Abstract: A toilet is provided with a vacuum to assist in the flushing process. The vacuum is provided downstream between the toilet bowl and a waste outlet to draw the waste contents of the toilet bowl and out of the toilet bowl to the waste outlet under pressure. A controllable valve connected to a vacuum source is connected in a discharge passage between the toilet bowl and the waste outlet. The valve is opened to apply vacuum to the discharge passage upon activation of a toilet flush actuator and closes prior to the waste contents of the toilet bowl reaching the location of the valve. A normally closed flap valve is connected between the discharge passage and the waste outlet to define a minimal amount of air in the discharge passage which is removed by the vacuum.

Abstract: A vehicle article carrier having at least one lateral cross rail selectively positionable along a pair of spaced side rails. A drive is coupled to rotatable shaft in each side rail. Cleats are connected to opposite ends of the cross rail and coupled to the rotatable shaft in each side rail. In one aspect, first and second couplers are fixed to the rotatable shafts. A flexible cross shaft extends between the couplers. A manual crank is attachable to either of the couplers for effecting movement of the cross shaft. Alternately, an electric motor may be coupled to the cross shaft to effect rotation of the rotatable shafts and the cross rail. Alternately, the cross shaft and couplers are replaced by separate motors coupled to the rotatable shaft in each side rail. Alternately, removable covers are fixed over the side rails and end caps.

Abstract: A goalie skate protective shell defines an interior cavity adapted for receiving a goalie ice skate boot. A holder is unitarily formed as part of a sole of the shell and has an open ended, lengthwise extending groove. At least two transversely extending bores are formed in the holder and receive fasteners which extend through the bores and apertures formed in a plurality of legs projecting from a blade mounted in the groove in the holder to removably affix the blade to the holder.

Abstract: A vehicle article carrier having at least one lateral cross rail selectively positionable along longitudinally extending side rails. Stanchions are connected to opposite ends of the cross rail and slidably engage longitudinally formed interior cavities in the side rails. A latch is coupled between each stanchion and each side rail to releasably latch each stanchion and the cross rail in a selected, fixed position along the side rails. An actuator controls the latch. In one embodiment, the actuator is formed by a movable lateral fit between the stanchion and the interior cavity in the side rails permitting lateral movement of each stanchion in each side rail upon push or pull of either stanchion. In another embodiment, the actuator includes a movable operator connected by cables to at least one latch pin carried by a stanchion which is releasably engagable with one of a plurality of spaced apertures formed longitudinally along a side rail.

Abstract: A vehicle article carrier having at least one lateral cross rail selectively positionable along a pair of longitudinally extending side rails. A threaded rotatable shaft is mounted in each side rail. First and second shuttle cleats are connected to opposite ends of the cross rail. Each shuttle cleat is slidably mounted in one side rail and threadingly coupled to the rotatable shaft in each side rail. An output shaft of each of a pair of electric drive motors is coupled to the rotatable shaft in each side rail for linearly adjusting the position the movable cross rail along the side rails upon rotation of the rotatable shafts.

Abstract: A vehicle article carrier having at least one lateral cross rail selectively positionable along a pair of longitudinally extending side rails. A drive member in the form of a loop is movably mounted about rotatable members at opposite ends of each side rail. A shuttle cleat is slidably mounted in each side rail and coupled to the drive member in each side rail. An output shaft of a electric drive motor is coupled to at least one of the rotatable members for adjustably positioning the movable cross rail along the side rails. Alternately, a separate electric drive motor rotates one rotatable member in each side rail. In an alternate embodiment, a toothed rack or a series of spaced apertures is carried in each side rail and engaged by complementary shaped toothed rotatable members mounted at opposite ends of the movable cross rail.

Abstract: A supply of pressurized gas is separated into a first quantity of pressurized gas at a first temperature and a second quantity of pressurized gas at a second lower temperature. The first and second quantities of gas are injected into molten plastic in an injection mold in a predetermined sequence to form a hollow molded plastic article. A controller independently controls the pressure and time of delivery of the first and second quantities of pressurized gas supplied to the mold. A third quantity of extremely lower temperature gas may also be supplied to the mold in a timed sequence with the first and second quantities of gas. A variable pressure regulator receives stored pressure signals from the controller and establishes the pressures of the first, second and the optional third quantities of gas independent of each other.

Abstract: A vehicle article carrier having at least one lateral cross rail selectively positionable along longitudinally extending side rails. Stanchions are connected to opposite ends of the cross rail and slidably engage longitudinally formed interior cavities in the side rails. A latch is coupled between each stanchion and each side rail to releasably latch each stanchion and the cross rail in a selected, fixed position along the side rails. An actuator controls the latch. In one embodiment, the actuator is formed by a movable lateral fit between the stanchion and the interior cavity in the side rails permitting lateral movement of each stanchion in each side rail upon push or pull of either stanchion. In another embodiment, the actuator includes a movable operator connected by cables to at least one latch pin carried by a stanchion which is releasably engageable with one of a plurality of spaced apertures formed longitudinally along a side rail.

Abstract: A plurality of panel members are interconnected into a peripherally closed structure by elongated edge connectors to form at least one storage compartment. The panel members are of different proportional widths so as to be interconnected in various arrangements to form different sized and shaped storage compartments. Each edge connector includes a plurality of radially extending arms which are circumferentially spaced from each other to form channels to receive a side edge of a panel member therein. An end cap releasably engages an end of an edge connector to retain the panel members in each edge connector. A wall cap extends through apertures in a planar wall member into one end of an edge connector to attach the wall member to the edge connector and to close off one open end of the structure. An adapter connects two co-linear arranged edge connectors to extend the length of the structure.

Abstract: A pressurizable flushing toilet includes a pressurizable water container having a movable stopper closing a water discharge outlet in the container. A controller energizes a solenoid to move the stopper between an outlet closing position and an outlet opening position. A water level sensor is mounted in the container and supplies a signal to the controller indicative of the build-up of a predetermined level of water within the container. The controller activates a compressor to pressurize air in the container above the water to a predetermined pressure level. A pressure sensor is mounted in the container and generates an output signal when a predetermined pressure level is reached within the container.

Abstract: A reconfigurable article storage container includes a plurality of identical panels, each including at least two slots formed by connector webs integrally formed with and extending between adjacent panel sections forming each panel. Certain panels are invertible 180.degree. and oriented perpendicular to adjacent panels such that interconnecting slots formed by the connector webs between adjacent panel sections of each panel can be slidably engaged to form any polygonal or irregular shaped storage container having any number and size of individual storage compartments formed therein between certain of the interconnected panels. Edge connectors interconnect the ends of two panels in a co-linear arrangement to increase the length of any wall of the storage container.

Abstract: A structural module includes a plurality of hollow cells having flat top ends, opposed open ends and side walls extending between both ends. The flat top ends are arranged in a first plane. Flat portions formed adjacent to the open ends of the cells are arranged in a second plane spaced from the first plane. The cells are arranged in adjacent parallel rows, with the side walls of cells in one row being co-linearly aligned with the side walls of cells in an adjacent row in a plane disposed at an acute angle with respect to the rows of cells.

Abstract: A spherical body is formed of a plurality of polygonal-shaped members interconnected together at abutting side walls. Each polygonal member has an exterior surface disposed at a predetermined radius of curvature, with the exterior surfaces of the plurality of interconnected polygonal members forming the exterior surface of the spherical body when the members are joined together. In one embodiment, the polygonal members comprise pentagon-shaped members such that the spherical body is completely formed of identical, pentagon-shaped members. Various designs may be formed in the exterior surface of each polygonal member by use of raised and recessed portions in the exterior surface, as well as having certain portions of the exterior surface of each polygonal member devoid of material.

Abstract: An in-line roller skate includes a frame having a pair of parallel, spaced side rails. At least one and, preferably, a plurality of ball rollers are mounted in the frame between the forward and rearward ends of the frame. Each ball roller is mounted to the frame for unidirectional movement by a base attached to the frame. A concave bed is formed in the base and is substantially covered by a plurality of rotatable bearings. A cap having a central aperture in an end wall is secured to the base and encloses the bearings and the ball roller, with a portion of the ball roller extending through the central aperture in the cap. In another embodiment, an axle is centrally located in the frame and extends perpendicularly through the side rails and rotatably supports a cylindrical wheel thereon. Ball rollers are mounted forward and rearward of the wheel depending on the location of the wheel in the frame.

Abstract: A self-contained puzzle includes an axially extending tube with first and second end caps mounted on opposite ends. A plurality of gears are concentrically and rotatably mounted about the tube between the first and second end caps. Slide support elements on each of the gears form channels therebetween which slidably receive a slide element which is manipulatable from a channel in one gear to an aligned, empty channel in an adjacent gear. The exterior surfaces of the slide elements form a mosaic when assembled and contain indicia forming a puzzle or design. Releasable lock members are unitarily formed on one of the tube or each gear and releasably engage axially extending grooves formed in the other of the tube and each gear to temporarily lock each gear in a selected angular position about the tube relative to adjacent gears.

Abstract: Structural modules for incorporation in vehicle bodies, multiple part assemblies and other structures, utilizing a mixture of art based or simple geometric shapes increasing or decreasing, interrupted or uninterrupted in progression including honeycomb cells on parallel axes that can be bound together on an encompassing skin. These structures can be formed cast, sandwiched, or molded of plastic. The modules are shaped to fit various assembly areas and volumes especially those with curved or irregular contours.