Abstract: A binocular/spotting scope assembly for outdoor and field activities includes binoculars having stereoscopic vision and a spotting scope having a more localized, higher power field of vision than the binoculars. The binoculars and the spotting scope are supported in a substantially horizontal side-by-side relationship on a support which permits the binoculars and the spotting scope to be pivotally adjusted and positioned with respect to each other about both a horizontal axis and a vertical axis so that lines of vision of the binoculars and the spotting scope cross at a point forward of the assembly. Thus, the stereoscopic vision of the binoculars can be used to find an object and the more localized, higher power field of vision of the spotting scope can be used to more carefully examine the object.

Abstract: A hair wrap confines the hair of the wearer while the wearer is engaged in activities where the wearer desires to keep her/his hair confined and not falling over her/his face or otherwise interfering with such activities. Preferably, the hair wrap is annular with upper and lower annular edges, having elastic therein, defining upper and lower expandable openings which permit the hair wrap to be placed over the head and down around the neck of the wearer. A pliable material, intermediate the upper and lower annular edges of the hair wrap provides a pocket at the rear of the hair wrap for receiving the hair of the wearer. In use, the hair wrap is passed over the head and down around the neck of the wearer with the hair of the wearer extending over the rear portion of the hair wrap. The front of the hair wrap is then raised above the forehead and the hair extending over the rear of the hair wrap is inserted into the rear pocket of the hair wrap to confine the hair.

Abstract: An apparatus includes one or a pair of support platforms for supporting the palm heels, wrists and forearms of an operator relative to a keyboard. The support platforms lie in a plane extending parallel and adjacent to the upper surfaces of the keyboard keys.

Abstract: An appliance for preventing snoring and sleep apnea includes a headgear and a mouthpiece. The headgear includes an adjustable headband encircling the upper portion of a user's head at the forehead; an adjustable chin strap passing over the crown of the head and under the chin of the user to maintain the user's mouth closed about the mouthpiece; a back strap passing from the forehead over the crown of the head and down the back of the user; a means secured to the rear end of the back strap for exerting a restraining force on the back strap and the upper portion of the headgear to keep the user's head from slouching forward; and an object secured to the rear end of the back strap for making it uncomfortable for the user to lie on his/her back.

Abstract: A computer system for processing and presenting cost estimates in the construction industry includes a CPU; primary input hardware for entering data and commands to the CPU; output hardware including a display for displaying information; estimating hardware for interacting with a plan print to count and/or scale off measurements of assemblies and/or items on the plan print and input such counts and/or measurements into the CPU for processing; and a memory unit having a stored assembly information record list database and a stored item information record list database and including software means for permitting an operator to command, through the primary input hardware, an opening for concurrent use of any selected number of takeoff windows from the assembly and/or item information record lists; a closing of any open takeoff window; an opening of any additional takeoff window; and a count and/or scaling off of measurements of assemblies and/or items from a plan print with the estimating hardware for cost estim

Abstract: A method of manufacturing gem decorated articles, typically jewelry, includes the steps of: using a first mold which has a mold cavity with one or more gem portions for receiving one or more gems and duplicates a model of the article; positioning one or more gems in the mold gem portion(s) of the mold; forming a temporary bond between the gem(s) and the mold gem portion(s) of the mold to maintain the gem(s) in place in the mold gem portion(s) during formation of a wax model including the gem(s); introducing a molten, hardenable wax material into the mold; cooling the wax material to form a wax model reproduction of the article with the gem(s) set therein; ending the temporary bond between the gem(s) and the mold gem portion(s) of the mold; removing the wax model with the set gem(s) from the mold; applying an investment material about the wax model with the set gem(s) and hardening the investment material to form a second mold; removing the wax material from the second mold; introducing a molten metal into the

Abstract: An apparatus includes one or a pair of support platforms for supporting the palm heels, wrists and forearms of an operator relative to a keyboard. The support platforms lie in a plane extending parallel and adjacent to the upper surfaces of the keyboard keys.

Abstract: An appliance for protecting, supporting and cushioning the heel and ankle, to facilitate the recuperation, rehabilitation or other healing of the heel and/or ankle from medical procedures, injuries or other disorders, includes a pliable cupping component which receives and is adjustably secured to the heel portion of the foot and the ankle. The fastening means for securing the cupping component to the heel and ankle provides support for the tendons and tendon sheaths in the heel and ankle. A pair of selectively adjustable support straps extend from the sides of the cupping component to an upper fastening means immediately below the knee. The support straps exert an upward and supportive force on the heel portion of the foot and limit the flexing of the ankle joint without exerting an upward force on the apophysis or growth center of the calcaneus bone which is located at the posterior portion of the calcaneus bone adjacent and below the attachment of the achilles tendon to this bone.

Abstract: A canopy structure includes a support frame with a plurality of extensible and retractable canopy support sections. Each of the canopy support sections includes a pair of upper transverse support members and two pairs of side support members. Each pair of side support members have lower portions which are pivotally secured to each other and upper portions which are rigidly secured to ends of the upper transverse support members whereby in a retracted position the side support members extend substantially vertical and in an extended position the side support members extend at an acute angle to each other with the upper portions of the side support members spaced apart.

Abstract: A pressure washer sprays a pressurized liquid into a groove of a pavement, floor or similar surface to remove dirt and debris from the groove. The dirt and debris dissolves and/or becomes suspended in the liquid and is then removed from the pressure washer for disposal. The pressure washer includes a cleaning hood with a cover plate and a skirt that extends downward from the periphery of the cover plate to form a less than air tight seal with the surface containing the groove. A spray nozzle in a forward portion of the cover plate directs the pressurized liquid spray downward into the groove, where the liquid picks up dirt and debris to form a liquid suspension and/or solution, and preferably, rearward toward an exhaust port which removes the liquid suspension and/or solution of dirt and debris from the cleaning hood. A handle extends upward from the cleaning hood for guiding the pressure washer.

Abstract: A multi-functional intrusion warning system is used directly in the conventional circuitry of a building such as a home, small business or the like, having a conventional AC power source, a plurality of branch circuits and a circuit breaking means (located intermediate the power source and the branch circuits for interrupting the current to any branch circuit experiencing a current surge) to provide the building with a means of controlling the current to certain or all of the branch circuits which enables the power to be cut off to these branch circuits and then turned back on due to an occurrence detected by a motion, sound, smoke, heat, and/or telephone call activated or similar detection device. The lighting, alarms, and/or other electrical devices on these branch circuits are activated when the detection device activates the control unit of the intrusion warning system.

Abstract: A detachable waist band extender enables an individual with a garment having a certain waist band dimension to wear the garment when the waist measurement of the individual exceeds the waist dimension of the garment. The waist band extender has a tab portion which is fastened to a button on a first side of a fly opening of the garment and a belt loop portion having a buckle at a first free end and a tongue at a second free end. The tongue of the belt loop portion is passed through a button hole in a second side of the fly opening and adjustably secured to the buckle to join the sides of the fly together. Since the tongue is adjustably secured to the buckle, the effective length of the waist band extender can be adjusted to accommodate the waist measurement of the wearer and later changed to accommodate any changes in the waist measurement of the wearer.

Abstract: A multi-functional intrusion warning system is used directly in the conventional circuitry of a building such as a home, small business or the like, having a conventional AC power source, a plurality of branch circuits and a circuit breaking means (located intermediate the power source and the branch circuits for interrupting the current to any branch circuit experiencing a current surge) to provide the building with a means of controlling the current to certain or all of the branch circuits which enables the power to be cut off to these branch circuits and then turned back on due to an occurrence detected by a motion, sound, smoke, heat, and/or telephone call activated or similar detection device. The lighting, alarms, and/or other electrical devices on these branch circuits are activated when the detection device activates the control unit of the intrusion warning system.

Abstract: A marking and counting implement comprises a tubular housing for holding a marking implement, such as a highlighter. One end of the tubular housing has an aperture through which the marking end of the marking implement extends. The other end of the housing is closed and has a switch which is activated by the marking implement when a certain activating pressure is applied to the switch by the marking implement. Typically, a resilient means, such as a spring, keeps the marking implement from activating the switch until the activating pressure is applied to the switch by pressing the marking end of the marking implement against a surface. The switch is connected to a counter whereby, when sufficient pressure is exerted on the switch by the marking implement to activate the switch, a count is recorded. Thus, the marking and counting implement can be used for both marking and counting.

Abstract: A trowel comprises a flat, elongated rectangular blade having lateral edges and end edges. A pair of handles are pivotally mounted on the rectangular blade along the longitudinal centerline of the blade and adjacent each end of the blade. Each handle can pivot through at least 180.degree. from a first position extending substantially perpendicular to the material handling surface of the blade to a second generally opposite position extending substantially perpendicular to the material handling surface of the blade. This enables the laborer, holding the handles in the first position extending upward from the material handling surface of the trowel blade, to scoop up mud, stucco, plaster, mortar or other surfacing material from a pile with the trowel and then, by pivoting the handles from the first position to their opposite position, to apply the surfacing material directly to the wall being surfaced.

Abstract: An automatic pet feeder comprises a tubular food reservoir with a food replenishing port and a feeding port. The food replenishing port is in the upper end of the food reservoir and is sealed with a cap when in use. The feeding port is located adjacent the lower end of the food reservoir and has a pivotally mounted cover plate, sealing its otherwise open end, that can be pivoted out of the way by a pet to gain access to food in the feeding port. The bottom wall of the food reservoir is inclined to cause the food within the food reservoir to flow into the feeding port as food is consumed by the pet. The automatic pet feeder has an offset handle for suspending the pet feeder that helps to maintain the pet feeder level and a removable support stand that permits the pet feeder to be placed on the ground. A supplemental cup is also provided for water, trial foods and the like.

Abstract: An automatic pet feeder comprises a vertically extending tubular food reservoir, a tubular food loading port adjacent an upper end of the tubular food reservoir and at least one tubular feeding port adjacent a lower end of the tubular food reservoir. The tubular food reservoir is closed at its upper and lower ends and is provided with a means at its upper end for either non-rotatably or rotatably suspending the automatic pet feeder above the ground. The food loading port has a removable cap for sealing the loading port when food is not being loaded into the pet feeder. Each feeding port is sealed by a pivotally mounted cover plate which can be pivoted out of the way by a pet to gain access to food in the feeding port. The pet feeder can also have a support stand which has a collar that slidably receives the lower end of the tubular food reservoir to support the pet feeder on the ground or floor.

Abstract: The reinforcing wires in a fibrous duct are inserted by simultaneously piercing opposite sides of the duct with elongated piercing means mounted on a reciprocally movable frame. The piercing means may be the reinforcing wires themselves or may be separate structure, such as tubes, which can function as guides for the insertion of the wire before they are withdrawn.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for expanding the fiber column produced by a rotary fiber glass manufacturing unit. A rotating bell-shaped shell is mounted beneath the rotary disc of the manufacturing unit so that the lower portion of the shell is in the path of the fiber column, causing the column to be outwardly deflected. Water is directed on the inner surface of the shell to cool the shell in order to prevent curing of binder which comes in contact with the shell, and binder is applied below the point of water application. If an amount of water in excess of the amount needed to cool the shell is provided it is thrown outward in the form of a spray which wets the fibers. The water spray also prevents fiber and binder from accumulating on the bottom edge of the shell.