Abstract: Disclosed is a carpet cleaning machine having a revolving, cylinder-shaped, double-ended carpet cleaning member powered by a gear-driven drive shaft for removing dirty material from a carpet. In the improvement, the drive shaft is coupled to the first end and an idler shaft is coupled to the second end, is spaced from the drive shaft and supports the second end for rotation. Double-ended support of the cleaning member materially reduces problems arising from cantilever shafts used in prior art machines to drive cleaning members. Another embodiment has a centrifugal separator with an air stream exit mouth and two flow guides fixed with respect to such mouth. The flow guides have differing aperture areas and a cavity is between the guides for capturing material otherwise permitted to flow downstream and prematurely clog a mesh filter.

Abstract: Disclosed is an indicator device for visually in detail denoting the amount of filled dust in a dust container of a vacuum cleaner with time. The indicator device operates based on a vacuum pressure difference created between an air suction port and an outlet of the vacuum cleaner. A first plunger and a second plunger slidablely positioned in a first cylinder primarily decrease the vacuum degree in a dust collecting compartment and continuously display the amount of filled dust in the dust container. For this purpose, the first plunger is colored red and the second plunger is colored green. A third plunger slidablely positioned in a second cylinder secondarily decreases the vacuum degree in a dust collecting compartment. The user of the vacuum cleaner can notice the operating state of the vacuum cleaner or the replacement time of the dust container by observing the first plunger and the second plunger through a transparent window installed at a hood of the vacuum cleaner.

Abstract: A visor construction and an attachment to a visor are described which makes unlikely the unintentional removal of the visor or cap to which the visor is attached by wind. The visor, in accordance with the invention, has a cross-section from its front edge to its rear edge which resembles an inverted airfoil.

Abstract: A thermal mitten includes a first end portion containing an opening through which the user introduces his hand into a chamber contained within the mitten, the second end portion of the mitten containing a pocket for receiving a warming device to warm the user's fingers, characterized by the provision of a palm opening contained in the palm portion of the mitten, thereby to permit gripping of a steering wheel or the like by the palm portion of the user's hand. When the user's fingers are slipped out from the second end portion, the second end portion may be folded back toward a retracted inoperative position against the back of the mitten body portion, at least one restraining device being provided for retaining the second end portion in place with sufficient force as to permit a user to grip a golf club and strike a golf ball. A thumb portion is provided on the mitten which is foldable back to a retained position between the second end portion and the back of the mitten body portion.

Abstract: A head wear system including a sizing band and a hat. The sizing band is distinct from the hat. The hat comprises a bill and a cap having an opening at the back as well as a headband. The head wear system also includes a first and second adjustment means for selectively nondestructively attaching each end of the sizing band to the hat in a longitudinal relationship therebetween selected by the wearer. When the sizing band is attached to the hat by the first and second adjusting means, the sizing band extends across the opening of the cap. The head wear system also comprises an ornament, a cover means for accessorizing the hat, and an attachment means for selectively nondestructively connecting the cover means and ornament to the crown of the cap. One embodiment of the sizing band functions as a skin stencil and comprises a substrate transparent to ultraviolet radiation and a design opaque to ultraviolet radiation that is attached to the substrate.

Abstract: A vacuum is described which includes a housing having first, second, and third openings, a vacuum motor connected to the first opening of the housing, an elongated tube connected by one end to the second opening of the housing, and a receptacle removably connected to the third opening of the housing. The vacuum is useful for the removal and disposal of animal feces.

Abstract: The present invention is a face mask suitable for application to a skin surface of a person's face, the face mask comprising a plurality of facial mask segments of resilient polymeric foam, each segment conformable to at least a portion of the surface of the person's face and including a first surface, a second surface and a shaped peripheral margin, an adhesive attachment, suitable for use on the first surface of each segment and suitable for attaching the segment to the person's skin; and a decoration, suitable for application on the second surface of each segment, for decorating the face mask; wherein the plurality of facial mask segments cover substantially all of the surface of the skin of the person's face.

Abstract: A sun visor headgear includes a band for fitting around the head of a wearer and defining an opening for receiving the top of the head of the wearer, a front bill connected to the band and extending outwardly and downwardly therefrom for shielding the face of the wearer, and a chin strap attached to opposite side portions of the band rearwardly of the front bill and defining a loop for extending over the ears and under the chin of the wearer. The band and front bill are made integral with one another in a one-piece structure or, alternatively, the band can be a separate linear strip attached to the front bill. The band has a pair of rear edge portions defining the only location at it is attached to itself. The chin strap is made from a blank having a bow tie shaped configuration with opposite end portions attached to inner opposite portions of an upper edge of the band and interconnected by a middle portion.

Abstract: A multifunction head apparel is disclosed and configurable into a variety of protective forms to provide varying degrees of protection of a user's head and face from the surrounding environment. The accessory is characterized as having a hood portion which defines a face opening sufficient in size so as to permit a head to extend there through, and a neck portion wherein the neck portion has a proximal portion adjacent to the hood portion and a distal portion terminating at a neck opening. The length of the neck portion is sufficient to permit full coverage of the neck when the neck opening is involuted to terminate at or near the mid point of the face opening, thereby forming a dual layer of material surrounding the neck. In this manner, a single accessory can be configured to provide a hood with or without a face mask; a neck tube, with or without a face mask; and a hat.

Abstract: A carpet cleaning machine includes a centrifugal separator with an air stream exit mouth having a mouth area. The improvement involves two air flow guides having, respectively, first and second apertures. The area of the second aperture is less than that of the first aperture and the guides define an annular cavity between them. Such cavity "captures" dirty material that would otherwise pass downstream into a mechanical filter and prematurely clog such filter. A new, related machine nozzle and method for removing dirty material from air flowing in a carpet cleaning machine are also disclosed.

Abstract: A sport cap (10) has a visor (16) made of thick-walled neoprene foam rubber. The pattern of the visor (16) is approximately crescent-shaped and has an arched inner edge (24), which is sewed to the head-band (14) in straight stretched form. When in a used position the visor (16) has a middle convex curvature section (32) and two lateral adjacent concave curvature sections (34), whereby there is a uniform transition between each of the curvature sections. Due to this multiple curvature of the visor (16), the visor has a form stability when in use but is at the same time soft and pliable. The cap (10) with visor (16) can be transported while crushed together in any form desired. The visor (16) will always return to its original form once the cap is placed on the head.

Abstract: A new platform (sometimes referred to as a "caddy") for transporting a carpet cleaning machine includes a base for supporting the machine and a machine restraint mechanism for releasably coupling the machine and the platform to one another. The platform also has wheels (or an elongated roller-like wheel) mounted with respect to the base for rolling the base and the machine across a surface. The restraint mechanism has features preventing relative platform-machine movement along a single axis or, when the mechanism includes pairs of two different types of restraining members, along plural axes. A new method is used for transporting a carpet cleaning machine of the type having a carpet brushing apparatus and a brush drive motor. The method includes the steps of providing a transport platform having a base, energizing the brush drive motor and tipping the machine to transfer more weight onto a brush. Such weight transfer causes the apparatus to urge the machine onto the platform.

Abstract: A sweat band for absorbing and transferring moisture from the brow of a wearer's head including, an elongate body (10) having a generally tubular medial portion (11) for engaging the brow of a wearer's head and extending ends (12, 13) for securing the band about the wearer's head with the medial portion thus positioned, the medial portion of the elongate body formed of a porous cloth cover (15) on the outer surface thereof, a layer of porous batting material (25) disposed internally of the porous cloth cover in a generally tubular configuration, a surface skin (30, 31) on each side of the layer of porous batting material providing retention of and travel of moisture longitudinally of the layer of porous batting material, and securing elements (40, 41) retaining the layer of porous batting material and the surface skin in a predetermined position relative to the porous cloth cover.

Abstract: A visored cap is disclosed herein with a crown having an internal storage compartment when not being worn by the user and is provided with an elongated or cutout opening in the visor for grasping as a carrying handle by the user. A detachable cover is carried about the sweatband of the cap crown for enclosing the internal storage compartment when used for storage. The visor includes a sliding panel, a pivotal panel or a snap-on panel for selectively closing the cutout opening when the cap is worn by the user wherein the panel is translucent or transparent for accommodating visual observation. The closure for the cover with the cap crown may be of zippered or hook and pile construction.

Abstract: This invention modifies nearly any form of apparel, including baseball-style hats, by incorporating a portion of magnetic material into the article of apparel which allows for releasable attachment of a plurality of magnetic-based display panels.

Abstract: A woman's sports hat is disclosed. A pin configured to represent the sport the woman intends to play while wearing the hat is inserted through two openings at the front of the hat so as to secure the hat to the woman's head. The hat will then resist being blown off in the wind, or falling off during physical, sports related activity. To further relate the hat and sport together a logo representing the same sport as the sports pin is imprinted or otherwise affixed to one or both sides of the hat. Reversible hats and caps can have different logos on the inside and outside of the hat so that the hat can simply be turned inside out, and the appropriate sports pin inserted in order to make the hat suitable for different sports, as, for example, golf and tennis.

Abstract: The present invention is a protective garment comprising a puncture-resistant member disposed so as to protect the knee portions and forearm portions of the garment from injury from sharp objects. The protective garment of the present invention comprises an upper body portion comprising a torso portion and two arm portions and a trousers portion comprising a torso portion and two leg portions, and comprising a material providing abrasion resistance to the garment and providing thermal protection to the wearer. The dorsal forearm portions and ventral knee joint portions each comprise a puncture-resistant member disposed so as to protect these portions of the garment from complete puncture, thereby protecting the emergency worker from injury from sharp objects, such as hypodermic needles.

Abstract: A cap having a tactile and visual identifier of the source of the cap. The cap includes a crown portion and a brim. The brim has a topside and an underside. An emblem is placed on the underside of the brim. In one embodiment, the emblem is embroidered onto the brim to produce a design which is raised from the surface of the brim. When a wearer dons, removes or adjusts the cap, the wearer's thumb naturally comes into contact with the raised emblem. The tactile feel of the emblem serves to identify to the user the emblem on the cap. Further, the emblem provides a constant visual indication to the wearer of the emblem on the cap.

Abstract: A sunshade for use with a hard hat to provide shade and ultraviolet protection for the wearer comprises a vinyl disk with a hole dimensioned to receive the crown of a hard hat, the disk being covered with a washable fabric and having an elastic band sewn to the covering at the hole. The diameter of the elastic band is smaller than the diameter of the hole so that, at the point of attachment to the covering, the band is stretched radially outward and defines thereby a first portion of the band on one side of the disk and a second portion on the opposing side. The first portion grips the crown of the hard hat above the brim and the second portion wraps around the underside of the brim. The sunshade typically ranges in size from at least 16 inches to 20 inches in diameter.

Abstract: A headband magnifier comprises a one-piece polypropylene headband having a front portion, a back portion and two opposed sides where the back portion is disengageable so that the headband is movable between an at rest position and a compression position for the headband to provide a compressive force. This headband compressive force provides a comfortable tension for all head sizes. The headband magnifier further provides a flexible holding member having a continuous groove that facilitates interchangeability of lenses.