Abstract: A pillow muffle is a permanent and integral part of a bass drum and includes a handle provided exteriorly of the bass drum which may be easily activated by the drummer to move the pillow muffle which is disposed interiorly of the bass drum into and out of engagement with one of the drum heads to achieve desired muffling or non-muffling effects.

Abstract: A receival hopper for delicate and fragmentary particulate material such as fruit berries or bark pieces, in which the hopper (2) includes a support frame (5) with a receiving bin (3) pivotally secured to the frame (5) and an auger (4) which includes an auger screw (8), extending along a peripheral lip of the receiving bin at or adjacent the pivot, with a pair of adjacent but spaced hydraulic rams (6) secured between the bin and the support frame for moving the bin between lowered and raised positions relative to the support frame.

Abstract: The invention relates to improved methods of hybrid seed production. More particularly it relates to the use of one (or two) phytotoxic chemical resistant genes in the male (and female) parent in a hybridization process, followed by uncontrolled pollination and dosing the resultant hybrids with the one (or two) phytotoxic chemicals to eliminate plants arising from unwanted contaminating seeds and thus producing pure F.sub.1 hybrids.

Abstract: A segmented seal ring and spring system for steam turbines for minimizing leakage between rotating and stationary components, and preventing damage and wear thereto, with a single gravity spring contained in the lower half seal ring segment to produce an upward force which neutralizes the downward force caused by the weight of all the packing segments; so that only a small fluid pressure force is required to close the lower seal segments; the various segment lenths being adjustable to optimize closure sequence; with pairs of adjacent seal ring segments being optionally hinged to optimize proper motion capability, and individual segments optionally having one or more seal teeth removed to optimize motion capability; with adjacent pairs of ring segments optionally being slideably pinned to force simultaneous radial motion.

Abstract: A combination baseball cap and fielder's glove having a concave crown of appropriate size to fit the head of a wearer with a brim attached to a forward edge of the crown and extending horizontally outwardly therefrom and having finger openings extending through the brim of appropriate size to allow the fingers of the wearer to extend therethrough for firmly grasping the brim and enabling the cap to be used as a glove when removed from the wearer's head, with the crown serving to catch and hold a baseball.