Abstract: A game in which a ball is thrown or bounced onto a horizontal game board from an adjacent bouncing surface such as a table, most of a target portion of the game board surface being covered with raised ball-deflecting projections in a grid pattern, the remainder of the target portion consisting of ball-retaining depressions defined by the projections and approximating the size of the ball. The ball is preferably a ping-pong type ball that reacts with the game board in a manner making it extremely difficult to place the ball in a particular scoring depression on the first bounce.

Abstract: A crane mechanism for raising a hunting blind or similar large object up along the side of a tree trunk, the crane using the vertical tree trunk as its support tower. The crane is generally L-shaped in use, having a vertical trunk-securing arm adapted to be temporarily secured directly against the side of the tree trunk above the installation height of the object to be raised, a perpendicular boom extending away from the tree trunk, and a hoist mechanism on the boom spaced from the tree trunk. A separable hoist drive can be used, for example mounted to the base of the tree trunk in the same manner as the vertical trunk-securing arm.

Abstract: A nominally floorless hikers' shelter having a raised, tensioned waterproof canopy supported off the ground by pole supports at the front and rear, in which the canopy has a catenary curved ridgeline tensioned between a higher vertical front support and a lower, outwardly-angled rear arch support. The shelter preferably has a hanging insect netting perimeter, including front and rear door panels and sidewalls, and floor-ready attachment structure for an optional floor to be attached to the support structure in the sleeping area defined by the netting without placing stress on the netting. In a first form the vertical front support is a straight pole; in a second form the vertical front support is a vertical arch. A multiple guyline/single-stake structure for guying out a tensioned shelter edge is also disclosed.

Abstract: A nominally floorless hikers' shelter having a raised, tensioned waterproof canopy supported off the ground by pole supports at the front and rear, in which the canopy has a catenary curved ridgeline tensioned between a higher vertical front arch support and a lower, outwardly-angled rear arch support. The shelter is longitudinally tensioned through front and rear awnings extending from the front and rear arch supports. The front awning includes a novel guyline tensioning and ventilation structure in which spaced parallel guylines are attached to the awning at circumferentially spaced locations between the arch support and the lower edge of the awning, leaving an unbroken web of fabric tensioning the arch, and allowing lower portions of the awning to be selectively rolled up for ventilation. The shelter preferably has a hanging insect netting perimeter, including front and rear door panels and sidewalls.

Abstract: A kayak carrier with a pair of spaced horizontal supports having open-topped hull supports defining essentially continuous curved surfaces that permit the edge of a kayak to be inserted easily and to naturally rotate into a locking position. In the preferred form the kayak carrier has two spaced horizontal rack members with aligned hull supports, the rack members being adapted to be removably mounted in the side-rail sockets of a standard utility trailer.

Abstract: A vent assembly for a crawl space type vent opening in the foundation wall of a building has a front frame engaging the outer face of the wall around the opening, swappable venting plates for the front frame, and a rear frame engaging the inner face of the wall in the crawl space and connected under tension through the opening to the front frame. A first form of the vent can be installed axially into the vent opening from the outside of the building to replace an existing vent in a finished wall. A second form of the vent is installed vertically into the vent opening in the wall before the opening has been capped, as part of new construction.

Abstract: An adjustable cantilever support structure for a hunting type blind, the support structure being secured to the side of a tree trunk and adjustable in two planes to accommodate a crooked or leaning trunk so as to position the blind with a level floor.

Abstract: A thermoelectric heat pump module of the type used in small cooling applications and appliances, such as a thermoelectric picnic cooler. The module comprises an array of thermoelectric elements with cold-side connectors directly bonded to a large, unitary cold sink for support, and hot-side connectors each having an integrated heat exchange fin to form a small, lightweight, but efficient hot sink array directly bonded to the elements without thermal stress. The cold sink is larger than the hot sink array. The cold-side connectors and at least portions of the thermoelectric elements are sealed and supported with a layer of potting material built up from the surface of the cold sink, and optionally insulated with an additional layer of sealed foam, eliminating moisture vapor transmission, condensation, and corrosion in the module.

Abstract: A runway lighting fixture of the type normally permanently installed at an aircraft installation such as an airport to provide visible light signals to an aircraft, the fixture having an internal, non-visible light source such as an infrared lamp capable of being activated to provide a non-visible light signal to an aircraft specially equipped to see such non-visible signals. An airport normally having arrays of permanent visibly-lighted fixtures can be equipped for long-term or permanent covert operations capability by installing covert, non-visibly-lighted fixtures in place of visibly-lighted fixtures. In a preferred form the covert fixtures are capable of being both visibly and non-visibly lighted to allow normal appearing non-covert operations at the airport, and unobtrusive covert operations whenever needed.

Abstract: A sports wheelchair also suitable for everyday use has a low, stable, planar frame and a shock-absorbing two strut suspension that places the center of gravity of the chair and user forward of the main wheel axis. The suspension supports a planar seat assembly with both lateral seat-width and longitudinal center-of-gravity adjustments. The forward end of the frame extends a significant distance beyond the forward edge of the main wheels to mount caster-type front wheels and a large, stable transfer plate.

Abstract: An enclosed tree-mounted hunting blind supported in cantilever fashion off the side of a tree. The blind is a rigid, walled structure that is easily put up and taken down from the tree using its own cantilever support, and is light enough to transport to and from the tree at the beginning and end of hunting season with minimal effort. The assembled, tree-mounted blind, however, is as stable as a permanently mounted structure and offers the protection and comfort of a ground blind in a tree.

Abstract: A vent assembly for a crawl space type vent opening in the foundation wall of a building has a front frame engaging the outer face of the wall around the opening, swappable venting plates for the front frame, and a rear frame engaging the inner face of the wall in the crawl space and connected under tension through the opening to the front frame. A first form of the vent can be installed axially into the vent opening from the outside of the building to replace an existing vent in a finished wall. A second form of the vent is installed vertically into the vent opening in the wall before the opening has been capped, as part of new construction.

Abstract: A pouch (18), made of a water absorbent polymer that expands and becomes a gel in consistency upon absorbing water and that is biodegradable, is placed in each bag (10) of lesser volume. An opening (12) in each bag (10) is unsealed to drain the bags (10) of the biodegradable gel, as by squeezing the bag (10) to force the gel from the bag (10). The collapsed bags (10) can be re-stored for future use and the gel biodegraded as by disposition the conventional sewage system.

Abstract: A clothing outfit particularly adapted for infants in which normally separate, distinct garments of a type ordinarily considered more grown-up or adult are combined to form a one-piece outfit that can be put on and taken off in one piece, but that retains the appearance of separately donned garments. Customary infant access features are added to top and/or bottom portions of the garment so that the outfit can be put on and taken off in one piece. The impression of the outfit as a more adult combination of separates is enhanced by visually minimizing or hiding the customary infant access features, and further by providing non-functional but visible adult access features.