Abstract: A method and apparatus for assembling blinds includes a punching and cutting station, an outfeed station and a lacing stating having a plurality of lacing towers. A guide cable extends between adjacent lacing towers for guiding transported slats. A pivoted backstop at a downstream end of the lacing station yieldingly arrests the motion of incoming slats. The outfeed station of the apparatus includes a continuously driven outfeed drive roller and an opposed pinch roller which may be selectively urged against the drive roller so as to drive a slat out of the outfeed station. Each lacing tower of the apparatus includes a spring-biased spreader which provides longitudinal tension to a tape ladder while preventing longitudinal stringers of the ladder from converging upon each other. The method of the present invention includes operating the apparatus to automatically learn the selected length and arrangement of the blind and to subsequently automatically manufacture a blind to those specifications.

Abstract: A covering for an architectural opening such as a window or door is in the form of a vertically oriented fabric assembly having front and rear sheer fabrics interconnected by vertically extending vanes. The vanes can be tilted through a series of carriers mounted on a track rail from which the covering is suspended in order to adjust the spacing between the fabrics between open and closed positions and adjust the light transmitting characteristics of the covering. The covering can be extended across the opening by separating the carriers on the track rail and can be contracted by stacking the carriers toward one end of the track rail. A unique design of carrier allows the covering to fold on itself in the contracted state, in the manner of a conventional drape.

Abstract: A snow ski binding is provided that includes a boot plate which is releasably securable to a ski by a toe piece and heel piece. The boot plate is pivotally connected to the toe piece so as to selectively pivot about a transverse axis and allow a skier to move in a cross-country motion. The heel piece is movable between a plurality of positions to selectively lock the trailing end of the boot plate to the ski to facilitate downhill skiing or can be repositioned to allow the boot plate to pivot about the toe piece while restricting the downward movement of the trailing end of the boot plate between two locations to facilitate use of the binding in a cross-country mode for climbing hills.

Abstract: A fabric light control window covering in which fabric vanes are adhesively bonded between two sheer fabric sheets such that relative movement between the sheer fabric sheets in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fabric vanes changes the angle of the fabric vanes and, thus, controls the amount of light admitted through the shade. The vanes are bonded to the sheer fabric sheets in a manner which tends to bias the sheer fabric sheets together to the nonlight admitting position. Also, disclosed are methods and apparatus for manufacturing the above window covering. The method features linear application of adhesive to the vane material which provides for a uniform appearance in the finished product. A heat setting process and apparatus is disclosed in which the bonded layers of sheer fabrics and vanes are fed between belts over hot and cool surfaces, under uniform tension and pressure.

Abstract: An expandable and collapsible window covering is disclosed in which an unpleated facing fabric is attached to a pleated panel to provide a Roman shade type window covering. Transverse cells are formed by the attachment of the pleated panel and unpleated fabric which provide excellent insulation properties. A method for making such a shade is also disclosed.

Abstract: A gas transfer apparatus readily adapted for oxygenating blood includes a housing with a hollow internal chamber having a fiber mat consisting of two sets of intermingled hollow fibers with one set of fibers having micropores formed in the walls thereof and the other set having solid liquid impermeable walls. The housing for the apparatus is designed such that the blood being processed passes substantially uniformly across the entire cross section of the fiber mat whereby a treating gas such as oxygen being directed through the microporous fibers can be diffused into the oxygen deficient blood while excess CO.sub.2 in the blood can cross diffuse into the interior of the fiber and be removed from the apparatus. Simultaneously with the cross diffusion of gas between the microporous fibers and the blood, a thermal conducting fluid such as water is passed through the solid walled fibers to maintain or regulate the temperature of the blood in the apparatus.

Abstract: An automatically retractable awning includes a plurality of extendable rafter arms operatively connected at their upper ends to a vertical support surface, a lead bar connected to the lower ends of the rafter arms, a roll bar located adjacent to and operatively connected to the support surface, and an awning sheet or canopy connected at a first end to the roll bar and at a second end to the lead bar. A sensor operatively connected to at least one of the rafter arms detects pivotal movement of the rafter arm relative to the support surface and automatically commands a roll drive motor to roll the canopy about the roll bar and thus retract the awning.

Abstract: A window covering including first and second sheer fabrics interconnected by a plurality of transversely extending vanes is disclosed. The sheer fabrics are connected to circumferentially spaced apart fixing elements on a wind up roll which is mounted with its longitudinal axis extending generally horizontally to one side of a frame of a skylight. Associated with the wind up roll at each end are cord reels and a control pulley at one end of a respective cord reel. Rotation of the wind up roll is effected by operation of a cord wrapped around the control pulley. Wrapped around the cord reels are tension cords which pass around fixed pulleys and are connected to opposite ends of an end rail having in its interior a tension spring to the end of which are attached the ends of the tension cords. Two parallel tracks extending generally perpendicular to the wind up roll is provided for guiding the end rail.

Abstract: A venetian blind assembly is described, for use in a glazed door having a rectangular window insert mounted therein and forming a primary glazing. In the improved assembly a rectangular frame is provided with a secondary glazing mounted within the rectangular frame, and a venetian blind mounted completely within the frame so as to be between the primary and secondary glazings when the assembly is secured to the door. Holding clips engage the exterior of the rectangular frame and are held in place by screws which are engaged in holes used for the securing of the rectangular window frame insert into the main door body of the door. Alternatively, an additional frame may be secured to the door around the window insert of the door and the double glazed unit with the venetian blind therein may be held to this additional frame by means of snap-on clips.

Abstract: A device suitable as a closure cap for a medicine container is provided. The device has indicia circumferentially marked on the upper surface of the device representing the time for next taking the medicine in the container. An arm rotatably and pivotably mounted in the center of the device is set to point at the time for next taking the medicine. The arm is releaseably retained in position by cooperating pegs and indentations on the upper surface of the device and the underside of the rotatable arm.

Abstract: A percutaneous intravenous oxygenator includes a plurality of hollow gas permeable fibers formed into a plurality of loops with one end of the fiber loops being connected to a source of oxygen while the opposite end is connected to a vacuum source. The oxygenator is insertable into a blood vessel such that when oxygen is drawn into the fiber loops, it will diffuse through the walls of the fibers into oxygen deficient blood passing thereby while excess carbon dioxide in the blood will pass in a reverse or cross diffusion pattern through the walls of the fibers into the interior thereof for removal from the fiber loops by the vacuum source. Two separate embodiments for moving the fibers to prevent streaming of blood past the oxygenator are disclosed for optimal cross diffusion of the gases.

Abstract: The specification discloses a method of forming a self sustained cladding panel 10 for use in a cladding panel system for a building using a resilient metal or metal alloy sheet material. The panels have a central visible portion 12 and longitudinally extending side edges 14, 16. The central visible portion has, in its relaxed state, a shape which is significantly different from the intended final shape and the panel is subsequently formed so that its central visible portion is resiliently formed into the final shape, with a resilient deformation taking place within the elastic range of the sheet material. The panel is then retained in this final shape by interconnecting the longitudinally extending side edges 14, 16 either continuously or by spaced elements such as clips.

Abstract: The present invention involves a tamper-proof apparatus and method for assuring the integrity of containers of consumer goods. A special carton, which becomes part of the retail display, has a plurality of controlled dispensing openings such that once a container has been removed, it cannot be replaced in the carton. Accordingly, a container cannot be removed from the carton, its contents altered, and the container replaced in the carton to be purchased by an unwitting consumer. Several alternative systems are employed for assembling the carton in a secure, tamper-proof manner. Further, if the carton is loaded at the point of manufacture or distribution, once the carton is loaded, the carton is sealed to provide indicia of potential tampering between the point of manufacture or distribution and the ultimate point of sale at a retail location.

Abstract: A mechanism for providing motive power consisting of a plurality of rotary-type pistons fitted into chambers uniformly situated about the axis of the engine in a housing for improving the effective displacement and compression of such engines. Motive forces generated by the pressure exerted on the piston are transferred from the cylinders through operative pins projecting axially from each of the pistons. The operative pins engage tracks in a guide plates. Due to the shape of the operative pins and tracks in the guide plate, the resultant forces generated between the operative pins and the guide plate cause the housing to rotate relative to the guide plate, generating torque. Thrust layers are provided which have involutes to introduce fuel and other fluids into the piston chambers and to remove exhaust fluids from the chambers. Cover plates are also provided to prevent the introduction and removal of fluids from the chambers from interfering with the transfer of power to the guide plates.

Abstract: The present invention involves a method for forming aquarium ornaments including the steps of providing a plastic sheet having a plurality of planar surfaces, cutting a strip from the plastic sheet of a predetermined width and having a plurality of lateral edges and a plurality of planar surfaces, roughening the lateral edges of the strip to form a pitted texture in the lateral edges, causing the strip to become pliable and bending the strip into a non-planar shape whereby an ornament is created having lateral edges with a pitted texture such that the edges refract and reflect ambient light to create a luminescent appearance.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for making expandable honeycomb structures suitable for use as window coverings. In one embodiment, folded tubular strips with adhesive lines are fed continuously through a cutter which cuts them into predetermined lengths. The cut strips are then accelerated to a stacker for further processing before the next cut strip arrives. In another embodiment, webs of material are fed continuously in a downstream direction, adhesive lines are applied, a middle web is slitted into strips, and the strips bonded along opposite edges to the outer webs. By choosing for the outer webs transparent or porous material, and for the middle web opaque material, a light or air controlling honeycomb structure results.