Abstract: A clothing accessory clip includes a plurality of elongate cords, each attached at one end to a central support, and each having its free end attached to a fastening device. According to the presently preferred embodiment, one of the fastening devices is a hook for attaching to the ring of a jacket and the other fastening devices are spring biased clips for attaching to a neck gator, goggles, a hat, and a pair of gloves or mittens. The cords are preferably made of a braided cord material and the central support is preferably plastic. The hook is preferably a lanyard hook and the spring biased clips are preferably “alligator” type clips.

Abstract: A flower pot assembly for keeping at least one plant temporarily alive without having to water it, includes a pot permeable to water in which the plant is potted with the required amount of soil, and a container impermeable to water in which the pot is received, so that a space is formed between the pot and the container. A gel formed of a water-absorbing polymer and water at least partially fills the space between the pot and the container. The container and gel are used as a packaging for the potted plant in order to keep this plant alive without having to water it during transport and when put on display for sale.

Abstract: A surface breathing vent device for a mask permits the user wearing the mask to breathe ambient air prior to diving under water or entering an oxygen-poor environment and includes a support plate couplable to the mask and provided with an opening in alignment with the com port of the face mask, a bushing provided in the opening, and a vent barrel received in the bushing and movable between an open position in which ambient air can pass into the mask and a closed position where water is prevented from entering the mask. The barrel includes a closed end and two lateral openings which permit air to pass therethrough when the barrel is in the open position. A first O-ring prevents the inadvertent removal of the barrel from the bushing, a second O-ring functions as a detent when the barrel is opened and closed, and a third O-ring provides a water and air tight seal when the barrel is in a closed position.

Abstract: Methods for obtaining Internet-type advertisements, modifying those advertisements to fit designated advertising spaces allotted by a plurality of different and unrelated online newspaper websites, and automatically placing those advertisements. Preferred embodiments permit online advertisements to be tracked, audited and/or modified, at any time during an advertising campaign.

Abstract: A pre-inked hand stamp includes a platen carrying a microporous imaging member on its lower portion and having a centrally located threaded stem extending upward from its upper portion; an upper case member having an open bottom and a centrally located opening in its top, the stem of the platen extending through the centrally located opening; a spring and an adjustable stopping assembly coaxially mounted on the stem; and a handle threadably coupled to the end of the stem. The adjustable stopping assembly includes: a lower base member which is mounted in the central opening of the upper case member, a rotatable member which is mounted on the lower base member, and an upper threaded member which is mounted in the rotatable member, engaging it with a spline and groove structure. Rotation of the rotatable member causes rotation of the upper threaded member which results in movement of the upper threaded member along the threaded stem.

Abstract: Devices and methods of releasing engine compartment hoods, designed to be used in conjunction with vehicles equipped with passenger compartment hood releases allow a hood to be released from outside the vehicle. The disclosed devices are positioned between an existing lock assembly and the protective sheath of the existing release cable.

Abstract: A heating furnace is provided to use for medium and small size incinerator, to control air pollution effectively using waste heat generated from the incinerator and not to require large size equipment. The heating furnace includes a first opening for inserting disposal material, a second opening communicating with a furnace body being capable of heating the disposal material, a heat flow passage formed between the first opening and the second opening, and a heating tube having receiving means, the receiving means receiving the disposal material into the heat flow passage and at the same time dropping the disposal material into the furnace body during the rotation. A motor is connected to the furnace body to obtain electric power by heat generated from the furnace body.

Abstract: A latch includes an angled bracket having a front flange and a rear flange, each flange defining a hole, a cylindrical bolt having a front end and a rear end with an orthogonal bolt handle located intermediate of the front and rear ends, and a coil spring. The angled bracket includes at least two substantially orthogonal contiguous sides which extend from the front flange to the rear flange where these sides contain a substantially U-shaped slot, a portion of which lies on one of the sides and a portion of which lies on the other side. The bolt is arranged relative to the angled bracket such that the bolt handle extends through the slot and the ends of the bolt extend through the respective holes in the flanges. The spring is arranged coaxial to the bolt and biases the bolt forward to a latched position. In order to move the bolt to the unlatched position, the bolt must be both rotated and translated for the bolt handle to move through the U-shaped slot.

Abstract: A clip disk assembly according to the invention includes an adapter hub which attaches to the motor of an existing crimping machine and a plurality of clip disks, each being removably attachable to the adapter hub. Each clip disk is provided with a different sized peripheral notches to accommodate a different sized eyelet. According to the presently preferred embodiment, the adapter hub has four threaded peripheral studs and the clip disks have four corresponding holes. Four wing nuts are used to removably attach the clip disks to the adapter hub. Preferably, one stud has a larger boss than the others and one hole in the clip disks is correspondingly larger. The assembly permits changing of clip disks in about one minute.

Abstract: Methods of screeding and screeding apparatus which are designed to be driven through poured, uncured concrete. Embodiments of the screeding apparatus are provided with novel wheels which can be moved through concrete both before and after screeding without requiring the re-screeding of the areas through which the wheels have passed.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for measuring an imaged printing plate which enables the user to assess the ratio of imaged to non-imaged surface area. According to the method light is projected from a light source (3) over that area of the imaged plate to be measured, the area is enlarged by magnifying means (2), an image of the enlarged area is obtained via a c.c.d. camera (1), electronic signals are captured and red from the camera via an electronic framegrabber (7) to provide an electronic image representing the enlarged area, and the captured image is fed to an electronic circuit for analysis to determine said ratio of surface area.

Abstract: A ceramic bearing system for a centrifugal pump includes two substantially identical circular ceramic shafts, two substantially identical non-circular ceramic washers and two substantially identical non-circular ceramic bearing members. The centrifugal pump incorporating the bearing system includes an impeller shaft having one of the circular ceramic shafts mounted in each end and a non-circular recess in a rear end thereof for receiving one of the non-circular ceramic washers. The impeller is provided with a non-circular recess in a front end thereof for receiving the other non-circular ceramic washer. One of the non-circular ceramic bearing members is mounted in a non-circular hole or recess in the pump volute and the other non-circular ceramic bearing member is mounted in a non-circular hole or recess in the rear of the motor.

Abstract: A disposable needle assembly having a holster for receiving and piercing a vial of anesthetic. The assembly is designed to facilitate the removal of the spent vial from the holster.

Abstract: Landscape edging comprising a plurality of elongated border sections each having end portions which are disposed proximate to each other, and, a cover disposed over the top of a seam created by adjacent border sections. Another aspect comprises decorative elements movably positionable along a visible portion of the landscape edging allowing users of this landscape edging, whether landscapers or consumers, to create their own decorative design.

Abstract: A thrust sensor assembly suitable for use with an actuator of the type wherein motive power is applied to an actuator shaft and wherein the thrust sensor assembly comprises a first compression plate means and a second compression plate means, at least one of said compression plate means being on or adapted to engage directly or indirectly with a said shaft to move axially with the shaft and the second compression plate means being arranged to oppose the first compression plate means with resiliently compressible pad(s) sandwiched there between, a pressure transducer being mounted on one of the first or second compression plate means, whereby movement of the first compression plate means toward the second compression plate mans compresses the compressible pad(s) between the two compression plate means and against the pressure transducer and thereby inducing a signal from the pressure transducer that corresponds to the thrust of the actuator shaft.

Abstract: Disclosed is a blood pressure cuff for a sphygmomanometer, adapted for attachment to the upper arm of a user to effect blood pressure measurement for the user. The blood pressure cuff comprises an air bag disposed in the blood pressure cuff which has both ends coupled with each other to define a closed loop; an attachment tab extending from a side of the blood pressure cuff; a Velcro brand hook and loop fastener strip secured to a surface of the attachment tab; and a complementary Velcro brand hook and loop fastener strip secured to an outer surface of the blood pressure cuff such that it can be engaged with the Velcro brand hook and loop fastener strip.

Abstract: An improved seed catching cage apron includes four identical pieces. Each piece is a substantially trapezoidal sheet having long parallel sides and short angled sides. An L-shaped tab is located on one of the angled sides near the longer of the parallel sides and an angled flange extends along most of the length of the other angled side. The angle of the angled sides and the angle of the angled flange are such that when four of the pieces are arranged together, the parallel sides of adjacent pieces meet at right angles with the angled flange of each sheet lying parallel to the surface of an adjacent sheet. In this configuration, the L-shaped tab of each sheet interlocks the angled flange of an adjacent sheet. According to the preferred embodiment, a notch is provided on each angled side near the short parallel side for receiving and engaging a corner post of a rectangular cage structure.

Abstract: A vent pipe flashing system includes a lower flange, a resilient boot portion and a matching sleeve portion. According to a first embodiment, the lower flange is plastic or metal, the resilient boot portion is plastic or rubber, and the sleeve portion is metal or plastic and has a diameter large enough to slide over the vent pipe and a length about one inch longer than the vent pipe. The top of the sleeve is crimped to hook over the top end of the vent pipe and the bottom of the sleeve is coupled to the boot by crimping. According to a second embodiment, the lower flange includes a metal or plastic roof flange and a rubber gasket having a skirt fixedly seats atop the roof flange. The bottom end of the sleeve portion is crimped over the rubber gasket. The upper ends of the sleeve portion and the vent pipe are covered by a cap having an inverted U-section. According to either embodiment, multiple (telescoping) sleeve portions may be provided and (optionally) coupled to each other by crimping.

Abstract: Ornamental jewelry supports for garments, particularly for upper torso garments worn by women such as bras, bikini tops, halters, strapless dresses, and the like. The garment supports are adjustable along their length with adjusting mechanisms that do not result in unsightly overlap of the ornamental lengths of jewelry of the present garment supports. The adjustable ornamental garment supports can be readily moved from one garment to another and do not require puncturing the garment.

Abstract: An improved cast insert for a railway frog has two extensions extending in substantially the same direction away from the body portion of the casting and the end of each of the extensions has a cross sectional profile corresponding to the profile of the head and web of a rail but including only one side of what would normally be the base of a rail. A frog assembly is made by providing such an insert, machining each of two rails to also remove one side of the base near the end of the rail and attaching the machined end of each of the two rails to the end of one of said extensions such that the sides of the rails from which the base has been machined away face one another.