Abstract: A vehicle is controllably powered to be steerably moved over an area. Mountable on the front is a cutter assembly. Also mounted on the vehicle is a hopper. Mowed cuttings are delivered by a conduit from the cutter to the hopper. That hopper is positioned atop the vehicle and coupled to the delivery end of the conduit. Moreover, the hopper is movable with respect to the vehicle into another position wherein the hopper is disengaged from the conduit and at which latter position cuttings may be easily removed.

Abstract: A showerhead has a series of orifices together with a series of spray outlets and a turbine with a valve for sequentially opening successive ones of the orifices. The turbine is driven by water emitted from a nozzle. A multiply-apertured flow director plate communicates water to the nozzle, the orifices and the outlets. Overlying the director plate is a control plate that selectively couples water to different ones of the apertures in the director plate as the latter is moved by a control ring. First, second and third passages are defined in the showerhead, the first between an aperture in the director plate to the nozzle and also through the valve to the orifices, the second from an aperture in the director plate to the outlets and the third from an aperture in the director plate in bypass of the nozzle but through the valve to the orifices in a manner to retard the speed of the turbine.

Abstract: A ski sling is composed of first and second elongated hollow tubes, the first being the longest and the second being sized to fit within the first. A continuous loop, of adjustable length, of flexible cord runs in series through the interiors of those tubes. The length of the cord is sufficient to enable opposite sides of the loop to be wrapped around a pair of skis with the first tube tucked back between the opposite sides and spaced above the second tube in order to form a sling.

Abstract: A showerhead includes a hollow housing with front and rear openings and a closure in the front opening which defines first and second groups of flow outlets. The showerhead is secured to a supply pipe by a nut which has a snout to captivate a ball and fix the position of a shank that projects from the ball and around which the housing is rotatable. A flow control device rotationally fixed on the shank enables selection of liquid flow through the ball and shank to selected ones of first and second channels that lead to corresponding first and second groups of flow outlets as the housing is rotated about the shank.

Abstract: A water filter connects into a waterline which feeds a faucet separate from the filter. A filter cartridge is seated within a canister and has an inlet and an outlet. The canister is removably attached to a cap in which is disposed an entrance port to communicate with the outlet and an exit port to communicate with the inlet. Also in the cap are an input port for receiving water from the line, an output port for delivering water into the line to feed the faucet, a passage which communicates between the input port and the exit port, a passageway which communicates between the input port and the output port and a channel which communicates between the entrance port and the output port. A diverter in the cap responds to a rate of water flow from the faucet of less than a predetermined amount for opening the passage and the channel and closing the passageway, while being responsive to a rate of flow greater than such amount for closing the passage and the channel but opening the passageway.

Abstract: A food serving tray has a hood shaped to define a generally planar upper surface along with a downwardly depending first marginal skirt. A generally planar lid has an upwardly projecting second marginal skirt that is bonded to the first skirt. A food support is also of generally planar shape and has a downwardly depending third marginal skirt that is bonded to an upwardly-projecting fourth marginal skirt of a likewise generally planar base. The lid is indexed so as to lie in mating relationship atop the support. A liner desirably covers the support.

Abstract: Successively-delivered liquid pulses are led into an elongated hollowed handle of a size and shape to be grasped by the human hand. A nozzle, mounted to the handle, delivers those pulses against the teeth and gums of the user. Also mounted to the handle is a toothbrush for scrubbing the teeth and massaging the gums. Included within the handle are elements that cooperate to drive the toothbrush relative thereto.

Abstract: Copier apparatus is for use with a machine that prepares a copy from an original or master placed atop a surface through which the master is exposed. Defined in the master is a window through which a card placed over the window is exposed along with other matter carried upon the surface of the master. An assembly disposed above the master includes means for accepting a stack of cards which individually carry respective different notations to be exposed through the window. Handling means within the assembly places successive different ones of the cards in a position over the window and correspondingly moves successive ones of those cards from that position into a storage location.

Abstract: A dental appliance has an elongated hollow tube within the interior of which is mounted for rotation an elongated drive shaft. One end of the tube is coupled to a handle as is the drive shaft which is driven from the handle in rotation. A head joined to the other end of the tube defines an interior cavity within which a hub is mounted for rotation about an axis disposed at an angle with respect to the drive shaft. Motion is translated from the drive shaft to the hub. An opening in the head enables the hub to be accessed through the opening. Included in the hub is a barrel section for securing a variety of dental attachments thereto. A seal is created between the opening from the cavity and the hub in order to prevent fluid flow therethrough. Lubricant is introduced within the tube and the drive shaft actuates an augar or the equivalent for propelling the lubricant into the motion translator.

Abstract: A patterning jig for use with a router has a flat template with space-opposed side margins joined by respective front and rear margins. A first opening through the template is spaced inwardly a predetermined distance from one of the side margins and is centered on a line running between those side margins inwardly from the front margin. Also formed in the template is a tongue centered on that line, disposed toward the other of the side margins from the opening and positioned between a pair of open spaces defined through the template. A flat guide projects downwardly from the template parallel to and spaced inwardly of the line from the front margin. Various other accessory components are discussed for expanding upon the facility of usage.

Abstract: To lay a running track, a resilient particulate material is spread over a substrate of a given width. Pressure is applied individually downwardly on the material over a plurality of respective segments of the width, as the material is smeared over and amongst the segments to form a bonded layer of said material which exhibits a continuous and even upper surface across said width. This is accomplished by means of a machine that includes an elongated frame of a length sufficient to span a plurality of lanes of a running track. A plurality of successively-hinged individually-articulatable platens depend from and are distributed along the frame. Each platen has a length corresponding generally to the width of respective ones of the lanes. Means included with respect to each of the platens enables the application of pressure on the material toward the underlying substrate of the track.

Abstract: A dispenser is intended to be used with a container of glue that enables pressurized outflow of the glue from an upstanding neck that is threaded to receive the dispenser. A cap threads upon the neck and has an annular top wall. A hollow snout of resilient material projects upward from the top wall and terminates in an opening that defines a valve seat. A guideway in the snout slidably accepts a rod on the upper end of which is a valve. Encircling the lower end portion of the rod is a ring so sized as to be seatable against the top wall of the cap. A plurality of resilient webs are circumferentially distributed in a normal plane and integrally extend between the ring and the rod with each of those webs generally defining a partial spiral and the webs together enabling longitudinal movement of the rod when the ring is seated against the top wall of the cap.

Abstract: A method for producing a porous plastic molded product of uniform, predictable porosity throughout. A fluidized airstream of moldable plastic powder is formed. Water may be injected into said fluidized powder airstream for maintaining said powder in a uniform, fluidized dispersion. The moisturized, fluidized, powder airstream is injected into a cavity of a closed mold to fill said mold cavity with said powder. The mold is maintained at a temperature and for a time sufficient to at least partially fuse said powder particles together without melting said particles, thereby to form a porous, plastic molded product. The mold is partially separated for cooling the product which is then discharged from the mold. The product may be further cured by heating the molded product in an oven at a temperature and for a time sufficient to cure said molded product without melting said plastic or glazing said product.

Abstract: An oral hygiene apparatus produces a succession of water pulses at a predetermined pressure and those pulses are delivered to a handle shaped to be grasped by the human hand. An elongated nozzle projects outwardly from the handle, the shape of the handle permitting the water pulses to be directed against the teeth and gums of the user. A reservoir that forms part of the handle contains a liquid to be selectively dispensed along with the water pulses. The reservoir is coupled into communication with the flow path of the water pulses. A controllable valve selectively opens communication to enable the conveyance of the liquid into the flow path and in response to the receipt of the water pulses within the handle.

Abstract: An oral hygiene apparatus includes means for producing a succession of water pulses at a preselected pressure together with means for delivering those water pulses into a handle shaped to be grasped by the human hand. An elongated nozzle projects outwardly from the handle, manipulation of the handle permitting the water pulses, flowing through the nozzle from the handle, to be directed against the teeth and gums of the user. Included within the handle are means to define a flow path from the delivery means into the nozzle. A valve disposed within the handle is selectively operable to open or close that flow path during the delivery of the water pulses. Also disclosed is the inclusion of an accumulator within the handle for adsorbing the pressure load of incoming water pulses during closure of the valve.

Abstract: To move a disabled person as between a bed and a wheel chair, the device includes a base with a support projecting upwardly therefrom. A chest pad is shaped to fit against the upper torso of the user that is secured thereto. A linkage assembly couples the chest pad to the support and includes a pivot enabling swinging of the chest pad about a horizontal axis, with the person emplaced, from a first position in which the chest pad is swung outwardly away from the support and a second position in which the chest pad has been swung over-center to a stable location above the linkage assembly. Adjustment of elevation and spacing of the principal components is included, together with means for enabling rotation. Further components may enable swinging the basic chest pad about a vertical axis. Also included are preferably swingable means for securing the knees of the user in place as he or she is loaded onto the device.