Abstract: A traffic marker body defined by a conical spiral arm (16) mounted for collapse into a flat core held in matching recess (22) in a base (12) by means of an automatic locking mechanism including a latch member (24) with friction reducing rollers (34, 36) to facilitate lateral travel along cam guide surfaces (38, 40, 48, 50) into alignment with a latch engaging member including a slot (46) to lock the traffic marker body (14) into a collapsed condition (FIG. 1). The adjacent segments of the spiral arms (16) are spaced sufficiently for air passageways passing through the body (14) for improved stability and to enhance visibility of elongate reflector members (54) woven in and out between adjacent segments of a spiral arm (16) with reflective surfaces on both sides for creation of visual depth and a twinkling effect for enhanced visibility.

Abstract: A fiber optically lighted food dispenser valve handle assembly (10) with at least one fiber optic filament (12) with an elongate body extending between a pair of opposite ends (14, 16) means for illuminating (18) including a light source (26) with one of the pair of opposed ends (16) of at least one fiber optic filament (12), a handle grip (20) with an outer surface (22), means at the outer surface (22) such as adhesive material for holding another one of the pair of opposed ends (14) of at least a fiber optic filament (12) to provide end point illumination at the outer surface (22) of the handle grip (20).

Abstract: An apparatus for removing gas from above a floor slab of the interior living space of a structure to the juncture of the floor slab and a foundation wall, down along the foundation wall to and over a footing to below the floor slab. The apparatus includes providing an opening which communicates from the top of the floor slab at the juncture of the floor slab and foundation wall, down along the foundation wall to said footing and extending away from the foundation wall over the footing to at least the distance the footing extends from the foundation wall. Further, this apparatus includes a device for imparting a partial vacuum in the opening to draw gas from above the floor slab to below the floor slab in association with the opening means. In addition a method is provided having the steps of placing an opening between the top of the floor slab to below the floor slab and imparting a partial vacuum to said opening to draw gas from the top of the floor slab to below the floor slab.

Abstract: A writing assistance assembly for use by disabled people comprising a planar base with a smooth writing surface. A smooth adhesive layer overlies the smooth writing surface for holding writing paper sheets against lateral sliding movement across the smooth writing surface during the writing on the sheets of paper. A means for restraining the planar base against lateral movement across an underlying supporting surface is also provided. This assembly can also be utilized by a disabled person to place his disabled hand onto the writing assembly and apply weight there upon as therapy without slipping.

Abstract: A cooling system (10) with a control temperature sensor (24) for sensing the temperature of a coolant coil (14) for control of a coolant coil fan (18) in cooperation with ambient temperature sensed by a thermostat (30) to obtain optimum utilization of residual cooling power of the coolant coil (14) after the condenser (28) has been deactivated and to protect against overcooling and consequent icing of the coolant coil (14) in the event of inadvertent failure of the thermostat (30) to turn off the condenser(28).

Abstract: An elongate body extending between opposite ends for wrapping around hand of a person in which one of the opposite ends is resiliently releasably clamped to a wrist of a person. The glove also secures the two opposite ends together at the wrist of a person.

Abstract: A vending machine (10) with a safety electrical back light sign assembly (32) having a sign panel assembly with a translucent sign panel (18A) and a fiber optic sign panel (18B) secured together to form an enclosure of a main housing (16) within which is contained a back light source (32A, 34B) having its own source of power (33, 35) shared with the other vending machine components (12, 14) and a fiber optic light assembly (36) with a fiber optic light source (38) protectively contained within a fire resistant housing (51) mounted within the housing (16) and having its own connection to AC power (47, 49) separate from the connection for the remainder of the vending machine (10) and a fan (63) to exhaust the interior of the fire resistant housing (51) of hot air, and a method of safe lighting of a sign panel assembly (18) of a vending machine (10).

Abstract: A vending machine (10) with a first translucent panel (18A) primarily back lit by a first back light subassembly (32) and a second translucent sign panel (18B) primarily back lit by a second back light subassembly (36) having a transformer (34), halogen housing lamp socket (54) with a halogen lamp (38) spaced above a rotatable color wheel (44) driven by a motor (46) and causing the receiving end of a fiber optic cable (40) to convey light to selected locations on the second translucent sign panel (18B) all of which are held together in proper position and mounted together by means of a single elongate frame (62) with transverse arm (62A, 62B and 62C) and preconnected with the same source of power (50) as is connected to the first panel (18A).

Abstract: A bobbin (14) is cantilever mounted to an upright member (14A) of an L-shaped bracket assembly (12) which in turn has a planar base member (12B) releasibly mounted to the rear deck (16) of a boat by means of suction cups (18A, 18B, 18C). The bobbin (14) extends in a direction substantially parallel to the underlying base member (12B) and is spaced from the base member (12B) to enable hand wrapping of the coil of rope (24) from the distal end of the bobbin (14). The bobbin (14) is releasably mounted to the upright bracket member (12A) for complete removal from a cylindrical bearing hole (32) the bracket assembly (12) or for axial rotary movement for winding the rope (24) using handles (34A, 34B, 34C) or for mounting the bobbin (14) to extend from the upright bracket member (12A) in a direction opposite to that of the base member (12B).

Abstract: A portable game accessory to a billiard-type table with enclosing rails and a playing surface for playing a special game comprising a planar overlay which carries special game target indicia. The overlay has beveled edges which are sufficiently thin to enable a billiard ball to roll onto the upper surface of the overlay without significant deflection of the billiard ball. This accessory has for holding the overlay in a preselected one of a plurality of different possible positions relative to the enclosing rails on the playing surface against movement in response to the billiard ball rolling onto the upper surface.

Abstract: A quick revision apparatus (22) and method for guiding loose leaf documents (12) across a gap (11) between a pair of mating binder ring members (3A and 3B) to facilitate quick revision of a set of documents (12) held thereby having a pivotally mounted bridge (6A) for spanning the gap (11) which is moved to an operative position by movement of a leaf element (12) thereon from one of the ring members (3B) to the other ring member (3A).

Abstract: A bowling ball having a mass of preselected density and a spherical surface equidistant from the center of the mass. The improvement being a weight block of a greater density than the preselected density in which the weight block has a first elongate section having a pair of opposite ends with an intermediate portion therebetween adjacent the surface of the ball and another elongate section having an axis of symmetry extending generally transverse of the first elongate section and extending from the intermediate portion and located between the center of the spherical mass and the first elongate section. Further, this invention includes a method for marking the center of the spherical mass and center axis of symmetry of the weight block on the surface of the ball and the plane of symmetry of the elongate weight block on the surface of the ball.

Abstract: A hair coloring apparatus (10) with a row of teeth members (14) and a plurality of applicator brushes (16) mounted for movement between an ingredient load position in which the application brushes are spaced from the row (14) of teeth (14), for immersion into a supply of coloring ingredient, to an application position in which the brushes are located between individual, selected pairs of adjacent teeth members (14) for coloring strands of hair which pass between only the selected pairs of teeth members (14) with loaded applicator members (16) located therebetween.

Abstract: A string of decorative lights (10) having a plurality of sockets (12) interconnected in a series by flexible lengths of power cord (14), the improvement is an apparatus for mounting the string of lights to a selected smooth surface (32) which comprises a socket mounting assembly (16) for each of selected ones of a plurality of sockets (12) which includes a socket mounting member (18) which comprises a socket engaging part (20) and a releasible fastener section (21) and a means for relatively attaching (22) socket engaging part (20) to socket (12). Further, this invention includes a surface mounting assembly (24) for each of the selected ones of the plurality of sockets (12) which includes a surface mount (26) having a mating fastener part (28) for relatively releasible connection with fastener section (21) of the socket mounting assembly (16) and a means for noninvasively attaching (30) the surface attachment part (28) to the selected smooth surface (32) without penetrating it.

Abstract: A safety play chair (10) having a chair body (12) with a wall (12) closed inwardly upon itself to form upper (12A) and lower (12B) portions with inner and outer sides and a base (18R, 18L) for supporting the lower portion (12B) of the chair body (12) against tipping and rolling movement has an antipinch handle assembly including a rib (28) extending inwardly from an to an edge of the upper portion to an inner distal end (28') to which an antipinch handle (34, 35) is mounted to the rib (28). The handle has an outermost portion spaced inwardly from the outer side of the upper portion of the inwardly closed wall (12) by a sufficient distance (D) to prevent squeezing of a child's hand between the handle member (35) and underlying surface should the chair be upended.

Abstract: A level holder (10, 10') with a level holding assembly (14, 14') has slots (22, 26, 28, 30) or pegs (58, 60) capable of supporting a level in two different orientations relative to the level holding assembly (14, 14') and a mounting assembly (38, 38') for attaching the level holding assembly to either vertical or horizontal scaffolding members (34, 32) associated with the two different orientations enabling the level holding assembly (14, 14') to support one or more levels (16) in a substantially vertical position regardless of whether attached to a vertical or horizontal member. In one form of the mounting assembly (38) a lateral member (28) used to provide underlying support for a level (16) also functions as one side of a C-clamp assembly (40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52). In another form of the mounting assembly (38'), another C-clamp having a pair of nonpivotal, resilient arms (64, 66) adapted for attachment to either cylindrical vertical members (34) or planar members (32) is used for attachment.

Abstract: A manual sheet metal cutter (10) with a movable upper blade (12B) laterally offset from and integrally formed with a lower movable handle (12A) pivotally connected to, and sandwiched between, a stationary blade member (14) on the offset side of the movable blade (12B) and a stationary handle (16), of which are all pivotally connected together by a single fastener (11) defining a pivot axle. A rearward extension (14A) of the stationary blade (14B) defines an alignment section which bears against a mating alignment portion of an intermediate section (12C) of the movable blade member (12) to maintain the blades (12B, 14B) in correct cutting relationship. The fastener (11) enables pivotal adjustment of the angle of the stationary handle member (16) relative to the stationary blade member (14B), and an arcuate lower edge (14C) of the stationary blade member (14) defines a rocker to facilitate rocking, cutting movement.