Abstract: An adjustable ball backstop is disclosed comprising a frame and an elasticly stretched net having upper and lower generally rectangular sections, the lower section being disposed at a fixed angle relative to the vertical and the upper net section being easily adjustable such that the plane of the upper net section may be positioned at a selected angle so as to selectively direct a ball or other projectile back at a selected angle to facilitate practice of sports such as baseball, softball, tennis and the like.

Abstract: A vibration dampened hand held implement such as a ball bat, archery bow or hammer is provided with a vibration dampening system comprising a chamber having a low modulus viscoelastic elastomeric vibration dampening member freely moveable therein to bounce back and forth between and move out of phase with the chamber walls to rapidly dampen unwanted lower frequency vibrations of the implement.

Abstract: A chain type transfer device, particularly suitable for use with roller conveyors for shifting operation, comprises a motor, two supporting plates, a plurality of rotating shafts, a plurality of driving sprockets, a plurality of guiding plates and a plurality of composite chains; wherein each rotating shaft is pivoted between the two supporting plates and the driving sprockets are secured to the two ends of each of the rotating shafts to be associated with the respective guiding plate for the extension of the respective endless composite chain. The composite chain is formed by combining a regular chain with a roller chain which has a plurality of free rollers pivoted to an outer side thereof.

Abstract: A still camera viewfinder comprising a reticle lens having more than one frame thereon and which is selectively positionable in the viewing area, and viewing area masking plate arms which are coupled to said reticle lens to open or selectively mask portions of the viewing area dependent upon the film format or lens in use.

Abstract: A golf putter shaft having an integrally formed handle intended for use without a soft grip overwrapping having a handle section preferably of D shaped cross-section sized to assist the golfer to keep his wrists from breaking during putting. The putter shaft is preferably made from aluminum alloy of increased stiffness compared to ordinary golf club shafts. Supplementary weighting may be provided in the handle section to result in a putter having its balance point located near the mid-length of the shaft.

Abstract: A receptacle adapted to contain ashes, such as human or animal ashes, and intended to be at least partially embedded in earth. The receptacle has a compartment for enclosing ashes, the compartment having an aperture for receiving the ashes. The receptacle also has a closure means for sealing the aperture and support means capable of supporting the receptacle in a vertical position in the earth. The receptacle is relocatable.

Abstract: A reel bearing assembly for supporting a reel in a support frame, the frame having a circular bearing opening having an axially extending cylindrical surface and radially inwardly extending flange and the assembly also including a specially shaped end cap for the reel which, with the configuration of the opening and flange in the support frame, defines a cavity which both radially and axially confines a bearing cage, the end cap having one or more retaining members which engage the flange on the support frame to hold the assembly together.

Abstract: A hole form apparatus for use in forming and/or maintaining a hole or cavity in environments which would otherwise tend to close the hole, functions for example in maintaining holes cut in ice, or for making holes or cavities in other solidifying liquids or mixtures, such as concrete, or in compactable materials such as soil. The form has a tubular body that is hollow and tapered so that it is narrower at the bottom, which is closed, than at the top. Disposed within the body is a weight connected to a shaft which extends axially through the top surface of the tube to a handle attached at its end. The form is removable from a formed hole by pulling forcefully on the handle, causing the weight to strike the inside top surface of the tube in one embodiment, or a removable strike plate in a second embodiment. This impact and the shock it causes, working together with the tapered shape of the tube and its smooth surface enable the tube to be broken free from the walls of the formed hole.

Abstract: A shock attenuating hollow bat including a barrel having a proximal taper segment and a separate handle having a distal tapered segment providing an enlarged shape at the distal end of the handle, the tapered segment of the handle fitting within the proximal taper segment of the barrel, the relative sizes of the enlarged distal end of the handle and the interior of the barrel at its proximal end providing a mechanical interference preventing the barrel from sliding distally off the handle, the barrel and handle elements being joined by an elastomeric isolation union between the inner surface of the barrel taper segment and the outer surface of the handle taper segment to form an integral bat having reduced shock transmission to the hands of a batter in the event of an off-center hit.

Abstract: In a measurement system for a pressure gage which has a bourdon tube spring as well as a spring support, the bourdon tube spring is made of a metallic material and the spring support is made of a polymer plastic. The connection between the bourdon tube spring and the spring support is made by means of a metallic transition element which has a recess into which the fixed end of the bourdon tube spring is glued or soldered, and which has engagement means formed on it which are in form-fitting engagement with the spring support. The compound assembly comprising the transition element and the spring support combines the cost advantage of the fabrication of the spring support from plastic with the mechanical advantages and antileak advantages of a metal-to-metal connection for the connection of the bourdon tube spring to the spring support.

Abstract: A mobile hazardous waste characterization system having a top driven rotary kelly bar and drill bit in conjunction with a non-rotatable casing surrounding the kelly bar in which the casing and waste contamination sensing probes affixed thereto are supported by the top drive and are moved into and out of the site with the kelly bar and drill bit. The sensors preferably are optical soil contamination probes affixed to the casing to qualitatively and quantitatively determine soil contaminants and monitor remediation progress in situ at a subsurface soil characterization and treatment location. Soil gas sampling and a solid soil core sample removal device may be integrated with the optical contaminant sensing for accurate site characterization and simultaneous remediation thereof.

Abstract: An infant blanket for use in combination with an infant carrying seat having a handle is disclosed. The blanket preferably is multi-layered having a border strip at its perimeter and a handle reception slit spaced from the perimeter so as to receive the handle of an infant carrying seat therethrough and means for fastening spaced portions of the blanket perimeter together to cover an infant in a carrying seat while exposing a handle of the carrying seat through the slit. Preferably, the blanket has layers made of different materials such as a first layer of water repellant material and a second layer of porous quilted material, with fastening strips such as hook and loop type pieces attached to it so that the blanket can be secured about an infant. The blanket is preferably placed over an infant carrying device like a vehicle seat and the infant is then covered with the blanket. The slit in the blanket allows the user to fully access to the handle and at the same time as the blanket covers the infant.

Abstract: An synthetic wood composite ball bat (10) having no wood components comprises a rigid shell of fiber reinforced composite material filled with expansible urethane foam to develop compressive stressed therebetween. The foam is locked to the shell during the manufacturing process by use of an intermediate dry woven fiber tube into which resin from the composite shell flows during curing of the composite shell and into which urethane foam flows during expansion of the urethane foam filler.

Abstract: A hollow metal tube and method making same are disclosed in which the tube includes a reinforcing sleeve compressively engaged with the interior of the tube. The sleeve is formed of carbon fibers in an epoxy matrix. The method of making the tube results in the wall of the tube being compressed against the sleeve, which imparts a high rate of wall recovery if the tube is impacted. Accordingly, the article is particularly useful as a ball bat or other tubular structure which may be subjected to external forces or impact.

Abstract: A hazardous waste site remediation process for decontamination of petrochemical and other toxic waste containing sites comprises in situ conversion of the site to a self contained process reactor which is then selectively operated by feeding a variety of treatment reagents thereto through a network of feed conduits and removing contaminants through removal conduits which collectively bring the contaminated materials to a collection area in the reactor where they can then be further treated or removed. A mobile trenching machine converts the site to a reactor by simultaneously placing contaminant impermeable walls while processing excavated materials such as by adding reactor reagents thereto and then immediately returning the processed materials to the location from which they were excavated in the site. Hydrocarbons or other useful by-products such as precious metals may be recovered from the soil.

Abstract: A bow limb stabilizer and bowstring accelerator block for a recurve archery bow which is adjustably positionable on the recurve limbs of the bow on the bowstring side accelerates the bowstring to provide in an increase in arrow velocities of about 2 percent. The blocks also rapidly stabilize the bow limbs to eliminate oscillation therein after a shot. The blocks each have a centrally positioned bowstring receiving groove therein.

Abstract: An improved groove construction for attaching a bowstring to the limb tips of an archery bow such as a longbow or a recurve bow (10) places the string (16) in a special groove (38) at the extreme ends of the limb tips thus increasing the operative bow limb length and results in increase in arrow velocities of from 2 to 3 percent. The "Y" in the string loops at the tip attachments faces away from the archer and the bights in the string loops face toward the archer thus assisting in bending the extreme limb tips as the string is drawn to make the limb tips functional in propelling the arrow.

Abstract: A plastic archery arrow nock (10) having a stiffener of light weight high strength material such as carbon composite therein permits fine tuning alteration of the dynamic spine of the arrow and reduces flexure of the nock relative to the arrow shaft (12) to prevent fatigue failure of the nock. The stiffened nock reduces the flex in the nock and the connection of the nock to the arrow shaft arrow shaft (12) as it is propelled forward by acceleration of the bowstring at the moment of release.