Abstract: A portable beverage container stand includes an elongated pointed shaft, a flat cage plate fixed to one end of the shaft and extending laterally outward, a plurality of holes in the cage plate configured to receive beverage containers, a flat shelf plate below the cage plate fixed to the shaft and extending laterally to support containers placed in the cage plate holes, and a push member adjacent the shaft bottom for applying foot pressure for inserting the shaft into the ground. Alternatively, the shaft may also be mounted on a base component having a rectangular bottom frame, with an upwardly extending bridge and brace projected therefrom, with holes therein adapted to cooperatively receive and contain the shaft therein.

Abstract: An adjustable optical mount adapted for use with an optical table defining a reference plane includes a hollow housing with openings in the side walls to allow passage of an optical beam therethrough, a gimbal base fixed on the top of the housing, a gimbal plate adjustably mounted under the gimbal base, and a carrier bracket fixed to the gimbal plate for holding preselected optical elements within the housing along the path of the beam. Adjustment mechanisms are provided to tilt and rotate the gimbal plate so as to align the optical element on a selected axis relative to the reference plane.

Abstract: The disclosed HPLC flow schematic back-flushes the guard column with mobile phase once every operating cycle, the regular cleaning maintaining its effectiveness and useful life. This mobile phase flow reversal is accomplished by imposing a two position multiple port switching valve between the guard and separation columns. In one valve position, the mobile phase is pumped in one flow direction through both the separation and guard columns, but the switched valve maintains the same flow direction only through the separation column and reverses the mobile phase flow direction through the guard column, for effectively cleaning the guard column. Moreover, the mobile phase back flow is directed over the emptied sample drawing needle for cleaning it to reduce possible sample cross contamination. The improved flow circuits use basically only the typical HPLC system components, except for some insignificant modifications from existing injector designs.

Abstract: A handheld massage tool includes a body with at least three contact elements spaced circumferentially therearound for engaging a recipient of therapy. The body has shoulder segments extending between adjacent contact elements enabling the user to grip the tool and manipulate a non-adjacent, opposed contact element. The contact elements may take the form of a narrow point, a broad point, or a wedge. To aid in massage therapy, the massage tool has significant weight, has an elastomeric or similar coating providing a non-abrasive outer surface and is formed with rounded edges and suitably curved contours.

Abstract: A massage tool for use in performing an ice massage including an anchor extending from the bottom of a base for extending into a mold for receiving a block of ice. The massage tool includes a handle by which the tool can be manipulated, which provides thermal isolation from the ice attached to the tool. The tool is weighted to reduce the amount of additional force needed to apply the desired pressure during the massage, thereby reducing hand and muscle fatigue of the therapist providing the massage.

Abstract: A folding chair assembly includes a frame having side, top and bottom walls, first and second pairs of legs, a seat between the legs, a first pair of leg pivots connecting respective legs together, a second pair of leg pivots engaging a first pair of cooperating slots for connecting first leg upper ends to the frame, a third pair of leg pivots for connecting second leg lower ends to the frame, a first pair of seat pivots for connecting the seat to second leg upper ends, and a second pair of seat pivots rearward on the seat of the first seat pivots engaging a pair of cooperating slots for connecting the seat to the first leg pair, whereby the chair is foldable from an open position with seat and legs extended to a closed position with seat and legs aligned within the frame. Pivoting arm rests can be provided.

Abstract: A finned-coil heat exchanger has a housing with spaced walls defining an internal chamber with air flowing from an upstream end to a downstream end, spaced transfer tubes with heat conducting media flowing therein from the downstream chamber end to the upstream chamber end, a series of spaced fins in contact with the tubes to transfer heat to flowing air, and a fan unit to move air through the exchanger. An air inlet is defined at the upstream end of the housing or in the lower end of one of the walls so that air can enter the internal chamber. The tubes each extend tortuously back and forth on a plane parallel to the direction of air flow so that there is a counterflow effect across the various segments of each tube. The tubes have at least six segments extending transversely across air flow with the tubes and fins being sized and spaced to provide for better air flow through the heat exchanger housing.

Abstract: A liquid fuel burner adapted to be inserted into an opening of a supporting base, such as a statue or other art work, includes a container to hold combustible fuel, a tube having one end attached to an opening in the container, a collar assembly secured to the other end of the tube and having a cap closing the end of the tube and a flange part to support the burner in the opening, and a wick extending from the container through the tube and being held within an opening defined in the cap. The cap may include a glass wick holder to support the wick in burning position thereabove. The fuel container may be defined by one or more flexible bladders which are attached to the tube by insulation, tape, heat-shrink tubing, or a wire clamp.

Abstract: Replacement wiper blades are disclosed which adhere directly to the surface of a pre-existing wiper blade and which have advantageous physical properties. Wiper blades according to the invention are simple to install and may be adapted for use in any vehicle and on front or rear windshields or headlights.

Abstract: A floor glide for furniture and the like includes a monobloc having a relatively arcuate convex lower surface for contact with the floor and a flat upper surface for supporting furniture, and adhesive means for securing the monobloc to the bottom of furniture. The monobloc is relatively thick and defines recesses for locating resilient adhesive pieces. The monobloc may have webs or ribs for structural rigidity defining one or more cavities in the upper surface to minimize material use. The glide permits furniture to be moved easily along the surface of a floor or floor covering.

Abstract: A floor glide for furniture and the like includes a concavo-convex disk having an arcuate convex lower surface, a concave upper surface defining a central cavity, a resilient pad fixed to the disk upper surface within the central cavity below the edge thereof, and adhesive means for securing the resilient pad to the bottom of furniture. The glide permits furniture to be moved easily along the surface of the floor.

Abstract: A storage tank for water heaters and the like having a vertical, cylindrical tank, with a curved top wall, means for heating water within the tank, a cold water inlet and a hot water outlet at the top includes an inlet dip tube with means for transferring heat from the upper portion of the tank to the lower portion of the tank. The dip tube has a relatively large surface area to effect increased heat transfer between incoming water and heated tank water.

Abstract: A temperature monitoring system comprises a sensor for measuring the surrounding temperature, a timer for generating clock data, a controller for reading temperatures at predetermined intervals and storing selected temperature data and corresponding time data in memory, input switches for entering commands and data, a data display, and first and second alarm indicators. The controller operates in predetermined steps to activate the first alarm to indicate a current alarm condition and to activate the second alarm to indicate a past alarm condition. The controller selectively switches the display between normal and alarm modes to show differing time and temperature data depending on the temperature conditions monitored. The user may review alarm histories, including total alarm time and, for each past alarm period, maximum temperature, starting time and alarm duration, which have been calculated and stored.

Abstract: A floor glide for furniture and the like includes a concavo-convex disk having an arcuate convex lower surface, a concave upper surface defining a central cavity, a resilient pad fixed to the disk upper surface within the central cavity below the edge thereof, and adhesive for securing the resilient pad to the bottom of furniture. The glide permits furniture to be moved easily along the surface of the floor.

Abstract: A storage tank having a vertical, cylindrical tank, a fluid inlet, and a fluid outlet, includes an inlet diffuser for introducing inlet cold water uniformly across a horizontal cross section of the tank bottom and thereby foil convection currents that cause mixing of hot and cold fluid so that more hot fluid is recovered at the outlet over time. The tank may comprise a hot water heater where the water stored in the tank is heated within the tank by means disposed internally or externally of the internal storage chamber. Alternately, the water may be heated externally of the tank and stored within the tank.

Abstract: A point-of-purchase display includes adjacent aligned panels having horizontal corrugations and spaced X-shaped slits cut therethrough, hangers for supporting product extending through the panel slits, U-shaped elongate clips adapted to frictionally engage the lateral edge of a panel to hold panels in vertical alignment, and side rails having a guard and a free end extending horizontally through clip apertures into the corrugations. The panels may be hinged together and friction means may be placed on the side rail ends to limit free movement within the corrugations.

Abstract: A storage tank having a vertical, cylindrical tank, a fluid inlet, and a fluid outlet, includes a collector outlet dip tube for collecting hot fluid evenly across a horizontal cross section of the tank and thereby foil convection currents that cause mixing of hot and cold fluid so that more hot fluid is recovered at the outlet over time. A dispersing inlet dip tube may be also employed to introduce cold fluid evenly. The tank may comprise a hot water heater where the water stored in the tank is heated within the tank by means disposed internally or externally of the internal storage chamber. Alternately, the water may be heated externally of the tank and stored within the tank.

Abstract: A frame assembly made from modular components includes a first frame member, a tubular post member with a work opening in its side wall to permit the post interior to be fixed to the frame exterior, and a second frame member axially mountable over the post. A spring button extending through aligned apertures in the tubular post and second frame members releasably locks the second frame member to the post. A method for constructing a product from a frame assembly includes defining a work opening in a tubular post wall, fixing the post interior to the exterior of a frame member by working through the opening, mounting a tubular frame member axially onto the post and releasably locking it to the post by way of a spring button positioned within the post. A stand made from the frame assembly may include lower and upper frame subassemblies joined by tubular column members extending between the subassemblies and onto respective opposed lower and upper tubular posts attached thereto.

Abstract: A hot water heater having a vertical, cylindrical tank with a curved top wall, means for heating water within the tank, a cold water inlet and a hot water outlet at the top includes an inlet dip tube disposed along the central vertical axis of the tank for foiling internal thermal convection currents rising along the center of the tank and minimizing the mixing of hot and cold water so that the temperature of hot water delivered at the outlet remains relatively constant over time.