Abstract: An amusement article used in playing a game includes a sock having a padded tubular enlargement extending beyond the toe thereof. Each player of the game wears at least one of the special socks and the object is to effect extraction of the oppenent's sock by stepping on the padded tubular enlargement.

Abstract: A single tube surface operated pump including a piston reciprocally mounted in a cylinder for alternately opening and closing a lateral fluid delivery port and for generating a sonic pressure wave by impacting a column of fluid in a metallic tube extending from the cylinder to a remote pumping mechanism located in communication with the fluid to be pumped. The piston is especially configured with a central recess in the face thereof so that the sonic pressure waves generated thereby will pass through a sonic nozzle and move downwardly toward the pumping mechanism in a spiral-like motion against the inner wall of the metallic tube and enter into a sonic intensifier chamber and are reflected off the pumping mechanism into a central column which travels back toward the cylinder and causes the fluid to be pumped to move in that same direction.

Abstract: A connector for demountably attaching an integrated circuit package to a backpanel and forming an electrically conductive pressure coupling between the contacts of the integrated circuit package and the terminal pads of the backpanel. In the preferred embodiment, the connector includes a carrier member upon which the integrated circuit package is mounted and the carrier member has at least one boss extending normally therefrom into a hole formed through the backpanel. The boss of the carrier member has a headed stud extending coaxially therefrom so as to protrude through the hole in the backpanel. A mounting plate is located in contiguous engagement with the opposite surface of the backpanel with the headed stud of the carrier member extending into a special aperture formed through the mounting plate.

Abstract: A liquid applicator for wipingly applying various liquids to various items includes a liquid supply container mounted on one end of a tubular handle with a shutoff valve for metering liquid flow to the handle. A pair of applicator heads adapted for different liquid application movements are interchangeably mounted on the other end of the handle, and each of the applicator heads have a liquid distributor tube for evenly dispensing the liquid to a wicking element carried by the applicator head.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically draining the water from an evaporative cooler when operation thereof is terminated and for periodically draining, flushing and replacing the water during operation of the cooler. The apparatus includes a comparatively small reservoir tank, which depends from the bottom of the cooler, for containing the cooler's water supply and a pump, a siphon drain valve and at least the float of a float controlled water supply shutoff valve. The water is recirculatingly supplied from the tank to the cooler and returns to the tank and that water will increase in mineral concentration and other cooler damaging contaminants during such recirculation. When both the pump and water supply are shutoff, such as upon termination of cooler usage, the apparatus will automatically commence its drainage operational mode wherein the returning water will raise the water level in the tank to prime the siphon drain valve which drains the water from the tank.

Abstract: A clutch and variable ratio torque multiplier having an input shaft upon which a housing having a power output device is coaxially journaled A plurality of balls carried in a disc are rotatably driven by the input shaft and are free to move radially due to centrifugal force, with such rotational and radial movement of the balls taking place in an opposed pair of special axially biased races that are carried in the housing for rotation therewith. At idle RPM of the input shaft, the balls roll freely in the races and zero rotational output of the housing results, and as shaft RPM increases, centrifugal force moves the balls radially and frictional engagement of the balls and the races increases for rotatably driving the housing at ratios which vary with the input shaft RPM. As the ratio approaches 1:1, the races engage friction clutches to lock the housing to the shaft to prevent slippage at higher RPM.

Abstract: Rocker attachments for converting a stationary folding lawn chair into a rocking chair including a spaced pair of arcuate tubular rocking elements which are transversely interconnected by beam structures which are demountably attachable to the chair. The beam structures are demountably connected to the rocker elements for storage and shipping purposes and are movable on the rocker elements to accommodate various sizes of lawn chairs.

Abstract: A machine for cleaning residual and foreign materials from random cracks and expansion joints in pavement subsequent to the opening of such cracks and joints and preparatory to placement of filler-sealer materials therein. The machine includes an open wheeled carriage which carries a platform between its side rails and an engine is mounted on the platform to drive a rotary brush and to drive a blower mechanism. The engine platform is pivotably connected to the carriage for raising and lowering the rotary brush, and the outlet from the blower mechanism is fixed to the wheeled carriage immediately behind the rotary brush.

Abstract: A vehicle mounted fluid spreading apparatus including a fixed spray bar having an extender spray bar mounted on each of the opposite ends thereof by means of swing joints so that each of the extender spray bars are movable about a single angularly disposed axis between extended and stowed positions. The spray bars and the swing joints have dual fluid flow passages formed therethrough so that fluid under pressure from a fluid supply is serially recirculated through the spray bars and swing joints back to the fluid supply when the apparatus is in a standby mode, and is sprayingly applied by actuator controlled self-adjusting nozzles mounted in the spray bars when the apparatus is in the operating mode.

Abstract: A mold box apparatus for casting cementitious building blocks having special channels formed in the sidewalls thereof in which thermally insulative foam is castable.

Abstract: An especially configured carrying box has a plurality of cantilever arms demountably and pivotably mounted therein and display panels are demountably suspended from the cantilever arms. The display panels have fastener devices thereon for demountably supporting miscellaneous articles in organized arrays.

Abstract: An apparatus for culturing and examination of fungi is configured to maintain the sterility of a culture medium and a cover slip until ready for use in accordance with a method which cultures the fungi in an environment which remains undisturbed during microscopic examination of the cultured fungi.

Abstract: A ground wheel drive apparatus for producing rotational power to drive seed planters, fertilizer applicators or other devices of the type carried on a farm machine. The apparatus includes a fixed frame for mounting on the toolbar of the farm machine and that frame has a transverse drive shaft journaled thereon. A trailing frame is pivotably carried on the transverse drive shaft and has a ground engaging wheel journaled on its extending end. One end of the transverse drive shaft is coupled to the ground engaging wheel and the other end is coupled to the devices on the farm machine so that rotation of the wheel drives the transverse shaft which in turn drives the devices on the farm machine.

Abstract: A plurality of die segments are assembled to form a male die for use in a press brake, and the male die assembly is provided with at least a pair of workpiece locating die segments which, at the start of the workpiece forming operation, move into registered engagement with blind recesses formed along an intended forming centerline of the workpiece for precision positioning thereof prior to completion of the workpiece forming operation.

Abstract: A pump, siphon drain valve, and at least the float portion of a float controlled shutoff valve are located in a comparatively small water reservoir tank which is dependingly formed in the floor pan of an evaporative cooler to locate the cooler's water supply externally of its cabinet and are operative to recirculatingly supply water to the cooler and receive the returning water. The water, which increases in mineral concentration during such recirculation, is periodically drained from the tank by shutting off the pump so that the returning water will elevate the water level in the tank and prime the siphon drain valve. When the pump and water inlet supply are both shutoff, the tank completely drains, and when the pump alone is shutoff, tank draining, flushing and refilling is accomplished.

Abstract: The fifth wheel assembly by which the trailer is demountably coupled to the tractor of a tractor-trailer vehicle is releasably operated by a special decoupling tool which includes a lever bar having a handle end opposite to a fulcrum end with an elongated hook member pivotably mounted therebetween. To unlock the fifth wheel assembly, to allow decoupling of the tractor and trailer, the hook member is looped over the fifth wheel release handle and the fulcrum end of the lever bar is placed in bearing engagement with a suitable side surface of the vehicle so that movement of the lever bar about its fulcrum end will pull the fifth wheel release handle.

Abstract: A thermal energy storage and utilization system including at least a pair of especially configured liquid containing tanks interconnected by a heat exchanger for transferring thermal energy therebetween so that one of the tanks becomes a cold storage tank and the other becomes a heat storage tank. Various types of thermal energy input and output devices are connected to the liquid containing tanks for selectively supplying and/or utilizing the thermal energy stored therein.

Abstract: Automatic or semiautomatic firearms which operate on the blowback principle are equipped to fire more powerful cartridges by the provision of a simple lightweight mechanical recoil movement delaying mechanism which increases the breech opening delay time so that the higher gas pressure in the weapon's firing chamber resulting from the use of more powerful cartridges will have time to drop to a safe level. A second embodiment of the recoil movement delaying mechanism is employed to provide a simple inexpensive locking device for use on automatic or semiautomatic firearms which operate on the locked breech principle.

Abstract: An elongated strap for looped positioning around a person's neck is provided with coupling devices on its ends for suspendingly carrying an instrument such as a camera, binoculars, and the like. A cover bag of flexible nonporous material is disposed in an inverted position with its closed bottom being affixed to the straps adjacent the coupling devices in a manner which places the coupling devices and the instrument carried thereby within the bag. The open end of the bag faces downwardly and is provided with means for closing the opening. In use, the bag is opened and pulled upwardly to turn it inside out and expose the instrument for use.

Abstract: A device for practicing putting strokes includes flexible side walls which enclosingly define the putter's swing area and the intended travel path of a struck golf ball so that a faulty putting swing may be detected when the struck ball deviates from the intended path. The side walls extend between a spaced pair of vertical support surfaces and are adjustably demountably interlaced in slots therein so that the spacing between the supports and the spacing between the side walls may be altered. The flexible side walls may be formed by a single elongated flexible strap. Weighted stabilizer blocks may be attached to the outwardly facing surfaces of the side walls. The practice device may also be configured to provide for anchoring of the supports to suitable fixed objects.