Abstract: A hot cup apparatus including a locking device for locking a hot cup into the hot cup apparatus, and comprising a mounting bracket for being mounted to a support surface. The mounting bracket includes a mechanical interface for receiving and holding the hot cup in a stationary position adjacent the mounting bracket. A glide block is mounted on said mounting bracket and extends outwardly therefrom in partially-surrounding relation to the hot cup. The glide block includes a space for receiving an arcuate retaining lever mounted for movement between a removal position wherein the retaining lever is retracted into the space in the glide block sufficiently to allow the hot cup to be positioned into and removed from the position adjacent the mounting bracket, and a retention position wherein the retaining lever is extended around the hot cup sufficiently to retain the hot cup in the position adjacent the mounting bracket.

Abstract: A novelty item includes a deformable hollow body having an air intake opening and an air exhaust opening. A scented article is contained in the hollow body between the intake and exhaust openings. A noise maker is attached to the body, and cooperates with a discharge of air through the exhaust opening upon deformation of the hollow body to produce a noise. The discharge of air has a scent corresponding to that of the scented article contained in the hollow body.

Abstract: A control system for measuring load imbalance in a laundry washing machine having a non-vertical axis of drum rotation, and then using the value obtained for the load imbalance to calculate a maximum permissible angular velocity for the drum during the water extraction cycle.

Abstract: A knot-tying machine, including a package support for holding a package having a supply of a strand material with an exposed free end wound onto an outer surface of the package, a strand gripper for releasably gripping and holding a length of the strand adjacent the exposed free end of the strand, a loop-forming assembly for forming a loop in the length of the strand adjacent the exposed free end of the strand and intermediate the gripper and the package, the package support and the loop-forming assembly mounted for rotational movement relative to each other for forming the loop in the strand, and a knot-forming assembly for forming a slip-knot in the loop of the strand formed by the loop-forming assembly adjacent the free end thereof, the slip-knot being adapted to be subsequently removed when desired by pulling on the free end of the strand.

Abstract: A tool for facilitating accurate placement and installation of crown molding at an intersection of a ceiling and wall, the crown molding having a wall-engaging portion and a ceiling-engaging portion. The tool includes first and second extension arms, each extension arm having respective inner and outer major surfaces and respective proximal and distal ends. The first and second extension arms are connected together at their respective proximal ends such that their respective inner major surfaces face each other at right angles for receiving and orienting a sample section of the crown molding. The sample section includes a first longitudinal side edge representing the wall-engaging portion of the crown molding for residing adjacent the first extension arm and a opposing second longitudinal side edge representing the ceiling-engaging portion of the crown molding for residing adjacent the second extension arm.

Abstract: A grinding apparatus for grinding away sharp edges on an end of a textile package having an inner edge and a spaced-apart outer edge formed on the end of the package. The apparatus has a base, a first grinding element mounted on the base for movement relative to the textile package and having a grinding surface with an angle oblique to the inner edge of the textile package for being urged against the inner edge of the textile package, and a second grinding element mounted on the base for movement relative to the textile package and having a grinding surface angle with an angle oblique to the outer edge of the textile package for being urged against the outer edge of the textile package. According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, a third grinding element is mounted on the base for movement relative to the textile package. The third grinding element has a grinding surface for engaging and grinding the end of the textile package between the inner and outer edges.

Abstract: A placket sewing machine attaches a placket patch to a fabric part of a garment in overlying relation to form a multiple layer placket assembly. The placket sewing machine includes a base defining a working surface of the sewing machine, and including a fabric moving feed dog for moving the overlaid placket patch and fabric part downstream through the sewing machine. A reciprocating needle chuck has first and second needle openings formed in a staggered forward and rearward arrangement. First and second sewing needles are positioned within respective needle openings of the chuck. The sewing needles are adapted for carrying respective ends of thread into and through the overlaid placket patch and fabric part to form first and second parallel lines of stitches in the placket assembly. The first line of stitches extends a greater distance along the length of the overlaid placket patch and fabric part than the second line of stitches.

Abstract: A masonry line block is adapted for use in combination with a vertical corner pole during construction of a structure. The structure has an exterior surface and at least one surface projecting from the exterior surface. The line block engages the corner pole at one end of the structure and cooperates with a line holder located at an opposite end of the structure to carry a tensioned guide line therebetween. The guide line indicates proper placement and alignment of building units used to form the structure. The line block includes a mounting member having first and second, opposing pole-engaging shoulders. The shoulders are adapted for selectively engaging the corner pole to hold the line block in one of first and second alignment positions relative to the structure. An alignment member is formed with the mounting member and extends perpendicularly outwardly from the pole-engaging shoulders.

Abstract: A protective yarn having a single fiberglass core fiber and one or more cover members is disclosed. At least one of the cover members are fibers selected from the group consisting of aramid fiber, ultrahigh molecular weight polyolefin fiber, polyester, nylon and polyacrylic fibers. To prevent glass fragment breakout, the cover members are wrapped, wound or twisted around the core in a manner which permits successive layers to be wrapped, wound or twisted around the core in an opposite direction from the cover member immediately below. In a preferred embodiment, one of the cover members is a substantially non-slippery fiber. The non-slippery fiber is selected from the group consisting of polyester, nylon and cotton. The construction and composition of the invented protective yarn provides a low cost component for making protective gloves and other protective garments capable of providing a user substantial cut protection while affording the user significant freedom of movement.

Abstract: A toothbrush for cleansing the surfaces of the teeth and any orthodontic appliances positioned thereon. The toothbrush includes an elongate handle. A head is carried on one end of the handle and includes first and second intersecting head members carrying cleaning elements thereon. The first and second head members define at least three distinct and diverging head segments for providing an enlarged cleaning surface area sufficient to simultaneously engage the upper and lower teeth during brushing.

Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine includes a housing within which is mounted for rotation at least one rotor. The rotor includes at least one flow conduit. The flow conduit defines a compression region having an inlet proximate to the rotation axis of the rotor and extending radially towards a periphery of the rotor. A mixture of air and fuel enters the flow conduit through the inlet and travels downstream through at least a portion of the compression region prior to combustion. A combustion region communicates with the compression region and is proximate to the periphery of the rotor. The air/fuel mixture flows from the compression region to the combustion region to undergo combustion in the combustion region. A power region communicates with the combustion region and includes an outlet proximate to the rotation axis of the rotor. The power region extends from the periphery of the rotor to the outlet.

Abstract: An apparatus for precisely aligning bolt holes in first and second adjacent drive shaft couplings, including a cam pin for being positioned in the generally aligned bolt holes in the shaft couplings and rotated to bring the bolt holes in to more precise alignment. The cam pin includes a first, relatively large diameter segment having a cylindrical wall defining a first longitudinal axis for being positioned in a precisely fitting condition in the bolt hole of the first coupling, and a second, relatively small diameter segment having a cylindrical wall defining a second longitudinal axis offset from and eccentric to the longitudinal axis of the first segment for being relatively loosely positioned in the generally aligned bolt hole of the second coupling. A cam sleeve is provided for being positioned in axial and rotational sliding relation over the small diameter segment of the cam pin and within the bolt hole of the second coupling.

Abstract: A composite, break-resistant sewing thread having a core of continuous multi-filament, non-stretch high-tenacity synthetic yarn and a cover of drafted staple fibers air-jet twisted around and covering the core for protecting the core from heat and friction during a sewing operation. The yarn is plied.

Abstract: A method of forming an electrode is characterized in that the method comprising forming a porous coating of an alloy by gas atomisation on a substrate. The porosity of the coating is provided by controlling one or more conditions selected from the group consisting of the height and duration of deposition of the spray onto the substrate, the rate deposition, the speed of the atomized particles impacting on the substrate size distribution of the spray droplets, the temperature above melting, the substrate temperature, the substrate thermal conductivity, the conductivity of the gas, and the temperature of the gas.

Abstract: A object assembly device automatically assembles a collection of rolling objects of identical size and shape. The assembly device includes a collection hopper having an inlet for receiving rolling objects, and an outlet below the inlet for discharging rolling objects. An object assembler is rotatably mounted within the hopper between the inlet and the outlet. The assembler defines a single-line travel channel having an entrance end and an exit end, and a width sufficient to accommodate no more than a single line of rolling objects moving downstream in succession from the entrance end of the travel channel to the exit end. Objects entering the travel channel from the inlet of the hopper are discharged through the outlet of the hopper in an assembled single-line condition. A drive shaft is provided for rotating the object assembler relative to the collection hopper to avoid obstructing accumulation of rolling objects at the entrance end of the travel channel.

Abstract: A bag includes first and second polyolefin walls with a thickness of between 3 and 12 mils. The bag has joined opposing side edges, opposing end edges, and at least one seal line proximate one of the end edges. The seal line extends laterally from one side edge to the other for sealing closed an end of the bag. The improvement in the bag is a perforated tear line defining an easy-open corner portion of the bag removable to form a pourer. The perforated tear line includes a vertical segment defined by a series of closely spaced perforations formed in the first and second walls of the bag and closer to one side edge of the bag than the other. The vertical segment extends in a straight path outwardly from the seal line and generally parallel to the closer side edge of the bag. An arcuate transition segment of perforations begins at an end of the vertical segment and extends in an arcuate path towards the closer side edge of the bag.

Abstract: A cable retainer assembly is adapted for segregating, bundling, and routing fiber optic cable inside a cable management cabinet. The retainer assembly includes a mounting track for being located inside the cabinet, and having first and second opposing end edges, and first and second opposing side edges. An arcuate retainer clip is carried on the mounting track between its opposing end edges and side edges. The retainer clip defines a bend-radius control surface adapted for controlling the degree of bend experienced by fiber optic cable held by the retainer clip. The retainer clip has a base, and at least one outwardly-extending cable retainer arm formed with the base. The cable retainer arm is spaced-apart from the bend-radius control surface to retain a bundled plurality of fiber optic cable inside the cabinet.

Abstract: A water-dilutable UV light absorber composition and method for improving the lightfastness of dyed textiles is provided. The composition includes from about 5-75% by weight of an ultraviolet light absorbing agent selected from the group consisting of benzotriazole, benzophenone, and phenol substituted triazine; and from about 25-95% by weight of an organic solvent suitable for dissolving the ultraviolet light absorbing agent. The ultraviolet light absorbing agent is applied to the textiles in a concentration sufficient to result in an add-on in the range of between 0.4-4.0% by weight of the textiles when dry.