Abstract: A boot rack system for storing boots in an inverted orientation on a rotatable carousel and for drying and deodorizing boots includes, in the preferred embodiment, a base enclosing a blower, a heating unit, and a deodorizing unit, a hollow primary support and duct tube extending upwardly from the base, a boot carousel with a hub received over the upper end of-the primary support and duct tube, a plurality of hollow spokes extending outwardly from the hub, and a boot support connected to the outer end of each spoke. Air is forced by the blower through the selectively operable heating unit and ionizing unit, the primary support and duct tube, the spokes, and the boot supports and into the interior of boots placed on the boot supports. Additional boot carousels may be added, supported on extension tubes extending upwardly from the hub of the next lower carousel.

Abstract: An acupressure apparatus for applying pressure to the LI4 acupressure points on both of a user's hands simultaneously includes a pressure applicator assembly with an upper plate and a lower plate overlying each other and pivotally connected at one aligned edge, each plate having a pair of knobs with the respective upper and lower knobs aligned to come together and apply pressure to a user's hand placed between them. In a first embodiment the upper plate of the pressure applicator assembly is connected to a footplate by a flexible cable so that a user may hold the pressure applicator assembly in his or her hands, place his or her feet on the footplate with the lower plate of the pressure applicator assembly on his or her knees, and apply pressure to the hands by raising his or her knees to bring the lower plate and knobs upward against the upper plate and knobs.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating and lifting a manhole cover from a cover mounting ring without disturbing the mounting ring includes a body, a lever arm and lifting arm pivotally connected to the body with the outer end of the lifting arm extending outwardly from the first end of the body, an preferably hydraulic actuator for raising and lowering the outer end of the lifting arm, and a ring engagement plate extending outwardly from the first end of the body below the lifting arm, to be received over the cover mounting ring. The apparatus may be constructed by modifying a conventional hydraulic floor jack. Upon activation of the hydraulic actuator lifting force is imposed between the cover and the cover mounting ring to separate and lift the cover without disturbing the mounting ring.

Abstract: A device for providing a positive indication that the door of a rural-type mailbox has been opened includes an elongate indicator strip with a first end and a second end, formed of a flexible, shape-retentive material with a spring bias toward a curved rest configuration. The indicator strip is connected at its first end to a mailbox such that the curved strip extends outward from the mailbox when in rest configuration, and may be flattened against the mailbox with the second end of the indicator confined between the sidewall of the mailbox and the lip of the closure door to hold the indicator against the mailbox in a cocked position. When the mailbox door is opened the second end of the indicator is released to assume its outwardly extending rest position and provide a visual indication that the mailbox has been opened.

Abstract: An articulated wrench includes an elongate handle with a generally U-shaped depression at an end of the handle with an edge portion of the handle extending on either side of the depression, and a wrench head formed as a generally planar body with an aperture therein for engaging a fastener to be turned with the wrench, with the body of the wrench head nested into the depression in the handle with the edge portions of the handle on either side of the depression extending along a portion of the edge of the wrench head, and with the wrench head pivotally interconnected to the handle so as to allow rotation of the wrench head relative to the handle. The proportions of the wrench head are selected and the connection between wrench head and handle are selected so as to minimize the clearance required between a fastener and adjacent obstructions in a confined space for engagement of the fastener with the wrench.

Abstract: A support device for supporting the head and/or portion of the upper body of a seated person in a forward leaning semi-reclining position includes a base to be placed on a generally horizontal surface, with support legs and an upright member, an extension tube adjustably positioned parallel to the upright member, and a head or body support connected to the upper end of the extension tube. In an alternative embodiment a pair of wheels is connected to the base and the legs are adapted to be positioned for supporting a piece of luggage, allowing the device to additionally serve as a luggage cart. In an improvement to a conventional luggage cart, an adjustable head support is added to the frame of the luggage cart so the cart may be used as a support device for a seated person.

Abstract: An adjustable collapsible refuse funnel has a generally planar body formed of a relatively rigid but flexible and shape-retentive material, the body having a front edge, a rear edge, and opposing side edges, the body being deformable into a funnel configuration by bringing the rear corner portions of the body into overlapping relation and releasably connecting the overlapping rear corner portions to form a throat, leaving the front portion of the body adjacent to the front edge in generally planar configuration. Attachment means for releasably attaching a leaf bag or other refuse container are provided on the body. Creases are preferably formed in the body to facilitate forming the rear portion into a throat while maintaining the generally planar configuration of the front portion.

Abstract: A composite structural reinforcement device to be applied to structural members by wrapping in successive overlying layers includes a body formed of a first ply of resin impregnated high tensile strength material, a second ply of resin impregnated high tensile strength material, a magnetically detectable ply disposed and bonded between the first and second plies, an interlock means for mechanically interlocking successive layers as the device is applied to a structural member, and an alignment means for aligning successive layers of the device in overlying relation. Various alternative embodiments and various combinations of features are disclosed.

Abstract: A folding treadmill having a rotating bed assembly with a frame pivotally interconnected at one end to a stationary support structure, the weight of the bed assembly being balanced during rotation between a closed, generally vertical, position and an open, generally horizontal position by a counterbalancing cam assembly is provided by the present invention. In the preferred embodiment the cam assembly includes a pair of cams interconnected to the frame of the bed assembly, and a torque tube subassembly to impose lifting force against the rotating bed assembly through cam followers disposed between the cams and the torque tube so as to balance the bed assembly against the force of gravity through the range of rotational movement of the bed assembly.

Abstract: A connected bed sheet assembly has a fitted bottom sheet and a top sheet aligned with and interconnected to the bottom sheet along a single aligned end and along a single aligned edge, leaving one free end and one free edge. The fitted bottom sheet is formed to fully cover the upper surface of a mattress and extend over the sides and partially underneath the mattress to removably secure the assembly to the mattress. Elastic members are connected to a portion of the ends and edges of the bottom sheet for secure retention to the mattress. The top sheet extends over the bottom sheet from the interconnected end and edge and over the upper surface of the mattress with its free end adjacent to the head of the mattress and its free edge draping over the edge of the mattress.

Abstract: A floating pontoon structure with adjustable draft includes a lower section with an enclosed hollow hull and a lower deck connected thereto, a supporting framework extending upwardly from the lower deck, an upper deck connected to the supporting framework in parallel spaced apart relation to the lower deck, a ballast tank disposed in the hollow hull of the lower section, a valved passageway between the ballast tank and the exterior of the hull for filling and emptying the ballast tank, and one or more flotation tanks disposed between the lower deck and the upper deck to provide positive buoyancy when the ballast tank is filled. A method of connecting a plurality of pontoon structures to form a larger composite structure and a method of adjusting the draft of the larger composite structure are also provided.

Abstract: Apparatus for creating gas-liquid interfacial contact conditions for highly efficient mass transfer between gas and liquid includes a gas-liquid contactor assembly including a hollow porous tube surrounded by an outer jacket defining a gas plenum between the jacket and the porous tube; a liquid feed assembly including a nozzle for injecting liquid into the porous tube in a spiraling flow pattern around and along the porous tube; a gas-liquid separator assembly at the first end of the porous tube including a nonporous degassing tube coaxially aligned with and connected to the porous tube, a gas outlet port coaxially aligned with the degassing tube to receive a first portion of gas flowing from the degassing tube, a first gas duct coaxially aligned with and connected to the gas outlet duct to convey the first portion of gas therefrom; and a liquid collection assembly. A second gas discharge assembly to collect and convey gas from the first end of the porous tube is also disclosed.