Abstract: The crank handle of a window sill used for actuating a window pane has a hollow end in which is received an insert allowing the handle to engage various sizes of crank shafts. The insert is formed of a malleable material so that it can be deformed to fit the diameter of a crank shaft to thereby securely engage the crank shaft and enable its rotation by the handle.

Abstract: A draining apparatus for collecting fluids from a container. This device consists essentially of a base and a rotational receptacle support which holds, in place, the container which is to be drained. The container is held in an inverted position and is uniquely secured for draining and can be easily released to facilitate collection and use.

Abstract: A technique and apparatus for providing reciprocating hydroenhancement includes a pair of fabric spools with a hydroenhancement process disposed therebetween. The hydroenhancement process is configured to impart a minimal amount of hydroenhancement to the fabric passing therethrough and may comprise only a single vacuum roll and associated single hydroenhancement jet (other arrangements may use two or three of vacuum rolls and jets in order to provide controllable "front side" and "back side" treatments on a per pass basis). The fabric to be treated is loaded onto a first spool, passes through the hydroenhancement process and is thereafter taken up on the second spool. Once the entire length of fabric has been treated and loaded onto the second spool the process is reversed; the fabric is unwound from the second spool, treated a second time and re-loaded onto the first spool. The process is reversed once again, and a second "forward" treatment is imparted to the fabric. This "back and forth" (i.e.

Abstract: An electroluminescent night light which provides a single color or multi-colored display. The display is achieved by depositing, onto a conductive layer by screen printing means, a single film or one or more discrete phosphor characters of the same or different color. Also included is a novel construction feature, specifically, a `wrap` around means for securely joining the electroluminescent lamp to the plug assembly.

Abstract: A support device for holding building materials and the like which includes: a body; clamping means having a lever mechanism and skid-resistant means attached to one end of the body; a brace having slip resistance means and extending diagonally from an end of the body opposite that to which the clamping means are attached; the clamping means being arranged to be secured onto a building support member and the brace arranged to be secured to the support member at a position spaced apart from where the clamping means are secured, thereby, forming a triangular support device with the body, brace, and building support member. A lever mechanism is arranged to both open a movable part of the clamping means and close such movable part causing the clamping means to securely grip the building support member. The movable part of the clamping means is arced to securely fit building support members of varying thicknesses.

Abstract: An evaporator includes a maple sap evaporating pan in fluid communication with a maple syrup forming pan, a fire box in gas communication with gas circulating adjuncts, a flue stack and chimney and an auxiliary reservoir for pre-heating the sap prior to entering the maple sap evaporating pan. The auxiliary reservoir consists of a housing defined in the flue stack with an inlet for receiving cold sap. A series of horizontally spaced open end vertical tubes extends through the housing, each tube including a lower inlet receiving from the adjuncts flue gases that circulate through and heat the tubes and an upper outlet allowing the gases to exit through the chimney. Hence, cold sap received in the auxiliary reservoir is first heated by contact with the hot tubes.

Abstract: A cutting head for a nylon-cord mower and the like, comprising a case housing an inner spool on which it is wound at least a length of nylon cord, elastically loaded by a helical spring, with the two ends of said nylon cord protruding through pairs of annular members mounted on said case in diametrally opposed locations. The inner spool is formed by a cylindrical body with at least two holes aligned along an axis intersecting the axis of the spool, and that can be axially aligned with the two annular members for allowing the replacement of the nylon cord without opening the cutting head.

Abstract: A device for enabling a person while bathing to perform other activities including reading, writing, smoking and drinking. The device comprises: a main support bar having a telescoping support tube slidably and adjustably mounted therein, the main support bar being arranged to be pivotally mounted on a tub and the telescoping support tube being arranged to be releasably mounted on a tub; a clamping-bracket to pivotally mount one end of the main support bar onto a tub; a releasable mounting to releasably mount the telescoping support tube onto a tub; and a book holder supported by a support ledger onto the main support bar/telescoping support tube combination, the book holder having a pen/pencil holder built therein.

Abstract: An eyeglass construction is described and comprises a lens, a pair of lens engaging members, a pair of hinge members, and a pair of temple pieces. The hinge members are adapted to slidably engage the lens engaging members and to be connected therewith for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis. The pair of temple pieces each have a portion adapted to engage a hinge member and to be connected therewith for pivotal movement about a substantially vertical axis. The lens engaging member and the hinge member have cooperating angular positioning elements so that the members may be adjusted relative to one another to enable the lens to adopt various angular position relative to the temple pieces.

Abstract: A device for use with one or more similarly constructed devices for spacing a utility wire from a supporting cable. The device has a top portion defining a U-shaped configuration including of opposite sides and of a bottom wall adapted to receive thereon the utility wire. The bottom portion has opposite side walls and a bottom wall adapted to receive thereagainst the supporting cable. The opposite sides of the top portion are spaced from another a distance so as to allow nesting therein of the bottom portion of a superposed similarly constructed device. A series of these devices may be nested together so that the spacing of the utility wire from its supporting cable may be varied in accordance with particular requirements.

Abstract: A device for retrieving a fish hooked to a fishing line comprising: a gripping mechanism for gripping the fish, a guide mechanism connected to the gripping mechanism for guiding the device along the line, and a retrieval mechanism operatively connected to the gripping mechanism for retrieving the device and the fish.

Abstract: A circuit for providing AC power to an electroluminescent lamp powered by a battery comprises a high frequency oscillator through a control to drive a fly back voltage regulator comprising an inductor powered by a relatively low battery voltage and coupled to ground through a switching transistor. A capacitor coupled to the inductor through a diode is charged by the repetitive charge and discharge of the inductor when the transistor is switched ON and OFF at high frequency by the high frequency oscillator. The charge in the capacitor is dithered about a high DC voltage, such as 100 VDC, by sensing the charged voltage for periodically turning the transistor ON and OFF accordingly. A bridge circuit receives two pairs of like lower frequency square wave pulse signals of opposite polarity from a low frequency oscillator.

Abstract: A mailbox unit comprising a hollow housing member mounted on a support member affixed to a base. Hinges are connected to the housing member and support member for allowing the mailbox to tilt upon being struck by a damaging lateral force. The base has a bottom that comprises a beveled outer portion that converges downward defining a generally conical shape with a flat center portion which permits the mailbox unit to rock after being subjected to a damaging lateral force.

Abstract: A bed framework comprising a base frame provided with casters and a supporting frame provided with at least one subframe movable and/or swingable with respect to said supporting frame. The two frames are connected to each other through at least two pairs of rods with associated arcuate guides secured to said base frame for allowing a change of the elevation and inclination of said supporting frame in respect of said base frame.One end of each rods is pivotally connected to said supporting frame and the other end is provided with pins engaging guide slots in said arcuate guides whereby said supporting frame is vertically raised or lowered when said pins are moved along the guide slots of the associated arcuate guide.

Abstract: A storage rack system having a plurality of storage bays adapted to store pallet loads that are three and four pallets deep is disclosed. This system includes a pair of outer tracks and a pair of spaced apart inner tracks located within the outer tracks and extending the full depth of the storage rack. One of the inner tracks is secured to a spaced apart adjacent outer track by a plurality of brackets to form a first independent unit, and the other of the inner tracks is secured to a spaced apart adjacent outer track by a plurality of brackets to form a second unit.

Abstract: A cloudy water recovery and recycling apparatus and method of use. The apparatus recovers cloudy water defined as water recovered from the rinse cycle of a clothes washing machine. The apparatus is comprised of an electronic controller, a storage tank, a trap having a lint screen, a pumping means, and a pressurized storage container. Water from a clothes washing machine is separated into rinse water and wash water by an electronic controller. The wash water is disposed of and the rinse water is strained to remove lint, collected in the storage tank, treated with dye and bactericide, pumped from the storage tank to a pressurized container and then utilized to flush at least one toilet.

Abstract: An apparatus for charging a battery using an alternator driven by an engine and a voltage regulator controlling the output of the alternator comprising a control conduit that automatically controls the engine speed from idle on up to that of maximum horsepower at full throttle while simultaneously controlling the charging current to that value which minimizes charging time and maximizes battery life. The apparatus includes a load control circuit that unloads the alternator in response to a sudden increase in the load on the engine or sudden decrease in the engine speed thereby reducing the load on the engine to prevent the engine from stalling.

Abstract: A shower head assembly for simultaneously showering both front and back portions of a person's body without a person receiving the force of the shower spray in the face. The device can be used by both small children and adults due to a unique orientation and separation of the shower heads with respect to an overhead supply line.

Abstract: A board game apparatus having a playing area divided by horizontal and vertical demarcations which form recessed spaces for receiving numbered blocks as they are transferred from strip spaces into which a limited and non-replenishable quantity of numbered blocks have been previously placed. The strip spaces are on the same game board as the playing area but in distinct strip areas. The numbered blocks are transferred to the playing area spaces to form a series of rows or columns in which the numbered blocks of each row or column add up to the same sum.