Abstract: An insulation stop for use in buildings, such as a dwelling, having truss type roof, and which is capable of confining any type of insulating material to the area directly above the ceiling, while providing maximum space between the roof rafters and the underside of the roof for full flow of ventilation, to thereby materially reduce the energy required for air conditioning the building, as well as the cost involved. The invention consists of a single sheet, preferably of fibrous material, or which could be composed of light weight metal or plastic capable of being bent and folded. A plurality of such items are utilized to form the insulation stop for a complete building with one such item associated with and disposed in part between adjacent roof rafters.

Abstract: A trough shaped receptacle for holding a plurality of small items, such as pills, screws, nuts, washers and the like, including a bottom portion having longitudinally spaced depressions in each of which a number of the items can collect, and a side portion having pockets in which separated groups are deposited when the holder is oscillated in one direction about its longitudinal axis, so that the items in each pocket can be quickly counted. The device or holder has a closed end into which excess items can be swept and held by the thumb of one hand of the user, employed to hold the device, and while the device is oscillated in the opposite direction and tilted downwardly toward its opposite end having a pouring lip through which the counted items are discharged by gravity.

Abstract: A headgear, such as a hardhat or fireman's helmet, having a light unit applied thereto, including a light source for illuminating selective areas adjacent the headgear and which includes a current source for energizing the light source. Said current source forms a part of a drive unit which includes a pendulum and a flexible shaft actuated by the pendulum for changing the direction of the light beam emitted from the light source in response to movements of the head of the wearer of the headgear, for directing the light rays from the light source either in a forward or downward direction.

Abstract: An endless driven belt strainer adapted for use as a porous barrier in a channel containing a flowing liquid, such as a channel supplying raw sewage to a treatment plant. The belt strainer is composed of a number of endless porous wire or plastic screen strips arranged in side-by-side relation and which pass over a driving roller, guide rollers and a tension adjusting roller, all of which rotate in a frame having an upwardly inclined bottom portion which slopes away from the direction of flow of the liquid to be cleansed, and a top portion located above the liquid level and equipped with a cleaning means for removing foreign matter from the belt strainer as it commences its return travel. Means is provided for twisting each porous strip 180.degree.

Abstract: A button-like body formed of a thin elastic material is provided with a plurality of slots which intersect with one another adjacent the center of the body to define a plurality of triangular resilient prongs having adjacently disposed pointed inner ends located in close proximity to one another. The body, except for a rim portion, is cone-shaped with an upturned rim which surrounds a part of a convex outer side of the conical portion. Radially disposed reinforcing ribs are provided for the prongs on the concave inner side of the conical portion. The prongs are spread by a part of the open end of a garbage can liner bag, which is turned back over the rim of a refuse can, for drawing said part between the prongs from the concave to the convex side of the body, sufficiently to tighten the open mouth of the bag around the exterior of the can to prevent collapsing of the bag into the can.

Abstract: A toilet flush assembly having an imbalanced weight relationship between the flush handle and the arm of the tank lever, constructed and arranged to allow manual assistance in closing the outlet valve to thereby provide for limiting the amount of water passing from the toilet tank reservoir into the toilet bowl for flushing purposes.

Abstract: An electric drive unit for vehicles which are normally rider propelled, such as bicycles and tricycles, has a wheel driven by an electric motor for propelling the vehicle by frictional engagement with the front wheel tire. A control lever mounted on the handlebar is manually actuated to exert a pull on a cable which is slidably encased in a flexible sheath which is incapable of contracting. A support for the lever provides a fixed abutment for an upper end of the sheath, so that the motor mounting bracket, against which the lower end of the sheath abuts and which is yieldably supported, is displaced downwardly, by distortion of the sheath, to move the friction wheel into engagement with the vehicle tire.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in analyzing an ice skate blade for determining the tangent or high point of the edge of the blade, between the two supports of the blade holder, and to enable a skate sharpener to change the location of the tangent point, if necessary, to improve the skater's performance.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in connecting adjacent cells of storage batteries electrically and mechanically by passing an electric current through electrical resistance elements to cause a rapid heating of said elements and of battery terminal parts disposed in engagement therewith.

Abstract: A device to assist in threading needles includes a holder which is manually supported and which provides a support for a magnifying glass. A needle is detachably mounted in the holder with the eye exposed. The device includes means for varying the spacing between the magnifying glass and needle eye to locate the needle eye at the correct focal length of the magnifying glass for the particular user.

Abstract: A stringed musical instrument having a high stiffness dimensionally stable neck attached to a conventional instrument body made of hard wood. The neck is made of graphite fiber reinforced plastic material which produces a lighter, stiffer and more rigid structure than a conventional wooden neck. This high stiffness and the dimensional stability of the graphite composite, even under adverse temperature and humidity conditions, prevents warping and distortion of the instrument neck. The dimensional stability along with the high stiffness to density ratio and minimal sound damping characteristics of the graphite composite neck produce improved and stable acoustic tonal qualities from the instrument.

Abstract: A racing type sulky having a frame constructed of rigid tubular material and equipped with springs and shock absorbers between the frame and wheels.

Abstract: A frame and cover for an underground fire hydrant, especially adapted for use in locating a fire hydrant in a highway, preferably at an intersection, and by means of which the fire hydrant is rendered readily accessible for use.

Abstract: A silage door guide, constituting an attachment for a silo unloader, having an outer end which is detachably connected to a frame member constituting a cross piece above a silo door or opening, and which hingedly supports an outer end of an invertedtrough-shaped member an intermediate part of which slidably engages on the outer end of the discharge spout of the silo unloader, for directing the silage being blown from said discharge end outwardly through the silo door.

Abstract: A selfsustaining ladder, especially designed for use in harvesting fruit from trees, having an arcuate curvature to generally conform to the horizontal curvature of a segment of a fruit tree. The ladder has more than two uprights and the rungs, each of which connect with all of the upright, are spaced at considerable distances apart to provide maximum accessibility, between the rungs, to the fruit.

Abstract: A solar concentrator is provided having means allowing for deformation and precise adjustment of a cylindrical parabolic solar energy reflecting surface of the concentrator. The aforesaid means produces a geometrically correct concentrator surface which can be adjusted after fabrication to provide a sharp solar image on the receiver tube.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in rapdily and accurately obtaining correct measurements for golf clubs best suited to a particular golfer, so that clubs can be customed made to those measurements or for selecting clubs which correspond to the measurements obtained from the apparatus.

Abstract: A lock for closures, having horizontally sliding panels, such as doors or windows, which is so constructed that one or two horizontally slidable closures may be opened partially to provide ventillation but to an extent insufficient to afford ingress to an intruder.

Abstract: A tripod stand, providing a portable support for a projection screen, having a handle which is slidably movable on the standard of the stand and to which the case, which houses the viewing screen and its spring loaded roller, is swivelly connected. The handle is equipped with two latches both of which must be released for movement of the handle on the standard. The index finger of the hand gripping the handle, is positioned to release one of the latches and the other latch is released by the thumb of the same hand, leaving the other hand free for other functions, such as, manipulating the screen case. A bracket to which the legs of the stand are pivotally connected is slidably movable on the standard and cooperates with leg braces which are pivotally connected to the legs and standard for moving the legs between extended and folded positions. Detent members carried by the legs engage under the flared lower end of a collar which is secured around the standard for latching the legs in their folded positions.