Abstract: A one-piece belt loop device of a relatively rigid material for use with a web of Velcro® fastener material includes a base having top and bottom edges with a pair of side edges extending therebetween. Recesses in the top and bottom edges provide guidelines for stitching the top and bottom edges of the base to the holster with the side edges free of the holster. The base thus presents a first loop for extension of a user's belt therethrough. A central housing presents upper and lower apertures with a raised central surface therebetween for attachment of a spring belt clipped thereto to clip the holster to the user's belt. A thumb break strap can be further extended between the apertures and has Velcro® material thereon releasably engageable with the underlying Velcro® material. The belt loop device enhances assembly and presents a reinforced belt attachment structure.

Abstract: A window system for defrosting the windows of a vehicle comprises a windshield assembly having first and second spaced-apart panes of glass with an interlayer of air space therebetween. A frame surrounds the panes and maintains the air space therebetween. An inlet extends through the bottom wall of the frame for entry of air between the windshield panes. An outlet extends through a side wall of the frame for discharging air from between the windshield panes. The system also includes a plurality of window assemblies, each window assembly including first and second panes with an air space therebetween. An inlet extends through one side of the window frame for entry of air between the window panes. An outlet extends through an opposed side of the window frame for discharge of the air therefrom. The inlets and outlets of the windshield and window assemblies are positioned such that air may freely pass between adjacent assemblies through channels extending through vehicle support posts.

Abstract: A windshield wiper assembly for connection to a windshield wiper retainer assembly of a vehicle comprises a housing having a pair of flexible side walls presenting wiping edges depending therefrom and adapted for contact with a windshield. A top wall of the housing spans the side walls and forms a channel therebetween. The top wall further defines at least one aperture in an end thereof. The wiper assembly further includes an elongated heater member having a structure releasably slidable in the channel through the aperture in the top wall. The wiper assembly further includes a plug for connecting a heating element of the heater member to the battery of the vehicle. The heater member cooperates with the side walls to direct heat from the heating element onto the wiper edges and onto the windshield itself. The heater member is slidably interchangeable with a third wiper, the third wiper including a structure that is releasably slidable within the channel.

Abstract: A safety jumper cable has two cable segments each with conventional terminal clamps on one end and a coupling on the other end. The terminal clamps are adapted to be secured to the battery terminals in the conventional manner. The cable couplings cannot physically be connected together by means of a positive fail-safe lockout unless the clamps are secured to the proper battery terminals. This lockout is provided by a normally extended, locked safety blade that is slidably mounted within each coupling. When the terminal clamps are attached to the proper battery terminals, the safety blades are unlocked and the safety jumper cable can be coupled together away from either battery and the danger of sparking and explosions. The safety jumper cable may also be provided with a manual override device.

Abstract: A method of knitting an improved comfort selvage on a V-bed flat knitting machine by manipulating the front and rear needles independently at the selvages. By using an asymmetrical knitting pattern at the selvage, a knitted double-lock selvage is produced that has no ridge on one side of the fabric or holes, thus improving the wearing comfort and aesthetic appeal of the garment.

Abstract: An extraction technique for the isolation of Camptothecin from plant matter of the Camptotheca Acuminata. The plant matter is loaded into a high-pressure vessel of a supercritical fluid extraction system and is pressurized with supercritical carbon dioxide to extract plant waxes or other waste. A modifier, preferably methanol, is then added resulting in the extraction of the Camptothecin into the solvent.

Abstract: An actuator automatically opens and closes the covers of a railroad hopper car as the car enters a loading/unloading station. The opening actuator includes a support frame disposed along a railroad track at the station that extends upwardly above the railroad car as it enters the station. An actuator bar is carried by the support frame and extends fore-and-aft of the railroad car adjacent the top thereof. The bar has an inclined unlatching segment for engagement by the latch arms of the covers to raise the arms and release the latches as the car passes thereunder, an intermediate substantially horizontally extending segment and a lifting segment for thereafter opening the covers as the car passes beneath the bar. The closing actuator includes a second support frame disposed along the track that extends upwardly above the car once unloaded. A closing bar is carried by the second frame and extends fore-and-aft of the empty car adjacent the top thereof.

Abstract: A phantom mare includes a housing having inlet and outlet ends with a bore therebetween. A bladder surrounds the bore. Upon injection of a warmed fluid into the housing, the fluid is captured between the bladder and bore surface to distend and warm the bladder. Upon stallion penetration in the outlet end the discharged semen is directed to a collection container at the outlet end. A valve assembly regulates a user discharge of the fluid from the housing so that the distended bladder returns to a non-distended position to preclude irritation on the stallion upon withdrawal. The removal of heat of the discharged fluid from the housing reduces the possibility of damage to the deposited semen.

Abstract: A vented hatch cover for a container having an opening defining a hatch and a coaming on the container's exterior surrounding the hatch opening. The cover has an outer shell and an inner shell, each shell having a main body and a flanged portion. The bodies are sized to fit over and enclose the hatch opening. The flanged portions are bonded together and extend radially outwardly from the corresponding bodies to fixedly couple and hold the bodies of the inner and outer shells in a spaced relationship to present an air chamber therebetween. Balsa reinforcement members are spaced apart and fixed between the shells in a radial pattern within the air chamber to provide support to the cover without interfering with the air flow. Air inlets are formed through the flange and body of the inner shell to allow air flow from the container's exterior into the container via the air chamber.

Abstract: A trenching tool for releasable attachment to a bucket of a front end loader includes a pair of support brackets with a chute-like blade thereon. Each bracket includes a support arm for the blade and an integral shoulder brace portion for mounting underneath a surface of the bucket. The front edge of the bucket is received within a notch of each support bracket and is clamped thereto by a releasable upper clamp. Each support bracket includes a bearing surface for transferring forces acting on the tool to the underside of the bucket to enhance the tool's stability during use. The chute-like blade enables sod to be rolled up into the blade for deposit into the bucket upon an initial pass of the loader. Upon subsequent passes, entrenching is accomplished with the loosened dirt entering the chute for deposit into the bucket of the front end loader.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the operability of fire event sensors having a programmable logic circuit which automatically and continuously analyzes whether readings obtained from fire event sensors satisfy multiple predetermined parameters. Parameters defining operability may include the mere receipt of a signal from a sensor, elapsed time between signals, substantive quality of signals, sensor sensitivity, strength of power source, or other parameters. The parameters are modifiable to facilitate many different types of sensors without the addition of any additional circuitry. The system also includes manual testing of the self-checking routine itself as well as checking the circuitry of a fire detection unit and strength of power source. Means for resetting the system is also provided.

Abstract: A greeting card and gift box combination made from a single sheet of cardboard-like box stock having a gift box member with a window for viewing a gift mounted therein, a greeting message on the gift box member above the window, a greeting card front flap hindedly attached to a side of the gift box member, an envelop cover integrated into the front flap to selectively hide a greeting or message viewable through a frame or window in the outside panel of the front flap, and a gift mount system for mounting a gift within the gift box member.

Abstract: Detection of a zero speed or moving railway vehicle wheel or other metallic object is accomplished by providing a balanced E-core inductive detector. An exciter coil on the center leg of the E-core inductively couples a pair of sensor coils connected in series opposition on the outside legs of the E-core. A voltage detector responsive to unbalancing of the E-core magnetic field by a train wheel or other metallic object is connected to the output of the sensor coils. A zero speed wheel located at the center of the magnetic field is detected by using the output of one of the sensor coils compared with the phase shifted and amplitude adjusted exciter signal. Speed and direction of travel are also determined by monitoring wheel detection output sequencing and timing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for supplying a predefined quantity of bulk material to a packaging system. An amount of bulk material which closely approximates the desired package weight is discharged from a surge bin into a loss-in-weight feeder. Accurate single package weight loading of the loss-in-weight feeder yields a lower percentage of weight variance during feeder discharge than more heavily loaded feeders. In addition, the apparatus includes weight bearing springs mounted within the weighing mechanisms of the loss-in-weight feeder such that the weighing mechanisms are not damaged by overloading. The method of accurate filling of the loss-in-weight feeder prior to discharge and the spring protected loss-in-weight feeder cause package portions having optimal weight variance to be supplied for packaging.

Abstract: An exercise device for use with a medicine ball utilizing a support frame with a seat thereon. A medicine ball track is mounted to the frame and is pivotal to a user selectable position of a plurality of positions at which one end of the track is higher than the opposed track end. A seated user facing away from the track initially places the medicine ball at the elevated track end upon torso rotation in one direction. The incline of the track causes a rolling movement of the ball to the lower track end for recovery by the user upon the user oppositely rotating the torso in order to reach the ball at the lower track end. Either end of the track may be elevated so as to provide a balanced exercise. The degree of elevation of the upper track end is adjustable which varies the speed of the ball rolling movement and thus the speed at which the user must rotate between the ball placement and recovery positions. A selector plate positions and maintains the track at a desired inclination.

Abstract: A device for non-invasively locating and marking blood carrying vessels in a live human body includes a housing having a control panel for user selection of functions, a central processing unit controlling said functions. The device includes motorized legs for regulating the height of the housing above a patient's skin according to data received from a proximity sensor. The device includes an upper carriage driven in a first direction and a lower carriage driven in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction. The lower carriage is coupled to the upper carriage such that the lower carriage can be positioned at any position within an x-y plane. The device further includes a transducer for locating the position of a blood vessel through the transmission and receipt of ultrasonic waves. The transducer is mounted to the lower carriage such that the path of a blood vessel can be tracked through carriage movements according to signals received by the transducer.

Abstract: A speed display device for focusing a motorist's attention on the vehicle's speed, includes a screen which will digitally display thereon the vehicle's radar measured speed in either a first steady state at one color or in a flashing state at a second color. An internal microprocessor compares a preset threshold speed with the vehicle's measured speed. If the measured vehicle's speed is not greater than the threshold speed, the measured speed is screen displayed by energization of a first set of amber lights in a pattern according to the measured speed. If the measured speed is above the threshold speed, a second set of red flashing lights is energized in an accentuated pattern according to the measured speed. The device focuses the motorist's attention on the vehicle speed per se, particularly when above the threshold limit.