Abstract: A dental matrix retainer in the form of a longitudinally split band having separate band portions for looping about the axially inner or gingival contour of a tooth and about the axially outer or cusp contour of the tooth. The two adjacent band portions have opposed notches in alignment along adjacent edges thereof for cooperating to define a singular aperture through which filling material may protrude into contact with an adjacent tooth, whereby the two band portions can be transversely separated and removed longitudinally from between the teeth after a cavity is filled without disturbing the contact.

Abstract: A kinetic sculpture having a generally tubular motion imparting device rotatably mounted on a base structure. The tubular device includes a substantially open, generally irregular top and is rotated by a motor mounted on the base structure about its major longitudinal axis. An object such as a figure toy or the like is releasably rotatably connected to the tubular device and upstands generally upwardly therefrom. The releasable connection includes a spring biased member which rotates with the tubular device through a predetermined arc of revolution from where it is returned to its initial position by a biasing spring. The biasing spring is mounted on the base in engagement with an offset arm extending generally radially from the rotational axis of the object to constantly urge the object in a direction of rotation opposite the rotation of the drive tube.

Abstract: In a spring or electric motor, or other power means for toys, games or the like, a liquid governor which has gear members disposed for rotation within a closed interior cavity of a housing for the governor. A driven shaft extends from the motor means through the housing into the cavity and is operatively connected to a driven gear disposed within the cavity. An idler gear is disposed in meshed engagement with the driven gear for rotation thereby, and a high viscosity liquid substantially fills the cavity providing resistance to the driving of the gears and thereby a slowing control for the motor.

Abstract: A game apparatus involving the use of numbered cards, a closeable receiving area and an interval timer. The timer is controlled by a propelled ball which moves along the inside of an inverted conical surface disposed beneath the receiving area such that after a random interval of time the ball will fall through an aperture at the bottom of the concave surface thereby triggering a pair of spring loaded shutters which then close the receiving area. Each card has two numbers printed thereon. The first number is the number of the card, the second number indicates the number of the next card to be played. The cards are deposited in the receiving area until the shutters close thereby prohibiting further play.

Abstract: An accessory bridge for use with a model train set, a model car race set, or the like, wherein the vehicles traverse a path of travel defined by a specific track layout. Particularly, the bridge accessory is designed for use with a track layout having a cross-over point where one segment of the track crosses over another segment, such as a "figure 8" configuration layout. The bridge accessory includes a pivotally mounted bridge portion which supports the upper or cross-over track segment at an elevated height above the lower or cross-under track segment. The bridge is movable by a selectively actuatable drive unit between a down position where a vehicle may pass over the bridge and an up position where a vehicle may pass under the bridge.

Abstract: A comprehensive toy camping set which includes a convertible flashlight to lantern combination, a cooking utensil for holding cans of food and preventing the same from spilling, an electrically operated simulated camp fire, a toy hatchet which is convertible into an imprinting member for making markings such as an animal's paw in the ground, a toy knife having a whistle in the handle thereof for producing an animal sound or the like, a toy gun which has a light transmitting scope device for projecting images therefrom, an electrically operated warning device, and a novel camping pack construction. The camping pack has a piston and cylinder air pump for delivering air under pressure to inflate air mattresses or the like. A periscope device also is mounted on the pack for movement between a retracted position substantially within the pack to an upwardly protruding position permitting visual observation therethrough.

Abstract: A sculpturing kit and method for producing dehydrated sculptured forms from hydrated articles, such as apples or other fruits and vegetables. The sculpture kit includes a transparent heating chamber for mounting an article on a base which includes an incandescent heating source mounted therein. A plurality of templates are provided for use by the sculptor to shape an apple, for instance, into a facial or other form prior to the dehydration process within the heating compartment. The kit also includes a heat drip shield which prevents liquid extracted from the article from contacting the light source, as well as a plurality of sculpturing tools.

Abstract: A game device having a game board, the top of which defines a playing area with a plurality of positions on the game board 360.degree. about a ball propelling device rotatably mounted on the game board for continuous and uniform rotation 360.degree. generally centrally of the playing area. Boss type positions are provided on the playing area and are coded for receiving a plurality of identically coded upright target members about the ball propelling device. The ball propelling device is continuously and uniformly rotated during play of the game by a battery operated motor whereby a player may selectively, at any given time, place a ball in the propelling device and have the device immediately project the ball outwardly therefrom over the playing area toward the upstanding target members whereby a player can effectively aim his "shot" of a ball by properly timing the placing of the ball in the propelling device as it is rotated in an attempt to knock over selected ones of said upstanding target members.

Abstract: An exhaust duct for use with a direct evacuation exhaust decontamination system of a blast furnace or steel converter. The exhaust duct includes a main support coolant inlet conduit and a plurality of coolant return conduits arranged in a generally circular pattern to define an exhaust duct having a circular cross section for the evacuation of exhaust gases from a furnace. The inlet conduit and the return cooling conduits are connected to a distribution manifold on one end so that all of the coolant enters the exhaust duct through the main coolant supply conduit and is returned and discharged through the smaller cooling conduits which thereby serve to maintain the exhaust duct at a relatively low temperature to prevent oxidation or destruction of the duct walls by the exhaust gases. The discharged coolant may be directed into the exhaust gases at the end of the exhaust duct for use in a "wet" exhaust cleansing system or collected in a trough or manifold when used with a "dry" exhaust cleansing system.

Abstract: A toy bathtub device for simulation of giving a doll a shower or bubble bath, or the like. The device includes a base tub portion having an upstanding post supporting a showerhead which includes a spray nozzle. A shower curtain is mounted on the post for preventing undue splashing of water from the nozzle and tub. The nozzle is supplied with water through a conduit by a bellows-like pump which operates in combination with a check valve to pump water in a recycling fashion from a tub water reservoir through the conduit and thence from the nozzle. The tub is provided with a drain plug for draining water from the tub into the water reservoir for reuse. The floor of the tub also is provided with an aeration system in the form of a peripheral series of perforations or ports through the tub bottom wall which are interconnected by a manifold. The manifold is supplied with air under pressure from another bellows pump acting against a check valve.

Abstract: A competitive skill-type game including a figure toy horse which is pivotally mounted to a base to simulate bucking or jumping similar to a bucking bronco of a rodeo contest. A figure toy cowboy is provided for removable mounting on a saddle of the horse and includes a pair of pivotally mounted legs for grasping the body of the horse. Two independent selectively actuatable devices are provided, one for each player of the game, one to cause the horse to pivot about its mounting in a bucking manner and one to cause the legs of the cowboy figure toy to engage the sides of the horse. The players compete in an attempt to simulate a rodeo contest where a rider attempts to ride the horse for a predetermined period of time which is calculated by a timer provided on the base. One of the players of the game operates one of the actuation devices to cause the horse to pivot in a bucking manner in an attempt to "throw" the rider from the horse.

Abstract: A game apparatus is provided which includes a generally hollow housing formed in the shape of a miniature shark having a pivotally mounted lower jaw portion. The pivotal lower jaw is mounted upon a horizontal axis and biased toward a closed position by a pair of resilient rubberbands. A plurality of game objects of different shapes and weights are provided to be placed on the lower jaw portion so that the cumulative weight of all of the game objects maintains the lower jaw in an open position. A set of cards determine which one of the playing pieces a player of the game is to retrieve from the lower jaw, and an elongated implement having a hook portion is provided to retrieve the game objects from the lower jaw portion. As the game objects are removed and the weight on the jaw lessened, at one point the lower jaw portion will snap shut under the force of the resilient rubberbands to terminate a round of play.

Abstract: A board game apparatus based on a theme of food item sales, where the object is to become the best sales person determined on the basis of the largest amount of sales. The game generally includes a gameboard having a playing surface thereon, a playing piece for each player of the game, a track defining a playing piece path of travel on the playing surface, and a chance device for determining the advancement of the playing pieces along the track. The board game apparatus includes a set of menu playing cards, each having indicia thereon representative of a plurality of food items, such as hamburgers, fries, or the like, which may be ordered, and a set of food item cards carrying indicia representative of one of the food items on the menu cards which may be used to fill an order as required by one of the menu cards.

Abstract: A sacrificial anode and a protective coating for cathodically protecting a pipeline against corrosion especially in underground installation. The preferred anode includes a tubular shell of sacrificial anodic material electrically contacted by integral or intermediate contacts with the pipe andd having a longitudinal seam for opening and closing the anode to place it around the pipe with corrosion and electrical resistant coating material between the anode and pipe. The outer surface of the anode can have a coating of a salt material suitable for forming an electrolyte with water in the surrounding soil. In a preferred and easily installable form, the anode comprises a pair of shell halves having a coating material secured to the inner surface thereof and extending longitudinally beyond the shell halves to overlap the coating material of pipe sections at a ends of the mill-wrap coating cut-back.

Abstract: A game playable on the theme of checkers or the like. A frame structure has a raised playing surface with a plurality of apertures therein in a predetermined pattern. A plurality of balls, larger in diameter than the apertures and color coded for opposing players, are positionable in some of the apertures. Hammer-like impellers are used by the players to strike the balls from beneath the raised playing surface, through the apertures, to move the balls along the pattern of apertures or jump other balls.

Abstract: A furnace and method of making the same are provided. The furnace has an integral poured refractory concrete combustion chamber wall having embedded therein a tertiary air supply system for supplying air around the burning fuels and air mixtures emitted from the burner. The tertiary air is introduced at positions spaced along the length of the combustion chamber.The combustion chamber wall is produced by positioning manifolds and multiple air supply tubes spaced along the wall length with the tubes directed inwardly toward the flame and around it, but stoppng short of the inner surface of the poured concrete wall. Removable plugs or screws are inserted into the open tube ends and extend the tube ends to the position of the proposed inner surface of the wall.Forms are provided for pouring the refractory concrete to form the wall. The outer form can be a steel plate or sheet or the like of relatively rigid structure.

Abstract: A bottom gating mold system which is particularly adapted for molding relatively flat and generally elongated and/or wide metal objects such as battery plates or grids.

Abstract: An electrically and mechanically operated competitive amusement game, simulating the game of table tennis. The game includes a display screen so arranged that a game can be simulated thereon where two players appear to hit a ball, in the form of a light image, back and forth on the screen. The game includes a serve button for initiating a serve at the beginning of the game. The players continue to "volley" the simulated ball back and forth by timely actuation of two "volleying" buttons until a miss is detected. When a miss is detected, the ball comes to rest and a new serve is initiated to start the process again.

Abstract: A competitive game apparatus of the type resembling a table tennis game including a table having opposed playing areas divided by a transverse barrier or "net". The opposed playing areas slope downwardly from the barrier to define a crown below the barrier. A pair of hand manipulatable projecting devices are provided, one for each player of the game, for receiving a substantially hard ball rolling along the playing area and projecting the ball back across the barrier. The playing areas are resiliently supported to dampen the bouncing effect of the ball so that it lands on the playing surface and rolls toward the player down the playing area. Each projecting device is electrically operated and includes a rotatable roller having a resiliently flexible periphery for engaging the ball and directing it through a chute for return to the opposite playing area.

Abstract: A game apparatus including two sets of playing cards and a timing device. One of the sets of cards each includes indicia on one side thereof representative of an activity. The second set of playing cards each includes indicia which is identical to a portion of the indicia on one of the playing cards of the first set so that during the play of the game a card from the second set can be matched with a card from the first set by matching the identical indicia portions. The timing device includes an internal motor and governor which rotates a pointer on an elapsed time dial which times the period in which a player is attempting to make a matched pair of cards. The timer includes two manually actuatable levers which control the direction of rotation of the pointer. The pointer begins at a zero or reference position and rotates in one direction while the first player attempts to make a match.