Abstract: An improved coupon dispenser is disclosed comprising a rigid housing assembly that includes a front cover and a mating rear housing section engaged together to provide a storage chamber for a stack of folded coupon sheets. The front cover is provided with a rounded dispensing mouth having a rectangular opening formed therein between upper and lower panel surfaces that extend across the mouth in separate inclined planes. The front cover is further provided with a plurality of internal ribs integrally formed and extending longitudinally through the chamber on all sides, the ribs along the upper chamber being curved and tapered at the dispensing mouth leading to the opening. A P-shaped pusher member engaged to the rear housing section and mounted on a coil spring is disposed for travel longitudinally through the chamber of the front cover to urge the coupons forwardly toward the opening in the dispensing mouth guided along by the internal ribs.

Abstract: An improved coupon dispenser device is disclosed comprising an outer box having a sloped front end with rectangular opening therein, a channeled inner sleeve longitudinally extending through the outer box, and a curved, spring-loaded pusher member therein contained and directed to urge a stack of folded coupon sheets axially through the sleeve and to the opening in the outer box in a deflected manner. The inner sleeve is constructed having channeled top and bottom wall surfaces substantially saw-tooth in their configuration and further formed having a sloped profile at its open front end conforming with the sloped front end of the outer box. The sloped front end of the outer box is formed in two divergent planes established by separate top and bottom panels positioned on either side of the opening so that the outermost coupon sheet is delivered at the opening with its leading flap extending therefrom in a position of easy retrieval for the consumer.

Abstract: A computerized password verification system and associated method is disclosed for discreet recognition and reporting of a duress transaction being imposed upon a user at an ATM or other remote cash-dispensing terminal. The inventive system utilizes conventional ATM hardware including a card reader, keypad and display together with its associated operating and communications software required for transaction processing, and further comprises the programmed generation and display screen of a list of transaction acceptance passwords (TAPs) with a prompt to the user for a TAP selection to confirm the validity of the immediate transaction. The prompted display of the TAP list appears following the initial acceptance of the user's personal identification number (PIN) and requires the ATM user to select the TAP from the list that is currently registered to the user.

Abstract: An improved system and associated method is disclosed for positive feeding of multiple strands of yarn from spools using a single motor drive within a hose reinforcement knitting machine of the type having a central knitter head with reciprocating needles that stitch a reinforcement web pattern around flexible hose moving through the central axis of the machine. The positive yarn feeding system comprises a feeder head assembly attached to rotating framework of the knitting machine coaxially with the knitter head. The feeder head assembly includes a circular support plate having an axial opening therethrough and a plurality of positive feeder units, one for each of the yarn strands intended for knitting. The feeder units are arranged in a radial pattern about the periphery of the support plate and interconnected for concurrent rotation by a coupling belt extended about upper wheels on the units.

Abstract: An improved safety latch is disclosed for assembly and use upon a cabinet frame or like facing member to secure a drawer or cabinet door panel in a completely closed position without need for an invasive screw attachment. The present safety latch includes a U-shaped base fitting formed having front and rear walls spaced apart to engage the edge of the cabinet frame within therebetween, the rear wall in a preferred embodiment of the latch having a movable pad mounted on the interior side of the wall to clamp the frame and hold the fitting in a stationary position. The front wall of the base fitting is provided with a pair of flexible prong members extended outwardly from the front wall and further formed having opposed wedge-shaped ends. The safety latch further includes an angled clip member adapted to releasably engage the base fitting having an open chamber section formed along the top of the clip member and a wall section depending perpendicularly therefrom.

Abstract: An improved display device is disclosed for holding an advertisement or the like in a card or sheet-like form upon a shopping cart. The display device comprises a base panel having a substantially rectangular body and a plurality of longitudinal slots formed therethrough, the slots extending across the body of the base panel in separate radial and tangential directions to provide multiple areas of access to the shopping cart wall for balanced mounting of the device. Each of the slots is further provided with a support post extending centrally across the width of the slot to provide support for the attachment to the shopping cart wall by means of conventional cable ties. A cover frame adapted to releasably engage the base panel around the periphery thereof is formed having a substantially rectangular outer configuration and a rectangular aperture through the thickness thereof to provide a viewing window for the advertisement displayed through the frame.

Abstract: A shoe carousel particularly suitable for use in closets and other confined areas comprises a series of rotatable wire rack members spaced apart and coaxially mounted upon a central shaft so that each respective wire rack member rotates independently at separate locations along the shaft. The shaft is adapted to be stationed upon a floor surface in a substantially vertical position supported within a base stand and may be adjustable in its length to provide floor to ceiling engagement when necessary. The wire rack members are separately mounted and supported upon the shaft in substantially horizontal planes and are specially formed to hold and display a variety of shoes upon the surface of the rack member. Each rack member is constructed from a plurality of radial spokes centrally connected to a hub member at inner ends of the spokes.

Abstract: An improved clip system is disclosed for holding parallels in place against the respective jaws of a vise head. The clip system comprises a pair of specially configured clip members adapted to releasably engage a notched slot formed along the side edges of the jaw on the rearward surface thereof, each slot being accessible for engagement through corresponding opening formed in the forward comers of the vise head. Each clip member is integrally formed having a hook section inwardly disposed at an intermediate position along its length to engage the notched slot in a forwardly direction and a cap section inwardly disposed at the forward end of the clip member to clamp flush against the parallel and hold it firmly against the jaw when the hook section is engaged with the notched slot.

Abstract: An improved structural framing system and associated method of construction is disclosed wherein an open web dissymmetric steel beam fabricated having a plurality of trapezoidal openings formed along the web thereof between a narrowed, thickened top flange and a widened bottom flange is horizontally disposed and supported between adjacent vertical columns erected on conventional foundations. The dissymmetric beam is preferably fabricated from a standard rolled, wide flange beam split longitudinally according to a specific cutting pattern to produce substantially identical open web beam sections having a single wide flange. A flat bar plate is then welded along the open web beam section to provide the top flange and thereby produce the dissymmetric beam for use in the present system.

Abstract: An improved fishing rod holder is disclosed for a hard top or other overhead structure of a boat comprising an assembly of interconnected tubular members movable relative to each other so that the rod holder may be rotated between a stationary upright position wherein a fishing rod is held firmly and a downward position wherein a rod may be easily removed from or inserted into the holder. The tubular members of the holder include a base member adapted to be mounted to the boat structure by a weldment attached thereto, a rod tube pivotally connected to the base member and sized to hold the butt end of a fishing rod, and a latch handle sized to fit around the rod tube and further formed to releasably engage the base member coaxially thereby placing the holder in the stationary upright position.

Abstract: An improved clip system is disclosed for holding parallels in place against the respective jaws of a vise. The clip system comprises a pair of specially configured clip members adapted to releasably engage a retaining plate mounted flush between the jaw and the vise, the retaining plate being formed having a slotted tab extended from either side of the plate for engaging a respective one of the clip members. Each clip member is integrally formed having a hook section inwardly disposed at an intermediate position along its length to engage the slotted tab in a forwardly direction and a cap section inwardly disposed at the forward end of the clip member to clamp flush against the parallel and hold it firmly against the jaw when the hook section is engaged with the slotted tab. The clip members are further formed each having an outwardly disposed leg section intended to deflect in a forward direction thereby releasing the clip member from engagement with the retaining plate and allowing removal of the parallel.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an improved method of producing a mosaic design on the surface of a ceramic tile substrate and the resultant mosaic tile article manufactured thereby. A selected glaze coating is initially applied to the tile substrate upon specific surface areas predetermined for coloration as part of the mosaic design with the glaze coating being varied in hardness dependent upon the intended architectural or other use of the tile. After firing the selectively glazed tile substrate to harden the coating, a ceramic coloration pattern of the mosaic design is applied over the glaze coating using direct printing or decal transfer to produce a decorated tile. After re-firing the decorate tile, a resist medium is further applied over the colored and glazed areas as a mask, leaving the intermediate areas of the tile substrate unmasked.

Abstract: An improved yarn and thread dispenser is disclosed for supplying threaded material in different wound configurations to a user in the process of knitting or crocheting. The present dispenser comprises a base member intended to rest on a level surface near to the user and a circular support plate rotatably connected to the top of the base member by means of a ball-bearing coupling. A cone-shaped member having a coarse outer surface is centrally stationed in a vertical position upon the support plate with an elongated rod coaxially extending therethrough so that the cone-shaped member and rod rotate together with the support plate. The cone-shaped member is specially adapted to engage a variety of wound spools of yarn or like threaded material and holds the spools securely upon its coarse surface while rotating.

Abstract: An improved structural framing system and associated method for constructing same wherein a specially configured dissymetric steel beam is horizontally disposed and supported between adjacent vertical columns erected on conventional foundations. The dissymetric beam is fabricated having a compressed, block-like top flange formed opposite a substantially flattened bottom flange and integrally connected thereto by an intermediate web. Standard hollow core sections of precast, prestressed concrete plank spanning perpendicular to the dissymetric beam are disposed on either side of the beam and together assembled thereto so that the web of the beam is disposed centrally between facing edges of the plank sections with the bottom flange of the beam supporting the lower surface of the plank and the top flange substantially aligned with the upper plank surface.

Abstract: An improved LED lamp construction is disclosed having a plurality of LEDs electrically interconnected and mounted upon opposed rounded surfaces formed at one end of the lamp body. The opposed rounded surfaces comprise a substantially semi-spherical lamp head concavely open at the upper end of the lamp and a cover similar in curvature to the head and fixed across the open end thereof in a convex position relative thereto. The LEDs are arranged in multiple series groups connected in parallel and disposed circumferentially along the rounded surfaces so as to project radially therefrom in substantially all directions. The LEDs are electrically and mechanically connected to a conventional screw-type base at the opposite end of the lamp body through an intermediate stem. Depending upon the nature and level of the power source being provided to the screw-type base, the stem may-house a conventional regulator circuit intended to convert an applied level of A.C. voltage to a relatively low D.C.