Abstract: A new and improved shock absorber mechanism and method for use on the leg structure of a jack-up offshore drilling rig is disclosed. The shock absorbing mechanism is designed to be mounted on the bottom of each existing leg of a drilling rig and comprises a pointed piston member which is positioned on the bottom of the leg structure, wherein the piston member projects downward through the can/footing of the rig leg and is held in place by a resilient tension member which is designed to absorb shock forces during vertical/axial impact of the leg structure when contact is made with the ocean floor.

Abstract: A picture frame having a channel on the front surface of a border, a slot on the rear surface of the border and a decorative plate engageable within the channel or the slot by engagement device. The channel has a number of annular holes formed on it, and the engagement member is substantially rectangular with a convex cross-section and a corresponding number of annular legs extending from it. The annular legs are engageable with the annular holes. The decorative plate is readily removable and is changeable with other decorations. The border further includes ferrous components so that small magnetic ornaments can be magnetically retained on the border.

Abstract: A floating drilling and production unit comprising two independently floating bodies: (1) an outer, larger, substantially cylindrical buoyant caisson with an enlarged skirt wellhead buoy captured within the central well of the outer caisson. The outer caison supports the weight of the drilling platform, machinery, storage and living quarters and is ballasted and anchored in a manner similar to a conventional semisubmersible vessel. The constant tension buoy supports the wellheads of completed wells and is held in a constant position relative to the ocean floor much like a tension leg platform by the production risers of completed wells, tendons, or a combination of tendons and risers. Production risers are kept taut by the buoyancy of the constant tension buoy. The constant tension buoy has a tapered shape that minimizes contact and interaction between the wellhead buoy and the caisson. Thus, the wellhead buoy is substantially unaffected by sea-induced motions of the bouyant caisson.

Abstract: The invention relates to shell catcher devices for hand-held firearms which can be detachably mounted adjacent a chamber of the firearm from which the used shells are expelled. The device provides for the use of a flexible body carried by a rigid frame and a mounting bracket which allows the device to be mounted on the gun without scratching its surface. A protection cover extending over a shell receiving opening of the housing prevents the shells from travelling past the shell receiving opening.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for lifting and transporting heavy objects, such as a piano with the use of a hoist mechanism mounted on the frame which straddles the piano. The frame is mounted on casters to allow easy rolling of the frame along a horizontal surface, while the piano is being secured within the frame in a suspended position through the use of the lifting bar engaging the piano about its rear horizontal frame post. Pendulous movement of the piano is prevented by the use of a pair of horizontal cross bars secured to vertical posts of the frame in the lower and upper portions thereof.

Abstract: An underwater rescue device which delivers fresh air into the interior of a submerged vessel by puncturing a hole through the body of the vessel and forcing fresh air through the new opening. The rescue device provides for the use of an elongated housing having an internal passageway which utilizes a means for puncturing an aperture into the body of a submerged vessel. The means for puncturing an aperture may take the form of a dart which is projected by a sliding weight hammer through the body of the vessel. Once an opening is made into the body of the vessel, air is supplied through the internal passageway through the opening into the vessel. The device further provides a sealing member for the created opening for use during the delivery of fresh air.

Abstract: The invention relates to devices for rotating documents in place, such as clip boards, in the absence of tables, desks and similar supports. A writing tablet is secured to a thigh of a user, while seated by a belt which wraps about the thigh of a user and the ends of which are locked by a buckle or Velcro.RTM. strips. Positioning of the writing tablet in relation to the belt can be varied by rotating the writing tablet in relation to the belt and, after the most convenient position for the user has been selected, the writing tablet is locked in that position in relation to the belt.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for positioning or extracting light bulbs from hard-to-reach places. The device has an extendable handle, and support attached to the handle and the main housing mounted on the support for a limited rotational movement about longitudinal axis of the support. A pair of independently activated electrical motors positioned within the housing operate the device. The first motor transmits a longitudinal movement to a piston having a suction cup for gripping a light bulb, and a second motor transmits rotational movement to the gripped bulb.

Abstract: A method of protecting soluble proteins such that their biological activity is preserved after freezing by exposing the protein to an amino acid or trimethylamine-N-oxide and transition metal ion prior to freezing. The protected protein can then be thawed without denaturation or impairment of the protein's biological activity. The protein is preferably exposed to the amino acid or trimethylamine-N-oxide by placing it in a 25-100 mM aqueous solution of organic solute and 1 mM Zn.sup.+2. This method is especially effective in preserving the biological activity of fragile proteins such as the enzyme phosphofructokinase. The present method can be used to preserve pharmaceutically useful proteins in a frozen form for storage and distribution. The treated protein can be thawed and administered directly to a user without removing the cryoprotectant since the amino acid or oxide and trace amounts of many transition metal ions are nontoxic.

Abstract: A plug including a prong, a cylindrical insulating member, a clamping sleeve, a cord and a plastic sleeve. The cylindrical insulating member has a lengthwise oriented central circular slot for receiving the prong, a vertically oriented rectangular slot, a slit, two recesses on lateral sides, and two fixing plates. The clamping sleeve has a notch, two cutouts adjacent the notch, and two engaging bodies adjacent to the two cutouts respectively. The two engaging bodies are engageable in the two recesses and the clamping sleeve has an extension piece which is formed with a circular hole and a rectangular hole. The end of the extension piece is further extended to define two clamping plates. The cord has a conducting wire and a copper wire. The conducting wire is connectable to the prong by using a pair of electric poles. The plastic sleeve is provided to enclose the clamping sleeve.

Abstract: The invention relates to a freeboard measuring device which comprises an elongated housing having a rectangular cross-section form, a central part of the device body. A pair of fins fixedly connected to the housing on each of its sides extend substantially the length of the hosuing and have at least slightly greater lateral dimensions than the lateral dimension of the housing. The fins are triangular in cross section, with the tops of the triangles facing outwardly and providing the device with streamlined characteristics. The base of the triangles does not exceed in length the depth of the housing. The central portion has a main chamber for housing a gauging stick. The main chamber is divided into a lower and upper secondary chamber with the lower chamber having water ingress and separated from the upper chamber by a separation wall with openings to allow water to enter the upper chamber. The lower chamber has a packing of fibrous material to prevent water turbulence.

Abstract: An apparatus and process of filtering fluids, such as white water is provided for use in the place of an existing save-all device or downstream of an existing save-all device at a paper-making mill. The white water having contaminants in a suspended state is introduced into the filtration vessel and is withdrawn from the interior of the filter element positioned within the filtration vessel. To clean the filter element from the cake which has built up on the exterior surface of the filter element, a backflushing shock is applied to the interior of the filter element, forcing all cake settled on the exterior to be dislodged, thereby cleaning the filter element. The backflushing shock is delivered from a backflushing reservoir wherein the backflushing fluid is contained under pressure at a level at least slightly above the level of a pressure differential which has built up across the filter element. The shock is applied for a period of 1-2 seconds, during which time the backflush reservoir is emptied.

Abstract: A toy balance concept-developing device for helping children to develop a concept of balance, including a housing, a beam, a positioning means, a model and a number of plastic weights. Owing to the weight difference between the weight on two distal end of the beam, the beam is rotatable to activate the pointer to indicate if the beam is in balance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an upper body exercising device for use while jogging, comprising a non-continuous collar for positioning around a user's neck attached by a strap to a lightweight tossing object.

Abstract: A self-teaching book for children having a number of questions and a plurality of electronic teaching units on which a plurality of answers corresponding to each question are carried for the user to choose from. Each electronic teaching unit has seven superimposed layers, the arrangement of which is an answer sheet, an upper conducting layer, an upper insulating layer, a source layer, a lower insulating layer, a lower conducting layer and a protective covering. A plurality of slots are respectively arranged within the upper and lower insulating layers to permit the contact between the source layer and one of the upper and lower conducting layers to activate an electronic device.

Abstract: A screwdriver comprising a handle with a central toothed recess formed thereon and a blind hole concentrically formed thereunder and having two retaining projections projecting therefrom, a speed change gear train disposed between the retaining projections, a spindle with a primary gear, constituting the gear train in part, integrally formed thereon and the lower end thereof received in the blind hole, a housing with an engaging device to engage with the driving gear of the gear train disposed around the gear train, a cover having a central bore formed therethrough screwed on the housing, and a sleeve of which the diameter thereof is less than the bore and of which the lower end engages with the upper end of the spindle and the upper end receives a shank which has a driving bit formed thereon. Thus, the rotation of the housing is transmitted to the driving bit via the speed change gear train with a higher speed.