Abstract: An integrated ballot assembly formed from a backing assembly, a ballot book, and connection between the ballot book and the backing assembly. The backing assembly is formed from a planar support card and an integrally formed, co-planar ballot card that is temporarily secured to the planar support card along a perforation line. The ballot book is formed from several voting information sheets that are arranged from top to bottom in a stack of successively lower voting information sheets where each sheet is progressively narrower. The ballot card has progressively leftward moving voting columns, and the ballot book is connected to the planar support card with the right edges of its successively narrower sheets corresponding to and aligned with successive ones of the voting columns. When completed, the ballot card may be removed directly from the integrated ballot assembly along the first perforation line.

Abstract: A set of tree root barrier panels, each of which can be injection-molded as a single integral unit. Each has a female element formed by alternating recessed portions that open in opposite directions relative to each other.

Abstract: A root-control barrier apparatus and method employing living hinges, such hinges forming parts of various types of root-control barriers including single-elongate, closed-loop polygonal with different numbers of sides, and curved.

Abstract: The root-control planter has a thin-walled frustoconical body that is open at the top and bottom, and that has vertically-spaced ledges that lie in planes perpendicular to the axis of the frustum. Internal ribs or ridges are provided integrally with the body, and have vertically-spaced hook or notch portions that hook not only over the top of another identical planter but also over the ledges thereof. At the bottom of the frustum is a radially-outwardly extending flange. At circumferentially spaced points about the bottom region of the body, and adjacent the flange, are relatively small openings through which certain tree roots will grow and lock the planter in the ground despite the upward forces exerted by other tree roots that pass beneath the flange. At the top of the planter body is a continuous rim that is bent-over in an inward direction, hooking or bending over the upper ends of the ribs.

Abstract: A tree root-control barrier system formed by a plurality of panels having vertical ridges thereon. Then panels are embedded in the earth between a sidewalk and a tree whose roots are to be controlled. Upper and lower cross-members are provided on the panels at their upper edges, and perform various functions including sun protection, protection against lawn trimmers, protection against the growing of tree roots above the ground, and others.

Abstract: A tree root deflector is installed in a ground planting location between a tree and a sidewalk or other static structure for training tree rootlets downwardly so as to emerge beneath the deflector for subsequent lateral growth and enlargement at a safe depth beneath such structure. The deflector includes a plastic panel having a plurality of vertical root deflecting ridges protruding abruptly from the tree side of the panel at horizontally spaced apart locations for deflecting tree rootlets downwardly, as well as a plurality of transverse abrupt ridges protruding from the same side of the panel at horizontally spaced apart locations disposed intermediate the vertical ridges to lock the panel with the tree roots and with the ground, the transverse ridges being relatively short so as to leave substantial spaces between them and the adjacent vertical ridges.

Abstract: Disclosed is a compact folding ladder having a lower runged ladder portion, the upper end of which is pivotally connected on a horizontal axis to the lower end of a upper open dual hand-rail ladder portion whereby the lower ladder portion nests in the upper open ladder portion in the folded position and may be pivotally deployed therefrom for use. One longitudinal edge of the upper open ladder portion is pivotally mounted on a vertical pivot axis to the inboard lateral face of one of the rear edge vertical posts of a structural cargo enclosure above a cargo bed whereby the folded ladder may be pivoted forward to a stowed position and rearward to an operative position outboard of the rear end of the cargo bed thereby to facilitate deployment of the lower runged ladder portion to its open position for ladder access by the user from ground level to the rear end of the cargo bed, hence to the structural cargo enclosure.

Abstract: Disclosed is a display sign holder in the form of a semi-rigid rectangular sheet of optically clear plastic having elongated flat spacing structures extending along its top and bottom margin areas on one side so as to space the plastic sheet from a supporting surface and guide the longitudinal insertion and removal of an elongated display sign therebetween. The spacing structures are flat strips printed with ink on one or both sides to permanently display marginal information or design, and relatively thin transparent adhesive layers are disposed on both sides of the strips to adhere them to the plastic sheet and to the supporting surface.

Abstract: Disclosed is a toilet seat cover in the form of a composite paper sheet which disintegrates when immersed in water, the paper sheet being of general rectangular configuration, of adequate size to cover the toilet seat, and having an opening formed centrally therein; the sheet includes a top layer of dry creped paper, emboss laminated with a bottom layer of flat machine finished or machine glazed finished paper. The sheet has opposite rear and forward margins and opposite lateral margins extending therebetween. A piece of double-sided adhesive tape is disposed on the bottom layer of paper proximate the rear margin of the sheet for releasably anchoring the cover to the rear portion of the conventional toilet seat. The sheet is folded into a compact configuration in which the adhesive tape is accessible for exposure and application and opposite margins of the sheet are accessible for manually deploying the sheet over the toilet seat preferably with the assistance of the anchor provided with the adhesive tape.

Abstract: A utility rack for a pickup truck includes front and rear stanchions, each generally in the shape of an inverted "U", and left and right side rails extending between hinges at the upper corners of the stanchions. The front stanchion is permanently mounted at the front of the truck bed. The rear stanchion is movable between an extended position at the rear of the truck bed and a proximate position just behind the front stanchion. The side rails collapse vertically into a "V" (seen from the side) as the rear stanchion is moved to its proximate position, giving the rack an overall appearance of an "M". When the rack is fully collapsed, it looks like an "I".In one version, a second pair of rails extends over the cab, vertically rotating on a second pair of hinges on the front stanchion. A cross member joins the front ends of these rails.In another version, the side rails are not mounted onto the stanchions by hinges, but by removable brackets; and the rails collapse horizontally rather than vertically.

Abstract: Convertible top apparatus for midengine automobiles, such as the Pontiac Fiero and Toyota MR2, which have a far forwardly extending rear deck lid for accessing the engine, comprises a foldable frame assembly, a pliable top covering for the frame and means for pivotally mounting the frame assembly to the automobile body, for example, after the factory installed hard top is removed, forwardly of the forward end of the rear deck lid. The frame assembly is configured so that rearward portions of the top extend rearwardly over the deck lid when the top is up, portions of the frame assembly stacking on top of forward regions of the rear deck when the top is down. The frame mounting means include mounting brackets fixed to the automobile and hinge members pivotally mounted to the brackets and to which both the deck lid and top frame assembly are connected. The brackets and hinge members are configured so that with the top up, opening the deck lid also pivots up rearward portions of the top.

Abstract: For a modular pickup bed cover system having a plurality of rigid transverse panels which slidingly fit into longitudinal channels fixed along bed side walls, interpanel latching is provided by a transverse, channel-shaped first latching member fixed across rearward ends of all except the rearmost panel and a matching, transverse, angle-shaped second latching member fixed across forward ends of all except the forwardmost panel. Fixed across the rear panel of each panel pair in panel abutment regions is an elastomeric seal. As each pair of panels is latched together, upon installation thereof into the truck bed side channels by pivotally fitting the rearward panel angle member into the forward panel channel member, the seals are compressed a preselected amount assuring weathertight interpanel sealing. Shaped end regions of the latching members cause transverse panel alignment during latching.

Abstract: A pair of rails mounted on top of the sidewalls of a pickup truck bed, with each rail forming a channel with a slot at the top, to receive mounting feet of accessories. One accessory is in the form of three cover sections with mounting feet received in the channels, and with cover sheet portions that extend beyond the slots and down to at least the rail height to prevent the entrance of water into the truck bed. The rearmost section has a depending flange which lies below the level of the tailgate, so that when the tailgate is locked up, the accessories cannot be removed. When the sections are locked in their adjoining relationship, a U-shaped elastomeric member and a trough enable a complient, elastic seal between adjoining sections. The cover sections may have sidewalls of substantial height to allow use of the truck as a van or camper.

Abstract: A housing for traffic signal lamps employs modular building block units with a minimum number of different components, which can be combined together to form a variety of configurations. A basic half section unit is used to form the individual lamp housings. This half section unit is in the form of a tray having an internal rib structure and an external rib on the front surface for stiffening, a pair of such units being joined together to form a container for a traffic lamp. An aperture is formed in the front wall of the container for passing the light from the lamp, there being a door wth a mating aperture formed therein removably latched to a hinge pin structure formed on the front wall of the container. This hinge pin structure and the latching mechanism on the door are arranged to permit either right or left hand opening of the door.

Abstract: A tree planter which prevents the roots of a tree from cracking a nearby sidewalk, including a planting container which is buried in the ground with a young tree therein, the container having sidewalls of slick and impenetrable material such as plastic, and with the sidewalls sloping outwardly, so that the open bottom of the container is larger than the top, to help deflect roots downwardly so that when they begin growing outwardly they grow at a level far below the sidewalk.

Abstract: This invention relates to equipment for hanging reels of magnetic computer tape and the like. The computer tape is usually enclosed in a canister having a peripheral hook. A rack is provided having a plurality of tapes. Each hanger has a suspension rod for receiving the hook of the canister. The hanger also includes a cantilevered spring member which acts to limit swinging of the tape canister and which aids in extracting a tape from the rack. To extract a tape the canister is pressed back to deflect the spring member and then released. The reaction of the spring member will cause the tape to swing forward to a position such that it can be readily grasped by hand.