Abstract: A corner tank especially configured to fit the contour of a corner of a room produces the optical appearance of a tank of rectangularly solid shape while occupying only one-quarter of the volume. The tank has a horizontal cross sectional profile in the shape of a right isoceles triangle and includes a front vertical member of transparent material and two side vertical members having reflective surfaces facing the interior of the tank. With the side members located adjacent and parallel to the abutting walls of the corner of a room, the tank appears, to an observer looking through the front member, to possess substantially greater volume with the increased volume appearing to extend into the walls of the corner. Tank supporting structures and hoods of congruous configuration and operation can be employed with the corner tank.

Abstract: A locker latching assembly having a recessed mounting receptacle with a horizontal double bolt mounted thereon for sliding reciprocal movement. The double bolt having a front bar and a back bar welded together at opposite ends. The front bar having the improvement comprising an outwardly extending, U-shaped protrusion located within the receptacle. The U-shaped protrusion providing several benefits including: limiting movement of the slide bolt past latched and unlatched positions, preventing an individual from jimmying a locked assembly, and serving as a means to pull the locker door open when the bolt is in an unlatched position.

Abstract: A fault detection apparatus which monitors a heat pump system used for maintaining a selected temperature in an enclosed space is disclosed. The apparatus includes measuring the run time for a heat pump compressor, ascertaining the status of the heat pump reversing valve, measuring the run time of an auxiliary heating unit, measuring the run time of the defrost cycle of the heat pump, and sensing outdoor temperature. The compressor, the auxiliary heating unit, and the defrost cycle run times are each compared with their respective expected run times for the outdoor temperature sensed and for a known heat loss rate for the enclosed space. The apparatus will send out an alarm signal when the heat pump system fails to operate within the expected parameters.

Abstract: A locker handle assembly has a recessed mounting receptacle with a slide bolt mounted thereon for horizontal reciprocal movement. The slide bolt employs a double bar construction and includes a front bar, to which an operating handle may be attached, and a back bar. The front and back bars are held together at opposite ends and in a spaced-apart relationship such that the front bar passes through longitudinally extending slots in the mounting receptacle and the back bar passes behind a rear wall of the receptacle. The slide bolt may be secured in a latched position by a lock cooperating with lock engaging means attached to the slide bolt.

Abstract: A device for maintaining a flexible trash bag in an opened mouthed and vertical receiving position regardless of terrain having three legs which are adjustable in length to accommodate lands of pitching characteristics. The legs being of a plastic tubular design adapted to telescopically collapse to the approximate dimensions of a frame and lock at the plane of the frame by means of a locking ring to achieve minimum storage space. Removable suction leg tips are provided for indoor use.

Abstract: A solar collector assembly designed for installation in a southerly facing wall in order to heat the interior of an enclosed structure. The assembly comprises a transparent window combined with an outwardly extending fixed upper panel for blocking out the rays of the summer sun and an inwardly extending fixed lower panel with a reflective top surface for directing the rays of the sun inside during the cooler months. The window and fixed panels are situated in an open rectangular frame so that the window is tilted at an appropriate angle from the horizontal in order to maximize the thermal benefits of the sun. The frame provides both structural integrity and a means for mounting the solar assembly in the wall of the building. A hinged panel is attached to the outside of the assembly for shading the lower portion of the window when desired.

Abstract: Soap-impregnated washcloths are contained in a water-impervious dispenser adapted to be mounted on a showerbath room wall for bathers' convenience.

Abstract: A signalling device that can be attached to a fishing rod and an ice fishing tip up, to alert the angler to the strike or biting of a fish, by means of an oscilating luminous signal. A cylindrical housing having a removable circuit breaking plug or insert said plug incorporating an attached slotted ring to comfortably retain fishing line and to loop around the flag stem hanger of a tip up. The pressure of a hooked fish removes the plug which completes the circuit thus illuminating the signal.

Abstract: Hard, brittle creosote deposits are removed from a chimney flue by striking the sharp ends of rods of flue cleaning apparatus against the deposits with penetrating impact and creosote chip-producing effect so as to break away creosote adhering to the flue.

Abstract: A bowling ball which has six weight receptacles arranged such that one receptacle is at the intersection of each of the mutually perpendicular X, Y, Z axes emanating from the center of the ball and the outer surface of the ball. A poly-vinyl-chloride cylinder lines each of the receptacles and inserts of predetermined weight can be inserted in various combinations into the receptacles. The weight receptacles are positioned in the ball such that one of the receptacles lies substantially equidistant from the finger holes of the bowling ball.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus is described for cutting an opening in beverage cup lids. This is accomplished by providing a housing, with a slot for orienting and maintaining the lid in a proper cutting position. While the lid is properly held, a cutting assembly mounted inside the housing and containing a cutting blade is slid past the slot, excising that portion of the lid exposed therein. When the cut lid is placed on a beverage containing cup, the contents can be consumed directly through the opening produced by this invention.

Abstract: An improved heat exchanger mat and a method of dislodging and retrieving the mat from the bottom of a solar pond without disturbing an established thermal gradient. The mat is separated from the pond bottom by the injection of a dislodging medium between the mat and the bottom of the pond. When the pond contains a liner, the dislodging medium is injected between the mat and the pond liner. The mat (10) utilizes a dual conduit network of one integral conduit (12) for the flow of heat exchanger fluid and a second integral conduit (26) for the flow of dislodging medium. The dislodging medium enters the dislodging conduit via an inlet (28) and exits through a plurality of outlets (30) located on the underside of the mat. The medium, as it exits, forces the mat upward and frees it from the bottom of the pond. Once the dislodging medium has separated the mat from the pond bottom, attached retrieval cords (20) are used to remove the mat by drawing it up the side of the pond.

Abstract: A tool for removing and replacing automobile wheelbearings without removing either the axle or the bearing housing and without applying pressure to the axle. A frame is provided which is adapted to be secured to the bearing housing. An extractor is movably connected to the frame to travel between an advanced and retracted position. When the frame is secured to the bearing housing, the advanced position of the extractor places it in the bearing housing between the axle and the central opening of the bearing, with the end of the extractor being past the bearing. The end of the extractor is operable between an expanded and retracted state. In its expanded state, the end of the extractor cannot be moved through the central opening of the bearing and thus moving the extractor to its retracted position while it is expanded will draw the bearing out of the housing.

Abstract: A socket wrench extension for effecting a quick release and simultaneous removal of a socket. The extension has a shaft with an attachment located at one end of the shaft adapted to connect to the socket wrench drive and a stud located at the other end for connecting to the socket. A sleeve is rotatably and slideably mounted on the shaft for moving a detent between a released and a locked position. The sleeve also simultaneously releases and urges the socket off the extension.

Abstract: A blade is drawn by means of a rod attached centrally of its cutting edge so that a portion of the blade extends on either side of the rod. An elongate centering device precedes the blade and its protective encasement so as to ensure that the device will not engage side branches of the vein. A catheter follows the valve cutter so that fluid may be introduced into the vein to snap valves shut ahead of the cutting device. The assembly is drawn through a vein by a rod having sufficient torsional rigidity to permit controlled orientation of the blade for efficient engagement and cutting of valve leaflets.

Abstract: A sliding door assembly is secured against intruders and sealed against air leakage and dust penetration by a device universally applicable to sliding door structures which is rigid, generally channel-shaped and fixedly securable to the door frame between a stationary door and a jamb and has a flange carrying a weather sealing strip in contact with the sliding door.

Abstract: A plurality of thin, conductive wires are stretched across the open center of a frame through which the liquid drops to be measured will fall. Adjacent wires are maintained at a potential difference with respect to each other so that when the wires are momentarily connected by a passing conductive drop, the potential of one rises while that for the other falls. The wires are connected to circuitry which detects the change in potential in each individual wire and stores an indication of such change for later use. By counting the number of adjacent wires whose potential has changed, and knowing the dimensions of the wires and the spacing between them, it is possible to calculate drop size to accuracies dependent upon the design dimensions chosen for the device.

Abstract: Hard, brittle creosote deposits are removed from a chimney flue by striking the sharp ends of rods of flue cleaning apparatus against the deposits with penetrating impact and creosote chip-producing effect so as to break away creosote adhering to the flue. The chimney flue cleaning apparatus includes a cleaning head which comprises an elongated body, tapered from one end to the other, a plurality of metal rods fixed to the body and extending laterally therefrom, and a flexible bail having ends secured to intermediate portions within the body.

Abstract: An improved direct process for producing organohalosilanes and particularly diorganodihalosilanes from silicon metal and an organohalide comprising contacting the two reactants in the presence of a partially oxidized copper catalyst having a surface area of at least 3.5 m.sup.2 /gm and wherein 100% of the particles are less than 35 microns in size and wherein 100% of the particles are over 0.7 microns in size.

Abstract: A sensing device determines whether the ferromagnetic properties of a standard acceptable coin are matched by a coin under test. The two are compared in a sensing device which consists of a pair of substantially identical sensing coils wound around tube chutes so that each coin becomes the core of its associated coil. The sensing coils are, in turn, placed within the windings of a larger exciting coil used to induce voltages in the sensing coils. All the coils are rectangular in shape and the coins are forced to remain in an endwise relationship within the sensing coils so that their planes are parallel to the axes of their associated coils. The sensing coils are connected in a series opposed relationship so as to be "bucking" one another. Their combined output is fed into suitable circuitry for determining whether this output goes to zero or a voltage near zero within acceptable limits. If it does, then the coin is accepted as valid. If not, the coin is rejected as invalid.