Abstract: An emergency control system for opening or closing a gate resides within a controller for regulating operation of the opening/closing mechanism of the gate. A safety station is in communication with the controller and includes means to signal the emergency control circuit to open or close the gate by using either of two pushbutton switches. Sensing means which detect an unsafe condition in the area of the gate such as human entrapment is connected to the controller and initiates an alarm mode operation of the controller when an unsafe condition is detected and turns on a sound alarm. Pushing either of the safety button switches turns off the sound alarm and moves the gate. Movement of the gate is stopped if the pressed button is released while the gate is in motion which otherwise continues to its limit. The emergency control circuit is responsive to input signals from the safety station only when the controller is in the alarm mode.

Abstract: A dental tool composed of molded plastic for gingival retraction includes an elongate handle and a horseshoe-shaped guard at an operative end of the handle. The guard includes a pair of downward extending elongate legs and a curved neck interconnects the handle and the guard. A wedge extends rearwardly from a top portion of the guard such that the legs of the guard lie along the surface of a tooth when the wedge is inserted between the gingiva and the root of the tooth at the gingival margin. The gingiva is captured between the wedge and the neck portion when the gingiva is in the retracted position. The legs include forward extending surfaces to form a shield between the area of treatment, interproximal gingival tissue, and the laterally adjacent teeth.

Abstract: A clip is provided for a dispensing tube about which the collapsed end of the tube may be wrapped. The clip is substantially rectangular and includes a plurality of transfer ducts, at least one on each of a top and a bottom edge. The ducts are accessible from the side of the folded dispensing tube so that one leg of a retainer pin can be inserted into a duct, the second leg of the pin forceably contacting the outside surface of the tube. Thus, the pin maintains the position of the folded tube against the clip and prevents it from unraveling. The clip is generally rectangular and as the collapsed end of the tube is folded up to the next position, the pin is moved from one duct at one side of the clip to the other side of the clip.

Abstract: A system for electronically displaying sales item data such as price and item description on store shelves utilizes a central store microprocessor/computer to control the display system. Standard shelf display tags are replaced by an electronic display device and display bus system. The display bus system is comprised of a printed circuit board, with conductors which run parallel so that electrical contact can readily be made by a display module which is mounted to the printed circuit board. All of the store shelf edge channels are installed with a printed circuit board electronic bus system. In an alternate embodiment a fully integrated display strip is substituted for individual display modules. A central controller processes information from a store computer signal and sends the information to the display modules or display strips using a specialized signal format comprised of a series of tones with frequencies less than 10,000 khz.

Abstract: A system for electronically displaying item data information such as item prices and item descriptions that is available in updatable form from a central buffer, processing, multiplexing and serving unit. The system provides a multi-frequency tone signal containing item data applicable to an item on a shelf associated with an electronic display module and containing the address code of that particular module. The electronic display module responds to its particular address code and receives, decodes, and displays the data relating to the item. It further includes a multi-frequency tone signaling system to retransmit the received data to the server unit as a means of confirming that the proper information had been received and displayed. Item data information is routed, distributed, and transferred through the use of multiplexed signal buses.

Abstract: A pouch for sterilized materials is formed from two webs positioned face-to-face attached around portions of their edges by heat fusion, thereby forming a pouch having an interior cavity and a mouth being an unsealed portion of the webs along a top edge. An interior boundary line along the inside of the seal area has a wavy configuration which includes a series of inward-facing peaks and valleys. Thus, when the cross-seal is applied to close the pouch, the overlap of the seal areas along the interior boundary is along a wavy line and therefore microbial contamination is inhibited by this tortuous path. A similar tortuous path for preventing microbial contamination is provided in the type of the pouch having a breather panel by cutting a wavy configuration into the side edge of the breather panel web before it is spliced and fused to the other pouch webs.

Abstract: A snap-in fastener secures two sheets together by snap fit. Extensions of the fastener body include a clinch feature that provides a permanent attachment to a first sheet of metal. Integral snap arms which extend beyond the opposite side of the first sheet provide a reusable means to attach to an appropriately sized hole in a second sheet thus uniting the two sheets. The sheets include rectangularly-shaped holes positioned in alignment through which the snap arms of the fastener pass to achieve attachment. A locking mechanism may be employed to hold the snap arms in their engaged position to prevent pull-out of the second panel. In addition, finger grips integral with the body of the fastener provide an ergonomically suitable handle for carrying the attached sheet.

Abstract: A flange joint that fully isolates the steel sidewall from contact with water entering the skimmer duct of an aboveground pool is provided by the use of a pair of mating flanges fitted to opposite sides of the sidewall. The flanges are comprised of two closely interfitting elements sealed together directly to the metal sidewall by a water-proof adhesive. The flanges include overlapping collars within the sidewall opening which completely seal off and isolate water entering the skimmer duct to prevent any possibility of contact with the metal pool sidewall. Thus, water damage to the pool sidewall is eliminated.

Abstract: A gas spring device includes a pressure adjustor having an actuator mechanism which regulates the rate of discharge through a pressure-release valve in equal bursts small enough to permit precise adjustment of the internal working pressure of the gas spring. Manually turning the actuator mechanism provides a consistent application of intermittent inertial force to the gas spring pressure-release valve so that resultant equal bursts provide a controlled release of pressure, even from imprecise manual operation. The chance of over-bleeding is eliminated since the mechanics of the actuator mechanism provides a single metered burst of released gas regardless of how quickly or slowly it is turned, thus the size of the burst is not dependent on the operator's skill. Because the adjustor mechanism is integrated directly into the device, it is compact and does not interfere with other surrounding mechanical structures.

Abstract: A three-sided, progressively-formed threaded fastener is comprised of a plurality of planar longitudinal faces intersecting at comer areas. Shank tabs extend downward from the bottom of each of the faces at the base of the fastener. Threaded regions along the inside surface of the planar faces are coined indentations applied during the formation of the fastener. A plurality of wedge-shaped protrusions extend downward from the comer areas at the base of the fastener. The combination of shank tabs and wedge-shaped protrusions form a clinch profile along the bottom of the fastener so that it may can be affixed to a sheet of metal by clinch fit.

Abstract: A panel fastener includes a metallic screw insert with an overmolded plastic cap. The screw insert is preferably manufactured by means of cold forming process which allows fabrication of the internal drive recesses and dog point ends for easy location of the mating threads while providing increased thread strength. The plastic cap is in the form of a knob which has large flutes on its outer diameter for ergonomic finger operation. In addition the knob may have a slot molded into its top to allow screwdriver or coin operation. The metallic insert may also be accessed by a drive through a central cavity in the knob. Assembly of the screw to the ferrule is achieved by passing the screw threads through the ferrule body which includes an internal annular retaining ring. The ring is very narrow and dimensioned to allow the screw to be easily pressed through the annular opening since the ring elastically expands as the thread portion of the screw passes through it.

Abstract: A drop-and-slide attachment system for attaching a mirror to a vehicle rear-view mirror housing utilizes forward projecting, notched posts on a support panel fit axially into a slotted, mirror-back mounting plate. When the mirror mounting plate is moved laterally, the posts slide in the slots until notches engage arcuate edges at one end of each of the slots. During this lateral movement, a stop on the support panels bears against a compression spring on the mounting plate. When the mirror plate reaches the attached home position, a resilient latch snaps behind a retaining abutment of a catch on the support panel trapping the panel against the compressed spring. This construction requires only a very small gap between the edge of the mirror glass and the surrounding housing, thus providing a pleasing appearance.

Abstract: A single-strand leash has a large intermediate cinch-ring located a short distance along the leash from the point in which the leash fastens to the dog's collar. By encircling the dog's body and applying the well-known saddle-hitch-type knot to the free end length of the leash utilizing the cinch-ring, a harness-type control may be quickly and easily created. The knot may be tied while the collar and leash are on the dog so that a correctly-sized harness strap looped behind the dog's mid-section can be created. After tying off the body loop, the free end of the leash grasped by the handler simply trails from the end of the knot behind the cinch-ring.