Abstract: A performance enhancing and force absorbing dental appliance adapted to lie within the mouth of an athlete consists of an occlusal posterior pad made of triple composite material with a base having a top layer of impressionable material, an intermediate layer of hard material and a somewhat impressionable bottom layer, engageable with the occlusal surfaces to space apart the upper and lower teeth, to absorb shock and clenching stress. An adjustable arch adapted to expand and contract to be molded to the palate is provided connecting the posterior pads together within the mouth and out of the way of the tongue to maintain the position of the occlusal posterior pads within the mouth during use and to prevent loss of the pads such as by swallowing. An optional expandable stiffener may be embedded in the arch. Optional protrusions extend from the bottom layer through the intermediate layer and top layer to engage the central fossae of the molar teeth.

Abstract: A portable wall partition having a three point pivoting 360.degree. articulate pinch less hinge connecting two panels which may pivot 360.degree. with respect to each other. The hinge has two opposing couplers, each having a toothed semicircular portion meshed with the opposing coupler toothed semicircular portion. Each coupler is adapted to be connected to one of the panels to be pivoted with respect to each other. A pin is in each coupler extending along an axis of the semicircular portion thereof. A link connects each pin to maintain the meshed engagement of the couplers through 360.degree. of coupler pivotal rotation with respect to each other. The link has a sufficient width substantially that of the width of the coupler body as to block and prevent the meshed semicircular portions from pinching an individual's finger or object. The portable wall partition has two full panel end members which provide support, rigidity, privacy, and noise reduction.

Abstract: Fluid is efficiently and uniformly removed from successive bodies of a product by a combination of finely perforated wedge shaped hollow blades sufficiently long as to fully penetrate the product body depth, a series of vacuum suction tubes arranged within the blades for pressure differential removal of accumulated free fluid from the lowest point of the product body, a pneumatic or other cylinder to provide linear motion, position control, and cyclic variation in applied load for introduction and withdrawal of each blade and suction tube assembly to and from successive bodies of the product, and mechanism allowing the blade and suction tube assembly to travel only in a defined linear path for repeatable unimpeded entry to and withdrawal from successive product containers, each of which is mechanically fed into and precisely held in a series of locations directly beneath wedge and suction tube assemblies.

Abstract: An optical disc cartridge handling apparatus, which has a removable cartridge magazine for loading and unloading groups of cartridges into the apparatus, for storing, handling, reading and writing of the optical discs stored within the cartridges. A flipper mechanism is provided to receive one of the cartridges from either of the magazine or an optical disc drive within the apparatus. Means are included for rotating the flipper mechanism about a common center line for inverting the cartridge within the flipper mechanism. A picker mechanism is included for moving the cartridge into and out of the flipper mechanism from either the magazine or the optical disc drive. A traverse mechanism is provided for supporting and moving the flipper mechanism along an axis of motion to locate the flipper mechanism adjacent either a particular slot of the magazine or the cartridge slot of the optical disc drive.

Abstract: A self-deploying cover for the cab of a vehicle, including a roof, windshield, rear window and side windows, the cover comprising a fabric sheet having substantially the general dimensions of the cab for enclosing the cab when the cover is placed on the vehicle. A collapsible, semi-rigid frame or spring rod is along the periphery of the sheet for deploying the cover to an expanded state from a stored state. Connectors are provided for attaching the cover to the vehicle, suitably at the wheel wells. In another embodiment, the cover includes a skirt for covering other lower areas of the vehicle. In a third embodiment, the skirt also has a collapsible, semi-rigid frame or a spring for deploying the skirt.

Abstract: The forced air helmet heater and defroster system for sport and utility vehicles begins with a small motor driven blower. This blower is mounted or fastened to the vehicle and adapted to draw in cold, fresh air from the exterior of the vehicle and force it through a heat source. The heat source warms or tempers this cold fresh air. Then, depending on system configuration, the air exiting the heat source is either forced to an insulated helmet delivery conduit equipped with a break-away connection on the inlet end and a diffuser on the exit end, or it can first be routed to an optional temperature control junction and then to the insulated helmet delivery conduit. The vehicle rider may then place the delivery conduit's exit diffuser between the interior side of the helmet and their cheek or chin whereby the expelling warm air flushes the helmet's interior thus warming the rider's face and breathing air as well as keeping the rider's face shield and eyeglasses defrosted and fog free.

Abstract: A hypobarically-controlled artificial limb for amputees includes an outer socket, a flexible, compressible inner socket within the outer socket with a cavity for receiving the residual limb, a space between the inner socket and the outer socket, a vacuum source connected to the cavity, a positive pressure source connected to the space, a regulator for controlling the vacuum source and positive pressure source, and a seal for making an airtight seal between the residual limb and the socket. Another embodiment includes a semi-compressible molding material in the space to mold to the contours of the residual limb under the influence of vacuum and/or positive pressure. Another embodiment includes a positive mechanical interlock between the inner socket and the outer socket.

Abstract: A wheel crushing apparatus for crushing scrap vehicle wheels to prepare the scrap wheels for recycling, the scrap wheels having a tire mounted on the wheel, consists of an engine, a hydraulic pump driven by the engine, a single hydraulic cylinder and piston driven by the hydraulic pump, a crushing head to hold the wheel and tire for crushing the wheel, a number of crushing arms concentric about the crushing head, and radially movable between an extended position wherein the crushing arms contact the tire tread and a contracted position wherein the wheel is crushed, and a linkage connecting all of the crushing arms to the single hydraulic piston, so that all of the crushing arms are driven by the single hydraulic piston between the extended position and the contracted position.

Abstract: A performance enhancing and force absorbing dental appliance adapted to lie within the mouth of an athlete consists of an occlusal posterior pad made of triple composite material with a base having a top layer of impressionable material, an intermediate layer of hard material and a somewhat impressionable bottom layer, engageable with the occlusal surfaces to space apart the upper and lower teeth, to absorb shock and clenching stress. An adjustable arch adapted to expand and contract to be molded to the palate is provided connecting the posterior pads together within the mouth and out of the way of the tongue to maintain the position of the occlusal posterior pads within the mouth during use and to prevent loss of the pads such as by swallowing. An optional expandable stiffener may be embedded in the arch. Optional protrusions extend from the bottom layer through the intermediate layer and top layer to engage the central fossae of the molar teeth.

Abstract: An adjustable and customized dental appliance for the mouth of an athlete is comprised of an occlusal posterior pad for each side of the posterior teeth engageable with the occlusal surfaces to space apart the teeth and to absorb shock and clenching stress. An adjustable band is provided connecting the posterior pads together within the mouth and out of the way of the tongue to maintain the position of the occlusal posterior pads within the mouth during use and to prevent loss of the pads such as by swallowing.

Abstract: A combination knapsack including a mat permanently attached to one of the walls of a main storage compartment and a flap permanently attached to another of the walls of the main storage compartment. In a storage mode of use, the mat is completely retained within the main storage compartment of the knapsack and the flap covers the opening to the main storage compartment. In an operational mode of use, the mat is fully extended outside the knapsack and the flap is either on the knapsack or on the mat to be used as a headrest or pillow. In another embodiment, the knapsack further comprises a blanket that may be closed about the legs of the wearer in a sitting position and an insulating handwarming muff.

Abstract: A sticker dispenser for holding a tape of stickers and dispensing the stickers one at a time consists of a case; a loading door for inserting the stickers into the case; a movable plunger mounted to the case and movable between an extended position and a retracted position and biased in the extended position by a spring and the plunger having a gear rack; geared wheels meshing with the gear rack for moving the stickers out of the dispenser; and a sticker door for engaging and guiding the tape of stickers as it leaves the case.