Abstract: There is disclosed a method for treatment of an oil slick resulting from an oil spill on a body of water. The oil slick is treated with a granular elastomeric gum comprising a block copolymer of ethylene/butylene and styrene. The treatment material has a low density, typically from 14 to about 15 pounds per cubic foot and will absorb oil and form a dry solid which has a non-tacky and non-oily surface. The copolymer granular elastomeric gum is broadcast on the surface of an oil slick in proportions from about 0.2 to about 1 part per weight part of oil. The wave action on the body of water is generally sufficiently turbulent to admix the absorbent with the oil of the oil slick, resulting in the formation of floating solids which are dry to the touch and which have a non-oily, non-tacky surface. These solids can be readily recovered from the water or from a shoreline after they have washed ashore.

Abstract: There is disclosed a frictional heat generator and a forced air circulation system for shoes and, in particular, for boots such as ski boots. The shoe has an inner sole which is formed of a pair of sole plates which are mounted for relative sliding movement in the shoe. The upper sole plate is pivotally attached at its toe end to an outer sole of the shoe. The lower sole plate of this pair is pivotally mounted with a crank arm which is located at its heel end. Twisted torsion cables are provided to bias the sole plates upwardly against the applied weight of the wearer. A compartment is formed in the shoe between the pair of sole plates and outer sole and is enclosed with a diaphragm to function as a bellows-type air pump to circulate air through the shoe.

Abstract: There is disclosed a motor vehicle control system having a vehicle control unit located in the motor vehicle and a hand held portable control unit, which are in two-way communication. The vehicle control unit which is located in the motor vehicle includes a receiving antenna, a receiver, a decoder and a plurality of functional control circuits, with each control circuit for a respective functional operation of the motor vehicle such as ignition, starter activation, heater, air conditioner, door locks, etc. The control unit in the motor vehicle also includes a transmitter and a scanner unit which has a like plurality of sensors for sensing the condition of the various functional operations such as the ignition, engine operation, air conditioner status, heater status, etc. The control unit transmits a radio frequency signal to the remote control unit, which indicates the condition of the sensed operations. The remote control unit has an antenna and receiver with an audio amplifier and speaker.

Abstract: There is disclosed a stable thixotropic suspension of water insoluble animal feed nutrients in an aqueous feed solution and a method for its preparation. The method comprises forming a liquid gel from an aqueous solution of sugar, protein or mixtures thereof, having a concentration of at least 60.degree. Brix, by adding calcium hyroxide and phosphoric acid or ammonium polyphosphate to the solution. The gel is diluted with water and insoluble feed nutrients such as fat, calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate, etc., or drugs such as monisan are suspended in the diluted gel. Water soluble feed nutrients such as urea, sodium bicarbonate, etc., can also be added.

Abstract: There is disclosed a grouping of templates which are useful in a computer system having a central processing unit with a keyboard station and a pointing device station having a pointer which has at least one cursor button which is responsive to input the positional movement of the pointer. The invention is applicable to computers operating with systems which have successively layers of a main menu of selected and grouped functions and sub-menus in successive layers, which have selected and grouped sub-functions that are accessible by successive entries from the keyboard or the pointing device. The invention is particularly applicable to a computerized assisted drafting or manufacturing system which customarily utilizes a digitizing tablet. The templates of this invention are intended for use with the pointing device and include indicia which are arrayed in predetermined locations on the templates in a plurality of groups, each of which corresponds to a predetermined selectable item of the main menu.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for the continuous polymerization of methyl methacrylate with a lesser cost, thermally polymerizable comonomer such as styrene, in the presence of a large quantity of solvent by introducing the monomers into a continuos loop of recycled solvent and removing the polymerized product therefrom. The polymerization is practiced in a plurality of stages, preferably two stages wherein the bulk of the polymerization is performed in the first stage and the final stage is operated to deplete the initiator and any thermally polymerizable comonomer, and polymerization modifiers from the crude polymerizate, thereby forming a crude polymerizate suitable for devolatilization. The crude polymerizate is preheated and devolatilized in a flash zone. Sufficient pressure is maintained on the crude polymerizate in the devolatilizer preheater to avoid the formation of foam encrustations on the heat exchange surfaces of the devolatilizer preheater and on the surfaces of the transfer lines.

Abstract: There is disclosed a golf putter having a unique shape that improves putting performance. The putter has a more or less conventional head with a flat, ball-striking surface. The metallic shaft of the putter has a rectangular cross section and the front surface, and preferably the rear surface of the shaft, has a highly visible band to indicate to the user whether the putter face is open, closed, or properly aligned. The shaft can be tapered and is rectangular in cross section and terminates with a handle which is also rectangular in cross section. The preferred putter has front surfaces for the handle, shaft and putter face which are parallel. Most preferably, the rear surfaces of the handle, shaft and putter face are also parallel and, most preferably, are also co-planar, thereby permitting reversal of the putter between left and right handed players.

Abstract: There is disclosed a containment tray which is formed of plastic which is molded into a tray having upright perimeter walls and a bottom wall having transverse channels in its undersurface for receiving the conventional arms of a forklift or pallet jack. The tray can be formed by vacuum thermal forming, in which case it is used in combination with a platform insert formed by a pair of beams which are received within the tray and which support transverse rails thereby forming an upper platform. Alternatively, the tray can be rotationally molded and the raised platform can be molded into the tray in the form of a plurality of upstanding plugs. In either embodiment, the upper planar surface of the raised platform is positioned above the level of the upper edges of the side walls of the tray whereby a conventional forklift can deposit loads of containers mounted on standard wooden pallets onto the raised platform of the tray, and remove those pallets, when desired.

Abstract: Disclosed is a valve operator which includes a spindle screwed into a sleeve that is seated in a cavity within the housing of the valve operator. The sleeve has a pair of openings therein and the housing has a pair of grooves in its walls. A pair of roller elements, each one seated in a groove and extending through an opening in the sleeve, provide a clutch mechanism. The spindle has recesses which receive the roller elements when the roller elements are aligned therewith. Initial rotation of the spindle within the sleeve causes the sleeve to move linearly until the roller elements are adjacent the recesses, whereupon further rotation of the spindle results in rotation of the sleeve, with the roller elements moving from the groove into the recesses to allow rotation of the sleeve.

Abstract: A method of filling a balloon with articles and air wherein a container having a removeable cover having an outlet pipe therein the latter is evacuated after the opening of a balloon is attached to said pipe within the container to thereby expand the balloon and permit articles to be placed therewithin through the pipe. A stopper is then placed in the pipe and the air pump shut off whereby the end of the balloon can be tied off.

Abstract: There is disclosed a resilient heel support for a ladies' shoe which, most preferably, is convertible to heel supports of varied heights, thereby permitting the altering of the height of the heels, at the wearer's whim. The shoe is formed with a conventional upper having a toe and heel portion and a continuous flexible sole. The sole is bifurcated and has an upper arm that extends rearwardly from the instep, following the shoe arch and the contour of the inner sole of the shoe. The lower arm of the bifurcated sole is coplanar with its forward portion terminates in an upwardly directed vertical recess. A convertible heel support is attached to the undersurface of the first arm of the sole at the heel area and this heel support extends into a sliding reception within the vertical recess. The support is pivotally attached to the undersurface of the heel of the first member to permit changing the height of the heel supports.

Abstract: Disclosed is an overshoe including a sole section, shoe section, and ankle cover section having a flap which folds inwardly towards the inside ankle of the user. The flap is detachably secured in position by a fastener which is covered by the flap upon being folded inwardly.

Abstract: There is disclosed a storage and handling system for large flexible sheets such as printing plates. The system includes a rack which is of generally conventional construction having upright end standards or vertical posts that suspend at least one horizontal shelf. The shelf is provided with a plurality of horizontal tracks, each of which has a central, open channel along its bottom surface, to provide a slide receptacle. A T-bar is slidably and removably mounted in the open channel of each of these tracks. The T-bar has a plurality of apertures which are spaced, preferably at regular and predetermined distances, through its upright flange. These apertures receive removable two-ended hooks. The opposite ends of the hooks are inserted in apertures along one side edge of each of the printing plates.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for the treatment of confined bodies of water such as a swimming pool to remove scale deposits from the surfaces of the vessel containing the water. The water is acidified with a mixture of hydrochloric acid, sulfamic acid and sodium bisulfate to eliminate its total alkalinity, as determined by a standard neutralization test. The water is continuously or repeatedly monitored for total alkalinity following the initial addition of acid, to insure that sufficient acid has been added. The acidified water has a tendency to gain total alkalinity as the scale deposits are removed during the treatment, and monitoring detects this change, permitting correction by addition of acid. After the treatment with the acid, which can last from several hours to several days, any excess treatment acid is neutralized by the addition of a neutralizing agent which is preferably magnesium oxide or magnesium hydroxide.

Abstract: There is disclosed a releasable closure for a container which is particularly suitable for plastic bags. The closure is formed by a pair of opposed bands of static cling vinyl film, preferably polyvinyl chloride, which extend along the mouth of the container and which are permanently secured thereto. The bands of static cling vinyl extend inwardly, into the container where they form internal flaps that are coextensive the length of the mouth of the container, thereby forming internal flaps within the bag. These internal flaps provide the pressure resistant capability of the resealable closure, permitting it to retain its fluid-tight characteristic against internal pressures.

Abstract: There is disclosed a fishing pole holder having a tubular sleeve to receive the butt end of a fishing pole and a mounting bracket secured to the sleeve with an adjustable directional plate. The sleeve has a stud with at least one flatted surface which is received in a central, multi-flatted aperture of a mounting clamp, thereby permitting the clamp to be indexed to any of a plurality of orientations on the mounting stud. The directional block is removably secured to the mounting block which is one member of a clamp formed of two blocks. Each of the blocks of the clamp has a central V-groove and these V-grooves are opposed to define a clamp passage therebetween.

Abstract: A wall bed is disclosed employing a linkage assembly which moves the wall bed outwardly from a wall or cabinet in a fashion so that the head end of the bed will not be in the cavity and the level of the mattress will be at a height which approximately corresponds to the height of conventional beds. Three counter-balancing spring assemblies are disclosed. One employs an angle member which connects extension springs to the bed base so that they are contained within a compact structure which is received within the cavity. The second employs a linkage assembly having short and long links pivotably connected to each other by their ends, with an extension spring connected to the short link and a mounting frame. The third employs a linkage assembly with extension springs that neutralize the counter-balancing force when the wall bed is open to eliminate floating. A headboard is also provided which may be tilted rearwardly or positioned at a right angle to the sleeping surface.

Abstract: There is disclosed a treatment of exhaust gases containing detectable quantities of multivalent heavy metals in high oxidation states by introducing a sulfur reductant into contact with the exhaust gases and maintaining the contact of the sulfur reductant with the exhaust gases under appropriate conditions to favor the reduction of the heavy metal to an harmless, lower oxidation state. Sulfur dioxide is preferred for this treatment. After the treatment with the sulfur reductant, the exhaust gases are treated to remove the excess or residual amounts of the sulfur reductant and the compounds of higher oxidiation states of the sulfur which have been formed by the reduction of the heavy metal. When sulfur dioxide is used, the exhaust gases can be passed into contact with an aqueous alkaline solution which absorbs oxides of sulfur, such as sulfur dioxide and trioxide from the exhaust gases.

Abstract: There is disclosed a precharged disposable syringe consisting of a housing having a central aperture through which extends an actuator button to contact an internal piston mounted over a medication ampoule contained in the housing. The ampoule includes a dependent hypodermic needle and the ampoule is slightively mounted in the housing for movement between a recessed position where it is totally contained and supported within the housing and an extended position with the dependent needle projecting out of the housing. An actuator spring is located in the housing and is compressed and biased to move the piston and the ampoule into the projected position. Medication is discharged by the mechanically coupled actuator button and piston. The actuator button and piston is locked for safety with a dent and plastic ring.

Abstract: There is disclosed a ball having a foraminous outer shell with an inner membrane which forms an interior closure within the outer shell and with a timer and a release mechanism operative to open the inner membrane and release its contents after the time on the timer expires. The contents spill through the foraminous outer shell, wetting the player who is handling or catching the ball at the moment of release. The timer is activated and the ball is used in a game in which it is tossed between participants who seek to avoid becoming wet when the timer releases the water from the interior closure of the ball.