Abstract: An exercise machine for use by a handicapped or impaired person from his wheelchair is disclosed which has a framework and wheelchair wheel-receiving ramps and cradle onto which the user may roll his chair. A set of rotatable hand cranks are interconnected by sprockets and a chain to a pair of orbitable pedal assemblies mounted on the frame. The pedal assemblies are provided with velcro-connection straps and weights so as to be self-orienting in an orientation that easily receives the user's feet, and means for releasably locking the pedal assemblies is provided. The latter is readily operable by the user so that he or she can rotate one of the pedal assemblies into an orbital position for easily inserting a foot, lock in that position, insert his foot, release the lock and using the hand cranks to move the other pedal assemblies into a convenient position, relock the mechanism and insert and fasten in place the other foot.

Abstract: A fire extinguisher and alarm apparatus for a container having a rim and a cavity to retain combustible materials comprising a reservoir having a chamber for retaining a fire extinguishing fluid under gas pressure, a hollow nozzle for ejecting the fire extinguishing fluid, a temperature sensitive device which softens in the presence of heat, a device for mounting the reservoir on the container rim with the nozzle and temperature sensitive device located ajacent the container cavity, an alarm which issues an audible signal responsive to gas under pressure, and a valve responsive to softening of the temperature sensitive device for simultaneously connecting the fire extinguishing fluid in the reservoir to the nozzle for ejection therethrough into the container cavity and connecting the gas under pressure in the reservoir to the alarm to issue the audible signal.

Abstract: A trailer unloaded onto the ground or like surface using an unarticulated frame and no power sources other than the tractor or prime mover. The frame supports three rows of overlapping transverse rollers and has a tail-end roller substantially across its width. A wheeled carriage is mounted to the underside of the frame, so that it can be longitudinally shifted. When mounted on a conventional "fifth wheel" connection to the tractor, shifting of the carriage forward lowers the tail end of the frame which pivots downward about the connection to the trailer. Shifting the carriage back raises the tail. A pair of ground rollers is provided at the tail of the trailer which contacts the ground as it is lowered. A load may be placed onto the ground by unlocking the carriage, applying the brakes to the wheels of the carriage and backing up the tractor-trailer.

Abstract: A versatile and adaptable streamlined downrigger which, when pulled through water behind a boat, automatically and horizontally jigs a releasably-attached fishing line. The downrigger has a jigging line which is reeled in and pulled out of its housing. At the free end of this line is a finned release device which releasably captivates a fishing line. The fishing line is released upon striking of a fish. The housing has a set of fins which bias the downrigger's "swimming" position (left, right, or directly behind) relative to the point of attachment to the boat. This allows a number of downriggers to be used behind a small boat without the tangling of fishing or towing lines. The housing also mounts a propeller whose blades have fish-attractant prismatic reflective surfaces. Movement of the downrigger through the water causes the propeller to turn and to "flash" attractively.

Abstract: An improved unibody bumper system including a concave back plate welded to the sheet metal of the unibody, to be integral therewith across the front and back of the automobile unibody and wrapped around on the sides. A pressurized, elongated bumper is secured to the back plate by fasteners at either of its sealed ends. The bumper member is formed by taking a length of hose or other flexible tube sized and shaped to conform to the concave back plate and sealing the ends by clamping the walls inward. A mastic-covered flat seal member is provided in the tube at the area of clamping. In a first embodiment, a C-shaped clamp member is bolted against the hose or tube end by a bolt which passes through a hole formed therein, which bolt also serves to secure the end of the bumper element to the backing plate. In a second embodiment, a short section of a close-fitting metal sleeve is placed over the tube and then pressed flat, the sleeve serving to thereafter clamp the walls of the tube end together.

Abstract: A metal beverage can having an easy opening top provided with a scored or otherwise weakened line defining a flap opening. An opening structure or member is secured to the can top at flap area and serves to aid in tearing or splitting the top along the scored or weakened line to form the flap and also serves, thereafter, to push down the flap when the can is raised to the lips of a user such that the opening member makes contact with the user's upper lip. The top of the can is concave and the opening structure is so arranged as to provide a "stop" to prevent the flap from being pushed too far into the can interior. The flap when forward and free of the curved top is constructed so that it straightens to extend the forward lip of the flap so that it serves as a "stop" to prevent, in normal service, the flap from rising above the surface of the top. The flap is resiliently biased toward that position and resiliently returns to it after it is pushed down as by the lips of a user.

Abstract: A concealed swinging door hinge which allows a door to close with a better fit to the jam or adjacent door and yet allows the door to open a full one hundred and eighty degrees and provides good clearance when so open is disclosed in four embodiments. In each embodiment, the hinge employs a link member between the door and jam which defines two vertical hinges, one coupled to the jam and the other to the door. The hinge includes means for advancing the respective hinge axes out from the jam and door as the door swings open, and for retracting them as it swings closed, as well as means for coordinating such hinge advance and retreat so that each advances and retreats at least approximately the same distance as the door swings open or closed. In the first embodiment, the link member forms continuous hinges down the entire length of the door with two arm members, one coupled to the jam and one to the door.

Abstract: Improvements for ratchet wrenches which allows the socket to be turned without pivoting the handle. The improvements include a flat gear which either fits over the drive stud of the wrench's head and is sandwiched in between the head and a socket snapped on the head or is made integrally with the head. The gear projects beyond the socket and has driven gear teeth about its periphery. This allows for easy hand-turning. A shaft which has a means for turning at one end and a drive gear at the head end is provided. The shaft is mounted for both rotational and axial displacement and may slide from a home position in which the drive gear is free of the the flat gear to a position in which it meshes with that gear. A spring mechanically biases the shaft to its home position. A user may easily push the shaft to its operational position and, while maintaining it there, turn the shaft to turn the flat gear and thus the stud and socket. Upon releasing, the shaft automatically returns to its home position.

Abstract: The tool is used in opening and/or reopening a bulk container of the type having a plastic lid which is mounted to the container by means of an annular rim having a lip that engages an annular rib on the container. The tool comprises an elongate body having a distal end and a proximal end. The proximal end forms a handle for the tool. A base member is mounted on the distal end of the body and a cross-member is mounted on and across the body at a position spaced a predetermined distance from the base member. The cross-member has two oppositely disposed end portions. Each end portion terminates in a hook shaped structure including an arm extending toward the base member. One arm, on a side facing the body, has an arcuate pry-bar configuration. The other arm, on a side facing the body, has a cutting edge.

Abstract: An easily stored and used disposable cover for the opening of a molten metal type ladle is disclosed, which uses transverse ribs of green hardwood above a blanket made up of ceramic fabric batting. The ribs are tied together into an array by means of flexible wires running longitudinally across the ribs and secured to them. The ribs are sized to span across the ladle opening and to hold the blanket thereover, and the cover may be easily rolled up longitudinally so as to assume an easily stored, handled and shipped roll shape. A plurality of wide headed nails hold a sheet of plastic or like material and the blanket to the ribs. The sheet serves to protect the blanket from tearing or catching or binding together and allows it to be unrolled and handled more easily. A wire end handling loop is also provided at the longitudinal ends to aid in placing the cover over the ladle.

Abstract: This invention is a waste container structured to receive and retain a commercially distributable bag dispenser box from a side opening in the bottom of the container. The bag dispenser box that is contemplated to be used in combination with this waste container is rectangular in shape and contains a plurality of flatly folded bags, each of which are retrievable from a top slot. When in position in the waste container, the bag dispenser box is prevented from being lifted as each bag is pulled from the box by inwardly extending projections provided on the inside wall of the waste container.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for filling the well of a molten metal ladle or like vessel with a pre-selected charge of disposable refractory sand is disclosed. The apparatus includes a disposable can positioned above and in the blocking and at the top of the well. The can includes a plurality of apertures spaced around said can. The apparatus includes a unit hopper that is filled with a preselected charge of sand and is suspended from an overhead crane and maneuvered by crane controls from a safe distance. The hopper unit includes latches for releasably holding the can at its bottom and a trigger mechanism for discharging the sand in response to the seating of the can on a surface and the lowering of the hopper unit through the can. The operator may charge the hopper with sand, latch the can to the bottom of the apparatus, maneuver it into and over the ladle to the well and lower it so that the can is seated above the well.

Abstract: Several embodiments of disposable crawling insect traps are disclosed, each of which is made of moderately flexible pasteboard or other inexpensive material, formed in an elongated, narrow, slim, flat continuous strip, and sized to easily lay or be releasably secured across or adjacent to a room's thresholds, window sills, exhaust grills, ducts, corridors, stairs, cabinet bases, and other points of entry or exit by crawling insects. The traps contain an interior surface partially covered with a tacky glue-like substance for ensnarling the insects, or, alternatively, that surface may contain insect poison. In several embodiments, a "roof" layer of thin material is supported over the interior layer of glue or poison, so as to provide ease in handling and an attractive (to insects), narrow, elongated slit running along one long edge or side of the strip.

Abstract: A cover for an ostomy pouch of the type which is attached to a fitting secured to the skin of a patient's abdomen. The cover is made of soft, absorbent, thin, flexible fabric and has a back panel which is secured along its sides to a front panel to form a tube section. The front panel has a flap extension at its top, formed of the same material. The tube section is drawn over and around the bottom of the pouch, so that the back panel lays flat between the user's skin and the pouch, and extends up to the fitting. The flap is drawn up and folded over the waistband of the user's underpants, to be flat in front of it, between the underpants and the user's outerwear. The flap in this manner quickly and easily holds the upward opening of the tubular section in place about the pouch, without it slipping downward, while the user may engage in normal activities, such as walking, running, reaching, etc.

Abstract: A multi-purpose camping tool having components which are structured to be combined together to form a pole ladder, an ax, a trenching spade, a hoe, a grapple hook, tool devices and a saw frame. The components include a spade blade, tool heads, handle connecting elements, and a pair of elongated segments having a novel structure and parts which cooperate to provide these several multi-purpose tools.

Abstract: A beverage truck having unique unloading and loading apparatus. The apparatus, which may be mounted to an existing beverage truck, or built into one as original equipment, has a framework at the front and back of the truck body which supports a track that spans the length of the body roof along its longitudinal center line. A trolley is carried on the track and moved by a powered chain drive from one end of the body to the other. Mounted to the trolley is a pivoting telescoping arm assembly that carries at the end of the arm a fork lift assembly. By operating simple controls, the user can move the trolley, extend the arm, raise, lower, rotate and tilt the forks to cause the forks to enter into the cargo area of the body, under the roof, to unload cargo from the truck and place it, e.g., on a loading dock or on the ground.

Abstract: A system for energy-efficiently operating large capacity cooling pumps in a steam cycle electrical power generating plant which condenses steam using ambient water (e.g., from a lake, cooling tower, or stream) supplied by two or more large electrical motor-driven pumps is disclosed. The system sets reference values for condenser pressure, ambient water temperature, and feedwater flow or electric load, and when conditions change significantly, it cycles on or off one pump, measures and calculates energy efficiency, and depending upon those calculations, either recycles the pump off or on or maintains the status quo and updates the reference values for the plant, and automatically repeats the process upon another significant change of conditions. The system uses a digital computer, sensors, and interface units, for automatically controlling on or off the electric motors of the pumps.

Abstract: A telescoping roller conveyor is disclosed wherein interwoven rollers are provided on axles. The axles are linked to adjacent axles within siderails. The links allow the axle separation to expand a limited distance longitudinally as siderails are telescopically extended. The links are enclosed in channel-shaped telescoping siderails and do not project above the level of the rollers in any position and thus do not provide any obstruction to items moving over the rollers along the conveyor. The axles are seated into special round plastic bushings that aid the movement of the telescoping longitudinal siderails and the relative movement of the axles to and from each other.