Abstract: A football for recreational use includes an inner core portion consisting of an air bladder or foam material, which is at least partially surrounded by an internal web of raised threads. This inner core portion and surrounding web are then covered by a thin medial layer of deformable gel material, which is then covered by an external layer/outside covering of soft, pliable material. The web of internal threads surrounding the inner core, combined with the medial gel layer, enable the user's fingers and thumb to achieve a superior grip on the football, through the external layer, medial gel layer, and onto the threads, with minimal gripping force.

Abstract: A small panel member of flexible, magnetized sheet material with a front surface at least partially covered with highly reflective material, and a back surface including an adhesive strip. The apparatus may be stored in a vehicle until needed, and placed on the front, rear or sides of a vehicle by applying the magnetized panel to a metallic surface. Alternatively, the adhesive strip may be used to affix the panel to a non-magnetic surface on the vehicle. A short length of cable is connected to the panel and terminates in an anchor, so that when the panel is affixed to the outside of the vehicle, the cable can be passed through the jamb gap between the trunk lid and body, or door and door jamb, with the block locked inside the trunk or passenger compartment, effectively locking the panel to the vehicle to prevent displacement or theft.

Abstract: A gravity flow sludge load-out metering gate comprising a frame having longitudinal and horizontal frame rails and a transverse rail member which defines a gate front portion and a smaller gate rear portion. A sludge inlet funnel is positioned above the front portion for insertion into the interior of a hopper discharge outlet. In the preferred embodiment, the sludge inlet funnel is substantially square and has four triangular, tapering interior sides, which, when viewed from above define an asymmetrical four-pointed star, the interior configuration of which further defines an asymmetrical diamond-shaped sludge discharge orifice. Interior to the metering gate frame is a metering gate blade, slidingly positioned between a plurality of support rollers and a bulb seal, the gate operatively connected to electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic power.

Abstract: A microphone apparatus or assembly includes three or more microphone elements supported on a horizontal plane or planes, which microphones are physically arranged and electrically combined such that the resulting composite stereo signals, left total and right total, produce a surround image and are compatible with current standard surround decoders.

Abstract: An automatic LFE audio signal derivation processor incorporating signal measurement functions, signal filtering functions, signal limiting/compressing functions, signal gain adjusting functions, and operating indication functions, for use with multichannel soundtracks. Audio input signals are fed to the processor and split for processing in three blocks, including a detector, which analyzes the low frequency content of the incoming signal and controls each of two subsequent blocks, a variable low frequency shelving network in which the amount of low frequency attenuation is variable and which responds to a control signal from the detector, and a variable gain amplifier in which the gain responds to the control signal from the detector circuit.

Abstract: An automatic trailer hitch coupling apparatus having a hitch bar receiver mounted on a platform at the rear end of a towing vehicle, said hitch bar receiver having a square cross section and a flanged rear end into which a hitch bar is removably inserted. A winch have an extendable and retractable cable is mounted on the towing vehicle proximate the receiver and a cable having a cable lead is fed outwardly from the receiver. A hitch bar for coupling within the hitch bar receiver has a front portion connected to a rear portion with a universal joint; the front portion is connected to the cable lead with a quick release and lock system. The hitch bar is integrally connected to a hitch tongue having a horizontal portion on which a hitch ball is mounted.

Abstract: A fishing lure and trolling flasher having front and back ends, top and bottom sides, and a beveled edge bordering the entire lure that tapers downwardly from the top to the bottom side and from the front to the back end. A front stabilizing fin parallel with the longitudinal axis includes an eyelet for connection to the end of a fishing line. A diagonal rear fin is set proximate the back end. The back end of the lure includes at least one eyelet for attachment to a tail leader. The body and fin design induce an infundibular rotational motion and whipping effect even at slow trolling speeds. Water distortion created by the lure motion produces sounds particularly attractive to predatory fish.

Abstract: An adjustable height grow light for easy manual adjustment of the vertical position of the light fixture. The light includes a light stand having two vertical supports and a horizontal support connected to the vertical supports and defining an interior channel containing the operative elements of the light. Hanging from the vertical support is a light fixture adapted for holding at least one grow light. A ribbon torsion spring is secured within the interior channel of the horizontal support member on a ribbon spring axle. In series are first and second axles secured with the interior channel of the horizontal support, and first line and second lines are connected to the ribbon torsion spring at one end and to the light fixture at the other end. The first line is routed over the second axle and looped back to and over the first axle; the second line is routed over the second axle only. The ribbon torsion spring has a tension rating that permits easy manual positioning of the light fixture.

Abstract: A fire head sprinkler tool comprising a pair of jaw extensions which may be either integral with or removably connected to a large capacity clamping or locking pliers. The locking pliers have a movable and a fixed jaw, and the jaws define a large cylindrical inner opening. The jaw extensions include upper working portions which further include concave gripping portions. The jaw extensions extend substantially laterally from one side of the jaw portion of the pliers, and the vertical axes of the jaw extensions are offset from the plane of the jaw side at an angle.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlled hydration and continuous full absorption cooking of a bed of particulate food product, the apparatus comprising a substantially horizontal vessel (12) in which the hydration and cooking process takes place, having an inlet end (14) and an inlet port (16) for introducing food product into the vessel, an outlet end (18) and an outlet port (20) for the discharge of the food product, an upper portion (22), and at least one trough portion (24); a loading device (38) for introducing food product into the vessel; a conveying device (30) for moving food product from the inlet end to the outlet end of the vessel during the hydration and cooking process; a hydration device (47) for hydration and cooking the food product during the transit by the conveying device from the inlet end to the outlet end of the vessel, the hydration device delivering water to the surfaces of the food product so that the food product is exposed to water at substantially its rate of absorption during the hydration a

Abstract: A trailer hitch assembly for connecting a towing vehicle to a towed trailer having symmetrical anti-sway features. The assembly includes a hitch ball rigidly affixed to a hitch beam extending transversely from the rear of the towing vehicle. A pair of spring-biased telescopic compressible and extendable control rods are connected to each end of the hitch beam and at their other ends to a control beam. A hitch bar is connected to the hitch ball on the towing vehicle and pivotally connected to the forward end of a trailer coupler that intersects and is pivotally connected to the central portion of the control beam by a pivot member. The pivot member is integral with the control beam and includes a control arm having a roller engaged with a downwardly opening slotted rearward end of the hitch bar. The trailer coupler includes a trailer hitch ball to which a trailer coupler socket is connected, with the trailer coupler socket being rigidly affixed to the tongue or frame of the towed vehicle.

Abstract: An improved stopper apparatus for use with wine barrel bung holes includes a generally frusto-conical stopper member having a central aperture, a top surface, a bottom surface, and an outer circumferential surface adapted to seal against the inner circumferential surface of the bung hole. The apparatus further includes a sealing insert member having a top portion, a middle portion, and a bottom portion, the top portion having a diameter slightly greater than the stopper member central aperture such that the sealing insert member can be pushed into the central aperture so as to bring the top surface of the sealing insert member with the top surface and the stopper member during barrel aging. The sealing insert member further has a lower surface adapted for sealing engagement against the stopper member top surface during barrel fermentation.

Abstract: A pack article includes a flexible container having front, back, right side, and left side panels connected together to define an internal cavity, a flap to enable access to the internal cavity, and at least one divider within the internal cavity connected to and intersecting the back panel at a diagonal, and extending between the right and left side panels to provide a diagonal support surface for an item placed within the pack. The angle of the divider serves to orient the contained load of the pack and direct the weight of the load towards the back panel, thereby distributing the weight along the length of the user's back.

Abstract: A combination air sampling cassette and nutrient media dish having base, orifice plate, and nutrient media dish assembly for the collection of airborne particles. The orifice plate includes a plurality of holes that brings the nutrient media dish into fluid communication with the ambient air. A pump is connected to the air outlet in the base to pull air into the orifice plate through the holes, over the culture media, and out through the air outlet. As the air passes through the holes in the orifice plate it is accelerated and results in the selected impaction of particles in the culture media. A cover fits over the assembly to protect the culture media prior to and after sampling.

Abstract: An electrical extension cord includes a male plug convertible between standard residential or blade-type plug elements and twist-lock blade elements, and a female receptacle plug designed to accommodate both standard and twist-lock male plugs. The male plug includes a pivoting body member having a twist-lock set of blade elements on one end, and a residential or blade-type set of plug elements on the other end, such that the user can selectively rotate the body member to orient the desired set of plug elements outwards for use. The selected set of plug elements are placed in electrical contact with the corresponding common, hot, and ground wires in the extension cord by releasable capture of the terminals of the wires, as by the use of spring contacts at the base of the plug elements. The inventive female plug accommodates both blade-type and twist-lock male plugs by providing fixed, permanent receiving slots for the plug elements of each type.

Abstract: A wakeboard having a substantially planar plastic base with a top surface and a bottom surface and a lightweight tubular alloy frame fastened at the top surface perimeter. The base is angled slightly proximate each of its ends. The frame is filled with a porous thermoplastic resin. The wakeboard further includes a novel binding system having a foot plate, a footpad, and a strap system. The bindings are secured to the base with mounting bolts having handles or knobs. The foot plate includes arcuate slots at each side of the footpad, each arcuate slot having a several transverse slots. Simple manual loosening of the mounting bolts permits multidirectional adjustment of the binding without the need to remove any part of the binding system from the board.

Abstract: A roller cover washer is provided, including a hollow pipe handle connected by a swivel-type adaptor to a water supply. The handle terminates in a water outlet end including a threaded end coupled to a T-connector and having pipe extensions perpendicular to the handle and capped at their ends. The water outlet end is covered by a cylindrical housing partly closed at each end by semicircular splash shields. Each pipe extension includes a plurality of apertures adapted to direct a fanned spray of water at an angle onto the roller's circumference. A roller cover on a roller assembly can be inserted into the housing pipe through either of the openings at the ends. When in use, the roller spins rapidly as paint is diluted and forced from the cover both by the water spray and by the centrifugal force induced from the spinning roller. Paint and water are ejected from the cover and drain into the housing and out the open ends of the housing.

Abstract: Cooking Utensil comprising a cooking pan, the pan having a flat circular bottom approximately nine inches in diameter, the pan having an angled rising surface approximately two inches above the circular bottom, the angled rising surface terminating in an annular surface having an outer perimeter of twenty four inches, the annular surface having a five degree slop toward the central nine inch diameter portion, the outer perimeter terminating in a vertical lip approximately two inches tall, the pan being made of anodized aluminum, the pan being alternately made of stainless steel, and the pan having opposing carry handles.