Abstract: A holder for a personal alert safety system (PASS) has a bracket to receive the PASS, and a housing connected to the bracket. An additional activation switch is installed in the PASS, the additional switch being magnetically operable. The housing is connected to the air line of a self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). A piston or diaphragm is urged in one direction by air pressure, and is urged in the opposite direction by a spring in the absence of air under pressure. When the piston is moved in the one direction, a magnet is disposed adjacent to the additional switch, and when the piston is moved in the opposite direction by the spring, the magnet is removed from adjacent to the additional switch so the PASS is automatically activated by the presence of air pressure in an activated SCBA. The PASS can be used without the SCBA and can be activated manually as is conventional, either attached to or removed from the SCBA.

Abstract: A tray for temporarily or permanently receiving beads for bead work has a plurality of separate compartments, each with a separate cover. A single sheet of material can be vacuum formed to create the compartments, and the covers can also be vacuum formed. A rib on the covers is received within the compartments and frictionally engages the side walls to hold the covers in place. One end of each compartment has angled walls to provide a funnel arrangement, leading to a pour spout, and an upwardly ramped bottom portion directs beads to the spout. The cover can be reversed and used to prevent spilling of beads during pouring. The tray can also define one of more design grooves for laying out the pattern of beads.

Abstract: Piston rings are tested for their effectiveness by removing the cylinder heads of an engine, and sealing one cylinder with a pressure cap. Fluid under pressure is admitted into the cylinder, and time required to dissipate the pressure is monitored. A long time to dissipate the pressure indicates good rings, and a short time indicates bad rings. The several cylinders are sealed an tested one at a time. The pressure cap has a tire valve therein so the conventional air hose can be used to pressurize the cylinder. Preferably, engine oil is placed into the cylinder before the pressure cap is put into place so it is the oil that must move past the piston rings. A hold-down for the pressure cap may be fixed to the engine block using a screw into one of the holes for the cylinder head screws.

Abstract: A finial adapter is selectively fixable to the wire of a clip-on lamp shade to allow use of a finial on clip-on lamp shades. Centrally of the plate, feet automatically center the adapter into the appropriate position to attach to the wire. The adapter has a plate having an upwardly extending stud to receive the finial, and downwardly extending tabs to engage the wires on the shade. Wire spreaders separate the wires of the shade and urge the wires into locking contact with the tabs. Centrally of the plate, feet extending down to surround the washer of the clip for the shade to center the finial adapter on the shade.

Abstract: A finial for a lamp shade has a conventional finial base to screw onto the stud of a harp. A bail extends upwardly from the base and supports a hook from which an ornament can be suspended. An ornament having a chain thereon can be hung from the hook, or an adapter can be used to suspend a conventional finial. The conventional finial base has a central hole, and the bail is received within the hole and glued or otherwise fixed in place. The bail can be sized so the finial can be used on a lamp shade having downwardly extending wires, the ornament being supported above the lamp shade so the ornament appears to float above the shade.

Abstract: A well cleaning tool includes a surge block, and a jetting tool or nozzle carried by the surge block. The surge block has fluid passageways therein for supplying the jetting nozzle. The surge block is formed of a cylindrical central body with elastomeric disks fixed above and below the central body, the disks being sized to fit relatively snugly within the well casing. The fluid passageway through the central body is threaded at the top for connection of a supply conduit, and may be threaded at the bottom for connection of a jetting nozzle. Thus, the jetting tool can be used for initial cleaning, while the surge block confines the heat and chemical action; then, the surge block can be reciprocated for surging the well. Both surging and jetting can be used simultaneously, and/or alternatively. A plurality of disks can be used as desired, and a jetting nozzle can be outside the disks, or between two disks to confine the chemical action.

Abstract: A feeder for sheets of material has belts for driving sheets through the feeder, and a gate above the belts to hold back the stack of sheets to be fed. The gate is elliptical in side elevational view and flat in front and rear elevational views. The major axis of the ellipse is disposed at an acute angle to the feed path, so sheets waiting to be fed engage the large-radius portion of the ellipse and are shingled just before reaching the position to be fed. The wide, flat surface has O-rings of rubber or the like to provide a high coefficient of friction for retarding the stack of sheets to be fed. A sensor detects a sheet that has been fed, and stops the feeder, so the feeder can be used as an on-demand feeder.

Abstract: A tool for supporting material, such as an automobile windshield, from the body of a worker has a plate shaped to fit on the shoulder of the worker, a shank fixed to the plate, and a suction cup receivable on the shank and fixable to the glass. The plate is padded for comfort of the worker. The shank is replaceable so the length of the shank can be selected to suit the worker and the task. The plate is formed of a thermoplastic, and can be vacuum formed with a boss. A coupling, then, fits over the boss and provides a socket to receive the shank. If required, a reinforcing plug can be received within the boss.

Abstract: Chip- or plate-like pieces such as wood chips are tightly packed into a ship's hold or other cargo space by directing the material through a pipe to fall by gravity, the pipe guiding the material to rotating paddles. The paddles engage the pieces of material and propel the pieces away from the paddles along a horizontal path. The pieces are spread over a wider area, and are given time to fall flat, so the pieces land in the cargo space oriented for dense packing. The paddles are connected to a center shaft and angle outward to connect to a support ring. Material is dropped into the center of the support ring to be engaged by the paddles as the assembly rotates. Material can be limited to the upper, faster, areas of the paddles by a frustoconical diverter disposed centrally of the paddles. A choke can be used to provide a dense stream of pieces to the paddles; and, the choke may move the stream off center for uneven distribution.

Abstract: A water heater has one or more flue openings through the tank to allow flue gases to pass through the tank and heat water in the tank. The flue openings are constricted at two or or more discrete locations. The transitions between the several sizes of the flue opening cause turbulence in the flow of the flue gases. It has been found that, with two or three cylindrical sections of the flue opening, each section being of successively smaller diameter, the flue gases assume a helical flow pattern which yields a longer path and more time for heat to be absorbed by the tank and the water therein. The result is a 35% to 45% greater efficiency in use of heat, a greater number of flue openings yielding the greater efficiency.

Abstract: A test device provides an enclosed culture device for safe determination of the presence of a targeted microorganism. A test chamber is concentrically received within a culture chamber, and caps allow selective opening of one chamber without opening the other. A window in the test chamber allows selective flow of liquid between chambers, the window being so placed as to require particular manipulation of the chambers. The test chamber contains a culture medium and, through appropriate manipulation, a sample in the culture chamber is caused to wet the culture medium. The device is then incubated, and the sample in the culture chamber maintains high humidity in the test chamber because of the window. A pre-treatment vial is also provided so the sample can be treated before being placed into the culture chamber, to eliminate interfering organisms or the like.

Abstract: A fixture for attaching a dental prosthesis to a dental implant has a base to be received on the implant, and a head attachable to the base. The base has an angled upper surface, and the head has an angled lower surface, the head being selectively rotatable with respect to the base. As a result, the head can be disposed with respect to the base so that the head will always be perpendicular to the gum line, even though the implant is angled with respect to the gum line. A non-round projection on the head engages a non-round recess on the base to prevent rotational movement when the fixture is installed, and a single screw extends through the head, through the base, and into the implant to hold the assembly together.

Abstract: A practice device to practice baseball pitching has a home plate, and a batter dummy adjacent to the home plate so the pitcher can get accustomed to the presence of a batter. The batter dummy has marks to indicate the strike zone. The batter dummy can be shortened or lengthened to suit the pitcher and to give wide experience. The dummy is inflatable for light weight and ease of installation; and, the dummy has three separately inflatable compartments so only a portion of the dummy must be inflated at one time. Portions of the dummy have accordion folded sections to change the length, and a strap to fix the length of the accordion folded section. The dummy is fixed to a mat by hook and loop fasteners, so the dummy can be placed as desired for training, the mat including the simulation of home plate.

Abstract: A water-retaining enclosure is formed around a plant (10) by joining the ends (18) of a wall (12) of flexible, water-impervious material, so as to form a circle around the plant, the wall then being inserted into the ground with a desired height (16) of the wall projecting above the ground. The wall has projections (20, 30, 32, 40) at intervals on a first side (21) and recesses (22, 31, 42) on the other or second side (19) to engage at least some of said projections for sealingly securing opposite end portions of the wall together.

Abstract: A spring-urged clamp is fixed to an apparatus having a rope-started internal combustion engine. The rope for starting the engine passes through the clamp. The clamp is spring-urged to a closed position, and the jaws of the clamp have teeth angled so that the rope will move easily for starting the engine; but, if the engine attempt to re-coil the rope, the jaws of the clamp will grip the rope and prevent return motion. The clamp has release handles so the rope can be released to be recoiled after the engine has started.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance has a cylinder with a spring urged plunger therein. The spring is compressed when the plunger is moved into the cylinder; and, one end of the cylinder and the extending end of the plunger are attached between the teeth to be moved. The attachments to the teeth allow universal motion so the law is free to move in all directions anatomically possible. To extend between the upper and lower teeth, the cylinder can be slidable within a second cylinder. The second cylinder allows greater extension of the appliance while maintaining the integrity of the appliance.

Abstract: A desk for use in a vehicle has a top that defines receptacles therein for holding office supplies and equipment. The desk is mounted in the passenger seat and held by the normal lap belt of the vehicle supports are adjustable to allow the height of the top of the desk to be varied, and to allow leveling of the desk. A slide is movable from the top so the slide can extend towards the driver's seat, and the slide is adapted to receive a portable computer. One corner of the desk mounts a cup holder to be adjacent to the driver, and a holder for eyeglasses is adjacent to the cup holder.

Abstract: A truck cover protector encases the movable end of a truck cover to prevent damage to the truck cover while the cover is in position over the truck body. The spindle carrying the rear end of the cover is encased in a plastic cover. When the reel for the cover is at the front of the truck, the cover protector is fixed to the cover material. When the reel for the cover is on the movable spindle, the cover protector is large enough to receive the reel therein; and, end members are fixed to the protector and allow the spindle to rotate for reeling and unreeling the cover.