Abstract: Implement for manipulating and carrying fire logs or the like and comprising inner jaws pivotally interconnected to a long handle near its load end, an actuating lever connected to the handle's other end, and a wire or cable connecting the actuating lever to the inner jaws. An outer jaw opposes and is pivotally connected between the inner jaws. A broken back linkage, located between the pivotal connections, connects the load end of the handle to the outer jaw. A spring normally maintains the broken back linkage in a non-broken attitude and the inner and outer jaws relatively open, in the absence of a fire log or the like between them. The broken back linkage is put into a broken condition and the jaws are closed to grasp the fire log when the actuating lever is actuated. The weight of the lifted article maintains the broken condition of the broken back linkage, and the relatively closed relation of the jaws around the article, even though the actuating lever is released.

Abstract: The lower stringer of a slide fastener means is attached to an upstanding side wall of a sole, which side wall extends around the perimeter of the sole; the complementary upper stringer is attached to the lower edge portion of the upper, which loser edge portion extends around the perimeter of said upper. With the shoe disassembled, the tape of the upper stringer lies adjacent of the outer surface of the upper and carries coupler means directed upwardly. To assemble the shoe, the upper stringer tape is folded outwardly and downwardly over on itself to form an upwardly directed bight and thus dependently locating the coupler means of the upper stringer directly above the coupler means of the lower stringer so that slide fastener means can couple the two said coupler means. A removable heel cup, for reinforcing the heel region of the upper, is upwardly insertable into a heel pocket formed in the rear of the upper.

Abstract: A key and a lock in a lock device having variable bit and ward patterns, respectively. The key has two pieces of bit members, one member of which is slidably fitted in a groove defined in the other member, while the other is stationary. The lock has ward members cooperative to those of the key, one of the ward members being movable, and the other being stationary. Thus, when the key is inserted into the lock and turned to its angularly displaceable end, and the position of the movable bit member of the key is varied, then the cooperative movable ward member in the lock may be moved thereby accordingly. The both movable members are then rigidly fixed in desired position. Thus, the lock can no longer be opened by a duplicate key or a master key. Alternatively, the two bit and ward members in a key and a lock may be so designed as to be movable, respectively.

Abstract: A hand-held radio-translucent compression device used by a radiologist for manipulating or depressing the abdomen to flatten portions of the intestinal tract which have been rendered radiopaque by a solution of barium sulfate or the like. The device is fabricated from a radiolucent material so that radiated signals through the patient's body will not be blocked by the radiopaque gloved hand of the radiologist. A relatively flat, planar body portion is formed to accommodate the user's gloved hand and is adapted to be gripped between the thumb and extended fingers. A rounded projecting portion is attached to the front of the body and includes a contact surface situated forwardly of the outstretched tips of the user's fingers. The sensitive fingertips of the user's hand, encased in a radiopaque glove for radiation shielding, can then be used to manipulate the abdomen and, in turn, explore the patient's lower digestive tract while observing the effects on the monitor of a fluoroscope.

Abstract: An outrigger beam projects outwardly beyond the edge of the roof, to serve as an overhead anchor for the suspension line of a suspended staging. A support leg depends from the beam and makes contact with the roof inwardly of the roof edge. At a location further inwardly from the roof edge, the outrigger beam is secured to an elevated support rail, but in a manner permitting both axial and sideways angular movement, as needed, for proper positioning of the outboard end of the outrigger beam relative to the side of the building. The support rail counterbalances the weight of the staging. The outrigger beam is connected to the support rail by a carriage which permits (1) the outrigger beam to be pivoted vertically about the support rail, for raising the support leg up off the roof, and (2) sideways movement of the tilted outrigger beam lengthwise of the rail.

Abstract: Three wire leg members are attached to a relatively small hub member and are movable between a folded position in which all three leg members are relatively together and in use position in which the three leg members are substantially equally spaced apart and extend radially outwardly from the hub member. A gas burner unit is received within an upwardly directed recess formed in the hub member and includes an upwardly directed burner head. The wire leg members have lower portions restable on a support surface and upper portions providing a pan support at a level above the burner head. A flexible hose extends from the burner unit to a control valve and adaptor assembly attachable to the top of a can of butane gas. The control valve includes a knob and means controlled by rotation of the knob for moving a depressable member which is a part of an outlet valve built into the can, for both turning the gas flow on and off and regulating its flow rate.

Abstract: A coil of insulated wire surrounds a low reluctance core. A combination of low reluctance and high reluctance materials positioned adjacent said coil: (1) control the spatial extent of the magnetic flux and, (2) concentrate the total reluctance of the magnetic circuit of the exciting coil into a volume of controlled size and shape within the material being tested. The magnetic flux is controlled, and the reluctance is concentrated, in such a manner as to optimize the sensitivity of the eddy-current generator to variations in the material being tested; at the same time, the coil impedance is maintained at a value which is optimum for the performance of any selected precision electrical impedance measuring device.

Abstract: An ice making machine having an improved drip shield which prevents water from dripping into an ice storage bin beneath the machine. The ice machine has an inner freezing surface over which is spread water. Ice formed on the freezing surface is scraped therefrom by a rotating sweep arm having a plurality of sweeps thereon. The drip shield is frusto-conical in shape and is located at the bottom of the ice making machine and extends radially outward beyond the inner freezing surface of the machine. A portion of the drip shield adjacent the sweep arm is removed to allow ice to fall from the freezing surface into an ice storage bin. The drip shield is continuously washed by water from a spray tube located on the top portion of the drip shield and having a series of orifices therein thus preventing ice build-up on the drip shield and clogging of the machine.

Abstract: A backpack is disclosed having a sack including a stowage compartment and a frame holding compartment comprising an envelope having a front wall positionable against the wearer's back. A flexible unitary frame is positionable within the frame receiving envelope, under compression, and longitudinally tensions the front wall of the envelope. The unitary frame includes curved end portions interconnected by a pair of inwardly bowed, generally C-shaped side portions. The curved end frame portions fit the like curved closed end portions of the frame receiving envelope. The flexible frame is arcuate longitudinally and has a concave intermediate portion thus allowing inward movement of the tensioned front wall when contacted by the back of the wearer. Movement of the tensioned front wall causes the backpack to "hug" or closely fit the curvature of the wearer's back and thus moves the center of gravity of the backpack closer to the wearer's back to improve backpack balance.

Abstract: Chain link fence straightener apparatus usable to restore bent chain link fence sections or segments without removal thereof from the fence, and including lower and upper tine means arranged on an upright post supported by a ground engageable base member, such upper tine means being movable vertically on a carriage vertically shifted along the post through means of a rack gear on the post and pinion gear means on the carriage, said lower and upper tine means being of substantial horizontal span to engage a plurality of links of the fence at various points along the fence. In preferred form the rack gear on the post is made up of a length of hardened steel chain links and is readily removable and adjustable in tension by means of a threaded anchor bolt at its lower end.

Abstract: A demountable practice device for use with a conventional stringed racquet such as a tennis racquet or the like and including an elastic tether attached to a flexural, arcuate anchor member mounted solely on the racquet strings so that striking of the ball generates potential energies in both the racquet strings and anchor member as well as the potential energy in the stretched tether. Opposed ears located on opposite spaced side edges of the anchor member are received through respective string openings to position the anchor member against the racquet face opposite the striking face. An elastic tether extends through a central string opening to the opposite face and is adjustably attached to the anchor member. A cross member at the outward end of the tether secures a conventional ball which is repeatedly struck by the racquet face opposite the anchor member.

Abstract: An elevated deck structure is positionable on the main deck floor in the passenger compartment of a wide-bodied aircraft for providing a mezzanine seating area in the substantially unused upper lobe of the fuselage. A sectioned elongated support wall has a lower portion which is detachably secured to a pair of conventional seat tracks extending longitudinally along the center line of the main deck floor. A plurality of mezzanine floor sections are secured to the top of the support wall and project laterally outward toward the sidewall of the aircraft fuselage. The mezzanine floor is elevated a sufficient distance above the main deck floor to provide passenger seating both in the area under the mezzanine floor on either side of the support wall and on the mezzanine floor itself in the upper lobe of the aircraft.

Abstract: The vapor and particulate matter emitting equipment is enclosed within walls of an electrostatically charged clear plastic sheet material. The enclosures are connected at their tops to hoods which are connected to ducting leading to an exhaust fan. The vapors are contained within the enclosures until they can be evacuated by the fan. The particulate matter is attracted to the electrostatically charged sheet material.

Abstract: A card file box having front and rear panels pivotally mounted to open outwardly for increased capacity and ready accessibility to the cards contained therein. A bottom member has a trapezoidal shaped cross-section which provides a pair of angularly disposed edges adjacent the front and rear panels. A pair of coaxial pins are situated near the lower corners of each front and rear edge of a pair of end panels adjacent the bottom member and pivotally cooperate with mating openings in the lower edges of the front and rear panels. Outward travel of the front and rear panels is limited by contact between the lower portion of the inward surface of the front and rear panels and the angular edge of the bottom member. In the closed position the integrity of the box is maintained by a pair of upwardly facing projections on the top edges of the front and rear panels engaging mating openings on the lower surface of the top panel.

Abstract: A pair of lifting planes are secured to the hull of a boat on opposite sides of the keel. The lifting planes intersect the bottom surfaces of the hull at lines oriented generally along side the keel. The lifting planes have swept back leading edges and a span generally reaching to the chines. The outboard portions of said lifting planes are located at or adjacent to the longitudinal location of the center of gravity of the boat. The longitudinal location of the lifting planes is such that the resulting lifting force generated by the lifting planes at planing speeds acts adjacent to the center of gravity of the boat.

Abstract: Lifting and handling apparatus for use in agriculture, including a frame having ground engaging wheels adjacent one end and being connectable to a tractor or other prime mover at its other end. A load support cradle is connected to the frame and comprises a base section and a back section which is upstanding from a rear edge portion of the base section. The cradle is connected to the apparatus frame through a linkage system so as to be movable relative to the frame between a loading position in which it projects beyond the end of the frame adjacent the wheels, and a carrying position in which it is located above the frame. Drive means attached to the frame is operable to cause the aforementioned movement. The linkage system includes articulated links on both sides of the frame which interact between the frame and cradle so as to cause automatic lifting and tilting of the cradle during its movement from the loading position to the carrying position.

Abstract: A high precision die particularly adapted to form from a relatively heavy foil sheet a circuit board where the individual circuit elements and the spacing thereof are of relatively small dimensions. The die is made as follows. A working surface of a die block is covered with a first protective overlay having an enlarged pattern corresponding to the pattern of the die elements to be formed, but enlarged by a substantially uniform width dimension. The surface is then exposed to an etching solution to remove material from the exposed areas. These two steps are repeated a second time with a pattern enlarged to a lesser degree, and again a third time to bring the die elements being formed from the die block within quite close tolerances to the original pattern. The die faces of the die elements are then etched to form knife edges on the die elements.

Abstract: A cup-shaped elastomeric diaphragm is snugly fitted onto an end portion of a support member which includes internal gas delivery and return passageways. A plurality of ports extend both radially and axially from the gas delivery passageway towards the diaphragm. A like number of identical gas return ports extend from another region of the diaphragm inwardly to the gas return passageway. A gas tight seal is provided between the diaphragm and the support member above the ports. In use the outer surface of the diaphragm is subjected to a pressure to be measured, e.g. subsurface hydrostatic pressure. A gas is delivered into the delivery passageway and through the sensor at a constant flow rate. The gas pressure expands the diaphragm in the regions of the ports to complete gas flow paths from the gas delivery ports to the gas return ports. The magnitude of the pressure to be measured acting on the diaphragm determines the gas pressure that is necessary to drive the gas through the sensor at a constant flow rate.

Abstract: A single sheet of standard grade plastic laminate material is bent at two locations to form it into a side wall and two end walls corresponding to the side wall and two end walls of a bathtub recess. Following forming, one end wall portion of the wall covering is loosely folded over the opposite end wall portion. Then, the partially folded wall covering is pushed endwise into a rectangular cardboard box having a normal thickness which is substantially smaller than the initial depth of the partially folded wall covering. The box with the partially folded wall covering inside is moved through a rectangular opening provided in a rigid mandril, sized to be substantially equal to the normal outside dimension of the box. The mandril forces the outwardly bulging side walls of the box inwardly and reshapes both the side walls of the box and the side and end walls of the partially folded wall covering therein.

Abstract: The beam of an amplifier beam transducer is maintained on a support edge of a fulcrum for pivotal movement thereabout yet restrained against other movement by a U-shaped yoke which cooperates with means disposed near opposite ends of the beam forming a pair of parallel axes about which the beam pivots. A fulcrum adjusting screw positions the support edge of a fulcrum lengthwise in the beam chamber varying the beam lengths on opposite sides of the support edge. A single load input cell or pair of differentially acting load input cells are threadably received in an opening on the housing and exert a force on one end of the beam tending to pivot the beam about the support edge of the fulcrum. An output cell, also threadably received in an opening on the housing, contacts the opposite end of the beam and produces an output signal in response to deviations of the input end of the beam.