Abstract: A disposable surgical drape (10). It includes a tubular-shaped protective film (14) with a pull-tab (24) which lends itself to remote removal from an adhesive layer (20) on the protective film (14) so that the drape can be secured to a patient (22) without contamination of the incision area. An embodiment of the drape (10) comprises a protective film (14) which, when circumferentially spaced portions thereof are bonded together by, for example, a heat seal (15), defines a channel (16) which can function as a fluid conduit to remove bodily fluids from the surgical incision area.

Abstract: A system for towing and launching a waterborne craft (10). The system includes a pair of tracks (26) which are floatable and are streamed from the shore (16) onto the surface (28) of a body of water (14) into which the craft (10) is to be launched. A carriage (12) is provided for supporting the craft (10), the carriage (12) including a pair of wheels (18) which have concavities (24) formed in outer peripheral surfaces thereof. The concavities (24) receive the elongated, generally cylindrical, tubular tracks (26) therein so that, as the carriage (12) is fed from the shore (16) into the water (14), the tracks (26) will be maintained at a distance from one another approximating the distance between the wheels (18). Additionally, the tracks (26) which were floating on the surface (28) of the water (14) will be urged downwardly in the water (14) and onto the bottom (40) thereof. When not in use, the tracks (26) can be easily removed from the body of water (14).

Abstract: A transient voltage surge suppressor and short circuit monitor unit in an alternating current transmission system includes a metallic case or casing into which lead lines connected to each of the power lines and to the neutral lines are introduced. The metallic case encompasses a series-connected varistor and fuse pair connected between each lead from an incoming alternating current power line and the lead from the neutral line. A series-connected neon lamp and limiting resistor pair inside of the case are connected across each varistor to be normally energized to give visual indication of the effectiveness and readiness of the suppressor to pass voltage surges above a predetermined maximum voltage to neutral, and to give visual indication that there is no short circuit between the power lines and the neutral line.

Abstract: An impedance matching block (16, 42, 92) for multi-pin connectors (10, 36, 104). A male connector member (12, 38) carrying signal male pins (18, 20) is mated to a female connector member (14) having signal female pins (24, 26), the male pins (18, 20) being received in corresponding female pins (24, 26). The impedance matching block (16) is interposed between male connector member (12) and female connector member (14). The block (16) is provided with impedance matching holes (32, 34) through each of which holes (32, 34) one paired combination of male and female pins (18, 20, 24, 26) passes coaxially.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for reconfiguring an automatic rifle (10) for quick attachment and detachment of a grenade launcher (32). The apparatus invention comprises an upper rack (42) securable to the barrel (16) of the rifle (10), and a lower rack (34) to which the grenade launcher (32) can be secured. The upper and lower racks (42, 34) carry quick connect/disconnect fittings (66, 68, 78, 80) for mating and unmating of the launcher (32) with regard to the rifle (10).

Abstract: The device of this invention is an integrated circuit singulator apparatus comprised of several arm assemblies (14, 18, 34) which act in concert to isolate or singulate an individual integrated circuit for testing of the accuracy of the circuits therein. This integrated circuit handler can accommodate integrated circuits of varying dimensions. The various arm assemblies (14, 18, 34) act to control movement of the integrated circuit devices on a track (12) without damage occurring to the integrated circuit devices.

Abstract: The present invention is a device for receiving an integrated circuit (10) presented at a pick-up station (22), transferring the integrated circuit (10) laterally to a spaced output chute (84, 90), and depositing the integrated circuit (10) into said chute (84, 90). The device includes a shuttle (24) mounted for pivotal and lateral movement on a shaft (40). The shuttle (24) is driven by an angled arm (62) mounted pivotally beneath the shuttle (24). The arm (62) is pivoted about an axis by means of a motor (56) and a linking shaft (52). A housing (76) carried by the arm (62) at an end thereof opposite the end by which it is pivoted encases and holds therein a spherical bearing (78) which is free to swivel within the housing (76) for rotation about three mutually perpendicular axes. The bearing (78) has an aperture (80) formed therethrough. The aperture (80) accommodates a rod (72) carried by the shuttle (24) at its underside.

Abstract: A vacuum head (10) for pick-up and placement of integrated circuit devices (16, 16'). The apparatus includes an outer housing (18) enclosing therewithin an inner tip assembly (34). The inner tip assembly (34) is disposed for reciprocation through and past an orifice (24) formed in a fitting (26) closing one end of the casing (20) of the outer housing (18). The inner tip assembly (34) has formed therein a shoulder (76) which, when the assembly (34) is moved to an extended position, can engage a seat (78) formed in an inner surface of the fitting (26). An O-ring (80) can be interposed between the shoulder (76) and the seat (78) to preclude vacuum generated in vacuum chamber (30) from being directed other than through an orifice (68) formed in the inner tip assembly (34). An air cylinder (48) is provided to actuate the inner tip assembly (34) for movement between retracted and extended positions.

Abstract: The invention of the present document is an adaptor device (10) for effecting tilting and trimming of an outboard motor (34) mounted to the transom (36) of a boat (38). The device (10) concurrently provides a feature wherein, if the motor (34) engages submerged debris, it is kicked upwardly and rearwardly so that the boat (38) can pass over the debris with minimal, if any, damage. The device (10) includes a base (12) to which are mounted a pair of telescoping cylinders (26). The cylinders include first portions (28) fixedly mounted at the base (12) and second portions (30) which are able to be extended with respect to the first portions (28). The extensible portions (30) pivotally mount transmission links (32) which are, in turn, pivotally mated, at opposite ends from the ends by which they are mounted to the cylinders (26) to the motor (34). The base (12) can be suspended from the transom (36) of the boat (38) by means of a pair of suspension arms (52).

Abstract: A lift and reorienting apparatus is the subject of this document. The apparatus includes a probe (16) for insertion into an internal accessible axially extending opening (36) of an object to be moved. The probe (16) is pivotably carried by a frame (10) and maneuvered through the action of telescoping arms (46) of a dual arm actuator (42). This dual arm actuator (42) adds strength to the apparatus. The probe (16) is attached to the object to be lifted and reoriented by means of a retractable projection (18) and sleeve mechanism (24).

Abstract: A method employing a support bracket (38) to strengthen the footing (30) which undergirds a brick veneer (8) to be applied to a building. A trench (32) is excavated adjacent the foundational wall (14) of the building being constructed, and brackets (38) are anchored to the wall (14). With the brackets (38) in place, concrete is poured into the trench (32) to form the footing (30).

Abstract: The present invention is a device for adjusting eccentricity of the design axis of rotation of a rotary tool (12) with regard to the axis of rotation of a drive spindle (10). The device includes male and female members (22, 24), one matable to each of the spindle (10) and the tool (12). The male and female members (22, 24) are adjustable relative to each other to vary the eccentricity and to maintain the tool (12) wherein it is not canted relative to the axis of rotation of the spindle (10).

Abstract: A carriage device (12) for use with a floor working implement (10) such as a scrubber or polisher. The carriage (12) includes a track (50) for receiving and retaining therein a downwardly projecting lip of the implement (10) such as transport wheels (28). With the lip received within an aperture (54) in the track (50), a link (60) provided, in a first embodiment, on an arm (40) of the maneuvering handle (16) of the implement (10) can be slid downwardly over the arm (40) and over a strut (56) extending upwardly from the track (50) in order to maintain the strut (56) locked alongside the handle arm (40). In a second embodiment, a clip (64) carried by the strut (56) can be utilized to lock the arm (40) alongside the strut (56).

Abstract: The invention of the present document comprises apparatus for receiving and automatically feeding dual-in-line package (DIP) transportation and storage tubes (24) to the singulator (76) of an integrated circuit device handler (20) so that devices (22) in the tubes (24) can be introduced at the singulator (76). The tubes (24) are randomly placed in a hopper (66), and conveyed through an aperture (170) formed in a side wall (172) of the hopper (66). An elevator (74) is provided to raise the tubes (24) to a height at which open ends thereof are disposed above the height of the singulator (76). With a tube (24) so raised, a tube inserter (96) pushes the tube (24) into the tube holder (98) of a manipulator (100). The tube holder (98) is, in turn, pivoted to tilt the tube (24) so that devices (22) within the tube (24) are deposited for introduction into the singulator (76 ).

Abstract: A self-cleaning canister type filter (1). A cylindrical canister enclosure (3) has, at one end, end plate (2) with fluid inlets (4) and outlet (6) therein. A spring-loaded hollow annular piston (30) is slideably mounted on the exterior of central tubular cylinder (10) and within upper cylinder (28) for a downward movement against compression spring (32) to initially force a back-flow of filtered fluid through filter element (14), lifting contaminant particulate solids from its filtering surface (15). Inlet valve opening (64) is opened to fluid flow when piston (30) attains a compressed position. Filter element (14) is closely spaced to canister enclosure inner wall surface (9) for rapid flow of fluid over the inlet surface (15) of the filter element (14) to scour solids to sump (5) in the lower portion of the canister enclosure (3).

Abstract: A continuous process for heat treating flowable materials having liquids thereon and apparatus wherein a first portion of adhering liquid is vaporized in a pre-desolventizer (PDS) consisting of at least one horizontal steam jacketed conveyor tube (60-63), the vaporized vapors of the liquid being directly discharged into a desolventizer (DS) consisting of a vertical chamber being divided into a certain number of compartments (70-73), live steam is introduced into the lowermost compartment (73) to vaporize the remaining portion of liquid adhering on the material and the combined vapors of liquid collected in the upper section of the desolventizer (DS) are discharged into a condenser (91) where a dust-free liquid is recovered. The desolventizer (DS) may also be used as a combined desolventizer-toaster-dryer.

Abstract: Patient bed alarm system (10) is the subject of the present invention. The system (10) includes a plurality of sensors defining interstices (18) of a matrix (16) of such sensors. The matrix (16) is woven into a mat (14) for placement on a bed (12) in which a patient is confined. The presence of the patient's body upon the mat (14) causes various combinations of the sensors to perceive the presence of the patient's body thereon. The particular combinations of sensors sensing the presence of the body is inputted to a first micro computer (20) which discriminates as to the exact location of the patient in view of the exact combination of sensors perceiving the presence of the patient's body. If the combination of sensors actuated indicate an impending vacation of the bed (12) by the patient, an alarm (26, 28) can be actuated by a second micro computer (24) to alert monitoring personnel of the situation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for accurately measuring the tension exerted upon a fiber optic cable (10) during its installation into a conduit (20) and preserving the reading of maximum tension for future reference. The apparatus (22) includes first and second member portions (26, 38) which are secured relative to one another by a bridge member (36). Bridge (36) has mounted thereon a deformable, electrically resistive element (44) through which a current flows and varies in response to the varying resistivity caused by the element's deformation. Current flow is, in turn, channeled through a microprocessor (48) which converts variations in current flow to equivalent readings of tension which are being applied to the cable (10). The tension readings are displayed by appropriate means.