Abstract: There is disclosed a football having an end appendage which is a long, narrow flexible sheet material, e.g., cloth or flexible vinyl, which functions as a tail when the ball is thrown or kicked and which provides directional stability for the football while in flight. When the football is thrown in a normal manner, the tail extends backwards, providing a slight drag to cause the back tip of the ball to align itself with the front tip, thereby resulting in the straight and accurate flight of the ball. The appendage can be fixedly or removably attached to the football, and for this purpose, can be attached with attachment tabs formed of hook and loop materials, commonly known as VELCRO.

Abstract: There is disclosed a gas treatment method and apparatus for the treatment of exhaust gas from an electrochemical plating operation, particularly from a chromium plating operation, to remove therefrom essentially all liquid entrainment. The invention comprises containment of the vapor space over the electroplating baths and evacuating the contained vapor space, passing the gases from the vapor space through a water bath and discharging the gases from the water bath through a mist separator and a sub-micron porous filter. Preferably the mist separator and porous filter are separated by a vapor space to permit coalesced droplets to condense and separate from the gases before passing the gases through the porous filter.

Abstract: There is disclosed a snap-on closure for containers, such as milk and soft drink plastic bottles, which has upper and lower annular beads on the inside wall of a peripheral skirt with a tear band defined by a score line in the skirt, located between the annular beads. The score line extends towards, but not entirely to, the bottom edge of the skirt, terminating a short distance above the bottom edge of the skirt. This score line permits a tearing of the lower portion of the cap skirt from the closure, and for this purpose, the cap tears along the weakened score line, about the closure and then downwardly towards the bottom edge of the skirt so that the entire lower portion of the skirt is removed as a tear band, leaving only the reclosure on the bottle. Since the lower score line does not extend to the lower edge of the skirt, that lower edge is not weakened, but retains its full hoop strength, to resist splitting when the cap is applied to the bottle.

Abstract: A socket wrench with an ejector for severed collars of frangible fasteners has a conventional box ratchet wrench with a socket sleeve distally carried on the wrench body. The sleeve has a through aperture having internal flats and an internal lip at one end. The ejector member has an external diameter closely conforming to the internal diameter of the sleeve and slidably received therein. The cylindrical ejector has an annular shoulder intermediate its length and a ring permanently secured to its opposite end, with the sleeve lip captured between the ejector shoulder and ring. As the ejector is slidably mounted in the sleeve, it can be depressed into the socket, ejecting the threaded collar of the frangible fastener.

Abstract: There is disclosed a modified throwing object, such as a modified football or frisbee, and a corresponding glove or wrist strap or finger-band worn by each player. Both the object and the gloves or wrist strap or finger-band are covered with coacting elements which are preferably a limited amount of the material comonly called velcro. This material attaches to itself by its well-known design of fabric hook pieces gripping onto fabric loop pieces. The invention is so designed that then the object is held in a typical throwing position, prior to being thrown, there is interaction between the velcro on the glove and the velcro on the object. Upon release of the object during a throw, the bond between the velcro on the object and that on the glove, wrist or finger of the thrower is separated with a slight difficulty, thereby casuing the object to spin as it leaves the thrower's hand.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for restoring weathered plastic surfaces and for enhancing the resistance of the treated surface to sunlight. The surface of a plastic article being treated is first cleaned with a suitable cleaning agent and the surface is polished with a mild abrasive to remove major imperfections in the surface. Following cleaning and polishing, a first layer of an uncured adhesive material is applied over the surface. The adhesive material is selected from those compositions that are ultraviolet curable. An outer coat of a curable adhesive is applied over the uncured to form a semi-permanent outer surface on the article. The article then can be exposed to sunlight and other effects of weathering and over a period of time the underyling ultraviolet curable coating is gradually cured by exposure to sunlight so that the composite coating on the surface of the article becomes even tougher and better cured the more the article is exposed to sunlight.

Abstract: There is disclosed a conversion for a clutch of a motor vehicle which uses a conventional Belleville spring to bias a pressure plate and clamp a clutch disc between the pressure plate and the flywheel of the vehicle. In this invention, the frictional linings of the conventional clutch are substituted by frictional linings which are preferably located at optimum geometric spacing, and which have from 30-70 percent less surface area for frictional engagement than that conventionally furnished with the clutch. The invention is particularly applicable to upgraded performance cars, e.g., the new line of SLP cars being introduced by some manufacturers.

Abstract: There is disclosed a hollow-form wheel formed entirely by injection molding of plastic. The wheel has an integral, central sleeve to receive a wheel hub assembly, at least three, hollow-form, integral spokes that are symmetrically located at equal angular spacings about the hub, and an integrally formed annular rim having a peripheral channel to receive a tire. The wall thickness of the sidewalls of the rims and spokes and the central hub area of the wheel are of uniform thickness to provide the strength and stiffness propeties at least equal to those of a metal spoked wheel.

Abstract: A method of producing non-hygroscopic solids from aqueous food solutions of sugars and proteins by mixing an aqueous solution which contains at least 45 weight percent solids comprising at least 20 percent of protein or sugar or mixtures thereof with additives comprising calcium oxide or hydroxide and a soluble phosphate. The resultant mixture is then dried by evaporation to reduce its moisture content to less than twelve weight percent. Depending on the intended use of the product, the mixture can be formed or shaped into the desired form and then dried, or the mixture can be dried and comminuted to produce a free-flowing granular product.

Abstract: High speed turning of elongate confectionery bars through 90.degree. is executed in two stages. The bars are turned through an acute angle in a first stage by a timed blast of air from an air jet while the bar are in flight between first and second conveyors and through a further acute angle by a pair of diverging differential speed conveyors. The timing of the air blast is achieved by detecting the leading edge of the bar by sensors prior to projection. The orientation of the bar is checked by further sensors after initial transfer to the differential speed conveyors, and the relative speeds of those conveyors is adjusted if necessary to complete the turn.

Abstract: To reduce noise inside a motor car passenger compartment, two loudspeakers 37.sub.1, 37.sub.2 are driven by signals derived from a reference signal x(n) by adaptive filtering carried out by a programmed microprocessor and memory unit 36 which adapts the filtering in dependence on error signals e.sub.l (n) from four microphones 42.sub.1, 42.sub.2, 42.sub.3 and 42.sub.4 distributed in the passenger compartment. Reference filtering coefficients are initially determined by analysis of finite impulse responses when white noise is acoustically coupled from the loudspeakers 37 to the microphones 42, a white noise generator 48 being coupled to the unit 36. The reference signal x(n) is restricted to one or more selected harmonics or subharmonics of the fundamental noise frequency by a filter 34 which tracks the selected frequency. The selected frequency may be obtained from a coil 31 in the ignition circuit of the vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for incinerating burnable wastes, such as plastics, and to the treatment of the gases generated by such incineration. The waste materials are buried in a landfill, combustion is initiated with an explosion which simultaneously creates a combustion chamber as well as initiating incineration. A fuel and an oxidizing gas are supplied to the combustion chamber and conduits are provided for discharging the gases formed during the incineration process. The angle of introduction of the fuel and/or fuel and air mixture controls the direction of the incineration process. Landfill gases can be fed into the fuel conduit pipe for utilization as a combustion fuel. In addition, when using a liquid fuel, good results have been achieved by combining a suspension of a carbonate or bicarbonate in the fuel which serves to reduce chloride gases such as phosgene which are generated during the decomposition of plastics such as polyvinylchloride.

Abstract: There is disclosed a granular filtration system having a separator trough with an air deflection baffle of improved shape and operation, preferably combined with an airlift mechanism for cleaning or removing settled granular media particles from the upper surface of the air deflection baffle. The air deflection baffle is used in a regeneration method for the granular media filtration system in which the granular media is purged of filtered solids by backflushing with air and water. In this application, the air-deflection baffle is installed beneath and adjacent to the open throat of a solids separation vessel, typically which is in the form of a trough spanning the width of the filtration vessel and having an inclined bottom wall with an open throat. The improved configuration of the air deflection baffle is generally an inverted W-shape. A plurality of open-ended tubes are secured on the air deflection baffle, transversely to the longitudinal axis thereof.

Abstract: A container, e.g., case or bag, has an internal compartment with an access opening that is entirely closed with a cover having a clasp that cooperates with a latch of an electronic lock carried on the container. Preferably, the cover carries a key pad on its external surface and the key pad is in circuit to an alarm system that includes a control unit, power supply, motion and/or shock detector, and an audible alarm such as a siren. Most preferably, the power supply comprises one and preferably a pair of panels of solar cells which are also located on an external surface of the top cover. The container has one or more handles which can include a shoulder carrying strap. Preferably the container is formed of a thermally insulating material so that the container also serves as a cooler for beverage cans and the like.

Abstract: A wall hanger particularly adapted for supporting heavy objects includes as a base, a plate which defines a front and a rear face, the rear face being contiguous with the external surface of the wall when the device is installed. A hanger element extends from the front face of the plate and includes a supporting surface for an object to be carried by the device. An arcuate arm extends from the rear face of the plate and is adapted to be inserted through a hole in the wall. The free end of the arcuate arm is blunt so as to provide support for the device when the end of the arm contacts the rear surface of the wall member, but avoids any penetration of the rear surface of the wall member. In a preferred embodiment, the arcuate arm includes a flange which extends substantially the entire length of the arm and which extends downwardly to provide a reinforcing rib along the length of the arm. Preferably, the flange is notched adjacent the arm where it joins the rear face of the plate.

Abstract: There is disclosed a composition useful for medicated treatment of hooves of live animals. The composition comprises a major portion of a carrier and hoof penetrant, a minor amount of a filler comprising chiefly polyolefin fibers, and an oil-in-water emulsifier to form a staple composition. The composition can include optional quantities of a medicinal compound. A specific example of the compound comprises approximately 12 weight percent of chopped fibers of a polyolefin such as polyethylene or polypropylene, about 69 percent of a carrier comprising pine tar, paraffin wax and coconut oil, and an oil-in-water emulsifier such as an aliphatic alcohol or alkyl glucose fatty acid ester. Preferably, the composition also includes a medicinal compound such as alcohol, iodine or a soluble iodide. The method comprises packing the hooves of live animals such as horses with the composition.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for the removal and recovery of hydrocarbons which are contained within the air/vapor mixture in bulk oil or gasoline storage tanks using fractional condensation with cryogenic cooling. The air/vapor mixture is flushed from the tank with fresh air and passed, successively, through several stages of a portable condenser train. When necessary, the first stage of the treatment comprises a caustic wash stage where the air/vapor mixture is contacted completely with a caustic solution to remove sulfur compounds. The desulfurized air/vapor mixture is then passed to the first condenser stage which condenses and removes substantially all moisture within the mixture. The de-humidified, desulfurized mixture is then passed to an intermediate stage where the heavier hydrocarbon fractions are condensed and separated and is then passed to a final condenser stage where it is cooled to a temperature of at least -100 degrees F.

Abstract: There is disclosed a game where the players wear vests with Velcro.RTM. surfaced targets and are provided with soft elastic balls surfaced with complimentary Velcro.RTM. fabric. The players throw the balls at each other and attempt to stick the balls to the target areas, which can be assigned numerical scores depending on location and exposure. The players can duck or and try to avoid being hit and the player with the highest score wins the game. The invention also includes an elastic, soft ball formed of foamed elastomer which has a single through passageway along a diameter thereof and is partially covered with a plurality of bands of Velcro.RTM. attachment fabric which extend along great circle arcs on the exterior surface of the ball and pass through the internal passageway of the ball, thereby securely attaching the Velcro.RTM. bands to the ball. This attachment of the bands can be augmented by adhesive bonding between the Velcro.RTM. bands and the exterior surface of the ball.

Abstract: There is disclosed a can crusher formed entirely of wood components that can be easily fabricated by an amateur wood worker. The can crusher has a channel body which, at its upper end, provides a slide for a mechanical wooden ram and, at its lower portion, a crushing station to receive and crush aluminum beverage cans. The front of the crusher is covered with a protective plate which limits access to the slide above the can, thus preventing one, such as a child, from inserting fingers between the can and the ram. The ram is carried on the end of a push rod which is linked to a lever which has its fulcrum at a location, relative to the pivot link between the rod and the lever, which insures that the ram moves over center at the completion of the stroke, thereby withdrawing the ram from the can and preventing jamming of the crushing mechanism.