Abstract: For use with an elongate conveyor belt designed to transport articles from one location to another, a novel pusher device mounted adjacent one long side of the belt. The pusher device utilizes an elongate, rotatably mounted arm having first and second ends, with the first end being pivotally affixed at a location relatively close to the belt, and arranged to rotate about the fixed pivot for less than 90°. The arm normally resides in an inactive position extending along the long side of the belt, with the second end of the arm being arranged to move outwardly, on occasion, from the inactive position and across at least a portion of the belt when an article is to be deflected off of the belt.

Abstract: A knife comprising a pair of elongate handle members that, when fitted together, form a mounting means for pivotal movements of a sharpened blade. The blade has a terminus at one end and a circular aperture adjacent the other end. The blade is movable between extended and folded positions, with the handle members forming a means for grasping the knife when the blade is in its extended position as well as safely enclosing the blade when the knife is not in use and the blade has been moved to its folded position. A protrusion is located mounted on the internal surface adjacent one end of each handle member, with each of the protrusions being disposed on only one side of a longitudinal centerline extending along the internal surface of each handle member. The part of each protrusion remote from the centerline has an essentially semi-circular surface, with the protrusions being caused, when the handle members have been interfitted, to reside closely together to define a substantially circular component.

Abstract: A supplemental tank for use with a low flow volume toilet, with this supplemental tank being configured to rest atop the integral tank of the toilet and to provide additional water for the flushing of the toilet. Communication is provided between the supplemental tank and the tank integral with the toilet, with this including at least one elongate tube mounted in the bottom member of the supplemental tank, with a lower portion of the tube extending below the bottom member. When the supplemental tank has been placed atop the integral toilet tank, the tube extends down into the water normally contained in the integral tank. A vacuum pump is connected to an upper portion of the supplemental tank so that a reduced pressure can be created, on occasion, in the upper interior portion of the tank.

Abstract: A plant feeder for supplying nutrition to a plant over a prolonged period of time by the use of slow release fertilizer pellets that require substantially constant moisture for continual release of nutrients, which plant is growing in soil in a container in which container a demarcation line may exist between soil that is acceptably moist to the fertilizer pellets, and soil that is unacceptably dry, which line of demarcation may move up or down the container as a result of the ever-changing amount of water present therein. The present novel feeder comprises a generally cylindrical casing having an apertured upper end, and a somewhat pointed lower end to simplify insertion among the roots of the plant.

Abstract: A fishhook adapted to be used in a clustered arrangement, with each hook of the cluster mounted for pivotal movement so as to be able to minify the chance of entanglement with weeds or trash. The novel fishhook array made possible in accordance with this invention also enables a highly advantageous weathervaning characteristics of each individually attached hook/lure entity, such that each is maintained in a natural horizontal attitude. Each hook has an upper shank portion extending at an angle downwardly from the eye of the hook, with the upper shank portion forming a forwardly curved shoulder portion with the integral lure-receiving lower shank portion. This curved forward shoulder portion forms an acute angle, such that the lower shank portion is able to reside in a generally horizontal position when the hook is suspended from the eye.

Abstract: A support device for rapid attachment to a structural component of a bed, stretcher, gurney or the like, for supporting a device on behalf of a patient. This device comprises first and second clamping jaws operatively associated with an elongate rod, with each of the jaws having at least one active surface. A manually operable component is utilized for bringing about movement along the elongate rod of one of the jaws relative to the other jaw, with the manually operable component enabling the active surfaces of the first and second jaws to converge in a generally aligned manner. The active surfaces of the jaws are placable on either side of a structural component of a bed, stretcher, gurney or the like, with continued operation of the manually operable component causing the active jaw surfaces to bear closely against and thereafter tightly grasp the structural component and thus form a sturdy mounting for the elongate rod.

Abstract: A mounting plate (20, 120) for a linear skate upon which a plurality of wheel supporting brackets (22, 24, 26 and 28) are affixed in an equally spaced, generally aligned relationship. A wheel-receiving axle (32, 34, 36 and 38) is secured in each bracket, with each axle intended to receive thereon a closely fitting skate wheel (12, 14, 16 and 18). Each axle has a novel, expansion-producing arrangement (52, 62) enabling the outer end of the axle to be enlarged so as to tightly engage the non-rotatable inner portion (80) of a respective skate wheel. Each wheel is thus retained on its respective axle in a fully operational manner, without fear of the wheel coming off the end of the axle. The mounting plate has raised shoulders (84 and 86; 126 and 128) along each long side, serving not only to prevent undesired bending or twisting, but also serving to prevent the several wheel-supporting brackets from twisting out of a desired relationship to the mounting plate.

Abstract: An artificial fishing lure of resilient, flexible material created in an initially curved configuration, which lure, when attached to a line and pulled through the water, essentially duplicates the swimming motion of an eel, snake, or lizard. This novel lure has a body portion and a flexible, elongate, relatively thin dorsal fin integral with the body portion and extending longitudinally for substantially the entire length of the body portion. One embodiment of my novel lure has a body portion of alternating large and relatively small sections, with each of the relatively small sections having major and minor dimensions, and with the major dimension of each of the relatively small sections being perpendicular to the plane of the relatively thin fin.

Abstract: A window for utilization in the receiving of intelligence from a modulated beam of collimated light, with the window being configured to restrict the field of view of the optical system used therewith, and employing the phenomenon of total internal reflection. Such a window may be used to reject the entry of unwanted radiation, such as noise, and comprises first and second generally triangularly shaped wedges of optical material. The entry face of the first wedge is generally perpendicular to a base plane, and its rear face is disposed at an acute angle to the entry face. The entry face of the second wedge is disposed at the same angle to the base plane as the rear face of the first wedge, and the two wedges are separated by a small air gap.

Abstract: A hand operated trimmer for trimming an edge of vinyl, carpet or the like being installed on a floor so that the cut edge of the floor covering will lie closely against an adjacent wall. The trimmer comprises an elongate base member and an integral cutting blade. The base member has a generally triangularly shaped cross section, with two of the elongate external surfaces of the base member meeting at a right angle, and the elongate external surface opposite the right angle being a concave surface. The cutting blade is mounted closely adjacent the concave surface and in a substantially perpendicular relationship thereto. Pressure applying rollers are spaced a slight distance from the concave surface so as to define a vinyl-receiving entry location for a vinyl sheet to pass in a longitudinal direction along the concave surface, with the pressure applying rollers serving to keep the vinyl sheet in close contact with the concave surface.

Abstract: A mobile wire wrapping machine adapted for wrapping wire under tension around a stationary, generally circular object of large size during substantially continuous travel of the machine around such object. This machine contains a supply of wire utilized in conjunction with a wire tensioning assembly through which the wire passes, with the wire tensioning assembly serving to create a substantial amount of tension in the wire as it passes therethrough, to thereafter be wrapped around the large object. My novel machine utilizes a tension indicating device, which advantageously involves a weight mounted for motion in a direction such that its position is influenced by gravity. The position of the movably mounted weight serves as a reflection of the amount of tension in the wire, and movement of the weight during operation of the machine, provides a conspicuous indication, on a substantially continuous basis, of any changes in tension in the wire.

Abstract: A purification device utilizing ozone, this device comprising a body member having an internal passage through which propellant gas is constrained to flow under pressure, with the internal passage forming an outlet at a downstream location in the body member. Liquid is supplied in limited quantities to the propellant gas in the internal passage, with the introduction of the liquid into the propellant gas causing thin ribbons and threads of liquid to flow into and with the gas flowing out of the outlet and to break into fine particles. An ozone supplying conduit is disposed in a central location in the outlet, with the conduit arranged to emit ozone into the propellant gas at a location near the outlet and to create a turbulent propellant gas region downstream of the ozone conduit. The propellant gas flows around the ozone conduit at a substantial velocity and thus serves to induce the flow of ozone from the conduit.

Abstract: A fishhook mounted for pivotal movement so as to be able to avoid entanglement with weeds or trash, this novel hook having an eye where a fishline may be attached and an upper shank portion extending at an angle downwardly from the eye. The hook also has a lower lure-receiving shank portion integral with the upper shank portion, with the upper and lower shank portions meeting in a curved shoulder portion forming an acute angle. This construction enables the lower shank portion to reside in a generally horizontal position when a lure has been inserted upon the lower shank portion with the head of the lure residing close to the curved shoulder portion and the hook is suspended from the eye. The end of the lower shank portion remote from the shoulder portion is provided with an upturned portion terminating in a point having a barb thereon.

Abstract: A wheel-supporting hanger for utilization on the frame of a roller skate, this hanger having an upper mounting portion as well as front and back portions. A central cavity is defined in the front portion of the hanger, in which an axle-receiving member is operatively mounted in a cantilever manner. A wheel-supporting axle protrudes outwardly in a cantilever manner from the axle-receiving member, with a screw utilized on the outer end of the axle for retaining a skate wheel in an operative manner on the axle. A structural member is located in an upper part of the cavity, defining a substantially flat undersurface in a relatively closely spaced relationship to the axle-receiving member. The cantileverly mounted axle-receiving member, because of the mounting of the axle therein, is permitted to flex upwardly as well as to move laterally to a controlled extent should the wheel mounted on the axle encounter an obstacle or obstruction.

Abstract: A mounting corner usable with several other like mounting corners for the mounting of photographs, posters, drawings and the like on a mounting surface, this mounting corner being constructed from relatively thick, rigid material, and having substantially flat, triangularly-shaped front and rear surfaces. Two edge portions of the front and rear triangularly-shaped surfaces meet at a right angle, whereas the hypotenuse edge of each mounting corner is slotted to receive the respective corner of a photograph, poster, drawing or the like. Securing means selected from a variety of different types is utilized upon the rear surface of each mounting corner, thus enabling our mounting corner to be attached to a mounting surface of ferric metal, as well as upon surfaces such as wood, felt-board, cork, ceramic and the like, depending upon the particular securing means utilized in a given instance.

Abstract: A device utilized in conjunction with an automatic nail gun for dispensing preformed tabs from a roll to a location adjacent where nailing is to take place, this device comprising a housing having an upper portion, front and back portions, and a lower member. The lower member is adapted to be brought into close proximity with a surface upon which nailing is to take place. The housing also has components for removably securing the housing in an operative relationship adjacent the automatic nail gun. An inner chamber is defined in a mid portion of the housing, in which chamber a roll of preformed tabs is contained, with an opening being provided through which the end of the roll of tabs is to move under the portion of the adjacent nail gun at which nailing is to take place. An actuating lever is rotatably mounted on the housing and is operably connected with a tab advancement device.