Abstract: A hair roller has a multi-layer construction, with all layers being soft and comfortable to allow the user to wear the hair rollers during sleep. The hair roller has an inner cellular foam layer, a compressible intermediate layer made of d-suede or velvet and an outer layer made of satin or silk. The roller may have a solid core. Pair of chenille cord securing members extends from opposite ends of the cylindrical roller body to allow securing of the hair roller in place after a strand of hair has been wound on the roller body.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for preventing communication through pipe lines of high security institutions. A flapper valve is provided with a valve seat having a plurality of teeth extending into the center of the opening formed in the valve seat. A pivotal flapper opens or closes the valve by abutting a seating face of the valve seat or moving away, under the force of a fluid flow, and allowing passage of waste water from a plumbing fixture to the main waste conduit. A water trap seal is optionally and/or separately mounted for delivering an additional amount of water into the conventional waste trap to fill in the waste trap with fluid and prevent undesirable communication. An independent conduit connected to a water supply deilvers water to a reservoir which is fluidly connected with a conventional jet conduit of a waster system upstream from an outlet point of the jet conduit into the main waste trap.

Abstract: The invention relates to a propeller assembly, particularly suitable for use with axial flow pumps. The propeller assembly is provided with a cam-operated rotatable propeller blade compression shaft which rotates in response to a detected increase load on the propeller blade. An elongated rod connected to a power source transmits movement to a spring which, in turn, transmits the movement to the cam. To accommodate tilting of the propeller blade during changing of the pitch, a hub outer surface is formed convex and the inner surface of the enclosing shroud is formed concave. The radii of curvature of the hub and the shroud are generally complementary to the radius of curvature of the inner and outer surfaces of the propeller blade, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an upper body exercising device for use while jogging, comprising a non-continuous collar for positioning around a user's neck attached by a strap to a lightweight tossing object.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for preventing communication through pipe lines of high security institutions. A flapper valve is provided with a valve seat having a plurality of teeth extending into the center of the opening formed in the valve seat. A pivotal flapper opens or closes the valve by abutting a seating face of the valve seat or moving away, under the force of a fluid flow, and allowing passage of waste water from a plumbing fixture to the main waste conduit. A water trap seal is optionally and/or separately mounted for delivering an additional amount of water into the conventional waste trap to fill in the waste trap with fluid and prevent undesirable communication. An independent conduit connected to a water supply delivers water to a reservoir which is fluidly connected with a conventional jet conduit of a waste water system upstream from an outlet point of the jet conduit into the main waste trap.

Abstract: An enclosure for an electrical distribution unit which includes a transformer provides for a semi-buried positioning of the transformer to allow easy access to electrical conductors of a power source. The enclosure includes a housing unit and an underground vault within which at least part of the housing unit is positioned. The housing unit extends partly above the ground, so as to allow easy access to connections for the distribution unit from the ground level. An inclined front wall of the housing unit facilitates such connections. A hingedly attached cover closes a part of the inclined front wall of the housing unit above the ground and prevents adverse effects of the environment on the electrical distribution unit positioned within the housing unit.

Abstract: The invention relatres to an Air/Sea Rescue Device to allow retrieval of persons or objects floating near the surface of water for use with a rescue helicopter. The device provides for the use of an upper frame which is attached to the skids of the helicopter and a lower net frame which is spaced from the upper frame by a plurality of support bars extending between the upper frame and the lower net frame. A scoop-like net is carried by the lower net frame, the net having an open front end and an open top to facilitate positioning of the retrieved persons or objects within the frame even without any cooperation from the persons or objects to be rescued, and the objects are in full view of pilot at all times.

Abstract: This invention relates to filtering or straining of fluids where the suspended solids removed by filtration must eventually be discharged from the filter as a "dry cake" discharge. The apparatus provides for the use of a central flow tube positioned within a filter element which is connected to a filter element drain pipe through a valve, which in case of multiple filter elements within a filtration vessel, controls draining of all elements. To assist in detecting a defective or malfunctioning filter element, a sample conduit with a sample valve is provided independently for each filter element.

Abstract: A pen holder is adapted to be attached to a spring of a clip-board. The spring has a U-shaped portion. The pen holder has a recess for holding a pen. A notch and a pair of grooves are formed in the base portion for receiving the pivot axle and the legs of the U-shaped portion of the spring. The width of the base portion is arranged such that the pen holder can be retained in position by the engagements between the notch and the pivot axle and between the grooves and the legs of the U-shaped portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for protection against coastal erosion. The protection barrier is formed from a plurality of protection members which are secured together to form a mat of a desired configuration. Each protection member which is formed as a toroidal body, preferably from a discarded tire casing, is at least partially filled with concrete which is deposited about the circumference of the tire casing and occupies not more than one half of the interior chamber formed by the wall of the tire casing. To facilitate preparation of the protection member for use, a conical insert is provided. The tire casing is lowered down over the conical insert, moving towards the wided base of the insert until a lower bead of the casing rim frictionally contacts the wall of the insert. Concrete is then admitted onto the wall of the insert and moves by gravity into the interior chamber, partially filling it.

Abstract: An improved tubeless tire inflation device, for sealing between a tubeless tire and a rim during the tire inflation process, is provided, comprising a sleeve having an inside diameter not greater than the largest outside diameter of the tire rim, the sleeve having an axial length such that the sleeve may sealingly span between the rim and the tire. The sleeve is composed of a resilient material, such as belted rubber, which is deformable, yet retains sufficient strength and shape to provide the desired seal between rim and tire. The sleeve is further provided with a layer of compressible material around its entire circumference on at least one end.

Abstract: Combinable toy blocks including at most two different type of units which both are cubic. A first unit has a protuberance formed on at least one surface thereof and a depression is formed on each respective remaining surface thereof. A second unit has the depression formed on each respective surface thereof. The depression is fittable to the protuberance. The units are joinable to be plurality of different pieces. Furthermore, the different pieces are joinable to be a square or a cube.

Abstract: The invention relates to hair rollers and provides for the use of a cylindrical tube rolled from a rectangular sheet of flexible material, the sheet having an outer edge which overlaps a portion of the tube. The tube has a pair of opposing transverse edges, each of which is engaged within a spiral groove formed in opposing caps. The caps are rotationally mounted on an elongated shaft, such that rotation of the disks causes advancement of the transverse edges within the spiral groove, changing the diameter of the outer tube, as desired.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of making decorative ornaments of personalized nature. The method provides for the use of a three-dimensional ornament which is covered by a coating having acrylic resin and then one-color outline of a design is printed on the coating. The space formed within the outline of the design serves as a coloring space for an individual. A second method provides for the use of a heat-shrinkable plastic sleeve positionable about an object and exposable to heat to cause shrinking of the sleeve to conform to the shape of the ornament. In this embodiment, a one-color outline is imprinted directly on the sleeve prior to positioning of the sleeve on the three-dimensional ornament.

Abstract: A floating drilling and production unit comprising two independently floating bodies: (1) an outer, larger, substantially cylindrical buoyant caisson with an enlarged skirt around its lower perimeter to dampen sea-induced motions and (2) a wellhead buoy captured within the central well of the outer caisson. The outer caisson supports the weight of the drilling platform, machinery, storage and living quarters and is ballasted and anchored in a manner similar to a conventional semisubmersible vessel. The constant tension buoy supports the wellheads of completed wells and is held in a constant position relative to the ocean floor much like a tension leg platform by the production risers of completed wells, tendons, or a combination of tendons and risers. Production risers are kept taut by the buoyancy of the constant tension buoy. The constant tension buoy has a tapered shape that minimizes contact and interaction between the wellhead buoy and the caisson.

Abstract: A stretching device for stretching a pleated lampshade, comprising an upper ring which inserts into the notches of the lampshade and a lower ring, both mounted on a threaded spindle, with the lower ring fixed or slidably retained and the upper ring slidably retained thereon. An adjusting nut is provided above the upper ring and a compression spring is received on the shaft between the two rings to bias the upper ring toward the adjusting nut.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition which is designed to be used as a cleaning agent and oil dispersant. The composition has a number of active ingredients mixed with water. The solution provides for the use of such active ingredients as sodium lauryl sulfate, cocamidopropyl betaine, ethoxylated nonylphenol, lauric acid diethanolamide, diethanolamine and propylene glycol. Preferred compositions contain the following ingredients mixed in an aqueous base: from 0.02% to 2.25% by total weight of sodium lauryl sulfate, from 0.02% to 1.95% by total weight of cocamidopropyl betaine, from 0.002% to 0.25% by total weight of ethoxylated nonylphenol, from 0.04% to 4.25% of lauric acid diethanolamide, from 0.02% to 1.85% by total weight of diethanolamine and from 0.02% to 1.85% by total weight of propylene glycol.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for removal of suspended matter from a liquid, such as used for treatment of oil containing water. A cylindrical horizontal vessel is divided into a single gasification chamber and a single degasification chamber by a partition which extends through the interior chamber of the vessel and allows fluid communication between the two chambers. A liquid to be treated is introduced through distribution header(s) adjacent a bottom of the vessel and/or an alternative inlet nozzle which is combined with a gas eductor in order to achieve a more intimate mixture of the gas and liquid. The gas eductor has its outlet slightly above the outlet of the distribution headers.