Abstract: A bird feeder which includes a cylindrically shaped outer shell. The shell is free to move about a structure having first and second generally drum-like faces. The first drum-like face defines a feeding trough and access to a storage chamber. Attached to the second drum-like face is means for mounting the feeder so that both faces are disposed generally vertically. Whereas birds can feed while resting on perches which protrude outwardly from the first drum-like face, non-flying predatory animals such as squirrels must approach the feeder along its outer periphery, traversing the shell in the process. As the predator tries to climb onto the feeder, the outer shell spins; and the animal loses both its footing and any chance of using the feeder. The storage chamber can be easily filled without removing the bird feeder from its mounting. A funnel connects the storage chamber with the feeding trough to insure a smooth flow of bird feed from the chamber to the trough.

Abstract: A pair of holding arms which can be installed quickly and used to press a workpiece in a safe manner against a guide fence, regardless of the cuts made upon it, when the workpiece is moved past a shaper having cutter blades rotatably mounted on a stationary shaft. Each holding arm includes a rubber-faced roller, an elongated, solid rod of angular transverse cross-section, and a track-mounted post for supporting the rod in a horizontal position. Contact between the workpiece and the holding arm is made through the roller which is vertically mounted on one end of the rod. The post includes a clutch plate for locking the horizontal extension of the rod. Each roller can be quickly moved forward into contact with the workpiece without releasing the clutch plate. To move the roller backward—away from the workpiece, the user releases the clutch plate with one hand and pulls backward on the rod with the other.

Abstract: A device for killing pathogens that grow on the surface of the evaporator coil within a conventional air conditioner and in the drip pan of its evaporator. Utilizing ultraviolet radiation which is well-known to kill a wide range of pathogens, the device comprises at least one elongated ultraviolet light source. This source is positioned in such a way that its light strikes both the evaporator and the drip pan. Also this source is mounted transversely to the flow path of air passing through the evaporator.

Abstract: A machine which greatly reduces the labor required for repairing flat roofs on commercial and industrial buildings. Formerly, old roofing material usually had to be removed manually from the roof deck before new material could be installed. Removal of this old material was the most labor intensive part of the job. The present labor-reducing machine not only scrapes off the old roofing from the roof deck but also loads any material so scraped into a cart for removal from the roof. The machine comprises a pair of drive wheels, a flat conveyor belt, and a chisel-like front member. To begin the removal process, the latter is first wedged between the old roofing material and the roof deck; and then the drive wheels are used to push the chisel-like front member, when it so wedged, forward. The flat belt conveyor is mounted in close proximity to the front member so that as the old roofing material is being dislodged, it is directed onto the belt.

Abstract: A streaming current detector having a probe in which dielectric elements used to generate the streaming current—specifically, a sleeve for slideably receiving a reciprocating piston and the piston itself—can be replaced independently of the electrodes. Paired electrodes, each positioned proximate with one of the distal ends of the sleeve, are mounted on immobile structures other than the sleeve. The latter include a housing which forms a sheath for the sleeve and a retaining fitting. Threadedly engaged with the housing, this fitting also holds the sleeve in place. Generally, removal and replacement of each probe element can be accomplished in the field in under one minute. Costs of the dielectric elements are only a small fraction of those in the prior art, allowing a consumer to replace them much more frequently, as well as to substitute matched dielectric elements designed for their chemical and/or physical compatibility with a particular test fluid.

Abstract: A portable brining apparatus in which salt beds can be fully utilized between charges while simultaneously producing saturated brine in bulk is claimed. The apparatus comprises at least two salt dissolving tanks, each tank being generally cylindrical in shape and having a conical bottom in which a perforated exit pipe extends upwardly along the centerline thereof. Surrounding the exit pipe is a gravel bed which rests on the conical bottom and serves as a filter. Each tank in the apparatus is initially charged with a bed of salt placed atop the gravel. Valving allows one to maximize salt uptake in flows of water going into and out of the two tanks. When fully charged, the tanks are utilized in a parallel flow mode: water is introduced through spray nozzles placed near the top of each tank and then flows downwardly, in succession, through its salt bed, gravel filter and finally perforated exit pipe. The flows discharged from both tanks are combined in the final effluent.

Abstract: A serving tray partially surrounding a beverage holder with which it is integrally molded to form a single, one piece unit. The beverage holder extends downwardly of the tray and serves both as a container and as a handle. Fluids can be stored in the beverage holder itself and consumed therefrom, using a straw. Alternately, a canned beverage or standard size disposable drinking cup can be snap-fitted within the beverage holder. Disposed with bilateral symmetry about the longitudinal centerline of the beverage holder, the tray extends generally perpendicularly therefrom, as does a flat surface on the bottom of the beverage holder, so that when the latter rests upright on a table, the tray extends approximately horizontally. Within the tray itself is situated a plurality of watertight, shallow open compartments, separated from each other by at least one dividing wall whose distal ends link an outer wall of the tray with the side wall of the beverage holder.

Abstract: An assembly including rolled roofing material that can be easily installed on a roof and a special handling tool. The tool reduces the strain of carrying the roofing material and of raising to the roof. The roofing material, fabricated as an elongated strip which defines a plurality of narrow slots extending perpendicularly from one longitudinal edge thereof, can be formed into a roll or rolled onto a hollow cylinder. The handling tool includes a “U”-shaped tube in which one of its branches is inserted through the hollow core formed by the rolled roofing material itself or, alternately, the hollow cylinder upon which material has been wound. The branch of the “U”-shaped tube so inserted can then be used as an attachment point for a rope, useful in raising the roll of roofing material to the roof. Or one can use the distal end of the “U”-shaped tube as a handle to facilitate carrying the rolled roofing material and placing it on the roof.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling woven wire fencing which in use is attached to a farm tractor. Disposed vertically between upper and lower horizontal framing members within a rectangular frame are a removable shaft, a hinged gate, and a vertical guide bar. The shaft is used to hold the roll of woven wire fencing uprightly atop the metal disk. In use, the wire fencing is simultaneously unrolled and pulled rearwardly through the nearly-closed gate, straightening the fencing material. Guide rails within the gate direct the fencing material towards a pair of horizontal fingers, each rigidly connected to the vertical guide bar and the rear vertical frame member. Once enough fencing material has been unrolled to span at least the distance between two fence posts, the gate is swung shut, clamping the wire against the rear vertical frame member.

Abstract: A computer stand for holding a notebook-type computer at a convenient height for use in a motor vehicle. The stand, which is free-standing, holds the computer in sight and reach of the driver and is particularly useful for reading location maps. It also facilitates the use of the computer in modem/facsimile operations while a commuter is in transit. The computer stand comprises a weighted base, a flexible column and a platform for detachably mounting a laptop computer. Weights in the base provide ballast for the computer stand. The column has both a telescopic section and a flexible segment so that the position of the platform can be easily adjusted, bringing any computer mounted thereon in reach and sight of the user without interfering with the seating or control of the vehicle.

Abstract: A pair of brackets for hanging a window blind which are both easy to install and to remove and which can be used to facilitate cleaning the blind. Each bracket includes a four-sided structure which, except for its being open on both its top and one of its vertical sides, is generally in the shape of a rectangular prism. Each bracket, which is a mirror image of the other, can be fabricated as single, unitary piece from sheet metal. Folded downwardly from the upper edge of a vertical side panel in this structure is an external flap. The bracket is installed with the use of a single screw whose shank is slip fitted into a slot formed in this flap. Since both the flap and the screw head are hidden behind the vertical side panel, neither the flap nor the screw head can interfere with the subsequent placement of a window blind mounting bar in the bracket.