Abstract: A closure for connecting a first and a second free end of a band such as a watch strap that in use is maintained in tension by hoop stresses imposed on the band by the banded object, the closure including a first clasp element having a first hook member and a second, oppositely-directed and shorter hook member, and a separable second clasp element having first and second hook-engaging members for slidably and releasably engaging said hook members such that the engagement of both hook members with their respective hook-engaging members is possible only by first engaging the first hook member with the corresponding hook-engaging member, sliding the first hook-engaging member deep into the throat of the first hook member, then engaging the second hook member with the second hook-receiving member while partially disengaging the first hook-engaging member from the first hook member, wherein said opposing tensions acting through the first and second clasp elements maintain complete engagement of the second hook whi

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed that will temporarily identify a building, house, or other structure to which emergency personnel have been dispatched. The apparatus, which is activated remotely by an emergency service dispatcher, includes, in one embodiment, a high-intensity stroboscopic light emitting diode (LED) placed in a location that is visible from the exterior of the structure, especially from the street. The circuit that activates and deactivates the LED is triggered by the dispatcher, who causes a specific tone to be transmitted over the telephone line after an individual in the structure telephones the emergency dispatcher. This new apparatus allows the practice of a new method for assuring that dispatched emergency personnel quickly and easily find the emergency site when they arrive at the general locale of the emergency.

Abstract: A method of making chemically modified carbon-based materials for engineering purposes from a precursor containing graphite fluoride by using halocarbons or elemental sulfur as chemical agents that diffuse into the lamellar crystal structure of the graphite fluoride and permit defluoridation at a controlled rate upon heating, to produce fluoride-free intermediate carbon material and, upon further heating to form a graphitized, chemically modified carbon.

Abstract: An attachment is made to a roller printer that indicates to a user of the roller printer that it is tracking a straight line on a vertical surface. The attachment in the best mode is a spirit level so positioned that it indicates whether the printing roller of the roller printer is horizontally oriented in use. A protractor or other form of angle indicator may be used with a pivotable spirit level to aid the user of a roller printer in producing a pattern that extends inclined to the vertical.

Abstract: A smoke detector that operates on the principle of scattered light is disclosed that has the capability of an operating sensitivity that is tens of times greater than that of smoke detectors presently available. Plural light sources are used, their light rays directed radially toward the center of a cylindrical detector chamber having a mirrored wall that reflects light back toward the chamber's center, thereby to brightly illuminate a central detection zone. Scattered light from smoke in this zone is detectable by a photocell at right angles to the converging multiple light rays. To obtain highly improved stability of the light output that enables ultra-high sensitivity, the light sources are light-emitting diodes in series connection and they are driven by a very stable constant voltage source that also powers the photocell detector. This system gains impressive sensitivity while reducing nuisance alarms that have been a common problem regarding efforts to increase smoke detector sensitivity.

Abstract: A portable fan apparatus is provided for ventilating toilet bowls by forced ventilation wherein air from the toilet bowl is exhausted by the fan via a tube that extends through the water trap formed by water in the trap formed partly by the bottom of the toilet bowl and partly by the drain portion of the toilet, thereby exhausting the foul air into the drain line of the building's plumbing system. The apparatus can be carried by a traveler from toilet to toilet, thereby to provide the desired ventilation for any toilet facility the traveler may visit.

Abstract: A collapsible cover system and kit therefore are removably mounted to a plurality of spaced stake sockets secured within longitudinally extending areas on opposite sides of a swimming pool or hot tub. Stakes, disposed in the stake sockets, are slidingly connected to two lengths of spaced guide tracks that extend along the sides of the pool or hot tub. Inverted bow-shaped members having free ends are removably secured to carrier means that slidingly connect the bow-shaped members to the guide.In additional embodiments the spaced guide tracks are deposed either in a trough that may be covered when the particular rail sections are not in use, or hingedly deposed adjacent a trough into which rail particular rail sections may be stored when they are not in use.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a game board apparatus that encourages the creativity of a player by providing an erasable surface having permanently printed indicia comprising artwork, illustrations, or illustrative text, some of said indicia defining boundaries for spatial regions on said erasable surface on the game board, which spatial regions are substantially lacking in color, and upon which a player may apply color from a coloring implement as the playing of a game progresses.

Abstract: A replacement drawstring for use in garments or drawstring bags and designed to easily be threaded through the drawstring tunnel around the opening of said garment or bag. Breakably molded as a part of an aglet at one end of the drawstring is an elongated wand or bodkin to simplify threading. After threading, the wand is broken off and may be discarded.

Abstract: A hollow golf club head for a "metal wood" is disclosed wherein an internally-mounted backing plate gives strength and stability to the striking face of the club. Additionally, in the preferred embodiments, an internal apparatus is present whereby the backing plate is compressively loaded to more rigidly support the striking face of the club, thereby to make it more unyielding upon impact with a golf ball. In further embodiments, weights may be added behind the backing plate in alignment with an axis that is normal to the center of the striking face.

Abstract: A parlor game that, during the play thereof, allows a plurality of players to simulate making purchases and sales transactions involving various tangible properties by dealing with a plurality of fictitious customers with the goal of each player being to maximize his net worth. This game uses parlor game apparatus strips. These parlor game apparatus strips make up a device used as a pathway or trail for playing a parlor game for entertainment, each strip unit being separate from the other, acting together as a playing field having marked spaces constituting a track or pathway of play. Spaces have writing, drawings, pictures, or game options in them.

Abstract: A spring clip attaches to the temple bar of eyeglasses to engage a small fold of garment fabric or the fabric edge of a pocket for secure, temporary storage of the eyeglasses. By utilizing the forward-facing clamping jaws, those clamping jaws facing toward the eyeglass lenses, nearly coincident with the temple bar hinge, the moment arm between said jaws and said hinge is reduced substantially which prevents the eyeglasses from opening up when clipped on a garment outside of a pocket. By employing the rearward-facing clamping jaws, those clamping jaws facing toward the temple bar earpiece, the eyeglasses can be stored securely clipped in a pocket. To prevent snagging the wearer's hair, the spring clip has, as a feature of the best mode, fully enclosed actuating springs and no exposed sharp edges.

Abstract: A method for treating hypothermia or hyperthermia patients is presented wherein the upper torso of the patient is maintained in close contact with a wet absorbent material in a vestlike garment that carries a water supply to maintain the absorbent material wet to effect sensible heat transfer between the patient and the water. In one embodiment, evaporative cooling is moderated by an overgarment of a waterproof material.

Abstract: A therapeutic method for treating hypothermia and hyperthermia conditions in human patients by applying a continuous flow of temperature-controlled warmed water over a substantial area of the body of the patient to effect sensible heat transfer between the body and the water. Apparatus is provided for warming, delivering, and distributing the water flow over at least fifty percent of the patient's body and for collecting spent water into a receptacle. A network of water-permeable tubes delivers a flow of warmed water to an absorbent web draped over the body of the patient, thereby to distribute the water flow over a large area and in close proximity to and wetting the surface of the patient's body, thereby to effect sensible heat transfer over a large area. Evaporative heat loss may be minimized by reducing air convection adjacent the water flow.

Abstract: A collapsible cover system and kit therefor are removably mounted to a plurality of spaced stake sockets secured between longitudinally extending rub rails and opposite sides of a flatbed vehicle. Stakes, disposed in the stake sockets, are slidingly connected to two lengths of spaced guide tracks that project above and extend along the sides of the flatbed vehicle. Inverted bow-shaped members having free ends are removably secured to carrier means that slidingly connect the bow-shaped members to the guide.