Abstract: Apparatus for removably connecting an artificial limb to the trunk of an artificial tree. The apparatus includes three major parts: a cylindrical stem plug designed to be inserted into the trunk of the artificial tree; an elongated bough fixture designed to be attached to the end of the artificial bough; and a ring-shaped connector for joining together the bough fixture and the stem plug. The bough fixture includes a projecting stem and a plurality of V-shaped teeth which fit respectively into an axially drilled hole and a plurality of V-shaped seats in the stem plug. The ring-shaped connector encircles the fixture and plug and holds them together by threads which screw onto the plug and a flange which rests against the fixture.

Abstract: A device to be used in pairs for mooring a boat alongside a dock, each device including an elongated cylinder preferably of polyvinyl chloride, a first piston for movement within the cylinder, a first piston rod preferably of stainless steel having one end affixed to the first piston and the other end designed to be removably attached to the boat, a first helical spring surrounding that portion of the first piston rod within the cylinder, a second piston with movement within the cylinder, a second piston rod preferably of stainless steel having one end attached to the second piston and its other end being removably attached to the dock, and a second helical spring floating within the cylinder between the first and second pistons.

Abstract: A continuous roll of perforated plastic tabs for use in stapling roofing paper onto a roof or other building panel. Preferably the tabs are 11/4 inches by 11/4 inches square and 0.03 inches thick and made of styrene.

Abstract: An attachment for a hair dryer which adds a scent or perfume to the warm air blowing out of a hair dryer. The attachment consists of a disk designed to fit onto the front end of a conventional hair dryer. The disk includes an annular ring with an outer diameter of approximately 13/4 inches and an inner diameter of approximately 11/2 inches surrounding and supporting an open screen of vertical and horizontal strands of nylon or other inert plastic resin. Each intersection of the screen's strands supports a bead of volatizable scent. The screen and its beads of scent are protected during storage of the disk prior to use by two circles of foil removably mounted by means of adhesive onto the opposite sides of the disk's ring. The foils are removed just prior to fitting the disk onto a blow dryer. The disk is mounted over the mouth of the blow dryer, preferably by a cylindrical sheath of thin flexible latex, one end of which is attached to the outer surface of the disk's ring.

Abstract: The mouth and cheek protector is designed for use by persons undergoing orthodontal or orthognathic procedures requiring braces on the teeth. The protector consists of a thin strip of sponge-like cellular material formed to fit into the mouth and lie between the braces and the line of joinder between the gum and inner cheek. The cells of the sponge-like material have a generally uniform diameter of from 1/64th to 1/32nd of an inch. The major portion of the strip is approximately 1/8th of an inch thick with its opposite ends tapered to a thickness of 1/16th of an inch. One edge of the strip is straight and the opposite ends of the other edge are curved. The height of the strip is approximately 3/8ths of an inch and its length varies from one to two inches. In use, the curved edge of one or more of the strips rests against the braces and the straight edge lies close to and parallel with the line of joinder between the gum and inner cheek.

Abstract: A dispenser for pre-inked disposable striking lines consisting of an open-topped plastic case, an air-tight cover sealing the open top of said case, an axle within said case for rotatable support of a continuous spool of pre-inked line, an annular gasket mounted on said cover surrounding the line as it exits from said case, a knife-edged cutter mounted on the cover for cutting off a desired length of inked line, the cover having a clear plastic window for viewing the remaining amount of line on the spool, and a lid hingedly mounted on the top of the case.

Abstract: A device for use in dividing a line into a predetermined number of equal parts. The device consists of a number of identical elongated links whose ends and centers are hingedly connected to form a set of extendable lazy tongs with preferably sixteen identical pointed rods attached to the hinged ends on one side of the set of lazy tongs. A case encloses the set of lazy tongs with the pointed ends of the rods projecting out of an elongated slot along the bottom of the case. One end of the set of lazy tongs is attached to one end of the case while the other end of the set of lazy tongs is attached to a slidable shaft which extends through a second elongated slot along the side of the case. The shaft is attached to a finger operated tab slidable along the second elongated slot for moving the lazy tongs and the pointed rods so that the pointed ends of two predetermined rods lie at the ends of a line to be divided into equal parts.

Abstract: An ear cuff is disclosed herein of one-piece unitary construction from a thin flat elongated strip of metal formed into a pair of clips separated in spaced-apart relationship and each clip adapted to engage in partial encirclement with the inner and outer natural ridges of the ear of a wearer for support and retention without deformation of the flesh of the ear. The upper clip is rigid and non-pliable while the lower clip is deformable by thumb to finger pressure to fit and conform to the shape and contour of the ear ridge it encircles and engages. A decorative item may be included as part of the ear cuff or attached thereto by welding or a ring or a clip.

Abstract: Apparatus which facilitates the laying of tiles with the front faces of all tiles lying in a common plane and with uniform spacing between adjacent tiles. The rear face of each tile has a plurality of similar elongated grooves and each groove runs perpendicularly from one of the edges of the tile. Each of these grooves is undercut in cross section and the distance between the bottom of each groove and the front face of each tile is exactly the same. A plurality of elongated spacer elements are provided, each having a portion for attachment into one of the grooves of a tile and a portion for supporting an adjacent tile. The attachment portion of each spacer element has a profile in cross section substantially the same as that of the grooves. The support portion of each spacer element has a profile in cross section substantially less than that of the groove and a maximum width less than that of the opening in the undercut part of the groove.

Abstract: A tool for magnetically locating and recovering an electrical wire suspended within a hollow wall. The tool includes a buoyant magnet suspended in a clear liquid within a transparent container. A rod-like plastic handle is used to manipulate the container along a wall behind which a magnetizable iron member is hanging from the lower end of the electrical wire to be located. A plurality of cylindrical magnets joined end-to-end by flexible linkages are affixed to the opposite end of the plastic handle.

Abstract: For use in a program of physical exercise, a hollow cylindrical tube made of rubber, which tube is calibrated along its outer surface with an 0 permanently imprinted at the midpoint between the ends of the tube and the numerals 1, 2, 3 and 4 imprinted along the outer surface of the tube at spaced intervals from the midpoint of the tube. The tube is approximately 75 inches in length and has an outer diameter of 7/8ths of an inch and an inner diameter of 3/4ths of an inch.

Abstract: A fluorescent lighting fixture designed for outdoor use and constructed mainly of polyvinyl chloride. The fixture includes a cylindrical housing made entirely of white high density polyvinyl chloride with an annular ring projecting from its inner wall, a U-shaped standard voltage fluorescent lamp, a socket for said lamp, a circular base supporting said socket and resting on the ring of the cylindrical housing, a retaining ring resting on the upper edge of the circular base, a closed-ended tubular transparent diffuser resting on the upper edge of said retaining ring, a pair of flexible O-rings encircling the lower open end of said diffuser for securing the diffuser within the housing, a circular rear bushing, and a power line passing through a hole in the base plate for energizing said lamp. The U-shaped fluorescent lamp is sealed within the housing by the two O-rings and the closed-ended tubular diffuser.

Abstract: Apparatus for mounting a cymbal on the threaded end of a cymbal stand. A cylindrical fitting made of resilient material having embedded in its lower end an internally threaded plug adapted to fit onto the threaded end of the cymbal stand and having at its upper end an externally threaded shaft. A shouldered plastic washer designed to fit snugly around the fitting's threaded shaft, the shoulder of the washer sized to fit within the hole in the cymbal to be mounted on the cymbal stand. A knob having an internally threaded hole and a substantially flat lower face surrounding the hole designed to be screwed down upon the shaft of the fitting.

Abstract: A reversible drill and drive tool holder for use in performing a series of similar drill and drive operations. The tool holder consists of three major parts: a hollow cylindrical locking sleeve; an elongated shaft lying partially within the sleeve and having one end adapted to be held in the chuck of an electric drill and the other end forked; and a tool holding member rotatably pinned into the forked end of the shaft. The tool holding member has a socket at each end for holding a drill bit at one end and a driving tool at the other end. The shaft is held within the cylindrical sleeve by a spring-loaded pin and is capable of axial movement within the sleeve. When the shaft is moved forward against the spring, the tool holding member is freed to rotate about the pin in the front fork of the shaft, thus permitting either a drill bit or a driving tool to be moved into operating position.

Abstract: A wading pool in which children are provided with various games. In plan view the pool is shaped like a Greek cross to provide four similar compartments each sized to accommodate one child. Each of the four compartments is made of a different colored plastic and includes an open topped storage bin on one side of the compartment. Each bin houses a toy water pistol permanently attached to the pool by a hose which permits the water pistol to be removed from the bin and freely operated by the child located within the compartment.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for constructing a surface from a plurality of similar polygonal tiles wherein the tile has affixed to 50% of its sides one or more spacer members, each spacer member having a flat base and a rectangular flange bisecting the base, said spacer members being securely affixed to the rear face of the tile or to the flat base of an indentation in said base with the flange of the spacer member resting against the side of the tile. The tile is laid onto a bed of wet cement with a projecting portion of the spacer member lying on the surface of the bed. A second tile is laid onto the bed so that the rear face of the tile will rest on the base of a spacer member affixed to the first tile with one side of the second tile resting against the flange of the said spacer member. Successive tiles are then laid on said bed with their rear faces resting upon the base of a spacer member of an adjacent tile and the side of the tile resting against the flange of the spacer member.

Abstract: An adjustable diving platform for mounting on a boat which, despite the boat's freeboard or the contour of its hull, provides a stable horizontal diving platform at the waterline. The platform consists of a series of wooden slats on a rectangular frame. The platform is hingedly connected to the bottom of a vertical frame which includes a pair of telescoping hangers having crooked upper ends which are attached to the deck or gunwale of the boat. Adjustment of the telescoping hangers will position the platform at the waterline. The platform is also connected to the upper end of the vertical frame by a pair of flexible wires. The platform's frame includes a pair of telescoping rods with a footpad of resilient material at the end of each rod. By adjustment of these telescoping rods, the platform will lie securely at the waterline supported by its hinged connection to the bottom of the vertical frame, the two wires attached to the frame, and the two footpads pressed against the hull of the boat.

Abstract: A winch for use in safely lowering a person from an elevated position comprising a cylindrical casing, a rotatable shaft mounted on a pair of bearings located in the casing, a spool affixed to the shaft, a cam plate affixed to the shaft, a brake disc affixed to the shaft, a first gear affixed to the shaft, an air pump having a piston rod activated by the cam plate, a disc brake assembly activated by the air pump, a cable wound upon the spool, a centrifugally operated clutch mounted on the casing including a second gear meshed with the first gear, and means including a crank attached to one end of the shaft for rewinding the cable onto the spool.

Abstract: An absorbent apron for use beneath an infant high chair or the like comprising a liquid impervious sheet and a liquid absorbent non-woven layer of bonded fibrous material firmly joined throughout their interface.The liquid impervious sheet is preferably a thin flexible film of polyethylene. The fibrous layer is composed of cellulosic or similar fibers of varying length thoroughly bonded together into a highly absorbent layer between 1/16th and 1/8 of an inch in thickness. The impervious sheet and the absorbent layer are joined together throughout their interface by spaced beads or lines of adhesive or by the polyethylene film being extruded directly onto the layer of bonded fibrous material.The apron is approximately five feet square so that when placed beneath a higher chair, it will receive and retain all of the food and liquids dropped or spilled by the infant in the high chair. Being inexpensive and flexible, the apron can be readily wadded up and disposed of after use.

Abstract: A container for storing and displaying a reusable stack of cards bearing recorded information, comprising a four sided box, a cover hinged to one side of said box with a flange which, when the box is closed, fits over all four sides of the box, a transparent sheet mounted horizontally inside said box across the upper face of the box, a card-supporting shelf movable up and down within said box, a helical coiled spring positioned beneath said shelf to move said shelf and its stack of cards upwardly against said transparent sheet, a first horizontal slot in the hinged back side of the box for insertion of a card into the box and at the bottom of the stack of cards, a second horizontal slot in the opposite front side of said box positioned beneath the transparent sheet to permit the top card of the stack to be removed from the box, and mechanism mounted on the transparent sheet for engaging the top card of the stack and moving the card out of the box through the second slot.