Abstract: Multi-functional showerheads which include a central water supply shaft along which an outer housing is selectively adjustable so that the showerheads are operable in a first mode wherein the housing rotates to provide a massage action and in a second mode to provide a fixed or rotary shower spray.

Abstract: A mechanism for controlling the duration of the opening of the intake valve of an internal combustion engine which includes a split cam having a first lobe which is fixed to a primary cam shaft that is drivingly connected to the engine's crankshaft and a second lobe which is freely mounted to the primary cam shaft and which is driven by gears of an auxiliary cam shaft which is axially shiftable, or a segment thereof shiftable, to rotate the second cam lobe relative to the first lobe of the split cam to thereby change the angular relationship between the first and second lobes to advance or retard the closing of the intake valve.

Abstract: A spring assembly for positively urging inlet and exhaust valves of a internal combustion engine into both open and closed positioned wherein the spring assembly includes an engaging member which is biased alternatively in both directions relative to the elongated axis of the stem of each valve by a spring member which is oriented generally perpendicular with respect to the valve stem and which engaging member is engagable within a groove or detent formed in the valve stem.

Abstract: A vehicle's input switches relating to ignition, lights and moisture or rain provide responsive inputs that feed through a digital logic circuit to outputs of an electronic switching device for automatically activating the vehicle's lights and wipers.An alarm may be activated if certain input switches are turned on when the ignition is off.The digital logic circuit may be discrete, a programmable read only memory (PROM) or a programmable logic array (PLA).The electronic switching device may constitute a driver circuit and an integrated circuit which includes both a relay switching circuit and a switched circuit, for example a metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) driver and a power metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect-transistor (MOSFET) integrated circuit.

Abstract: A control system for automatically turning on the headlights (and parking lights) of a vehicle has an input section that includes the ignition switch, the manually operated windshield wiper switch, and condition responsive light sensor and moisture sensor switches. These switches operate through a logic circuitry through an output section to turn on and to keep turned on the lights when any of certain switch combinations are turned on:a) ignition, windshield wiper, light sensor and moisture sensor;b) ignition, windshield wiper and light sensor;c) ignition, windshield wiper and moisture sensor;d) ignition and windshield wiper;e) ignition, light sensor and moisture sensor;f) ignition and light sensor; org) ignition and moisture sensor.In the event that the windshield wiper is turned off the light level sensor causes the lights to be turned off.

Abstract: A control system for turning on the headlights (and parking lights) of an automobile when the windshield wipers are turned on, has a gating circuit that operates relay circuits to the headlights, the gating circuit electronically latching "in" the headlight relay circuit so that the headlights remain on when the windshield wiper is turned off in order to avoid inadvertent turning off of the hedlights at night time and the gate circuit electronically turning off the headlight (and parking light) relay circuits whenever the headlight switch is turned on or whenever the ignition is turned off, thus assuring that the headlights will remain on until the headlights and ignition switches are turned off. The relay circuits controlled by the gating circuit may operate a mechanically or electrically latched relay device to hold the headlights (and parking lights) on until the relay circuit controlled by the gating circuit operates the mechanically or electrically latched relay device to turn the headlights off.

Abstract: An accessory rack for storing a plurality of articles such as wearing apparel or clothing accessories including jewelry, scarfs, ties, belts, chains, handbags, beads and the like and which includes a plurality of generally C-shaped hooks which are suspended from a telescoping housing so as to provide upper and lower rows of horizontally oriented and spaced support bars upon which such articles may be selectively and securely supported.

Abstract: Extendable trays for use in conventional rural route mailboxes for facilitating the placement and removal of mail with respect thereto wherein the trays are constructed utilizing scored or integrally hinged sheet material which is selectively folded into a generally flat or planar configuration or package for shipping or distribution and which is assembled by a postal customer so as to be of a size and configuration to be cooperatively and slidingly received within a particular mailbox. In one form of the invention, the sheet material may be selectively folded into a number of sizes so that trays of varying dimensions may be formed from the same sheet of material.

Abstract: A continuous generally frusto-conically shaped ring for use in retaining the side walls of conventional automatic drip type coffee filters in erect orientation within filter support trays and which include an annular flange which is engageable with the top or sides of the filter in such a manner so as to not interfere with the normal passage of hot water through the coffee filter.

Abstract: Material handling systems for supporting and transferring articles within defined areas from one location to another in which cooperatively spaced support plates are mounted within the defined areas and carriages or shuttles are movably supported by the plates in a manner such that the carriages may be guided along a network of optional routes along open passageways created between the plates. The carriages may be mechanized or manually maneuverable and may include load lifting and adjusting components which are selectively operated to raise, support, re-orient and lower the articles so that such articles may be transferred and repositioned as desired.

Abstract: A closet organizer for supporting a plurality of articles of clothing such as pants and skirts from a clothes rod in a closet wherein the organizer includes a housing which is selectively suspended from the clothes rod and is stabilized with respect thereto and from which a telescoping clothing rack assembly is slideably carried. The clothing rack assembly includes at least one telescoping slide member which is received within the housing and from which a plurality of vertically spaced pairs of horizontally swingable clothing support arms are suspended. The clothing support arms may be selectively moved forwardly of the clothes rod and thereafter adjustably pivoted outwardly relative to one another so as to facilitate placement and retrieval of articles of clothing with respect thereto.

Abstract: Suspended garment and/or shoe bags are mounted to an extendable or telescoping support member which is mounted to a clothing rod in a closet by a hanger bar which is carried by the telescoping member so as to be extendable generally perpendicularly with respect to the elongated axis of the clothing rod so that the garment and/or shoe bags are selectively displayed in an area spaced outwardly of any other articles of clothing which may be suspended from the clothing rod.