Abstract: A brassiere strap retainer includes a first strip of Velcro material bearing hooks on one side thereof, and a second strip of Velcro material having a hook-receiving pad on one side thereof. The pad of the second strip faces the hooks and one end of the pad strip is secured to the hook-bearing strip, as by glue, sewing or the like. In one embodiment, the pad-bearing strip is shorter in length than the hook-bearing strip and is positioned thereagainst so as to expose both opposite ends of the hook-bearing side of the hook strip. The pad-bearing strip forms an openable flap, between which flap and the adjacent hook-bearing strip surface a brassiere strap can be releasably trapped. The exposed hook portions of the strip are used to releasably anchor the strap to the interior of a woman's upper garment so as to conceal the strap. In another embodiment, one end of the pad-bearing strip is secured to one end of the hook-bearing strip so that the two strips extend away from each other.

Abstract: A device for brewing coffee in an aircraft is disclosed which operates automatically, and is substantially lighter than and brews coffee faster than conventional aircraft coffee makers known in the art, and offers a high degree of safety in its operation. The aircraft coffee maker uses a heater tube assembly having three heater tubes with heating elements therein which are arranged in sequential order to heat water as it flows through the heater tube assembly. The aircraft coffee maker provides an entirely automatic brew cycle, and uses redundant safety mechanisms to monitor the brew operation to ensure that the brewing operation will be carried out both efficiently and safely.

Abstract: A device for use with security systems for residential or commercial buildings is disclosed which prevents an entrance door to the building both from being locked without first activating the security system, and from being unlocked without first deactivating the security system. The system uses an electromechanical interlock to prevent a deadbolt from being moved from an unlocked position to a locked position until the security system is armed. The eletromechanical interlock also prevents the deadbolt from being moved from the locked position to the unlocked position until the security system is disarmed.

Abstract: The improved incinerator is a concentric elongated tubular array, with an outer closed tubular housing or shell, an annular tubular heat exchanger in the form of a bundle of spaced open ended tubes inside the housing and spaced inwardly therefrom to define an annular air passageway therebetween and front and rear spaces, and a tubular combustion chamber having an open front end and an open rear end. The front end thereof is necked down and in the form of a small diameter tubular inlet immediately downstream of the combustion zone in the combustion chamber. A fuel line, a fluidized waste material line and an ignition system pass through the inlet into the combustion zone, along with heated air to initiate and maintain the desired complete combustion of the waste material. The air is preheated by blowing it into the passageway and around and over the heat exchange tubes, before passing it into the combustion zone.

Abstract: The video tape log device includes a looseleaf binder with front and back covers connected to a page holder bearing a longitudinal spine and transverse page connectors in the form of openable rings or clips. The device also includes a plurality of pages, each being encased in plastic which can be marked and erased. The pages bear on both sides indicia in the form of marked columns for entering information identifying the particular tape involved and the segments of the tape by a condition code, by the segment title and by the position of the segment on the tape. The pages can also be colored or bear colored tabs to distinguish types of entries on the tape; for example, different types of movies. Moreover, the device can include a removable ink pen and an eraser, and, if desired, for a more permanent record, an indelible ink pen, and solvent to remove the ink, as well as a solvent applicator. Those items can be disposed in recessed pockets in one or both binder covers for ready access by the log user.

Abstract: The paint brush cleaning device includes a housing with an open top and removable lid, a bottom drain and a mounting to hold paint brushes passing an opening in the lid down into the housing's central space which has brush cleaning liquid therein. A pair of rotatable cleaning rollers bracket the paint brushes in the central space. The rollers preferably are powered by an electric motor connected to the housing. A number of spaced upwardly directed jet nozzles are disposed in the central space for directing streams of cleaning liquid under pressure against the hard to clean heel areas of the paint brushes. An impeller pump may be connected to a manifold in the central space, from which manifold the jet nozzles extend. Two pairs of rollers may be used, with the members of each pair disposed vertically relative to each other and over which a continuous sheet may be trained. The sheet bears cleaning bristles and/or fingers. The device is simple, durable and efficient.

Abstract: The liquid fuel funnel features a no-drip configuration which includes an elongated generally horizontal fuel-receiving rear portion with an open top, which may bear a closeable lid, and a front, fuel-dispensing, spout portion which is preferably oval in transverse cross-section and which curves and tapers downwardly and forwardly to an open exit end which may bear a removable plug. That end may be generally vertical or at an angle thereto. The funnel can include one or more detents for releasably holding the funnel in a proper pouring position with the spout portion within and against a fuel container opening such as a vehicle gasoline tank opening. The detents can be on the bottom and top of the spout portion. The top detent can be on a long angled leaf spring or the like connected to and extending about the top of the spout portion. The funnel is preferably of metal and can be made economically of one-piece durable construction.

Abstract: The color wheel palette includes a generally circular bottom plate with a raised annular shelf and a non-raised central portion, the shelf having a number of spaced color paint wells uniformly disposed therein which may contain color paints therein, while the central portion is divided by raised partitions into a number of color-mixing wells. The shelf wells are sloped downwardly and outwardly from their inner margins to help pool the paints therein. A generally circular cover plate of a slightly larger size and the same general configuration as the bottom plate is releasably stacked over the bottom plate to protect the paint. The cover plate has preferably three groups of three shallower color paint or color-mixing shelf wells which register with the shelf wells of the bottom plate. Each group is prefereably about 120.degree. apart and aligned with a different one of the three central portion color-mixing wells of the cover plate, which register with those of the bottom plate.

Abstract: A cover for use to cover the windshield and the forward roof portion of an automobile where a moonroof may be installed is disclosed which cover is retained by being clamped between the window frames of the front doors and the front door frames of the automobile. The cover is of one-piece construction, and may easily be installed by a single person to snugly cover the entire windshield and front portion of the roof of a car, protecting it both from sun and from inclement weather. The cover has anti-theft provisions built therein to effectively secure the cover once installed against removal by wind or theft.

Abstract: A device for use with a motorcycle helmet is disclosed which directs a safety light rearward from the lower back portion of the helmet. The light is removably mounted onto the helmet with a variety of mounting apparatus, each of which allows the light to be quickly and conveniently installed and removed from the helmet. The light, which is entirely self-contained, is mounted onto the helmet in a way allowing the light to detach itself during an accident to avoid inflicting serious head or neck injury on the rider due to the light becoming snagged during the accident.

Abstract: The picture frame assembly includes a frame of injection molded plastic, such as polyethylene, polypropylene or the like, or a laminate of injection molded plastic and film, or aluminum. The frame defines a viewing window which may be covered by a sheet of transparent glass or plastic in the frame. A backboard is used in the frame behind the window, which backboard includes an outer frame-supporting perimeter and an openable, hinged, generally central portion. When closed, the central portion also supports the frame. Preferably, the backboard comprises foldable material such as paperboard, cardboard, stiff cloth or paper, or the like, with the hinged thereof being a fold line at the base of the openable portion, the latter being defined by a cut line separating it from the perimeter. A finger hole may be provided to aid in moving the openable portion.

Abstract: The beverage temperature controller is adapted to be releasably connected to the vent(s) of a vehicle are temperature conditioning unit which may be a heater or an air cooling and heating unit. The controller includes a box-like hollow housing having a generally horizontal closed bottom, interconnected closed upraised sides, front and rear and an open top, which can be covered by an openable lid. The housing defines a control storage space accessible through the top and in which a ring-like beverage can or drink holder is secured, so that the beverage is spaced from the housing sides, front and back, allowing circulation of air therearound. Strips in the housing bottom also raise the can for additional circulation.

Abstract: The beverage temperature controlling assembly includes a vehicle dashboard of special construction. The dashboard includes an air duct below the top of the dashboard and leading from a heater and/or air conditioner to an exhaust vent in the of the dashboard. The assembly also includes in one embodiment a top dashboard lid permitting access to the air duct for storage of beverage containers therein. In another embodiment, the assembly includes a drawer slideably received in the dashboard in line with the duct and bearing the vent. The drawer has an open top, front and back and can be slid rearward to a beverage container-loading position in front of the dashboard and then slid back adjacent the duct in the dashboard. In another embodiment, the dashboard has a front beverage container-supporting ledge directly below and behind the vent. The ledge may have a vertically slideable sleeve or rim for temporarily enclosing the sides and front of a beverage container to assure full circulation therearound.

Abstract: The window shade lock device includes a handle having a round or elongated hand grip end and a slide connector extending forwardly thereof. The slide connector is pivotally secured, preferably off center, to the preferably generally rectangular body of a slide bearing four spaced, axled, rotatable wheels, two on each of two opposite sides thereof. The wheels are adapted to ride in parallel spaced channels in a window shade side frame. The wheels extend beyond the side margins of the slide body. The slide body extends out of the frame into connection with the connector front end outside the frame. The handle is pivotally movable up and down between a locked and unlocked position. When in the locked position the slide connector front end biases the slide, specifically the wheels thereof, tightly against the frame to hold the lock in position. In the unlocked position the slide connector front end biases and spaces the slide from the frame for free movement therein.

Abstract: A device for use as an alarm for detecting the unauthorized opening of a sliding door or window is disclosed which is a wireless electronic alarm device which may be easily installed either horizontally or vertically in the casing of a sliding door or window to resist forced opening of the sliding door or window while simultaneously sounding a highly audible alarm signal indicative of an attempt to break in. The alarm device is of lightweight, portable construction in a tubular design which acts to substantially forestall the opening of the sliding door or window without the application of force sufficient to break the door or window. Once triggered, the alarm will continue until the unobtrusive owner-activated reset switch is activated to disarm the device.

Abstract: A device for use as a safety device to cut off the water supply to a house or building in the event of overly high water consumption due to a leak or break in the plumbing in the house or building is disclosed which has only three moving parts and is of simple and inexpensive to manufacture construction. The safety flow control device of the present invention has a three position selector valve which selectively either allows water to flow freely through the safety flow control device as if it were not there, diverts water through a safety flow chamber, or acts as a shutoff valve by preventing the flow of water into the main water line entrance of the house or building.

Abstract: The mag tire wheel and wheel cover shield includes a generally cylindrical preferable flat flexible resilient disc of paper, plastic, metal or the like, designed to cover the outer face of a "mag" tire wheel or wheel cover so that the tire can be sprayed with a polish or coating without spraying the wheel cover or mag wheel. The disc has a handle on the outer surface thereof, either protruding therefrom or indented, to place and help hold the disc against the "mag" wheel or wheel cover. A hook-type peripheral rim projecting inwardly from the inner face of the disc allows it to be releasably hooked in place around the wheel cover rim or mag wheel rim. Alternatively a ring or strip of adhesive or spaced magnets, or one or more suction cups strategically placed may be used to hold the disc against the wheel cover or mag wheel. A hard shield may extend outwardly from the disc handle to protect the user's hand against spraying.

Abstract: A device for use with a motorcycle helment is disclosed which directs a safety light rearward from the lower back portion of the helmet. The light is removably mounted onto the helmet with a variety of mounting apparatus, each of which allows the light to be quickly and conveniently installed and removed from the helmet. The light, which is entirely self-contained, is mounted onto the helmet in a way allowing the light to detach itself during an accident to avoid inflicting serious head or neck injury on the rider due to the light becoming snagged during the accident.

Abstract: A strap-type wrench for use in removing rotatable closures is disclosed which has two rings to assist in removing the slack in the gripping strap, and a pressure plate with a frictional gripping surface positioned on the wrench to allow the frictional gripping surface to be forced radially inwardly against the object being gripped by the wrench, thereby enhancing the frictional grip of the frictional gripping surface on the object. The rings may be sequentially pulled to first tighten the gripping strap by pulling the first ring and then to pull the slack portion of the gripping strap gathered by the first ring with the second ring in a path which will resist loosening due to frictional restraint of a portion of the gripping strap located between the wrench handle and itself.

Abstract: The window shade track hook carrier includes a body of plastic, metal, ceramic or the like which is adapted to slide or roll freely in a shade track and bear a depending shade hook which is adapted to extend out of an opening in the bottom or side of the track. The carrier body has a window shade cord passageway extending longitudinally therethrough for holding such cord in the track. The track passageway is preferably lined with slippery plastic, smooth metal or the like low friction material to reduce abrasion of the cord and facilitate relative movement of the carrier and cord in the track. In one embodiment the body has a pair of body-centering rotatable wheels of plastic or the like disposed on opposite sides of the body. In another embodiment, the body has a pair of low friction skids on opposite sides of the body. In a third embodiment, the body is cylindrical and solid, with a low friction exterior, curved sidewalls and flat front and rear.