Abstract: An apparatus for and methods of dismounting and mounting tires onto vehicle wheels without removing the wheels from the vehicle. The apparatus includes driving elements for rotating a tire contacting the same, held in a body and operated by a power source. A pair of tire bead breakers may also be mounted in the body and operated by a power source. Tire cutting knives may be secured in the body for selectively cutting up a tire mounted on a wheel of a vehicle. A tire bead deflector is mounted on a flange of a wheel from which an old tire is to be removed after its beads have been broken, or to which a new tire is to be mounted, and the old tire to be removed or the new tire to be mounted is lowered into contact with the driving elements in the apparatus to enable the driving elements to rotate the old or new tire to either remove the old tire from or mount the new tire on the wheel. The apparatus may be made mobile by adding wheels thereto.

Abstract: A compact “in-line” tankless double element water heater includes a top connected to a manifold having a cold water inlet and a hot water outlet for connection to the cold, and hot water lines of a faucet. The compact water heater includes a body with a passageway through which cold water travels, from the top towards the bottom, where it is fed into four separate chambers, two each separated on opposed sides of the body and of a diaphragm. A first of the two chambers on each side has no outlet, and the pressure of cold water therein presses against a first side of the respective diaphragm, while the second of the two chambers on each side includes an outlet to a separate hot water chamber on each side, having a separate heating element therein. A second of the two chambers on each side also includes a plunger, biased by a spring against a second side of the diaphragm, and a plunger rod, which contacts an operating member of a microswitch.

Abstract: A locking device for use in a trocar inserted into a body cavity. The locking device include various operating components that may be easily manipulated and recognized by a surgeon during complicated surgery, and a locking portion secured in the trocar. The locking portion may include internal threads formed only on a head, a cam operated element, resilient fingers, a collet-type locking device, or a frictional detent or opening, quickly moved into a locking position against any type of instrument passing through the trocar into the body cavity. The portion of the locking device contacting the instrument must be sized and dimensioned to provide a firm grip in the locking position, without damaging or marring the instrument against which it is locked.

Abstract: A protector for a drainpipe exit passing through a sidewalk curb is provided with an angled front face with an exit drain opening formed therein. The angled front face is secured to a top plate, a hollow drainpipe connecting portion, a rear securing element and at least one lower rebar securing element. The curb protector is inserted and held in a form while making or repairing a curb and held therein by concrete poured around a drainpipe connected to the curb protector and the curb protector.

Abstract: A mounting system having a first arm and a second arm adjustably held together. An upper portion of the first arm is pivotably mounted in a first clamp that is pivotably held in a second clamp. The first and second arm are rotatably secured to a pair of mounting plates, and include a top tray pivotably and rotatably mounted at the top end of the first arm, so that a switch, or the like, supported on the top tray, may be moved to any desired position.

Abstract: A showerhead having a water filter element held therein. The water filter element is easily changeable by unscrewing two halves of a body forming the showerhead. The body halves are easily gripped and turned, so as to be opened or closed, and the showerhead preferably includes a massage-type head at the lower end thereof, which may be rotated to vary the streams of water exiting the showerhead. The water filter element cooperates with internal components of the halves of the body to direct the flow of water through the filter element, and then out of the massage head. The showerhead may be easily and quickly adapted to be held on any shower arm, and to replace any existing showerhead without taking up as much room as currently existing filter elements used with available showerheads.

Abstract: A treater for electrostatically and/or mechanically separating emulsified brine from oil during longitudinal flow through a horizontally elongated metal tank, wherein adjustable distributor elements are provided for enhancement of the de-emulsification process. The adjustable distributor elements may be externally operated to more closely control the diffusion and distribution of the flowing emulsion across the transverse area of the treater. The emulsion may be first directed through electrical fields where the brine droplets take on an electrical charge, then move through the distributor elements to electrically grounded coalescing elements. De-emulsified oil is removed in a stream separate from the brine stream. The treater also operates mechanically, with reduced efficiency, when electrostatic operation is unavailable, and can also be operated if coalescing elements are not used.

Abstract: A fluid mixing device includes a nozzle having a first element mounted therein, and connected to a hollow, tubular element having a series of openings formed therein adjacent the first element. The hollow, tubular element extends outwardly from the nozzle, through an exit opening and may have a second element mounted thereon. The second element may take various shapes, including having a number of protrusions thereon, to vary the atomization of fluid flowing from the nozzle exit. An outer end of the hollow, tubular element may be free to suck in atmosphere, or may be attached to a tube immersed in a container, to draw in a second fluid to mix with the first fluid through the nozzle.

Abstract: A fluid flow fuse has a body, which includes an inlet and an outlet with a valve seat therebetween. A valve stem having a valve member thereon is mounted in the body, and the valve member is operably connected to a diaphragm, which separates a region within the body into a pair of separate pressure chambers. Fluid passages are formed in the body communicating the separate pressure chambers with downstream pressure from the outlet and upstream pressure from the inlet. The pressure differential between the chambers is minimized so that at least one spring will normally hold the valve member in an open position, until the pressure differential reaches a predetermined amount, whereby the valve member is slowly and smoothly closed until fluid flow through the fuse is stopped.

Abstract: A mobile carrier for an augmentative communication device or laptop computer contains a supporting tray enabling a user to slidably adjust the height of the tray for optimum usage. The mobile carrier is easily pushed or pulled to accommodate a user's needs by the use of four wheels, the front two of which are smaller and pivot, and the rear two of which are larger for ease in movement over obstacles. The handle of the mobile carrier is adjustable, and preferably T-shaped, to enable a person to rest on the same when needed, or to pull or push the carrier from either side, when needed. After removal of a pin, the carrier is easily folded into a compressed position, and various elements thereof may be easily removed for ease in storage or transportation thereof.

Abstract: A lockable tie down strap used to secure various loads to a variety of support surfaces, such as a vehicle, a boat, a pallet, a shelf, a tray, a cage, or the like. The lockable tie down strap has one loose end that is secured in a key-operated locking member to prevent theft, and is preferably constructed of a tubular webbing with steel cables running through the body of the webbing to prevent cutting of the strap, and thereby more securely hold a load by the strap. The strap may also be provided with loose ends having openings or a hook at the ends, for use with a roof rack or a wire cage to hold equipment or a flexible load in position.

Abstract: An improved postcard for mailing and displaying a photograph and a blank for and method of making the same is disclosed herein. The postcard is made from the blank, which is folded and then secured together along outer edges thereof, by flaps formed in the blank. One of the flaps is left open so that a photograph may be inserted into a pocket formed in the postcard, so as to be seen through a transparent window secured to one side of a front portion of the formed postcard. After insertion of the photograph, the open side of the pocket is permanently sealed by the open flap, and the postcard may be sent through the mail. The postcard includes a triangular element held on a rear surface thereof, which triangular element is rotatable to an open position to support the postcard in an elevated or standing position, whereby the photograph may be easily viewed through the transparent window.

Abstract: A flexible grid for use in guiding a person to arrange flowers, and the like, includes a number of openings formed therein by woven-together fluffy fabric-coated, flexible wires. The flexible grid may be supported on, as by being bent around, or in an open top of a container to enable a number of different size floral stems to be inserted and frictionally held in the openings. The floral stems and the flexible grid may be removed as a unit from the open top of the container to enable the lower ends of the floral stems to be snipped for better water absorption, or to add water to the container.

Abstract: A shower filter assembly, having a thin or low-profile design, including a recessed inlet, which leads into an internal chamber having a filter element mounted therein to deflect water flowing into the internal chamber substantially evenly through a filter media held within the filter element. Magnets are provided in the compact shower filter to act on the water flowing therethrough, so as to breakdown carbonates therein and prevent the formation of line and scale deposits.

Abstract: A hand held video display screen cleaning tool has a body with a bottom cleaning portion secured to a top gripping portion. A cleaning element is secured to the bottom portion for dusting and removing static charge from a video display screen by pressing elongated bristles on the cleaning element against and dragging the elongated bristles a multiple of times across the video display screen.

Abstract: A flow control device for a toilet to prevent flooding upon obstructing of a waste outlet of a toilet bowl. The device includes at least one sensor assembly mounted on a rim of a bowl of a toilet or urinal to hold the sensor assembly in a predetermined position within the bowl. If water bridges contacts on the at least one sensor assembly, an electrical circuit is completed, and a solenoid is actuated to close a normally opened valve to shut off running water to the water tank of the toilet. A power source and a valve open alarm system are electrically connected to the at least one sensor assembly and the solenoid actuated valve.