Abstract: A seat, which may be chair-like, for patients who must be restrained against leaving the seat, the principal feature being an elongated flexible seat element hung like a hammock but without a swinging function, the buttocks-receiving portion being much lower than the knees-supporting portion so that the patient once seated cannot unassisted pull himself forwardly, while the seat frame prevents escape laterally. There are no straps, bands or other obvious restraining means and virtually no chance of injury to the patient.

Abstract: A hand warmer, particularly for simple therapeutic treatment or pain alleviation for the hands of arthritics, the warmer having the general configuration of a muff accommodating both hands of the user, the muff having a heated core which can be gently or firmly grasped by the user, inside an outer envelope of soft cloth or fur-like material which retains the heat, the core also having a covering of soft thermal material over a safety sheath and heat-distributive padding to prevent accidental contact with wiring or hot spots in the core.

Abstract: A watchband which is insulative against static electricity and which is characterized by having a relatively wide band upon which a wrist watch may be supported by a strap much narrower than the band and having wrist watch pin-retaining loops projecting through the band, the entire item being constructed of the material currently merchandised under the trademark VELCRO.

Abstract: A film transport capable of periodically advancing roll film to present a flattened portion of the film at an exposure station between the supply and take-up spools. As originally developed the invention is applied to processing sensitized photographic film. Such a film, even when tightly rolled upon a spool, will exhibit a tendency to curl and bow transversely when unwound from the spool, the face of the film carrying the emulsion curving inwardly. This film transport as an accessory to a paper printer periodically presents to an "enlarger" in the printer successive frame portions of 35mm film or the like, in place of the regularly dispensed sensitized paper, while eliminating the hazard of damage to the image area of the film, this latter feature being achieved by non-use of any pressure plate or hold-down springs which might abrade the film surface and the substitution of means to exert a reverse bending strain on the film and thus to achieve a localized flattening of the film at the exposure station.

Abstract: An improved tar kettle wherein the asphalt or tar is subjected to controlled heating in a closed space so that there is no significant production and escape of fumes, the kettle having a charging cylinder, telescopically mounted within a fixed cylinder on the top of the kettle, to be withdrawn outwardly to receive a charge of solid asphalt and then to be pushed back into the fixed cylinder and rotated through 180.degree. to bring a loading-discharge opening in the charging cylinder into alignment with an opening in the fixed cylinder leading into the tar kettle and thus unloading the asphalt into the kettle without opening the kettle or allowing fumes to escape and also limiting the admission of fresh air into the kettle in order to minimize likelihood of flash fires, the kettle having a combination safety door and baffle, openable in the event of pressure build-up due to any such fire.

Abstract: A system is provided for retracting and extending flexible hoses where the hoses are adapted to connect a fluid power system on a first vehicle to a fluid power receiving device on a second vehicle and the vehicles are connected together for traveling. A flexible hose mounted on a first one of the vehicles has an extensible portion of sufficient length to allow the hose to extend at least a maximum distance normally anticipated to occur between the vehicles during travel. A resilient member, also mounted on the first vehicle, has a first end connected to the extensible proportion of the hose and a second end connected to the first vehicle. The resilient member is adapted to extend and retract the extensible portion of the hose in proportion to variations in the distance between the vehicles. A housing mounted on the first vehicle covers both the resilient member and the extensible portion of the hose when the hose is fully retracted.

Abstract: A utility security blanket for restraining a patient from throwing off the bed clothes or from getting out of bed, and as a utility blanket simultaneously functioning as a comfortable bed cover, this blanket being rectangular and provided with strong straps extending lengthwise of the blanket as well as straps extending crosswise thereof, the latter having extensions easily detached from the blanket by an attendant when not required, but ordinarily secured to the bed frame. A further feature of the blanket is that it can be opened or separated partially or end to end, by an attendant, for emergency or merely simplified release of the patient, or for providing access to the patient, without untieing the strap extensions from the bed frame, the opening being closer to one lateral edge than the other for convenience and the zipper slider being secreted under a small flap for precautionary reasons.