Abstract: A hose-coupler made up of a just one component having a main housing section with a female end and a male end. The second female end of the coupler is formed with interior threads, for receiving therein a portion of the male end of the second hose. The main housing section has a compressible portion adjacent to the first male end thereof all the way to the end of the female end. The compressible portion is provided by a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart linear slots for forming a plurality of clamping jaws or elements, so that, when these clamping jaws are compressed toward each other, the interior threads of the female end of the coupler is forced into locking, threaded engagement with the exterior threads of the male end of the second hose telescopingly received therein. In order to compress the clamping jaws, there is provided a collet rotatably-mounted about the main housing's compressible section.

Abstract: A method of draining transmission fluid from an automotive vehicle, which vehicle has a transmission-filter element connected to a mounting bracket having an inlet orifice and an outlet orifice. The method includes removing the transmission-filter element from the mounting bracket mounting it to the transmission, and then connecting a transmission-fluid drainage element to the mounting bracket in place of the transmission-filter element.

Abstract: An improved tool for pulling off a rotor of a motor from a shaft or a fan from a shaft, which improved tool is provided with hooked arms that are releasably but securely held at one end in the housing, without the use of retaining clips, so that the arms do not fall off during use or become lost, and so that they do not interfere with the use of the tool when using the securing bolts for pulling off a rotor. The housing of the improved tool of the invention is circular in shape, and in a first version, is provided with a plurality of equally-spaced holes about its circumference, which holes received the hooked ends of the hooked arms, so that various configurations of hooked arms may be provided to best suit the configuration of vanes and type of fan being pulled off a shaft.

Abstract: A self-diagnostic system for a checking all functions of a cellular-transceiver system having a cellular-interface unit, which interface unit couples a standard telephone set to a cellular transceiver, which interface unit converts the DTMF or pulse-type of dialing signals into digital format for transmission to the cellular transceiver, whereby the dialed number made on the land-type of telephone may be used to call a number over the cellular system. The present invention not only monitors and checks the proper functioning of the transceiver and associated power supply, and the like, but will also monitor and check the interface unit.

Abstract: The basic clip enclosed is a one-piece plastic clip formed by an upper and lower jaw element having gripping jaws. The jaw elements are pivoted together by a pedestal-type mount, that interconnects the upper and lower jaw elements together. The pedestal mount has a locking tip which fits into a receptacle formed in the upper jaw element. A U-shaped biasing member biases the jaw elements into their closed, clamping position, which biasing member has a base lying in close proximity to the pedestal mount. A camming finger causes the pedestal mount to bend every time that the rear sections of the jaw elements are squeezed to open the clamping jaws, which bending increases the clamping force of the clip.

Abstract: A method for making vacuum components from plastic material, and in particular, PVC and CPVC, where the plastic component is exposed to a high vacuum or ultra high vacuum for an extended period of time, by which the outgas rate drops considerably to levels that are well within required limits for high vacuum and ultra high vacuum applications. Residual gas analysis may be used to certify this low outgas level for the plastic components.

Abstract: The Invention relates specifically to an improved method of joining plastic socket fit piping components for vacuum, pressure, and structural applications where a leak and contamination free connection is needed. A unique Dual Face/Circumferential Elastomer Seal is installed in a special Seal Groove located on the end of the male component. The male components are then inserted into the female sockets until contact is made between the Dual Face/Circumferential Elastomer Seals and the Female Socket Base Surfaces. The final assembly is evacuated with a vacuum pump to actuate and fully compress the seals. The final assembly is then checked for leaks. If the connections are to remain under vacuum and the ability to disassemble is advantageous, no further work is required.

Abstract: A reservations system for hotel chains in which matrix arrays defining maximum rooms for sale, protected inventory, and matrices derived from these two, all by room-type/rate-category combinations. The system provides for generalized control of inventory for sale for an arbitrary number of room-types, rate-categories, etc. The system also allows blocking or protecting inventory by rate-category, room-type, or any combination. The system of the invention allows for either a central or a distributed view of inventory, and allows inventory to be controlled by the property and sold at any location without over-selling. The system of the invention provides the level of control necessary to handle the four major inventory control strategies that the hotel industry will likely require over the next ten years: total control centrally, central indicators and distributed inventory, totally distributed inventory, or a mixed mode of operation utilizing any combination of central or distributed inventory.

Abstract: A display-stand has a separate, clear-plastic base-section defining an upper, horizontal groove off, lot. The display-stand has a separate vertical section, which, in the preferred embodiment, consists of two, vertical, clear-plastic panels. The two panels are inserted through the slot of the base-section, and are held in place by retaining elements integral to the panels themselves, which also force the upper ends of the panels toward each other to firmly retain a printed sheet therein. Each vertical panel also has a sloping, lower surface-portion that contacts against a respective portion of the base-section, whereby the lower surface-portion and the respective, juxtapositioned portion of the base-section sandwich therebetween an advertising display card or paper, which may be replaced upon disassembly of the display-stand.

Abstract: An improved tool for pulling off a rotor of a motor from a shaft or a fan from a shaft, which improved tool is provided with hooked arms that are releasably but securely held at one end in the housing, without the use of retaining clips, so that the arms do not fall off during use or become lost, and so that they do not interfere with the use of the tool when using the securing bolts for pulling off a rotor. The hooked arms of the invention are also hexagonal shaped, and securing bolts are provided with hexagonal-shaped recesses in their heads, so that the hooked arms may themselves be used for rotating the securing bolts when pulling off a rotor of a motor from a shaft.

Abstract: An optical display device for use with wearing apparel or in combination with novelty gifts for illumination thereof. The optical display device based upon a control circuit capable of energizing incandescent lamps attached to a conductive pathway. The control circuit having an IC based timing circuit with manual switches for lamp lighting mode sequence as well as sequencing speed. An alternative embodiment is disclosed using an EPROM IC chip wherein all sequencing and functional timing is performed by an instructional software program made operational upon manual switch toggling. The conductive pathway provides electrical coupling to the lamps with one embodiment having a pathway formed from flexible circuit boards. Use of flexible circuit boards permits simplistic color changing by use of peel-off covers placed over the lamps as well as protection from moisture, impact, or dislodgement of the lamps. The coupling of circuit boards across movable joints is by flexible wire or conductor tape.

Abstract: The invention relates specifically to a simplified and subsequently improved method to produce a scroll type vacuum pump that is capable of achieving vacuum pressures below 1 torr through the placement of at least one dynamic orbital vacuum seal between the two scroll halves at the outside diameter of the scroll spirals to prevent atmospheric gas from entering. Prior to this invention, in order to achieve vacuum pressures less than 1 torr with a scroll pump it has been necessary to either seal the two scroll halves with a large diameter metal bellows that accommodates the required orbital travel or to locate the orbiting scroll plate or plates and the components that convert the rotary drive to the required orbital motion inside the vacuum space with a dynamic vacuum seal on the rotary drive shaft. Both of these designs have been expensive to produce, limiting the application of scroll technology in the vacuum industry to special applications.

Abstract: The basic clip enclosed is a one piece plastic clip formed by an upper and lower face beam having gripping jaws. The face beams are joined together by a shared biasing traverse support member that operates in conjunction with a pivotal locking tip and locking receptacle. Final assembly of the clip is performed by pressing the face beams together which engages the pivotal locking tip with the latching body allowing the jaw elements to lock in a closed position. Continued squeezing of the proximal end portions allows the traverse support member to arc beyond the design angle forcing the jaws into a larger spaced apart position. To prevent stressing and allow shaft mountings, the traverse support member utilizes fingers to provide interference with complete compression. Variations of the transverse support member and clip closure beams are also enclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for telephone call answer supervision, capable of detecting the completion of both national and international calls, which employ different answer confirmation formats, and provide confirmation that a placed call has been answered if least one of the following conditions occurs: 1) a tone of a given frequency, transmitted on the transmit line of a telephone, is detected as received back on the receive line; and 2) audio activity having a non-repetitive cadence is detected on both the transmit and receive lines of the telephone. Also provided is an autonomous pay telephone, such as a mobile telephone, which includes an arrangement for determining and accessing a call rate, per unit of time, for a call placed to a given telephone number, a display for displaying, in real-time as the call progresses, charges for a completed call as well as an accounting arrangement for storing charges accessed for each completed call.

Abstract: A tool for pulling off the clutch mechanism of one specific make of washing machine. The tool has main mounting plate from each end off which passes therethrough an elongated screw. The mounting plate has an enlarged central hole for passing therethrough a large tubular member which is threaded on its outer circumferential surface, and which is hollow in it interior. The tubular member receives in its hollow interior the tubular sleeve of the clutch mechanism when the tool of the invention is used for pulling the clutch mechanism off from the drive shaft. At the bottom of tubular member, there is provided a larger-diameter head, having a pivotal latch. After placing the tubular member over the tubular sleeve, the pivotal latch is closed over cutout portion at the lower portion of the tubular sleeve, whereby the latch is thus in locked engagement with the tubular sleeve but free of contact with the inner drive shaft.