Abstract: A three wheel vehicle is provided with improved drive and handling characteristics, especially when turning. The three wheel vehicle includes a frame with a pair of front wheel and axle assemblies rotatably mounted on either side near the front of the frame. A rear fork, wheel and axle assembly is mounted at the rear center of the frame which is rotatable and laterally pivotable for turning the vehicle. Steering means are provided for rotating the fork and pivoting the fork laterally in a direction opposite the direction of turning the vehicle. Preferred drive means provide two wheel positive forward drive and pedal actuated independent dual braking.

Abstract: A marking means for a hose coupling expansion attachment machine automatically provides desired markings on the female hose coupled simultaneously with attaching it to a particular hose section. The marking means which is mounted on the front of the machine adjacent to the expanding means is in marking alignment with the curved periphery of the rotatable female external end section of a hose coupling. The marking means is linearly moveable between a nonmarking position and a marking engagement position so that as the marking means passes into and through the marking position, the female and section will be rotated to provide the desired marking on the curved periphery of the female end section. Rigid hollow circular cylindrical stamp arbors are utilized to prevent deformation of the hose couplings, and two or more expanding means stations can be utilized for either male or female couplings, or both, with only the female couplings being marked.

Abstract: A queen bee mating nucleus is provided which includes a housing and a removeable cover, with the cover having at least one bee ingress and egress opening therein. A removeable honeycomb rack is positioned lengthwise in the housing and carries a plurality of honeycombs perpendicular to its length with the honeycombs being parallel with each other. The honeycombs are centered in the housing spaced from the interior sidewalls of the housing to permit bees to move freely around the honeycombs carried by the rack. In addition, the rack spaces honeycombs carried thereby to permit bees to move freely between the honeycombs.

Abstract: A fish detecting fishing rod which includes a mercury switch mounted near the tip of the rod. A handle is provided on the lower end of the rod which has an electrical plug receiver at the base thereof. A holder sized to receive and hold the rod handle has an electrical plug to plug into the handle plug receiver. An electrical alarm and alarm power source are electrically connected to the holder plug, and the mercury switch and the handle plug receiver are electrically interconnected. When the rod tip is bent upwardly or downwardly, the mercury switch actuates the alarm to signal a fish strike.

Abstract: A process for preparation of support tooling for extruding dies is described in which a substantial reduction in machining is experienced by utilizing a pattern destroying precision casting system in which the pattern is adjusted to shrinkage and provided with a die orifice opening staged up in size to suit the particular support role of the tooling as in a backer or bolster. This is significant because such support elements are regarded as one-of-a-kind structures. Finish machining and treatment requires minimal time and at substantial energy reduction. The pattern is prepared from a destructible or vaporizable plastic material replaced by the molten metal conforming to the mold configuration.

Abstract: A cervical brace comprises independently adjustable chin support and occipital supports for constraining movement of the head in any direction. The chin support comprises a chin rest pivotably mounted on a front support mechanism that includes a stationary base member and a vertically adjustable front support member mounted on the front base member. The occipital support comprises an occipital rest for engaging the lower rear portion of the head and a rear support mechanism that includes a vertically movable rear support member mounted on a rear base member, with the rear base member including a pelvic support flange that rests on the pelvis of the patient so as to support the brace from the pelvis instead of the shoulders of the patient. The chin and occipital rests are connected together by means of rigid lateral slide supports, the length of which can be adjusted to move the chin and occipital rests closer together or further apart.

Abstract: A cargo carrier system including a tray-shaped base and an inverted tray-shaped removable cover. Means are provided for mounting the base to the roof of a vehicle and for attaching the cover to the base. The cover and the base have continuous flanges extending outwardly in a horizontal direction with continuous resilient sealing means between the flanges for preventing the entry of dust or water into the space between the cover and the base. Resilient sealing means are also provided around the peripheral bottom of the base for a secure and protective mounting and to prevent the entry of air into the space between the bottom of the base and the roof of the vehicle for improved aerodynamics and noise reduction. In a preferred embodiment, the cargo carrier includes means for attaching the inverted cover to a utility trailer thereby allowing the cover to be towed behind a vehicle as a cargo carrier. In addition, either the cover or the base can be used separately on a vehicle roof.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for treating sewage in which the combustible components of the sewage are separated from the sewage and utilized as a primary fuel. Scum is collected, preferably by skimming, from screened sewage. This scum comprises oils, greases, fats, water and intermixed solid material. The collected scum is then transferred to a separation tank. The scum is maintained within the tank in a quiescent and substantially nonagitated state for at least twelve hours, during which the combustible oils, greases, fats and the like are rendered separable from the other components of the scum. The scum is then conveyed from the tank to a processing unit where the fats, oils, greases and the like are separated from the water and solid material remaining in the scum. The resulting product is a combustible product and can be used as a primary fuel.

Abstract: A flipper door assembly for use on a cabinet or the like. A generally rectangular door sized to cover the desired cabinet opening is suspended by a rack and pinion suspension mechanism. The rack and pinion suspension mechanism includes a pair of gear racks mounted in the cabinet opening and a corresponding pair of pinion gears located above the gear racks and engageable therewith. The pinion gears are connected to each other by an axle shaft. Hinges are mounted to the upper inside surface of the door with the hinge pivots parallel to the top of the door. The ends of the hinges mounted to the door are flat and the other ends are L-shaped with the outermost end of each hinge being rotatably mounted on the axle shaft.

Abstract: An aquatic weeder is provided which includes an elongated handle with a generally rectangular, flat blade assembly rigidly mounted at the lower end thereof. The weeder includes a pair of support straps extending from the handle to each end of the blade assembly. The blade assembly includes a flat rectangular cutting blade sandwiched between a pair of rigid generally rectangular support plates. The aquatic weeder is useful for cutting and pulling weed growth from the underwater soil surface just above the root tops to leave the underwater area growth free.

Abstract: A container opener comprises an elongated plastic body having a hollow internal chamber, open at one end, such that a disposable cigarette lighter may be snugly inserted into the chamber. The opener has a recessed opening at the opposite end with its inner wall having a slot of a size and shape to receive the tab of a tab-top beverage container so that the container may be opened by upwardly pivoting the opener relative to the container. The recessed opening at the end of the container opener also provides a crown cap removing mechanism for removing a crown cap on a beverage bottle.

Abstract: An auxiliary mailbox marking attachment comprises a mounting strap transversely surrounding, and generally conforming to the shape of, the exterior top and sides of a mailbox. A portion of the mounting strap extends inwardly beneath the mailbox such that the mounting strap may be drawn tight to clamp around the exterior of the mailbox. A flag or other marking device is mounted on the mounting strap by a support attached to the mounting strap and serves as a visible indication of the presence of the mailbox.

Abstract: A barrel dog house is provided which utilizes a unique mounting means which comprises a bracket having a central mounting portion adapted to be mounted on a vertical pole and at least four radially extending barrel support arms. Two of the support arms are opposed side arms which are contoured to conform to at least the lower side wall contour of the barrel, and the other two of the support arms are generally horizontal opposing fore and aft arms. The mounting means is mounted to the top end of a vertical pole and a barrel is mounted on the mounting means with the barrel having an opening in one end for ingress and egress.

Abstract: A process is provided for producing hydrogen by combining an alkali metal with H.sub.2 O to produce hydrogen and an alkali metal hydroxide. The alkali metal hydroxide is then combined with an alkali metal to produce hydrogen and an alkali metal monoxide. The alkali metal monoxide is then processed through a series of reactions to reclaim the alkali metal for reuse in the hydrogen producing steps of the process.

Abstract: An auxiliary door opening device comprises an extendible motor driven rotatable output shaft that engages and rotates a pivot shaft of a conventional door closing mechanism. The pivot shaft is drivingly connected to a pair of pivotally connected arms of the door closing mechanism, such that rotation of the pivot shaft causes the arms of the door closing device to pivot, urging the door open. The door opening device is activated by a remote switching device so that a handicapped person may open the door with a minimum of effort. A limit switch causes the motor to shut off and the output shaft to retract out of engagement with the pivot shaft when the door is fully opened. A solenoid apparatus holds the door open long enough to allow a handicapped person to pass through the door before allowing the door closing mechanism to urge the door closed.

Abstract: A signage system includes a frame including a vertical support plate having horizontal sign mounting flanges on at least one side of the plate. Removable plate-shaped lettering inserts are mounted on the frame by mounting flanges on the back surface of the lettering inserts that mate with the mounting flanges on the support plate. The flanges are engaged by fitting the mounting flanges of the lettering insert endwise on the ends of the mounting flanges for the support plate and sliding the lettering inserts horizontally onto the frame. Removable end caps cover the ends of the frame and lettering inserts, with the end caps including at least two opposed resilient fingers that fit over and press resiliently against the opposite sides of the support plate to hold the end caps on the frame. The end caps are formed by joining together two identical halves.