Abstract: This invention relates to printers for printing on and cutting linerless, adhesive-backed, strip media. Described and claimed are methods and apparatus related to--(1) bridges for bridging a platen roller to minimize its exposed surface to the adhesive, (2) a printing station wherein the printhead moves over stationary media, (3) media having non-activated adhesive and a printer which activates the adhesive only after printing on and cutting the media, and (4) media having the adhesive in strips with non-adhesive gaps between and a cutting or tearing station for separating finished labels at the gaps.

Abstract: An adjusting mechanism is adapted for use with a footrest mounted in front of a seat, and a fulcrum pin to facilitate pivotable fixing of the footrest. A fastening member adapted to be included in the footrest has a pair of elongated openings for the pin. A spring biased bushing is provided at a first end of each opening and is adapted for relative movement in the longitudinal direction of the openings toward a second end of each opening. First and second guiding and locking elements are included, respectively, in the fastening member and in a fastening element through which the pin extends. Pivoting the footrest is effected by shifting it in the longitudinal direction of the openings against the spring bias toward the fulcrum pin to release the guiding and locking elements. When the footrest has been pivoted to a desired locking position, the spring bias returns it to a position in which the bushings are at the first opening ends and the guiding and locking elements are engaged.

Abstract: The body (2) of a breast pad has absorbent portions (4) and shaping portions (6). The absorbent portions (4) include a center portion (8) and a plurality of radially extending lobes (10). The shaping portions include a plurality of triangular sections (6) that extend radially inwardly from the perimeter of the body (2) to the center portion (8). The body (2) folds along the sections (6) from a flat pre-use configuration into a convex use configuration to maintain a substantially uniform thickness of the absorbent portions (4).

Abstract: An attachment for a chain saw (100) includes two elongated members (4D) mountable on the opposite faces of the chain guide (102). Each member (4D) has an elongated center portion (6D) configured to be secured to the chain guide (102) in a position closely adjacent to the corresponding face thereof. An angled portion (30) extends laterally outwardly from the outer edge of the center portion (6D). A plurality of spaced apart teeth (12D) project from the angled portion (30) substantially parallel to the chain guide (102) over and beyond the chain (104). Each tooth (12D) has, on an upstream edge thereof, a surface (18D) angled laterally outwardly in an upstream direction to help retain the chain on a path around the periphery of the chain guide (102). The angled surface (18D) is preferably formed by bending the edge of a substantially flat tooth.

Abstract: An applicator for applying substances, such as lotions, to a user's body has a handle, an attachment member, and a pad removably attached to the attachment member. The handle has a rigid portion with a gripping member at one end and an opposite end portion received into the axial opening of a sleeve. An end of a bendable section is removably received into the axial opening opposite the rigid portion. The attachment member includes a flat layer and a formed layer with edge portions secured to the flat layer. A midportion of the formed layer extends around and is secured to the end of the bendable section opposite the sleeve. The flat face of the attachment member preferably forms a hook component of a hook and loop fastener for easy attachment to a fabric face of a pad.

Abstract: Each of a plurality of side-by-side drive units (90, 92, 94) has a cylinder barrel component (98, 100, 102, 104, 106, 108) at each end and a centrally positioned piston component (110, 112, 114). The drive assembly also includes a pair of longitudinally spaced apart transverse mounting frame members (116, 118), each of which has an elongated body (124) with a corrugated center section (132). The center section (132) has a plurality of alternating ridges (134) and valleys (136) extending transversely of the body (124). Each valley (136) is sized to receive a cylinder barrel component. The cylinder barrel components are secured by clamps (142). At least one strengthening rib (126, 128, 130) is secured to the body (124) and extends crosswise of the ridges (134) and valleys (136) to strengthen the corrugated center section (132). The cylinder barrel components have opposite end flanges (144, 146) that abut the mounting frame members (116, 118) to restrain longitudinal movement of the components.

Abstract: A fastener element (2) has first and second body portions (4, 6) that are mechanically interlocked. The first body portion (4) has an integral outer end disk (20) with a flat outer radial surface (26). The second body portion (6) has circumferentially spaced legs (48) that extend along chordal surfaces (28) on the first body portion (4) and terminate axially inwardly of the disk (20). The legs (48) interlock with projections (30) on the surfaces (28). The legs are tapered to direct binding material from a fill opening into flow passageways and then toward a vent opening during a molding-in procedure to install the element (2) in a structure.

Abstract: A switching valve has a control rod with a pilot chamber at each of its ends. For each pilot chamber, there is a first passageway connected to a pressure line and communicating with the pilot chamber. A second passageway is connectable to return. A relief valve has a valve member biased to close an orifice to close communication between the pilot chamber and the second passageway. The valve member has an open position in which the pilot chamber is connected to return via the second passageway to allow shifting of the control rod. In a first embodiment, the pilot chamber is continuously in communication with pressure via the first passageway, and the valve member is opened by this pressure in response to connection of the second passageway to return. In another embodiment, the second passageway is continuously in communication with return, and the valve member is mechanically moved into its open position by an operator in response to pressure acting on the operator.

Abstract: A drive unit for a reciprocating floor conveyor has a piston component (90) with an outer end longitudinally fixed to a transverse mounting member and a movable cylinder component (92) with a tubular extension (102). A slide bearing (104) supports and guides the tubular extension (102). The drive unit, including the tubular extension, acts as a structural beam. In a first embodiment, each floor member of the conveyor has its own drive unit to provide a powerful drive assembly for heavy loads. In a second embodiment, a plurality of drive units are part of a compact frame (302) having two longitudinal frame members (308) and two transverse mounting members (304, 306). The drive units are mounted in a window defined by the frame (302). A plurality of transverse drive beams (330), one for each drive unit, are connected to the drive units and reciprocate between the transverse mounting members (304, 306). This provides a compact and lightweight drive assembly that may be used for lighter loads.

Abstract: A reciprocating floor conveyor (10) including a support frame (12), and a conveyor floor (14), which is comprised of a plurality of laterally spaced-apart conveyor slats (16), a plurality of laterally spaced-apart holding slats (18), and a series of divider planks (20). Divider planks (20) are fixedly secured to the upper portion of support framework (12). Conveyor slats (16) are mounted on support frame (12) for longitudinal reciprocation between "start" and "advanced" positions. Holding slats (18) are mounted on support frame (12) for vertical movement between and "up" position in which the holding slats (18) are above the conveyor slats (16), and a "down" position, in which the holding slats (18) are below the conveyor slats (16). The load is conveyed by lowering the holding slats (18), advancing the conveyor slats (16), to convey the load, raising the holding slats and retracting the conveyor slats to their "start" position, and repeating the process.

Abstract: A device is mounted inside the interior space defined by a cabinet to alert a supervising adult that a child has opened the cabinet door. The device is mounted so that an outer face of its housing is directed outwardly adjacent to the opening closed by the door. A perpendicular mounting end is attached to an inner sidewall surface of the cabinet. An activator switch has a lever or button biased to project outwardly from the outer face of the housing. The closing of the cabinet door moves the projecting lever into a depressed position. When the cabinet door is opened, movement of the lever into a projecting position activates an audible alarm. In alternate embodiments, one or more of the components of the device may be provided in a separate housing part mounted outside the cabinet.

Abstract: First and second elongated members are mounted on the opposite faces of a chain guide of a conventional chain saw. Each member has an elongated center portion with a rib extending therealong. A plurality of spaced apart teeth project from the center portion substantially parallel to the chain guide over and beyond the chain. The rib at least partially abuts the chain guide face to space the teeth laterally away from the chain. Each tooth preferably has an upstream edge angled laterally outwardly to help retain the chain on a path around the periphery of the chain guide. The angled surface may be formed by beveling or by bending an edge of the tooth. The teeth are arranged in opposite pairs. A spacer may be provided extending perpendicularly between tip portions of the teeth to inhibit bending of the teeth toward the chain. The spacer may be a pin or may be formed by bending the tip of the teeth toward each other to form a blunt outer end.

Abstract: A drilling tender (2) has a pair of laterally spaced buoyant hulls (4) with ballast chambers to permit the hulls to be moved between a submerged condition and a surface floating condition. Each hull (4) supports a row of columns (8). The columns (8) support a working platform (10) including a main deck (12) and a pipe rack deck (30) above the main deck (12). A bow deck (48) above a forward portion of the pipe rack deck (30) has mounted on a corner portion thereof a main heavy duty crane (50). The support structure for the crane (50) extends downwardly through the decks (12, 30, 48) and down into one of the columns (8). Between the main and pipe rack decks, the support structure is formed by a plurality of bulkheads. These bulkheads have portions extending down into the column (8) to transmit forces created by operation of the crane (50) to the column (8).

Abstract: A cover for articles, such as wastebasket liners and tissue boxes, has a rigid end substantially coextensive with a first end of an article to be covered. A soft tubular pleated sidewall has a first end secured to the rigid end of the cover. The sidewall is sufficiently pliant to permit the cover to be folded into a flattened configuration. A closure extends around the second end of the sidewall to pull it over the periphery of the second end of the article and retain the cover on the article. The opening at the second end of the sidewall is of variable size to permit the cover to be installed on the article. The closure may be a band of elastic. The cover is easily folded for shipment and display and may be made from washable materials to be machine washable. The provision of a rigid end gives the cover the neat appearance of a stiffer type of cover when the cover is in use.

Abstract: Adjacent base sections of a base structure of a reciprocating floor conveyor are connected along longitudinal side edges by a tongue and groove joint. Side portions of adjacent sections form a guide beam. The groove and tongue portions of the joint are formed at lower ends of angled inner walls extending downwardly from the top of the guide beam. The inner walls together define an upwardly opening space above the joint. The space is large enough, and the groove and tongue portions are spaced below the top of the guide beam a distance sufficient, to permit the joint to be sealed while maintaining the joint, including sealing portions thereof, isolated from the top of the guide beam and from a bearing positioned on the guide beam. The tongue and groove portions together define a sealing space for receiving a flexible sealant to seal the joint. Sealant oozing out of the sealing space into the space above the joint is isolated from the bearing.

Abstract: Each of a plurality of utility clients has a meter at the client location. A reader, such as an infrared emitter and optical photosensor arrangement, obtains consumption information from the meter and provides the information to a microprocessor. The microprocessor stores the information as data in memory. A server located remotely from the client locations sends polling messages to the client locations to obtain the consumption data. Messages are sent one at a time, with a period between messages to await a response. Messages from the server and to the client locations and from the client locations to the servers include error correction fields to enable the receiving location to check the message for errors. The server scans a range of radio frequencies to measure traffic and noise and uses information obtained to create a radio frequency hop map. This map is transmitted to client locations for use in future responses to polling messages.

Abstract: A floor slat member (10) having longitudinally extending first and second sidewalls (32, 34) of a reciprocating floor conveyor includes integrally formed first downwardly opening channel portion (36), having a top panel (40), laterally extending side flange (76) and the first sidewall (32), and an adjacent upwardly opening channel portion (38), having a channel wall (68) and second sidewall (34). The side flange (76) overhangs second sidewall (34) of an adjacent floor slat member (10'). An elongated seal member (72) carried by the second sidewall (34) in a channel (74) extends upwardly contacting a seal member receiving surface (78) on the first sidewall (32). An alternate embodiment has a seal receiving surface (78') on side flange (76).

Abstract: A reciprocating conveyor floor slat has an upper portion with an upper surface and at least one longitudinally extending ridge projecting upwardly from the upper surface. The ridge has a longitudinally extending pointed top portion positioned to engage a bottom surface of an article placed on the slat. The pointed top portion is spaced above the top surface a distance sufficient to maintain the bottom surface of the article out of contact with the slat's upper surface as the article is being conveyed. The preferred number of ridges per slat is two, with the ridges projecting upwardly from laterally opposite portions of the upper surface. Preferably, the bottom surface of the article being conveyed remains at least about 90% out of contact with the slat. When articles such as wooden pallets are conveyed, the pointed top portions of the ridges dig into the bottom surfaces of the pallets to form longitudinal grooves to guide longitudinal movement of the pallets.

Abstract: A sorting device has a base with an upper horizontal support surface having an outer mounting edge to which a tray is hingedly connected. The tray has a bottom wall providing a sorting surface and sidewalls around the periphery of the bottom wall. The sidewalls have converging portions that converge toward a discharge end to define a discharge opening. The hinge is attached to the bottom of the tray at a location spaced inwardly from the discharge end to permit the tray to be pivoted between a sorting position, in which its bottom wall rests on the support surface, and a discharge position, in which the discharge end is tilted downwardly relative to the mounting edge to allow discharge of articles from the sorting surface, through the discharge opening, and into a container placed adjacent to the base. The base may have a box-like configuration and provide storage space for containers. In such case, the tray preferably covers the open top of the base.

Abstract: A drive frame assembly includes opposite transverse drive frame members (64), each of which includes a metal plate (66) with a central portion having a plurality of longitudinal corrugations (68). The plate (66) is stiffened by transverse beams (78, 80). A plurality of piston-cylinder drive units each have opposite ball ends (24, 26) which are secured to end portions of the corrugations by means of ball blocks (50, 52). Opposite side portions of the plate (66) are secured to laterally spaced portions of a main frame of a structure. The connections are made by a fastener/shim arrangement to accommodate variations in vertical spacing of the drive units relative to the portions of the main frame.