Abstract: A portable urine collection device having a closed loop system that is easily usable by a patient. The urine collection device includes a urine collection receptacle for receiving a fluid from a patient. The urine collection receptacle may be coupled to a reservoir with a conduit. The reservoir may be a disposable plastic bag having markings for determining the amount of urine contained in the bag. The urine collection receptacle may have multiple configurations and may be configured to receive urine from a female or male human being, or both. The urine collection device may also include a pump for pumping urine from the urine collection receptacle to the reservoir without components of the pump contacting the urine being pumped.

Abstract: A pipe bell or fitting socket is disclosed which includes an enlarged socket defining an interior, gasket receiving pocket. The enlarged socket terminates endwardly in a front socket terminus and interiorly in an interior terminus. An integral, outwardly extending, reinforcing ring projects radially outwardly from the outer periphery of the socket and provides increased body for socket strengthening purposes. The reinforcing ring may be medially positioned on the socket, may be endwardly positioned on the socket or may be otherwise positioned as best suited for the purposes of use. The reinforcing ring may be of any desired cross-sectional configuration, for example, square, triangular, rectangular or other cross-section.

Abstract: A snowstorm guard fence structure is constructed by anchoring a wall, which overhangs at an upward slope to a road side, to a supporting wall disposed along one side of the road. The constructed structure can be placed on sides of roads, has a space to discard the snow removed from the road, and also is effective for preventing snow accumulation on the road regardless of the degree of wind velocity and the presence of shelter structures. A jet roof is constructed by disposing a plurality of props on a slant and providing a plurality of panels between the props at spaces for jet openings so that jet openings are gradually narrowed toward the road side. The constructed jet roof is effective for preventing snow accumulation on the road regardless of the condition of wind velocity and the presence of shelter structures.

Abstract: The purchasing system with a rebate feature is utilized by subscriber-purchasers, vendors providing goods and services, a future benefit guarantor such as an insurance company selling annuity contracts and in some cases an escrow agent. The purchasing system allows for the input of purchase orders from the subscriber-purchasers for selected goods and services and correlates the transfer of funds from those purchaser-subscribers to the various vendors selling the selected goods. In one instance, the transfer occurs between the subscriber-purchasers and the escrow agent. The future benefit guarantor supplies a rebate factor which is input into the system. The system then computes and reports a rebate which is due in the future to each subscriber-purchaser from the future benefit guarantor. The rebate is based upon cost of the individually selected goods and services and the rebate factor.

Abstract: A mobile orthosis for a four-legged animal such as a dog having injured rear quarters comprises a wheeled cart to which the animal is to be harnessed, the cart having a yoke attachable to the animal's thorax, a hip support member for carrying the animal's rear quarters, and a shin support for the animal's rear legs. A preferred embodiment comprises a two-wheeled cart having a pair of adjustment blocks each having a plurality of axle holes, the axle being positionable with respect to the cart to approximate a balanced support of the rear quarters.

Abstract: A substantially lightweight tufting needle bar and needle bar assembly of improved construction comprising preferably a hollow needle bar including a needle bar insert pin plate or base type portion having vertical bores for receiving needles. Horizontal bores intersect with the vertical bores to permit the insertion of roll pins which secure and lock the needles in place. The needles are horizontally grooved to enable precise securement by the roll pins. In the hollow needle bar embodiment, the outer channel of the needle bar is kept thin to provide an extremely light weight construction.

Abstract: A stereo relief modelling apparatus based on photogrammetric method and apparatus comprising a flexible platen, used with standard stereo plotting instrumentation such as double-projection direct-viewing plotting instruments. The purpose of the flexible platen is to provide an absolute stereo image for photographic, modelling and other purposes. The flexible platen, which is of sufficient size to provide a meaningful mapping surface, is vertically adjustable at a multiplicity of points by mechanical, pneumatic, electro-mechanical, fully automated, or other means to provide an actual model-like three-dimensional photographic or modelling surface to enable relief distortion from aerial photographs to be effectively eliminated in planimetric photographs which are taken of the adjusted flexible platen, or models molded on the adjusted flexible platen, upon which the aerial images are projected. Modelling is facilitated by situating the platen inside a sealable vacuum box from which the air is removable.

Abstract: An orthostereoscopic plotter and its method of use from which contour maps can be produced from orthostereoscopic slides or prints. The orthostereoscopic slides or prints preferably are produced by photogrammetric apparatus which utilizes a flexible platen as disclosed in my copending application, Ser. No. 557,612, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,005,932.

Abstract: A safety belt including a length of webbing which is entrained across the torso of a seat occupant, has its ends coupled such that as one is paid out the other is taken up at a different rate and vice versa. The webbing at each anchorage member may be turned through an angle greater than 270.degree.. One of the webbing ends may be fixed to the vehicle and the webbing then entrained around a pulley and back upon itself, the other webbing end being fixed to a yoke supporting the pulley. Alternatively, one webbing end is attached to and wound up on a first drum and the other webbing end is attached to and wound up on a second drum, the first and second drums being coupled for rotation at the same or different angular speeds. The drum may be biased to ensure excess webbing take up. The webbing may be stored on the drums so that it can be initially paid out by both drums until the end of the webbing is reached on one drum, whereupon the webbing is paid out by one drum and taken up by the other.

Abstract: A safety belt retractor including a spring driven belt storage shaft which is locked by either an inertia sensitive, or belt withdrawal sensitive mechanism, or both working together. The width of the retractor is reduced by using a plate-like mass or disc as an inertia sensing mass. The disc is supported, on edge, in a well of a carrier. The carrier can be located in different rotary positions, to adjust the rest position of the mass, by means of meshing gear wheels, one arrangement providing a vernier adjustment. Movement of the mass is sensed by a lever arrangement including a light strip mounted to pivot on, or to rotate with a locking pawl.

Abstract: A pad is made by inserting a comb through a row of holes along the spine of the pad, which has been assembled with a relatively stiff backing leaf overlying a cover leaf and curving the comb teeth over to form a closure joint between the ends of the teeth and the back of the comb. The binding apparatus includes a turn-over device for turning over the stiff backing leaf so that the latter now underlies the pad with the closure joint lying between the penultimate (or last normal) leaf of the pad and the now underlying backing leaf.

Abstract: The present specification describes and claims a device for severing a strip which interconnects items conveyed one behind the other and spaced apart from each other. The device is particularly suited to cutting the binding strip for the spine of books, blocks etc. The device comprises a knife mechanically coupled to a follower device which, in use, follows the profile of the individual items. The follower device maintains the knife in a position ready to cut and when the follower device drops down a gap between adjacent items, the movement of the knife activates control means to operate a knife power drive, the knife then cutting the strip and following a working cycle back to a ready position wherein the follower device can engage a subsequent item.