A heel binding for a cross-country ski has opposing latches movable toward each other under engagement by spaced apart flexible beams that force the latches together to capture a projection from the heel of a skier's shoe to hold the heel to the ski. The inside surfaces of the latches are cam-shaped to allow releasing force on the pin to urge the latches outward against the flexible beams, and to release the pin when the force is substantial enough, as in a fall. A collar slidable on the flexibl...

Several embodiments of small volume containers for use to feed liquid to a gravity feed liquid spraying device. Each container comprises a body portion having axially spaced first and second ends, means for closing the second end of the body portion, and a first adapter attached to the first end of the body portion. The body portion, means for closing, and first adapter have inner surfaces defining a cavity in the container having a small volume. The adapter comprises an engagement portion havin...

A material supply assembly for use with a spraying device, which material supply assembly includes a housing of stiff material comprising a side wall having a top end defining an opening into a recess defined by the housing; and a pre-filled container comprising a stiff annular lip adapted to be positioned along the top end of the side wall, and a flexible portion fixed to the annular lip and adapted to extend into the cavity in the housing when the annular lip is positioned along the top end of...

A dispensing container of the type comprising a tube, a transverse end wall in which is fixed an outwardly projecting nozzle, and a plunger slidably mounted within the tube to dispense a first material within the tube through the nozzle. At least one hose is fixed to the tube, a second material to be dispensed is contained within the hose, and means are provided for dispensing the second material from the hose in proportion to the first material dispensed from the nozzle upon movement of the plu...

A coated abrasive back up pad comprising a layer of resiliently compressible foam, a generally rigid backing plate fixed to one surface of the layer of foam and including, structure adapted for coupling the back up pad to a drive motor, and a flexible magnetized layer fixed to a surface of the foam layer opposite the backing plate and having a generally planar outer support surface. The foam layer includes a lip extending around the peripheral edge of the magnetized layer to protect that edge du...

A method and apparatus for sizing window coverings slidably extendable from a bay into an aisle of a retail outlet. The method includes the steps of locating the center of the window covering relative to a cutting station utilizing a half scale for removing a portion of the window covering from each of its ends.

A support structure for a flexible boat cover includes an extensible bar supported entirely by at least one cord extending therefrom to cleats located at the bow and stern of the boat. This invention provides multiple supports spaced laterally from the centerline of the boat without any additional hardware. The cord preferably elastic, may extend over the top of the windshield to provide an inclined support structure to prevent collection of water in the boat cover. The bar is extensible to acco...

A retail store has responsive environment apparatus installed which is controlled by processing apparatus. Trigger event sensors coupled to the processing apparatus, are positioned throughout the store. When customers enter and move about the store, the processing apparatus senses various trigger events and in response thereto creates a micro-environment in the vicinity of each customer, catering to the characteristics of that customer. The micro-environment physically moves as the customer move...

A multipurpose container structure with a container body that has sealingly engaged walls, a bottom sealingly engaged with the walls, and a rim that surrounds the open top of the container body. The container body may be generally rectangular with at least one rounded corner and may include a U-shaped bail with an arcuate bend in a handle portion thereof. The rim may have an inner first trough and an outer second trough with each having a plurality of apertures therein. A pour spout may be dispo...

A method of extinguishing fires comprising providing a source of fire retardant flowable material near ground level and in substantial quantities, and conveying the fire retardant material to an airborne distributor for distributing the flowable material. The distributor is supported by an airborne vehicle and the conduit between the source and the distributor is rapidly set up utilizing aerial conveyance of the conduits.