Abstract: A litter box formed of an upper portion and a lower portion normally clamped together to define an enclosure in which kitty litter can be contained and foul odors confined. The lower portion is adapted to contain a quantity of kitty litter for receiving the waste products emanating from the pet, whereas the upper portion contains an aperture through which the pet can enter or leave, as well as containing a grill-like uppermost portion through which foul odors can escape. The lower portion contains an elongate, perforate walkway disposed above the kitty litter and extending in the immediate vicinity of the aperture, with an interior wall in the enclosure disposed closely adjacent the walkway. The perforate walkway is supported relatively close to the aperture, with the wall being placed in such proximity to the aperture as to require the pet to walk along the walkway at such time as the pet is to exit from the litter box through the aperture.

Abstract: A repair patch for worn or damaged garment pockets in accordance with this invention comprises a pocket-like member corresponding substantially in size and configuration to the lowermost portion of a pocket to be repaired. Substantially the entire outer surfaces of the repair patch contains a heat sensitive glue capable of being activated at such time as the patch has been inserted into the lowermost portion of the pocket to be repaired. The heat sensitive glue, when activated by heat and pressure applied from the exterior of the pocket, serves to retain the patch securely in position within the lowermost portion of the pocket. Significantly, the patch has an interiorly-turned seam, which seam is reinforced by the glue that had been applied to the exterior surfaces of the patch. The glue-reinforced seam is disposed along an interior outer edge of the patch, such positioning of the seam having been achieved by turning the patch inside out after the seam had been created.

Abstract: A back massage and exercise device comprising a substantially flat, elongate frame able to be utilized on a supporting surface, with the frame having a pair of long sides joined together by a pair of short sides and being several times as long as it is wide. A roller array in the form of a parallel series of elongate rollers are loosely mounted in a spaced apart, operational relationship between the long sides of the frame. The frame has an operative position in which a lower portion of substantially all of the rollers is in contact with the supporting surface, with an upper portion of the rollers being available for directly supporting the body of a user. The user is able to readily bring about back and forth rolling movement of the frame along the supporting surface at such time as he is lying on the rollers, with the motion of the upper portions of the rollers during such movement of the frame bringing about a massaging action to the portion of the user's body in contact with the rollers.

Abstract: A mold utilized for creating a fishing worm having an abdominal cavity that contains an attractant gel having a stimulating taste to a fish, the mold having first and second sections, with each section having a cavity portion. Each cavity portion of the mold represents a part of a desired worm configuration, with the cavity portion of one mold section being able to be brought into careful alignment with the cavity portion of the other mold section, after which molten plastic can be injected into the completed mold cavity constituted by the aligned cavity portions of the first and second mold sections. An elongate plug held in place by a small diameter supporting member is mounted in a mid portion of the cavity of the first mold section, at a position corresponding to the abdominal region of the worm to be created.

Abstract: A portable workshop having a storage mode as well as an active mode in which working surfaces are presented for use by a craftsman, comprising a front surface in which upper and lower bottom hinged doors are mounted. The workshop has an upper member operatively associated with a rear surface and a pair of end surfaces interconnecting the front and rear surfaces, with this upper member serving with the surfaces to define an enclosed space suitable for the storage of tools. A wheeled base member serves as the support for the front, rear and end surfaces, and interconnecting components are utilized for causing the upper and lower doors to open and close together. The doors, when opened, advantageously reside in a horizontal attitude, with the upper door serving as the principal working surface of the workshop and the lower door serving as a storage location upon which the craftsman utilizing the principal working surface can place small items with which he is working.

Abstract: A curtain-supporting unit of a snap-in, snap-out type comprising a plurality of rods interconnected to form a sturdy curtain-receiving framework, with the rods residing essentially in a coplanar relationship. This curtain-receiving framework is adapted to support a curtain and to be installed as an integral curtain-supporting unit on or adjacent the frame of a window. This novel framework is utilized in combination with an array of rod-receiving clips of resilient construction mounted in a spaced, substantially planar relationship adjacent the window frame, with the clip array defining a configuration closely approximating the configuration of the curtain-receiving framework. Each of the clips has an entrance portion of reduced size, enlarging into a portion configured to closely receive and retain a respective portion of a rod of the framework that has been thrust into the clip.

Abstract: A display arrangement for illuminating posters and other non-opaque planar artwork comprising an item of artwork affixed to an essentially transparent mounting member, and a plurality of precisely configured neon light tubes mounted behind the item of artwork. The light tubes are arranged in a predetermined pattern consonant with the subject matter of the artwork, with each of the light tubes being positioned behind a selected portion of the artwork, to illuminate and enhance such selected portion of the artwork when the light tubes are energized.

Abstract: A pliant, controllable contour control surface comprising a first flexible facesheet formed to a first initial contour of the control surface, and a second flexible facesheet formed to a second initial contour of the control surface. The first and second facesheets each have a set of prestrained shape memory alloy tendons embedded therein, extending from a leading edge to a trailing edge of the control surface. Each set of the shape memory alloy tendons is separately connected to a controlled source of electrical current such that tendons of the first and second flexible facesheets can be selectively heated in an antagonistic, slack-free relationship, to bring about a desired modification of the configuration of the control surface. A computer based control system is utilized for maintaining a constant temperature of the antagonists to establish conditions conducive to the stress induced transformation from austenite to martensite, accomplished by causing constant current to flow through the antagonists.

Abstract: An adapter device for providing forced air ventilation to a litter box having an upper vent location, this adapter device comprising a housing member of generally rectangular configuration having a lower portion, an interior portion, and an upper portion. An external duct fitting is mounted upon the upper portion, and a downwardly dependent skirt member extends continuously around the lower portion. An internal duct extends upwardly through the lower portion of the housing member, through the interior portion, being connected to the external duct fitting located on the upper portion. An electric fan is located in the interior portion and operatively mounted in the internal duct, with electric current being supplied to the fan, so that it can selectively be caused to rotate and cause air from the litter box to be pumped upwardly through the internal duct to the external duct fitting located on the upper portion.

Abstract: A tank of generally oval configuration created by the use of a plurality of curved, precast concrete panels of uniform size and rectangular configuration. Each panel is constructed utilizing a diaphragm liner either made of corrugated structural material or else of rubber-like material. The diaphragm liner of corrugated structural material possesses a degree of arcuate curvature, so as to be concave on one side and convex on the other. Both types of liners are intended to receive concrete poured to a desired depth on the convex surface of the liner, with the outer surface of the concrete then contoured to a finished condition to form the exterior surface of the tank made from the panels. One or more horizontally disposed ducts are installed in the concrete prior to hardening, placed in accordance with a consistent pattern.

Abstract: A support device for utilization on a ladder comprising an elongate base member having a pair of long edges, between which a mounting device is provided such that the base member can be secured to an upper part of a ladder. An elongate receptacle extends for substantially the entire length of the base member, with the ends as well as the upper portion of the receptacle being open, and with a restraint device defined in a mid portion of the receptacle. A slidable member of elongate configuration is provided, having a dimension such as to be able to reside in the elongate receptacle. The slidable member has first and second ends as well as a longitudinal centerline, with a slot extending along the centerline for a substantial portion of the length of the slidable member, with the slot extending relatively close to the first end of the slidable member. A component support device is provided on the second end.

Abstract: A carrier for a two wheel vehicle adapted for mounting on the rear of a motor vehicle, with one configuration of this carrier being an extended position intended for carrying a two wheeled vehicle. The second configuration of the carrier is a compacted position in which a minimal amount of space along the rear of the motor vehicle is occupied. This carrier utilizes a rigid base member having a wheel receiving portion, and a second rigid member pivotally attached to the base member, the second member also having a wheel receiving portion. The second member, when in the compacted position, has its wheel receiving position adjacent the wheel receiving portion of the base member, but when the second member is moved to the extended position, its wheel receiving portion is removed for a relatively substantial distance from the wheel receiving portion of the base member.

Abstract: A novel square washer for use in a linear skate that utilizes an elongate, channel-shaped structural member for supporting a plurality of longitudinally aligned wheels. Such a channel member is adapted to be mechanically affixed to a spaced pair of threaded fastening means extending from the underside of a boot, and the channel member has a pair of orthogonally disposed mounting slots therein, whose position corresponds to the position of the threaded fastening means of the boot. This square washer has first and second sides placed in an opposed relationship, as well as opposed third and fourth sides disposed in an orthogonal relationship to the first and second sides. A centerline extends between the mid points of the first and second sides, and a hole is located on the centerline in an equidistant relationship to the third and fourth sides, with the hole being located closer to the first side than to the second side.

Abstract: An electro-optical ranging system is disclosed for purposes of measuring or determining the distance from a transmitting/receiving location to an object, such as a target. An electro-optical transducer, such as a laser diode, is employed which exhibits the characteristic of emitting radiant energy in the infrared region when driven into a conductive condition and also exhibits the characteristic of being in a photovoltaic condition in response to receipt of radiant energy within the wavelength of the energy emitted. The transducer is periodically driven so as to emit radiant energy, and an optical directing means, such as an optical lens system, is employed for purposes of directing emitted energy from the transducer along a path toward the target as well as for receiving energy traveling in the opposite direction from the target and directing the received energy so as to impinge upon the transducer such that the transducer is actuated to a photovoltaic condition.