Abstract: A decorative hair accessory with a decorative member which has an elastic component and two free ends with an attachment mechanism at each free end to allow the decorative member to form a continuous decorative elastic band or to connect to itself and form a loop on each end. Another embodiment of the decorative hair accessory is a comb with at least one elongated opening disposed longitudinally in the spine to receive one or more removable decorative members. These decorative accessories can be combined to form a variety of hair accessories which have a pair of combs removably attached to a plurality of elastic decorative members.

Abstract: A tree stand container for holding water for a cut tree which is mounted on a tree base of horizontal support members. The container has a plurality of integrally connected container segments extending radially from a central portion. The container segments have a generally horizontal bottom surface and side walls extending generally vertically from the bottom surface. The side walls of the container segments are coextensive with, and define, the exterior side walls of the container. The container forms a top opening to receive a tree base and to maintain the base and the lower end of a cut tree in water.

Abstract: An interior sleeve for a pair of telescoping tubular members, in which the sleeve is mounted in an outer tubular member. The sleeve has locking studs on its exterior surface which are aligned with locking apertures in the outer tubular member. The sleeve has an annular flange disposed on the outer end of the sleeve to abut to the outer end of the outer tubular member and a longitudinal slot to allow compression of the sleeve to fit into the tubular member.

Abstract: A walking aid which has an elongated shaft which is curved along its longitudinal axis in the plane of forward direction and a handgrip disposed along its longitudinal axis in a rearward direction and contoured to support the hand with separated thumb-engaging and fingers-engaging portions and a heel-engaging portion. Another embodiment may have an elongated cuff disposed at the rearward end of the handgrip. This cuff has a lower forearm support portion and an upper forearm engaging portion which provides alignment to the forearm and wrist of the user and an opening for rearward removal of the forearm. A foot member having a bottom portion of resilient material for frictionally engaging a surface during use is disposed at the lower end of the shaft.

Abstract: A system for irrigating the roots of plants below the surface of the ground in which a narrow irrigation tube is connected at its upper end to a water distribution source. The irrigation tube extends below the surface of the ground from the water distribution source in generally vertical alignment with the stalk of the plant, and its lower end opens vertically downwardly below the roots of a plant, so that water may be discharged from the opening in the lower end in a downwardly direction. The soil in the planting site is broken up to a depth of at least five feet below ground surface.

Abstract: A tool holding apparatus for use with extension poles has a substantially hollow longitudinal handle for mounting on an end of an extension pole. A tubular support member is rotatably engaged with the upper end of the handle and is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle. The tubular support member has tool-engaging means on at least one end for supporting a tool. Means for rotating the tubular support member relative to the handle are provided. The device also includes stop means disposed on the outer wall of the handle for limiting the rotation of the tubular support member beyond a predetermined point.

Abstract: A baseball practice device with a sleeve for a bat and a lightweight ball which can be caught on the sleeve. The sleeve has a catching surface covered with one component of a two-component hook and loop fastening system and the ball has an outer cover covered with the second component of the fastening system. The catching surface corresponds to a predetermined hitting zone so that when one swings a bat with the practice sleeve against a ball of the practice device, the ball will contact the catching surface and the accuracy of the swing will be immediately apparent.

Abstract: A combination of a collapsible article made of flexible material with an attached storage pouch in which the pouch is integrally attached to the article. The article may be a collapsible bag or an article of clothing or the like. The storage pouch has a support wall and a panel attached on three sides to the support wall which together form a pocket-like opening. A locking flap is attached on one side to the panel and at two opposite ends to the panel and to the support wall. When the pouch is in an empty position the locking flap is inside the pouch secured between the panel and the support wall. When the pouch is turned inside out, the article may be collapsed and inserted into the pouch and the locking flap may be reversed to cover the opening of the pouch and secure the article therein.

Abstract: A dry sheet-like filtering material for use in liquid depth filtration and a method for making the filtering material are disclosed. The filtering material is prepared from cellulose ester fibrils having a surface area of at least 5 square meters per gram and cellulose fibers which have been beaten. The degree of beating to which the cellulose fibers are subjected and the amount of cellulose acetate fibrils mixed with the cellulose fibers can be controlled to affect the retention and flow rate characteristics of the filtering material. The filtering material is produced by preparing slurries of the cellulose ester fibrils and the cellulose fibers, beating at least the cellulose fibers, mixing the slurries, depositing the mixed slurry on a porous surface which permits the drainage of water from the deposited fibrous structure, removing the water whereby the fibrous structure is formed into a filter sheet, and drying and cutting the filter sheet.

Abstract: An exercising device has a stool-like base portion with vertical support members and spacing members to keep the vertical support members apart. The vertical support members have horizontal bottom portions and angled side portions on which are mounted a plurality of receiving members. Tension members are releasably attached by their one end to selected receiving members and attached at their other end to any one of various body engaging members. The resistance experienced by a person exerting force to pull or push the body engaging member away from the exercising device can be varied by selecting different receiving members.

Abstract: A hammer with a nonmagnetic handle has a head on one end of the handle and a magnet permanently embedded in a lower end portion of the handle opposite the head. The magnet is disposed in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of the handle. The magnet has an outer end disposed on the surface of the handle so that a nail will be held perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle and it can be lightly tapped into a work surface by a person gripping the hammer proximate its head.