Abstract: An apparatus and method for drying and deagglomerating substances of finely-divided solids suspended in a fluid medium. The apparatus includes the basic components of a phenumatic friction dryer, a flash dryer and a ring dryer.

Abstract: This is a personal earphone assembly comprised of a flexible, elongate tube having open ends and a central lumen therethrough. Earphones are disposed at each open end of the tube, each earphone having a neck projecting therefrom and a wire passing from the neck, through the lumen, to a central aperture in the tube. In a stereophonic embodiment, the earphone wires run parallel from the central lateral aperture to a plug adapted to engage a stereo jack on a signal source. In a monaural embodiment, the earphone wires join a single double-strand lead to a mono jack. Lateral slits are provided adjacent the open ends of the tube for receipt of the temple ends of a pair of eyeglasses. The portions of the tube between the lateral apertures and the open ends wrap over and around the forward portions of a user's ear, and the earphones lodge in the outer ear canal. The assembly may also be worn without eyeglasses.

Abstract: A snowshoe heel lift for preventing heel strain and fatigue is disclosed. The snowshoe heel lift described herein is comprised of a substantially planar heel platform and a bail member coupled thereto. The bail member articulates between a deployed and a retracted position. When in the deployed condition, the bail member abuts against an external support which is coupled to the heel platform. The external support keeps the bail member deployed and the bail member and external support are together capable of supporting the weight of a snowshoer, without collapsing. A heel lift and snowshoe combination is also disclosed.

Abstract: A device for organizing office paraphernalia which uses a PC monitor as a mounting surface. The device is comprised of a shroud mountable to a PC monitor groove, this groove being located behind the faceplate of most PC monitors. The shroud is preferably comprised of two adjustable shroud members coupled together by a spring tensioner. The shroud members have an inner edge, an outer edge, and a front face disposed between the inner and outer edges. A plurality of projections disposed upon the inner edge of the shroud members engage within the PC monitor groove, when the shroud is placed upon a PC monitor. Once in place, the shroud surrounds three sides of the PC monitor and remains tensioned against the monitor, in the proper upright position, through the combined action of the projections disposed within the monitor groove and the spring tensioner holding the shroud members tightly against the monitor.

Abstract: An accessory holder for attaching to a person's belt or clothing, allows for the carrying of a variety of tools and accessories, while the wearer's hands remain free for performing other tasks. This accessory holder allows leashes, power cords, tools, bicycle helmets, and other items, which are too large for pants pockets, to be carried. The accessory holder is comprised of a flexible, folding, nylon body, having a front side and a rear side. The front side is comprised of a clothing fastener for fastening the accessory holder to a belt or clothing. The front side has a pair of light attachment points, which when coupled, fold the front side together. The rear side has a pair of heavy attachment points with a load area located therebetween. An accessory is placed in the load area and the heavy attachment points are coupled, leaving the accessory or a part thereof cradled in the load area for easy carrying.

Abstract: A snowshoe rear cleat assembly comprised, in a first embodiment, of a rigid substrate for mounting a rear cleat beneath, the rigid substrate underlapping a conventional rubberized snowshoe decking. The rigid substrate and rubberized decking together function to comprise the entire decking of a snowshoe. This underlapping design serves to cause the rear cleat to protrude a greater distance below the snowshoe frame, thereby allowing the cleat to penetrate a greater depth into snow, for better traction. Additionally, a heel strike plate is designed to prevent slippage of a snowshoer's footwear, and to serve to self-clean the bottoms of the snowshoer's footwear of snow and ice. In an alternate embodiment of the rear cleat assembly, the rigid substrate comprises the entire snowshoe decking and the rear cleat attaches underneath the rigid substrate.

Abstract: A manually operated camera float device for achieving movement-free video camera shots. This device attaches to a camera boom and is comprised of a first frame member and a second frame member, the first frame member having a platform for coupling a camera upon. The second frame member rotatably couples to the camera boom and the first frame member rotates in a swinging arc in relation to the second frame member. The first frame member rotates as a result of a system of pulleys communicating by a drive belt, in a first embodiment. In a second embodiment, a system of tie rods allows the first frame member to rotate. In a third embodiment a system of gears allow rotation of the first frame member. In operation, the camera float device operates in conjunction with a camera boom for allowing the camera to be floated in a three-dimensional environment through simple manual manipulation.

Abstract: A syringe holder and dosage tracking device comprised of a base member having at least one, and preferably, a plurality of cavities imparted therein. Time indicia are placed near the cavities to designate an interval of time for which a syringe dosage should be administered. Medication-filled syringes are placed in the cavities and administered according to an interval of time being reached. This device may also incorporate a needle severing device to reduce the risk of injury from contaminated needles, following use. The needle severing device is in communication with a storage means, wherein severed needles and syringe bodies can be stored following use, and prior to disposal.

Abstract: A money cake apparatus, is disclosed, which gives the appearance of cash money being pulled from a birthday cake. This apparatus is comprised of a hollow base having one or more spout extensions with open ends, protruding upward from the top of the base. A cake is mounted upon the base after having through-holes cut therein for accommodating the spout extensions. In the preferred embodiment, a see-through glassine or plastic money strip, having individual adjacent compartments, acts as a means for delivering currency from the hollow base up through the spout extensions. Bills of currency are placed in each compartment and protected therein from cake and frosting debris as each bill is pulled, one by one, from the money cake apparatus.

Abstract: A human-powered, wheeled, garden cart, capable of carrying an entire ensemble of garden and yard tools. This garden cart includes a top platform, a bottom platform, and a hollow center member coupled between the top and bottom platforms. The top platform includes slots placed along its sides for placing long-handled tools in an upright manner, through-holes for placing straight, long-handled tools in an inverted manner, and additional penetrations for hanging smaller tools. The bottom platform includes cutouts matching the through-holes in the top platform for seating the inverted, straight-handled, tools. Two oblong wells are also provided in the bottom platform for stabilizing the heads of axes, pickaxes and splitting mauls. The center member is compartmentalized for storing medium sized tools such as bow saws. A retractable towing handle extends from the front of the center member and provides a mechanical advantage for easily towing a heavily loaded cart.

Abstract: A step-in binding system for retrofitting to snowboard boot binder comprising an adaptor for coupling to a boot binder, and a rotatable, step-in, binding for receiving and engaging to the adaptor. The adaptor incorporates a manual quick-release mechanism for releasing from the step-in binding. An electro-mechanical quick-release mechanism operable through and RF transmitter-receiver combination, is coupled to the step-in binding and serves as a secondary quick-release mechanism. The adaptor is presented in two different embodiments, both of which can be readily retro-fitted to snowboard boot binders in popular use.

Abstract: An apparatus for taping work surfaces without kneeling, stooping, or bending. The apparatus is comprised of a carriage body having wheels and a push handle for imparting locomotion thereto. The push handle is located at a height sufficient for allowing a user to tape a surface from an upright walking position. The carriage body mounts a tape dispenser coupled to a tape registering device on its front surface. A roll of tape is mounted in the tape dispenser, and the tape is first fed manually to the tape registering device, which registers the tape upon a work surface. Upon firm registration, the apparatus is wheeled forward, and the tape is automatically unrolled, and applied to the work surface, until the desired amount of tape is applied. The tape dispenser and tape registering device can be uncoupled as a unit, and selectively positioned in a different geometric plane, for taping a new work surface.

Abstract: A broom head for channeling spreadable material, such as sand and debris. This broom head is represented by a manual push broom embodiment and an embodiment for adaption to a motorized vehicle. In both embodiments, the arms of the broom converge at a junction to form an interior angle. The bristles bordering along this interior angle form a leading edge which channels any spreadable material toward the junction of the angle. The manual push broom embodiment adopts a V-shaped structure, thereby having a single interior angle, while the motorized embodiment adopts an X-shaped structure and thereby has at least two interior angles. The channeling ability of this broom head is especially useful for paving and road work, where sand must be channeled into cracks for purposes of repair.

Abstract: A fishing reel winding and unwinding device by which the line supply spool (or storage spool) is supported on a universal positioning turn table relative to a fishing reel secured to a reel support. The spool shaft is supported on an upright crank shaft and spool holder on a turn table, and the spool shaft is equipped with a crankshaft component for rotating an empty line supply spool thereon as during winding or unwinding a fishing reel. The spool shaft turn table is attached to the turret plate by a screw permitting swivel at 90-degree intervals for diversified winding or unwinding of reels with either left or right hand and either spin, fly or conventional line/reel applications without twisting the line out, but instead, retaining the natural manufactured characteristics of the line in use and in line storage.

Abstract: An improved caster assembly for moving heavy loads upon a caster platform. This caster assembly is less prone to breakage than conventional caster assemblies, and additionally incorporates a safety lid for reducing the risk if injury to workers. This caster assembly is comprised of a box frame member within which a caster wheel is rotatably mounted. The box frame member is coupled in an offset position to a rotatable platform, which allows the caster assembly to rotate with the direction of force applied to a load moving across a caster platform in which it is mounted. This caster assembly is designed to couple into cavities present in existing caster platforms. The safety lid serves to close any gaps present in these platform cavities, thereby reducing the likelihood of a worker's foot or hand becoming caught in the cavity and injured by an approaching heavy load.

Abstract: A device for regulating the flow of electrical current to a power tool includes a switch and handle combination coupled to a wiring component which serves to bypass an electrical circuit of a power tool. In a first embodiment, the wiring component can be "hard wired" into the electrical circuit of a power tool in a permanent arrangement. In a second embodiment, the wiring component is self-contained, and includes a power cord bisected by a junction box, the junction box for accepting the plug adaptor of a power tool. An anchoring device serves to anchor the switch and handle to an accessible location upon the power tool, so that the switch may be easily reached, should a user need to increase, decrease, reverse or stop the flow of electrical current to the power tool motor.

Abstract: A glare shield device for attaching to an automobile sun visor includes a glare shield rotatably coupled to a stabilizer, in a parallel relation. The glare shield is tinted and may extend beyond the ends of a typical sun visor for purposes of reducing glaze and increasing visibility throughout a wide range of viewing. The stabilizer and glare shield are coupled so that a gap remains between them, this gap allowing the glare shield a significant range of motion, thereby allowing numerous adjustment positions for through-viewing by drivers of differing heights.

Abstract: A device for separating individual items from a continuous perforated sheet includes a longitudinal burster for separating longitudinal lines of weakening on a perforated sheet, and a transverse burster for separating transverse lines of weakening on a perforated sheet. The longitudinal burster operates by employing a pair of rollers linked to a pulley device, with belts, the belts causing edge strips on a perforated sheet to diverge, and separate, from the perforated sheet, along its longitudinal lines of weakening. The transverse burster separates transverse lines of weakening by causing a perforated sheet tensioned against the surface of the transverse burster to begin to separate, the separation being completed as the perforated sheet continues to move across the transverse burster.