebetween. Upper and lower rectangular trusses and an intermediate truss are formed within each truss and rigidified by diagonal struts extending between the ends of the exterior vertical strut and interior vertical strut. The exterior struts of each end truss are coplanar with the exterior sidewall surface with the interior strut of each end truss being coplanar with the interior sidewall surface. The coplanar relationship of the struts serve as a visual gauge that the form with tie has been properly manufactured and assures that the end trusses extend throughout the width of each sidewall. 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 programmable control unit for protecting an appliance connected to a household power source comprises a modular unit plugged into a household power socket. The modular unit presents a socket for plugging a household appliance therein. An internal microprocessor has program logic for analyzing the period of current flow to the household appliance and/or the power consumed thereby. Once the time period of operation and/or rate of energy consumption exceeds preselected values, the program logic of the microprocessor opens a relay so as to cease current flow to the appliance. The maximum threshold values of time and/or energy can be varied by the user according to the utilized appliance. The use of the intermediate unit enables a plurality of appliances to be safely coupled to the household power.

Abstract: An improved air bag system comprises a supplemental switch structure incorporated into the user's seat for delivering a current to the conventional air bag system irrespective of seat belt engagement. The structure includes an arcuate flexible band coupled to a horizontal band, the latter engaging a spring biased button of a switch. The switch is incorporated into the seat belt circuitry such that a current flows therethrough upon switch closure irrespective of seat belt engagement. The current flow to the air bag system places the air bag system in a ready mode so as to cause air bag inflation upon a sufficient impact of the vehicle bumper with another object.