Abstract: Novelty dishware for serving food to children and implements associated with the dishware which function not only as eating utensils but also as play pieces, so that the eating process becomes a play activity which encourages eating. The dishware, which may be in bowl, plate or any other receptacle form adapted to accommodate food, includes a rim constituted by an annular, transparent duct filled with liquid having glitter particles dispersed therein, as well as a permanent-magnet piston. The piston is slidable in the duct to force the liquid to circulate and thereby animate the particles to create a dynamic display. Each implement is provided with a transparent handle that is filled with liquid having glitter particles dispersed therein, the free end of the handle having a permanent magnet actuator attached thereto.

Abstract: A self-drilling anchor and bearing plate assembly adapted to secure a membrane or other layer onto a roof deck or a similar substrate formed of a material that requires a drilled hole to receive the anchor. The bearing plate which rests on the layer and includes barbs which press into the layer to resist rotation of the plate, has an opening therein to accommodate the anchor, the opening being surrounded by a series of ratchet teeth. The anchor head is provided with at least one pawl which when the head overlies the plate is then in operative relation with the ratchet teeth. Extending from the head is a shank section in an auger formation, and extending from the shank section is a drill section having at least one cutting blade. When the anchor is inserted in the plate opening and is turned in by a tool, the drill section then proceeds to drill a hole in the substrate, and as the shank section enters this hole, its auger taps an internal thread in the hole to securely retain the anchor therein.

Abstract: A squeeze canteen for dispensing a potable liquid such as drinking water or fruit juice, the canteen including a container formed of resilient material for holding the liquid. The container outlet is closed by a removable cap provided with a nozzle in the form of a short, flexible tube that normally projects outwardly from the cap, the inlet of the tube communicating with the container. When the canteen is in its drinking mode and the container is squeezed, the resultant internal pressure forces liquid from the container through the tube from which it is ejected as a jet stream. Associated with the cap is a crimping device which, when operated by the user, puts the canteen in its sealing mode, the crimping device deflecting the nozzle tube and holding it in a bent state to block the flow of liquid and thereby seal the container.

Abstract: A secondary containment structure for the safe storage of hazardous materials held in primary containers, such as drums, cans and bottles. In large sizes, the containment structure is adapted to function as a pallet or as the floor of a building or shelter for primary containers. The structure includes a core formed of an end-grain balsa wood base and a rectangular frame placed thereover formed of the same or similar material to define the bed and the side walls of a sump. The inner edges at the upper end of the frame are indented to create a ledge to accommodate a fiberglass grating. The containers to be stored are seated on the grating, whereby leakage or spillage from the containers are collected in and confined to the sump. Laminated to the exposed surfaces of the core is a layer of a fiberglass-reinforced plastic material, whereby the resultant laminate, though light in weight, is of exceptional strength.

Abstract: A two-piece mobile bar which may house a beverage cooling and dispensing system for dispensing cold beverages through a multi-valved gun operated by a bartender stationed behind the bar. The first piece is a base unit defined by vertical end walls bridged by upper and lower sections, the upper section being joined to the end walls at corresponding positions below the upper edges of the end walls. The space between the upper and lower sections is divided into open cells which receive beverage and other containers. The upper section is provided with a sink in which a cold plate is seated, the cold plate having coils embedded therein in heat exchange relationship with ice covering the plate. The coil inputs are coupled to the containers and the outputs to the gun, whereby beverages passing through the coils are cooled before being dispensed. Coupling is effected by a network of hoses which extend through a shallow region contiguous with the front side of the unit.

Abstract: A corona discharge beam thermotherapy system adapted to project the beam onto the skin surface of a living body overlying a problem region, the beam serving to relieve pain and to obtain other beneficial effects. The system includes an energy-generating unit in which a radio-frequency carrier is overmodulated by an audio frequency signal to produce periodic bursts of radio-frequency energy whose repetition rate corresponds to the frequency of the signal. The output of the unit is fed by a flexible coaxial cable to a tank circuit tuned to the carrier frequency and housed within the barrel of a portable applicator gun on whose grip is mounted a trigger switch operatively connected to the unit. Supported within the barrel and coupled to the tank circuit is a discharge electrode whose tip is adjacent the mouth of the barrel.

Abstract: A safety hypodermic needle and shielding cap assembly for a standard syringe whose fluid chamber is provided at its front end with a projecting nozzle coaxial with a coupling socket. The assembly includes a needle-supporting hub whose hollow base is coupled to the socket of the syringe, the nozzle then communicating with the needle. Encircling the hub and attached thereto is a resilient actuator collar defining an annular space within which is received the lower end of a helical spring surrounding the needle extending from the hub. The upper end of the spring is received in the cavity of a shielding cap having a center bore therein through which the needle is passable. The cap is tethered by opposing lines of unequal length to the collar.

Abstract: A centerpiece assembly in which an array of floral-like elements is supported on a rack to simulate a bouquet of cut flowers. Each element in the array has a stem formed by a transparent tubular wand filled with pellets of candy whose color imparts color to the stem. The lower end of the wand is provided with a removable stopper, the upper end having a decorative flower-like pom-pom attached thereto. The rack, fabricated of transparent material, is composed of a base plate having a center post anchored thereon on which are supported at least two tier plates, one above the other, each tier having a ring of equi-spaced holes therein coaxial with the center post. The upper tier ring has a diameter greater than that of the lower tier ring, whereby each hole in the upper ring is spaced a greater distance from the post than the corresponding hole in the lower ring.

Abstract: A paper-plastic laminate sheeting capable of being converted by conventional equipment into envelopes, grocery bags and other dilatable container products that initially are in a flat state and are normally made of paper. The sheeting is composed of a paper facing sheet cold-laminated by means of a water-based adhesive to a reinforcing film of synthetic plastic material, such as polypropylene. The film is oriented to impart exceptional tear and burst strength characteristics to the resultant waterproof product. The product, whose exterior surface is formed by the paper facing sheet, is readily printable. For some applications, a second paper facing sheet is cold-laminated to the other side of the film to produce a three-ply laminate sheeting whose exposed surfaces are readily printable and can accept conventional adhesives.

Abstract: A toy weapon adapted to shoot out sponge-like pellets impregnated with water. The weapon includes a launching chamber above which is vertically mounted a gravity-feed cartridge loaded with a stack of pellets. Also mounted above the chamber is a pump-operated water supply coupled to the cartridge whereby when the pump is actuated, water is then sprayed into the cartridge to impregnate the pellets therein. Projecting forwardly from the chamber is a gun barrel, while projecting rearwardly therefrom is a cylinder. Slidable within the cylinder is a spring-biased piston joined to a piston rod that extends from the rear end of the cylinder and terminates in a handle.

Abstract: A double-barreled gun adapted to inject a two component epoxy into a hole to anchor a hardware element therein. The base resin and hardener components of the epoxy are stored in separate foil packs received in parallel barrels of the gun. The gun includes a removable mixing manifold having a pair of end caps which fit into the leading ends of the barrels and are joined to a manifold pipe to whose outlet is attachable a mixing nozzle. Mounted within the rear of each cap across a port therein is a cutting element. Slidable in each barrel behind the pack is a piston whose rod extends from the trailing end of the barrel. An operating mechanism effects concurrent advance of the pistons to an extent limited by a retractable stop member.

Abstract: A method for producing a photo album page composed of superposed panels of transparent polypropylene film joined together by parallel lines of adhesive to define channels, each of which is divided by a paper strip into front and rear compartments to accommodate photos. To make photo album pages of this type, two webs of polypropylene film are concurrently advanced into combining rolls. Applied to the inner surface of one of the polypropylene webs are parallel lines of hot-melt adhesive whose chemistry is such that it has an affinity for polypropylene. When the webs are adhered together in the combining rolls, the lines create a plurality of channels. Also concurrently fed into the combining rolls in the spaces between the lines are a like plurality of paper tapes, whereby emerging from the rolls is a composite web which is then slit into individual album pages.

Abstract: An air-pulse powered arrow shooting toy set provided with at least one soft arrow whose shaft is formed of resilient, flexible foam material, the rear section of the shaft having an axial bore so that the arrow is slidable onto a launching tube which then extends into the bore. Coupled to the tube is an air gun which, when cocked and then fired, produces a compressed air pulse which is delivered to the launching tube to shoot off the arrow. The air gun includes a barrel having a piston slidable therein which is attached to a piston rod that extends out of one end of the barrel to join a handle. Surrounding the piston rod between the one end of the barrel and the piston is a compressible helical spring. A hand grip attached to the barrel is provided with a spring-biased trigger having a latching finger which when the trigger is inactive extends into a slot in the barrel.

Abstract: A submicron particle filter unit of the Hepa type adapted to be interposed between a source of pressurized gas and a work-processing region to provide an environment therefor free of particles and other contaminants. The membrane of the unit is fabricated from a continuous, elongated, porous metal sheet accordion-folded to define a uniform series of pleats forming a media pack having an entry and an exit face, the pack being clamped with gaskets between the side plates of a frame or welded or otherwise joined thereto. Pressurized gas from the source applied to the entry face of the pack is filtered therethrough to yield at its exit face a laminar flow of gas which creates a clean environment for the work-producing region.

Abstract: An antiplaque mouth rinse conducive to oral hygiene. The mouth rinse composition includes a water-alcohol vehicle having dissolved therein two antibacterial agents that coact to promote the delivery of these agents and their retention on the teeth and soft tissue in the dental region of the oral cavity of the user, thereby inhibiting the formation of plaque. One agent, Triclosan, is water-insoluble and noncationic, a solubilizer therefor being included in the composition. The other agent, cetyl pyridinium chloride (CPC) is soluble in water and alcohol and is cationic. When the combination of Triclosan and CPC is delivered to the dental region, it is adsorbed and retained thereby to afford enhanced antibacterial activity.

Abstract: A tilt-compensating magnetic compass formed by a capsule enclosing a rotatable pointer to indicate direction and a rotatable magnetic-field detector provided with a permanent magnet. The detector, which is rotatable about an axis colinear with the axis about which the pointer rotates, orients itself with respect to the earth's magnetic field, the detector being tiltable to a degree depending on the inclination of the magnetic field and on the attitude of the compass with respect to the horizontal plane. The detector is mechanically linked to the pointer so that rotation of the detector results in a corresponding rotation of the pointer regardless of the degree of tilt, whereby the pointer accurately indicates direction. The linkage consists of a pin projecting from the detector and passing through a slot in a fork extending from the pointer, whereby when the detector tilts, the pin then shifts within the slot, but remains coupled to the fork to maintain the linkage without imparting movement to the pointer.

Abstract: A self-drilling anchor installable in a wall by means of a screwdriver, the anchor being adapted to receive a threaded fastener serving to hold a fixture against the wall. The anchor includes an externally-threaded shank section having a head engageable by the screwdriver and a longitudinal bore threadably to receive the fastener. Integral with the shank section and extending axially therefrom is a drill section having at least one cutting member and guide means therefor, whereby as the anchor is turned in to the wall by a screwdriver, the cutting member then bores a round hole therein whose bank is engaged by the guide means to ensure circularity of the hole. And as the anchor continues to turn, the shank section enters and taps the hole until its head engages the outer surface of the wall to complete the anchor installation.

Abstract: A cold plate for cooling different beverages drawn from supply cylinders, the cold plate being formed by a rectangular base over which is a run-off roof defined by sloping end and side sections. Embedded in the cold plate are cooling coils terminating in input and output terminals that project from the underside of the base, the coil inputs being coupled by upstream lines to respective supply cylinders, the coil outputs being coupled by downstream lines to a soda gun to selectively dispense the beverages. The cold plate is received in the well of a thermally-insulated sink having an open bottom bordered by a rectangular ledge. The base of the cold plate is seated on the ledge in spaced relation to the sides of the well to define a gutter in which there is a water drain. The sink is filled with ice cubes that cover the exposed surfaces of the cold plate and are in heat-exchange relationship with the cooling coils to cool the beverages flowing therethrough.

Abstract: A biofeedback game in which a target player sits on a "hot seat" where he is assailed by provocative questions or statements put to him by an inquisitor player, calculated to induce stress by embarrassing or otherwise upsetting the target player and thereby causing him "to lose his cool." The target player is coupled by means of a temperature sensor attached to one of his fingertips to a biofeedback unit whose indicator at the start of play is set to a base level representing the target player's initial state of stress. Should the target player who views the indicator while his fingertip temperature is being monitored and is therefore within the feedback loop, fail to control his reaction to a provocative question or statement, the resultant indication will deviate from the base level to a degree reflecting his loss of cool.