Abstract: An expandable gate is described which includes a top horizontal guide rod, a bottom horizontal guide rod and vertical bar members extending from the top guide rod to the bottom guide rod. Each of the bar members has a top guide rod slot and a bottom guide bar slot and the top guide rod extends through each of the top guide rod slots and the bottom guide rod extends through each of the bottom guide rod slots. The vertical bar members may slide horizontally on guide rod members between an open expanded position where the bars are spaced further apart from one another and a closed collapsed position where the bars are closer together. The bar members each have spring connection holes at spaced locations between said top guide rod slot and said bottom guide rod slot. Elongated flexible tension bar springs are provided which lie flat when no forces are applied to the springs. Each of the bar spring have a central opening and have an elongated upper end opening and an elongated lower end opening.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a valve designed to be in series with a toilet water supply line and the inlet of a toilet tank so that water which is flowing into the tank must flow through the valve. The valve includes a shutoff spool that is actuated by an intensifier piston. When the water volume exceeds the tank capacity due to a failure of the float valve in the toilet supply tank, the shutoff spool is actuated by the intensifier piston allowing flow to the toilet to be blocked.

Abstract: A flashlight and attached lanyard strap includes a flashlight end having a generally cylindrical wall which has a notch therein. A folded lanyard strap held by a securing pin extends through a bridge opening into a notch chamber and extends outwardly away from the flashlight end through the notch. The arrangement allows the flashlight to be placed on a horizontal surface to shine light into the air (or onto a ceiling) and also allows movement of the lanyard without producing audible sound.

Abstract: A flashlight having a flashlight head and an electrically conducting battery chamber battery chamber is provided. The flashlight head has a light emitting object positioned therein and the battery chamber is adapted to be removably attached to the flashlight head. The battery chamber is also adapted to receive and make an electrical connection with at least one cell. A wave spring is positioned between said electrically conducting battery chamber and the flashlight head and the wave spring is at least partially compressed when the battery chamber is attached to the flashlight head. An electrical connection is made between the cell positioned in the battery chamber and the light emitting object through said wave spring.

Abstract: A safety strap for lifting barbells and dumbbells includes a wrist strap which is wrapped around and secured to the wrist of a user. A tongue is attached to said wrist strap which extends toward an open palm of a hand of the user. The tongue has a plurality sleeves which may receive a lifting hook member. The lifting hook member has a central portion and a pair of hooks. Each hook has a connection point located on a line of pull, an angled portion extending inwardly away from said line of pull and closer to the palm of a user, a downwardly extending portion, and an arcuate portion having an approximate midpoint positioned on said line of pull. With this arrangement, a bar positioned on the pair of hooks will remain at the approximate midpoint of said arcuate portions when lifted by said pair of hooks.

Abstract: A dumbbell lifting device is used to lift a dumbbell having a central bar member and attached free weight plates or solid cast. The device includes a body member, a pair of handle members which extend upwardly and outwardly away from the body, a tube member rotatably attached to the body and a pair of spaced apart stem hooks attached to the tube member. The hooks removably attach and hold a central bar member of a dumbbell and allow said dumbbell to be lifted upwardly and downwardly by the handle members.

Abstract: A flashlight is disclosed which includes a housing adapted to receive one or more battery cells and having a transparent lens on a forward end thereof. An LED light source connected to the cell is utilized in conjunction with collimating optics positioned adjacent the LED to refract rays of light from the LED forwardly. A first paraboloid reflector having a concave reflective surface is positioned within said housing to receive rays of light from the collimating optics and to reflect the rays rearwardly and a second paraboloid reflector having a concave reflective surface is positioned within said housing to receive rays of light reflected rearwardly from the first paraboloid reflector and to further reflect the rays forwardly through the transparent lens.

Abstract: A tendon anchor is used for attaching a tendon to a bone without sutures within a cylindrical bore drilled into the bone. The tendon anchor is adapted for insertion into the bore of a bone and has a generally elongated rectangular shape with opposite ends thereon. The tendon anchor has a transverse hole therein adapted to receive a central portion of the tendon and when the tendon anchor (with a tendon threaded into the hole therein) is inserted in the bore in the bone longitudinally, exerting force upon the ends of the tendon causes the tendon anchor to rotate to a partially transverse position within the bore thus forcing opposite end portions of the anchor into engagement with the cylindrical bore in the bone thereby securing the tendon in the bone.

Abstract: A reflector for flashlights and other light emitting objects is disclosed which includes a generally deep dish shaped reflector member having a reflective inner surface. The reflector member has a rear vertex end and a forward open end and has a depth greater than the average diameter of said forward open end. Preferably the depth is at least 1.2 times greater than said average diameter of the forward open end. Also the reflector preferably has an optical axis and having a focus point located thereon at a location less than 10% of the distance from the rear vertex end to the forward open end of the reflector.

Abstract: A wire rope clamp includes a U-shaped clamp member having a central fold. The clamp member has a first plate portion on one end of the central fold and a second plate portion on an opposite end of the central fold. The clamp member has a least one opening therein sized to allow at least one wire rope to pass therethrough. Such opening is located on said central fold between opposite sides of the clamp member. A tightening member urges the first plate portion and the second plate portion relatively closer together causing the plate portions to clamp onto one or more wire ropes located therebetween. The plate portions have embossments perpendicular to the rope direction that provide sufficient clamping grip.

Abstract: A plot planter includes a top valve, two finger pickup units, a bottom valve and a controller. A top valve including a sliding block movable between a first block position and a second block position and has a first seed chamber adapted to receive a first type of seed and a second seed chamber adapted to receive a second type of seed. A first finger pickup unit communicates with the first seed chamber when the sliding block is in its first position and a second finger pickup unit communicates with the second seed chamber when said sliding block is in its second position. A bottom valve has a first position which allows seed from the first pickup unit to be delivered to a seed tube for planting while collecting seed from the second finger pickup unit and has a second position which allows seed from the second pickup unit to be delivered to the seed tube for planting while collecting seed from the first finger pickup unit.

Abstract: A tendon anchor is used for attaching a tendon to a bone without sutures within a bore drilled into the bone. A first elongated anchor member and a second elongated anchor member each have opposite ends and have an engaging portion on at least one end thereof which are adapted to engage into a cylindrical wall of the bore in the bone. The first and second members have a channel provided in one end thereof for receiving and holding a central portion of a tendon during insertion and when in final position in the bore in the bone, the first and second elongated members engage one another at a location intermediate the opposite ends thereof. The members are adapted to move relative to one another in a scissor like fashion when the members are inserted into the bore of the bone they are in a substantially closed scissor position with the central portion of the tendon engaged and held in the channel of each member.

Abstract: The present invention provides an umbrella fan which includes a pole, an upper hub, main umbrella support members, a lower hub, lower umbrella support arms and a main umbrella fabric cover attached to the main umbrella support members. At least one fan member is attached to the main umbrella fabric cover and depends downwardly therefrom. A motor mounted to the pole is operably connected to at least one of the upper hub and the lower hub and is adapted to rotate the upper hub, the main umbrella support members, the lower hub, the lower support arms and the main umbrella fabric cover and at least one fan member relative to the pole. This causes the fan member to direct a flow of air downwardly when the motor is operating.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an exercise device which has a base, a vertical upright member attached to the base and at least one roller attached to the vertical upright member. A ratcheting hand crank is mounted to the upright member at a location spaced away from the roller. One or more lengths of exercise tubing are attached to the hand crank and extend at least partially around the roller. A second end of the length of exercise tubing which extends away from the roller is utilized by the user for resistance training. The amount of resistance can be adjusted by altering the available length of the exercise tubing with the hand crank.

Abstract: A weight plate lifting apparatus includes base member, an upright member attached to the base, a generally horizontal weight plate arm member attached to the upright member and a handle member attached to an upper portion of the upright member. The device allows the user to lift a desired number of weight plates by providing a handle at a location vertically above the weight plates thus reducing the distance toward the floor the user must bend.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a case for carrying and storing flexible elongated objects. The case includes a base member, which has an upper surface with a plurality of upwardly extending pegs. A lid is releasably attached to the base member with said pegs being in contact with said lid when said lid is in closed position. With this arrangement the elongated objects are restrained from movement by the pegs and tangling of the elongated objects is reduced.

Abstract: The present invention provides an umbrella fan which includes a pole, an upper hub, main umbrella support members, a lower hub, lower umbrella support arms and a main umbrella fabric cover attached to the main umbrella support members. At least one misting element is attached to the main umbrella support members to direct a misting spray downwardly to an area under the fabric cover of the umbrella.

Abstract: A tendon anchor is used for attaching a tendon to a bone without sutures within a bore drilled into the bone. The tendon anchor is inserted into a bore of a bone. The tendon anchor has a channel for receiving and holding a central portion of a tendon during insertion and when in final position in the bore of the bone. Opposite ends of the tendon extend out of the bore. A securing mechanism (preferably a screw) moves at least a part of the tendon anchor radially outward to securely engage the tendon anchor and the central portion of the tendon to the bone by urging at least a part of the first tendon anchor against a cylindrical wall portion of the bore in the bone. Thus, an anchor is provided without the need for sutures and the anchor may be inserted through the bore in the bone. In many cases, a second tendon anchor will also be utilized to attach the tendon to two different bones.