Abstract: An automatic empty container return machine includes a detection unit operable for identifying whether or not an empty container is of a predetermined category, an input unit located upstream of the detection unit for receiving empty containers to supply the empty containers to the detection unit, an output unit located downstream of the detection unit for receiving empty containers that have been identified by the detection unit as being of the predetermined category, a transport stage having a conveyor for transporting empty containers from the input unit through the detection unit to the output unit, and a self-cleaning arrangement having components integrated with at least one of the input unit, detection unit, output unit and transport stage and being operable at selected times to clean surfaces thereof that are preselected to be cleaned.

Abstract: A surgical instrument holder for use in surgery having a holder body (10) able to hold one of a plurality of surgical instruments used together in surgery, such as a diathermy pencil and a separate suction means or two laproscopic instruments or the like, but allow easy removal of the surgical instruments. A holder attachment means (41) supports the holder body (10) and connects adjacent elongated cylinders (11, 13) at or near respective circumferential points on the elongated cylinders (11, 13) along an intersecting line between respective axes of the adjacent elongated cylinders (11, 13). A connection part (48) associated with the holder attachment means (41) enables the surgical instrument holder (10) to be removably mounted on or near a patient so that the surgical instrument holder (10) provides simultaneous access to each of the adjacent elongated cylinders (11, 13) allowing easy removal of the surgical instruments.

Abstract: A lubricator assembly for a well head of a gas-producing well includes an elongated rigid tubular body having upper and lower ends and a cylindrical interior chamber open at the lower end for receiving a leading end of a gas lift plunger at the well head, a removable end cap attached at the upper end of the tubular body, and an elongated polyurethane body having a cylindrical configuration and characteristics of a coil spring in that the polyurethane body can be resiliently compressed along its longitudinal axis and will spring back to substantially its original form. The polyurethane body is disposed in the tubular body between the removable end cap and the lower end of the tubular body such that upon arrival of the plunger at the tubular body the polyurethane body will be impacted by the force of the plunger and absorb the impact force.

Abstract: A perspiration control device includes a headband having opposite outer and inner sides and opposite front and back portions, and at least one elongated seal strip applied on the inner side of the front portion of the headband and having opposite ends such that the seal strip will cross a forehead of a user when the headband is worn by the user and the seal strip will function to direct perspiration toward the opposite ends of the strip and thus toward opposite sides of the forehead and beyond eyes of the user.

Abstract: A multiple gang junction box assembly includes a main box, divider panels, first and second pluralities of positioning elements for receiving and positioning the divider panels in an interior chamber of the main box so as to laterally space apart the divider panels in lockable positions therein and to partition the interior chamber into a plurality of side-by-side compartments, and a front cover plate for covering a front opening of the main box. The first plurality of positioning elements are disposed in the interior chamber on either a rear wall or top and bottom walls of the main box. The second plurality of positioning elements are disposed on upper and lower edges of the divider panels and on top and bottom walls of the main box and spaced forwardly from the first plurality of positioning elements.

Abstract: A device for detachably securing an object on a motor vehicle seat includes a transverse support member mountable adjacent to and along a gap between a seating surface and backrest of the motor vehicle seat and a pair of securements spaced apart and mounted to the support member so as to extend into the gap and being adapted for securing the object on the seating surface. Each securement includes a set of elements and structures connecting at least some of the elements of each set with one another and with the support member such that the securements are swivellable in planes defined by the securements relative to the support member between extended positions of use and retracted positions of rest. In positions of use, the securements have U-shaped configurations formed by the sets of elements such that one securement is identical to and a mirror image of the other securement.

Abstract: A wire fence roller apparatus includes a framework, a rotatable elongated drum, a pair of guide plates, and a wire guiding arrangement. The drum is mounted to a pivotal end portion of the framework for undergoing pivotal movement therewith. The drum is thus swingable with the pivotal end portion of the framework toward and away from a stationary end portion of the framework so as to dispose the drum in an operative position wherein the drum extends between and is rotatably mounted to the opposite end portions of the framework to permit winding or unwinding of wire fence about or from the drum with rotation of the drum and in an inoperative position wherein the drum is released from and angularly displaced away from the stationary end portion of the framework to permit loading and unloading of the wire fence onto and from the drum.

Abstract: An educational system for teaching individuals their emotions employs a multiplicity of sets of faces. Each set of faces expresses a different emotion experienced by individuals from time to time. The sets of faces have facial expressions correlated to the different emotions. There are a plurality of states of the particular emotion that are expressed in the facial expressions of each set of faces. The states defined for each of the different emotions are subdued, normal and exaggerated states. The facial expressions on the faces employ certain facial features to express the particular emotions, namely, eyes, eyebrows, a mouth and a nose. These facial features are enclosed in a facial circle. The sizes of these facial features relative to the facial circle change from one state of a particular emotion to another and are smallest in the subdued state, largest in the exaggerated state and inbetween and balanced in the normal state.

Abstract: A light fixture extension adapter includes a body, a male stud on one opposite end portion of the body for extending through a mounting hole in a light fixture cover extending between opposite outer and inner faces of the light fixture cover and adapted for fastening a cap of the light fixture on the male stud so as to dispose the light fixture cap adjacent to the outer face of the light fixture cover, a female socket on the other opposite end portion of the body and disposed adjacent to the inner face of the light fixture cover and adapted for fastening a nipple of a light fixture thereto, and an abutment structure disposed on the body for abutting against the inner face of the light fixture cover such that upon fastening the light fixture cap on the male stud the light fixture cover is clamped between the abutment structure and light fixture cap.

Abstract: A machine and method for vending products perform the operational steps of storing a multiplicity of products in a plurality of vertical columns thereof that are organized in a circular row wherein the products in each vertical column are disposed one above another and can feed downward due to the influence of the force of gravity, incrementally rotating the plurality of vertical columns of products simultaneously about a circular path wherein lowermost ones of the products in the vertical columns thereof one at a time per revolution advance and cross over an inlet opening to a dispensing path, and dispensing the lowermost ones of the products of the vertical columns thereof through the inlet opening by use of a separation fixture that prevents products from dropping directly into the inlet opening from the vertical columns when aligned above the inlet opening while letting products drop into a lowermost circular row thereof located below the columns and from the lowermost circular row one at a time through t

Abstract: A chiropractic adjustor apparatus includes a housing having a central interior cavity and a pair of opposite end portions oriented substantially the reverse of one another and extending in opposite directions from the interior cavity and having passages adapted to enhance heat dissipation from the housing, an electromagnetic drive mechanism mounted in the interior cavity of the housing, a force-transmitting shaft extending through the drive mechanism and opposite end portions of the housing and reciprocally supported by the opposite end portions of the housing in a substantially symmetrical relationship to the drive mechanism, an arrangement for actuating the drive mechanism to cause repetitive reciprocal vibratory movement of the shaft along a longitudinal axis thereof and relative to the housing, and a handle attached to the housing for gripping the apparatus.

Abstract: A brush attachment includes a coupling section attachable on a hand-held hot air device, a brush section having a bristle holder mounted axially through and rotatable relative to an outer housing part and bristle configurations movably mounted to the bristle holder and adapted to retract within and advance from the outer housing part when the bristle holder is rotated about an axis of rotation between first and second positions, an actuation device mounted to the coupling section and movable in a radial direction relative to the axis of rotation of the bristle holder, and a lever arm pivotally mounted to the coupling section and pivotally movable by the actuation device for actuating the bristle holder to cause rotation thereof between the first and second positions for retracting and advancing the bristle configurations into and from the outer housing part.

Abstract: A curvy slide delivery chute for use in a machine for vending products includes an elongated body having a central hole formed therein, a pair of recessed channels formed in the body and provided in a wavy longitudinal configuration in the body on opposite sides of the central hole such that the channels are substantially mirror images of one another and protrude below a remainder of the body and extend from an upper end to an opposite lower end of the body such that a product can slide along either one of the channels in being transferred from the upper end to the lower end of the body, and a pair of side rails each formed on the body and protruding thereabove along one of opposite outer sides of the recessed channels.

Abstract: A vehicle utility rack system includes a pair of single support racks for providing an elevated hauling and working station. Each single support rack includes a T-shaped support structure having a lower vertical member and upper horizontal member, and angular-shaped retention structures disposed adjacent to and connected with opposite lateral end portions of the upper horizontal member so as to extend in an upward direction relative thereto and define opposite outer limits of a horizontal support region on the upper horizontal member. The rack system also includes a dual support rack structure having a single support rack, an auxiliary support rack, and a brace member supporting the auxiliary support rack in a cantilevered fashion from the single support rack and disposing them in spaced apart upright orientations to provide the elevated hauling and working station.

Abstract: A plate heat exchanger including adjoining plates disposed adjacent one another and having peripheral grooves and channels alternately for media giving off heat and absorbing heat, seals made of an elastic material each being emplaced between the adjoining plates in the groove of one of the plates, attachment holes in each plate, and nipples on each seal insertable in the holes and with cross-sections different from the penetration cross-sections of the holes such that the nipples when inserted into the holes are not compressed about their entire circumference but only at spaced sites thereon at which the nipples project beyond the margin of the holes. The holes are defined by downturned edges which have radii and point in the insertion direction of the nipples into the holes.

Abstract: A diaper includes a diaper substrate having a peripheral edge and a centrally-located region where fluid from a user will make initial contact therewith, a fluid transport layer disposed with the diaper substrate and having a peripheral edge and a centrally-located portion disposed at the centrally-located region of the diaper substrate, and a wetness indicator on the peripheral edge of the transport layer and exposed and extending along at least a portion of the peripheral edge of the diaper substrate. The transport layer made of a fluid-permeable chromatographic medium draws fluid via capillary action from its centrally-located portion at the centrally-located region of the diaper substrate toward its peripheral edge and into contact with the wetness indicator. The wetness indicator is a material capable of eliciting a visible response to the presence of fluid.

Abstract: A short-haul escape system includes an elongated line for detachable suspension from a support member on an airborne vehicle, a load-carrying receptacle attached to an end of the line, a container attachable to the airborne vehicle in proximity to the support member thereon and releasably stowing a parachute such that the parachute can be pulled from the container, and a flexible strap attached to the parachute stowed in the container and extending from the container and secured to the short-haul line such that upon detaching the line from the support member of the airborne vehicle, which will cause the line and receptacle to fall away from the airborne vehicle, the flexible strap will pull the parachute from the container so that the parachute can inflate and slow the fall of the line and receptacle to a soft landing.

Abstract: A spindle drive for adjusting structural components of a motor vehicle seat relative to one another includes a casing having opposite end walls with openings therein, a spindle nut disposed in the casing and having a pair of opposite ends and an internally threaded bore extending therethrough between the opposite ends and generally aligned with the openings in the opposite end walls of the casing, an externally threaded spindle extending through the casing and openings of the end walls thereof and also threadably received through the internally threaded bore of the spindle nut so as to extend in opposite directions from the opposite ends of the spindle nut, the spindle having an end stop attached thereon such that one of the opposite ends of the spindle nut faces toward the end stop on the spindle, and at least one collar attached to and extending outwardly from the one end of the spindle nut and about the spindle and having an end surface facing toward the end stop on the spindle such that as the spindle is

Abstract: An integrated rotary drive motion transmission and directional control system includes a rotor and a pair of rotary drive motion transmitting assemblies each disposed adjacent to one of the opposite sides of the rotor. The rotor is mounted to rotate in either of opposite directions and has an annular channel defined on each opposite side by radially spaced inner and outer concentric surfaces. Each assembly is mounted to rotate in either opposite direction and has output and input elements disposed respectively remotely from and adjacent to the rotor. The input element can be moved from an intermediate neutral position to one of opposite drive positions where the input element engages one or the other of the inner and outer surfaces of the rotor annular channel enabling transmitting of rotary drive motion from the rotor to the assembly output element and controlling speed and direction thereof.