Abstract: A threadmilling tool is described, of the type that includes a thread cutting insert 14 (FIG. 1) that mounts on an insert holder 12 which is turned by a milling machine, wherein the insert provides four separate cutting edges 30-36 and can be accurately relocated on the holder. The insert has a cross-section forming a mount portion 50 (FIG. 5) with six straight locating sides 51-56 lying on the sides of an imaginary bisymmetrical polygon 58, and forming a radially outwardly-extending arm 60, 62 at each corner of the polygon. Each arm has an outer border 70 and a pair of opposite sides 72, 74 that extend largely radially from the axis 24 of the polygon, and each arm forms a cutting edge (e.g. 30) at the intersection of the outer border and each side of the arm. A tool holder 16 (FIG. 2) for holding the insert, has walls forming, in cross-section, a pair of straight holder positioning surfaces 80, 82 that abut a pair of insert locating sides, while avoiding contact with the arms 60, 62.

Abstract: A device is provided that can be carried by a tennis player, which allows the player to easily store and receive tennis balls. The device includes a substantially rigid tubular member whose inside closely surrounds a standard size tennis ball, and which has a wide slot at one side through which a tennis ball can pass when resiliently deformed. With the tubular member at the player's back at waist level, the player can place a ball anywhere against the slot and press the ball through the slot into the tubular member, or reach through the slot to grasp a ball and pull it out through the slot or through an open end of the tubular member.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for tying together ski poles and skis into a compact package that can be stably carried not only with the poles and skis horizontal, but also when they extend vertically. The tie has a middle (44, FIG. 4), a pair of pole strip end portions (40, 42) extending from one part of the middle for wrapping about a pair of ski poles, and a pair of ski strip end portions (46, 48) extending from an opposite part of the middle for wrapping about a pair of skis. Velcro-type fasteners lie on the outer side of a first end portion and on the inner side of a second end portion of each pair to hold the pair of strips together when wrapped about poles or skis. Each strip end portion is long enough to wrap by an angle (82, 84) of substantially 180.degree. about the poles or skis, and the inner surface of one of the strip end portions is formed of a soft rubbery material (56).

Abstract: An apparatus is described for mounting a manikin head with a wig thereon, so the wig occupies substantially the same position as the head of a person seated on a chair in a beauty shop. The apparatus includes a mount device that lies on the top of a chair back and is pressed against the front and rear faces of the chair back, and which holds a pedestal on which a manikin head is mounted. The mount device includes front and rear mounts (20, 22), each including a plate having a vertical plate part (22) for lying against one face of the chair back and a top plate part (26) for lying over the top of the chair back. The mounts are positioned with the top plate part of a second mount lying on the top of the chair back, and the other top plate part of the rear mount lying on the first one. The pedestal screws onto the front top plate part and has a narrow bottom to fit into a slot (60) in the front top plate part. A strap (40) extends around the chair back to hold the two mounts securely in place.

Abstract: A bar code reader is described which can accurately read bar codes with different minimum widths of dark and light elements. The reader includes a lens that forms an image of a portion of a bar code onto a detector assembly which includes a photocell. The photocell output is delivered to a detection circuit that detects the passage of images of light and dark elements across the photodetector. In one arrangement, the detector assembly defines a plurality of photocell devices have photosensitive regions of different areas, and a switch assembly connects a selected one of the photocell devices to the detector circuit. The detector assembly can include several independent cells (52-58, FIG. 4) of different diameters, with one at a time connected to the detection circuit. The detector assembly can instead include several closely adjacent photocells (82-88, FIG. 5), with selected groups connected in parallel to the detection circuit. In another arrangement, a mask is provided, with holes (142-148, FIG.

Abstract: A chair is provided that functions well as an ordinary office chair, and which can be used to perform exercises. The chair includes all the attributes of a comfortable office chair, including a padded seat with a seat bottom and seat back, and a pedestal with casters that rollably support the seat on a chair pad lying behind an office desk. The seat back (18, FIG. 1) has an upper part (32) with extendable handles (34, 36) that can be grasped to raise and lower it while a mechanism resists vertical movement to provide exercise. The seat has armrests (100, 102) that each have a moveable portion with extendable handles (114) and a resistance mechanism (115) to provide exercise in raising and lowering the armrests. The chair also has an extendable mechanism (140) mounted under the seat bottom and having a pair of foot handles (150, 152) that allow the seated person to move the handles forward and back for further exercise.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided which enables a container of cleaning fluid to lie in a water closet and dispense cleaning fluid solely into the toilet bowl rather than into the water closet. The apparatus includes a storage chamber (54) for holding granules of a chemical that dissolves in water to create cleaning fluid, and a transfer chamber (64) through which water flows from a refill valve outlet (40) into a standpipe (44) that leads to the toilet bowl, at each flushing of the toilet. The transfer chamber is coupled to the storage chamber so that cleaning fluid can migrate from the storage chamber (54) into the transfer chamber (64), and yet during each flushing the water from the refill outlet primarily sweeps out cleaning fluid in the transfer chamber. An anti-siphon device (74) between the refill valve outlet and the cleaning fluid dispensing apparatus includes a check valve, and a chamber that surrounds the check valve.

Abstract: A faucet handle assembly is described for replacing a handle on a faucet valve stem, which can mount on a wide variety of types of stems. The assembly includes a pair of jaws (30, 32, FIG. 1) having inner surfaces for engaging opposite sides of the periphery (22) of the valve stem and having outer camming surfaces (42, 43) that can be pushed together. The assembly also includes a faucet handle (12) with a hole in the top for passing a screw (28) that screws into a threaded hole of the valve stem, and having a cavity (44) for receiving the jaws. The cavity has camming surfaces (54, 56) that engage the jaw camming surfaces, so as the screw is tightened the jaws are pressed tightly against the valve stem peripheral surface.

Abstract: A threading insert is provided of a type that includes a mount portion and a plurality of arms radiating therefrom that each forms a pair of cutting edges, which is rugged, facilitates accurate positioning of the insert on the tool holder, encourages reliable breaking of cutting chips, and enables internal threading in a small diameter hole. One insert includes four arms (34-40, FIG. 3) radiating from a mount portion (24), with each arm having a radially outer edge (52) and a pair of opposite sides (54, 56), and forming a cutting edge (58, 60) at the interception of each side with an end of the outer edge. The mount portion has four flat locating surfaces (42-48) lying at the sides of an imaginary square, with each locating surface lying between a pair of arms and with there being an obtuse angle (D) between each locating surface and an adjacent side of an arm.

Abstract: A home water purifier is described, which includes a column of beads of ion exchange material and a column of grains of activated charcoal, which is of low cost construction. The filter includes a housing (26, FIG. 2) with a vertically-extending chamber having an air outlet at the top, a water inlet (46) at the middle, and a water outlet at the bottom. A mass (60) of activated charcoal grains lies in the lower portion of the chamber to remove impurities, and a mass (56) of ion exchange beads lies above the charcoal but below the water inlet to remove heavy metals. An air passage (64) formed along the upper portion of the chamber holds a retainer (66) of open cell foam material that prevents loss of the filtering material if the filter is turned upside-down during transport.