Abstract: An implement includes first and second elongated legs that are joined by a first hinge between respective one ends thereof to permit those legs to be folded toward and away from one another. The legs are mutually shaped to define a cavity within a handle when folded together about the hinge. Third and fourth elongated legs are each of a size to be nested within the portion of the cavity defined by a respective one of the first and second legs. A second hinge couples one end of the third leg to the other end of the first leg. A third hinge couples one end of the fourth leg to the other end of the second leg. Finally, a fourth hinge couples together the other ends of the third and fourth legs.

Abstract: A milling apparatus receives solidifiable material and mixes it so as to achieve comminution and blending thereof. Disposed adjacent to the receiving enclosure is a vacuum chamber associated with a port that communicates between the chamber and the enclosure. Movable within that port, in correlation with operation of the mixer, is an agitator of portions of the material which tend to lodge within the port.

Abstract: An oral hygiene appliance is of the kind which includes a supply of liquid, a pump and a hand-held tip for directing the liquid where desired. A housing defines a cavity which has a surrounding wall closed by opposing end walls, the pump being seated within the cavity. A reservoir is closed at one end and has a shape in conformity with the housing to telescope thereover in covering relationship. Defined in one end of the reservoir is a valve seat which cooperates with a valve that closes during removal of the reservoir from the housing. On that end of the reservoir also is a coupling element which cooperates with a coupling member disposed in the surrounding wall of the housing. When that coupling relationship is established, the reservoir is seated on top of a side surface of the housing which, in turn, is lying on a table or the like. An outlet in the housing communicates with the hand-held tip and the pump is connected between that outlet and the coupling member.

Abstract: The assembly includes a shelf bracket for constructing shelving from spaced elongated shelf boards that have a standard thickness. An elongated leg of rectangular cross section includes a longitudinal groove formed into one of its major surfaces. A pair of U-shaped clips each are in the form of a pair of plates joined by a flat bight with the widths of the plates being spaced apart for snug engagement with a marginal edge portion of a shelf board. The bight seats tightly in the groove and preferably has a thickness substantially equal to the depth of the groove. The clips are individually secured in respective different spaced portions of the groove with the bight seated therein.

Abstract: A pocket-sized nut opener serves for separating the shell of a pistachio or similar nut that has an obloid shape and is composed of a mating pair of half shells which enclose a nutmeat and define therebetween a narrow slit. The opener is in the form of a generally spoon-shaped implement with a contour that approximates that of a substantial portion of one of those half shells, the implement defining a tip portion and a base portion opposite the tip portion. A generally flat tab is joined to and projects integrally away from the base portion outwardly from the implement. The tab is of a size to be comfortably grasped merely between a thumb and forefinger of a user when inserting the tip portion into the slit and prying the half shells apart.

Abstract: A fish stringing implement for use in holding, retaining and stringing a fish onto a flexible retaining line, comprising a stiff wire member secured to the retainer line. The implement is formed by a straight shank secured at one end to said stringer line and formed at its other end with a downward bend. A downwardly and forwardly inclined shank leg extends from the bend and terminates at its lower end in a bight portion from which a prong leg extends upwardly to a reverse bend from which projects an inturned prong terminating in a point. The point is in approximate vertically spaced relation with respect to the downturned bend on said shank so that a user can hold the straight shank while inserting the point in the gills of a fish to hook the fish onto the implement and slide the fish into the bight portion thereof. The user can further retain the fish in the bight of the implement by holding the shank with his fingers and placing his thumb over the point.

Abstract: To be situated between a mattress and a box spring is a hinged frame that includes inflatable bags located respectively beneath the head and foot portions of the mattress. A controlled pump unit permits selective inflating of the bags so as individually to elevate the different portions of the mattress at the command of a user. Construction features of one version include internal contour-defining elements tied between space-opposed supports affixed to the walls of the bags and double-plate supports readily mounted into the bags and which enable tying of the bags to the frame. Another version uses an arrangement of straps to define contour.

Abstract: A showering system includes a source of hot water and a showerhead fed from that source. To produce steam, there is a conduit that delivers water from the source to a showerhead and in which is defined an outlet. Disposed within the conduit is a selectively controlled diverter of the water arriving from the source, so as to direct it away from the showerhead and through the outlet in the form of a mist. The preferred showerhead is of a turbine-valve kind in which the turbine is driven by nozzles. Apertures in a flow director plate, governed by a control plate, feed nozzles predetermined to vary the force of water delivered from outlet orifices in correspondence with the number of the nozzles open to communicate with the inlet through the apertures.

Abstract: In a system for leaching septic effluent from a source thereof, a first leach field has an input, a porous bed and means for distributing effluent from the input throughout the bed. A second leach field similarly has an inlet, a pervious bed and means for distributing effluent from that inlet throughout the pervious bed. Distribution means, having an intake coupled to the source, selectively feeds the effluent only to the input until the effluent level in the first field reaches a predetermined depth. Thereafter, the effluent is automatically fed to the inlet of the second leach field. The principle of operation is extended to the use of a third or more leach fields, the distribution means selectively feeding the effluent to the entrance to the third field only after the effluent in the second field reaches a preselected depth and so on.

Abstract: An oral hygiene appliance is of the kind which includes a supply of liquid, a pump and a hand-held tip for directing the liquid where desired. A housing defines a cavity which has a surrounding wall closed by opposing end walls, the pump being seated within the cavity. A reservoir is closed at one end and has a shape in conformity with the housing to telescope thereover in covering relationship. Defined in one end of the reservoir is a valve seat which cooperates with a valve that closes during removal of the reservoir from the housing. On that end of the reservoir also is a coupling element which cooperates with a coupling member disposed in the surrounding wall of the housing. When that coupling relationship is established, the reservoir is seated on top of a side surface of the housing which, in turn, is lying on a table or the like. An outlet in the housing communicates with the hand-held tip and the pump is connected between that outlet and the coupling member.

Abstract: A single paper clip is capable of separately holding two different sheafs of papers. It is formed of a continuous length of wire successively bent into a series of re-entrant loops interspersed with six legs. One sheaf of papers may be secured between a first and third loop, and a second sheaf is thereafter secured between a third and fifth loop.

Abstract: A programmable thermostat features a memory unit receptive of unit values of temperature desired at different times on different days all individually or in various combinations both as to days and times. An output device signals a temperature control system. As controlled by a clock, the memory unit is addressed during different times of the different days to provide a signal representing the corresponding value desired. Existing temperature level is sensed and compared with each value so as to develop an error signal. In response to that error signal, the output is operated in a direction to reduce the difference between actual and desired temperatures. Numerous details as to layout, construction and circuitry are presented.

Abstract: An airplane or other vehicle is to be used for repeated traverses over an assigned area successively in respective different ones of a plurality of parallel paths displaced laterally one from another. Path alignment apparatus carried by the vehicle cooperates with delivery means that dispenses a material along each of the paths in a swath of predetermined width. The material includes an agent that presents characteristic radiation at a predetermined frequency. A sensing means is oriented to view the path of approach of the vehicle for detecting the radiation and developing a discriminated signal which distinguishes between presence and absence of the radiation. Developed by range-finding means is a distance signal that represents location of the vehicle relative to the location of the path being approached.

Abstract: A collector for heat energy from a solar or other source is in the form of a body of given thickness. The body is composed of a packed plurality of particles of coal, and each of those particles is selected to have a maximum size of between approximately one-fourth and one-half of the given thickness of the body. Substantially permeated throughout the particles is an elastomeric binder. It forms a continuous coating over the surface of the body and cohesively rigidifies the particles together, so that the body is at least substantially self supporting. A major surface of the body is exposed directly to solar radiation as a result of which heat energy is absorbed within the body. Subsequently, that heat energy is re-radiated or otherwise conveyed out passively into an adjacent space or interactively with a fluid moved across a surface of the body or through the interior of the body.

Abstract: A multiple-compartment container is formed from an elongated sleeve of flexible material. Opposing end portions of the sleeve are respectively sealed together. A third seal of the walls of the sleeve, at a location spaced between those end portions, defines first and second hollow compartments respectively on each side of that third seal. The third seal is effected by a twisting of the sleeve about its longitudinal axis. There is illustrated a still further and preferred fourth seal at a location spaced between the third seal and one of the end portions so as to define a still further hollow compartment, and that additional seal also is effected by a twisting of the sleeve.