Abstract: A self-opening cuff comprising a fixed member, to which a cylindrically curved cuff is pivoted for swinging movement in a vertical plane. The fixed member is rigidly attached to the crutch tubing, and has two laterally projecting, angularly spaced side arms with an included angle of approximately 90.degree. between them. The two side arms have a cylindrically curved inner surface with the same radius of curvature as the cuff, and this curved surface is interrupted at its midpoint by a vertical slot. Disposed within the slot and swingably connected to the fixed member by a pivot bolt is a lug which is provided on the outside of the cuff. The top portion of the cylindrically curved surface is smoothly rounded with a curvature having its center at the pivot bolt axis, forming a ramp that the outer surface of the cuff rides on as it swings upwardly.

Abstract: A fixed wing aircraft that can be converted to an automotive vehicle, comprising a generally rectangular planform fuselage having four wheels as in conventional automobile practice, and a telescopic wing which retracts into a housing in the roof of the fuselage. Telescopic horizontal and vertical stabilizers are provided at the rear end of the fuselage, as well as a retractable pusher propeller that is driven by an engine mounted on the front end of the fuselage. Both the propeller and the rear wheels are connected by a transmission box to the engine, so that either can be driven to operate the vehicle as an aircraft or as an automobile. On take-off, the rear wheels are partially retracted so as to place the aircraft at a proper angle of attack at the same time that the elevators are raised by pulling back on the control wheel. The control wheel is also connected to both the front wheels and the ailerons, and when turned 90.degree.

Abstract: A machine comprising a horizontally elongated base having pairs of pylons slidably mounted on opposite sides of the base for horizontal movement along the length thereof, forming in effect, a moveable C-frame. The workpiece is fixedly supported on the base in a substantially vertical position, and the pylons of each pair work together on opposite sides of the workpiece to process rivets/fasteners or perform other functions. Each of the pylons comprises a vertical first component and a horizontal second component. The second component is movable vertically on the first component, and is also movable horizontally toward and away from the workpiece. Carried on the end of each of the horizontal second components adjacent the workpiece is a tool assembly holder that is rotatable about horizontal and vertical axes.

Abstract: A fixed wing aircraft that can be converted to an automotive vehicle, comprising a generally rectangular planform fuselage having four wheels as in conventional automobile practice, and a telescopic wing which retracts into a housing in the roof of the fuselage. Telescopic horizontal and vertical stabilizers are provided at the rear end of the fuselage, as well as a retractable pusher propeller that is driven by an engine mounted on the front end of the fuselage. Both the propeller and the rear wheels are connected by a transmission box to the engine, so that either can be driven to operate the vehicle as an aircraft or as an automobile. On take-off, the rear wheels are partially retracted so as to place the aircraft at a proper angle of attack at the same time that the elevators are raised by pulling back on the control wheel. The control wheel is also connected to both the front wheels and the ailerons, and when turned 90.degree.

Abstract: A telescopic airfoil comprising a plurality of short wing sections, each consisting of skin and rib, with tubular spar sections attached to the rib. Each spar section is adapted to telescope with respect to the next adjoining spar section toward the root end of the airfoil. Alternate spar sections are rotatable, and intermediate spar sections are held stationary, with the end portions of adjacent spar sections overlapping, and low-friction threads connecting the overlapping spar portions. The threads at opposite ends of each spar section are of opposite hand so that rotation of the rotatable spar sections causes the entire group to be drawn together into a housing at the root end of the wing. In this way, the wing span can be reduced to less than 30% of the full span, while during extension and retraction, the spars retain their full load-carrying capability.

Abstract: Molten metal is fed into a liquid-cooled horizontal caster through a ceramic nozzle to form a continuous wire or rod, that is drawn out of the exit end of the mold in incremental steps by a pair of intermittently-driven pinch rolls. The nozzle is preferably made of zirconium oxide, which is slightly porous and at temperatures above 1100.degree. F. has the property of allowing gas to pass through at a much greater rate than at lower temperatures. The nozzle is mechanically attached to the end of the liquid-cooled caster. A shroud, or manifold, surrounds the nozzle for at least a portion of its length, and also enclosed the interface between nozzle and caster. The manifold is supplied with a dry, inert gas such as argon, so that at elevated temperatures, any oxygen is purged from the pores of the zirconium oxide nozzle and is replaced by the inert gas, thereby eliminating any oxygen that would otherwise be present at the interface between the nozzle and the molten metal.

Abstract: A toilet flush valve having a tank ball and rod, with a pair of guide arms mounted on the overflow pipe. The guide arms are spaced apart vertically a distance greater than half the length of the tank ball rod. The upper guide arm is located a fraction of an inch below the top end of the rod; and has a hole through which the rod passes. The hole is only slightly larger in diameter than the rod, so that the latter slides freely through the guide arm, but without appreciable side play. The lower guide is spaced above the tank ball a distance sufficient to allow the tank ball to rise clear of the outlet seat, and has a hole with diameter approximately 2 to 2.5 times the diameter of the rod, so that the latter has sufficient side clearance to allow the ball to center itself on its seat. A knob is attached to the rod between the guide arms closely adjacent the lower guide arm.

Abstract: A device to prevent the gears of an automotive vehicle from being shifted from forward, reverse or neutral to another position unless the brakes are firmly applied. The transmission includes a gear shift actuator that is rotatable between forward, neutral and reverse positions, and fixed to this actuator is a lever having an axially projecting fin on one side of the free end. Pivoted on a supporting frame is a steel bar having notches in one edge that are shaped and positioned to engage the fin on the lever whenever the lever is in any one of its three operating positions. A spring bears against the bar to urge the notched edge toward the fin of the lever, so that the bar normally engages and locks the lever. A hydraulic cylinder has its piston rod attached to the bar, and the cylinder is connected to the hydraulic braking system of the vehicle, so that when the brakes are applied, the cylinder acts to disengage the bar from the lever.

Abstract: A prefabricated structural panel for use in constructing the walls and/or roof of a building, which comprises two laterally spaced, longitudinal rails, preferably of pressure-treated wood, each of which has a lengthwise extending channel formed in the side facing the other rail, the channel preferably having sides that converge toward the bottom; and each rail also having narrow slots formed therein along the top edges of the channel sides. Each of the longitudinal rails has a stepped configuration on the side opposite the channel, which interlock with a companionate stepped configuration of the rail on the next-adjacent panel. A plurality of ribs extends perpendicularly between the rails, and their ends are shaped to fit snugly down into the channels. On opposite sides of the ribs are panels of sheet material such as plywood, plastic laminate, sheet metal, fiberglass reinforced plastic and the like, the edges of which fit snugly into the slots.

Abstract: A prosthetic ankle for use between the ankle block forming the bottom end of a prosthetic lower leg, and a prosthetic foot, comprising a securing bolt extending upwardly through a hole in the foot and screwed into a nut in the ankle block. Under the head of the bolt are two cupped washers that provide a ball-and-socket connection which allows angular movement of the ankle block in all directions with respect to the foot, as well as rotational movement. A pad of elastomeric material is interposed between the top surface of the foot and the bottom surface of the ankle block, and is cemented to the top surface of the foot. The pad is of a thickness and hardness such that when the ankle block is leaned in any direction, the elastomeric material on the inside of the lean is compressed. Pins project downwardly from the bottom surface of the ankle block and are received in cavities in the elastomer. When a torsional stress is exerted on the ankle block, the pins exert a torsional in the elastomer.

Abstract: A hand-held vise for use by jewelers or the like comprising a pair of clamp members having jaws at one end, a fulcrum pin extending transversely between and intermediate the ends of such clamp members, and a ring surrounding the clamp members to constrain the latter to pivot about a fulcrum pin. A screw-threaded rod is connected to the fulcrum pin, and extends rearwardly therefrom between the clamp members in the direction away from the jaws. Screwed onto this rod is a handle having a tapered formation at one end engageable with the adjacent ends of the clamp member to effect a clamping action of the jaws on a workpiece.

Abstract: An automatic masking device including an aperture extension means for use in a printer, wherein a reproduction picture to be projected onto a photosensitive film sheet mounted on a holder is masked by masking plates which are arranged in front of the holder, and are adapted to be movable over the surface of the holder so as to open and close an aperture between the masking plates, and which are adapted to be settled to form the aperture of the predetermined size, and wherein the aperture extension means is capable of extending the aperture beyond the predetermined size and of returning it to the predetermined size.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for copy-fitting, using a new parameter called Font ID in a circular calculator having a plurality of relatively rotatable disks, some of which have cursors affixed thereto, and one or more freely rotatable cursors. Scales on the several disks include Font ID numbers, type size, in points; line length, in picas; number of characters per line; number of characters per page; page depth in picas and number of lines; and line spacing in points.

Abstract: An evaporative cooler pad consisting of loosely packed, randomly oriented fibers of balsam poplar (Populus tacamahaca) also known as balm of Gilead, which are generally ribbon-shaped and which are coated with a thin layer of Portland cement that is water-absorbent and has a granular surface. Balsam poplar has the unique property of forming a firm, adherent bond to the Portland cement, and the cement-coated ribbons of wood absorb and diffuse moisture over their entire surface in the manner of a blotter, so that they become uniformly damp without being excessively wet. The damp, Portland-cement coated fibers present a large surface area of moisture to the air, thereby facilitating rapid evaporation for good cooling effect, without allowing the air to pick up and carry along any fine droplets of water, which would make it wet. The damp, cement-coated fibers also cool without adding appreciably to the humidity in the air.

Abstract: A multi-platen press having a stationary press table, a movable press table and a simultaneous closing device, the same stroke between the stationary and movable press tables being maintained by having at least one cylinder on each corner of the movable press table, and by having a separate control device associated with each of the cylinders. The control devices are mounted on the press adjacent the corner of the movable table to which its respective cylinder is connected, and each control device is independently adjustable toward or away from the stationary press table. The control devices are each actuated by the movable table to stop the operation of its associated cylinder when the corresponding corner of the movable table reaches a specified distance from the stationary table.

Abstract: A static mixer for streams of flowing materials comprises a flow passage defined in a laminated body having end plates and a number of intermediate plates all detachably interconnected to form a unitary structure. The flow passage follows a serpentine path, crossing and recrossing boundaries between the several plates. Mixing structures are formed in the passage for combining, dividing and recombining streams of flowing materials in the passage by means of rotation of flow path and altering the cross-sectional shape of the flow paths. Disassembly of the several plates of the laminated body permits easy access to individual sections of the flow passage to facilitate cleaning and repair. Flow passage sections extend along a path that bends about an axis perpendicular to the direction of flow therein to facilitate mixing and to achieve curvature of the path to enable it is cross and recross the several boundary surfaces between adjacent plates and the laminated body.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for copy-fitting, using a new parameter called Font ID in a circular calculator having a plurality of relatively rotatable disks, some of which have cursors affixed thereto, and one or more freely rotatable cursors. Scales on the several disks include Font ID numbers, type size, in points; line length, in picas; number of characters per line; number of characters per page; page depth in picas and number of lines; and line spacing in points.

Abstract: Apparatus for conveying elongated work pieces, such as cucumbers and the like, from a charging station to a transfer zone, and then transferring the pieces into containers such as cans or jars which are arranged in line below the transfer station. The conveyor comprises a plurality of transversely arranged scrapers which slide along the top surface of a horizontal conveyor table from the charging station to the transfer zone. The scrapers are preferably triangular in cross section, with bases flat on the table top and apices at the top. The open space between scrapers is slightly greater than the width of the work pieces, and the height of the scrapers is substantially equal to or less than the height of the work pieces. In the transfer zone, the conveyor table has an opening extending diagonally across the full width of the conveyor and the work pieces drop through this opening onto an inclined slide, which guides the work pieces into the containers.