Abstract: A ball retrieving storage device including an elongated hollow tube opened at one end for reception of a ball, the tube having formed in the opened end a circumferential groove concentrically arranged therewith opening inwardly toward the hollow interior of the tube and defined by upper and lower groove side surfaces, a yieldable ring of measured thickness concentrically located in the groove, the ring having an internal diameter slightly smaller than the outside diameter of the ball to be retrieved, wherein the groove is wider than the thickness of the ring to allow the ring to be moveable therein and displacable upward therein in response to the upward pressure of a to-be-retrieved ball from below when the opened end of the tube is passed over the ball, and wherein the groove has a first depth, in the area of natural repose of the ring, and a second depth in the area of the upward displacement thereof, wherein the second depth is greater than the first depth to allow the ring to expand under the upward pres

Abstract: A subassembly for use in a computerized medicine dispensing station is disclosed. The station has a cabinet for housing openable drawers in stacked arrangement containing dispensable pharmaceutical items. The subassembly includes a drawer having a base plate, side walls, and a front panel defining an interior compartment. The drawer can be inserted into the cabinet. The interior compartment of the drawer is divided into subcompartments, each subcompartment defined by spaced apart side walls and a curved rear wall. Each subcompartment contains a movable magazine mounted therein for racetrack-like movement therein between the spaced apart side wall and the curved rear wall. The magazine includes individual open cups for containing single dispensable pharmaceutical items therein. The front panel has an aperture which is normally closed and locked.

Abstract: A control circuit for limiting the current flow to a direct-current driven motor, to reduce current spikes at motor start up, including a voltage-regulated, current-passing device for passing current from a direct voltage source to the motor, the device having a default configuration such as to permit full current flow thereacross when the voltage is initially applied, a voltage drop device interposed the voltage source and the voltage-regulated, current-passing device responsive to the current flow to the motor and a variable-voltage output device responsive to the voltage drop developed in the voltage-drop device for providing a subsequently changing voltage for input to the current-passing device for limiting the current flow therethrough following initial application of the voltage.

Abstract: A combination insect protection barrier and tray upon which to support an object in an insect-free environment, including three barriers each including first and second upright closed loop walls having an open top and a closed bottom floor extending therebetween defining an endless annular cavity for receipt therein of a liquid insect repellant, the first wall being taller than the second wall and forming a vertical bore central thereto, a tray including three elongated elements of terminal length interconnected at their respective terminal ends and having a bore formed in the underside of the tray at each interconnection for receipt therein of the first wall of the barriers, and the three barriers and the tray formed as one unit in an injection molding mold and including runners from the tray to the barriers that may be broken away to allow assembly of the barriers in the tray.

Abstract: A self-capturing articulating chest handle including a handle bar of terminal length containing a hand grasping portion, a pair of legs extending downward from the terminal ends of the handle bar, a pair of links, defined by spaced-apart first and second ends, pivotally attached at the first ends to the terminal ends of the legs, outboard thereof, to allow the handle to be swung thereabout, a bracket for mounting against a vertical surface including a pair of mutually spaced-apart ears extending outward therefrom, a first device for pivotally inter-connecting the second link ends to the ears and including an extended element located inboard from the connection interior the links, and a second device formed in the handle bar for fastenable receipt therein of the extended element when the handle is swung downward from a carrying position and rotated about the links into overlapping arrangement therewith and the folded handle legs and links swung further downward against the vertical surface.

Abstract: A positive oil candle wick advancing and retracting mechanism including a candle cap having formed therethrough an elongated bore for passage of the wick, at least three elongated tubular elements mounted in the cap immediately below the bore for rotational movement in close equiangular arrangement about a central axis passing upward through the bore, a series of spiral threads formed along the greater length of the outside surface of the elements to engage the wick uniformly thereabout, a series of outwardly facing gear teeth formed circumferentially about a shorter length of the outside surface of the elements spaced apart from the spiral threads, and a candle cap support base including a first mechanism for retaining the candle cap in aligned rotational position thereon, a second mechanism for attaching the base to a candle oil receptacle, and a series of inwardly facing gear teeth formed in a circumferential ring about the interior of the base and arranged for engagement with the outwardly facing gear tee

Abstract: An auxiliary storage and dispensing unit for use with a computer-controlled supply and medication dispenser station including a cabinet having integrally connected top, bottom, side and rear cabinet panels defining a tall storage and interior dispensing cavity accessible through a front opening, a plurality of horizontally openable and closeable doors including door frames and transparent windows hingedly mounted and locked over the front opening, a device for interconnecting one or more doors to allow access to a particular portion of the interior cavity, and a door unlocking device interconnected the computer-controlled station for selectively unlocking one or more of the doors at a particular location on the cabinet as a function of information inputted to the station.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing a deposit of gum or other sticky substance from a carpet or other flat surface including in combination, a body adapted for upright use and terminated by spaced-apart top and bottom ends, an electric drive motor including a rotatable drive shaft mounted in the lower half of the body to create a low center of gravity to the upright body, a flat bottom brush interconnected the drive shaft and extending below the lower body terminal end, a fluid reservoir for holding an inventory of liquid gum remover attached to the body including a conduit extending toward the brush and device for delivering a controllable charge of liquid to the deposit, handle device extending outward from the upper half of the body to manipulate the body in upright position over the deposit, including device for energizing the motor to spin the brush, and a sleeve slidably mounted coaxial with the bottom end of the body and arranged to extend outward and beyond the brush, having a planar bottom parallel to the plan

Abstract: A hair curling and styling tool including a shaft having first and second ends, a handle member extending inward from the first end, a hair curling member extending inward from the second end toward the handle portion, a hair brush carried in the shaft of the hair curling member, for aiding the curling of hair thereabout as the tool is rotated by the handle, apparatus for moving the hair brush from an operative position exterior the shaft to an inoperative position interior the shaft to withdraw the bristles from the curl formed about the hair curling member, and apparatus for temporarily mounting a hair fastener at the shaft second end, the hair fastener including first and second shanks of terminal length, the first shank including a straight portion and a second shank, having formed therein at least one sinusoidal curve, the shanks held together by a U-shaped connecting section, and an offset portion formed in the second shank, the holding device including apparatus for positioning the offset portion of th

Abstract: A sub-assembly for use in a medication dispenser station for controller actuated dispensing of pharmaceutical items in single quantities from locked storage and allowing rapid reloading of more items all under extreme security and heightened accountability, comprising a chassis for insertion into the cabinet for secure mounting therein, including an unlockable front reloading access door, pharmaceutical retrieval tray depending therebelow and a discharge chute opening from interior the access door down into the tray, at least one narrow stock-supporting magazine slidably mounted in the chassis extending rearward from inside the front access door for retaining a stock of pharmaceutical items in vertically oriented, front-to-rear alignment therein, an ejector interconnected the magazine for moving the forward-most pharmaceutical item in the magazine into position over the discharge chute for dispensing into the retrieval tray upon command while retaining the other items in locked storage in the magazine, a bi-s

Abstract: A method of removing foulants from spiral-wound reverse osmosis cartridges, comprising the steps of:a) freeing the envelopes and webbing from their original confinement;b) soaking the envelopes and webbing in a cleaning solution, specific to the general chemical nature of the foulants found in the webbing and on the surface of the envelopes, for a period of time sufficient to dissolve solubilize soften, and loosen the foulants;c) unwrapping and washing each membrane envelope and layer of webbing to physically remove the foulants therefrom;d) rewinding the membrane envelopes and layers of webbing in spiral configuration about the center product tube while simultaneously drawing a vacuum on the product tube to remove air trapped in the envelopes and enable the memory of the envelopes and webbing to urge themselves into their original tightly-wrapped configuration thereabout; and,e) reconfining the ends of the wrapped layers and resealing the outer surface and one end of the reassembled cartridge against leakage