Abstract: A toilet has a frustum-shaped bowl (26). Normally the bowl is hermetically sealed by a saucer-shaped valve and contains no water. Depressing button 72 automatically opens the saucer vertically down and rinses and flushes urine into an adjoining drain line with about 250 ml (0.25 gallons) of water. Depressing button 74 automatically releases a staggered flush capable of causing solid human waste, test plastic balls, or test condoms filled with tofu to carry further in the drain line. About 5.0 liters (1.25 gallons) is sufficient to carry solid waste to a sewer. About 250 ml (0.25 gallons) is sufficient to carry urine to a standard adjoining drain line; once there it flows gravitationally to a sewer main. 1.0 to 2.0 liters can carry 100 test plastic balls an average of more than 12 meters, (40 feet).

Abstract: A ball-like target, which may be an actual ball used in playing a sport to be taught, for example in teaching batting to trainees, is attached to a rod, so that the trainer can precisely control the target's speed and attitude of the target during the entire course of presentation to a trainee. On the one hand, the target, rod and connecting mechanism are rigidly interconnected so that the trainer has complete control over the speed and trajectory of the presentation of the target. But on the other hand, the construction is such that the apparatus may be repeatedly struck by the trainee's bat at any speed, from slow to “full swing-away” without any substantial damage to the apparatus. In this manner the trainee can be quickly taught the eye-hand coordination and other skills needed to become an accomplished hitter.

Abstract: A frustum-shaped toilet bowl (26) includes a reversibly rotable saucer-shaped seal (46), or saucer. The saucer can automatically be rotated upward hermetically to compress closed against a sealing ring (48) that surrounds the outside of the bowl near its bottom outlet (32). The saucer is normally closed to prevent sewer gases from entering a bathroom from an adjoining drain line (36). The closed saucer can retain human waste or test balls in the bowl or, when opened, permits them to free-fall of their own weight into the drain line. The bowl has opposing water outlets (42) which are connected to flushometer valve (34), which is connected to a source of pressurized water. Depressing a button (74) automatically provides a wet spot in the bowl to prevent falling feces from sticking to the bowl. Depressing the button a second time opens the saucer and causes additional water to stagger flush solids while they are moving in the pipe.

Abstract: A ball-like target, which may be an actual ball used in playing a sport to be taught, for example in teaching batting to trainees, is attached to a rod, so that the trainer can precisely control the target's speed and attitude of the target during the entire course of presentation to a trainee. On the one hand, the target, rod and connecting mechanism are rigidly interconnected so that the trainer has complete control over the speed and trajectory of the presentation of the target. But on the other hand, the construction is such that the apparatus may be repeatedly struck by the trainee's bat at any speed, from slow to “full swing-away” without any substantial damage to the apparatus. In this manner the trainee can be quickly taught the eye-hand coordination and other skills needed to become an accomplished hitter.

Abstract: A gravity drop-toilet uses main water via electronically programmed valves to rinse separate areas of a bowl (71) in sequence via appropriately located and pointing jet orifices (136, 138,140) with about 70% less water than siphon toilets. Electronically timed valve (180) hydraulically causes a pair of bellows (110) to compress and expand and thereby reversibly pivot a mechanical linkage to retain waste in the bowl and drop waste via a vertical waste passageway into a sewer pipe (30). The linkage comprises a transfer arm (118) that pivots a rotating arm of a cup (128) and flap actuating arm (104) to pivot a springy plate (78) upward against a dimple (80) formed on under the side of the flap (30) which thereby aligns itself against the bottom edge (74) of the bowl (71). A urine version of this mechanism uses apertures (174, 175) that they enclose combine to center defecating sitters over a cylinder outlet (48) of the bowl.

Abstract: The present invention provides a supporting spindle and shipping system for shipping hard magnetic disks from the point of manufacture to the final assembly point where those disks are incorporated into a hard disk drive for computer use. The spindle is designed to be outwardly expanding to capture and hold the hard disks only by the central hole of each disks such that no disk comes into contact with any other disk. The loaded spindle is then inserted into a shipping tube that has end openings and an interior region where the smallest dimension is considerably larger than the diameter of the disks to be housed within the shipping tube. The spindle is supported within the closed shipping tube by the end caps of the shipping tube so that none of the disks on the spindle come into contact with the interior of the shipping tube. The shipping tube can also be formed to have an exterior shape that facilitates stacking of the shipping tubes.

Abstract: An aerobic exercise device featuring a vertically movable seat counter-balanced mainly by a spring. As a user, supported by the seat, executes a squatting exercise the seat will urge the user toward an initial position. The seat moves vertically along an upright column having a pulley at its top. A cable connects the seat to a spring at the back side of the column via the pulley. Handles are suspended from arms at the top of the column to help a user support his or her weight.

Abstract: Presented is an apparatus for manufacturing a chain of connected loops from an indeterminate length of dental floss material. The loops are formed in such a way that the continuous chain of loops may be wound on an appropriate spool and individual loops detached from the continuous chain of such loops for use in flossing the teeth. The apparatus processes two strands of dental floss material in such a manner that adjacent loops are formed and attached to one another by a length of pressure-sensitive tape that adhesively secures the opposite and associated ends of two strands of dental floss material, and discharges the chain of loops thus formed in a continuous maner.