Abstract: A mat for covering soil comprising a lower fabric layer, an upper fabric layer superimposed over the lower fabric layer, and a water absorbing material interposed between said lower fabric layer and upper fabric layer. The mat contains tubular segments containing fabric and hydraulically setting cement. The cover, when wetted, becomes ballasted by the absorbed water and the tubular elements harden to form rigid ribs that hold the mat in conformity with the surface of the underlying soil.

Abstract: A device for placing survey flags, and similar devices having stems, is operated so that the stem is locked or otherwise held to an elongated shaft or similar aligning device. Pressure on the shaft or aligning device forces a portion of the flag stem into the soil or other sound substrate. Then, an operator can carry out an operation to separate the placing device from the stem.

Abstract: A device for securing a knot in a tight condition in a cord includes a generally tubular member defining a longitudinal hole therethrough. The tubular member includes a score line for dividing it into two sections by applying a bending or torsional force on the ends thereof. The tubular member further includes a longitudinal slit extending substantially through the thickness thereof. A pre-stretched elastomeric band is disposed around the tubular member.

Abstract: In a shooting range for training personnel in the use of firearms, a bullet trap that prevents rebounding bullets or flying debris from injuring shooters, has a central section of stacked cylindrical logs, or logs having a trapezoidal cross section, supported by stacked rectangular supporting blocks on each side. The stacked cylindrical logs have conical end sections at the end facing the shooter. These conical end sections direct incoming bullets to passageways between the cylindrical logs. Bullets passing through these passageways then strike a backstop panel. In a preferred embodiment, both the cylindrical logs and the backstop panel are made of shock-absorbing foamed fiber-reinforced concrete.

Abstract: In a shooting range for training personnel in the use of firearms, a bullet trap that prevents rebounding bullets or flying debris from injuring shooters, has a central section of stacked cylindrical logs, or logs having a trapezoidal cross section, supported by stacked rectangular supporting blocks on each side. The stacked cylindrical logs have conical end sections at the end facing the shooter. These conical end sections direct incoming bullets to passageways between the cylindrical logs. Bullets passing through these passageways then strike a backstop panel. In a preferred embodiment, both the cylindrical logs and the backstop panel are made of shock-absorbing foamed fiber-reinforced concrete.

Abstract: A device for placing survey flags, and similar devices having stems, is operated so that the stem is locked or otherwise held to an elongated shaft or similar aligning device. Pressure on the shaft or aligning device forces a portion of the flag stem into the soil or other sound substrate. Then, an operator can carry out an operation to separate the placing device from the stem.

Abstract: Plastic, paper, aluminum foil, or aluminum foil laminated with plastic bags are dispensed, one at a time, from a bag dispenser. In a first embodiment, bags are provided in rolls, connected top-to-top and bottom-to-bottom. Each bag is tapered towards its bottom such that its top-to-top connection with the next bag is wider than the bottom-to-bottom connection. Each bottom-to-bottom connection has sealed seams, which ensure that the bags are closed at their bottoms, and a row of closely spaced perforations on a connecting portion between two seams, which allow adjacent bags to be separated by pulling and tearing along the row of perforations. In an alternate embodiment of this invention, a plurality of tapered bags is nested with one bag inside the next adjacent bag. The bags are tapered at both sides such that their bottoms are narrower than their tops. At their tops, they are attached to strips of materials that are in turn attached to each other by conventional means such as staples.

Abstract: High-nitrogen, high-phosphorus fertilizer is produced from animal wastes by mixing the waste with water and soft-burned dolomite, recovering ammonia that is liberated with an aqueous acidic medium, neutralizing the mixture, combining the ammonium salt recovered earlier with the mixture, the adding guano-forming bacteria to the mixture, and allowing the mixture to ferment.

Abstract: A well assembly device comprises an outer tubular sleeve with a first end and second end. An inner tubular member has a first end and a second end, and the inner tubular member is disposed within the outer tubular sleeve. The inner tubular member includes a screened portion at its second end. A tip is frictionally secured to the second end of the outer tubular sleeve, so that the outer tubular sleeve and the tip may selectively disengage.

Abstract: A bullet comprises a lead sheet and a zinc foil fixed to the lead sheet, the sheet and foil being rolled and pressure formed into a bullet having generally helical layers of the lead sheet and zinc foil. The bullet exhibits an improved environmental impact on soil, relative to all-lead bullets.

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling two cement board stay-in-place form panels for aking concrete-filled walls that is cost-effective and forms a uniform precise composite wall construction. The assembly includes a coextensive corrugated spacer panel between the form panels for maintaining a uniform distance there between. The forms and spacer panels are secured in place with a notched tie rod that penetrates the spacer and both wall panels, this assembly allows for rapid form installation. The spacer panel has two embodiments, viz. i) a preformed rigid corrugated panel and ii) a flattened unassembled panel with precut fold lines that are folded at the building site and then secured with a dowel-rod bracing component. The apparatus preferably uses fiber-glass-reinforced cement board for the stay-in-place forms. The final composite wall construction typically is made up of 4 feet wide by 8 feet high by 6.5-inch thick composite wall sections.