Abstract: An air-cushion insole for a shoe provided by an envelope having a sole portion with a sole compartment, and a heel portion with a heel compartment separate from the sole compartment. A first valve operatively interconnects the sole compartment with ambience. A second valve operatively interconnects the sole and heel compartments. The heel portion includes a first port operatively interconnecting the heel compartment with ambience. Elements that are compressible and expandable under pressure are located in the sole and heel compartments. An air passage operatively interconnects the second valve with a second port formed in the sole compartment. Upon compression of the sole compartment and its compressible element, air is exhausted from the sole compartment through the second port and into the air passage, and then through the second valve into the heel compartment.

Abstract: The stabilizer comprises an elongate support tube having a split extending generally lengthwise responsive to peripheral compression of the tube to cause contraction of cross-sectional dimension and cause frictional engagement with the surface of a bore in an earth structure for anchoring the tube within the bore. A sleeve located about and fixed to the driven end of the tube provides an impact surface for accepting insertion forces for driving the tube into the bore. A support plate having a hole with cross-sectional dimensions smaller than the cross-sectional dimensions of the bore is positioned relative to the earth structure with the hole substantially aligned with the opening of the bore. The plate hole compresses the tube upon insertion of the tube into the bore through the plate hole, the tube expanding after passage through the plate hole to frictionally engage the surface of the bore in spaced relation to the bore opening.

Abstract: This exercise bicycle includes a frame having a front fork portion supporting a pair of handlebars and mounting a rotatable wheel; a rear ground-engaging support portion, and an intermediate portion supporting the seat and mounting a pedal sprocket. A coin-operated drive resistance assembly is mounted to the rear of the frame, the assembly including a shaft having a sprocket connected thereto by a torque limiter device which sprocket is drivenly connected to the pedal sprocket and the front wheel; a disc brake on the shaft and a hand control for setting the brake for predetermining the resistance of the shaft to rotation; a lock for the shaft including a member rotatable with the shaft, and a coin-operated timer switch for actuating a solenoid to deactivate the lock for unlocking the shaft, the unlocked period being determined by the timer.

Abstract: A coin-handling assembly including a coin escrow station for receiving coins of one denomination, and an escrow-actuator selectively retaining the coins in the escrow station, and selectively releasing the coins individually from the escrow station. The escrow actuator includes first and second fingers selectively movable into and out of the path of the coins in the escrow station, and an actuator selectively moving the first finger into engagement with a lowermost coin, and the second finger out of engagement with the coins for holding the coins in the escrow station. The actuator selectively moves the first finger out of engagement with the lowermost coin for releasing the lowermost coin for delivery to the coin-diverter, and selectively moves the second finger into engagement with a next adjacent coin for holding the remaining coins in the escrow station while the first finger releases the lowermost coin.

Abstract: An electric immersion heater for use in conjunction with tanks made by different manufacturers. The tanks are typically cylindrical and include an annular mounting flange at the upper open end provided with a specific arrangement of mounting apertures receiving fasteners connecting the heater mounting flange to the tank. Tank mounting flanges of different manufacturers use different number of fasteners and this presents a problem in that, unless an adaptor of some kind is used, an immersion heater must be provided with a special flange with mounting apertures matching the tank apertures for the fasteners.The immersion heater is provided with a mounting flange having an arrangement of mounting apertures which permits the heater to be used with tanks with mounting flanges having different mounting aperture arrangements without the necessity of adaptors or special flange arrangements.

Abstract: This rescue tool includes a body, providing a cylinder and a piston extending outwardly of the cylinder, and a pair of jaw members pivotally connected to the body by link members and the piston. The jaw members include cooperating outer prying portions, inner cutting portions and intermediate shearing portions. The cutting and shearing portions include arcuate edges defining overlapping points and the prying portions are thickened to facilitate wedge action. The tool can be powered by a bi-directional motor, reservoir and battery system or can be powered directly from a wrecker motor vehicle system.

Abstract: A coin payout assembly in which a plurality of actuating arms are operatively connected to a plurality of coin-handling members that are movable to a first position for receiving a coin and to a second position for discharging the coin, and in which a drive mechanism is selectively connected to any one of a plurality of actuating arms by a coin-selecting mechanism for moving the selected actuating arm and its associated coin-handling member. A plurality of guide slots each receive the guide pin of one of the actuating arms. The drive mechanism includes a drive link selectively alignable with any one of the actuating arms by the coin-selecting mechanism whereby the drive link is moved into engagement with the selected actuating arm for moving the associated coin-handling member.

Abstract: This lamp standard assembly includes a lamp standard having an upper lamp housing and ground connected post, and a lamp assembly mounted within the lamp standard. The lamp standard includes a lower access opening for receiving the lamp assembly and an interior electrical supply. The lamp assembly includes a lamp-carrying head and a conductor-carrying semi-flexible stem, and the head and the stem are pivotally connected to provide an articulated relationship between the head and the stem so that the stem can be used to push the head up the interior of the post and position the lamp within the lamp housing.

Abstract: A solar heated grain drying system including a grain bin with a perforated floor and a solar collector for supplying heated air to the bin. The solar collector includes a plurality of elongate collector pipes, such as irrigation pipes, disposed in spaced side-by-side relation and a manifold connected between the pipes and the bin. Each pipe includes an inlet end receiving air from ambience and an outlet end connected to the intake portion of the manifold. A manifold intermediate portion connects the intake portion of the manifold to an exhaust portion. A duct connects the manifold exhaust portion to the grain bin and a fan is used for transferring air from the manifold exhaust portion through the duct and the perforated floor and through the grain. The manifold intermediate portion includes converging side walls to provide air flow through the manifold in a direction having a component in the same direction as the flow of air through the pipes.

Abstract: A steam injection apparatus for an internal combustion engine having an exhaust system, a carburetor and an engine vacuum line, the apparatus including a reservoir of liquid water, a conduit communicating with the reservoir and a heater coil of metallic tubing. The heater coil has an inlet which communicates with the conduit and an outlet which communicates with the vacuum line. The coil is placed in heat-receiving relation to the engine exhaust system for heating water in the coil. The coil has a cross-section that is insufficient to allow complete vaporization of the water in the coil, and the water is substantially vaporized within the vacuum line for introduction into the engine in a vaporized state. An air inlet is connected to the conduit at a tee fitting for mixing air with water from the reservoir for regulating flow to the heater coil. A threaded member is placed within resilient tubing, and provides an air passage through its threads and restricts air flow through the tubing.

Abstract: A two wheel roller skate including a shoe having a sole, a front wheel carried on a front axle and a rear wheel carried on a rear axle. The skate includes a pair of axle forks each of the axle forks having opposed side portions which receive the axle, and a transverse portion which interconnects the side portion at one end of the axle forks. Each axle fork side portion includes a generally inclined portion engageable with the shoe sole and a generally horizontal portion connected to the transverse portion. The sole includes opposed side slots which receive the unconnected ends of the side portions and a fastener attaches the transverse portion of the axle forks to the sole, the axle fork side portions and the transverse portion fastener providing a three-point connected to the roller skate. The axle forks can be readily connected and disconnected from the shoe sole for replacement of the wheels with wheels having a rounded bearing surface.

Abstract: A battery booster cable assembly includes a pair of booster wires. Each booster wire has first and second ends with a first pair of battery clamps attached to the first ends of the booster wires and the second pair of battery clamps attached to the second end of the booster wires. A switch selectively electrically interconnects the first and second ends of one of the booster wires. A voltage detector is responsive to voltage across the switch for determining if the voltage is greater or less than a predetermined value. A red LED indicates when the detected voltage is greater than the predetermined value, while a green LED indicates when the detected voltage is less than the predetermined value. A solenoid-actuated plunger selectively precludes actuation of the switch when the detected voltage is greater than the predetermined value. The switch and the red and green LED's are carried by a housing which includes two portions selectively slidable between first and second positions.

Abstract: A work control apparatus in a bicycle exerciser having a driven member rotatively mounted on an exerciser frame. The work control apparatus includes a rotatively mounted knob connected to a brake for the driven member for selectively determining the braking pressure exerted on the driven member. The brake includes a lever pivotally attached to the exerciser frame and having a brake roller at one end engaging the exerciser driven member and the knob is adjustably connected to the other end of the brake lever and is rotatable to exert a predetermined braking pressure between the roller and driven member. The knob is drivingly connected to a rotatively mounted indicator wheel for rotating the wheel an angular distance less than the corresponding angular distance of the knob upon rotation of the knob incident to adjusting the braking pressure.

Abstract: A refrigeration control system for modulating an electrically-operated expansion valve in which a modulating, electrically-operated expansion valve is connected to the evaporator inlet, and first and second condition-responsive electrical sensors are positioned to respond to conditions at selected location in the system. An electrical amplifier circuit connects the condition-responsive electrical sensors to the valve for regulating the opening and closing of the valve in response to differences in the conditions sensed by the sensors. Refrigerant is fed to at least one of the sensors so as to cause modulation of the expansion valve. More particularly, the condition-responsive sensors are temperature-responsive, the first sensor being positioned to respond to the temperature of the liquid refrigerant expanded to suction pressure, and the second sensor being positioned to respond to suction line sensible temperature.

Abstract: This foot protector includes a front portion providing protection for the toes and instep of the wearer and a rear portion protecting the ankles and heel, the protector being open at the bottom. The rear portion of the protector includes heel side margins extending downwardly from the top of the protector and terminating upwardly of the bottom to define separable side flap portions and a connecting lower portion for the rear side portions. The heel side margins include arcuate interconnected lower portions and an integrally formed reinforcing pad extends transversely of said side margins. A connector element releasably connects the separable side flap portions.

Abstract: A caster socket assembly for attachment of a caster to a furniture leg having an opening. The assembly includes a plastic housing having a cylindrical socket provided with an annular groove, the housing being insertable in the opening of the furniture leg. A caster includes a cylindrical pintle having an annular groove which is insertable in the socket. A split C-ring is attached to the caster at the pintle groove and is selectively engageable with the housing at the socket groove to retain the pintle in the housing. The C-ring has an expanded outside diameter greater than the pintle, and is resiliently compressible for sliding the pintle into and out of the housing socket and is resiliently expandable within the housing socket groove to retain the pintle within the housing socket in a mounted position.

Abstract: A roof support pin for insertion into a roof bore having an opening comprising an elongate tube for insertion into the bore, the tube being compressed prior to insertion of the tube into the bore opening so that the tube expands to frictionally engage the bore a distance from the bore opening. In one embodiment, a roof support plate has a hole with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the bore. The plate hole compresses the diameter of the tube upon insertion of the tube into the bore through the plate hole. In another aspect, a plurality of rings longitudinally spaced axially on and retain the tube compressed prior to insertion of the tube through the plate hole into the bore. The rings slidably engage the tube for retention at the plate for allowing the tube to expand within the bore. In yet another embodiment, a spiral strip wraps and retains the tube compressed prior to insertion into the bore. The spiral strip is stripped from the tube as the tube is inserted through the plate hole.

Abstract: A lacing assembly for a shoe, and particularly an athletic shoe, in which the side quarters include separate lower and upper vamp sections that are secured by a single lace extending therebetween. A clamp connects the lace at the lower vamp section, while the lace is secured separately at the upper vamp section, for selectively adjusting and maintaining the fit of each vamp section independently of the other vamp section. The clamp is carried by the lace between the lower and upper vamp sections. More particularly, the clamp is slidably mounted on the lace for selectively moving down or up on the lace upon adjusting the fit of the lower vamp section, the clamp selectively fixing the lace to maintain the desired adjusted fit of the lower vamp section.