Abstract: Nail files are made in a manner which permits ease of dispensing. A tube is continuously fed into a milling machine where grooves are formed in predetermined segments of the tube. These grooves are roughened by adhesively applying abrasive particles or by milling the groove surfaces. The tubes are stamped so as to form alternating long grooved areas and short smooth areas. The thus-prepared tubes are divided into sections of desired lengths containing a plurality of nail files which may be easily detached from the remainder of the files in the section. Another method comprises providing a solid or hollow rod which has any of a variety of geometric cross-sections, providing the rod with grooves having varying sizes, roughening the surfaces of the grooves as above, and weakening the rods at predetermined lengths to produce sections containing a series of easily detached segments. The hollow files may be fitted with closures at each end. At least one of these closures is removable and replaceable.

Abstract: Devices for constraining wildfires are disclosed. The first device is a free-standing hollow structure which contains at least one lower intake duct, a vertical duct, and an upper outlet duct. This device contains curved chambers which may have baffles. This device also provides an open container for the delivery of water to the fire in the form of steam. A second device is a free-standing structure which is anchored to the ground by lines attached to spikes and supporting legs. The upper portion of the device is curved toward the fire so as to direct the fire back upon itself. There is an arcuate baffle at approximately the midpoint of the device which serves to break up the heat wave. A third device is similar to the second device in design, but is made of folding sections for ease of storage and transportation. A fourth device comprises a fire-resistant sheet which may be draped over trees or structures or may be put on the ground to form a barrier to the fire.

Abstract: A hair-styling device containing a hand attachmentt and a source for heated air under pressure connected to the hand attachment. The hand attachment is made up of a heat-reflecting member, bands for attaching the hand attachment to a hand, an air chamber, and bristles attached to the air chamber. In one embodiment, the hand attachment is substantially hand shaped and the attachment bands are located on the fingers and wrist so as to allow easy attachment to the hand of the user. In another embodiment, the hand attachment is substantially rectangular in shape and the attachment bands are connected to the sides. Heated air may leave the air chamber through openings in the air chamber between the bristles. Alternatively, air may leave the air chamber through ducts in the bristles. The source of heated air contains a heater and a pump. Preferably, the source is in a base which contains a holder for the hand attachment. The hand attachment is useful in providing a brush for simultaneously drying and styling hair.

Abstract: An inflatable partition incorporating a three-dimensional inflatable component. The three-dimensional inflatable component may be attached to a sheet which has attachment apertures along its top edge for receiving a plurality of fasteners. Thus, the combination of inflatable component and sheet may be suspended from a support rod. Alternatively, the three-dimensional component may have a sealed border or other structure configured to enable the fasteners to attach directly to the inflatable component. Thus, the inflatable component, alone, may be suspended from a support rod. A plurality of retention devices for holding useful articles may be incorporated on at least one surface of the partition. The partition may incorporate attractive three-dimensional figures. The partition demonstrates increased stiffness when used as a shower curtain. The partition demonstrates an increased sound-deadening/weight ratio, increasing its usefulness as a shower curtain or room partition.

Abstract: A sled worn on the body during sledding. The sled comprises a seat component and a leg component, both of which are ergonomically configured to correspond to the shape of the human body. The leg component is pivotally attached to the seat component to enable it to reciprocate from an upward walking position to a downward sledding position. The leg component includes an upturned distal portion to allow the device to ride over small obstacles and bumps in the sledding path.

Abstract: A tubular expandable elastic container for holding and dispensing a frozen confection as it thaws. The frozen confection holds the container in an expanded configuration, and as it thaws the contraction of the container forces thawed frozen confection from an open end of the container. A whistle is also provided at the open end of the container and a valve in the whistle structure for preventing air from entering the container when a user blows air into the whistle.

Abstract: An illusory time display system of clock hand or hands in a case too small in radial dimension to permit normal rotation of the hands around the case, provides nevertheless for normal rotation of the hands and accurate conventional display of time. The outer ends of the hands travel in a smoothly contoured channel along the case periphery and collapse axially into themselves by contact with the case as they are conventionally rotated by any conventional drive, to accomplish the apparently impossible non-jamming travel around the too-small case. Various versions of odd-shaped and/or non-concentric timepiece face, case, and hands that further the illusion are disclosed.