Abstract: A puzzle is shown having a stack of hollow segments that are joined together so that each segment is adapted to be turned about a longitudinal axis of the stack. Each hollow segment has certain side walls that include a hole formed therein, and some of the hollow segments have either top and/or bottom walls with one or more holes formed therein. All of the holes in the side walls are visible at all times, while the holes in either the top or the bottom walls of the hollow segments are generally only visible when adjacent segments are arranged out of alignment with each other. This puzzle is furnished with a separate flexible connection that is adapted to be threaded through certain of the holes, but only one time therethrough. The START hole is unknown to the first time prolem solver. Only such holes as are visible from the exterior of the puzzle need be furnished with the flexible connection threaded therethrough.

Abstract: A metal concrete joint form is shown supported on a plurality of spaced metal stakes. The top end of each stake is flattened. The concrete joint form is an elongated sheet metal member having an inverted hook portion at the top edge of the form for receiving the flattened top end of the stake. The main body of the stake has a semi-circular shape in transverse cross section. The invention is a separate holding clip that is made to straddle the main body of the stake and engages beneath the lower edge of the sheet metal form and is snapped into engagement with the stake for holding the sheet metal form against the stake while the concrete is being poured on either side of the form to form a monolithically poured concrete slab.

Abstract: A machine is shown for use in a tobacco stripping barn for stripping tobacco leaves from the stalk in three separate Grades. The machine has an elevated, elongated workbench or frame with three work stations side-by-side. Each work station comprises a pair of counter-rotating wheels that are adjustably biased into rolling contact with each other, and an adjustable guide member centered at one side of the wheels on which the tobacco stalk is supported as the stalk is passed over the top of the wheels, and the leaves are drawn down into the wheels and thus are pulled from the stalk to fall into a box or bin beneath the workbench. One of the wheels is motor-driven, and the other wheels are arranged in succession and biased as a group into rolling contact with said driven wheel.

Abstract: A children's potty seat is shown for use in the toilet training of infants. This potty seat is designed to be mounted to the toilet seat of a toilet bowl. An important feature of this invention is that the mounting means for the potty seat is located toward the rear of the seat so that when the seat is inverted and positioned on the floor in front of the toilet bowl, the mounting means do not constitute an obstruction which would make it difficult for a child to stand on the inverted potty seat in the manner of a step stool. The rear portion of the potty seat is specially designed so that when the seat is used as a step stool, the stool may be positioned closely adjacent the front of the toilet bowl so that a small boy may reach the toilet bowl. In other words, the inverted potty seat has a telescoping relationship with the base of the toilet bowl.

Abstract: A reciprocating electric motor is shown having a sliding electromagnet aligned between a pair of spaced permanent magnets, where the facing poles of the permanent magnets are of the same polarity, and electrical circuit means is provided for energizing the electromagnet with alternate current flows to create alternate polarities of the electromagnetic field surrounding the electromagnet, whereby at any time there is a strong magnetic field attraction force between the electromagnet and one of the permanent magnets, while there is a strong magnetic field repulsion force between the electromagnet and the other permanent magnet. An electrical switching means is operated by the position of the electromagnet at each end of its reciprocating stroke for reversing the flow of current within the electromagnet and the polarity of the opposite ends of the electromagnet so as to reverse the direction of sliding movement of the electromagnet once it arrives at each end of its stroke.

Abstract: A portable, motor operated machine is shown having a box-like housing or work surface that supports an electric motor on one side thereof. A removable elongated shaft or spit is connected into a receiving socket of the motor so as to be turned thereby. The shaft extends transversely across the housing or work surface, and there is a quick-releasable shaft-bearing mounted on the opposite side of the housing for supporting the other end of the shaft. A sheet of newspaper is adapted to be attached to the shaft for winding the paper onto the shaft as the motor slowly turns the shaft. A first pressure plate is hingedly supported near the rear edge of the housing, and it is urged into engagement with the paper roll. A second pressure plate is hingedly supported from the rear edge of the housing and it carries the first pressure plate means thereon. An elongated guide roller is positioned adjacent the front of the machine below the shaft for applying tension to the paper.

Abstract: A tobacco harvesting machine is shown for use in automatically impaling the stalks of standing tobacco plants onto a tobacco stick that is fixed on the machine in a horizontal position. The machine is a wheeled platform that supports a pair of parallel, rotating augers on which a tobacco stick is positioned in a horizontal, fixed position. The front end of the platform is provided with a wide, inwardly-tapered cutout channel that is aligned with the tobacco stick. There is a swinging pair of knife blades supported from the platform that move between a first inoperative position and a second operative position for forming a wide gap in the stalk of a tobacco plant so that the stick may be forced through the gap. The augers serve to force the stalk of the tobacco plant rearwardly on the tobacco stick. Moreover, there is an automatic cutting means for severing the stalk from the ground after the plant is positioned on the tobacco stick.

Abstract: A measuring instrument is disclosed that is to be attached to an object that is to be plumbed so as to free both hands of the user for positioning and securing the object while the user maintains a visual check on the bubble level for precise plumbness. This plumb tool invention comprises a body member having a pair of right-angular arms for use in engaging the object that is to be plumbed. A ledge projects from one arm and supports an orbital bubble level. A bead chain is attached at one end to the body member and adapted to encircle an object that is to be plumbed. There is a keeper for engaging the bead chain along the length thereof for mounting the plumb tool to the object being plumbed with a quick-attachment and quick-release capability.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaning machine using a floor-mounted vacuum hood forming a travelling vacuum chamber with an optimum combination of suction nozzle intake means, jet stream manifold means and a mechanical soil agitator means in the form of a carpet rake, where the rake is interposed between the suction nozzle intake means and a plurality of jet streams. The jet streams are generally directed toward the tips of the teeth of the carpet rake and from there toward the intake opening of the suction nozzle means to increase the effectiveness of the suction nozzle means. A second modification of the invention shows the carpet rake replaced by a power-driven brush, and the jet stream means is a combined carpet rake and source of a plurality of jet streams directed toward the working area of the brush. An optimum design is where the compressed air that divides into a plurality of jet streams is made to pulsate so as to create a hammering action on the soil.

Abstract: A baseball bat is shown having at the ball hitting portion a transverse cross section geometry of maximum frontal dimension and less mass than a full circular baseball bat, so as to improve the batting average, the speed, the distance and the directional accuracy of the batter. Moreover, the intermediate portion of the bat has optimum strength for its weight.

Abstract: A flat, two-dimensional circular chess game board, that is adapted for playing chess, is shown having a playing area of circular configuration that is divided into a plurality of alternate light and dark playing spaces by means of an inner circle having a pair of diametrical flaps at the East and West stations, and 8 radial files on the South side of the flaps, and 8 radial files on the North side of the flaps. The radial files of the circular playing area are further divided by a series of 5 concentric circular ranks which extend from the inner circle to the outer circular configuration. Moreover, there are 3 playing spaces extending radially outward from each East and West flap which connect the North and South playing areas. In a standard chessboard there are 64 playing spaces, while in this Circular Chessboard there is a total of 86 playing spaces.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaning machine comprising a hood forming a traveling vacuum chamber with an optimum combination of suction nozzle means and jet stream means for projecting a plurality of individual jet streams at a flat angle with the surface that is to be cleaned. A low ceiling plate is positioned between the suction nozzle means and the jet stream means so as to restrict the effective volume of the area that is acted upon by the jet stream means and the suction nozzle means. Associated with the low ceiling plate are a plurality of vertical partitions which divide the area into a series of narrow wind tunnels connecting the jet stream manifold to the intake of the suction nozzle means. A motor driven compressor is positioned above the low ceiling plate and provided with a conduit to deliver a compressed fluid to the jet stream manifold.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaning apparatus using a hood forming a travelling vacuum chamber with an optimum combination of jet stream means and suction nozzle means. The jet stream means includes a plurality of orifices that are generally directed toward the intake of a suction nozzle means so as to cause the soil on the surface to be cleaned to become airborne before being acted upon by the suction nozzle means. A combined motor and air compressor is mounted in the hood means for furnishing compressed air to the jet stream means. The motor may also drive a rotating brush which may be interposed between the jet stream means and the suction nozzle means.

Abstract: A heavy duty security lock is shown that is easy to install to an existing movable closure for holding the closure in a closed position relative to a fixed enclosure. An important feature is the ease of mounting this security lock between the door and the door jamb. In order to prepare the door for receiving this lock, it should have a through hole near the vertical free edge of the door similar to the through hole for receiving a standard cylinder lock on the order of about two and one-eighth inches in diameter. The present invention incorporates a base plate having a perpendicular locking tongue fitted with a shortened collar that is mounted within the through hole in the door. An adjustable locking means engages the collar and fastens the base plate to the door. The locking tongue has a transverse hole.

Abstract: A golf ball is shown with an outer surface that is substantially covered with a plurality of spaced dimples that give the ball a suitable long and predictable flight pattern for wood or iron shots due to imparting an increased lift to the ball when the ball is given a backspin. Several modifications of the invention are shown. One or more elongated grooves are formed on the outer surface of the ball for interlocking with grooves that are formed in the face of a golf club so as to increase the grip as well as achieve more "hang time" for a given amount of backspin of the ball. Another modification has a cluster of grooves that is spaced about 90.degree. from the manufacturer's brand name indicia that is marked on the ball. The preferred modification has a continuous band of grooves that encircles the ball and increases the amount of backspin the ball will have leaving the tee which will improve the trajectory or "hang time" of the driven ball.

Abstract: A portable male urinal for use by bed-ridden patients is shown furnished with a drain hose to empty the contents of the urinal by gravity into a lower collection bag or receptacle. The end wall of the urinal has a recessed wall portion that supports a drain spout. A drain hose may be joined to the spout. The end wall has side notches for receiving the drain hose therethrough so the urinal may be supported upright on its end wall during non-use of the urinal. Other advantages are several species of closure means for the drain spout, elongated anchor means along the sides of the urinal for fastening the urinal to the user, and baffle means positioned within the urinal to discourage backflow of the contents.

Abstract: A rotary piston machine is shown that is operable with a compressible fluid; such as a rotary pump, compressor or engine construction. There is a housing having an inner and an outer ring member that are rotatably mounted on a common axis. The outer ring has at least two diametrically opposed inwardly directed segmental pistons. The inner ring has at least two diametrically opposed outwardly directed segmental pistons so as to define working chambers therebetween. An oscillating coupling means is positioned within the inner ring and flexibly joined to both ring members as well as rotating around a fixed offset crankpin to cause the inner and outer pistons to change position with relation to each other as the two ring members revolve around their common axis so as to create compression and expansion strokes.

Abstract: A retractable rake is shown as in one example for use as a courtesy rake by a golfer at a sand trap, or for light raking chores, in general. The rake has a plurality of projecting tines which diverge outwardly when they are in their extended position. When the rake is not in use, the tines are retractable into the shank of the rake so the rake is compact and may be stored and carried within the golf bag.

Abstract: A shelf is shown in the bottom of a microwave oven cooking cavity. The shelf has an open grille of high temperature rigid material that is transparent to microwave energy and forms a food container - support surface. This grille is partially embedded in a molded plastic sheet which has outer sides that are slightly resilient to make a tight sealing force fit with vertical wall portions of the oven cooking cavity.