Abstract: An article of insulation and a method for making same. Outer sheet-like elements (22,24) of elastic deformable material are secured by adhesive to a base element (20) of rigid deformable material in a particular pattern which defines unbonded areas which are each bounded entirely by adhesive. The combination of the two outer elements (22,24) and the base element (20) is then deformed, following which the base element (20) retains its deformed shape while the outer elements (22,24) spring back to their original shape, leaving voids between the base element (20) and the outer elements (22,24) in which there is a partial vacuum.

Abstract: A self-contained, free standing, on-demand, woodburning furnace including a firebox (52), including means to force combustion gases through a manifold (68), a hot air gathering plenum and means to selectively force feed the fire (34, 36, 38, 40, 68) and draw heated air from the furnace (8, 10, 12, 14).

Abstract: An over-the-hole mole trap which is triggered when a mole ejects dirt from the hole. The trap comprises frame, a spear, a spring, a trigger lever and a trigger plate. The frame has two legs and two vertical guide rods above the legs. The spear is between and parallel to the legs and the guides, and is surrounded by the spring. The trigger lever pivotally depends from one of the guides. The trigger plate is pivoted on the frame below the trigger lever substantially at ground level, and has a central opening receiving the spear, and an outboard portion for retaining the lower end of the trigger lever. The spear is held cocked by a base plate thereof engaging a side notch in the trigger lever. The spear is released when the trigger plate is raised by dirt ejected from the hole, lowering the outboard portion of the trigger plate to free the trigger lever and rfelease the spear to be thrust downwardly by the spring.

Abstract: A segmented mechanical lock for a container including arcuate segments 12, 14, 16 having upstanding pins 18, pivot ring 20 having tangential slots 22 overlies the segments and upon rotary motion moves them outwardly into a groove 48 locking lid 6 in position in vessel 4.

Abstract: A compound bow (20) with a moment transfer pulley system (28) for reducing the holding force at the maximum bowstring draw position and for attaining and maintaining a high amount of stored energy. The moment transfer pulley system includes a pulley assembly (38) having a primary axle hole (76) and a primary axle (44) upon which the pulley assembly rotates. A secondary axle (64) is mounted to the pulley assembly. Mounted on the bow limb tip (24) on opposite sides of the pulley assembly are two moment transfer cams (52 and 54). These transfer cams are held in fixed relationship to the limb 24. The transfer cams include a notch (78) for receiving the secondary axle (64). As the bow reaches the full draw position the secondary axle (64) is received into the notches (78).

Abstract: The apparatus (10) includes a semiconductor tester (12) which in operation produces an analog signature signal relative to a circuit node of an electronic circuit, such as a pin connection of an integrated circuit. The analog signature signal is the result of horizontal and vertical signals which are also directed to an integrator/A-D converter (44) which produces therefrom a set of four digital signals representing said analog signature. These digital signals are then compared in a computer (50) against reference digital values for the same circuit node of the same electronic circuit which is known to be good. If the digital signals are not within a selected range relative to the reference digital values, the analog signature of the circuit node is displayed for inspection and evaluation by an operator.

Abstract: A thermo-electrically regulated adsorptive sensing device comprising a gas adsorptive sensing element having a stratum of adsorbently sensitive particles, a thermistor for sensing the temperature of the sensing element, a thermo-electric module for controlled cooling and heating of the sensing element, a heat sink, and a controller unit for applying variable amounts of electrical current through the thermo-electric module to appropriately heat or cool the sensing element in a rapid, controlled and accurate fashion. The thermo-electric module may be operated either to maintain the stratum of particles of the sensing element within about 1.degree. (0.6.degree. C.) of the optimal sensing temperature or operated to heat the particles in a controlled fashion to a relatively high purging temperature at which the gas is relatively rapidly desorbed, and then cool the particles in a controlled fashion to a relatively lower sensing temperature at which the gas is relatively rapidly adsorbed by the particles.

Abstract: An improved hip sling baby or doll carrier comprising: a trough-shaped seat having a forward seat portion extending laterally between opposed seat ends and upwardly from a bottom fold of the seat to a front edge of the seat, a rearward seat portion extending laterally between said opposed seat ends and upwardly between the bottom fold and a top fold, and two leg holes extending through the seat, each hole being centered near the bottom fold; a carrier back extending from the top fold adjacent the rearward seat portion to a back edge, and terminating at either end at a back support point which is strongly anchored to an adjacent seat end near the bottom fold of the seat, said back support points tensioning the back edge to provide support for the baby's back; and a strap assembly having two straps, each attached at one end to a respective seat end, and a strap connecting means for connecting opposite free ends of the straps to each other, said strap connecting means comprising a length-adjustable, child-safe b

Abstract: A refuse container having a hinged lid pivotally supported on the ends of a transverse handle of the container body. The lid is pivotally supported on the handle by two arms extending laterally from the lid and having inwardly facing sockets. Two pins extending outwardly from respective ends of the handle interfit within the sockets of the lid's arms. Proximal portions of the pins are frustoconical, and the sockets are correspondingly widened at their openings. Installation and removal of the lid are accomplished simply by flexure of the lid to increase the distance between the sockets of the lid arms. The container is well suited for use with fully automated, semi-automated, and manual refuse collection systems.

Abstract: A faucet assembly comprising a movable handle, an axially adjustable mixing valve operated by the handle, and a timer assembly. The timer assembly is entirely mechanical and comprises a drive gear, an actuator arm coupling the drive gear to the handle, a timer gear journalled coaxially with the drive gear, fixed check gear coaxial with the drive gear, and a latch. The latch is carried transversely on the drive gear, and terminates at either end in first and second latch arms extending opposite to each other substantially parallel to the drive gear. The first latch arm mechanically latches the drive gear to the timer gear when the handle is depressed toward the open position. The second latch arm latches the drive gear to the fixed check gear when the handle reaches the open position. The timer counterrotates the timer gear at a given rate after the timer gear and the drive gear are unlatched.

Abstract: The heating stove system includes a fuel hopper (10) from which fuel is fed into a pyrolysis gasifier (12) by means of a fuel auger apparatus (14). Controlling the entry of biomass input and air into the gasifier and ignition of the material in the gasifier is a head valve apparatus (16) which includes an igniter (129). The gasifier (12) in operation produces carbon and fuel gas which are moved into a stove burner (90) by a blower apparatus (18). The operation of the heating stove system is automatically controlled from a thermostat (150).

Abstract: A disposable diaper package including means (6, 8, 10, 12) for simultaneously retaining the diaper (2) in its collapsed, folded sanitary condition and retaining a premoistened wipe/towelette (4) such that when the diaper (2) is released and unfolded, the towelette (4) becomes immediately available.

Abstract: A protective holder for use with a compact disc or like object. The holder comprises relatively thin, substantially rigid upper and lower plates having diameters slightly larger than the diameter of the compact disc. The lower plate has a center hole having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the center hole of the compact disc. The upper plate has an elongated finger slot extending radially outwardly for a distance substantially equal to one-fourth the radius of the upper plate. A annular felt pad is affixed to an upper surface of the lower plate to cushion the information bearing lower surface of the compact disc when the compact disc is in place in the holder. A semi-circumferential peripheral wall extends between and is affixed to the upper and lower plates. The peripheral wall is dimensioned to suitably space said upper and lower plates to snugly receive and frictionally retain the disk therebetween.

Abstract: A variable reluctance transducer assembly for measuring the strain deflection in a structural member includes an elongate housing which is mounted to a first lug extending transversely outwardly from the structural member. The housing supports a pair of magnetic cores in spaced parallel relationship to each other. Each core in turn supports a wire coil. The coils are wired to each generate a magnetic field when energized by an electric current. The transducer assembly is also composed of an elongate target mounted on a second lug extending transversely from the structural member at a location longitudinally spaced from the other lug. The target includes a plate portion which extends longitudinally toward the housing to lie nominally between the two spaced apart cores and their corresponding coils to form a portion of the path along which the magnetic lines of flux eminating for each of the two coils travels.