Abstract: A combustion and heating chamber into which a fluid is pumped under pressure is provided. A burner is positioned in the combustion and heating chamber to provide a heat load to the pressurized fluid in the chamber. As the fluid is heated its internal pressure is greatly raised providing a force for driving the heated air through a spiral conduit that encircles the combustion and heating chamber. An insulated outer wall is fitted around the spiral conduit and in contact with it. The individual wraps of the spiral conduit do not lay side by side, but are spaced apart. Relatively cool process air is drawn into the spaces between the separate wraps of the spiral conduit, which is thereby formed as a second spiral space intertwined with the spiral conduit between the combustion and heating chamber wall and the outer wall. The process fluid is therefore in contact with the walls of the spiral conduit.

Abstract: A combination radio receiver and compact disk player is enabled also for writing onto a compact disk or other permanent storage medium. A touch sense screen is used to display and select menu graphics choices such as to listen to the radio or a CD, save selections, etc. The apparatus provides a display of all selections stored in its memory so that one may choose favorite music selections and their order of play.

Abstract: A mechanical puppet show apparatus provides a base unit supporting on its upper surface (stage) one or more mechanical puppets. The puppets are interconnected with a circuit for motion actuation in accordance with a stage play that is programmed into a memory device and controlled by a digital control unit. Manual, remote control and verbal signals may be received for interactive action of the puppets with the audience.

Abstract: The present invention, a submarine-type liquid mixer provides a mixing device that contains a gas-trapping component in the shape of a cap or umbrella with an open bottom, which is centered upon, and slides up and down along a vertical pole-like structure within a vessel containing liquid. When gas is formed naturally in the vessel and is caught under the opening of the cap-shaped component, or is directly pumped into the same, it displaces the liquid volume under the cap-shaped component to the extent that the cap-shaped component, which is also generally the mixing device, has the buoyancy to rise to the top of the vessel. The gas is then released through valving installed on top of the cap-shaped component, causing it to lose it's buoyancy and sink back to the bottom of the tank. This process then repeats itself, the up-and-down movement of the cap-shaped component mixing the liquid. The gas-trapping component may alternately be a mainly closed gas container.

Abstract: A common clothes hanger incorporates a scissors type pant clamp comprised of a horizontal rod and a horizontal wire, with the free end of the pant rod having a Velcro.RTM. strap attached to it. When a single garment is draped over the pant rod, the rod is engagable within a wire loop for clamping the garment and the strap may be used to assure that the clamp does not open. When multiple garments of significant thickness are draped over the pant rod, the rod is unable to be placed into the wire loop thereby preventing clamping action between the garments and the horizontal wire. Instead the strap is coiled around the wire portion of the scissors type clamp and joined with itself to hold the pant rod and the clamping wire mutually clamped on the garments.

Abstract: A lighting assembly is mounted to a vehicular wheel in such a manner that a plurality of lamps are positioned on the side of the wheel attached to the wheel rim. Wires connect the lamps to a power source mounted onto the wheel rim inside of the tire. A hand-held, or panel mounted remote control device is used to communicate with the power source, which also has a receiver and control circuit. Through this control means, the lights may be made to blink in unison, sequentially or in any manner desired and to change the light output magnitude. An important aspect of the invention is that the apparatus may be fitted to existing vehicles such as cars, trucks and motorcycles.

Abstract: A counterbalanced, dual submarine-type liquid mixer provides a pair of counterbalanced mixing devices that move at opposing ends of a balance bar suspended above the surface of a liquid to be mixed. The bar is able to pivot so as to vertically move its ends alternately between a raised and a lowered position in such a manner that when one of the mixing devices is in a raised position in the liquid, the other of the mixing devices is in the lowered position and each of the two mixing devices tends to counterbalance the other. Each mixing device is buoyed upwardly in the liquid by the buoyant force of a gas captured below a concave surface of the mixing device and also by the negative buoyant force of the other mixing device when it has exhausted its buoyant gas. Alternately, each of the mixing devices, on its downward stroke is moved downwardly by its own weight (negative buoyancy) and by the buoyant action of the other mixing device which moves simultaneously on its upward stroke.

Abstract: A door or window floor clamp provides opposing compression legs pivotally mounted onto opposing base legs and supported in upright attitudes by opposing telescoping braces. The braces are adjustable and extensible with latches provided for positioning the braces on the base legs and for locking the compression legs in place. The clamp folds so that the base legs, the compression legs and the braces are all in parallel adjacency for compact handling and storing.

Abstract: A method for producing an improved fire retarding compound for use with cellulose insulation materials uses the same concept as boric acid and borax, but substitutes liquid borates rather than powdered borates. Such liquid borates enables the amount of chemical to be reduced by approximately fifty percent. This offsets the high cost of the use of borates. Additionally, the inexpensive borate, borax, is the only boron containing chemical used in the present invention method and it is converted to boric acid once impregnated inside the cellulose insulation material.

Abstract: A hand tool provides a slender elongated shape having a pair of finger actuation plates, one of which drives an interior rod. The end of the tool is adapted with a fixed jaw and a movable jaw attached to the interior rod. With the tool held in the manner of a pencil, the thumb and first finger are in position for moving the actuation plates so as to produce corresponding motion in the jaws. The tool allows the sensitive motion and tactile feedback inherent to the fingers to be transferred along the length of the tool for grasping, cutting and other useful actions.

Abstract: A wrench provides for a movable head portion mounted pivotally onto a handle portion. The head portion includes a rod that extends into a slot in the handle portion on each side of the head portion. A blade extends from the head and is engagable within a tubular end of the handle so that the head may be positioned with the blade aligned axially with the handle in a first orientation, or at an angle to the handle in a second orientation so that the wrench may be applied to the flats of nuts which have diverse orientations when space for the positioning of the handle is limited.

Abstract: A folder or loose leaf type binder has a novel spine construction using a rigid sheet with a pair of spaced apart creases to form a spine stiffener with adjacent cover stiffeners. Since the cover stiffeners extend only partially into the cover portions of the folder, a natural break occurs in each of the two covers which, in turn, makes the folder easier to handle, prevents the covers from closing inadvertently, and allows the pages of the folder to lay at a preferred attitude and angle.

Abstract: A wall mounted cover plate conceals an electrical circuit capable of sensing the field provided by a covered switch or electrical socket circuit. When power is lost at the wall circuit the electrical circuit senses the loss of power and activates one or more LEDs to provide emergency illumination. The electrical circuit is self contained and does not require stand-by energy so that the batteries are long lasting.

Abstract: A toilet provides a traditional water filled bowl with flushing action as well as a bidet in one unit. Heated air is forced into the toilet bowl interior and directed onto bidet washed surfaces for drying. Water is directed into the bowl under pressure for flushing and for operating the bidet. The upper rim of the toilet bowl contains a channel which dispenses flush water downwardly for cleaning the interior of the toilet during flushing. Flush water is also directed from two additional outlets to provide flushing action. The toilet is fixtured for wall mounting at an adjustable height which may be changed by merely repositioning mounting bolts on a pair of vertical supports. Sewage pipes are telescoping or extendable for accommodating a vertical positioning range.

Abstract: The present invention provides an identification device, and a method of use therefor. The identification device comprises a label holder, at least one label, and a strap or adhesive bond to secure the label holder to a storage container. The label holder preferably has a box frame and a slot therein. A slot entrance aperture allows the insertion of the label or labels into the slot. A window in an exterior wall of the label holder provides visual access to at least a portion of the information on the label. Each of the labels has a tab extending outwardly from the slot entrance aperture as well as printed information on at least one side of the label concerning the age of, the nature of, and the approximate amount of the contents of the storage container. In its preferred mode, the identification device also includes an indicator. The indicator preferably is attached to the box frame by an oval shaft that fits into a hole with a plurality of detents.

Abstract: A remotely controllable door lock actuating device has a door strike that is actuated by a solenoid which is controlled by an electrical circuit responsive to a remote energy signal. The electrical circuit causes a solenoid to manipulate the door strike, causing the door strike to move between a door locking position and a door unlocking position. In the door locking position, the door strike engages a conventional spring-biased door bolt. In the door unlocking position, the door strike changes its position to release the bolt. The invention may be powered by household electric current and may include a switch to deactivate it.

Abstract: A boxing exercise apparatus is mounted on a stand. A pivoted support arm provides a strike absorbing means. In a first embodiment, the support arm is connected to the stand with a spring joined to a rigid rod. The rigid rod is preferably positioned in a neutral position with an integral positioning means. Displacement of the support arm away from the neutral position toward a rocked-back position is counteracted by the spring. In a second embodiment, the apparatus further includes a second spring joining segments of the stand so as to bias lateral movement of the support arm. When the support arm is deflected, the first spring and the second spring retards the motion of the support arm within two degrees of freedom. A friction adjustment is provided so as to adjust motion stiffness. This adjustment provides a novel approach using a friction washer.

Abstract: A slide hammer has end blocks of a material that will not damage wooden boards when it is used to tap the boards into place. The slide hammer includes a slide rod or bar and a weighted hammer movable on the slide rod. With one of the end blocks in contact with a board, the hammer is moved into contact with one of the end blocks in a vigorous manner to drive the board into place. The edges of the end blocks are configured so as to allow the unit to be positioned in tight spaces between the boards and any surrounding walls.