Abstract: A method of forming a concrete column capital using a flexible tension membrane material in place of the traditional rigid panels currently used for this purpose, is described. A flexible tension membrane material is attached to an opening in a panelized flat slab formwork deck located directly above a pre-existing concrete column. The membrane forms a bag-like container which contains and supports the wet concrete, and serves to form a column capital between the column and the flat slab above. Also disclosed are methods for anchoring the flexible tension membrane capital form to a panelized flat slab formwork deck.

Abstract: A rotary sanding apparatus, includes a circular support plate having a relatively deformable circular ring extending from its front face to form an annular container and reinforcement for a resilient deformable foam pad. The front face of the pad is essentially coplanar with the front edge face of the circular ring, so that an abrasive disk can lie flat against the pad front face, with its outer edge area secured to the circular ring. The circular ring acts as a confinement device for preventing the foam pad from being torn apart by pressure engagement of irregular surfaces against the abrasive disk material.

Abstract: A traction unit for the road wheel of a farm tractor, or an analogous vehicle, that includes two idler wheels, located near the front and rear surfaces of the road wheel tire, and an endless flexible belt, trained around the three wheels. Each idler wheel has a pneumatic tire, located in the same plane as the vehicle tire, so that the three tires track along the midplane of the belt. The idler wheels are mounted on a tubular beam, that is rockably suspended from an axle member aligned with the road wheel axle, such that the belt lies essentially flat on the terrain surface, in spite of variations in terrain slope, or contour. The traction unit gives the vehicle added mobility in snow, sand, and other soft terrain.

Abstract: A device is removably mounted on the exterior roof surface of an automotive vehicle, for locating the vehicle while parked in a crowded parking lot. The locator device comprises a magnetic base attachable to the vehicle roof, a mast extending upwardly from the base, and a pennant extending laterally from the mast. The pennant is preferably formed of a stiff plastic sheet, so as to have a large surface area presented for viewing by the motorist when he returns to the parking lot seeking his vehicle. The magnetic base has three hundred sixty (360) degree adjustability around the mast axis, so that the stiff plastic sheet can face in any desired compass direction.

Abstract: A drill bit for drilling holes in concrete and asphalt, or the like, includes a circular drill bit body having two helical grooves in its cylindrical side surface. Pressurized air is injected into the drilled hole through a passage system extending longitudinally within the drill bit. The injected air is forced out of the drilled hole through the helical grooves, such that particulates formed by the drilling process are flushed with the air out of the hole. The flushing action prevents the bit from becoming immobilized by heated asphalt sticking against the drill bit side surface.

Abstract: A foldable chair, having a seat, back, front leg structure, and a rear leg structure, hingedly connected together for folding into a compact configuration in one plane, is described. The seat, back, front leg structure, and rear leg structure, each have a U-shaped frame, that can be folded in a second plane, normal to the first plane, so that the folded chair, has compactness in two planes. Each U-shaped frame, is equipped with a cord-operated locking bolt, for holding the frame in a U-shaped configuration. The cord can be pulled, to retract the locking bolt, and slightly buckle the frame toward a folded condition.

Abstract: A loudspeaker is provided with a viscous magnetic fluid suspension for the voice coil, rather than the corrugated disk suspension that is conventionally used. Specially designed vent passages are formed in the magnet assembly, in order to prevent internal pressure build-ups, or subatmospheric conditions, that could cause the magnetic fluid to be blown out of the magnetic gap, in which the voice coil is located. The vent passages permit use of a relatively low viscosity fluid to be used for the fluid suspension. A fluid viscosity of about fifty (50) centipoise is contemplated.

Abstract: A hand-operated tool for cutting fibrous compressible insulation batts, and similar fibrous compressible materials. The tool, includes an elongated cutter blade housing, and a planar sheet of plexiglass, bent into a "C"-shaped configuration. End portions of the "C"-shaped plexiglass sheet fit over the ends of the cutter blade housing, so that the "C"-shaped sheet forms a presser element for the insulation batt, when placed on the top surface thereof. When the cutter blade is drawn through the batt material, the presser element compresses the material into a relatively small thickness, so that the cutter blade is enabled to completely penetrate the batt material. An insulation batt, therefore, can be neatly and completely severed, with one pass of the cutting tool.

Abstract: A collapsible, bag-like container, that incorporates the features of a rigid, free-standing container, with the flexibility and collapsibility of a bulk bag. Stiffening members are placed into pockets, created by sewing together two sheets of woven polypropylene. The stiffening members may be removed and placed inside the bag for shipping, and then installed in the sewn pockets to create a collapsible container, suitable for containment, and shipment, of bulk materials of up to seventy (70) percent liquid composition. The container side walls have flaps that can be folded onto the top of the container, and tied together with flexible tie elements, such that the container has a desired transverse reinforcement.

Abstract: A test kit for determining the `total compost life`, and chemical stability of a moist compost sample, includes a transparent container for holding the compost sample, and a reactant mass, located within the container in the space not occupied by the compost sample. The reactant mass includes a pH basic reactant material, and a color change indicator material, responsive to pH changes in the atmosphere within the container. After the moist compost sample is charged into the container, the container is sealed and allowed to remain undisturbed for a prescribed time period, e.g., about three (3) hours. During this time, carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) and volatile organic acids are emitted from the sample into the space surrounding the chemically reactant mass. The pH basic reactant chemically reacts with the emitted carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2), in ionic form, or the emitted volatile organic acids, so as to produce a color change. The nature of the color change is an indication of the carbon dioxide (CO.sub.

Abstract: A mobile apparatus for turning, and otherwise agitating, compost materials in an elongated windrow, is described. The invention includes a chute structure, that can be moved into, and along, the windrow. A toothed drum, at the leading end of the chute structure, penetrates the compost material, and throws it upwardly, and rearwardly, onto an inclined conveyor. The conveyor transports the materials upwardly to a discharge point, located at the trailing end of the chute structure. Gravitational forces cause the materials to intermittently fall back toward the drum, thereby churning and mixing the materials. Pressurized air is continually sprayed onto the materials on the conveyor, in order to aerate the materials while they are being churned and transported.

Abstract: A conformable sanding assembly incorporating a flexible attachment for ready attachment to a hand or power sander. The sanding assembly is particularly useful for sanding contoured, and other non-planar surfaces and angles. The sanding assembly comprises a compressible sanding block said sanding block further comprising peripheral surfaces of an abrasive material and, said sanding block further comprising a flexible attachment. The flexible attachment is designed for ready attachment to, and ready removable detachment from, a hand or power sander.

Abstract: A walking cane has an enlarged foot piece, formed with a convex arcuate lower surface, that functions as a small rocker. One, or two, rows of spikes extend downwardly from the arcuate surface, for penetration and gripping of icy surfaces. An elastomeric, resilient pad may be attached to the arcuate lower surface of the foot piece, to adapt the cane for use on normal walking surfaces, such as carpets, hard floors, and outdoor sidewalks. The pad has a series of sockets that fit onto the spikes for retention of the pad on the foot piece. The arcuate surface contour on the foot piece is advantageous in that it enables the spikes or resilient pad to maintain a non-slip, rocking engagement with the walking surface during the entire walking stride, i.e., while the person is using the cane to partially support his or her own weight during forward motion of the person's body.

Abstract: A car race game apparatus, which includes a playing board, marked to provide a system of interconnected branch roads. The road system is sub-divided into multiple contiguous spaces, arranged between a START space and a FINISH space, such that each game player can move an individual token from space to space, in an effort to reach the FINISH space, before the other players. Selected spaces are marked, so that when a token lands on such spaces, the token has to be returned to a designated space near the START space. Also, a pack of direction cards is provided for directing a player to return his/her token back to a designated space, when the player's token passes through specially marked STOP spaces, located in immediate proximity to the branch road intersection points.

Abstract: A water-heating boiler of the tube-shell type is designed, so that the heat transfer tubes are vertically oriented. During movement of the hot combustion gases, from the large combustion tube into the smaller heat transfer tubes, the directional change in the gas, is augmented, by a changing effect of gravitational forces on the combustion gas stream. Inertia effects, in combination with velocity changes, produce a relatively high turbulence in the flowing combustion gas, with a corresponding increase in the scrubbing effect on the heat transfer tube walls.

Abstract: A picture puzzle assembling platform, that includes at least two inclined panels, symmetrically arranged around a central axis, such that a person can sit facing each panel to assemble a puzzle, from pieces placed on a table surface in front of the panel. Preferably, each person assembles a different puzzle on one of the inclined panels. The inclination of each panel, enables the person facing the panel, to have a direct view of the partially assembled picture puzzle, so that the person can move more quickly to locate the correct puzzle piece for each puzzle space. The panel inclination thus facilitates the puzzle assembling process, and adds to the person's interest in completing the assembly of the picture puzzle. Each inclined panel, forms a support surface for a different puzzle, so that persons sitting in front of the inclined panels, may engage in a contest, with each person trying to complete his/her puzzle before the other person completes theirs.

Abstract: A fastener assembly for attaching a truck bed liner to a truck body, is described, which includes a support member, having a face plate and a trough-shaped wall, for supporting a linearly movable clamp member. The clamp member can be rotated within the trough, in order to swing a clamp arm upwardly to a generally vertical position, aligned with a downward lip, on a truck rail. A manual screw extends within the trough into a threaded hole in the clamp member, such that the screw can be rotated, to rotate the clamp arm, and then move it linearly along the trough, and into clamping engagement with the rail lip. The fastener assembly is a self-contained unitary structure, that can be installed through a circular opening in the bed liner side wall, after the liner is placed in position within the truck bed.

Abstract: A wire insertion hand tool for the ready insertion of wires, or other strand-like materials, within flexible, elongated, longitudinally-slotted wire-containing ducts, such as a flexible electrical conduit, is described. The hand tool comprises a handle region, an elongated shank region, and a semi-circular, yoke-like, head region. The elongated shank region has smooth contours and terminates in an integral head region. The integral head region has two tine-like outward projections comprising a semi-circular, yoke-like, configuration, also having smooth contours. In operation, single or multiple strands of wire, or a similar strand-like material, are captured within the confines of the yoke-like head region, and are readily inserted at any desired point along the length of a flexible, elongated slotted duct. There is no need for a specific starting or stopping insertion point, in order to perform the wire insertion. The wire insertion hand tool may also be moved in either a forward direction, i.e.