Abstract: A doormat housing comprising a swingingly retractable doormat tray seated within which is a doormat, is slidably affixed against one side of an entranceway door for use when the door is opened. In use, the doormat housing is slidingly moved to a lowered position whereat, upon the downward and outward swinging of the doormat tray, the tray with mat will seat against the floor or walking surface close to the entranceway.

Abstract: A mail sorting case having a plurality of shelves, each of which is divided into a plurality of letter receiving slots defined by vertically extending, spaced, parallel partitions swingably supported from above, includes mechanism to swingingly withdraw the partitions to substantially horizontal position against the underside of the top panel of their respective shelves to provide for the sorting of flat mail by placement on the bottom panel of the respective shelves. Mechanism is also included for simultaneously erecting flats divider partitions swingingly supported against the bottom panel of the shelves and normally lying flat thereagainst.

Abstract: A hair styling implement for facilitating the withdrawal of spaced groups of hair strands from the scalp for separate treatment with bleach or the like for "frosting" or "streaking" combines a comb having a comb back portion which extends into a pick-type handle at one end with a plurality of equi-distantly spaced, arcuate hook members moveable between open and closed positions with respect to the outer edge of the comb back portion by operation of a slide member with the use of the thumb while holding the handle.

Abstract: Broadside displacement of sliding patio doors from their building framework for removal from the threshold track upon lifting of the doors in attempts at unauthorized entry is prevented with the use of downwardly-extending leg portions at each side of the door roller wheel assemblies, which leg portions extend downwardly of each side of an upstanding threshold track projection upon which the roller wheels ride. In one embodiment of the invention, the roller wheel assembly leg portions terminate in mutually inwardly-directed hook portions received in slightly spaced relation below rectangular shoulders defined by a rounded head formed along the upper end of the upstanding track projection, thereby preventing removal of the roller wheel assemblies from the threshold track for unauthorized entry.

Abstract: A flat, quadrilateral, resilient spreader member, symmetrical about its longitudinal axis and having mutually convergent, longitudinal edges, has handle members removably attachable along its longitudinal edges for bending the spreader member while being used in the application and shaping of moldable material to a work-piece.

Abstract: A line piercing valve assembly has a transverse cylindrical bore for the reception of a length of tubing to be pierced and an interior recess open to the outside disposed within which is a piercing needle and valve member depressable into the bore for flow communication with the pierced or tapped line, the piercing needle and valve member normally being spring urged away from the length of tubing into sealing contact with a valve seat. A depressor pin is removeably attached to the upper end of the piercing needle and valve member for depressing it sufficiently to pierce the tubing upon screw-threading advancement of an internally-threaded cap enclosing the open end of the interior recess, the interior bottom wall of the cap abuttingly engaging the outer end of the pin for this purpose. An "O" ring seated within an annular recess concentric with and open into the cylindrical bore seals against leakage of the tubing pierced.

Abstract: A halogen gas detector employing the negative corona principal is equipped with a corona discharge sensing tip utilizing the "electrical wind" phenomenon of field corona discharge to create a continuous flow of the gas sample being sensed through the corona, thereby ensuring that virtually every molecule of halogen gas impurity comes into contact with the corona discharge for dependable, uniform, and substantially instantaneous gas sensing operation.

Abstract: A rollably portable insulating cabinet having top openings for the replacle installation of self-leveling dispensers for stacked plates and the like has removeably assembled thereto, through a bottom opening, an air heater and blower assemblage of unitary structure and having longitudinally-extending heating elements so arranged and located with respect to vertically extending slot openings in the plate dispensers as to efficiently circulate blower-forced air heated by the heating elements through the plate dispenser slots for uniformly heating stacked plates within the dispensers.

Abstract: Electronic circuitry senses over-voltage and under-voltage within narrow threshold limits, and voltage interruption, in the energization circuit of a sensitive load, such as a refrigeration compressor motor load, to protect against overheating damage and burn-out. Setting to a nominal operating line voltage is provided for to obviate readjustment to the threshold voltages of a window comparator utilized to sense over-voltage and under-voltage.

Abstract: A storage receptacle for the collection of trash, litter, garbage, etc., particularly in public places such as recreational grounds and picnic areas, is fabricated of formed concrete for strength and stability, and has a cantilevered closure lid, normally locked in closed, covering relation, but which may be unlocked and readily swung between open and closed positions by an attendant whenever necessary for emptying. Side openings just below the lid serve as access to the receptacle for disposal use by the public.

Abstract: A greens or vegetable washing and drying machine has a spinner basket removeably receivable on a spinner table comprising part of a housing assembly including means for spraying pressured household supply water into the basket for washing. The pressurized water is also utilized to run a water turbine for rotating the spinner table and the spinner basket received thereon after the greens, vegetables or other food products have been thus washed.

Abstract: A prepackaged, injectable pharmaceutical hypodermic needle has semi-rigid outer container, supported within which is a substantially non-resiliant inner container containing a pre-measured dose of the pharmaceutical. A cannula extending through and fixed with respect to the outer container is adapted to pierce the inner container for injection of the pharmaceutical upon manual collapsing or squeezing of the outer container. Air flow openings in the outer container permit the flow of air into the cavity between the inner and outer containers upon manual release during successive manual compression or squeezing operations, thereby obviating the possibility of negative air pressure being exerted upon the inner container.

Abstract: A cushioned camera bag for field use by photographers has shoulder and waist support straps, usable individually or both together, for secure support of the bag, while at the same time providing for free use of the hands in using the camera equipment. One side of the camera bag is provided with a separate compartment, defined by a zippered cover flap, within which the waist strap or belt is contained and hidden when not in use.

Abstract: A partially separable attachment device for sheet metal screed and stake assemblies of the type used in forming concrete ground slabs serves to hold top portions of the sheet metal screed and its supporting screed stakes in interassembled relation for use in the screed-forming of concrete slabs of large area in smaller slab sections. The attachment device has a head portion projecting upwardly of the assemblage which serves as the screeding upper edge. This head portion is torn away after setting of the adjacent slab sections to provide recesses for the placement of caulking material protecting against the entrance of moisture.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the presence of trace amounts of a halogen gas in ambient air by changes in conductivity of a negative corona in an electrical sensing gap due to the presence therein of such electro-negative gas molecules, utilizes a digital feedback loop sensitive to gap corona current to adjust the high voltage producing the corona discharge to obtain the optimum corona current for best sensitivity irrespective of the concentration of the halogen contaminant present. The presence of the halogen gas contaminant in the air is indicated by a bi-level audible alarm consisting of a periodically interrupted tone the frequency of which goes above or below a base line value to indicate small variations in impurity concentration above or below the base line concentration, and the tone interruption rate of which, at the same time, increases for large impurity concentrations.