Abstract: A play toy for an animal, the toy being formed of an elongated tubular member of flexible material, the member having closed sides and ends, and at least one weight part in the member to develop forces therein, from where it is held by an animal, toward said weight part when moved by the animal so that the weight part tends to move around or away from the holding position. For dogs, for example, the weight parts are tennis balls, or for a smaller dog, smaller balls, and for cats, the weight parts may be sacks of catnip secured in the tubular member.

Abstract: A stubble eradicating implement adapted for earth traversing movement along a ridge having stubble and other debris thereon and having furrows on opposite sides of the ridge, the implement having a frame, guide wheels mounted on the frame; a pair of concavo-convex disk blades mounted on the frame in fore and aft spaced relation rearwardly of the guide wheels for free rotation about individual axes lying in vertical planes oppositely forwardly convergent with the ridge and oppositely forwardly inclined in their respective planes so that the concave faces of the disks are forwardly and upwardly disposed with the disk blades overlapping in earth engagement centrally of the ridge to discharge stubble and debris from the ridge into adjacent furrows, a first furrowing shovel mounted on the frame rearwardly of the disk blades in alignment with the ridge to discharge soil onto stubble and debris in the furrows, a compacting roller mounted on the frame rearwardly of each of the first shovels in alignment with their re

Abstract: A fastening mechanism for the interconnection of the opposite ends of a watch band or the like, the mechanism having a key for auxiliary use with a handle portion borne by one of the opposite ends of the watch band, affording shoulders convergent in the direction of the band, and an opposite shaft portion; a key holder secured on the other of the ends of the watch band dimensioned to form a recess to receive the handle portion of the key and to engage the shoulders thereof to prevent relative movement between the key and holder in the plane of the handle portion; and a closure received on the holder for selective engagement with the shaft portion of the key to prevent movement of the key from the plane of the handle portion.

Abstract: A carrying case for skis and related equipment in which the case is formed of first and second members elongated with respect to the ski length and having a width adapted to receive a pair of skis juxtaposed with their bottoms on substantially the same supporting levels, the members being hinged along one side in the elongated direction so as to be pivotal into open and closed positions and having clamps along a side opposite said one side adapted to secure the members together in the closed position, holding devices associated with the first member to removably secure the skis juxtaposed in the first member, and supporting material in the first member to protectively support the ski bottoms at said levels.

Abstract: A device for separating a plural phase fluid system into constituent phases having different specific gravities providing a vortexing chamber with a closed upper end, a lower end and a sidewall constituting a surface of revolution; a tubular vortex finder mounted concentrically in the upper end of the chamber having an upper end above the chamber and a lower end within the chamber, the sidewall having an inlet adjacent to the upper end for directing the fluid system tangentially into the chamber to swirl downwardly within the chamber for centrifugal separation of the heavier phase outwardly and downwardly while the lighter phase is discharged upwardly through the vortex finder; an auxiliary vortexing chamber concentrically downwardly extended within the vortexing chamber downwardly spaced from the vortex finder having a sidewall constituting a surface of revolution, a closed upper end, and an open lower end; and a tubular auxiliary vortex finder mounted concentrically in the upper end of the auxiliary chamber

Abstract: A device for increasing the leverage on a motorcycle center stand to position it to support a motorcycle vertically. The center stand is pivotally secured to the motorcycle main frame and is formed of laterally spaced legs adapted to support the motorcycle on their lower ends in an at rest position. Upper end portions of the legs are pivotally mounted to the frame, the stand being normally spring biased on the pivot mounting in the upwardly non-functional position. A side arm on the stand extends outwardly of the motorcycle in the non-functional position and is adapted to move the stand downwardly against the force of the spring to a rearwardly-vertical position and then past the pivot center to a forwardly-vertical position against the weight of the motorcycle to raise the motorcycle to a steady at rest position with the lower ends of the stand legs on the ground surface under the motorcycle.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning containers using a fluid, the apparatus having a tank adapted to receive the fluid; a shaft mount secured on the tank, having a fluid tight exterior within the tank and extending through the tank to an end portion disposed externally of the tank; a tubular shaft mounted for rotational movement on the shaft mount and having a first end portion within the tank enwardly of the shaft mount and a second end portion disposed externally of the tank; a cleaning brush affixed on the first end portion of the shaft for rotation therewith; a drive mechanism connected in driving relation to the second end portion for rotation of the shaft and the brush borne thereby; a pumping assembly interconnecting the tank and the second end portion of the shaft to pump the fluid from the tank and through the shaft to the brushes; and a container mount secured on the shaft mount within the tank for holding a container in position for cleaning by the brush.

Abstract: A water cushion particularly suited for use in supporting a human body in a seated disposition in an automobile, wheel chair and the like with a greater degree of safety. The cushion includes a flexible envelope adapted to be filled with water including a first zone configured to receive in supporting relation the buttock of a seated person and having defined therein an unbaffled chamber, and a second zone for receiving in supporting relation the thighs of the person having defined therein a plurality of chambers arranged in mutual parallelism and communicating with the chamber of the first zone, whereby the rigidity of the second zone is enhanced as the pressure applied by the weight of the person is increased.

Abstract: A universal joint having a socket and a ball engaged in a bore of the socket, a pair of diametrically opposing slots in the socket wall, a socket driving pin extending through the ball and having its ends extending beyond the ball into said respective slots and being adapted to oscillate therein, and a device associated with the ball and socket to retain the ball in the socket. The pin and ball or the pin and slots are adapted for relative rotation.

Abstract: An improved protective boot particularly suited for use in protecting the shaft of a shock absorber for the front fork of a motorcycle. The boot is characterized by an axially collapsible tubular body formed of substantially impervious, resilient material having multiple series of annular convolutions of mutually unique diameters for facilitating mutual nesting, each series comprising two pairs of convolutions of a truncated configuration adjacently related to a cylindrical annular convolution characterized by opposite walls defining an annular orifice the axial dimension of which varies in response to changes in the length of the shaft.

Abstract: A finger wheel for use in an agricultural implement having a substantially circular unitary backing plate with a plurality of bosses disposed in a circle concentric to the backing plate adjacent to the periphery thereof and projecting axially therefrom and with a plurality of anchors disposed in a circle concentric to the backing plate centrally of the bosses and spaced between alternate pairs of bosses; a plurality of bifurcated substantially identical finger elements each of continuous wire material individually related to the anchors, each having a pair of helical coils individually slidably fitted in circumscribing relation to the bosses adjacent to their respective anchor, a return bend connecting the pair of coils, and a pair of fingers individually extending from the coils radially outwardly from the backing plate; and arcuate clamping plates releasably mounted on the backing plate overlaying the bosses and the anchors and capturing the finger elements thereon.

Abstract: A method of denaturing food products not intended for human consumption including the steps of propelling such products in a flowable comminuted form in a stream, injecting a denaturing agent which is immiscible with the product into the stream so that the agent is distributed longitudinally along the stream, and thereafter accumulating the stream in a striped, striated or marbled mass; an apparatus for such purpose having a conduit, a pump for propelling such products through the conduit, a duct connected to the conduit, and a second pump for propelling the denaturing agent through the duct and into products flowing through the conduit; and the resultant improved denatured product.

Abstract: Upper and lower leg supporting apparatus having hinge means articulated so as to be adjustable laterally toward and away from the leg and so as to be movable with the leg in accordance with the bending of the knee.

Abstract: A mobile herbicide applying machine adapted for ground traversing movement over a field planted with a row crop and having a frame, a blower mounted on the frame, a manifold mounted on the frame and connected to the blower, a cleaning conduit connected to the manifold having an air outlet directed substantially horizontally and laterally of the direction of ground traversing movement adjacent to the ground surface, a spraying conduit connected to the manifold resistively retractable on contact with an obstruction having an air outlet rearwardly of the outlet of the cleaning conduit directed obliquely downwardly against the ground surface, a proportioning valve mounted in the manifold for regulating the relative air flow from the cleaning and spraying conduits, a reservoir for liquid herbicide mounted on the frame, a herbicide nozzle mounted in the outlet of the spraying conduit, a pump for supplying herbicide from the reservoir to the nozzle, and a power drive mechanism connected to the blower and the pump.

Abstract: An apparatus for proportioning and mixing liquids having a plurality of containers each containing a respective said liquid, a plurality of compression chambers individual to said containers connected in fluid communication with their respective containers, pistons individually mounted in the chambers for corresponding movement therein, a mixing head having an outlet and inlets individually connected to the chambers, and a system for sequentially pressurizing the containers to deliver their respective liquids to their respective chambers, and subsequently correspondingly pressurizing the pistons to deliver in proportioned amounts the liquids therein to their respective inlets of the mixing head.

Abstract: A device for use with a photographic apparatus adapted to project an image, the device having a base dimensioned to receive a photographically sensitized sheet in fixed position; and a shield borne by the base for overlaying a sensitized sheet received on the base and having a flap portion movable between a first position in which the image can be projected on the flap portion for test purposes and a second position in which a portion of the sensitized sheet is exposed to the projected image.

Abstract: A method and a probe adapted to be inserted into a socket valve for an hermetically sealed container having confined therein a body of toxic fluid. The probe is characterized by a cylindrical configuration adapted to be telescopically inserted into a tubular sleeve of a socket valve and supported thereby for rotation relative thereto for thus opening and closing the valve, a container vent for introducing atmospheric pressure into the container as toxic fluid is extracted therefrom, and for washing residue from the internal surfaces of the container subsequent to extraction of the toxic fluid from the container.

Abstract: A keyboard musical stringed instrument having a plurality of vibratory strings; a plurality of projections individually related to the strings and rotated by a powered drive in individual orbits for engagement of their respective strings, a plurality of supports individually mounting the projections for engagements with their respective strings to a depth and with a rapidity which produces sounds resembling those of a bowed stringed musical instrument, and a plurality of key mechanisms individually related to the rings for selectively causing said engagement and for varying said engagement for the production of dynamic effects.

Abstract: A stuffing apparatus for a machine adapted to deliver objects having cavities to be stuffed successively to a stuffing station, the stuffing apparatus having a feeding head borne by the machine in juxtaposition to the stuffing station; a slicing assembly mounted on the feeding head; a conveyor assembly for feeding a ribbon of stuffing material to the slicing assembly for successive severing into segments of the material; an assembly disposed between the feeding head and stuffing station for successively dilating the cavities of objects in the stuffing station; and a plunger mechanism adapted to thrust successive segments from the slicing assembly and feeding head and into the cavities of objects in the stuffing station.

Abstract: A grapevine generally similar to the Perlette unpatented grapevine but which bears grapes which ripen approximately 10 days later than the Perlette and 15 days earlier than the Thompson Seedless unpatented grapevine, and which are somewhat pear shaped and exceptionally crisp.