Abstract: A ramp assembly for loading/unloading pickup trucks which includes at least one pair of hinged panel members across which, when fully extended, cargo can be transferred. Mounted on a truck in such a way that both panel members are disposed rearwardly of its open tailgate, the ramp assembly includes a “T”-shaped support and a “L”-shaped hitch arm. In the latter, two branches of disparate length extend perpendicularly to each other. The longer branch is slideably engageable with a conventional class II or, alternately, class III hitch receiver; the shorter terminates in a transverse opening. Prior to use, the “T”-shaped support, upon its having a leg thereof inserted through this opening, is coupled with the shorter branch. Secured atop the support are bearing posts which extend upwardly therefrom and define holes for slideably receiving an elongated shaft.

Abstract: A highway-vehicle system for high speed travel which comprises a below-ground structure defining a cavity and a narrow slot extending upwardly therefrom to the roadway surface. Each vehicle in the system is equipped with a projecting member which, in its folded configuration, can be lowered into the slot. The projecting member includes a pair of stabilization wheels and a pair of hydraulically or pneumatically-actuated brake shoes. Once the projecting member has been lowered into the cavity, the wheels automatically unfold, so that they assume horizontal positions and press against opposing sidewalls of the cavity. With the wheels so deployed, the vehicle can be safely driven during high speed cornering and under windy conditions. The wheels can also be used to automatically steer each vehicle. In addition, the wheels are used to conduct electricity in the cavity sidewalls as part of the power takeoff for an electric vehicle.

Abstract: A bra for large breasted women which is both comfortable to wear and allows a user to engage in vigorous physical activity without experiencing discomfort to her breasts. The bra comprises a pair of molded cups, each of which is mounted in a non-stretchable harness member that encircles the breast giving it firm support. Also attached to the harness member is a soft, stretchable cloth cover. The cover both enhances the appearance of the bra and provides additional support for the breast. The two harness members, which are generally mirror images of each other, are removably fastened together in the front by a heavy duty zipper. Rearwardly, each individual harness member is supported by three straps which encircle the user's body. Among these straps are an elastic waistband, a wide shoulder strap of adjustable length, and an underarm strap.

Abstract: A three-piece cleat assembly for use on athletic shoes which have, embedded in their soles, an interlocking receptacle, such as that used in the Q-LOK R system. Molded of plastic, the cleat assembly includes a connector, a traction-enhancing member and a T-shaped member. The latter includes a stem from one end of which arms project outwardly. Distal from these arms, the stem is bifurcated into two branches. During assembly, the stem of the T-shaped member is inserted through a center hole in the traction-enhancing member; and the branches are squeeze-fitted into et square bore within the connector. Upon being released, the branches spring apart, pressing against the connector. Simultaneously, the arms nest snugly within troughs formed in the base of the traction-enhancing member; and a barb on the tip of each branch is caught on a shoulder rimming the square bore.

Abstract: A gang mower mountable on a tractor and having a plurality of independently-cutting mower units whose cutting heads are individually powered by hydraulic motors. Each mower unit is suspended from the end of a support arm which can move vertically through a distance of about 12 inches, each mower unit is itself mounted beneath a swivel ball joint that allows the mower to undergo pitch, roll and yaw motions as well as the up and down movements of the support arm. Moreover, this mower suspension mechanism allows each of the mower units to hold the ground due to its own weight alone and does not require any stabilizing force to be applied through springs or otherwise. The freedom of motion of the suspension mechanism in combination with an independent drive for each mower unit yields a gang mower with a smooth, wide-cut mowing action.

Abstract: An improved angular golf tee made from a single unity piece of plastic which defines an elongated, ribbed body and a tapered structure with a shoulder. Distal ends of the ribbed body terminate in the shoulder and in a thin ring, respectively. Properly inserted into the earth, the tapered structure is disposed vertically; and the ribbed body is bent away from the vertical by an angle of about 30 degrees. This configuration allows one to direct the upper end of the ribbed body toward himself, so that there is less chance of the tee and any golf ball resting thereon being hit simultaneously. The ribbed body further defines a pair of open, elongated cavities between which protrudes an elongated, vertical, flat rib. The pair of elongated cavities and rib are capped by the thin ring which terminates upwardly in a horizontally-disposed rim. Sloping inwardly from the rim, the ring defines a concave hollow, whose curvature closely matches that of the exterior surface of a standard-size golf ball.

Abstract: An assembly including rolled shingle 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 includes a membrane attached by pressure-sensitive adhesive to a plurality of standard flat roofing shingles so as to create a continuous array of shingles which can be formed into a roll or rolled onto a spool. This membrane also serves as a release sheet to prevent thermally-activated adhesive present on the shingles from causing them to stick together in the roll. Alternately, roofing material pre-cut with slots to resemble shingles is rolled together with a release sheet placed on the bottom of the material so as to isolate a thermally-activated adhesive applied thereto from other surfaces. In the assembly, either type of roofing material can be used with the special handling tool.

Abstract: An attachment which can be mounted on popular weight lifting exercise equipment, to facilitate workouts using hand-held weights commonly referred to as dumbbells. The attachment comprises a rack assembly on which an athlete can support up to two dumbbells simultaneously. Readily adaptable for use with any weight lifting bench, the attachment includes a pair of mounting legs rigidly attached to distal ends of the rack assembly and an extension bar slideably connected to opposing parts of this assembly for adjusting the span between these mounting legs. By utilizing the span adjusting means, one can align the mounting legs with the weight support columns of any particular weight lifting bench even though the spacing between these columns may differ substantially from that of other benches.

Abstract: A tool for supporting a rain gutter during its installation on a fascia board. The tool has a height-adjustable bracket and locking pliers with jaws having wide, flat working faces. Once several such tools are temporarily locked onto the lower edge of the fascia board, not only can they be used to support an elongated gutter but also each of the tools can be moved vertically without disturbing the pliers clamping it to the board, thereby making these tools especially handy for setting the height and slope of the gutter. For holding the adjustable bracket in position, each tool includes a mounting block which is rigidly attached to the back of a fixed jaw of the locking pliers and defines a pair of holes which extend parallel to the plane of the working face of the fixed jaw. The bracket is formed from an elongated rod bent to form an angular structure which terminates in a pair of parallel branches slideably insertable into the holes formed in the block.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for monitoring, in real time, the quality of a flowing fluid stream and of automatically taking samples therefrom when the level of particulate matter in the flow stream exceeds an acceptable limit for a predetermined period of time. The apparatus includes a particle monitor and at least one three-way valve electronically linked via a programmable logic controller to the particle monitor. Not only is the latter an instrument for continuously measuring, on-line, numbers known as particle indices which are indicative of particulate matter concentrations in the flow stream, but also the particle monitor generates electronic signals. Both these signals and the particle index are proportional to fluctuations in the intensity of a light beam traversed by particles which are present in a portion of the flow stream during a fixed interval of time. Importantly, the particle monitor can detect relatively short-lived "spikes" in the level of 0.

Abstract: A dumbbell support attachment which can be employed to modify a conventional weight lifting bench for use with dumbbells. A holder on which up to two dumbbells can be rested simultaneously at the beginning and end of an exercise routine is included in the attachment. This holder, which is part of a rack assembly which is rigidly attached to both a horizontal support bar and a pair of vertical mounting legs in the attachment, has a curved inner surface which opens upwardly and has a radius of curvature which is larger than that of the outer periphery of the heaviest dumbbell weights to be used. Generally "J"-shaped in transverse cross-section, the rack assembly includes an angular member rigidly attached to the horizontal support bar along its entire length and other features to strengthen it structurally. The holder itself defines two cutouts through which a user, as he lies on the weight bench, can reach to grab the dumbbell and lift it from its resting position.

Abstract: A portable golf game apparatus with multiple targets which are individually identifiable by symbols in a recognizable sequence marked thereon. Prior to a game, the targets are placed, in successive relationship, in a playing field. The targets include cups, the upper edges thereof being disposed level with the surface of the ground during play. Flags and markers are deployed to help guide players through the sequence of the cups to be played and to supply information as to the direction the ball needs to be struck to reach the next cup. Means for removably mounting one of the flags on each of the cups is provided; the markers, on the other hand, are self-supporting. After the game, the cups are removed and stored together. Stackable, the cups can be placed end to end form a hollow tube. End caps can be secured to the tube so as to close it. The resultant closed container can then be used to store a putter and golf balls as well as the flags and markers.

Abstract: A horizontally-mounted, rotatable drum for mixing chemical additives with an aqueous suspension in order to promote agglomeration of suspended solids and for simultaneously separating water from them. With the drum, slurries of mining silt, clay, sludge and the like already partially dewatered to between about 50% and 60% moisture content can be further dewatered; reductions to 40% moisture content have been obtained. Supplied as a wet slurry to the drum through a hollow tube which also serves as an axle, the slurry is diverted, through a tubular branch fluidly connected to the tube, towards a vertical wall forming one end of the drum. Fed at a rate of between 200 and 300 gallons per minute, the slurry forcefully impinges against the vertical wall, simultaneously subjecting agglomerated particles in the slurry to high shear forces and freeing water. Downstream, before each of two spaced apart, annular retaining rings affixed to the drum, the slurry tends to pool.

Abstract: An apparatus having a plurality of elongated, open channels for storing, displaying and dispensing rolled socks. Terminating at its lower end in a base, each channel defines an elongated viewing slot which extends vertically substantially the length thereof. So that socks inserted through the slot drop downwardly within the channel to be supported by the base, the minimum span of a transverse cross-section of each channel is somewhat larger than the diameter of a pair of rolled socks. At the same time, both the channel and the slot are sufficiently narrow to retain pairs of rolled socks in magazine type fashion. Socks located in any position within the confines of one of the channels can be readily removed therefrom through its respective viewing slot. The apparatus also includes a mounting frame so that the unit can be either flush or surface mounted on a wall.

Abstract: A sling assembly for hands free carrying of a compound archery bow. Weight adjustment screws, components of a conventional bow, are employed to attach the sling assembly thereto without structurally modifying it. However, once the sling assembly has been so attached, the bow must be retensioned prior to use. Included in the sling assembly are two small brackets which are mirror images of each other and have first and second arms set at an obtuse angle to each other. Each bracket defines a pair of longitudinally extending prongs which can be slid into position around a weight adjustment screw without actually removing it from the bow. The sling assembly also includes a flexible strap secured to the brackets with the use of elongated slots formed in each of them. In use, the brackets are mounted on a bow in such a way that the elongated slots are disposed close to the bow.