Abstract: A miniaturized flashlight activated by external pressure by a push stem at one end of its casing, to energize its lamp. The flashlight includes a casing, for holding one or more batteries, and a front cap for holding a lamp contained within the casing, a resilient sleeve that engages the lamp, and likewise engages the front of the located battery, so as to provide for displacement of the lamp from the battery terminal during non-usage, but once the battery is urged forwardly, through pushing of its push stem, provides for illumination of the lamp, as it extends through the front cap for the battery. A rear end cap, just like the front cap, resiliently binds upon the back of the flashlight casing, to hold the light assembled, and a push stem extends through the back of the rear cap, readily available for physical manipulation forwardly to illuminate the light, during usage.

Abstract: A granular material spreader for a mower other a apparatus including a support column, having a support plate attached to its bottom, for supporting the spreader thereon, the spreader being mounted to the shaft of the motor which when energized turns the spreader for usage. A bracket attaching to the support column supports the hopper, for holding granular material, the bottom of the hopper including a series of apertures, and a control plate, to regulate the dispensing and spreading of granular material. A pivot lever energized to a solenoid initiates the dispensing, or containment, of spreading of granular material. The control plate includes an adjustment further regulating the amount of granular material dispensed from the hopper.

Abstract: Footwear, in the category of a sandal, and which may include a thong, slide-on, clog, or related structured sandal, wherein one side or the other of a tongue, upper vamp, or sandal strap may be adhered to an upper part of the sandal sole, or its vamp or cross strap, so that one side of the sandal strap structure may be displayed during its wearing, and can be turned to expose its opposite surface for varying the styling of the worn sandal. The tongue, upper vamp, or strap may be secured by a fastening device, such as a swivel, that allows for turning of these components to expose a selected surface in order to vary the aesthetics and appearance of the worn sandal.

Abstract: A manufacturing system is provided for automatic assembly, testing and/or packaging of a variety of products. The system is based on utilization of one or more robotic modules, each having a programmable servo-driven linear actuator of a rod type, combined with slides, and standardized extrusions that form guide rails and a frame to support the actuators. The standardized extrusions include a plurality of faces, with a groove formed in at least one of the faces. Each slide fits in one of the grooves and is attached to the actuator rod, which moves the slide along the guide rails. The guide rails provide structural support to the slides in every direction that a load is attached to the slides, and include grooves to direct the motion of the slides. Two or more such robotic modules, each being positioned in a Cartesian coordinate relationship to one another, complete a system. Each module houses a dedicated controller that operates its respective actuator.

Abstract: A rotary drum configuration for the efficient blending, cooling, and screening of granular products having an outer cylindrical shell, an intake end, and a discharge end. The rotary drum is normally rotated at a predetermined speed by means of a conventional drive package. Disposed on an inner surface of the cylindrical shell are a plurality of compound helical flights and scoops, configured to blend granular product as it cascades from the intake end to the discharge end of the rotary drum.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance for expanding the mandibular or maxillary arch comprises a first forward orthodontic band; a second forward orthodontic band; a first spring-loaded rod and tube assembly between said first and second forward orthodontic bands; a first rear orthodontic band and a second rear orthodontic band; a second spring-loaded rod and tube assembly connecting said first forward and first rear orthodontic bands; and a third spring-loaded rod and tube assembly connecting said second forward and second rear orthodontic bands. Where both a maxillary and mandibular arch expander are used, they can be connected by a Herbst-type telescoping connector. The telescoping assembly has a first end connected to one of said forward and rear bands of said mandibular arch expander and a second end connected to the other of said forward and rear bands of said maxillary arch expander. The telescoping assembly includes a tube assembly and a rod slidably received in the tube assembly.

Abstract: This invention provides a conveyor and tunnel oven, where the conveyor is continuous, the tunnel oven is gas fired, having its ignited and heated gases passed through a tubular system, being attracted by one or more blowers, to generate by conduction infrared energy to furnish curing to products passing along the continuous conveyor. A control system is provided for controlling the operating parameters such as conveyor speed, regulating emitted gas, the velocity generated by the blowers, and the capacity of the BTUs created, during operations of the oven.

Abstract: A slurpie hose connection, for attachment between the coaxial hose and the back end of a fuel dispensing nozzle, including two parts, a connector part that fits within the back end of the nozzle, a hose part that secures with the leading edge of the hose, such that when these two parts are brought together, and pushed into sealed engagement, a nut is fastened within the back end of the nozzle, to tightly and snuggly secure the hose connection together, available for prompt usage. A slurpie tube may fasten to tube fittings and extend forwardly in the nozzle, as known, and extend to the bottom of the coaxial hose, to act as a slurpie to remove any accumulated or condensed fuel, from this location, and to prevent its blockage of the return of vapors to the dispenser and for underground storage.

Abstract: A feed additive for equines, comprising dried glutamic acid fermentation solubles, dried corn fermentation solubles, or a mixture of dried glutamic acid fermentation solubles and dried corn fermentation solubles, wherein said dried solubles have been dried to a total moisture content of less than 30% by weight at a temperature not less than about 80° F. and not more than about 900.

Abstract: A compression garment for selective application for treatment of lymphedema and related illnesses manifested at various locations of the body. The garment includes a pair or series of layers of hermetically sealed material, that can capture pressurized air, when applied therein, and is formed through the patterned sealing of the layers of the garment together, at select locations, to form air pockets that can selectively apply isolated points of pressure to the patient's affected area, without disrupting normal vascular and lymphatic functioning. The garment is design cut, for application to various segments of the body, and applies encompassing pressure over the entire affected area, and includes valves that can allow for the injection of measurable air, to the desired pressure points, or its deflation, after treatment.

Abstract: Butter oil (anhydrous milk fat) is used as appropriate carrier of carotenal solution, formed of Excelcolor, for use as a colorant in food products.

Abstract: The weighted end cap for a flashlight, replacing the standard end cap of such a light, including a weighted component generally hemispherical in configuration, integrally formed with a polygonally sided component, to prevent rolling of the flashlight during usage, and having an integral sleeve extending downwardly therefrom, presenting threads, generally of the external type, for use in threading into the end of a standard flashlight, now allowing the flashlight to be used as a tool, weapon, in addition for the standard lighting purposes, and to prevent its rolling or movement when rested upon a surface as during non-usage or storage.

Abstract: A swing-away hopper tee assembly comprises a mounting frame, tee assembly, and a valve assembly. The hopper tee assembly is removably mountable to a flange at the discharge end of a hopper. The mounting frame includes a bottom wall, a top wall spaced from the bottom wall, and an outer wall extending between the top and bottom walls to define a channel sized and shaped to receive the hopper flange. The flange includes at least one opening, and a corresponding opening is formed in the channel. A fastener extends through the aligned flange and channel openings to removably secure the mounting frame to the hopper.

Abstract: A two-way vibratory conveyor includes at least one trough mounted on a base and a drive which reciprocally moves the trough(s). The conveyor, which in one embodiment has two interconnected troughs and in another embodiment has a single trough, includes a drive which uses a single motor. In the two-trough conveyor, the two troughs are driven in opposite directions. In the single-trough conveyor, the single motor is used to selectively drive the trough in one of two opposite directions. The troughs are mounted to a base using springs and stabilizer arms. The stabilizer arms, which are made of ductile iron, have been found to be withstand larger loads and have a longer useful life than currently available stabilizer arms.

Abstract: A reinforced and wheeled refuse container including a container body, having one or more handles secured proximately opposite upper edges, and a wheel structure secured to the bottom of the container housing, to facilitate maneuverability of the refuse container during usage. In its assembly, though, the container housing may incorporate integral boss-like structure that can inherently form threads, a bayonet lock, or any other type of fastening, so that fasteners may be readily secured thereto, for rigidly holding the handles and wheeled structures in place, to facilitate the quick and easy assembly of the refuse container, through a minimum of effort. The wheeled structure may incorporate integrally molded support for an axle, for holding the container wheels in place, during assembly and usage.

Abstract: A tape scriber, formed as an integral device, either molded or cast, includes a base portion, having a cavity formed therein, for accommodating the tab end of the tape. The base portion includes a laterally extending stem, having a slot there through, and into which a box cutter may locate its razor tip, in preparation for cutting of a board during usage. A rearwardly extending member includes an inclined slot, or at least a slot which accommodates a pencil upon an incline with the tip of the pencil extending through a bottom aperture, aligning under the precise end of the tape, to furnish a scribe or pencil mark at that location, as the rule is moved, to the exact dimension measured on its tape during usage.