Abstract: The invention is a one-piece, fully adjustable, shock absorbing protective vest. The protective vest is contoured to fully protect the chest, shoulder and upper arm areas of the wearer. The protective vest allows free movement of both arms without pulling out of position or compromising the area of protective coverage. Further, enhancing the flexibility of the protective vest are slits positioned to help the protective vest move with the wearer without pulling the protective vest out of position. The protective vest is attached to the wearer through an adjustable combination of flexible and non-flexible straps which are further adjustable by the use of a dual adjustable piece allowing a full range of adjustment for different body types without compromising protection to the wearer.

Abstract: A flush valve system is disclosed which sequentially fills and drains the water of the flush tank so as to eliminate wasted water. The flush valve system has a secondary, weighted float and a primary float which controls the water inlet valve that, in turn, controls the entry of water into the flush tank. The secondary float operates to prevent the entry of water into the flush tank until the water in the flush tank is substantially drained, and prevents overlapping operations of filling and draining a flush tank that might otherwise cause water to be wasted.

Abstract: A portable tool carrying and storage apparatus for use with either a step ladder or extension ladder which is designed to accommodate a wide variety of tools. The portable storage apparatus includes a base portion from which a plurality of skirtings are attached. The skirtings are provided with a variety of pockets and pouches dimensioned to accommodate tools as hand held power tools, screwdrivers, wrenches and tape measures, ties for securing the storage apparatus to the ladder, and a cover flap secured to the respective skirting for retaining tools within the apparatus.

Abstract: An electrical power energy savings circuit for use with 220 volt ac power delivery systems for reducing the power drain of the power delivery system during the "off phase" for each of the 110 volt legs of the ac power supply circuit, as measured across the load.

Abstract: A geothermal heat exchange unit, which can be placed in ground or in water, having a hollow sleeve about which a helical winding of thermally conductive tubing is wound and a return length of thermally conductive tubing along the central axis of the sleeve separated from the inner wall of the sleeve by thermal insulating material. The heat exchange unit may be housed within a thermally conductive case with a thermally conductive material filling the gap between the inner wall of the case and the thermally conductive tubing surrounding the sleeve of the heat exchange unit. The thermally conductive case may have at least one set of helical fins which act as threads for ground insertion assistance. The heat exchange units may be combined to form greater lengths and be combined in series or parallel connection for greater efficiency.

Abstract: An expandable intrusion detection screen for use with an audible electronic alarm has first and second screen panels slidably movable in parallel relation to each other to be expandable to fit within different sized window openings. The alarm is mechanically mounted and retained within an internal peripheral channel in the frame of one of the screen panels and has an intrusion detector extending outward through the frame of the screen panel for detecting the separation of the screen panel from any part of the window against which the detector is placed when positioned in a window opening.

Abstract: An inflatable flexible pallet having generally rectangular dimensions defined by top and bottom sheets within which an array of structurally interrelated inflatable chambers are formed to support a load when inflated. The flexible pallet is configured to resist lateral and longitudinal shrinkage of the load support surface, resist ballooning and hot dogging, and reduce rotational instability by providing a greater load surface support area having sufficient rigidity to support the desired load, while simultaneously achieving improved air dispersion for a more uniform jacking of the load, and maintaining a preset internal pressure using an automatic self-regulating valve to provide circulatory therapy to a patient lying atop the pallet for an extended period.

Abstract: Apparatus for the intensified exposure of a hydrocarbon based fuel to a magnetic field comprising at least two permanent magnets having opposite faces polarized north and south, a cover box for containing each of said magnets made from non-magnetic material for containing said magnets and having a bottom opening and a peripheral depending flange having curved hollows for fitting closely about a fluid containment vessel, a backing plate for closing said bottom opening made from non-magnetic material and being recessed inward to permit the close fit of the fluid containment vessel within said curved hollows, and strapping means for securing said cover boxes in fixed diametrically opposed position about said fluid containment vessel for creating an electromagnetic circuit having an enhanced, substantially uniform, mono-directional, magnetic flux density for the polarization of the molecules of said fuel to increase the combustion efficiency of said fuel.

Abstract: A trailer for carrying power driven equipment which can be driven onto or off from either side or the rear thereof is disclosed. The trailer comprises a drawbar having a trailer hitch for coupling to a vehicle that tows the trailer, a second coupling device for allowing the trailer bed of the trailer to be disconnected from the drawbar, and a universal joint that not only allows for the tilting up and down of the trailer bed, but also rotational motion of the trailer bed, thereby allowing the trailer bed to be arranged to accommodate side loading/unloading of the equipment.

Abstract: A gear shift mechanism particularly suited for a drag racing car is disclosed that causes the gear shifts of a transmission to be sequenced upon the attainment of selectable predetermined conditions so that the drag racing car obtains its desired acceleration in an optimum manner. The gear shift mechanism comprises electrically or pneumatically operated cylinders that move the gear shift lever upon sensing optimum conditions related to the acceleration performance of the drag racing car. The cylinders are positioned on opposite sides of the gear shift lever and provide counter-forces during shifting through at least one gear and yet allow the gear shifting to preferably be accomplished in a single direction. The counter-acting cylinders eliminate overshooting of the gear shift lever during movement of the lever arm. Alternatively, manual input instead of predetermined conditions may be substituted into the gear shift mechanism.

Abstract: An arrow rest assembly for use in archery comprises first and second supports each of which carries a pivotal plunger and retracting pin on which rests an arrow prior to its being launched from a bow. The supports are both mounted to a bracket each being separately slidingly and rotationally adjustable in the vertical plane relative to the bracket which is slidably laterally adjustable and adjustable front to back relative to the bow. Each of the pivotal plungers has first and second yielding and biasing means respectively allowing the plungers to deflect in both the horizontal and vertical planes in response to impingement by an arrow as it is being launched from the bow substantially eliminating deflection to the intended flight trajectory of the arrow.

Abstract: A cover member that engages a hook member formed into a precast, reinforced concrete block. The hook member assists in the lifting, transporting and manipulating of the precast, reinforced concrete block. The cover member is formed of a water resistant, flexible and resilient material. Preferably, the cover member has a shape similar to a hat with the apex of the crown thereof being opened by way of an inwardly tapered aperture having at least one slit therein. The tapered aperture has an entrance portion dimensioned to accommodate the insertion of the head of the hook and an exit portion dimensioned to engage the shank of the hook. A slit of the aperture is dimensioned to allow the exit portion of the aperture to rigidly engage the shank of the hook as the precast, reinforced concrete block encounters movement.

Abstract: A self or internally powered electric strobe-type illumination beacon for use in connection with hazard-warning, navigation or any other activity requiring the temporary placement of an illumination device having a switch means operable by rotating the top section about the bottom section enabling the repeated pulsing of the lamp means for light emissions.

Abstract: An automated, integrated system for programmably selectively extracting and purifying one or more particular solutes from a contaminated solution, said purified solutes then being recovered as a concentrated solution suitable for analysis.

Abstract: Rubber particles, to be used as fillers or extenders for various composite polymer systems, are chlorinated by a gas-solid phase reaction with a chlorine-containing gas. A composite polymer containing the chlorinated rubber fillers or extenders exhibits a higher flexural modulus than if prepared using an unchlorinated rubber filler or extender. Chlorination of the rubber particles is carried out by contacting the finely divided rubber particles with a chlorine-containing gas comprising at least about 5 volume percent chlorine. Advantageously, the chlorine can be diluted with air, nitrogen or other essentially inert gases and may contain minor amounts of fluorine. Improved performance is obtained with nitrogen dilution of the chlorine gas over air dilution. Improved polymer composite systems having higher flexural modulus result from the use of the chlorinated rubber particles as fillers instead of unchlorinated rubber particles.

Abstract: A game apparatus having a game board with a plurality of sides and with multi-planar levels which are modifiable by the placing or removing of fill squares onto or from any one or more of a plurality of vertical spaces on the game board. The spaces are arranged in an edge-to-edge array across the game board. The game is played between two players with each player having an identical set of playing pieces representing characters or things in the game. The playing pieces are permitted to move along predetermined paths and capture opposing playing pieces, the movement being restricted by obstacles and different levels of the multi-planar game board.

Abstract: An automated, integrated system for programmably selectively extracting and purifying one or more particular solutes from a contaminated solution, said purified solutes then being recovered as a concentrated solution suitable for analysis.

Abstract: A steering wheel having a built-in, anti-theft protection means is disclosed. The steering wheel is provided with two positions; a standard position used for the normal steering of the vehicle and an anti-theft position, wherein the lower and upper sections of the steering wheel are almost completely separated from each other thereby substantially rendering the steering wheel inoperative. The lower section has a first end with a releasable unit housed therein and a second end with a lockable unit housed therein. The upper section has a first end with a cavity for receiving the releasable unit and a second end with a head member for receiving the lockable unit. The second end of the upper section also has a device used for capturing the second end of the lower section while still allowing rotation therebetween when the locking unit is not in its locked position.

Abstract: Air chamber-type air pallets incorporate side-to-side linked air pressurized tubes or chambers in two integrated rows, having common members for adjacent chambers under air pressurization rendered rigid over a certain extent to rigidify the air chambers thereof which form load backing chambers in place of rigid backing members conventionally employed in air pallets maintaining the load footprint borne by the air pressurized backing chambers matched by that of the developed air bearing or air film by passage of compressed air through the pattern of perforations. Preferably, linked tubes of one row are laterally offset but integrated physically to those of a second row to both limit lateral shrinkage of linked tubes extending completely across the pin hole perforations within the thin, flexible bottom sheet partially forming such air pallets.