Abstract: An extendable cap for sealing a fluid inlet port having a holding plug which when removed, allows a telescoping funnel to be extended from a base section attached to the fluid inlet port. The extended telescoping funnel defines a fluid conduit through which a fluid may be guided into the fluid inlet port.

Abstract: A fixture for holding and dispensing coiled sheet material, such as tissue paper or paper towels, is disclosed. A base mounts upon a mounting wall and is configured as a perimeter which surrounds a base opening. The base includes support arm mounts located on opposing sides of the base opening. Support arms attach to the support arm mounts and couple to the roll of sheet material to hold and aid in dispensing the sheet material. An insert is dimensioned conformal with and slightly smaller than the base opening. The insert fits through the base opening and extends into the interior of the mounting wall. A flange of the insert abuts against a portion of the base to prevent movement of the insert beyond the base. In addition, the support arms are dimensioned to overlie portions of the insert so that the insert is secured in position by being clamped between the base and support arms.

Abstract: A pair of elongate arms, carried by a material handling device such as a refuse collection vehicle, are oppositely movable between a release position and a gripping position. The friction enhancing surface of a belt carried by each arm compliantly engages the perimeter of a container or similar article as the arms move to the gripping position. In response to movement of the arms to the gripping position, a limb pivotally carried by each arm extends to present a segment of the respective belt to engage the surface of a small container.

Abstract: A display apparatus includes a front panel having an image area and a message area. The front panel is either detachably coupled to or integrally formed with a horizontal base which maintains the panel in a substantially upright position. A plurality of decorative appendages, such as balloons, are coupled to first ends of a plurality of connectors. The other ends of the connectors are coupled to the front panel to complete the structure. If helium balloons are used, a counterweight may be provided for preventing the balloons from lifting the apparatus off the ground or tipping the panel forwardly. In one embodiment, a pressure-sensitive sound producing device may be embedded in the panel and covered by a selected image, so that the apparatus produces an audible message when the region of the image over the sound producing device is pressed.

Abstract: A pair of elongate arms, carried by a material handling device such as a refuse collection vehicle, are oppositely movable between a release position and a gripping position. The friction enhancing surface of a belt carried by each arm compliantly engages the perimeter of a container or similar article as the arms move to the gripping position. In response to movement of the arms to the gripping position, a limb pivotally carried by each arm extends to present a segment of the respective belt to engage the surface of a small container.

Abstract: An elongate flexible sheet member having a message imprinted thereon is encoiled about an object to be transmitted from a sender to a receiver. Pressure sensitive adhesive secures the first end of the sheet member to the object and secures the final coil to the penultimate coil. Tab, which may carry and encodement to identify the message extends from the final coil and serves to remove the sheet member. In a exemplary embodiment, the sheet member carries a joke pertaining to golf and is spirally wound about the shank of a golf tee.

Abstract: A drying apparatus which utilizes air circulation to uniformly dry articles is disclosed. The apparatus includes an enclosure having racks upon which the articles to be dried are placed. An air exchanger couples to the enclosure to recirculate and heat air within the enclosure. Recirculation operates continuously while articles are being dried, and recirculation air temperature is maintained around a predetermined level through a thermostat coupled to heating elements. The air exchanger is configured so that air expelled from the air exchanger travels upward near the enclosure's walls, then downward in the center of the enclosure back to the air exchanger. An exhaust fan is controlled by a humidistat to remove humid air from the enclosure whenever the humidity within the enclosure exceeds a predetermined level. Consequently, a mean humidity level is maintained within the enclosure to prevent excessive drying, and substantial recirculation of air results in improved efficiency.

Abstract: A thermal wrap includes a fabric band having a thermally insulating outer layer and a non-insulating inner layer. A cavity is formed between the two layers for receiving a flexible cold pack containing deionized water and a chemical freezing agent. In one embodiment, the fabric band is in the form of a collar to be worn about the individual's neck or other body part. In another embodiment, the fabric band is in the form of a jacket for surrounding a beverage container such as a wine bottle.

Abstract: A receptacle residing within a recess in the sole of a shoe includes an opening located along the edge of the shoe. A lug, receivable through the opening within the receptacle is carried by a flap extending from the upper of the shoe. An indentation carried by the lug is matingly engageable with a protrusion residing within the receptacle. Pressure from the foot of the wearer upon the sole of the shoe prevents disengagement of the lug from the receptacle.

Abstract: An auger-like apparatus for boring planting holes includes an elongate shaft carrying a spiral blade or screw flight at its lower end. Means are provided at the outer end of the cutting edge to protect a sprinkler conduit or hose which may be contacted by the apparatus. In one embodiment, the outer end of the cutting edge is rounded and tapered into the peripheral edge of the screw flight. In a second embodiment, a guard extends between the outer edge of the cutting edge and a subsequent spiral of the screw flight. The shank may be graduated and support a slidable snap ring. A graduated tape mechanism is also provided to gauge the spacing of the plant bores.

Abstract: A brewing member includes a reservoir for receiving liquid, such as water, and an integral receptacle for holding beverage making material, such as ground coffee. The device is positionable upon a conventional drinking vessel for brewing a single serving of beverage, such as coffee. The device is also usable with a conventional beverage making appliance, such as the basket of a coffee maker, to produce a less than normal quantity of beverage. Further provided is a support member for holding a brewing member and positionally engageable with a drinking vessel.

Abstract: A hair cutting guide for use with either a conventional pair of shears or hair clippers comprises a housing having first and second openings therein and a guide portion for receiving the conventional cutting apparatus in such a manner so as to define a cutting region within the housing. The housing is coupled to a source of vacuum at its output end, and its input end is coupled to at least one input member of a predetermined length. In this manner, hair is drawn into the input member under the force of the vacuum to the cutting region where it is clipped. The clipped hair is then drawn out of the housing by the vacuum to a collection area. The input members may vary in length and shape so as to achieve a desired hair style.

Abstract: A system for disabling and protecting a particulate detector (10) as necessitated by many building, construction, and maintenance projects is disclosed. The particulate detector (10) is typically mounted on a ceiling or vertical wall surface (12), and a jacket (22) is secured to a body portion (16) of the particulate detector (10). The jacket (22) includes a non-opaque plastic container (24) with an opening (34) on one end and being substantially sealed elsewhere. A flag (26) attaches to the container (24) and hangs downward when the jacket (22) is installed on the particulate detector (10). Moreover, an opening control device (28) couples to the container (24) near the opening (34) thereof to control the size of the opening (34) so that the particulate detector (10) may be substantially inserted into the jacket (22) and so that the jacket (22) may be secured to the particulate detector (10).

Abstract: A multipurpose exercise apparatus for performing free weight bar bell exercises includes a pair of weight frames, each of which includes spaced apart columns and spaced apart horizontal top beams supported by the columns. A weight support member is disposed vertically between the columns and includes a plurality of apertures, a stack of primary weights being supported on the weight support member by a pin which is specially adapted to carry one or more supplementary weights. A bar assembly for performing diverse barbell exercises is connected by a pair of cables to the weight stacks and includes a pair of spaced apart bar support members which provide limited universal joint action with a lifting bar. Optionally, the cables may have detachable couplings intermediate their lengths in order that the bar assembly may be disconnected from the weight stacks and individual handgrips then connected to the cable segments for performing diverse additional exercises.

Abstract: A cable tester, which is adapted to be used by persons not expertly skilled in the technical characteristics of local area networks (LANs), is disclosed. The tester incorporates a time domain reflectometer which starts a counter upon the generation of an incident signal pulse and utilizes a comparator which compares signals present on a cable under test to a controllable amplitude to halt the timer. The tester exhibits an output impedance which is greater than the impedance of a cable being tested. The tester additionally measures instantaneous amplitude levels of signals present on the cable being tested, resistance, continuity, noise levels, and data activity on a network of which the cable is a part. In addition, the tester includes a display and a sound generally device. Software programming compensates for impedance mismatches with the cable and data present on an active network being tested.