Abstract: A number of component parts may be recombined to form a number of different martial-arts weapons. The many different types of weapons that may be formed is achieved via three elongated basic components interconnected together by male and female couplers, and a number of secondary components also connected to the three basic components by male and female couplers. One secondary component is chain for connection to one end of a basic component or between adjacent ends of two basic components. A number of other secondary components allows for many other different weapons to be formed. The recombinative and collapsible nature of the components also allows for ease of transport.

Abstract: An arm-straightening device for selectively locking an arm in a straight position, so that a bowler, or the like, is prevented from bending the arm during delivery, but which automatically allows the arm to bend during follow-through. A pair of semicircular-shaped, arm-shells are pivotally connected together at adjacent end-portions. An elastic, elongated band is positioned on the rear surfaces of the two shells and held in a first, stable state by a series of pins projecting from the rear surfaces of the shells. The band, in its first state, tends to keep the shells in an aligned, rectilinear orientation to keep the arm to which they are secured straight. Upon the application of sufficient force by the lower arm, in order to bend it, the elongated, elastic band is caused to take a second, stable state that tends to bias the shells into a bent orientation to keep the arm in its bent position for follow-through, or the like.

Abstract: An in-line, inclined strainer device in which the strainer proper is removably mounted within a casing, which casing is mounted in-line in a piping system, such that the strainer may be removed in an easy manner for subsequent replacement and/or cleaning. The strainer is mounted by a removable tubular element having an elliptically-cut end for mounting directly to it an elliptically-shaped screen mesh forming the strainer proper. The end of the tubular element is mounted in a linear portion of a casing through which flows the liquid of the piping system, so that the screen mesh may entrap solids. Diametrically opposite to the tubular element is a drainage duct which, when opened, allows the flow of the liquid to pass through, carrying away with it the effluent sedimented and debris in the drainage duct. The strainer proper includes a plurality of rods that are welded to the lower end of the tubular element, which rods directly mount the screen mesh.

Abstract: An adapter for a cellular mobile phone unit which converts the unit to include a plurality of telephone numbers. A main circuit board is coupled to a microprocessor of the unit, which board includes a plurality of number assignment modules, or NAM's (ROM's), each NAM having its own unique telephone number code. The NAM's are connected such that fifteen of the sixteen pin-connections of each NAM are correspondingly and respectively connected in series, for coupling to the fifteen pin-connections of a plug at one end of a ribbon cable, the other end of the ribbon cable being coupled to the microprocessor of the unit via the conventional NAM connection therefor. Each remaining pin of each NAM, which is not connected in series, is connected to a unique stop of a multi-position switch, so that a selected one of the NAM's may be coupled to the microprocessor in order to change the telephone number from one to another.

Abstract: A towel cover made of terry cloth is provided with a peripheral hem in which is inserted an elastic band to cause snug-fitting of the towel to an air mattress or a mattress of a lawn chair. The towel also has a plurality of loops formed in the edge of the peripheral hem which cooperate with elastic fastening bands that couple oppositely-disposed loops together, so as to prevent lateral slippage of the towel relative to the mattress. Each end of a fastening band is provided with a pair of spaced-apart buttons which are selectively insertable into one of the loops to adjust the biassing force of the band to suit the type and size of mattress being covered.

Abstract: A children'expandable, accordian-type gate is disclosed which includes safety features for closing off the open, upper V-shaped openings of the latticework of the gate, which latticework is comprised of a first series of slats parallel to each, and a second series of salts parallel to each other but angularly oriented differently from the first series. The upper V-shaped openings are closed off by upper extensions of the slats forming the boundaries of the V-shaped openings, which extensions project above the two, mutually-pivoted upper slat-ends from two adjacent V-shaped openings.

Abstract: A pallet truck with a fork member movable in an up-and-down manner is provided with a plurality of load cells on the tines of the fork member for weighing loads carried by the pallet truck. Each load cell is mounted by a tine of the fork member, over which tine is floatingly mounted an elongated floating member extending substantially along the entire length of the respective tine member. Each floating member is supported by at least one ball bearing operatively associated with at least one load cells on the tine. A crosspiece is provided interconnecting the ends of the two floating members adjacent the main frame of the pallet truck, which crosspiece is fixedly secured to the ends of the floating members in order to provide stability and increased inertia to the entire floating mechanism. The ball bearings associated with the load cells are mounted adjacent a respective inner side-edge surface of the tine member, so that a wooden pallet with load may be more accurately weighed.

Abstract: A method of desorbing water vapor molecules from the interior wall surfaces of a vacuum chamber by irradiating the inner wall surface by ultraviolet radiation. During the irradiation of the inner wall surfaces by the ultraviolet radiation, the vacuum chamber is kept under vacuum. The wavelength of the ultraviolet radiation is preferably a combination of two basic wavelengths: a first wavelength of 183 nanometers, and a second wavelength 254 nanometers. The ultraviolet radiation source is a conventional ultraviolet lamp. The lamp is connected to an exterior power source. After radiation the inner wall surface of the vacuum chamber with ultraviolet radiation, the desorbed water molecules are pumped away by the pumps of the vacuum system. Any wavelength falling within the ultraviolet band of the spectrum may be used for irradiating the inner wall surfaces of the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: A control valve utilizing the conventional dual wafer check valve, which check valve has a pair of semicircular plates pivotally mounted about a pivot rod at the adjacent straight edge surfaces thereof. The plates are mounted by hinge brackets that allow initial translational movement of the pivoted edges of the plates before the rotation about the pivot shaft, so as to provide a clearance between the seal and plates at the pivoted edges. A control mechanism simultaneously and continuously controls the rotation of the wafer plates so that each plate rotates in opposite directions but the same arcuate distance. The control mechanism has a pair of levers with one lever pivoted to the rear surface of one of the plates, while their other ends are pivoted together at one end of a linear translational clevis member. The other end of the clevis member is connected to a pivotal cam follower via a lost-motion connection to convert rotary motion to translational motion.

Abstract: An interface system for interfacing a standard telephone set with a radio transceiver as part of a telephone network is provided. The radio transceiver may be a conventional cellular-type transceiver or other transceiver having typical control inputs and outputs similar to that provided by cellular transceivers. The interface system converts tone-dial or pulse-dial inputs from the telephone into a serial data stream for storage in the transceiver. The interface system automatically determines when the last numeral or digit is dialed and provides a send signal to the transceiver when such determination is made. The system responds to incoming call signals, such as alert signals, from the transceiver and rings the telephone accordingly. The system simulates ring and dial-tone type signals under conditions typical of standard telephone set usage.

Abstract: A tool for spreading plaster, or the like, on wallboard surfaces which, in a first embodiment, includes a contoured surface having two end tip portions and a mid-portion contained in a plane spaced from the end tip portions. The tool includes a backing layer which gives structural integrity to the tool, and a flexible application-surface layer which projects beyond the outer edge of the backing layer. In use, the plaster is applied to the wallboard surface, and the projecting outer edge of the flexible layer is forced against the wall and pulled along to obtain a flat surface to spread the plaster out along the wallboard surface in an even and smooth manner to cover up cracks and tape. In a second embodiment, approximately half of the tool has a contoured surface, with the other half being planar. In this embodiment, the tool is used to distribute the plaster along the general wallboard surface area.

Abstract: The goggles include a pair of optical assemblies, each having two intersecting optical paths, including a see-through path with a large field of view on a straight line of sight to the viewed object, and a folded path which includes an objective lens set, an intensifier which converts visible and infrared light to a visible intensified light, and an eyepiece lens set, arranged in a loop in a plane perpendicular to the see-through path. Infrared and visible light from the viewed object enters both paths. A dichroic prism combiner at the intersection of the paths reflects intensified light from the folded path into the see-through path and transmits all other light. In one embodiment a dichroic prism separator is disposed at the intersection of the paths forward of the combiner for transmitting a portion of the incoming visible light along the see-through path and reflecting the remainder of the incoming light to the folded path.

Abstract: The goggles include a pair of optical assemblies, each having two intersecting optical paths, including a see-through path with a large field of view on a straight line of sight to the viewed object, and a folded path which includes an objective lens set, an intensifier which converts visible and infrared light to a visible intensified light, and an eyepiece lens set, arranged in a loop in a plane perpendicular to the see-through path. Infrared and visible light from the viewed object enters both paths. A dichroic prism combiner at the intersection of the paths reflects intensified light from the folded path into the see-through path and transmits all other light. In one embodiment a dichroic prism separator is disposed at the intersection of the paths forward of the combiner for transmitting a portion of the incoming visible light along the see-through path and reflecting the remainder of the incoming light to the folded path.

Abstract: A hamper bag is removably-mounted by a supporting base defined by a pair of opposing scissor-linkages. The hamper bag includes a pair of rods inserted through its upper lip, which rods are used to hold the hamper bag open on the supporting base by extending the rod-members over dowel-members interconnecting the upper portions of the pair of scissor-linkages, such that the rods are overhung relative to the dowel-members. The upper portions of the slats forming the scissor-linkages serve to prevent the removal of the sides and, therefore, the bag without first moving the rods away and up from the dowel-members to clear the dowel-members. The hamper bag may be carried separately or together with the collapsed supporting base.

Abstract: A knockdown toy having a number of component series, that, when assembled, are designed to resemble and simulate a space station or space ship. Each component series includes a number of identically-shaped parts that are interconnectable and repositionable to resemble a space ship or station. Seven major component series are included, each of which is designed to resemble, when constructed together, different operating and basic parts of a space station or space ship, whether real or imagined. Supplementary component series are also provided to simulate other parts of a space station or space ship such as engines, antennae, fuel tanks, landing pods, solar panels, and heat radiators. These supplementary component parts are connectable to some of the major component parts either directly or by means of tie pins.

Abstract: A firefighters' roof scaffolding is disclosed which is used by firefighters for standing upon the roof of a burning building in order to make a ventilation hole in the roof for ventilating the gases, and the like, from the interior of the building. The scaffolding has a cross beam of hollow construction, which mounts at one end a ladder attaching device to attach one end of the cross beam between two adjacent rungs of a conventional roof ladder suspended from the peak of the roof. The other end of the cross beam is provided with a roof attaching device for suspending that end from the roof itself. Each of the ladder attaching device and roof attaching device is secured to a respective end of the cross beam by a mounting block, which is juxtaposed adjacent a mounting plate positioned in the hollow interior of the respective end of the cross beam.

Abstract: A vehicular seat for handicapped and elderly persons is disclosed which is readily accommodated in any type of conventional vehicle, such as automobile, van, bus and the like. The vehicular seat is given three degrees of freedom of movement, the first degree being a rotary one in a horizontal plane about a shiftable vertical axis of rotation, the second being a rectilinear one in a horizontal plane, and the third being rotary in a horizontal plane about a fixed vertical rotary axis. The three degrees of freedom allow for angular positioning of the seat proper relative to the ajar door, so as to ensure minimal interference between the person being seated and the frame and ajar door of the vehicle.

Abstract: A hamper bag and support for same are disclosed. The hamper bag is flexible, and is supported upon a pair of spaced-apart and parallel support shafts by a pair of support rods inserted in a pair of channels formed in the sides of the upper rim of the flexible bag. The support rods are of such a length that the ends of each support rod protrude outwardly from the ends of the upper rim, so that the protruding ends may rest upon portions of the parallel and spaced-apart support shafts. The pair of support rods are placed parallel to each other, where each support rod is supported at one end upon one end of one of the support shafts, and at the other end at the corresponding end of the other support shaft.