Abstract: A manually operative siphoning pump apparatus for transferring liquid from one container to another container. The siphoning pump apparatus has a hollow cylindrical pump body through which liquid from one container to another can flow and a bellows attached thereto for establishing a vacuum within said pump body. The hollow pump body has a inlet pipe and an outlet an elongated flexible hose or tube connected to each of the pipes. The siphoning pump apparatus has an axially movable valve within the hollow pump body for initiating, controlling and shutting off the flow of liquid through the pump body during the siphoning process and, hence, from one container to another container. The axially movable valve has a cylindrical head at one end thereof and a connector at the opposite end thereof for fixing it to the bottom of the bellows. The axially movable valve is manually controlled by an elongated lever arm pivotally attached to a housing handle at one end and fixedly attached to the bottom of the bellows.

Abstract: An apparatus for stretching a sheet of material such as a sheet of watercolor paper utilizes a flat board and a frame assembly for bending the board into a dish shape. The board has a plurality of radially extending segments separated by radially extending slots therebetween. The board is bent into a dish shape by a mechanism attached to the frame. The sheet is then affixed to the bent board with anchors while the frame is attached to the board and subsequently the frame is released from the bent board allowing the board to resume its originally flat condition thereby resulting in the sheet being stretched.

Abstract: A duster which is flexible in all directions has the ability to dust hard to reach and inaccessible surface areas. One application of the duster is to clean the sound board beneath the strings of a grand or baby grand piano. The core of the duster has an elongated rod which is made from a flexible material and is covered by a close fitting cleaning or dusting sleeve made from napped material, cloth or other well known cleaning or dusting fabric or material.

Abstract: A multi-purpose, positioning and fastening strap is disclosed for use in the construction of building structures. The strap is made from a flexible, durable, non-stretchable material and has a high breaking load. The strap is usable for various construction applications, such as, the fastening or holding down of tar or felt paper on a roof, the laying down of shingles on a roof, the erection of a trussing structure for a roof, the construction of a floor, etc. The durability and breaking load of the multi-purpose strap are critical physical characteristics which are necessary for its use in the aforementioned various construction applications.

Abstract: A low cost and yet versatile shadowgraph is described. The shadowgraph has two components, a transparency holder and a point light source with its mounting and energizing structure. The transparency holder is itself transparent and acts as a backing for a transparency whose shadow is to be formed. The point light source is provided by a flashlight bulb and it is mounted on a slidable collar which is, in turn, mounted on a linear post to enable the position of such light to be adjusted along one axis laterally of the projection surface. Movement of the light source along other axes is naturally done manually so as to minimize the expense associated with manufacturing the shadowgraph.

Abstract: Arsenic filtering media consisting essentially of calcined diatomite particles, and between 5% and 30% by weight of ferric ions bonded to the calcined diatomite particles. One method for producing the filtering media consists of: generating a mixture of calcined diatomite particles and ferric chloride; allowing the mixture to sit for an extended period, thereby allowing ferric chloride to thoroughly impregnate the diatomite particles; and slowly adding sodium hydroxide to the mixture until the pH of the mixture reaches a value of at least 9.0, for ensuring unhasty and full conversion of ferric chloride into ferric hydroxide. The filtering media thus obtained have strong and durable bonds between ferric ions and the diatomite particles. The filtering media are renewable several times with minimum reduction to their arsenic adsorption capacity. A method for renewing the filtering media comprises in-situ desorption of arsenic using sodium hydroxide and rinsing with water.

Abstract: A retaining adapter for a mechanical measuring tape device extends the versatility of the tape device for construction workers. The retaining adapter can be removable, part of, or fixed to the housing of the mechanical measuring tape device. The retaining adapter has a drop hook and a drag hook, either of which can be attached to the object or construction piece to be measured. The use of the retaining adapter permits the construction worker to use the conventional mechanical measuring tape device beyond his or her natural reach. The retaining adapter may have at least one rule associated therewith in order to further expand the measurement capabilities of the conventional mechanical measuring tape device. The retaining adapter may also function as a square in certain applications.

Abstract: A support hanger for suspending a book from a freezer door of a combination refrigerator/freezer is described. The support hanger is a continuous piece of plastic stock providing both a canted cradle to hold a book and a horizontal ledge to engage the top of the freezer door. The underneath surface of the ledge is provided with a strip of material having a plurality of either hooks or loops to engage a complementary strip of material provided on the door edge. The support hanger does not include the typical lip for engaging an opposite surface of a door or the like but rather relies on the strips of material to resist the horizontal movement of the ledge which otherwise would occur because of the weight of a suspended book.

Abstract: A clip for supporting, fixing or stabilizing air hoses, water hoses, electrical cords, safety ropes, cables, etc., on an unshingled pitched roof. The clip is U-shaped and made from a strip or ribbon of material. The clip has a pair of spaced reentrant arms extending from the base. A pair of aligned spaced apertures is provided in the clip to permit a nail to pass therethrough and be partially hammered into the roof in order to secure the clip thereto; the pair of apertures is offset from the center of the clip.

Abstract: A retaining adapter for a mechanical measuring tape device extends the versatility of the tape device for construction workers. The retaining adapter can be removable or fixed to the housing of the mechanical measuring tape device. The retaining adapter has a drag hook and a drop hook, either of which can be attached to the object or construction piece to be measured. The use of the retaining adapter permits the construction worker to use the conventional measuring tape device beyond his or her natural reach.

Abstract: A multi-purpose, positioning and fastening strap is disclosed for use in the construction of building structures. The strap is made from a flexible, durable, non-stretchable material and has a high breaking load. The strap is usable for various construction applications, such as, the fastening or holding down of tar or felt paper on a roof, the laying down of shingles on a roof, the erection of a trussing structure for a roof, the construction of a floor structure, etc. The durability and breaking load of the multi-purpose strap are critical physical characteristics which are necessary for its use in the aforementioned various construction applications.

Abstract: In one embodiment, there is provided a cognition nurturing toy comprising at least one rigid board having a series of cavities therein, with each cavity having a distinct outline belonging to a first set. There is also provided a series of colorful illustrations printed on the board with each illustration encompassing one cavity. Each illustration in the series is arranged on the rigid board in a coherent order portraying at least one environment. The cognition nurturing toy also comprises a plurality of distinct pieces each having a shape corresponding to one of the outlines of the cavities such that each piece is insertable in only one of the cavities. Each piece further has colors and graphic properties of the illustration encompassing the corresponding cavity. A child using the cognition nurturing toy is able to associate each piece to only one of the cavities, using shape recognition, color recognition and whole picture recognition.

Abstract: A clip for retaining a set of decorative lights under the eave of a house having vented vinyl soffit panels. The clip is made of a slender strip of a resilient material having a major cross-section dimension which is smaller than the size of the perforations in the soffit panels. The slender strip has a backward bend in a mid-region thereof, defining a first leg member and a second leg member. The first leg member extends from the backward bend in a generally straight alignment defining a supportive axis of the clip. The second leg member has a first segment extending from the backward bend alongside the first leg member and a second segment extending from the first segment and defining an open loop having an opening contiguous with the first segment. This opening has a breath which is smaller than a size of the loop.

Abstract: A clip bar for supporting, fixing or stabilizing air hoses, water hoses, electrical cords, safety ropes, cables, etc. on a shingled or unshingled, pitched roof of a building or house. The clip bar has a substantially flat element with a pair of spaced, U-shaped spring clips attached thereto. One or more of the clip bars can be secured to the roof by a nail or nails and support, fix or stabilize hoses, cords, ropes and/or cables thereto, thus, preventing these elements and any attachments thereto from sliding down and off the roof as well as preventing them from interfering with workers or roofers working on the pitched or inclined roof.

Abstract: A support for holding or restraining construction or roofing articles on an inclined or pitched roof. The support prevents construction or roofing articles from sliding down or off the inclined or pitched roof of a house or building and allows the construction worker or roofer to position the articles in the immediate area where the construction worker or roofer is working. The support may also have a tray attached to a level surface of the support so that construction tools and/or materials may be located therein for ready accessibility to the construction worker or roofer.

Abstract: An adjustable drill jig for precisely locating and drilling one or more holes in a workpiece such as a kitchen cabinet component (side panel, door, drawer, etc.) or the like. The adjustable drill jig is versatile in its applications and is composed of components that can be readily assembled (or disassembled) to form various modifications of the drill jig for different applications. The adjustable drill jig is composed of at least one elongated element with at least one rule on a surface thereof, at least one adjustable drill guide which has a drill bushing therein and is slidably movable along the length of the elongated element, and a stop plate attached to an element which is slidably movable along the at least one elongated element.

Abstract: A hand held remote controller for operating an electronic device from a distance having its own self-contained source of electric current. The remote controller has a mechanical energy source for operating an a.c. voltage generator, a d.c. voltage converter to rectify a.c. voltage to d.c. voltage and doubling it. A regulator controls the d.c. voltage sent to the remote controller.The mechanical energy source is a spring motor in one embodiment, or a spring biased depressible handle attached to a rack and pinion motor in another embodiment.