Abstract: A bicycle carrier adapted to be mounted on the rear of a vehicle. The carrier comprises first and second mounting members and a pair of horizontally spaced bicycle supporting arms connected to the mounting members. The mounting members are pivotably connected for relative rotation about a horizontal pivot axis between a plurality of adjusted positions. The carrier includes indicia corresponding to each of the adjusted positions of the mounting members, so that a user can quickly return the carrier to the same adjusted position. The supporting arms carry cradles formed of an elastic material for receiving a bicycle. Each cradle includes a curved supporting surface for receiving a bar of the bicycle frame, and an integral strap which can be extended over the bar to retain the bar within the cradle. An anti-sway bar hangs downwardly from at least one of the supporting arms for resisting swinging movement of a bicycle.

Abstract: The present invention provides a panel for use in an article carrier which has opposed sides which are generally connected by a material which include some form of a closure device. The panel is semirigid with interior and exterior faces. The interior face defines a chamber which opens to the interior of the article carrier and the exterior face defines a three dimensional structure. A method for forming the semirigid panel is also disclosed. The disclosed method provides a means for applying color to the three dimensional structure.

Abstract: A belt-mounted golf accessory holder for carrying golf items such as golf balls, tees, and ball markers on one's person. The belt-mounted golf accessory holder includes a container having back, side, bottom, and front walls, and also having a storage compartment disposed therein; and also includes a flexible flap being hingedly attached to the container and being fastenably closable over an open top of the container; and further includes an assembly of fastening the flap to the container; and also includes belt loop members being securely attached to the container for carrying the container upon a user's belt; and further includes a towel support member being connected to the container for supporting a golf towel.

Abstract: An assembly and method for performing a pool cut shot upon a pool table having a pocket, the assembly including a ball spotting laser supported by a frame, a table spotting laser also supported by the frame and laser mounting brackets orienting the ball spotting and table spotting lasers upon the frame so that upon operation of the ball spotting laser to illuminate a ball strike point upon a pool ball, the table spotting laser automatically illuminates a cut shot target point upon the pool table's surface, the method including steps of utilizing the assembly to illuminate the cut shot target point, and shooting a cue ball to roll over the illuminated cut shot target point, striking the pool ball at the ball strike point, and driving the pool ball into the pocket.

Abstract: A grocery-store shopping cart having a main container and an insulated inner container detachably secured within the main container and positioned substantially entirely below the plane of the main-container top edge and adjacent to one endwall thereof to leave substantial storage volume in the main container but outside the inner container, to facilitate diverse-condition grocery cartage. Preferred features include: the inner container being flush with or recessed below the plane to avoid interference during nesting; a hinged cover; and equal acute angles between (1) a main-container endwall and the plane and (2) an inner-container wall and the inner-container top.

Abstract: Load carrier bar (3) intended to be attached to roof rails mounted on a vehicle roof. The roof rails having two longitudinal rails (2) disposed at a distance from and substantially parallel to each other, the load carrier bar being fitted at each of its ends with a corresponding attachment arrangement (4) intended to be connected with a corresponding rail. Each attachment arrangement includes a connecting means (5), united with the load carrier bar and adapted to be attached to the rail. A tightenable clamp joint (6) encloses the rail and which when tightened unites the load carrier bar to the rail by a rigid and immovable joint. The clamp joint possesses a locking plate (7) which at its first end is hinged to a link (8) connected to the load carrier bar and at its second end is connected with the load carrier bar by means of a demountable tensioned joint (18).

Abstract: A method of playing with a ball and a U-shaped conduit having a uniform circular cross-section throughout its length and having opposite open ends so that either open end can discharge or capture the ball. The method comprises: holding the conduit so that the open ends are upright and the ball is in the center of the conduit, starting the ball moving back and forth by moving the conduit sidewise, as the ball rolls inside the conduit, moving the conduit in the opposite direction creating momentum on the ball so that it will travel farther up the opposite side of the conduit, and repeating the above steps until the ball is released from the conduit through an open end. The method may be carried out by a single player who repeatedly releases and captures the ball or by multiple players who take turns capturing and releasing the ball.

Abstract: A support for a spare tire for the tailgate of an automobile. The support is configured to receive an anchoring disk of the spare tire and is positioned in the thickness of the tailgate between an internal lining panel turned toward the passenger compartment of the vehicle, and an external body panel, so that the spare tire is flush with the extension of the external panel. The support is carried by an internal tubular frame of the tailgate that carries the hinge and locking mechanisms of the tailgate on the body shell structure, and to which the internal lining and external body panels are anchored.

Abstract: The present invention provides a convertible ladder and load platform including a vehicle articulating roof rack system having a selectively removable portion operable between a stowed roof mounted position and a slideably and pivotally repositionable back end mounted position, a stationary bottom portion received by the selectively removable portion of the articulating roof rack system, a removable top portion received by the stationary bottom portion, a frame received by the stationary bottom portion, and a plurality of rotatable steps operable between a vertically oriented ladder position and a horizontally oriented load platform position received by the frame.

Abstract: An improved gasketed mounting cup for an aerosol container wherein the mounting cup has a curvilinear channel portion and the gasket is a folded-over sleeve gasket, simulating the gasket thickness of a cut gasket; wherein the outer segment of the folded-over gasket is longer than the other gasket segment but of a limited length that will allow the ultimate positioning of the gasket without the longer gasket segment contacting the surface of the mounting cup and being wedged between the bead of the container and the mounting cup during advancement of the gasket into the mounting cup.

Abstract: A table saw such as a chop saw, a miter saw, compound miter saw or a sliding compound miter saw that is provided with a laser arbor alignment system. An opaque shield or transparent shield having an opaque mask blocks the laser beam from being projected into a range of normal operator eye positions. One or more openings in the shield or opaque mask provide a sight line on a workpiece initially. As the saw is moved into engagement with the workpiece, the shield is pivoted away from the workpiece and a solid laser line is projected on the workpiece.

Abstract: A sports skills training arrangement, which is provided to promote muscle memory of a user, includes an arm loop strap adapted for fittingly encircling an upper arm of the user, a tension strap having a first end and a second end attached to the arm loop strap, a body connector affixed to the first end of the tension strap for detachably attaching to a waist portion of the user, a waist adjuster defining a control portion of the tension strap between the second end thereof and the waist adjuster and a waist loop portion of the tension strap for fittingly fastening around the waist portion of the user, and a length adjustment buckle for adjusting a length of the control portion of the tension strap. Therefore, a distance between the arm and the waist portion of the user is limited to promote coordinated arm and body movements.

Abstract: A golf training apparatus that includes a first elongated flexible strip of a stance length, and a second elongated flexible strip of a ball distance length. According to an example of the invention, the first elongated flexible strip and the second elongated flexible strip include an area of loop-type material, or material that cooperates with hook-type material. The first elongated flexible strip and the second elongated flexible strip may then be joined to one another by providing a separate section of hook-type material or by incorporating hook-type material onto the first elongated flexible strip and the second elongated flexible strip.

Abstract: An apparatus which reduces the surface area with which a carrier film adheres to a die, including a plate member including laterally-spaced supports. Preferably, the apparatus also includes a vacuum source operatively connected to the plate member. Upon placement of a carrier film having an array of semiconductor dice adhered thereto onto the plate member, the dice are proximate the supports. The vacuum pulls air from the spaces between the supports, which partially releases the carrier film from the bottom surface of at least some of the dice. The apparatus may also include a die removal mechanism such as a vacuum collet type die pick-up mechanism, an extendable member die plunge-up mechanism, or a combination thereof. The present invention also includes a method for reducing the surface area with which a carrier film adheres to a die to facilitate removal thereof.

Abstract: A frame includes a plurality of L-shaped elbow members and tubes. Each elbow member includes two extension tubes and each extension tube has an open end and a hole is defined through a wall proximate to the open end. Each tube includes two open ends so as to be inserted into the open ends of the extension tubes of the elbow members. Each open end of each of the tubes has a hole defined through a wall proximate to the open ends. A C-shaped connection member is biased in the open end of each tube and has a protrusion which is inserted in the aligned holes of the tubes and the extension tubes.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of retaining a beach chair (or other object having metal tubing) on a bicycle (or other wheeled vehicle). The apparatus includes a metal plate, having a hole in its middle, at which it is attached to a bolt extending from the axle of the rear wheel of the bicycle or other vehicle. At one end of the plate is a metallic cylindrical clamp with an interior lining of rubber (or other elastic material). The aluminum tubing of a beach chair may be retained in the cylindrical clamp, to carry the beach chair on the vehicle. The cylindrical clamp has two longitudinal sections, that may opened and securely closed using a lever. There is a notch at the other end of the plate, by which it may be retained on the frame of the bicycle or other vehicle, to prevent it from turning on the axle.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a carrier for use with a printer that can support irregularly shaped substrates having a top surface. The carrier includes first and second planar members. The first planar member has top and bottom surfaces, a thickness, and an inner edge that conforms to an irregularly shaped outer edge of a substrate. The second planar member has a top surface that is coupled to the bottom surface of the first planar member. A recess, defined by the inner edge of the first planar member and the top surface of the second planar member, is adapted to receive the substrate such that top surfaces of the substrate and the first planar member are coplanar.

Abstract: A multi-lobed golf ball dimple is provided. The dimple comprises a plurality of lobes positioned radially around the center of the dimple. Each lobe comprises a first curved profile extending from the circumferential segment toward the center of the dimple and the first curved profile of each lobe abuts each other in an uninterrupted manner. The curvature of the circumferential segments can be defined by a ratio of an inside radius to an outside radius. The multi-lobed dimples are preferably arranged in a hexagonal array and are preferably arranged in an icosahedron pattern.

Abstract: A firearm rest for a firearm having a butt stock. The gun rest includes a base that may be slipped onto a belt and further includes an elastic line depending from the base. The elastic line forms a loop. The butt stock is placed into the loop and on the end of the loop opposite of the base. The elastic line is selected relative to the weight of the firearm to be carried such that the elastic line gives or stretches preferably only when the user is walking. With such a selection, the line absorbs the shock generated by the firearm instead of transmitting the shock into the body of the user such as into the back of the user. The size of the loop may be adjusted by tying knots at various points in the line. The base from which the shock or elastic line extends may be an apertured leather base, a base with a tapered slot for pinching a portion of the line to adjust the size of the loop, or a belt from which an elastic strap may depend.

Abstract: An artificial turf golf practice mat has a removable rectangular divot patch sized about four inches wide to simulate a real dirt divot on a fairway. The forward end of the pivot patch is anchored to the rubber base by some means such as a hook and loop, a clamp, or a permanent attachment to the artificial grass top layer. In action the divot patch is propelled away from the mat along with the ball to simulate various shots. A pair of alignment lines help the golfer position his feet and provide a putting exercise. A base for a tee is provided to allow practicing driving shots.