Abstract: A basketball backboard which includes spirit levels mounted on the two side frame members and on the bottom frame member whereby the backboard can be leveled prior to play commencing and adjusted as necessary during play to ascertain vertical disposition. This invention is of particular usefulness when used in conjunction with glass backboards in that the same allows the board to be stress relieved which will prevent or greatly reduce the incidents of shattered backboards.

Abstract: The present invention entails a garden edging structure that surrounds a garden plot and separates the same from grass, vegetation, or soil that might lie outwardly of the garden plot. Specifically, the garden edging structure includes an inner continuous boundary or border that surrounds the garden plot and includes a lower ground engaging portion that anchors the same about the plot, and an aboveground portion that tends to confine soil of the garden plot inwardly of the inner boundary. In addition, an outer boundary or border structure is provided and communicatively associated with said inner boundary structure. More particularly, said outer boundary structure is of a generally horizontal planar type material, such as vinyl, and extends about ground level continuously around said inner boundary.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a automatic egg collection system that comprises an elongated integrally constructed housing including two spaced apart rows of individual laying nests that are inclined such that the eggs laid in the respective nests are induced by gravity to move inwardly towards a common central conveying system that collects eggs from each row of nests and conveys them from the housing structure to a central collection area. The nest and complete housing is unitized to form a relatively simple single structure. When installed, respective nesting housings can be aligned to receive and cooperate with one central conveyor system for collecting eggs within a laying house.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bag closure device designed especially to be utilized to close bags such as potato chips and cookie bags and the like. The bag closure device of the present invention comprises a torsional spring closure assembly having a mouth that is movable from an open to a closed position with the torsional spring functioning to bias said mouth towards said closed position. Secured within the mouth of said torsional spring closure assembly is a pair of elongated bag closure members that extend outwardly from said mouth in parallel relationship with respect to each other and which are adapted to directly engage an open portion of a bag and to close the same as said torsional spring closure assembly causes the elongated bag closure members to provide a clamping type closing action about the particular bag.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a combination tool including an oil plug wrench and an integrally constructed elongated oil filler trough. To accommodate oil plugs of the type having a cap portion with upstanding studs or protrusions, the combination tool includes a wrench end with one or more openings formed therein to receive the upstanding protrusions from the oil cap. Integrally constructed with the wrench end is a trough-like device that is adapted to receive and channel oil towards an exiting end thereof. Additionally there is provided a can opener about the exiting end of the formed oil filler trough.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical sighting system for a firearm that basically comprises a concave meniscus sighting lens of approximately zero power and fully transparent located off the optical axis, and a light source located on the optical axis generally disposed at the reflective focal point of said lens, generally between the lens and the observer's eye. The lens is operative to reflect two coinciding images of the light source towards the observer's eye, and this gives rise to an appearance where the image of the light source appears at infinity and in focus on the sighted target.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multiphase cosmetic composition wherein respective phases throughout the total composition are generally stable, separate, and visually distinct.Disclosed herein is a duophase cosmetic cleansing cream composition including two generally separate and stable cosmetic compositions intimately mixed to yield a cleansing type composition that may be applied to a subject's face or body in one step, with the composition including a first cleansing cream phase composition comprising the following with each being expressed as a percentage of weight of said cleansing cream phase: an oil making up about 40-65% by weight of the cream phase composition, water making up about 20-50% of the cream phase composition and a thickening agent comprising about 0.25-1.70% by weight of the cream phase composition, and an emulsifier making up about 1.0-9.

Abstract: The present invention entails a weight driven rotary power generating apparatus that is designed to efficiently provide energy that can be harnessed and effectively utilized. Forming the weight driven rotary power generating apparatus of the present invention is a heavy flywheel rotatively mounted within a frame structure and including a plurality of radially extending and circumferentially spaced projectors or drive panels that extends from the flywheel. Peripherally disposed about said flywheel is a closed, off-axis weight track that includes a plurality of weights movable therein. Because of the off-axis orientation with respect to the flywheel, the track is oriented such that as the weights fall due to gravity through a falling run of said track, they engage said projectors projecting from said flywheel and act to drive said flywheel.

Abstract: A standard offset printing press has the delivery end thereof modified with an air nozzle that is disposed above an underlying sheet travel path and which is designed to direct a continuous stream of pressurized air against the paper's top surface as it emerges from the printing press and is directed into a stacking area about the delivery end. The presence of the downwardly directed air tends to flatten the respective sheets and to prohibit curling. In addition, the printing press of the present invention is provided with a system for dispensing powder onto respective printed sheets such that once stacked the powder tends to separate the respective sheets.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pull type multi-pass automatic tobacco harvester adapted to be connected to a farm tractor and pulled through a tobacco field for harvesting tobacco within the field. The pull type automatic tobacco harvester includes a main frame that supports a leaf defoliator assembly and a conveying system on each side thereof for receiving the defoliated tobacco leaves and conveying them to an area of collection. Connecting the harvester to said tractor is a hydraulically actuated swingable tongue that is pivotably mounted about the front portion of said harvester's main frame. When pivotably connected to a draw bar on the tractor, said tongue may be pivoted such that the trailing position of the harvester can be laterally varied relative to the tractor such that the defoliator assembly of said harvester can be properly aligned with any one of two adjacent tobacco rows that run along one side of the tractor.

Abstract: A continuously variable ratio power transmission for a motor vehicle consists of two planetary gear sets and overrunning clutches to continuously modify said transmission reduction ratio as a function of the output shaft load conditions. A continuously variable ratio power transmission for a motor vehicle wherein one planetary gear set divides the input shaft torque and speed between two driven members of said planetary gear set which comprise the driving members of a second planetary gear set whose direction of angular motion is determined by overrunning clutches to limit the maximum reduction ratio range possible. A transmission of the aforementioned configuration allows a continuous change of reduction ratio as the magnitude of the torque delivered to the input shaft approaches the magnitude of the torque demanded by the output shaft load. The continuous change of reduction ratio allows the input shaft, and hence, the engine, to operate at nearly constant load conditions.

Abstract: This invention is a process for forming electrical conductors in the form of filaments which exhibit properties of electrical superconductivity at ambient or normal room temperature. The process includes the preparation of a molten mixture of conducting and insulator materials, the introduction of the nearly homogeneous mixture between electrodes across which a voltage is applied causing fine filaments to be formed having a diameter within the range of 10 to 1,000 A. The filaments thus formed give almost no resistance to the passage of the electricity therethrough at room temperature thus effectively forming an ambient temperature superconductor.

Abstract: The present invention entails a method and apparatus for producing alcohol and mixing the produced alcohol with a conventional petroleum fuel to form an alcohol-petroleum fuel mix which is typically referred to as gasohol. A grain base material such as animal feed or crushed corn is allowed to ferment and during this process there is produced an alcohol base solution which is removed from the mash fermentation and delivered to a boiler mounted on a vehicle. During operation of the vehicle, heat from the vehicle engine exhaust is selectively directed to the boiler and the fermented alcohol base solution contained therein is heated by this exhaust air. As the alcohol base solution is heated there is produced an alcohol vapor which is directed from the boiler to a condenser where the alcohol vapor becomes liquid alcohol. The liquid alcohol is then collected and selectively mixed with a petroleum fuel carried by said vehicle to form the gasohol mix.

Abstract: This invention is an improved insulation means and a method of forming the same. An expanded ceramic material such as expanded perlite, with a calculated R-rating of 2.7 per inch, and urethane foam, with a R-rating of 7 per inch under American Society for Testing Methods (ASTM), are combined to more than triple the expected R-rating of the sum of the two. The methods of forming the improved insulation can be used for either original equipment insulation such as water heaters or for board or foamed in type insulation for use in building structures and similar applications.