Abstract: Multi-level drainfields for purifying septic tank liquid effluent have a plurality of vertically-stacked filtration medium layers with air space therebetween. The space-saving drainfield modules may be custom-fitted in size, number, type and thickness of layers to meet the requirements of a home, family and habits. Effluent may be percolated through each filtration layer, which may contain baffles, from top down or bottom up, in series or in parallel, and may be recirculated, if necessary, to render the effluent safe for discharge as clean ground water. Drainfield modules may be combined for high-capacity effluent handling, and may be installed underground or aboveground, where protective housing can permit light to reach the effluent therein.

Abstract: Small-diameter logs are longitudinally bisected and trimmed to form a flattened surface parallel and opposite the diametric surface formed by the bisection. All longitudinal surfaces of logs, half-logs and planks not visible in the final product are subjected to an overall pattern of cuts or perforations to relieve uneven wood fiber tension, the two half logs are adhesively joined at their trimmed flattened surfaces, the patterned cuts may be filled with adhesive; vertical piles of at least three planks are treated similarly. After adhesive has set a second longitudinal bisection is made through the half-log or plank-pile assembly, resulting in two asymmetric structural units, which are piled in a tight stack to discourage warping or twisting as the stack is subjected to air- or kiln-drying.

Abstract: A plurality of conventional wood planks are vertically stacked and adhesively joined into an aligned symmetrical pile, the top and bottom planks being wider than planks, therebetween. A longitudinal bisecting cut through the pile produces two asymmetric sections, mirror-images of each other, which, when reversed, have the projecting edges of the top and bottom planks facing each other. By joining these projecting edges adhesively, the laminated hollow wood beam is assembled. Provision is made for adding internal bracing for increased strength and for covering the open ends of the hollow beam.

Abstract: A magnetic therapeutic device including a flexible elasticized loop-type fabric band or belt having a buckle loop at one end and a hook-type fastening element (VELCRO) at the other end thereof for securing the band or belt around the to-be-treated portion of a user's body, one or more magnetizable stainless steel C-shaped clips slidably mounted for adjustable positioning on the band or belt, each clip having at least one recess for magnetically holding at least one small high-intensity permanent magnet therein.

Abstract: Sandwich construction building materials are produced using conventional facings of plywood, fiberboard, particle board, mineral board, wood, metal, plastic, etc. on both faces of the building material, the inner core therebetween being made from natural wood veneer, made from wood fibers or wood shavings combined with synthetic resin, bamboo, etc. bent into elongate strips of angular, corrugated or undulating configuration or rolled into hollow tubes. The strips or tubes may be cut transversely into strips of rings of equal height and assembled proximately of contiguously to form an inner core layer having an openwork pattern. Openwork spaces may be filled with insulation or strengthening materials, and core elements may be coated with resins or adhesives. The resulting building products may be modular and lightweight, strong and suitable for use as plywood, flooring, walls, beams, joists, trusses and posts.

Abstract: The rectangular tubular frame of the garment rack is mounted on two heavy-duty rectangular tubular support bases, carrying casters at either end of each, by a clamp-adaptor surrounding the central portion of each support base and providing an upwardly-projecting cylindrical boss on each for positioning the garment rack tubular frame thereon. Each vertical support post of the tubular frame has an inwardly-facing horizontally disposed adaptor attached reinforcedly thereto, the outer end of each adaptor being concavely shaped to follow the contour of the post on which it is perpendicularly mounted, and the two adaptors serve to support the horizontal garment hanger support rod of the rack frame.

Abstract: Apparatus for opening, or removing without damage, automotive side-bar type ignition locks, comprises a combination tool with a plurality of projections extending horizontally and forwardly from the combination tool to engage the lock's keyway, at least one balanced pair of recesses in the lock's face, or, optionally, when the tool is used as a lock-remover, the inner walls of the lock's hollow wing-nut cylinder cap. When used as a lock-forcing opener, the combination tool is placed in position on the lock cylinder's face and a conventional wrench gripping the tool's hexagonally-shaped portion is turned to create torque applied by the tool's projections against the walls of the lock's recesses, forcing the lock cylinder to turn to its ON position and start the vehicle's engine.

Abstract: A shopping bag carrying device has two handles, one affixed to each end of a flexible loop-forming element in the form of a strap or a length of rope-like material. When the handles of one or more shopping bags are threaded onto the loop-forming element and the carrying device handles brought together, the device's loop is closed, thus confining the shopping bag handles and preventing them from slipping or straying. A releasable latching device is provided to hold the handles together while the carrying device is in use. Another embodiment uses only one handle at one end of the loop-forming element, the other end carrying a slotted extension through which the one handle may be passed to close the device's loop and hold the shopping bags in place.

Abstract: A selective plurality of elongate half-logs, lumber planks which may have imperfect or damaged edges, or a combination of both, are superposed on each other and adhesively joined to form an intermediate assembly, which is then divided by one or more beam-long cuts made perpendicularly to the flat surfaces of the half-logs or planks. The resulting outer sections of the intermediate assembly, substantially mirror-images of each other, are reoriented so that the original outer edges face each other and are positioned so that a selected space remains between them. Various spacing and bracing elements are selectively chosen to connect the two outer sections and thus to form a laminated space-containing wood beam structure, on which surface-covering sheathing or coatings may be applied optionally.

Abstract: Apparatus for preserving porous structures, including masonry structures with embedded structural steel or reinforcing steel elements, applies a liquid preservative material to an exposed surface of the structure using the force of a compressed air blast at high velocity to meet, atomize, and inject the liquid preservative deeply into the porous structure. Separate manifolds each having multiple spaced nozzles are provided for the liquid preservative and for the air blasts, both manifolds being covered by a shroud. The manifolds and their nozzles are positioned and arranged so that, as the liquid is deposited on the surface of the structure, the high-velocity blast of air, arriving at the same area at the same time, atomizes, injects and forces the liquid into the interior of the structure, so as to coat the intersticies of the inner porous structure, including any reinforcing steel therein, the high-velocity air blast acting as a fluid hammer.

Abstract: Diametrically cut lengths of half- or quarter-logs positioned side-by-side with their cut flat surfaces forming a pallet platform, a floor, wall panelling or a fence are mounted on support rails held together by interlocking tongue-and-groove or dovetail joints and fastening elements where needed. Support rails are hollow converted log beams made from three-sided lengths of logs arranged to form a rectangular cross-sectional outline and held together by spacers at intervals. Provision is made to assure a level surface by adjusting depth of grooves to offset log taper. Pallets may be made to be readily disassembled for space-saving storage, shipping or repair, and four-way fork-lift access may be provided.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for removing side-bar automotive ignition locks without damage, a tool kit being provided containing a drill guide block, an adjustably molted drill bit, a side-bar pressure tool for insertion into the access opening created by the drill bit, and a wafer pressure tool for insertion into the keyway of the ignition lock to urge the lock wafer elements into alignment at the same time the side-bar pressure is being applied, causing retraction of the side-bar and consequent opening of the lock to permit its removal. Plugs are provided to reseal the drilled access opening.

Abstract: A method for preserving porous structures, including masonry structures having embedded structural or reinforcing steel rods, applies liquid preservative material to an exposed surface of the structure and injects the material into the structure using the blasting force of a compressed air stream at high velocity. The apparatus for practicing the method includes separate manifolds having multiple outlet nozzles provided for the liquid material and for the air streams, both manifolds covered by a shroud. The manifolds and their nozzles are arranged so that, as the liquid is applied to the surface of the structure, the high velocity air forces or injects it into the interior of the structure, so as to coat the interstices of the inner porous structure including any reinforcing steel therein, the high velocity air streams acting as a fluid hammer. The preservation of the structures occurs without the need of disturbing, breaking open or repairing brick, concrete or masonry structures.

Abstract: A retractable clothesline device is mounted on a support outside a window with two pairs of pulleys supporting an endless clothesline formed into two parallel loops by the pulleys. The outer loop may be retracted through the window by a controlling slide wand for safe indoor laundry loading and unloading, by drawing stored clothesline from the inner auxiliary clothesline loop. Pushing the slide wand outwardly reverses the process, diminishing the outer primary clothesline loop and increasing the auxiliary reservoir loop, placing the device in its outdoor drying or not-in-use position, the clothesline being kept uniformly taut at all times.

Abstract: Converted log structural products are produced from conventionally unusable or marginally useful sections of logs transversely cut into suitable lengths and then cut longitudinally by perpendicular cuts into log parts of either right-angled sector or right triangle cross-section. Four log parts matching in size and shape, and positioned so that their right angles form the corners of a rectangle, are assembled into a converted log, the interior space between the four log parts being filled selectively with braces, supports, insulation, concrete for various applications.

Abstract: A helical coil assembly, consisting of spaced coil turns mounted on a shaft at right angles to the coil, is rotated by any suitable power source. Any plant growth stalks in the path of this rotating coil enter and are caught in the channel between the spaced coil turns, spun centripetally, clumped together, grasped and pulled by the coil so that the plant growth, whether crops or undesirable weeds, undergrowth, etc. is removed by its roots. The helical coil assembly may also include a cutting blade rotating parallelly and adjacent to the helical coil, for severing the clumped plant stalks held under tension by the coil, thus moving or trimming the plant growth. Multiple coil assemblies, arranged in various groupings, are combined for a wide range of mowing, trimming, harvesting or removing purposes.

Abstract: The method of converting logs involves cutting each log longitudinally and diametrically at right angles into equal quarter-log segments, the rearranging the quarter-logs so that the arcuate surfaces of the segments face inwardly toward each other, while their cut flat surfaces are positioned to form a rectangle in cross-section. The segments so positioned may be joined together as such, rigid foam plastic insulation may be introduced into the space remaining between the segments, or support bracing and other insulation may take the place of the rigid foam. The resultant converted logs may be used as beams, joists or bearing-wall members; devices for aligning, registering and sealing the converted logs together are provided.

Abstract: Apparatus for a board game, wherein playing pieces are moved to and from designated positions on the game board's surface, has a vertically disposed planar game board with the playing surface area represented in perspective, giving the effect of depth and a three-dimensional appearance. Playing pieces, releasably held in their assigned positions by magnets or projections, are angularly truncated at their bases so that each piece when in place extends outwardly and upwardly from the playing surface at a predetermined angle.

Abstract: A thermal insulating shade for interior use comprises at least one envelope with substantially parallel side panels which hold insulating air therebetween, at least one of the side panels having a highly reflective surface for reflecting away the sun's heat in summer, and, by reversing the shade, retaining interior heat in winter. The shade may be mounted in spaced relationship to any inadequately insulated interior surface such as a window, roof or door of a building or automobile. The shade envelope may have its air space filled with static air with or without porous insulating foam, or controlled air movement through the shade may be provided. Alternatively, the insulating shade may be formed of two envelopes, one inside the other, or of twin envelopes having a common center wall therebetween; in these embodiments, air may be pumped alternately into and removed from each envelope in turn to provide enhanced insulating effectiveness.

Abstract: The method of converting logs involves cutting each log longitudinally and diametrically at right angles into equal quarter-log segments, the rearranging the quarter-logs so that the arcuate surfaces of the segments face inwardly toward each other, while their cut flat surfaces are positioned to form a rectangle in cross-section. The segments so positioned may be joined together as such, rigid foam plastic insulation may be introduced into the space remaining between the segments, or support bracing and other insulation may take the place of the rigid foam. The resultant converted logs may be used as beams, joists or bearing-wall members; devices for aligning, registering and sealing the converted logs together are provided.