Abstract: A submerged meter reading apparatus for enabling a human user to visually read a meter submerged in water or the like, having an elongated tubular body member with a sidewall defining an interior chamber, an upper end constructed to allow a user to look into the interior chamber, a lower end sealed with a transparent cap for positioning adjacent a submerged meter to be read therewith, a magnifying lens positioned in the interior chamber of the body member for producing a magnified image of the meter, a light for illuminating the meter, and a meter cap opening device for enabling a user to open a cap on the meter to be read.

Abstract: A ball projecting and catching apparatus which includes a tubular body member, a flexible or flexible and resilient diaphragm member secured on the inside of the body member for catching and supporting a ball thereon, and partitioning the interior of the body member into upper and lower sections, means forming an axially central bore adjacent the bottom end of said body member, a plunger member positioned within said bore and having an impact end adjacent the diaphragm member and a handle end extending out of the bottom of the body member, and means for spring loading the plunger member to cause the plunger impact end to strike the diaphragm member when the handle end is pulled and released, thereby projecting a ball therefrom. The diaphragm member is constructed such that it sags toward the lower end of the body member forming a pocket for supporting a ball in the axial center of the body member.

Abstract: A tarp cover system includes a pawl (44) and ratchet (26) mechanism for locking a tarp cover (6) in a rolled-up truck-body-uncovered condition, and a lever arrangement (32,38) that is initially squeezed with one hand by the operator to release the pawl from the rachet to unlock the rolled up cover, and is subsequently pivoted by the same hand to brake (28,34) the unwinding of the cover as it is spring-biased toward the truck-body-covered condition. To re-cover the truck body, a crank shaft (24) is rotated to rotate the roll in the cover-winding direction against the biasing force of the spring, the ratchet mechanism preventing uncontrolled unwinding of the cover.

Abstract: Abdominal exercise apparatus and method comprising a flexible and resilient board of a length extending from one end near the head portion of a user to an opposite end removed therefrom. The board is constructed to be normally flat in configuration and is bendable into an upwardly curved configuration by upward movement of a user lying thereon to contract and shorten the abdominal muscles with the user's back and head portions in engagement with the board. Handles are removably mounted on the board near the one end thereof. In use, the handles are grasped by the hands of the user during movement to contract and shorten the abdominal muscles and to bend the board upwardly into a concave configuration against the resilient force of the board. During this upward movement, the user's head, neck, shoulder, back, and buttocks portions are supported by the board. Anchoring devices are provided at or near the opposite end of the board to secure the feet, legs or thighs of user thereto.

Abstract: A prestressed thermoformed panel, comprising an inner thermoplastic layer having fine grooves on the outer surfaces thereof, and outer fiber-reinforced thermosetting layers bonded to the outer surfaces of the inner layer. The grooves of the inner layer are of a size, pattern and orientation similar to that of the fibers of the thermosetting materials so that at least some of the fibers are positioned in the grooves to enhance the strength of the panel. In the method of forming the panel, the inner and outer layers are heated to approximately the fusion temperature of the thermoplastic material while applying inward pressure on the outer layers in the direction of the inner layer to bond them thereto. The pressure is less than the extruding pressure of the thermoplastic material. Thereafter, the thermosetting outer layers are cured, and the inward pressure on the outer layers is maintained until the temperature is at least 50.degree. F. below the fusion temperature of the thermoplastic material.

Abstract: A scented pole cover for covering closet poles, shower curtain poles or the like is disclosed. The pole cover is an elongate, hollow object having a slit along the entire length thereof. In operation, the slit is expanded to fit over a pole and the pole cover snaps into snug engagement about the pole. Also disclosed are extrusion methods for fabricating the pole cover of the invention.

Abstract: A prestressed thermoformed panel, comprising an inner thermoplastic layer having fine grooves on the outer surfaces thereof, and outer fiber-reinforced thermosetting layers bonded to the outer surfaces of the inner layer. The grooves of the inner layer are of a size, pattern and orientation similar to that of the fibers of the thermosetting materials so that at least some of the fibers are positioned in the grooves to enhance the strength of the panel. In the method of forming the panel, the inner and outer layers are heated to approximately the fusion temperature of the thermoplastic material while applying inward pressure on the outer layers in the direction of the inner layer to bond them thereto. The pressure is less than the extruding pressure of the thermoplastic material. Thereafter, the thermosetting outer layers are cured, and the inward pressure on the outer layers is maintained until the temperature is at least 50.degree. F. below the fusion temperature of the thermoplastic material.

Abstract: A device for monitoring UV radiation received by the skin comprises a housing. Adhesive on a face of the housing secures the device to the skin. A patch of irreversible UV sensitive material which changes color on being subjected to UV radiation is applied to an inner surface of the housing and receives UV radiation reflected from the skin. The color of the UV sensitive patch is compared with reference colors on the housing for determining the quantity of UV radiation to which the skin has been subjected.

Abstract: Gold and silver are extracted from their elemental state or from complex ores and alloys by leaching them with a solution containing ammonia, ammonium salts and one or more oxidants. The process is particularly effective for refractory gold ores including sulfide and carbonaceous ores.

Abstract: A film processing unit includes a film strip (11) having an emulsion layer on one side thereof, a cover layer (13) extending generally over said emulsion layer and being spaced from one side edge of said film strip, a reorder strip (12) arranged coplanar with said film strip adjacent said one side edge, and an adhesive strip (14) adhesively connected with adjacent portions of said film strip, said reorder strip, and said cover layer, thereby to secure the same together.

Abstract: A band saw for cutting animal carcasses and the like includes a housing and a lid rotatably connected therewith for movement between open and closed positions. Within the housing are provided a pair of pulleys for supporting a cutting band. Guides are provided adjacent the pulleys to twist the band 90.degree. to define a cutting segment thereof. Each guide includes a first guide member connected with the housing and a second guide member connected with the lid and defining a gap for receiving the band when the lid is closed. When the lid is opened, the second guide member is remotely positioned form the first guide member, thereby providing easy access to the band for replacement thereof.

Abstract: A tamper-proof device for detecting opening and closing events of a secure container is characterized by a fiber optic cable having a first portion connected with a fixed member of the container and a second portion connected with a movable locking member of the container so that the cable is bent or flexed when the container locking member is moved between open and closed positions. Light pulses are transmitted through the cable and variations in the pulses resulting from bending of the cable are detected to indicate opening and closing of the container.

Abstract: A combination plate and cup holding apparatus, comprising a plate support for supporting a plate, an arcuate retaining member secured to the plate support to receive therein and support the edge of the plate, a cup support secured to the annular retaining member for supporting a cup adjacent the edge of the arcuate retaining member, and a handle secured to the plate support and having one or more finger-grippable members which enable the apparatus to easily be held with one hand by finger-gripping the grippable members while the thumb rests on the edge of the plate, thereby continually urging the plate into the arcuate retaining member.

Abstract: Slat apparatus for a chain link fence, comprising a plurality of substantially parallel slats extending through the fence wires. Each slat has laterally extending wing portions positioned closely adjacent to the wing portions of adjoining slats to provide privacy by leaving only small spaces between the slats. The slats have apertures extending laterally therethrough rearwardly of the wing portions. The slat apertures are laterally aligned and a flexible belt extends through the apertures to retain the slats in parallel relation on the fence. The wing portions are of less thickness than the slats.

Abstract: A foldable storage rack for recreational vehicles is characterized by a laterally extending bottom panel, upwardly extending end panels at each end of the bottom panel, and laterally outwardly extending top support panels at the upper ends of the end panels. The panels are pivotally connected at their end portions with hinges so that the panels form a substantially rigid support structure when the adjoining panels are arranged perpendicular to each other. When it is desired to store the rack, the end panels are pivoted inwardly into overlapping relation with the bottom panel and the top panels are pivoted downwardly into overlapping relation with the end panels so that the rack can be stored in a substantially flat configuration.

Abstract: Abdominal exercise apparatus comprising a flexible and resilient board of a length extending from one end near the head portion of a user to an opposing end removed therefrom. The board is constructed to be normally flat in configuration and is bondable into an upwardly curved configuration by upward movement of a user lying thereon to contract and shorten the abdominal muscles with the user's back and head portions in engagement with the board. Handles are removably mounted on the board near the one end thereof. In use, the handles are grasped by the hands of the user during movement to contract and shorten the abdominal muscles and to bend the board upwardly into a concave configuration against the resilient force of the board. During this upward movement, the user's head, neck, shoulder, back, and buttocks portions are supported by the board. Anchoring devices are provided at or near the opposite end of the board to secure the feet, legs or thighs of user thereto.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for therapeutic deep heating of musculoskeletal tissues are characterized by an improved transducer that serves simultaneously to couple the power from the generator into the patient and to sense the therapeutic response for treatment control including a method of manufacture and testing of contact applicators for dielectric heating of musculoskeletal tissue. The applicator is comprised of a rectangular wave guide in which the location of the dielectric material is adjusted to reduce the measured value of the guide wave length to the free-space value at the frequency of operation. In addition, the invention comprises a method and apparatus for the noninvasive detection of therapeutic response in tissue to dielectric heating. This response is then used to control the treatment. Both heating and sensing are accomplished by one transducer and one apparatus if dielectric heating is employed.