Abstract: A safety restraint device, such as worn by a worker for preventing falls, employs a sliding ring which is mounted to the safety lanyard. The releasable snap hook of the safety lanyard may be engaged in the sliding ring to secure the safety lanyard to a fixed object.

Abstract: A system for growing and harvesting perennial, hedge-type, harvestable plants is provided which permits greater utilization of sunlight for photosynthesis, more efficient use of the land, and control of evapotranspiration through wind control. The plants are in rows, running in a substantially east-west direction, and are cut and harvested so that their "sun" surface(s) is not horizontal, but, rather, faces the direction of the sun's rays during the peak growing time of the day throughout the prime growing season of the year. The surface is generally cut to expose a maximum growing surface of the plant to sunlight and in this sense is analogous to solar collectors in solar home or hot water heating systems. The rows of plants are so spaced relative to adjacent rows to permit sunlight to fall on most of the planar surface of the hedge, but such that one row will not cast a dense shadow on a portion of another row.

Abstract: An intrusion alarm is encased within a housing hung from a doorknob by a conductive strap which makes electrical contact with the doorknob apparatus. A monitoring circuit within the housing is connected to the hanging strap for sensing capacitance changes corresponding to touching of the exterior portion of the doorknob apparatus by a would-be intruder. Alarm means within the housing are activated by the monitoring circuit to generate a local audible alarm or an FM transmission signal sent to a remote receiver or both. A latching circuit maintains the alarm means in an activated state after the capacitance coupled to the doorknob apparatus has been removed, and switch means on the exterior of the housing are provided for resetting the alarm to a non-activated state to permit sensing of a subsequent capacitance change. The alarm further includes means for temporarily disabling the alarm device for a predetermined period of time during which it may be touched without activating an alarm signal.

Abstract: A dispenser is provided for vaporizable materials such as deodorants and insecticides. The dispenser is adapted to create accentuated air flow over the materials either in the presence of ambient air flow or when the dispenser is moved through the air, for example, by being mounted on the back of a door. It dispenses far smaller quantities in the absence of air movement.The dispenser includes one or more material containers open at one end and mounted within a vented housing. The vents on the housing are positioned over a portion of the open end of the contained material, and are recessed in a concave area of the housing. The housing is spaced from the material container and has exit ports along its periphery. The containers preferably have a dividing partition passing part way down the material container to provide paths for the air to flow down one side and up on the other for better contact with the vaporizable material.

Abstract: A low cost, readily assembled container suitable for germinating seeds and supporting plant growth under balanced growth conditions includes a plastic base containing an integral series of germinating/root control means and a series of channels including means for regulating water/gas transmission, and a separate soil containment means which can be assembled in some of the channels thereby defining a container for the soil. The invention also includes methods of germinating seeds and growing plants using the container of the invention.

Abstract: A readily adjustable, moisture retainable, air transferable soil covering, integral with fertilizer and, if desired, fungicide is provided that may be used with indoor plants. The soil covering is made up of a biodegradable cellulose paper and film covering having thereon water soluble beads of fertilizer or fungicide. The covering has been perforated in a series of concentric circles together with at least one radial perforation so that the unit may be torn radially to the proper size for the pot, may have an opening in the center for the stem of the plant, and may be torn radially to allow insertion of the stem.The same type covering may also be utilized in rolls for gardens and can be perforated in regular design for regular spacing of plants.

Abstract: A holder for supporting or carrying an article, obtained from a die cut blank of flexible sheet material such as thermoplastic sheet, may be used to prepackage containers of the throw away type in vertical stacked relationship. The holder may also serve as a convenient carrier for beverage and similar containers at the point of sale. The article holder finds further advantageous use as an effective support for balanced vertical suspension support for flower pots and similar articles. The blank may be die cut from sheet which remains flat until ready for use and may also include thermoformed portions.