Abstract: A selectable medical indicator is adapted for removable attachment to the outside cover of a medical record binder or a medical chart holder, so medical personnel may preset color indicia at a viewing slot, to thereafter signal other medical personnel as to the treatment to be rendered to a patient. A preferred embodiment comprises the assembly of three injection molded parts. The first part is a rectangular indicator having multiple transverse color stripes and an integral resilient side finger manipulator actuator. The second part is a back body having integral resilient depending prongs serving a clipping function, with the outside of the back body cooperatively serving this clipping function, and with the inside of the back body serving a guiding function for the rectangular indicator.

Abstract: A plant watering and/or feeding unit automatically and periodically dispenses water as needed. As assembled, an air tube extends essentially throughout the central length of a selected plastic bottle and beyond the other wise sealed cap entry of this plastic bottle for insertion of the extending, first heat sealed then partially cut opened, air tube end, down through the soil without being blocked by any entering soil, to contact the bottom of the earth filled plant container. A liquid orifice is located in the plastic bottle in its shoulder about midway between the entry and the side of the bottle.During plant watering and/or feeding cycles, liquid drips from the liquid orifice in the shoulder, until the water table in the soil, i.e. the liquid level in the soil, rises above the end of the partially opened air tube to seal off the entry of air. Then the dripping of liquid stops, until this liquid level goes below the end of the partially opened air tube.

Abstract: A finger manipulated dispenser of viscous liquids from a flexible tube comprises a smaller diameter hollow reel, called a core, and a larger diameter hollow reel, called a spool, which lengthwise telescope together. Each reel at one end has a large diameter flange serving to receive finger applied rotating forces and to abut the non flanged end of the other reel. Each reel has a longitudinal slot, extending from the respective larger diameter flange to the respective non flanged end, to receive collapsed portions of a flexible tube. The core at the non flanged end is partially radially cut to create a directional control pawl. The spool at the larger diameter flange is notched at several radial locations to receive the directional control pawl, thereby completing a ratchet subassembly. To use, the bottom tube end is longitudinally inserted into the core slot. The spool is aligned, with the longitudinal slots of both the core and the spool, and the core and the spool are telescoped together.

Abstract: A hand held sure grip slingshot for launching projectiles is provided including a method and apparatus for its manufacture. The preferred embodiment of the slingshot comprises generally a one piece frame and a sling which includes a pair of elastic members detachably connected to the one piece frame and a pouch connected at its ends to the elastic members and intermediately positioned on the sling. The one piece frame is preferably constructed of structural wire and includes a handle commencing at its lower end, looping finger guides intermediately positioned on the frame at the top of the handle, upward extending and separating arms forming with the handle of Y-configuration, and spiral retaining loops at the upper end of the frame at the tops of the upward extending arms. The looping finger guides, adjacent to the top of the handle, comprise apertures, through which fingers of the operator's hand may be insertably positioned to minimize rotation and slipping during use of the slingshot.

Abstract: Single and multiple plane contoured water ski corrective wedges secured or formed between the water ski bindings and water skis are provided to position a water skier's feet on water skis in closer to normal positions relative to their legs, knees, and hips to provide better control of the water skis and to comfortably position the water skier's feet to avoid improper stressing of their feet, knees, legs and back. Better overall water ski performances are accomplished as the water skier uses his or her forefoot more extensively than previously, when most control was derived from the using of only the rearfoot. Depending on the selections made by water skiers, they use single and/or multiple plane contoured receiving corrective wedges, under either one or both of their feet. These water ski corrective wedges are used with a slalom water ski, and with water skis to be used at the same time on the respective right and left foot of a water skier.

Abstract: A patient's airway adapter is fitted into a patient's airway, which is a combined breathing air supply and exhaust gas fluid flow passageway. The housing of this patient's airway adapter connects directly to a standard tapered tracheostomy or endotracheal tube connection or standard tapered portions of other fittings, and in turn provides a standard tapered connection to a patient's airway. The main air and gas stream, respectively, going to and from a patient, continues to flow directly through the patient's airway adapter. Samples of the patient's gas are withdrawn through a smaller diameter sampling exhaust port in the housing. The sampled patient's gas, immediately upon leaving the main air and gas stream, passes from the interior of a hollow cylindrical hydrophobic liquid baffle, through the baffle, and then into the sampling cannula enroute to a monitor. This hydrophobic baffle is held in a sealed position within the surrounding housing.

Abstract: Hydraulic valves such as hydraulic flow control valves, pressure regulating valves, and servo valves are all formed with metering passageways which reduce and eliminate their susceptibility to electro-kinetic corrosion erosion that occurs at very low quantity flow and at very high velocity when the valves are in their null position or nearly shut off. The metering passages and the metering edges comprising the overall metering passageways are shaped to favorably control the flow characteristics of phosphate ester based fluids, which, if not controlled favorably would produce severe electrokinetic streaming current and its wall current, which would induce electrokinetic corrosion erosion. The shapes and dimensions of the metering passages and metering surfaces are derived from the results of a mathematical quantitative analysis.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a foldable head rest which provides elevated support for a person's head while lying in the prone position at the beach or other leisure place, for example. The head rest may be easily carried in a folded flat configuration in one's luggage or hand and quickly unfolded for use at the beach.The head rest broadly comprises a pair of rectangular frames including an interior and exterior frame each having two seats of two offset but parallel leg portions. Cross members join the opposite leg portions of each frame at their otherwise free ends. Fabric panels are secured to the respective cross members of the opposite frames including a top panel which provides direct support for the head and a bottom panel which supportively contacts the sand or ground to prevent the head rest from sinking into the sand or ground.Each set of leg portions of each frame are formed at their midsections with a central hub.

Abstract: In moving solar energy collectors to track the sun, there are combined:a pressurized air solar heat sensing head assembly, utilizing compressed air in adjacent and opposing chambers, each chamber having a flexible diaphragm closely contacting an actuator of a four way valve of a pressurized water drive system, with these chambers being located on opposite sides of a sunshade assembly;a pressurized water drive system having the four way valve moved by the pressurized solar heat sensing head assembly, whereby water under pressure from this valve is directed to one side or the other of an actuator utilizing compact and collapsible hoses, which in expanding to receive the pressurized volume of water, move a power take off connector, in turn attached to a cable of a pulley drive subassembly, in turn rotatably secured to solar energy collectors to adjustably position them; andsolar energy collectors selected from many types each of which is mountable about one structurally supported axis assembly, to make automatic

Abstract: An automatically retractable pivotal step assembly is used on scaffolding and storage structures, particularly in a warehouse environment. The automatic retractability feature is particularly important in keeping the step assembly from being struck and broken off by loading equipment, or causing injury to workers or damage to material being transported by loading equipment.The step assembly is pivotally secured to a stanchion member of the storage rack structure at a selected height to permit a warehouse worker to ascend to a second or higher level of the storage structure and then be automatically returned and stored in a retracted position behind the stanchion member when not being used. Several step assemblies may be vertically aligned on the stanchion in combination at increasing heights to permit access to multiple levels of the structure.

Abstract: A shower pan which forms a base of a shower stall has a one piece drain surface and is capable of being built in various sloping configurations. The shower pan is constructed of a top drain panel supported by graduated shims and perimeter strips which are in turn mounted on a planar foundation. Perimeter strips and graduated shims are secured to the foundation, concentrically spaced apart surrounding a variably located drain opening. The top drain panel is cut to the same contour and size as the foundation and has a rear member, side members, and threshold members to provide lateral water barriers. Kerfed break lines in the top drain panel permit the panel to bend to form a basin like drain surface. The kerfed relief lines are in the form of at least two concentric, straight lined, polygonal cuts which are substantially identical in shape and have their corresponding vertices connected by radial relief lines.

Abstract: A horizontal plow system method and apparatus has been developed for the homogenous blending and reclaiming of bulk solid particulate matter, such as coal, at a utility plant. The horizontal plow system apparatus comprises one or more displacement assemblies, each further comprising a receiving stationary top plate and a horizontal flight subassembly. Coal is deposited via gravitational forces from an elongated slot bin storage onto the receiving stationary top plate and is then pushed on a bias and ultimately displaced by angular flights during travel of the horizontal flight subassembly along the receiving stationary top plate. Operation of the displacement assembly serves to displace the bulk solid from the sides of the receiving stationary top plate such that portions of coal from along the entire length of the elongated slot bin storage are continuously and simultaneously falling onto a moving transfer belt below, thereby insuring a more even blending of the coal.

Abstract: Liquid piping saddle assemblies, in two sizes, to connect to branch pipes of 4 inch and 6 inch diameters, and to all sizes of main pipes, in respect to each assembly has only one elastomeric gasket, which seals both the branch pipe and the main pipe. Each gasket integrally includes a smaller hollow cylinder to surround and sealably receive an end of a branch pipe, and a larger hollow cylinder shaped to abut and to seal the outside of a smallest main pipe without bulging and the outside of a larger main pipe upon bulging, about the exterior of a hole made in the main pipe. In the gasket sealing surface at the main any imaginary transverse line lies in a geometric plane which is perpendicular to the common centerline of the gasket. Each gasket has an interior circular abutment to stop the insertion of the branch pipe, and an exterior abutment to position a hollow cylindrical metal casting, which fits over the smaller hollow cylinder.

Abstract: A folding fishing net having a foldable rim and handle is conveniently and compactly carried folded in a holster at one's hip during stream fishing. When a fish is caught, the fist net, using only one hand is unfolded quickly when the fish is ready to be netted. During its quick one handed rotating to unfurl the netting and continued quick one handed sequential unfolding around two orthogonal axes, pivotal joints of the folding fish net at four locations are utilized. After the unfurling of the netting, during the first unfolding from the compacted non use position, a then longitudinally positioned divided handle, pivotally connected by a then horizontally arranged piano style hinge, and a central rim pivot joint on the folded rim, presently located closely opposite the handle, are both pivoted downwardly at the same time, through 180.degree. around a first then horizontally positioned rotational axis.

Abstract: A portable strong weather proof travel safe used by travelers to keep their essential valuables under their personal control enroute to and from a destination and/or while staying there. When not holding the travel safe, they lockably secure it to well anchored strong structures in guest rooms, rental cars, airports, parks, beaches, etc. In one embodiment, a strong cylindrical weatherproof compartment with a full top entry has integral bottom interfitting receiving structure adapted for securement to complementary receiving structures located in traveler facilities, a first rotatable then lift off strong weatherproof cover fully fitting over the full top entry, and locking mechanism to prevent the unwanted first rotation and then lifting off of the strong weatherproof cover, thereby preventing access to the contents and/or to the secured interfitted receiving structures, so they will continue to keep the travel safe well secured to the complementary receiving structure of a travel facility.

Abstract: A lumber planing machine with mechanisms in several embodiments whereby equal thickness planing cuts are very accurately taken from the top and bottom surfaces of sawed lumber with capability of planing at a high rate of speed while automatically adjusting for variation in lumber thickness, and while maintaining a high level of accuracy in the planed lumber dimensions, and yet returning to former methods of specific planing cuts on the bottom surface under special circumstances.

Abstract: A water trap is connected to a cannula which has a substantially constant internal diameter and which communicates moisture laden patient exhalations therethrough to an analyzer. The trap includes a body having a recess adapted for receiving a water absorbing compound which has an aperture therethrough for communicating dried exhalations to the analyzer. A second recess in the body is adapted for receiving another water adsorbing compound which similarly has an aperture of same diameter. When the first compound becomes substantially saturated and thereby permits moisture laden exhalations to pass therethrough, then the second compound absorbs those exhalations and swells for thereby closing its aperture and preventing communication of moisture laden exhalations to the analyzer.

Abstract: To uniformly and economically disperse liquids, via sprays of droplets, on surfaces of particles, a method moving the particles involves their rotary lifting, followed by their free falling, with a spray of droplets originating from a central area of the overall motion path of the particles. In a preferred embodiment of the blending apparatus, a hollow drum is rotated about a near horizontal axis. Inside the drum, commencing at each end are cantilevered non-rotating shafts, each positioning one or more powered slightly conical discs selectively tiltable to ultimately disperse respective sprays of droplets from a central area.