Abstract: A board game simulating the assembly of an automobile wherein players proceed about a game board having a plurality of spaces depending upon the roll of a die. As a player lands on a particular space, he gains the right to use a specific part of an automobile in creating an assembled automobile. If a player lands on an ignition key circle, he is permitted to transfer a peg from a lock on the board to an aperture on the ignition key circle. The players compete to determine who completes the assembly first. Pick-a-card and spin spaces are also provided to furnish an additional element of excitement. After the assembly and ignition circle are complete, a player then inserts a key into the ignition slot completing a circuit to start an "engine" and signal completion of the game with a winner.

Abstract: A rack for grilling chicken legs in a barbecue and the like comprises a metal surface having downwardly extending support members at both ends and a plurality of predetermined slots to hold chicken legs upside down. The support members position the rack at a spaced distance above a cooking source or fire providing sufficient space for the legs to hang vertically substantially perpendicular to the fire. The slots comprise a plurality of parallel apertures, each including a central circular aperture for insertion of the legs and a pair of narrow elongated slots leading in opposite directions from the circular aperture. The rack may be pivotally mounted to the barbecue so that it moves into position above the fire when the lid is opened or it may be manually placed on the open barbecue. In operation, the chicken legs are inserted through the circular aperture, slid along the slot, and locked in place by the bone at the lower joint.

Abstract: The Christoudias endodissector is utilized for dissecting, wiping, sponging or cleaning tissues during endoscopic surgery. The instrument includes a mesh gauze body at one end which is held securely and housed in a recess on the head portion of the instrument by teeth on a fixed and a pivotal jaw. The lower part of the head portion is mounted within a resiliently backed cylindrical locking sheath. The lower head portion becomes an elongated main stem which is mounted within a handle sheath at the other end of the instrument. A locking pin on the stem engages a groove on the locking sheath to maintain the jaws in position. Alternate embodiments involve a mushroom dissector and a cocoon dissector named after the configuration of the gauze body. The invention also includes the method of making and using the Christoudias endodissector.

Abstract: A hand-held jeweler's vacuum comprises an elongated vacuum member with an opening at one end, motor drive means located at the other end and an aperture in the bottom of the elongated member. A detachable box member is mounted beneath the aperture to receive stones and metal pieces. Internally, a mesh filter and a vacuum filter are positioned in the intake path at approximately a 45 degree angle to the air flow and a pre-determined distance apart. In operation, the vacuum picks up metal and stones which are stopped by the mesh filter and the vacuum filter from proceeding through the vacuum filter and the stones and metals fall into the box. The stones and metals can the be removed while other particles are collected in the storage space beyond the filters. The invention permits the salvage of small stones and precious metals which otherwise would be lost during the manufacturing process.

Abstract: A hammer for demolishing sidewalks and the like comprises a hammer coupled to a backhoe or skid steer loader for actuation thereby. The hammer head is mounted to a main spring which is clamped at one end to a backhoe or the bucket of a skid steer loader. Leaf springs of descending lengths are positioned adjacent the upper and lower surfaces of the main spring and affixed to the bucket or backhoe with a clamp. The springs on the upper surface of the main spring force the main spring downwardly during a hammer stroke initiated by the backhoe or bucket while the return springs force the hammer head upwardly after the stroke. The leaf spring arrangement adds a considerable whipping action to the hammer impact. The bucket is protected from excessive force generated by the whipping hammer head by the damping action of the leaf springs.

Abstract: This invention relates to resonant LC responders that are placed inside objects such as toys. The device includes an interrogation or base unit which sends a pulse and passive responders which reply with their unique frequency which is sensed by the base unit. The base unit senses the frequency and triggers a response in the play pattern of the object such as speaking or turning on a motor. The invention can discriminate multiple responders based on their frequency or location. Further, the device can interface with active responders as well. The invention provides a low cost, simple device to provide recognition particularly at a distance in interactive toys.

Abstract: An exercising apparatus for various rowing and non-rowing exercises having an erected tubular frame comprising two parallel elongated front and back legs, two parallel top and bottom arms, a tubular top, a tubular middle and a tubular bottom axle, a handle and a pulley system, a weight cable system, an extended base, two elongated tracks, and a platform. The said legs are pivotally connected to the top axle that is also connected to the top arms that in turn are pivotally connected to the middle axle and the bottom arms. The bottom axle can slide perpendicularly over the front legs thus creating a folded positions of the arms for rowing exercises or creating an unfolded position of the arms for the non-rowing exercises. The said extended base frame is used as a bases for the platform which is used in the non-rowing exercises. The said base frame also serves as the foundation for a pair of tracks for the wheeled seat which is used in the rowing exercises.

Abstract: This invention comprises a towel warmer wherein the towel is removably mounted on a rack within a closed cabinet. The cabinet includes a heater blower mounted on the upper portion thereof and recirculating tubes on each side thereof to recirculate the warm air after it passes through the towel. The heater blower warms the circulated air and forces it downwardly into the hanging towel. The system is totally enclosed so that the operating noise is greatly reduced and the system uses only a fraction of the electric power conventionally required.

Abstract: A cargo support for vehicles comprises a pair of spaced end panels with transversely extending rib panels which are positioned at predetermined intervals to form cargo bays. The transverse ribs include a creased center fold and are hinged at their ends to the panels. The ribs include a central cut-out for ease of folding, tabs which connect at each end to the end panels and lower outrigger portions for support purposes which extend through apertures in the end panels. Once the ribs are assembled to the panels, the cargo support may be collapsed in an accordion fashion for storage purposes. The cargo support is inexpensive, easy to assemble and may be readily used in an automobile trunk, cargo area or on the rear seat.

Abstract: Hybrid golf comprises playing a variety of golf shots around a progressive course comprising a single centrally located hole with a green. A plurality of tees are located at different predetermined distances from the green and at spaced intervals from each other in a substantially circular pattern around the green. Bar coded golf balls are used for scoring purposes in conjunction with a bar code optical or other type of scanner reader mounted on each tee and within the hole. All scoring information is recorded by a central computer in order to facilitate immediate comparison of scoring data of a single player or between and among players. At least one putting green is located adjacent the last tee. A player drives the ball from successive tees and then putts on the putting green to wrap up the game. The object of the game is to put as many of the six bar coded balls as possible on the green, and thereby automatically through the scanner.

Abstract: A football helmet and shoulder pad combination are designed to prevent head and neck injuries. An outer helmet is connected to a neck assembly which permits but limits head turning mobility as well as up-down and left and right head tilt. The neck mechanism which is mounted about the neck comprises substantially circular inner and -outer spherical guides and a concentric movable inner element therebetween with an upwardly extending member on each side of the neck. The guides contain stops to limit the motion permitted by the helmet and the lower portion of the mechanism is mounted on the shoulder pads to distribute the load during impact. The helmet portion with a resilient coupling joining the portions. The upwardly extending members on the inner element are mounted to respective sides of the outer helmet. The helmet may also be retrofitted to existing equipment.

Abstract: This invention comprises an instrument for peritoneal approximation following the application of mesh in a laparoscopic herniorrhaphy or for approximating any tissues that could physically reach each other during the performance of any laparoscopic procedure. The Maritsa Tissue Approximator comprises an elongated cylinder which is divided into two elongated compartments by a central plate which extends outwardly from the bottom of the cylinder. The head of the instrument comprises the outwardly extending fixed plate and two independently controlled jaws which close separately over the fixed central plate. The jaws are pivotally mounted onto a lateral extension of the center plate by pin-means about which they rotate thus opening or closing over the fixed central plate. The rotation about the pin is caused by a control wire which extends through a compartment of the cylinder and is affixed to a pivotal member at the other end of the instrument.

Abstract: A shielding device used on hand-held cellular phones comprises a substantially rectangular shield which extends adjacent to the antenna. A downwardly extending slide arm portion of the shield terminates in a substantially pointed end surface formed by the outer edge of the shield sloping inwardly to engage the inner edge of the slide arm, said outer edge having a notch on the exterior surface thereof. The device also includes a paddle arm portion extending perpendicular to the shield area and then downwardly to terminate in an enlarged paddle engaging the rear of the phone. The shield is mounted to a hand-held cellular phone with the shield area extending vertically upward adjacent to the antenna and the paddle arm extending over the top of the phone and terminating in the rear paddle and the paddle arm extending over the top of the phone. The shield is held in place by an O-ring which surrounds the phone and fits in the notch in the slide arm.

Abstract: A circuit breaker locator comprises a housing having a plunger projecting outwardly at one end and reciprocably moveable within the housing. The plunger is coupled to a spring urged retractable contact at the opposite end of the housing. The housing also includes, at the end with the retractable contact, a pair of contacts extending outwardly therefrom which are coupled to a fuse and a pilot light connected in parallel with the fuse. In operation, the pair of contacts are inserted into an electrical outlet and the plunger is actuated forcing the retractable ground contact into the outlet. The device automatically trips a circuit breaker related to the particular outlet so that it is possible to check which circuit breaker is connected to the outlet. If the breaker fails to trip, the alarm light, which is connected parallel with the fuse, is activated indicating a faulty circuit breaker. The circuit breaker locator provides a ready and safe means of determining what circuit breaker is related to what outlet.

Abstract: Differential displacement is optically detected by independent movement of either a collimated light source or a dual element photosensitive detector. Relative movement between the detector or light source generates a signal proportional to the amount of light striking the photosensitive elements. This invention relates to improved devices for the transformation of physical forces into mechanical and electro-optical response, for measuring the forces involved, and, in particular for wet/wet liquid and gas differential, gage and absolute, pressure measurements.

Abstract: A spongestick for .Iadd.retraction, and tissue manipulation in .Iaddend.endoscopic procedures including a hollow stem of substantially cylindrical cross-section with a longitudinal groove along its outer surface and having a handle at one end and a balloon receptor portion at the other end. The stem is surrounded by a retractable sheath having a handle at the end adjacent the stem handle. A balloon system comprises a Leur lock tip at its upper end for coupling to inflation means and an elongated tube portion which extends within the longitudinal groove in the stem to a tubular balloon which fits over the receptor portion. Circumferential grooves are provided on the upper and lower sections of the receptor portion to accommodate rubber bands which secure a tubular gauze member over the balloon. The gauze member is expanded by inflation of the balloon .Iadd.during use.Iaddend.. The hollow interior of the stem provides a passage for endoscopic instruments such as forceps, dissectors, etc.