Abstract: Separate pedal cranks are provided for the front and rear riders of a tandem bicycle having a front wheel of substantially smaller diameter than the rear wheel. Such front wheel is carried by a front fork journaled in a steering head directly below the front seat. The front pedal crank is carried at the end of a support arm extending generally horizontally forward from the steering head so that the front rider pedals in a sitting position with his or her legs extending forward. The front fork is connected to a steering shaft journaled in an upright steering post located behind the front seat. A rear seat substantially higher than the front seat is supported on an upright saddle post spaced rearward from the steering post but sufficiently close thereto for steering control of the bicycle by the rear rider.

Abstract: Bruising of fruit in a fruit bin filling operation accomplished by mechanism including an elevationally adjustable endless fruit-depositing conveyor having fruit-carrying pockets is minimized by mounting the pocket dividers so that they may swing between a position substantially perpendicular to the endless conveyor and a position sloping outward and backward away from the direction of movement of the endless conveyor. This feature eases movement of fruit from the supply conveyor to the depositing conveyor and eliminates flipping of fruit out of the depositing conveyor discharge by the pocket divider behind the fruit being deposited. Also a slightly declined support plate is swingably mounted to the depositing conveyor discharge end and maintained in such slightly declined attitude as the depositing conveyor is swung about a horizontal axis to change the elevation of the discharge end of such conveyor.

Abstract: Wood shingle sidewall panels include a face layer of high-grade tapered wood shingles with their longitudinal edges in abutment, an intermediate layer of veneer and a backing layer of wood shingles tapered opposite to the taper of the face wood shingles. The shingle layers are bonded to the opposite sides of the veneer, respectively. Each sidewall panel shingle has a rabbeted longitudinal edge which when abutted to the adjacent shingle in the panel simulates the appearance of shingles individually applied to a wall.

Abstract: A spindle extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of a ski and parallel to the upper surface of the ski carries sole holder elements normally engaged against a ski boot to hold the ski boot on the ski. The spindle is disposed below the plane of the ski boot sole. If the ski boot exerts force in excess of a predetermined force against the sole holder elements either longitudinally or laterally of the ski, the sole holder elements swing forward about the axis of the spindle to below the plane of the ski boot sole to permit unimpeded movement of the boot. The spindle and the sole holder elements carried thereby are mounted on the ski for movement in a direction transversely of the ski. Release mechanism automatically permits the forward swinging movement of the sole holder elements when the spindle and sole holder elements have moved transversely of the ski a predetermined distance.

Abstract: A translucent intermediate sheet having a standard array of bingo numbers is sandwiched between transparent top and bottom sheets. Alterations to the card, such as by a cheater, to permit changing, adding or rearranging bingo numbers can be seen through the sheets.

Abstract: The nut of a guitar includes several separate string-clamping blocks forming a row extending laterally of the guitar strings with each string being fitted between adjacent blocks. A bolt extending through the blocks has an enlarged head engaging the block at one end of the row and is threaded into the block at the other end of the row. Turning of the bolt in one sense tends to move the end blocks toward each other, thereby clamping the strings between the blocks and preventing movement of the strings across the nut as the guitar is played. The bridge of the guitar includes a movable bridge mounting plate which can be manipulated so as to produce a tremulous tone effect. The low friction pivot mounting for the bridge mounting plate consists of a sharpened end of the plate received in a transverse groove of a mounting flange. Alternatively the bridge mounting plate can be locked in fixed position relative to the remainder of the guitar body.

Abstract: A cantilever boom supports a padded basketball hoop above a specified area of a playing surface in a normal horizontal position. The arm can swing universally to permit substantial vertical and/or sideways deflection of the hoop by the application of corresponding forces thereto, such as during the practice of dunk shots. Resilient members bias the hoop to its normal position.

Abstract: A soccer ball is suspended by a line from a horizontal arm cantilevered from an upright standard supported by a portable base. The height of the soccer ball can be adjusted by paying out or hauling in the appropriate length of line, and the line can be anchored to a cleat carried by the standard. The height of the ball is adjusted for a soccer player for instruction and practice of heading the ball. The standard is of knockdown construction for ease in transportation to a training site.

Abstract: A wood shingle panel includes an elongated backing sheet and a face layer adhesively bonded together, the face layer being composed of a double course of half-length shingle sections formed by severing standard full-length tapered wood shingles midway between their tip and butt ends. The butt end portions of the tip shingle sections are located adjacent to the lower longitudinal edge of the backing sheet and the tip end portions of the butt shingle sections are located adjacent to the upper longitudinal edge of the backing sheet. The butt end portions of the butt shingle sections are arranged along the central portion of the backing sheet and overlie the tip end portions of the tip shingle sections. The butt end portions of the butt shingle sections are rabbeted for receiving the tip end portions of the tip shingle sections in the rabbet. The lower margin of the backing sheet may be rabbeted beneath the butt portions of the tip shingle sections to overlap the upper margin of the next lower panel.

Abstract: A length of somewhat resilient yet deformable conductor wire is wound into a tight coil on a generally frustoconical mandrel. The coil is stretched axially inside the bore of an elongated, generally frustoconical antenna blank or casing such that the convolutions of the coil consecutively engage the inner periphery of the casing and are held against further movement. Liquid adhesive injected into one end of the casing in upright position sets to secure the coil to the casing. The resulting conical spiral antenna requires no inner core and is particularly adapted to mobile use such as on a car or a boat.

Abstract: The light source of an area light or streetlight mounted on a lamppost is enclosed by a lower upwardly flaring bowl having its upper end closed by a generally conical cap. The cap and bowl are made of polycarbonate pigmented by titanium dioxide so that the cap emits only light sufficient to enable its shape to be seen in darkness and the bowl is much more translucent to emit adequate light for illumination.

Abstract: A transparent shallow gently bulging substantially spherical segmental shield formed of polycarbonate resin protects a planar lens mounted in an aperture in a door of a conventional low profile streetlight. The shield shell is generally of the shape of a convex spherical segment with an altitude between one-eighth and one-fourth of the length of its base chord and has an external marginal flange. The curvature of the shell may be sharper adjacent to its margin than at its center. The shell may include a vent aperture to drain condensate liquid from the interior of the streetlight.

Abstract: Long shoulder straps have corresponding ends secured to a length of fabric and extend from one of its ends. The free ends of the long straps are connectible to the length at its other end or, optionally, generally midway between its ends so as to form closed loops for mounting the carrier on the shoulders of a user. In a preferred carrying position, shorter straps extend generally between the ends of the fabric length to maintain it in return looped condition forming a seat for an infant to be carried in sitting position. Different connections of the straps to the fabric length can be used for other carrying positions.

Abstract: An elongated lever arm has one of its end portions pivotally connected to an upright of a box frame and extends generally horizontally inward into the frame opening. A cable guided by one or more pulleys or rollers is connected to the other end portion of the lever arm and is pulled manually by a user to swing the lever arm. A force-applying or resistance element is connected between the base of the frame and any one of several points along the length of the lever arm between its pivot and the cable. The point of connection of the resistance element to the lever arm can be changed to adjust its effective force resisting swinging of the lever arm. A mechanical stop mechanism is provided to maintain the lever arm horizontal and to counteract the force of the resistance element so that the force adjustment can be made quickly and easily.

Abstract: An extraoral force-reaction device engageable with the wearer's head and/or neck, such as a headcap or a neckband, is connected to an intraoral force-applying device, such as molar bands, by helical spring force-producing means. Snapback of the force-applying means is controlled in response to stressing of the force-producing means beyond a predetermined maximum degree of force exerted by the force-producing means. Snapback control is effected by disconnectible connection means which can be disconnected to interrupt the application to the intraoral means of force capable of moving such intraoral means. The force to be exerted by the spring force-producing means can be readily adjustable in predetermined increments, such as by engaging a spring end hook selectively with any anchor post of several posts arranged in a row lengthwise of the spring.

Abstract: Production of a downwardly and forwardly directed reverse thrust discharged from a reverse-thrust duct is controlled .Iadd.during landing .Iaddend.by a door in the rearward-discharge duct having its rearward portion pivotally mounted for swinging of its forward portion between a position lodged in a recess in the side of the rearward-discharge duct and a position in which the forward edge of the door is spaced from the recess and the door is inclined to deflect jet exhaust from the rearward-discharge duct into the reverse-thrust duct branching from the rearward-discharge duct. The discharge end of the reverse-thrust duct can be closed by a second door and actuating .[.means.]. .Iadd.mechanism .Iaddend.interconnecting the two doors can move them simultaneously through proportionate degrees of movement.