Abstract: Apparatus and a method using solid state track recorder (SSTR) metrology are disclosed to accurately measure small amounts of actinide pollution in water. A relatively small sample cell contains a fluidic sample and carries a SSTR. Sample cell configuration allows use of the fluidic sample itself as an asymptotic fission source for the SSTR and allows simultaneous irradiation of a plurality of such sample cells in existing thermal neutron irradiators.

Abstract: A somewhat curvilinear, four-sided pyramidal container is disclosed for housing and carriage of small household pets. The container provides a flexible fabric cover which defines optionally coverable mesh windows and an optionally coverable openable access door structure. The container carries a rigid bottom insert and is supported by a rod frame having a square, releasably intrerconnected bottom element formed of four interconnected semi-rigid rods and two arched, resiliently deformable support rods extending upwardly between opposed corners of the structure, all said rods carried in loops defined on the inner surface of the cover. The support rods are selectively removable to allow assembly and collapse of the structure for storage.

Abstract: An elongate flexible exercise weight releasably attachable about human limbs for exercise purposes provides a peripherally defined containment structure that is adjustably filled with water for selected, finely determinable weight. End tabs may be releasably fastened together to form the weight into a continuous band for maintenance on human limbs. The weight is peripherally defined by a fluid impervious membrane that has baffle means in its interior chamber to allow filling from a single orifice but inhibit rapid motion of substantial amounts of fluid responsive to motion of the exercise device.

Abstract: An ancillary tiller provides a first shorter arm releasably interconnectable by mounting structure at its first end to an outboard motor and movably interconnecting by articulating linkage at its second end a second longer elongate arm. The motor mounting structure is adapted for selective interconnection to a motor shaft, tiller or guide grip. The articulating linkage interconnecting the first and second arm is of a combined axle and ball and socket type that allows universal positioning of the second arm relative the first arm and provides locking mechanism to releasably maintain such positioning. The second arm comprises two slidably related elongate elements having locking mechanism communicating therebetween to releasably maintain a selected length. The ancillary tiller is particularly adapted for steerage of small fishing boats powered by steering outboard motors.

Abstract: A removable step, carried by a highway transport vehicle laterally adjacent the threshold of a side door defined in a cargo container body, aids worker access through the door. The step provides fastening legs releasably maintained in spaced fastening brackets carried by the vehicle frame. The fastening legs are inserted in the upper portions of the fastening brackets in a use mode and in the lower portions of the fastening brackets, with the step extending inwardly, in a storage mode. A releasable fastening pin extends between each fastening leg and associated fastening bracket for positional maintenance of the step in either fastening or storage mode. The step surface is of a non-skid expanded metal type.

Abstract: A holder for sorting, classifying and storing groups of various types of arrows provides a solid base with an arrow head support plate defining plural cells immediately thereabove. Spacedly related vertical supports extending upwardly from the base and through the head support plate to carry an arrow shaft support plate, defining orifices in similar array to those of the arrow head support plate, to support the shank of an arrow spacedly above the base. The vertical supports are threaded at each end to releasably interconnected to both the base and support plates to provide a holder with means for adjustment of the vertical position of both support plates to provide various support configurations.

Abstract: A free-standing, thermostatically controlled stove provides positive draft combustion of bio-mass pellets or cereal grains. Particulate bio-fuel is gravity fed from a hopper into a first slower moving auger conveyor which feeds a second faster moving sugar conveyor that communicates with the lower side portion of a combustion container carried in a combustion chamber. A pilot burn is continuously maintained in the combustion container end of the second conveyor. The combustion container has vertically spaced air plena that provide combustion air and input holes to allow recirculation of combustion chamber gases for secondary combustion. The fire chamber exhausts combustion gases through a negative pressure, downdraft type exhausts with a selectively openable valved orifice to allow updraft operation at critical burning periods.

Abstract: Apparatus combining the input function of a digitizer and the output function of a plotter to provide a current simultaneous plot of computer input as traditionally provided by a cathode ray tube display is disclosed for computer aided drawing. The apparatus provides a casement having a transparent upper working surface comprising a digitizer pad that is operated responsive to position of a separated puck. Transparent drawing film is releasably maintained in a uniquely determined position by a peg type fastening element on the underside of the transparent upper working surface. Flat-bed type plotting apparatus is carried in the casement beneath the drawing film for operative contact with the undersurface thereof. The plotting apparatus provides a marking member and a correction member. The upper working surface of the casement provides plural switches to input keyboard type instructions to an associated computer.

Abstract: A manually manipulatable nut and bolt fastener for a battery terminal clamp provides an nut configured to engage one of the fingers of a typical bifurcated battery terminal clamp and a bolt engaging the other finger to move the fingers relatively responsive to nut-bolt motion. The nut-bolt combination is formed of flexibly resilient polymeric material to deform to accommodate axial and lateral repositioning and alignment of the bolt as the battery clamp fingers move relatively to each other. The fastener eliminates normal corrosion associated with metallic fasteners for battery terminal clamps.

Abstract: A foldable table structure to releasably support the peripheral undersurface of the table portion of a commercial powered bench saw to provide support for and additional tabletop space about the bench saw table. The table provides an opposed rail ladder type frame to support the undersurface of the table of a bench saw table and surface forming elements to allow various modular arrays of these elements. The principal table releasably carries a lateral extension element and releasably supports an auxiliary table that is selectively positionable either perpendicularly or in an elongate orientation relative to the principal table. The modular design of the saw mounting structure allows its use with most bench saws of modern commerce. The principal table provides an adjustably positionable fence structure and allows use of the traditional amenities of ordinary table saws.

Abstract: A self-propelled vehicle for picking up and stacking large hay bales of a one-ton size is disclosed. The vehicle has a pivotally mounted stacking bed that receives bales in a horizontally arrayed matrix and pivots to deposit the arrayed matrix in a vertical orientation for storage. Forward pick up mechanism provides a pivotally mounted mast carrying paired spaced squeeze arms in its outer portion to cooperatively pick up a bale forwardly of the vehicle and pivotally move that bale upwardly and rearwardly to the stacking bed for deposition thereon. Bale moving mechanism positions bales on the stacking bed in proper matrix position. Hydraulic powering and control circuits provide automatic and semi-automatic operation of the various mechanisms of the device.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are disclosed to form fine patternation and alphanumeric characters of colored cocoa butter in a flush chocolate surface. The apparatus provides a printing sheet defining shallow indentations wherein cocoa butter patternation is deposited by screen printing without disfiguration, and an associated mold plate defining cavities to cast chocolate over the printing sheet indentations. The process comprises the steps of (1) screen printing colored cocoa butter in appropriate pattern on the surface of the printing plate indentations; (2) aging the configured cocoa butter; (3) aligning the mold matrices in adjacency with the printing sheet indentations; (4) filling the mold matrices with thermally plasticized settable chocolate; (5) aging the molded chocolate until set; and (6) removing the molded chocolate structure and embedded patternation for further disposition. The process produces well defined embedded patterns on smaller chocolate structures.

Abstract: A weighted downrigger for troll fishing provides a vertical stabilizing fin having a medial rotatable member to aid in attracting fish and a jaw-type line clamp to releasably fasten a fishing line inwardly adjacent a lure. The stabilizing fin and rotating element both provide light reflecting surfaces, which may additionally be colored, to optically attract fish. The rotating element provides additional acoustical-like attraction for fish. The line clamp provides adjustable tensioning structure and an elongate lever arm on one jaw to magnify the force of a fishing line trailing from the lever arm to cause clamp release responsive to less force on the trailing end of a fishing line than on the inboard end of such line.

Abstract: A board game provides a representational baseball field upon which play is conducted pursuant to the contingency determined by a mathematical function of two die, commonly their multiplicative product. The board provides particular scorekeeping apparatus to indicate game condition and necessary information for play. Game play proceeds, upon contingent determinations of batter function, in substantially the same fashion as the play of a ordinary baseball game.

Abstract: The disclosed apparatus provides a base supporting at one end an upstanding mast pivotally mounting a boom in the upper portion of the mast to extend over the base. A bench to support a user is supported by the base spacedly thereabove and below the boom. A handle assembly is pivotally carried by the boom end extending over the base to depend spacedly above the base. A hydraulic cylinder communicates between the boom and the base to resist pivotal motion of the boom responsive to exercise motion of the handle assembly by a user supported on the bench. A resistance assembly provides spaced grips carried by a pull shaft for longitudinal motion toward and away from the bench end distal from the mast. The pull shaft end proximate the mast communicates by cable supported on pulleys to the boom end distal from the handle assembly so that the boom resists motion of the resistance assembly grips responsive to exercise motion thereof by a user supported on the bench.

Abstract: A rigid container for golf clubs and accessories provides two spaced cylindrical compartments interconnected in their end parts to define a medial channel therebetween for containment of retracted wheel structures. The cylindrical compartments provide plural support tubes, each to carry a golf club in frictional engagement for positional maintenance. Foldable wheel structure carried in the medial channel extends therefrom to an operative position to provide means for wheeled locomotion and semi-vertical container support on an underlying surface. The container is covered by a traditional fabric bag.

Abstract: An alarm device is disclosed to indicate the opening of an access element of a containment chamber carrying dangerous materials, such as a drawer or cupboard door, by children or similar intellectually unsophisticated persons. The alarm device provides two switches that are sequentially activated by a pivotally movable, externally projecting, wedge shaped sensor that moves outwardly to cause alarm annunciation at, or at a predetermined time after activation, if not deactivated by further outward manual motion before or after alarm annunciation. The alarm device is battery powered and operated by solid state electronic circuitry that is contained in a small compact casement that serves as a mounting means.

Abstract: A tripod-type support is disclosed to releasably support a resiliently deformable highway sign in a stressed condition. Two front tripod legs carry medial brackets to support lower peripheral portions of a sign and the rearward leg in its upper part pivotally supports an upper arm that adjustably fastens the uppermost portion of a sign and moves to a position to stress and positionally maintain a supported sign. The support is adapted to positionally maintain both standard three and four foot square highway signs. Auxiliary apparatus releasably positions flags at an eight foot elevation above ground level.

Abstract: A container, to house or carry small household pets, that may be quickly and manually formed between an erected use mode and a flat folded storage mode. The container is of gable roofed house configuration in its erected mode and comprises an interconnected structure formed by hingeably related rigid planar elements that occupy a relatively small volume in the folded storage mode. Handles carried by the roof provide aid in manual carriage, releasable fasteners maintain either erected or storage mode, and an end wall provides a selectively latchable door.

Abstract: A spacing and support module is disclosed for use in groups to support an array of spaced, axially parallel cylinders for transport and storage. The support module on one side defines plural indentations having thickened indented portions that deform during use to add strength in the indented areas. A species of the spacing module provides a sheet-like reinforcing element on the side not defining indentations or between two support elements having their non-indentation defining surfaces immediately adjacent both sides of the reinforcing element. The module is especially useful in supporting palletized arrays of rolls of web material or pipes of delicate nature.