Abstract: A pet litter box made of relatively light weight, easily cleaned material which includes a bottom pan for collecting liquid waste, an upper box which closely interfits with the bottom pan to contain odors in the bottom pan, and a litter tray which is supported by the upper box. The litter tray includes an apertured flat sheet which supports a layer of litter. The litter acts as a liquid waste absorber and odor barrier, while allowing unabsorbed liquid waste to pass downwardly into the bottom pan. The apertured flat sheet is integral with a cellular structure to provide structural rigidity for supporting the weight of a pet without significant downward bowing of the sheet.

Abstract: An air gap apparatus for plumbing applications such as reverse osmosis (RO) units and other systems in which reject water empties at a relatively slow rate into a drain line. The apparatus can be incorporated in an under-the-counter unit or in a countertop embodiment which eliminates umbilical connections between the RO unit and the kitchen faucet and sink drain. The apparatus has a conventional air gap to protect against back siphoning and against high velocity backflow from the drainage line. It uses a deflector wall in combination with a supplemental opening and one or more backflow restrictors to slow and shunt any backflow to atmosphere. Different styles of countertop and wall mount installations are disclosed, as well as various deflector walls and back flow devices.

Abstract: A film magazine having a case adapted to be mounted in fixed position adjacent a motion picture camera that is adjustably movable along a fore and aft axis. The magazine includes a film slot and a film guide assembly movable along the length of the film slot for guiding the film in light tight relation through the film slot regardless of the position of the camera. The arrangement does not require rethreading of the film following each change in camera position.

Abstract: A gyroscopically stabilized apparatus for aiming an instrument at a target object. An external yoke is attached to the ends of a hub assembly which supports the gyro and camera platforms for rotation about pan, tilt and roll axes. The yoke is associated with an externally located vibration damping system interposed between the yoke and the support arm attached to the helicopter or other transporting vehicle. This makes possible a greater degree of helicopter pitch and roll without having any support structure impact the gyro and camera. In one embodiment the platforms are associated with separately rotatable hemispheres joined to provide a spherical fairing. In another embodiment the hemispheres are attached together for common rotation about pan and tilt axes.

Abstract: A body surfing apparatus comprising a body ski having a reduced hydrodynamic drag because it is made of smooth semirigid material for streamlining the upper body, and because it maintains its shape and resists local deformation. Certain edges of the ski are curved and located to minimize drag inducing scooping of water during planing. Side portions of the ski are provided to also reduce such scooping. One embodiment also includes thigh skis to increase the low drag planing area in the lower body region.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing sediment such as leaves and debris from a pool by inducing turbulence in the pool water to stir up the sediment within local regions of the pool, and directing a steady jet of water from a stationary jet to provide a fixed direction gathering stream or pathway to capture and carry the sediment to the inlet of a leaf receiver which is fixed in position at the end of the pathway. Local area turbulence can be achieved in various ways, including the use of manual sweep brooms, water jet propelled devices carrying flexible sweep hoses, or an arrangement of rotary nozzles operative to sweep across and induce turbulence over camparatively large local regions of the pool. The leaf receiver in connected by a conduit to an externally located foraminous leaf collector mounted in a collector tank from which water is pumped, leaving the collected leaves in the leaf collector. An access cover in the pool deck can be opened to reach and withdraw the leaf collector for emptying.

Abstract: A vacuum immobilizer support is disclosed which includes an elongated, flexible casing having neck, thoracic and pelvic regions. An evacuation valve is provided to allow the casing to be converted from a flexible state to an evacuated state. Stiffener sections are provided in the casing to prevent transverse bending of the casing in the neck, thoracic and pelvic regions. The stiffener sections allow transverse bending along an axis between the thoracic and pelvic regions. An intermediate stiffener section is provided to prevent longitudinal shortening of the casing between upper and lower stiffener sections. Discrete elements are disposed within the casing and allow the casing to conform to a patient when in its flexible state and to be rigidly fixed when in its evacuated state.