Abstract: A tack for holding soft thin membrane-like materials such as roof shingles, roofing felt, or house wrap is produced in collated strips from a stock of band sheet metal. Each tack has a head and a shank lanced out of the head and bent out to leave behind a slot in the head. The shank of a given tack nests within the slot of an adjacent tack in a side by side relationship for collating in strips for use in a tacker tool. The production of the collated strips of tacks includes a progressive punch press operation wherein the stock of band sheet metal is indexed incrementally therethrough in a given indexing direction. At the extreme end of the progressive punch press operation, a completed tack is advanced to and through a collating operation in a given collating direction. In one example, the indexing direction and collating direction are arranged 135.degree. apart.

Abstract: A ditch check for controlling erosion or sediment run-off in a ditch or swale is configured as a generally planar panel. The panel has suitable water-conducting passages to permit and is given holes to insert anchor stakes to anchor the panel to the ground. The panel is preferably made substantially of a polymer or resinous moldable material. The panel is given such formed side edges that adjacent panels can overlap or enmesh one another where they meet to close a gap therebetween. It is optional that the panel be stackable with other like panels, for greater convenience during non-use periods, as while being transported and/or during storage. Given the foregoing, the panel is meant to replace straw bales as ditch checks because the panel is very much lighter, is non-absorbent and inexpensive, and is indefinitely reusable.

Abstract: A filing tool for filing trowel edges includes a metal file and a body to contain and hold the file in a securely clamped arrangement. The body forms a relatively narrow guide slot which is given generally parallel side walls as well as a generally open bottom, front and back. The file's filing surface forms the upper boundary of the slot. The slot is given a gap that allows close fitting passage of blade of a trowel. The filing tool is used for dulling and straightening the sharp and worn edges that appear on the blade of a finishing trowel and are caused by use of the trowel while spreading, shaping and/or leveling abrasive viscous material such as cement, mortar, or grout and the like.

Abstract: An auxiliary dump box accessory is provided for combining with a conventional flatbed bale (of hay) loader, for effectively converting the flatbed bale loader and the underlying conventional truck into a dump truck. Thus the dump box accessory gives the flatbed bale loader alternative utility(ies) besides the standard utility of loading and transporting large cylindrical bales of hay, including among others all the utilities typically provided by dump trucks. The dump box rests on the flatbed for use in a conventional upright position. However, when the dump box is unloaded for storage during non-use, it is deposited onto a base support surface such as the ground in a position in which it is substantially inverted.

Abstract: A combination of an in-line pressure sensor and a portable gauge head are arranged such that they can be quickly connected and disconnected together and apart for giving a quick pressure reading of the pressure sensed by the sensor. The in-line sensor is semi-permanently installed in a fluid system. The portable gauge head, during a given use, is releasably connected or coupled to the in-line sensor to detect a message signal given off by the in-line sensor and convert that message signal into a visible indication of the pressure sensed by the in-line sensor. After a given use, the portable gauge head is disconnected or de-coupled from the in-line sensor and is transported elsewhere either for use with another in-line sensor at a different location or else for storage between uses.

Abstract: An orthopedic base garment and strap system is provided for treating pathologies of the scapula, shoulder girdle, or upper trunk or quadrant or else which affects posture. The system includes an elastic base garment that has at least one upper arm encircling portion, a torso encircling portion, and an arm-and-shoulder portion spanning between and interconnecting the upper arm encircling and torso encircling portions. The base garment has diverse inner and outer surfaces such that the inner surface is adapted for high friction contact with the patient's skin or else with a thin undergarment worn by the patient, whereas the outer surface is provided with hook-fastener securing areas. The torso encircling portion is configured as opposite belt straps, one of which belt straps has hook fasteners. That way, the belt straps allow releasable formation of a belt around the patient's torso underneath and clear of the breasts.

Abstract: A wooden box call is modified to carry a strike plate on the back face of the lid/actuator. The strike plate allows use with conventional pegs or reeds, which are scraped against the strike plate to produce a mimic turkey call different from the mimic turkey call obtainable from the box call when used conventionally. Also, the reed or peg can be partly threaded and thus be screwed into a socket in the bottom of the box call such that flipping the lid/actuator allows alternate use between the conventional way box calls are used, and the way of the fixed peg/strike plate combination. More than one peg can be screwed into the bottom of the box call in order to get resonance between them. Resonating reeds can also be achieved by a stand-alone base block to which two or more reeds are attached like tines of a tuning fork.

Abstract: A hand tool is disclosed for producing trigs from flat metal strips. The hand tool has a pair of opposite press blocks or "jaws." One jaw serves as a base. It has a loop affixed in it for receiving an insertion portion of the strip. It also has appropriate guides and stops for promoting proper location of the insertion portion and preventing its untimely dislocation. The other jaw has a corner edge which when the jaws are closed on the single ply of the insertion portion, forms the outer limit of the insertion portion and allows for initiating bending of the remaining portion of the strip back upon the insertion portion.

Abstract: A pipeline leak detection apparatus is provided for fluid dispensing system having a dispenser, a storage tank, and a pump and an electric cut-off valve arranged in hydraulic series with the outlet of the storage tank. The pipeline to be monitored extends between the cut-off valve and the dispenser. A control circuit that operates the cut-off valve such that the valve opens with use of the dispenser and closes with non-use in order to hydraulically isolate the storage tank and pump from the pipeline and dispenser during periods of non-use. The leak detection apparatus is connected in a by-pass loop around the pump. It includes a small pot or plenum, a float switch, and a return line for fuel to spill back into the storage tank. The plenum inlet is connected to a branch in the pipeline near the cut-off valve, and its outlet is connected to the return line to the storage tank. The float switch is mounted to the plenum so that its float extends into the plenum chamber.

Abstract: A launcher and pod combination for dispensing miniature flyers at altitude includes a pod, a launcher for non-explosively launching the pod, an optional tether connected between the launcher and pod to jerk the flight of the pod to an abrupt halt, and, miniature flyers contained in the pod before launch which are to be dispensed by the pod when jerked at the limit of the tether.

Abstract: A medical device comprises an articulated string of hollow plastic beads which lock into each other. The medical device will attach to an operating-room table-rail and hold a nozzle or suction scoop in a given position near the surgical site to evacuate airborne hazardous smoke fumes. The medical device will eliminate the need for an operating room nurse who in the past may be been solely responsible for manually holding the prior art nozzles or suction scoops in the vicinity of the surgical site. A surgeon will be able control by one hand the aiming and positioning of the nozzle or suction scoop by grabbing and configuring the medical device via a quick thrusting action. The medical device will remain in place until moved into another position.

Abstract: A combination cordless telephone and premise-monitoring alarm system has a base unit, a cordless handset, and one or more remote alarm detectors. The alarm detectors can be generally either smoke detectors, motion detectors, or open-entry detectors. The base unit includes at least one interface for the public telephone network, and another interface for radio communication with the cordless handset. The base unit preferably also communicates with the remote alarm sensors across the same radio interface. The base unit includes telephone call circuitry to relay telephone calls between the public telephone network and the handset. The base unit also includes alarm processing circuitry to send an alarm warning to a central alarm-monitoring station in response to an alarm signal from a remote detector.

Abstract: A bumper and sling arrangement assists a user to dock his or her boat to a dock or the like by allowing the user to set-up the sling in slack condition between moorings on the boat and dock, and then allowing the user to tighten the slackness out of the sling until the boat is pulled into the dock. The bumper is suspended from the sling in between the boat and dock. As the sling is tightened, the bumper is compressed between the boat and dock in order to constrain relative movement between the boat and dock to practically eliminate such relative movement, as well as, simultaneously, to cushion what relative movement that cannot be eliminated.

Abstract: A self-defense knife has a handle and a blade. A user of the knife preferably holds it by the handle such that the blade extends toward the elbow of the user. The blade has a blunt edge and an opposite sharp edge. The knife is preferably held, more particularly, such that the blunt edge rests against the soft underbelly of the user's forearm. By holding the knife that way, the user is less likely to harm him or herself during use, and is also more likely to maintain the sharp or cutting edge in proper position for fending off an aggressor. The blunt edge is given a shape and arrangement that generally defines a reverse curve of the curve defined by the user's partly flexed wrist and forearm. The curve of the blunt edge thereby closes up a possible gap that could exist between the blunt edge and forearm. That way, an aggressor cannot grab the wrist of the user without also grabbing the sharp edge.

Abstract: Forearm rests are combined with a conventional invalid walker. The forearm rests are located generally spaced above the normal hand-grips. The forearm rests are advantageous for providing inward lateral support to the user's outwardly flexed forearms while the user is grasping the hand-grips and while the user is one of (i) maneuvering the walker and (ii) partly supporting and stabilizing him or herself while standing and walking. The forearm rests provide better stability and support for a user who has diminished arm strength and/or diminished motor control over his or her arm muscles. The forearm-rests can be formed in an accessory apparatus that allows attachment to a conventional walker (without forearm rests) in order to enhance the walker and give it the desirable forearm rests.

Abstract: A boat that has a central hull, a pair of floats, and a pair of outrigger spars for supporting the floats on each side of the hull. The outrigger spars are adjustably mounted on the hull so that the floats can be adjustably placed in a given range of positions that lie both (i) substantially spaced away outboard of the side beam of the central hull as well as (ii) substantially spaced rearward of the stern of the central hull. The floats are much smaller than the central hull, partly so that the central hull can be formed with storage recesses in the side-boards thereof for removably storing the floats in a stored position during non-use of the floats. The outrigger spars are preferably mounted to the central hull at or near the opposite rear corners thereof. Also, the outrigger spars are preferably mounted to the central hull for pivotal movement in generally horizontal planes.

Abstract: A ditch check for controlling erosion or sediment run-off in a ditch or swale is configured as a generally planar panel. The panel has suitable water-conducting passages to permit and is given holes to insert anchor stakes to anchor the panel to the ground. The panel is preferably made substantially of a polymer or resinous moldable material. The panel is given such formed side edges that adjacent panels can overlap or enmesh one another where they meet to close a gap therebetween. It is optional that the panel be stackable with other like panels, for greater convenience during non-use periods, as while being transported and/or during storage. Given the foregoing, the panel is meant to replace straw bales as ditch checks because the panel is very much lighter, is non-absorbent and inexpensive, and is indefinitely reusable.

Abstract: A restraining device for a wheelchair and method of making the restraining device. A pummel, or wedge-like element, is rotatably mounted to an elongate axis member. The elongate axis member has engaging elements at each end for engaging the frame or legs of a chair or wheelchair. The elongate axis member is longitudinally adjustable and the engaging elements are rotatably adjustable. The rotatable pummel may be releasably secured to the elongate axis member in a restraining position located proximate an upper, frontal portion of the seat of the chair upon which the restraining device is utilized. In this way, the restraining device is positioned between the legs and at the crotch of an individual seated in the chair. The pummel may be released and rotated about the elongate axis member to a non-restraining position which does not inhibit movement to or from the seat of the chair.

Abstract: A method for processing sewage eliminates chemical "treatment", or, the addition of chemicals that are as harmful or more so to the environment as raw sewage. The method of processing sewage disintegrates the generally solid components of sewage into a highly de-moisturized powder via alternative processes of either (i) a freeze-drying process, or (ii) a combination centrifugal separation and an evacuated "bake-out" process, both which substantially drive out the vaporizable components of the sewage. In consequence, there are no resultant effluent and/or exhausting vapors from this method which would impact the environment.