Abstract: A fluid cooler assembly comprises a vertically stacked first type and second different type of tubular panel subassembly construction integrated with a third subassembly of external corrugated fin construction positioned above and below each tubular panel subassembly. The first type tubular panel subassembly has an internal central flow region configured with a bilateral linear flow channeled subregion adapted for controlling the hydraulic behavior of the internal tubular coolant fluid flow. The second tubular panel subassembly has an internal tubular central flow channel region configured with a bilateral cross-flow channel region adapted for optimizing heat transfer.

Abstract: A hinge pin remover tool comprising a housing block, an internal gear train for providing a high mechanical force advantage in a direction vertical and parallel with the housing block, front grooved face surface, to activate a vertical and horizontal movable pry head mechanism having a disc-beveled pry wedge, the jaw face end section adapted to be forced into a wedged interference contact position within the narrow gap space intersection that is formed between the front undershoulder of a hinge pin head and the hinge pin barrel enclosure top surface of a door hinge assembly. When the gear train is activated, the gear train forces the pry head mechanism to wedge the jaw face, disc-beveled pry wedge into the gap space intersection between the hinge pin front undershoulder and hinge pin barrel enclosure top surface to thereby push the hinge pin shaft vertically upward for subsequent removal from the hinge pin barrel housing enclosure.

Abstract: A towel to tote bag convertible article is disclosed that comprises a towel, preferably a sports towel, having a first end region, a second end region and an intermediate region between the first and second end regions. A pocket provided at and across the first end region, has an opening facing the second end region and is sized to receive and contain the second end region and the intermediate region, the pocket being configured for being turned inside out to form a tote bag containing the second end region and the intermediate region. A zipper is provided for enabling the closing of the pocket opening before and after the pocket is turned inside out. A decorative or waterproof lining may be attached to the pocket to form the outside of the tote bag when the pocket is turned inside out. A tote bag carrying strap is installed inside the pocket. A method of making the convertible article is also disclosed.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy fluid heat exchanger comprises first and second elongate, generally flat, aluminum alloy fluid heat exchanger tubes, each having an upper and a lower surface and having a fluid port inlet and a fluid port outlet. The first tube has a series of small protrusions formed at its lower surface and the second tube has a matching series of protrusions formed at its upper surface, the first tube being stacked on top of the second tube with the protrusions on the first tube in contact with the protrusions on the second tube. A thin sheet of a dissimilar metal, preferably cold rolled steel having a thickness of about 0.3 millimeters is installed between the protrusions on the first and second tubes. The protrusions provide a spacing of at least about 0.42 millimeters between major portions of the first and second heat exchanger tubes. A corresponding method of constructing an aluminum alloy heat exchanger is described.

Abstract: A body-conforming, securing wrapping article for infants comprises a generally T-shaped piece of fabric material having a securing central, infant-receiving portion with sidewardly-extending right-hand and left-hand wrapping flaps, a securing downwardly-extending lower wrapping flap, and an infant headrest region extending upwardly in the plane of the securing central portion, at least part of the securing central portion being formed having a plurality of spaced apart elastically gathered transverse regions and including mating hook and loop strips on the right-hand and left-hand flaps for maintaining the flaps in a folded condition over the folded up securing lower flap to enclose and conform to an infant received on the securing central portion of the article.

Abstract: A flexible tie-down device is provided for attaching a swimming pool-type solar water panel to a roof or other structure. The device is adapted for use with a solar panel having at least one elongate solar panel array formed of a number of side-by-side connected, small diameter, flexible elastomeric, heat transfer tubes, which are attached in fluid flow relationship at one end to a rigid, larger diameter tubular, unheated water inlet manifold and at the other end to a rigid, larger diameter tubular heated water outlet manifold. The tie-down device comprises a plurality of flexible elastromeric tubes connected in a side-by-side relationship to form a device array, the tubes having a length enabling the device array to bend around the outside of either of the inlet and outlet manifolds with the end regions of the device extending outwardly in a parallel, overlapping relationship relative to one another.

Abstract: A mulching apparatus is described for converting green waste, including tree branches, small limbs, leaves, and grass clippings into a pulverized mulch. The apparatus comprises a green waste agitator hopper in the shape of an inverted, truncated cone, the hopper having a plurality of first blades fixed to an inner wall and projecting toward a vertical axis of the hopper. A waste agitator arm is rotatably mounted in the hopper through a bottom of the hopper for rotational movement about the vertical axis. The waste agitator arm has a plurality of second blades fixed thereto so as to intermesh with the hopper blades when the arm is rotated. A conduit is connected to a side region of the hopper to enable feeding waste material from the hopper to a fan mulching pulverizer disc rotatably installed in the conduit. The fan mulching pulverizer disc reduces the hopper waste material to a pulverized mulch and then blows the pulverized mulch out of the apparatus through a discharge duct.

Abstract: An audio speaker system has at least one expandable speaker enclosure which comprises a rigid upper wall, a speaker mounted to the upper wall and a rigid bottom wall. One edge of the bottom wall is pivotally attached to a corresponding edge of the upper wall. Flexible side walls interconnect the upper and bottom walls so as to form a substantially closed speaker enclosure, the side walls being configured for enabling the enclosure to be varied between a first, collapsed configuration for carrying and a second, expanded configuration having a predetermined optimum enclosed volume for sound quality when in use. A stereo pair of such enclosures have provisions for detachable attachment to the bottom of a keyboard portion of a notebook-type computer. Variations are described in which the stereo pair of expandable disclosures are integrated, in one case, into the keyboard portion, and in another case, into the display portion of a specialized notebook-type computer.

Abstract: An adjustable fence post apparatus for rigid metal, e.g., wrought iron, fences comprises a rigid metal post having fixed to its lower end a base plate for detachably mounting the post to a mounting pad. A first pair of spaced apart upper and lower rails are detachably attached to a first side region of the post and a second pair of spaced apart upper and lower rails are detachably attached to a second side region of the post. The post comprises telescoping inner and outer metal sleeves which enable the first and second pairs of upper and lower fence rails to be attached to the post at different elevations and at different horizontal angles relative to one another and enables the elevation of the fence rails to be adjusted relative to the post mounting pad.

Abstract: A water treatment system provides a flow of treated water having a pre-established quality, for example, a maximum TDS and permitted pH range, from a flow of reclaimed water having a quality poorer than the pre-established quality of the treated water and a flow of treatment water. The system includes a mixing reservoir; first and second fluid conduits connected to the mixing reservoir for flowing the reclaimed water and the treatment water into the reservoir; and a third fluid conduit connected to the mixing reservoir for discharging a flow of treated water from the mixing reservoir; and sensors connected for sensing the flow rates and qualities of the reclaimed water and treatment water flowed into the mixing reservoir and of the treated water discharged from the mixing reservoir.

Abstract: There is disclosed an anti-cat protective or deterrent device for vehicles, the device comprising a flexible mat, which may be made of rubber, neoprene, leather, plastic or any other flexible material, having an upper surface and a lower surface, and a number of small elements attached in a closely-spaced relationship to the upper surface of the mat so as to project outwardly therefrom. Elastic cords are provided for detachably attaching the mat to a desired vehicle surface from which cats (and other small animals) are to be deterred from sleeping. The elements projecting from the mat may be in the shape of an inverted cone or a short cylinder. The elements are spaced apart from one another on the upper surface of the mat from about one-half inch to about one inch, center to center and project outwardly from said upper surface of said mat by between about one-half inch and about one inch. In an embodiment, the device is edge-contoured to fit onto a conventional motorcycle seat.

Abstract: A golf putter comprises a putter head having fixed thereto a putter shaft, the putter head having a front face into which is received and fixed a polyurethane insert or pad at the position of intended ball impact. The insert may be one of a set of inserts or pads, each of which is constructed from a solid polyurethane material having a pre-selected and reproducible linear relationship between its rebound factor and the distance to a target hole for any designated and pre-selected value of its hardness. For a particular hardness value, a number of pads having different specific rebound factors are manufactured. The rebound factors of each pad are substantially equal to a constant "K.sub.n ", where K.sub.1 =12.5%, K.sub.2 =25%, K.sub.3 =37.5%, and K.sub.4 =50.0%. A golfer may thus preselect a pad having a known characteristic related to the distance from a golf ball to a cup.

Abstract: A water/cleaning solution vacuum carpet cleaning apparatus includes a carpet cleaning wand having a carpet contacting end region, a source of pressurized water and a source of pressurized carpet cleaning solution. Piping and controls are included for selectively providing pressurized water and cleaning solution to the carpet contacting end region of the wand. Included is a dirty liquid-air separation vessel having an outer shell, an air tube coaxially installed in the shell and a dirty liquid tube installed in the shell and extending around portions of air discharge tube in a spaced apart relationship so as to form a first, inner annular space therebetween. A second, outer annular space is defined between the shell and the dirty liquid tube, a lower end of which is spaced above the bottom of the shell. A dirty liquid and air suction pipe extends through the shell and into upper regions of the inner annular space.

Abstract: A disposable, adjustable flame, canned fuel apparatus comprises a container having closed sides and bottom and having an open top; a fuel absorbent pad disposed in upper regions of the container relatively adjacent to its open top; a flammable liquid disposed in the container; an elongate wick disposed in the container and having an upper end region in fluid communication with the pad and having a lower end region extending into lower regions of the container and into the flammable liquid contained therein; and an adjustable flame assembly attached across the top of the container.

Abstract: A disposable blood pressure cuff for use in a conventional blood pressure measuring and/or monitoring system comprises an elongate, flexible, inflatable plastic sleeve sized to wrap around an individual's upper arm above the elbow, a flexible tube connected to the sleeve to enable the internal pressurization thereof, and an attached flexible plastic strip for releasably attaching the sleeve around an individual's arm. Both the sleeve and strip are constructed from a thin--about 0.016 inch thick--sheet of plastic material, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), the surfaces of which are inherently self-adhering when cured to thereby cause overlying surfaces of the sleeve and strip to cling together against shearing forces when the cuff is wrapped around an individual's arm and the sleeve is pressurized through the attached pressurizing tube.

Abstract: A two-handed scoop apparatus for filling conventional sandbags comprises an elongate rigid scoop having a generally semicircular transverse cross section defining an open upper region and open longitudinal end regions and first and second similar, inverted U-shaped, elongate handles, lower end regions of which are pivotally attached to opposing side regions of the scoop so that each handle straddles the open upper region of the scoop, the first and second handles being attached to the scoop in a longitudinally spaced apart relationship near ends thereof. A transverse cross brace is attached across each handle and a clip is fixed to each cross brace for detachably attaching an open end of a conventional sandbag to either end of the scoop so that when the scoop apparatus is moved in a direction away from the sandbag to scoop up sand or other material to fill the sandbag, the sandbag is moved along with the scoop apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing dirt and rocks from the tires of trucks and other vehicles comprises a number of elongate rigid metal ribs attached in a transverse direction to a rigid metal plate. The longitudinal spacing between the ribs, taken in conjunction with the height of the ribs relative to the upper surface of the mounting plate prevents the peripheral (i.e., the pavement contacting) surface of a tire rolling over the apparatus in a longitudinal direction from contacting the upper surface of the plate so that dirt and rocks, dislodged from the tire by the tire flexing over the ribs, fall to regions of the plate between the ribs and are not picked up by following ones of the vehicle tires as they roll over the apparatus. The plate, which may be about twelve feet long and about eight feet wide, is preferable constructed in two sections, each about six feet long by about eight feet wide to enhance portability. Pins extend through abutting ribs to detachably connect the two plate sections together.

Abstract: An apparatus for holding a plurality of barber electric hair clippers in a ready-to-use position when they are not being used comprises a plate having a plurality of hooks for enabling the hanging of the hair clippers, and a like number of electrical cords extending outwardly through corresponding apertures formed through the plate, each of the apertures being relatively adjacent to a corresponding one of the hooks, the outwardly extending end of each of the electrical cords being configured for electrical connection to a conventional electric hair clipper for the operation thereof. Automatic cord retractors are connected to each of the electric cords rearwardly of the plate for enabling the extending of the cords from the plate when a hair clipper to which the cord is connected is unhooked from its hook on the plate for use and for automatically retracting the cord when the hair clipper is rehung on its hook.

Abstract: A hollow decorative object is disclosed which contains inside one or more novelty objects. The hollow decorative object is formed of a hard, but unfired clay material, that is capable of being cut to form an opening into the hollow decorative object through which the one or more novelty objects can be removed without destroying the hollow decorative object. The hollow object may be formed into the general shape of an egg having a flattened base region on which said hollow decorative object can stand without tipping over. The base region is formed having a thickness enabling the easy cutting of an aperture therein through which the one or more novelty objects can be removed from the hollow decorative object without otherwise damaging it.

Abstract: A combination vehicle steering wheel locking and article protection apparatus comprises an elongate, rigid locking bar having joined at one end region a first, longitudinally--opening fork configured for fitting over a conventional vehicle steering wheel rim. Included are a second, longitudinally-opening fork configured for fitting over the steering wheel rim and means for enabling the second fork to slide longitudinally along the locking bar with both the first and second forks directed longitudinally outwardly in opposite directions. Locking means are mounted for longitudinally sliding along the locking bar intermediate the first and second forks, the locking means being operative for being locked to the locking bar in any selected one of a multitude of longitudinal positions.