Abstract: A power saving dimming apparatus for gas discharge lamps is disclosed. The apparatus provides a means for applying full power to the lamp for a preselected time whenever the lamp is turned on. After the preselected time has passed, the lamp is maintained in an adjustable dimmed state.

Abstract: A chair having an adjustable backrest, an adjustable footrest, and side panels which oppose the abduction of a seated individual's body, particularly for supporting and managing the body of a child who has limited muscle control or other developmental difficulties and for growing with that child throughout his development.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing particulate ice including a case with an ice hopper therein for storage of ice. The ice hopper is provided with a downwardly sloped floor. An auger assembly is provided for moving ice within the ice hopper upwardly along the sloped floor from the lower end to dispense the ice from an opening at the upper end thereof. The apparatus is also provided with a lever arm, electric circuitry, and a motor mounted within the case in the space inside the walls thereof and under the sloped floor of the ice hopper for selectively activating the auger assembly. The auger assembly includes a rotating shaft which is sealed against the stationary ice hopper in a packing case, the packing case having a hole therethrough for receiving the rotating shaft, a seal cap and a thrust bearing. The sealing cap is provided with a seal for sealing against both the packing case and the rotating shaft.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for straightening the pins of a computer chip, logic or integrated circuit, or other type of semiconductor device having a pin grid array (16). The apparatus includes a rotating turret (28) for positioning the pin grid array (16) at a plurality of stations (20) and (22) for performing a series of straightening operations to the pins (18) at each station, first and second rakes (110) and (110.sup.2), each of the rakes (110 and 110.sup.2) having a plurality of tines (112) extending therefrom for insertion between the pins (18) of the pin grid array (16) in first and second directions, a jig (136) having a plurality of holes (146) therein for receiving the pins (18) when the jig (136) is moved toward the wafer (40) of the pin grid array (16) to straigthen the pins (18), and appropriate controls for advancing the pin grid array (16) positioned in the turret (28) from one station to another and controlling the insertion of the tines (112) of the first and second rakes (110) and (110.sup.

Abstract: A swiveling infant car seat with an infant restraint device comprises a pedestal formed with a circular opening bordered by a lip to which a base is connected for distribution loads therebetween. A substantially circular base for a seat is formed with a groove around the periphery of an annulus which receives the inner periphery of the anchor plate therein to the seat to the pedestal. The base includes a pivot plate, an anchor plate, and a retainer plate for holding the pivot plate in swiveling relationship with the anchor plate. The seat is reclinably attached to the base for orientation at select inclinations, and a latch mounted on the pedestal is engageable with the base to selectively hold the seat in either a forward facing or a rearward facing orientation.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus which non-metallurgically attaches two dissimilar metals and, in particular, but not by way of limitation, a method and an apparatus for non-metallurgically attaching corrosion resistant metals to non-corrosion resistant metals.

Abstract: A method for measuring wireline depths in a borehole using paired encoder wheels frictionally engaging the wireline is disclosed. The method allows for the correction of the measurement from a slipping encoder wheel without corrupting the measurement from the non-slipping encoder wheel.The method comprises incrementing corresponding depth counters whenever a pulse is produced by one of the encoder wheels. The depth counts are compared and if a significant difference exists, the value of the counter corresponding to the slipping encoder wheel is set equal to the value or the other wheel.

Abstract: An apparatus for receiving signals in the form of strikes from fish to control the operation of a scatter-type feeder to feed the fish in response to the fish strikes. The apparatus transforms vibrations of strikes by even the tiniest of fish into electrical signals which may be amplified and analyzed by control circuitry to control the operation of the scatter-type feeder. In operation, the circuitry effectively controls the amount of feed dispensed per batch by the feeder, causes a delay time (a pause) to follow after the dispensation of one batch before it is possible for strike signals to initiate the dispensation of a second batch and requires the strike to be one of a specified magnitude before food is dispensed. Each of these controls is adjustable by knobs on a control box.

Abstract: An inflatable marking device for marking a position comprising an inflatable balloon for receiving a lighter than air gas for inflating the balloon to cause the balloon to rise to mark a position. A line is secured at one end around the throat of the balloon and at the other end to a handle to maintain the balloon at the desired position. The handle is provided with a nipple for receiving the throat of the balloon, a spool around which the line is wound, and a shoulder to keep the line from overlapping onto the nipple when unwinding the line from the spool. One end of the handle is an opening for sealing around a gas cartridge when the cartridge is inserted therein, and a pin valve is positioned within the opening for engaging the cartridge to cause the gas to escape from the cartridge, through the nipple, and into the balloon.

Abstract: A beverage dispenser of the post mix type having evaporator coils configured in a particular manner to form a slab of ice within a cooling chamber, the formation of which slab of ice is controlled by a thermostat so that a vertically oriented passage is formed in the center of the slab to allow the rotation of an impeller shaft. With the cooling chamber and a passage for connecting with dispenser valves being insulated beneath and beside the compressor and other heat generating components of the cooling unit, the impeller is thus able to operate beneath the ice slab to circulate cooled water around beverage conduits that are layered in a compact configuration, the overall arrangement of the beverage dispenser being compact and resulting in a easily serviceable beverage dispenser having a low profile while also providing a relatively large ice bank and enabling optimum heat exchange between the beverage conduits and the slab of ice without causing freezing of the beverages.

Abstract: A level for determining whether a surface is horizontal and which can also be used to determine the angular relationship between the surface or a line on the surface and the horizontal. The level utilizes a rotating pendulum designed with a pointer that indicates a direction representing the vertical. The pointer (or vertical indicator) is biased in this position by a weight (or alternatively a float) and it points to scale markings that calibrate the position of the rotating pendulum to correspondingly represents the angular deviation of the surface from the horizontal. The weight and the pointer are attached by a set screw which allows the weight to be pivoted with respect to the pointer so that the center of gravity of the rotating pendulum as a whole can be altered and the direction in which the pointer points can be adjusted for accuracy.

Abstract: A self-contained hand held medical aspirating device having a piston-grip type handle for holding in one hand with a standard connector for connecting to a catheter and a vacuum line for connecting to a vacuum source and a removable specimen container for receiving body fluids and a fluid barrier means to prevent body fluids from getting into the suction source.

Abstract: A liquid dispenser mixing nozzle comprising a housing defining a chamber, a dispensing orifice in the housing communicating with the chamber at a first end, a liquid supply source in fluid connection with the chamber at a second end of the chamber, a plurality of baffles substantially perpendicular to the side wall of the housing, and removable circumferential support members for suspending the baffles within the chamber. A method for mixing and dispensing liquid is also provided.

Abstract: Addressing primarily the needs of physically incapacitated individuals, this invention is a device connected to a common toilet for aiding such individuals in their cleansing of their private body parts with an apparatus that has a unique seat that seals fluids beneath the body of the user. The apparatus is basically an automatic cleansing device that one can connect to a toilet for spraying a warm water-soap solution followed by the spray of a warm water rinsing fluid and completed with the automatic flushing of the toilet as well as the blowing of heated air across the user's private body parts for drying the private body parts; this device is controlled in a variety of ways including electric switches, timers, or other manually operated mechanisms.

Abstract: A base (or similar article) composed of a flexible material having a high melting point, which base is mounted on the lower surface of a plastic coffee pot (or other container) to appropriately regulate the increase in the temperature of the coffee pot in an ideal manner when the pot is placed on a standard heating plate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for receiving of carbon black pellets for weighing prior to injection into an internal mixer which inhibits the accumulation of carbon black fines on the internal surfaces including a receiving and weighing hopper having walls formed of smooth flexible material which flexes upon loading and unloading from an equilibrium position to expel carbon black fines that tend to adhere on the wall surfaces of the hopper.

Abstract: A cold plate apparatus for use as a part of a beverage dispensing machine with an ice storage container. The apparatus is designed to be placed in the bottom of the ice storage container where ice may reside on the top surface of the apparatus. The apparatus comprises a block of aluminum through the interior of which run coils of tubing for carrying beverage liquids and having appropriate inlets and outlets. The apparatus provides means for optimizing the heat transferred from the beverage liquids to the ice. Means area also provided which minimize the time any accumulated layer of water due to the melting of ice resides on top of the apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for training dogs is disclosed which uses a non-painful electrical stimulus controlled by either a remote transmitter or the dog's own barking. The stimulus is a high voltage pulse of very short duration capable of producing a muscle spasm in the dog without also stimulating pain nerves. Because of the high voltage used, the electrodes do not have to directly contact the dog's skin which both lessens the chance of abrasive injury and makes the device especially suitable for long coated dogs.

Abstract: A signalling device for signalling danger from water over a low water crossing area is provided. The device has a support post, a message panel, and flashing lights in electrical connection with an energy source, the electrical connection being completed by triggering a switch lever by either a tank float rigidly mounted to a bottom end of a centrally disposed elongate guide member or by a donut-shaped tank float received about the elongate guide member and stopped by a stop member, either the rigidly mounted float pushing the elongate rod upwards and triggering the switch lever, or the donut shaped tank float and stop pushing the elongate rod upwards and triggering the switch lever.

Abstract: A method and system for tracking a borehole by means of a probe and an externally produced magnetic field. The magnetic field is produced by a current configuration which facilitates the calculation of the magnitude and direction of the magnetic field at any point in space. In order to locate the probe, magnetometers within the probe are used to measure the magnetic field. Accelerometers within the probe allow the determination of the probe's orientation which enables the measured field vector to be compared to the calculated field vector and the probe's location thereby ascertained.