Abstract: The invention provides a new method of recycling recyclable waste products suited for household use wherein the container is a plastic injection-molded container having a monolithic body formed from plastic resin and includes a pair of integral compartments. Fibrous waste is placed in one compartment and nonfibrous waste comprising rigid and semirigid container, e.g., glass jars, metal beverage and food cans, plastic bottles and glass bottles are placed in the other compartment so as to presort the recyclable articles. The container is then taken to a collection point where the presorted products can be picked up by a recycling collection contractor and maintained separate from one another during transport to a recycling center.

Abstract: Described is a discharge container mat for use under most barbecues in order to over come the problems associated with the dripping and spilling of grease and fat which falls from barbecues, mostly during the cooking process. The discharge container mat, by virtue of a combination of multiple projections in the surface of the mat and a retaining wall, provides a means of effectively catching and retaining such drips. In an embodiment of the mat there is further provided a filter means which allows for the release of water from the container portion of the mat whilst retaining the collected grease and fat.

Abstract: The present invention is a self-contained, six sided, reusable container for goods, having both an assembled form and a collapsed form. The container includes a bottom, a top, two ends, and two sides. In the collapsed form, the ends and sides are stored between the top and bottom, thus achieving the desired low return ratio to promote reuse of the container. Preferably, the ends are hinged to the bottom and fold inwardly onto the bottom. The sides and ends are interconnected while the container is in its assembled form. This interconnection is achieved using a corner hook latching mechanism that is easily attached and detached. The latching mechanism has the useful property of forming a connection on both sides of the structure, thus allowing the front side of the container to be stored by connecting it to the back side, even when the back side is attached to the ends. Such storage is particularly useful during unloading of the container contents.

Abstract: A method for adding gasoline to a gasoline tank of a motor vehicle. The method employs expandable hollow gasoline container having a top and a base. Accordion pleaded walls are coupled to the top and to the base. The expandable gasoline container also includes an expandable orifice member; a cylindrical conduit connected to the top where through gasoline is added to fill the gasoline container; and a handle assembly engaged to the cylindrical conduit.

Abstract: A lockable lid support that includes a mounting bracket, an arm, pivoting apparatus, and sliding and locking apparatus. The mounting bracket is removably mounted to a lid of a box that is pivotally mounted to a lower portion of the box. The arm is pivotally mounted at one end to the lower portion of the box and slidably and locking mounted at another end to the mounting bracket. The pivoting apparatus pivotally mounts the one end of the arm to the lower portion of the box, so that the lid of the box can be pivoted relative to the lower portion of the box from 0 degrees to 180 degrees. And, the sliding and locking apparatus slidingly and lockingly mounts the other end of the arm to the mounting bracket, so that when the lid of the box is pivoted relative to the lower portion of the box to a desired position the lid of the box is maintained in the desired position.

Abstract: A heat insulative cup holder includes a cup-like holder base, a plurality of springy retaining members fastened to lugs inside the holder base for holding down a cup in the holder base by, and an anti-skid rubber packing ring mounted in an outside annular groove on the holder base for supporting it on a flat surface.

Abstract: A roof bow for an open top container, which comprises a first end pin which extends from a first end of said roof bow, wherein said first end pin is insertable into a hole of a first container wall bracket, a second end pin which extends from a second end of said roof bow, wherein said second end pin is insertable into a hole of a second container wall bracket, and a pin for securing said roof bow to said open top container. The second pin has a length which is greater than the length of said first end pin, and further, the second end pin has a hole at a lower portion thereof for receiving said securing pin.

Abstract: A container, such as a cup, adapted to fit securely in most vehicle container receptacles, with a lower body portion of a diameter to fit standard vehicle container receptacles. The lower body portion is comprised of fluted sides that provide strength and support to the lower body portion and facilitate material flow in manufacture so that the container can be made of an ultra thin material and yet hold a large volume of liquid.

Abstract: A pressure vessel suitable for use in an automotive air-conditioning system includes a cylindrical body (10, 40) including an annular wall (14, 44). The cylindrical body preferably includes an opposite closed end, an initially opened end (12, 42), and a closure member (20, 50) inserted into the open end of the cylindrical body. The closure member and the cylindrical body each have extensions or annular flanges (28, 58) which are spin welded together. The cylindrical body is fused to the closure member when the annular flange (28, 58) of the closure member is spin welded to an annular, outermost portion (18, 48) of the cylindrical body. The closure member and the cylindrical body are further locked together by inwardly rolling a portion of the annular wall into an annular groove (30, 60) and an outermost surface of the closure member.

Abstract: Switchgear is provided including an enclosure for pad-mounted installation. The enclosure includes large lift-up cover panels in combination with removable front panels so as to provide unobstructed access to the interior of the enclosure. In a preferred arrangement, the enclosure houses switchgear that includes low-voltage control and viewing arrangements that are operable from a first side of the switchgear and medium-voltage cable terminations that are accessible from a second side of the switchgear opposite the first side, the enclosure providing access to the low-voltage arrangements while providing isolation from the medium-voltage arrangements. The enclosure also includes protection from the environment in the area of the lift-up cover panels while also providing collapsible lifting members.

Abstract: The combined food plate and beverage-holding article comprises a generally flat compartmentalized rib-reinforced plate body having an upstanding truncated cone. The cone has an open upper end for receiving a beverage container. A support base is pivoted inside the member between a first position lying horizontal adjacent the base of member 14 to support a beverage container received through the upper opening and a second position lying against an interior wall of the member for use with stem glasses wherein the bowl may be supported by the upper margin of the member and the flat base of the stem glass to extend through the open lower end of the member. The support base may be locked in a first position and releasably retained in its second position. A slot is formed adjacent the base of member 14 for receiving and supporting the flat base of a stem glass having a bowl smaller in diameter than the diameter of the upper opening of the member.

Abstract: A bracket which supports flow control valves within a fuel tank, is provided with impact absorbing portions for absorbing the impact by deformation. The impact absorbing portions include first to fourth bending portions which are disposed in parallel along an impact input direction, which each have a different rigidity and which are connected by supporting portions. Accordingly, an impact force at a time of collision is not directly applied to the valves.

Abstract: An oblique frustro-conical hollow insert for placement within a paint cup of a siphon spray gun to restrict and reduce an internal area surrounding an intake hole of a vacuum tube of said spray gun so that the insert itself, and not the paint cup may be filled with a small volume of paint for spray painting a small surface area.

Abstract: An ice retaining apparatus for use in a drinking vessel comprises a generally semi-circular surface which defines a plurality of orifices therethrough. The ice retaining apparatus includes retaining clips which are coupled to the semi-circular surface on either end of a diameter of that surface. Preferably, the retaining clips are coupled to the semi-circular surface in a fixed angular relationship defining an obtuse angle in relation thereto. The surface defines a slot therein which, due to the flexible nature of the surface, allows the slot to be widened and narrowed, thereby allowing the geometry of the surface to be varied. Additionally, to accommodate a users nose while drinking, the apparatus may include an aperture along the diameter of the semi-circular surface. The ice retaining apparatus is positioned within a drinking vessel by the retaining clips. The semi-circular surface then acts to block solid objects within a beverage while allowing the liquid to flow freely through.

Abstract: This invention provides a convenient way to pour paint (or other liquids) from a paint can. The invention is comprised of a pour spout device that fits, in saddle fashion, directly onto the inner ridge of a paint can, formally occupied by the paint can's lid, by means of a ridge groove seal device. The ridge groove seal device employs a synthetic rubber, press fit seal. The invention employs a simple hinged latch device to hold the pour spout device to the can by means of tension fit. The use of the hinged latch device makes the invention easy to mount and to remove. Once the invention is attached (latched) to a paint can, paint (or other liquid) is directed through the pour spout, which consists of a curved metal lip that extends out from the top edge of the can and which defines the pouring area. The contents of the can remain exposed. The invention parts are constructed primarily of heavy gauge metal so that the invention will withstand repeated or continued use and exposure to solvents.

Abstract: A housing assembly comprises a plurality of components, each having a screw boss apparatus, such as screw boss (114). The screw boss apparatus has an interlocking tab and an interlocking slotted surface. In a preferred embodiment, the screw boss apparatus (114) has a first locking tab (202), a second locking tab (204), a first slotted surface (206), and a second slotted surface (208). The interlocking tab of one component is engaged to the interlocking slotted surface of another component to fasten components of a housing assembly together.

Abstract: A cover for placement on a compressed gas bottle is dimensioned to closely conform to the shape and size of a top section of a compressed gas bottle with a control valve assembly installed thereon. The cover preferably includes a shell having first and second shell members connected by a living hinge, a plurality of clasps for holding the first and second shell members together in a closed configuration of the shell and a handle for carrying the cover and a compressed gas bottle to which it is closed upon. The upper portion of each of the first and second shell members are preferably lined with a resiliently compressible foam for cushioning against a control valve assembly of a compressed gas bottle. In a preferred embodiment of the cover, each of the first and second shell members has at least one friction band of a rubber or elastomeric material disposed therein for compressibly contacting a compressed gas bottle and thereby resisting slippage of the cover with respect to the compressed gas bottle.

Abstract: A baking system comprising a baking pan and a baking pan support wherein the support member is formed from a metal sheet or a stack of a plurality of metal sheets and is formed with an opening in the central portion of the support and the pan support member is formed to support the perimeter of the baking pan. The pan support member is formed so that it provides an air gap, insulation or shielding around the perimeter portion of baking pan. The baking system of this invention thereby provides full heat transfer in the central portion of the baking pan while insulating or shielding the perimeter portion of the baking pan thus resulting in more even baking. The baking system of this invention is particularly useful in pizza baking to prevent the burning or over baking of the pizza crust while providing sufficient baking for the center portion of the pizza.

Abstract: A stackable case for retaining and transporting bottles including outer side walls forming an outer shell having a longitudinal axis and a horizontal axis, a case bottom disposed substantially within the outer shell, and a plurality of supports for supporting the outer surfaces of the bottles. The side walls include a lower wall portion and a plurality of spaced upwardly projecting pylons, where four corner pylons define the four corners of the case. A plurality of spaced upwardly projecting columns generally disposed within the outer shell define, in combination with the case bottom, the side walls and the end walls, a plurality of bottle retaining pockets. The columns and the pylons extend above the lower wall portions and below a top surface of the retained bottles. The end walls each include an integrally molded handle structure suspended between an upper portion of adjacent corner pylons to thereby define a generally open end wall area below the handle structure.

Abstract: A thruway electrical outlet box system of the type that will extend entirely through an internal wall of a building and present on the opposite surfaces of that wall an opening for an outlet plug or switch mounting is disclosed. The outlet boxes of the present system are fabricated from electrically nonconductive, engineering grade plastic materials having mechanical and physical properties suitable for electrical applications. Each electrical outlet box includes an internal, central partition that separates back-to-back compartments which open onto the opposed wall surfaces. The present system includes outlet boxes of various configurations ranging from a pair of single outlet boxes to a pair of quadruple outlet boxes and combinations thereof. The overall length of the electrical outlet boxes is made adjustable by the inclusion of break-away extension members integrally formed about peripheral edges of the opposed compartment openings to accommodate various thicknesses of plaster and wallboard construction.