Abstract: A fixture (12) for forming decorative loops of fondant and gum paste has a support base (14) and two support members (16, 18). The support members (12) are pivotally mounted to opposite, longitudinally disposed ends of the support base (12) for moving from extending horizontally in storage positions to extending vertically in production positions, spaced apart in opposed relation. Apertures (26, 28) extend transversely through the support members (16, 18) and are aligned in registration for receiving forming rods (34, 36) and holding the Forming rods (36, 38) in stationary positions, spaced apart along lengths of the support members (16, 18). In a storage configuration, the support members (16, 18) are folded into horizontally disposed storage positions atop an upper surface of the support base (12), and the forming rods (36, 38) are secured in rod retaining clips (42, 44) mounted to the upper side of the support base (14).

Abstract: A telescoping support member (42) is provided for supporting a central portion (38) of a cable management arm (24) for use with drawer slides (14, 16). The drawer slides (14, 16) each have a cabinet member (18), an intermediate member (20) and a chassis member (22). The cable management arm (24) is secured on one end to one of the chassis members (22) and on an other end to one of the cabinet members (18). The support member (42) has a first end (50) pivotally secured in fixed relation to one of the intermediate members (20) and a second end (52) pivotally secured in fixed relation to one of the cabinet members (18). Extension of the drawer slides (14, 16) extends the cable management arm (24) and the support member (42), with said support member (42) disposed beneath and in sliding engagement with the central portion (38) of the cable management arm (24).

Abstract: A caulking gun cartridge caddy has back to back cartridge clamps which surround a portion of the circumference of two caulking gun cartridges, holding them in parallel juxtaposition whereby one cartridge is held in readiness for replacing another while the latter is in use. The caddy holds the cartridges oriented in opposite directions to minimize interference by the spare cartridge with using the caulking gun. The caddy may include means on its side for also holding a smoothing tool commonly needed by users to smooth a bead of the fill material after it has been distributed from the cartridge nozzle.

Abstract: A molded foam pool chair (12) is provided by a continuous form (26) of pliable foam material of constant density having varying thicknesses to provide a rigid base portion (30) and an elastic seat portion (28). The rigid base portion (30) extends around and is continuous with the elastic seat portion (28). The rigid base portion (30) defines a peripheral edge (44) having a shape and has cross-sectional areas of sufficient thickness and width to prevent substantial distortion of the shape of the peripheral edge (44) between unloaded and loaded conditions. The elastic seat portion (28) has an upper surface (62), a lower surface (64) and a thickness (48) for receiving a substantial portion of the weight of a person and extending downward within water into a loaded position (68), such that the upper surface (62) of the elastic seat portion (28) when in the loaded position (68), is disposed substantially beneath an unloaded seat position (66) defined by the lower surface (64) when disposed in an unloaded position.

Abstract: A nail holder (12) has a housing (20) which includes a frame (22) and a guard plate (24). Two grip plates (56, 58) are slidably secured within the housing (20) in opposed relation and have recesses (64) aligned in registration for receiving the shank (16) of a nail (14). Two actuator plates (76, 78) are disposed on opposite sides of the two grip plates (56, 58), spaced apart from respective ones of the grip plates (56, 58) by coil springs (70, 72). Opposite ends of the coil springs (70, 72) fit within recesses (68, 84) formed in respective ones of the grip plates (56, 58) and the actuator plates (76, 78). A user presses the actuator plates (76, 78) lineally inward to press the coil springs (70, 72) against the grip plates (56, 58) and lineally move the grip plates (56, 58) together to squeeze against the shank (16) of the nail (14).

Abstract: A drawer slide has a pin and torsion spring lock (28) for securing an intermediate slide member (16) relative to a cabinet member (18). A lock pin (154) has a head (180) and a shank (178). A groove (182) is formed into the shank (178). A torsion spring (156) is secured to the intermediate slide member (14) and engages the groove (182) to urge the lock pin (154) into a first position within a slot (158) formed in the intermediate slide member (16). The head (180) of the lock pin (154) extends on an opposite side of the intermediate slide member (16) from the torsion spring (156). Two stops (162, 164) are disposed on the cabinet slide member (18) for engaging with the head (180) of the lock pin (154). A release member (172) is embossed in the web portion (44) of the chassis member (14).

Abstract: A bearing drawer slide (10) has an inner slide member (16) which is slidably extensible from within an outer slide member (14). Captives bearings (28) have elongate bodies (29) for locating in fixed relation to a rearward end (20) of the inner slide member (16), disposed within the bearing spaces (48) between the inner slide member (16) and the outer slide member (14), with sides (31, 33) of the elongate bodies fitting against bearing races (36, 46) of the outer and inner slide members (14, 16). The captive bearings (28) are moveable with the inner slide member (16) relative to the outer slide member (14), and prevent movement of the rearward end (20) of the inner slide member (16) relative to the outer slide member (14) in directions which are transverse to the directions in which inner slide member (14) extends relative to the outer slide member (16), particularly when the inner slide member (14) is fully retracted within the outer slide member (16).

Abstract: A cleaning tool (12) includes cleaning utensil (18), a handle (14) and a deflector vane (30). The deflector vane (30) is pivotally attached to the cleaning utensil (18), and defines a deflector surface (40) having a peripheral edge (46) which is shaped to define two side lobes (48) and a notch (52) in a central portion thereof. The deflector surface (40) has an edge profile (44) which is of an arcuate shape. Two ribs (54) extend in parallel from a side (42) of the deflector vane (30) which is opposite the deflector surface (40). A brace (34) is removably secured in different positions relative to the two ribs (54) for determining an angle between the handle (14) and the deflector vane (30) during downstrokes, to control a level of force which presses the utensil (18) against a surface being cleaned.

Abstract: A Y-connect fastener (210) is provided for firmly fastening ceiling fan blades (26) to mounting brackets (20). A plurality of protuberant members (32) extend upwardly from the mounting brackets (20), and have head portions (72) and shank portions (74) which fit through apertures (62) in the ceiling fan blades (26). The fastener (210) has an upper surface (214), a lower surface (216), and peripheral edge portions (220) extending between the upper and lower surfaces (214, 216). Openings (224, 226) are formed in the peripheral edge portions (220) in alignment for sliding the opening (226) over one of the shank portions (74), and then rotating the fastener (210) to twist the two openings (224) around two of the shank portions (74), pressing the fastener (210) between the head portions (72) of the protuberant members (32) and the upper surface of ceiling fan blade (26).

Abstract: An evaporation system uses the weight of condensed liquid as an energy source. An inlet feed is introduced into an enclosure through an inlet. The inlet feed is vaporized in an evaporation region of the enclosure, and condensed to a liquid in a condensation region of the enclosure. The condensed liquid collects in a liquid region of the enclosure. The liquid region has an outlet. A blower between the evaporation region and the condensation region maintains the condensation region at a higher pressure than the evaporation region. The level of the liquid in the liquid region defines the volume and pressure of the evaporation and condensation regions, such that as the liquid is drained from the outlet, at least in part by the weight of the liquid, the pressure in the evaporation region decreases. The flow through the inlet and the outlet is regulated to maintain the pressure in the evaporation region at a pressure that tends to vaporize the inlet feed.

Abstract: A freestanding portable liquid filtration device (18) having an upper housing (24), a lower housing (32) and a base (36) which are secured together with an interference fit, with an enclosed lower portion of the upper housing (24) fitting within an open top of the lower housing (32) and an enclosed bottom of the lower housing (32) fitting within an upwardly facing opening of the base (36). A filtration element (26) having a first portion disposed with the upper housing (24) and a second portion from which fluid is discharged disposed within the lower housing (32), wherein liquid flows from the upper housing (24) through the filtration element (26) and into the lower housing (32). The upper and lower housings (24, 32) being formed of transparent materials, and the lower housing (32) including a light source (38) for illuminating at least a portion of the lower housing (32).

Abstract: A rotary plate fastener (24) is provided for firmly fastening ceiling fan blades (26) to mounting brackets (20). A plurality of protuberant members (32) extend upwardly from the mounting brackets (20), and have respective head portions (72) and shank portions (74) which fit through apertures (62) in the ceiling fan blades (26). The rotary plate fastener (24) has an upper surface (36), a lower surface (38), and peripheral edge portions (42) extending between the upper and lower surfaces (36, 38). Openings (46) formed in the peripheral edge portions (42) are aligned for registering adjacent to the shank portions (74) of the protuberant members (32), and then the rotary plate fastener (24) is rotated to twist the openings (46) around the shank portions (74) and press the rotary plate fastener (24) between the head portions (72) of the protuberant members (32) and the upper surface of ceiling fan blade (26).

Abstract: A portable arm support (10) for attaching to a user to support or steady firearms, cameras, binoculars, or the like. The portable arm support (10) includes a saddle (12) having fastening straps (20) which secure the saddle (12) to the forearm of the user, and a belt pocket (42) which is mounted to the belt of a user. A support tube (14) is pivotally secured to the saddle (12) and is telescopically extensible for adjusting an overall length of the support tube (14) to extend from the saddle (12) and into the belt pocket (42). The support tube (14) is telescopically adjustable to extend and then latch in an extended position with the lower end of the support tube (14) disposed within the cavity (60) of the belt pocket (42) to support the saddle (14) in fixed relation to the belt pocket (42).

Abstract: A paint repair process is provided for repairing scratches (12) and chips (22) in automotive paint (14). A paint mixture (26) is applied to the surface (24) of the automotive paint (14) and worked into the scratches (12) and the chips (22) by applying a minimum pressure of approximately one and one-quarter pounds per square inch directly to the paint mixture (26). After an initial drying of the paint mixture (26), the paint mixture (26) is polished and heated by applying a polishing mixture (28) to the surface of the paint mixture (26), and then pressing a natural wool fiber polishing pad against the surface of the paint mixture (26) with a minimum pressure of two pounds per square inch and moving the polishing pad relative to the outer surface of the paint mixture (26) at speeds in a rage of approximately 800 to 1050 feet per minute.

Abstract: A compression mount receptacles (16) is provided for mounting test and burn-in sockets (14) to surface mount pads of circuit boards (18). The receptacle (16) includes coil spring contacts (52) having active portions provided by loosely wound coils (54) which provide compliance for accommodating tolerances and changes in distances between the test and burn-in sockets (14) and the circuit boards (18). The coil spring contacts (52) further include first and second end portions (56, 58), with some of the end portions (56) being formed of close wound coils in which adjacent coils are in contact to provide lineal circuit paths. Conductive contact tangs (60) extend within respective ones of the coil spring contacts (52) and provide substantially lineal circuit paths which electrically connect between respective ones of first and second electrical contacts (22, 20), providing a shortened contact circuit across the loosely wound coils (54) of the coil spring contacts (52).

Abstract: A mounting bracket (226) has a toolless fastening feature for securing to a frame (18) having regularly spaced mounting apertures (19). The mounting bracket (226) has a bracket body (270) which includes a first tab (256) and a second tab (258). The second tab (258) has a guide aperture (264), a clip member (260) and a tab member (262). The clip member (260) and the tab member (262) extend forward of the second tab (258), spaced apart from the guide aperture (264), such that the guide aperture (264) will register with one of the mounting apertures (19) when the clip member (260) and the tab member (262) extend through two of the mounting apertures (19).

Abstract: A downhole chemical cutter (12) has first and second passages (124, 126) which extend parallel, in fluid communication with an interior passage (32). A first ignitor (210) in the first passage (124) ignites a propellant (34) in the interior passage (32) to dispense a cutting chemical (46). The second passage (126) extends from the interior passage (32) to an exterior of the chemical cutter (12), and is sealed by members (176, 156). After the first ignitor (210) is fired, the second ignitor (218) is fired to push the members (176, 156) from sealing the second ignitor passage (126), such that the interior passage (32) is in fluid communication with the exterior of the chemical cutter (12). A control circuit (252) has two diodes (106, 110) connected in parallel and configured for passing current of opposite polarity to respective ones of the first and second ignitors (210, 218).