Abstract: A legging (20) for a horse includes a flexible rim (30) to which is attached a fly netting (40). Three resilient polyurethane foam columns (42, 44, 46) are vertically disposed between the top (36) and bottom (38) of the rim to provide vertical rigidity. The legging is wrapped around the lower leg (700) of the horse and is secured in place with hook and loop fasteners (52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62). The rim and columns space the netting from the leg so that horse flies cannot bite the leg and also allow improved air circulation.

Abstract: A sander (20) for a bullnose cornerbead (500) includes a body (22) having a bullnose-shaped concave surface (24) having a second radius of curvature (R.sub.2) greater than the first radius of curvature (R.sub.1) of the bullnose cornerbead (500). A flexible pad (26) is disposed on concave surface (24), and forms a third radius of curvature (R.sub.3) which is greater than first radius of curvature (R.sub.1), and less than second radius of curvature (R.sub.2). Pad (26) does not fully extend to the edges (34) and (36) of sander (20), thereby leaving two gaps (38) and (40). A sheet of abrading material (700) such as sandpaper or emery cloth is clamped adjacent to flexible pad (26) and around concave surface (24) of sander (20). A handle (800) is connected to a pivotable connector (48) which only pivots in one plane (50).

Abstract: A collapsible cargo container (20) includes a lower portion (22) which is surrounded and slidably received by an upper portion (44). Upper portion (44) may be raised and locked in a fully extended position wherein collapsible cargo container (20) has the dimensions and connection interfaces of a conventional cargo container. Alternatively, upper portion (44) may be lowered onto lower portion (22) so that the volume of collapsible container (20) is approximately one-half that of a convention cargo container. A plurality of connectors (70) hold the walls of the upper portion (44) and lower portion (22) together in either the fully extended or fully collapsed positions. Four hinged corner posts (36a-d) permit upper portion (44) to reside on lower portion (22) in either a fully extended or fully collapsed position.

Abstract: A locking device (20) for locking an umbrella (503) to a table includes an umbrella pole-receiving sleeve (22) having a first hole (24), a pin-receiving sleeve (28) perpendicularly connected to the umbrella pole-receiving sleeve (22) so that pin-receiving sleeve (28) is axially aligned with first hole (24). The pin-receiving sleeve (28) has two contrapositioned holes (32 and (34) which are sized to receive the shackle of a conventional lock (500). A pin (36) is slidably received by pin-receiving sleeve (28) and the first hole (24). Locking device (20) is placed around the pole (502) of the umbrella (503) in a location below the table top (506). Pin 36 is aligned with and inserted into a thruhole (504) in pole (502). A conventional lock (500) is then used to hold pin (36) in place within thruhole (504) thereby locking locking device (20) around the pole (502). Since locking device (20) is larger than the pole-receiving hole in table top (506), umbrella (503) cannot be removed from the table.

Abstract: A lighting toothbrush (20) includes a body (22) which carries a motion-sensing switch (26), a plurality of light emitting devices (30), a timer (32), and a battery (34). As lighting toothbrush (20) is oscillated, motion switch (26) closes sending a signal to timer (32) which applies a voltage waveform (50) to lights (30). In a preferred embodiment, timer (32) causes lights (30) to be sequentially illuminated thereby producing a "twinkle" effect. Also, in a preferred embodiment, all of the components are permanently encapsulated within transparent body (22).

Abstract: A decorative holder for a baby bottle includes a flexible arm having a bottle receiver at one end and a clamp at the opposite end. A decorative cover in the form of an animal is removably wrapped around the flexible arm, with the animal's head near the bottle receiver and the animal's groin near the clamp. A baby bottle is placed in the bottle receiver, the clamp is attached to a support structure such as a crib, and the flexible arm is positioned so the baby can feed.

Abstract: An adjustable magnetic jig 20 includes a first magnetic holder 22, and a second magnetic holder 26. A pivoting joint 30 connects the first 22 and second 26 magnetic holders, so that the angle A between the holders may be selectively adjusted. Pivoting joint 30 is also selectively lockable so that angle A can be fixedly maintained. Jig 20 is particularly useful in holding magnetic workpieces 500 in a desired physical relationship so that the two workpieces 500 can be welded together.

Abstract: A system 20 for measuring the initial velocity vector of a ball 500 includes a first light sensing array 24, a first light source 28, a second light sensing array 30, and a second light source 32. The ball 500 has an initial position 22. When the ball 500 is struck, at time T1 it casts a first shadow position 36 on first light sensing array 24, and at time T2 it casts a second shadow position 42 on second light sensing array 30. A first plane 38 is formed by initial position 22, first light source 28, and first shadow position 36. A second plane 44 is formed by initial position 22, second light source 32, and second shadow position 42. The line of flight 37 of ball 500 is defined by the intersection of planes 38 and 44. A slant distance D.sub.s is determined, whereby the speed S.sub.b of ball 500 is defined as S.sub.b =D.sub.s /(T2-T1). The velocity vector is then S.sub.b in the direction of line of flight 37.

Abstract: A game board (20) for playing chess or checkers, and the like, for two or more players. Each side of the game board (20) has seven edge stations or playing squares, (e1) through (e7), of two alternating contrasting colors, seven first interior stations, (f1) through (f7), also of two alternating contrasting colors, seven second interior stations, (s1) through (s7), also of two alternating contrasting colors, and a central area (ca). In a preferred embodiment in the initial playing position a first castle occupies e1, a first bishop occupies e2, a first knight occupies e3, a king and a queen occupy e4, a second bishop occupies e5, a second knight occupies e6, and a second castle occupies e7.

Abstract: A method of playing a wagering game 20 between a plurality of players includes dealing four-card hands from a standard 52 card deck to each player, including a player-banker. The cards have numerical values, ace equals one, face cards equal ten, and two through ten equal their respective face values. The players are afforded the opportunity to (a) draw one additional card, or (b) stand with the dealt cards. The object of the game 20 is to have three cards which total to one of ten, twenty, or thirty. The winning hand is then determined by either (a) the fourth card with the highest numerical value, or (b) the least significant digit of the total of the fourth and fifth cards with the highest numerical value. If neither player has three cards which total to one of ten, twenty, or thirty, then the hand is a push and no wager 500 is won by either player.

Abstract: A method of playing a wagering game 20 between a plurality of players includes first determining if the hand is to be played even or odd, and then dealing two-card hands from a standard 52 card deck to each player, including a player-banker. The cards have numerical values, ace equals one, face cards equal zero, and two through ten equal their respective face values. The players are afforded the opportunity to (a) draw one additional card, or (b) stand with the dealt cards. The object of the game 20 is to have the highest least significant digit of the total of the cards, either two or three cards as may be the case, and to have the least significant digit (LSD) be even if the hand is played even or have LSD be odd if the hand is played odd. If the least significant digit of the total of the cards of neither player is even if even was selected, or is odd if odd was selected, the hand is a push (tie) and no wager 500 is won by either player.

Abstract: A holder (20) for golf clubs includes an upper rack (22) for woods, a lower rack (44) for irons, and a central support tube (36). Woods are downwardly inserted into sockets (26) in the upper rack (22) with the club shafts and grips residing inside the support tube (36). Mesas (30) on the upper rack (22) capture the head of the wood and prevent it from rotating or otherwise contacting the heads of adjacent clubs. Irons are downwardly inserted into sockets (58) in the lower rack (44). In the playing position, the blade (600) of the iron protrudes outwardly from the lower rack (44) for easy access. In the storage position, the blade (600) of the iron is retained by a pair of pegs (60). A centering means (40) is attached to the support tube (36) to keep the holder 20 centered within a golf bag 700.

Abstract: An apparatus (20) for practicing sliding into a baseball base (502) includes a first baseball (22) connected by a first tether (24) to a support structure (30). The length (L) of first tether (24) is adjusted so that first baseball (22) is suspended between approximately one and six inches above the ground (500). First baseball (22) is swung in pendulum fashion, and a sliding player attempts to touch a baseball base (502) without being hit by the swinging first baseball (22). In another embodiment, a second swinging baseball (42) is added.

Abstract: A method of playing a wagering game 20 between a plurality of players wherein each player places a wager 500 and an action player is selected. Commencing with the action player, hands of any one of a plurality of different games are dealt to the players (step 28). The action player and the next sequential player expose and compare hands (step 30). The winning player collects the wager 500 of the losing player (step 32). Play continues with the next sequential player exposing his/her hand and comparing it with the hand of the previous winner (step 34). The winning player collects the wager 500 of the losing player (step 36). The steps of exposing and comparing (step 34), and collecting (step 36) are repeated sequentially until all players have participated. In a preferred embodiment, players are afforded the opportunity of placing first 601, second 602, and third 603 wagers, each of which is apportioned in the above manner.

Abstract: A method of playing a wagering game 20 wherein a plurality of players select sets of winning numbers (step 26). Play includes the players placing wagers (step 24), the dealer dealing two cards face up (step 28), the dealer comparing the numeric sum of the two face up cards with the selected sets of winning numbers (step 34), and the dealer distributing one-half of the pot to each player whose winning numbers include the numeric sum of the face up cards (step 36). If the face up cards are equal to two predetermined key cards (step 30), the dealer and players implement a bonus playing procedure (step 32).

Abstract: A retainer (20) for attaching wiring (100), such as a continuous strand of decorative Christmas lights, to objects such as facia, rain gutters, eaves, walls, ceilings, and windows is disclosed. The retainer (20) has a receiving means (34) for accepting and holding the wiring (100). The retainer (20) can be attached to the object by the use of an adhesive (42), by the use of a fastener (358), or a combination of the two.