Abstract: A pre-assembled drainage line unit includes a flexible longitudinally extending perforated sleeve member and a loose aggregation of lightweight elements contained within the sleeve member. A pliable, water permeable barrier material extends along the sleeve member and overlies at least a portion of the aggregation to prevent the passage of solid materials, such as sand and dirt, into the aggregation.

Abstract: A drainage system for delivering fluid from a source of fluid for absorption into the ground, comprises a trench, a pair of perforated drainage conduits extending longitudinally in said trench and laterally spaced from each other to define an open chamber therebetween. The conduits are connected at one end to the source for receiving fluid from the source and delivering fluid to the chamber. A longitudinally extending cover overlies said conduits and prevents soil from falling into the chamber. The cover includes side portions which engage the conduits and a center portion connected to the side portions and maintains the conduits in laterally spaced relationship. The cover also includes reinforcing arches extending between the side portions and the center portion to resist downward deflection of the cover under the weight of the top soil. Vent holes in the cover permit the system to breathe.

Abstract: A foldable, lightweight adjustable splint comprises a plurality of segments, with each segment having first and second ends and front and rear faces. Each segment has cooperating retaining structure at the first and second ends which permit the first end of one segment to be connected to the second end of an adjacent segment so that an endless number of segments may be connected together and folded into side-by-side relationship with respect to each other. Cooperating locking elements at the first and second ends permit the first end of one segment to be angularly adjusted with respect to the second end of an adjacent segment and then locked in a desired adjusted position. A plurality of straps fasten the segments to a part of a body.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing a drainage line unit. The apparatus includes a mandrel having an inner cavity. Rear, upper and front openings communicate with the mandrel cavity. Preferably, a controller connected to at least one sensor is operably positioned to control the apparatus. A pipe feeder feeds perforated vent pipe through the inner cavity of the mandrel from the rear opening to the front opening and therethrough. The pipe is positioned within the inner tube cavity so as to define a void space between the pipe and the wall of the mandrel. A hopper assembly has an exit port positioned for feeding a plurality of plastic bodies into the cavity. A blower produces a sufficient air flow through the mandrel cavity for moving the plurality of plastic bodies to substantially fill the void space so that the pipe emerges from the front opening of the mandrel surrounded by the plurality of plastic bodies.

Abstract: A loose fill lightweight plastic aggregate for a preassembled drainage line unit. The bead comprises a central portion, at least three legs extending from each of the top and bottom of said central portion, a plurality of channels each defined by adjacent ones of said legs, the width of said legs being greater than the width of said channels. A rib protrides laterally from each of the sides of the central portion. In the drainage unit, the beads maintain a substantial void space for flow of waste water and also provide maximum surface area for bacterial breakdown of sewage wastes.

Abstract: A poultry rearing barn having its floor covered by bedding including a plurality of lightweight expanded polystyrene chips. After use, the dirty chips may be cleaned to remove waste manure and the cleaned chips may be reused again as bedding. Alternatively, the dirty chips and waste manure may be burned to generate electricity.

Abstract: Apparatus for pressing the sleeves of a shirt comprises a pair of laterally spaced upright bucks over which the sleeves may be placed and pneumatically operated clamps mounted on the upper end of each of the bucks for holding the cuffs of the sleeves during a pressing operation. Each clamp includes a head or block having a vertical clamping surface, a pneumatic cylinder mounted within the block having its piston rod extending generally perpendicularly outwardly through the surface, and a T-clamp connected to the rod for movement toward and away from the surface upon actuation of the cylinder. A pneumatic control circuit controls operation of the cylinders. A hold down device located between the bucks applies tension to the sleeves of a shirt during a pressing operation.

Abstract: A rotary blow molding machine comprising a rotatable wheel, a plurality of mold assemblies mounted on the wheel in circumferentially spaced apart relation, each of said mold assemblies being openable to expose a finished workpiece as the mold assembly moves through a workpiece discharge station. A take-out assembly removes a finished workpiece from a mold assembly as the mold assembly moves through said discharge station, the take-out assembly including a first transfer mechanism mounted adjacent said discharge station and including a first pick-up unit for grasping a finished workpiece and moving it in a substantially linear direction upwardly away from said wheel to a transfer station. A second rotary transfer mechanism is mounted at the transfer station for receiving a workpiece from the first pick-up unit and moving the workpiece to an exit station as the first pick-up unit returns to the discharge station to pick up another finished workpiece from the wheel.

Abstract: An enclosure for a standard toilet which is quickly and easily placed around the toilet. The enclosure includes a built-in ventilation system for exhausting foul air from the toilet bowl without necessitating any structural modification of the standard toilet.

Abstract: An impact attenuating barrier well extending longitudinally along a roadway and adapted to intercept an errant vehicle leaving the roadway and redirect the vehicle back onto the roadway. The wall comprises a fixed obstacle such as a concrete wall or a standard W-beam guardrail extending along the roadway. A plurality of first resilient energy absorbing HMW/HD polyethylene cylinders are arranged in side-by-side relationship between the obstacle and the roadway, the inner halves of adjacent cylinders defining gaps therebetween. A plurality of second resilient energy absorbing HMW/HD cylinders having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the first cylinders are located within the gaps to prevent snagging of an errant vehicle upon impact.

Abstract: A guardrail post block made from recycled plastic waste material. The block is of generally rectangular construction whose side faces have large radiused channels formed therealong and large transverse voids extending through the center of the block between the channels. The channels and voids substantially reduce the weight of the block while maintaining required strength.

Abstract: A septic tank effluent filter includes a housing positioned external to and downstream a septic tank for receiving the effluent prior to it being released into a drainfield positioned downstream the housing. The housing includes an inlet port and an offset outlet ports on an opposing wall for connection between the septic tank and drainfield. A cylindrical container is carried within the housing and is connected directly to the outlet port for having the effluent flow from within the housing through the uniformly perforated cylindrical wall of the container to outlet port. A circular base plate of the container provides a baffle and prevents the undesirable direct streaming of the effluent from the inlet port to the outlet port. A plastic mesh bag is filled with polystyrene plastic beads having a large surface to volume ratio, thus a large surface area within a desirable space.

Abstract: A collision avoidance system mountable on an aircraft for providing to the pilot of that aircraft an early warning of the presence of another nearby threat aircraft within the surrounding air space. The system operates autonomously from that aircraft and does not require the presence of any matched system on board the threat aircraft. The system includes an omni-directional L-band microwave antenna formed by a dielectric sphere cut into eight equal “orange wedge” sectors covering eight distinct beam patterns. Eight L-band microwave signals are transmitted simultaneously from all eight dielectric sectors to provide a sphere of detection around the aircraft. The sectors also act as receivers for detecting a microwave signal reflected back from the threat aircraft, and indicating means provides information to the pilot regarding the direction, closeness and rate of closure of the threat aircraft.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing a drainage line unit. The apparatus includes a mandrel having an inner cavity. Rear, upper and front openings communicate with the mandrel cavity. Preferably, a controller connected to at least one sensor is operably positioned to control the apparatus. A pipe feeder feeds perforated vent pipe through the inner cavity of the mandrel from the rear opening to the front opening and therethrough. The pipe is positioned within the inner tube cavity so as to define a void space between the pipe and the wall of the mandrel. A hopper assembly has an exit port positioned for feeding a plurality of plastic bodies into the cavity. A blower produces a sufficient air flow through the mandrel cavity for moving the plurality of plastic bodies to substantially fill the void space so that the pipe emerges from the front opening of the mandrel surrounded by the plurality of plastic bodies.

Abstract: A combined worm/spur gear reducer drive assembly for rotating an upper support plate, for example, the boom plate of an aerial lift truck with respect to a stationary lower support, for example, the bed of the truck. The drive assembly includes a one-piece member forming a housing section containing the primary and secondary gear sets and a securing ring mounted between the inner race of a turntable bearing and fixed to one of the upper or lower plates, the outer race of the bearing being secured to the other plate. Spur gear teeth are provided on the external surface of the outer race and the secondary set includes a spur pinion engaging the gear teeth. The one-piece casting and the gear sets housed therein are mounted in the space between the boom plate and the bed plate.

Abstract: A flashlight particularly useful by safety personnel such as a firefighter and capable of operation with rechargeable battery means or non-rechargeable battery means. The flashlight includes a one-piece plastic casing having a tubular body portion defining a battery compartment and a right angled head portion in which a light bulb is mounted. The battery compartment is closed by an end cap on which electrical conductive means is mounted to form a part of the battery circuit when non-rechargeable batteries are placed in the compartment. A plurality of charging contacts are mounted on the rear wall of the body portion of the flashlight for enabling rechargeable batteries to be recharged while in the compartment. The charging contacts are recessed within the rear wall of the battery compartment so that they can not be engaged by non-rechargeable batteries within the compartment.

Abstract: A golf stance training device comprises an elongated base strip and foot guide means extending rearwardly from said base strip and adapted to guide the placement of the front foot of a golfer. A lateral strip has one end adjustably pivotally connected to the front end of the base strip and extends laterally forwardly therefrom. A forwardly outwardly inclined diagonal strip is connected the other end of said lateral strip, with the lateral strip being adjustably moveable along said diagonal strip. A ball positioning strip, when in use, is fixed to the front end of said diagonal strip at a predetermined angle and extends rearwardly to establish a ball placement position. The lateral strip is adjustable with respect to the base strip and the diagonal strip so as to adjust the device for use by golfers of different heights. The ball positioning strip is substantially parallel to the base strip for all adjusted positions.

Abstract: A chair comprises a base, a seat support frame which is longitudinally movable back and forth with respect to said base, and a seat. A lift mechanism mounts the seat on the frame and is capable of lifting said seat from a lowered seating position to a raised position to assist an occupant in exiting from the seat. Locking means is actuatable as the seat is raised to lock the frame against movement with respect to said base. The locking means is released as the seat is lowered to its seating position to free the frame for movement with respect to said base.

Abstract: A composite package including a thin-walled plastic bottle mounted within an outer paperboard box. The plastic bottle has a pouring spout adjacent its front wall and an L-shaped hollow handle including a horizontal leg extending rearwardly to a downwardly extending vertical leg which communicates with the chamber within the bottle. The top flap assembly of the box has an access means which permits the horizontal leg to be gripped while the package is being handled and transported. The rear wall of the box has an access means which permits the vertical leg of the handle to be gripped while liquid is being poured from the bottle.