Abstract: An exercise device has a cord contained in a housing with a handle on the cord to pull it out of the housing. Resistance is developed by sliding friction between the cord and the housing and between the cord and a spool in the housing. The device has independent adjustment for controlling the friction between the cord and the housing and the spool friction. A recoil wheel retracts the cord.

Abstract: A phonographic record handling device, preferably made of flexible plastic, has at one end a loop tapered to snugly receive the thumb, with an extension extending outwardly from the loop at an angle of about 10.degree. to 20.degree. from the horizontal plane extending across the sides of the thumb distal joint. A downwardly extending hook is at the other end of the extension. The hook is bent back towards the loop, but forwardly towards the front of the device for better alignment of the hook with a record spindle hole. The thumb is inserted in the loop and the hand is moved so that the hook extends into the record hole so that the record can be handled using but a single hand. The device can be shaped from a single flat strip of material.

Abstract: A linear move irrigation system and control therefor for use in irrigating large land areas including a water conduit extending over a portion of the field and supported on a series of support towers, the entire conduit being made to move down the field to be irrigated. A control system for controlling the movement of the irrigation system along a defined path and so as to maintain the wheel tracks of the conduit support towers generally parallel to the path. The control system includes a sensor located somewhere along the water conduit for sensing when a point located forward of the conduit relative to its direction of travel, is off the defined path.

Abstract: The admixing of highly absorbent starch-containing polymeric compositions with higher fatty alcohols containing 12 carbon atoms per molecule to 24 carbon atoms per molecule, thereby reducing and/or inhibiting the evaporation of fluid from the highly absorbent starch-containing polymeric compositions.

Abstract: A film cassette for containing and displaying an endless loop of film has a housing constructed of two symmetrical elements, an end of the housing being deeper to accommodate a larger portion of the film. Apertures are formed in opposing sides of the housing and extend the full width of each side or approximately twice the width of a frame of film. A dual film gate assembly is contained within the housing and has two back plates to support the film and two snap on front plates which define a film gate on either side through which a leader of film is threaded. Both the back plates and the front plates have openings which approximate the size of a frame of film to allow light to pass from one aperture to the other in a straight line path. A film advancing means consists generally of a shaft having two sprockets mounted thereon, each sprocket extending through an index slot in a film guide plate and having teeth or other structure to positively engage the film and advance it through the film slot.

Abstract: A power-converting device has a generally-elliptical rotor which is mounted within a generally-cylindrical chamber. That rotor reciprocates as it rotates within that chamber; and interacting surfaces which are wholly separate from, displaced bodily away from, and in addition to the shaft of that power-converting device halt continued movement of that rotor whenever it reaches an end of its path of reciprocation, and then smoothly start that rotor moving back toward the opposite end of that path of reciprocation.

Abstract: A preventive apron used for control of human sexual conduct, especially the mentally retarded, has a main apron section which has on its inside a large pocket for receiving a rectangular box-shaped shield having an open side. The apron has upper, middle, and lower tie straps tied behind the user so that the main apron section is located in front of the body to place the shield in front of the genital area to prevent the wearer from contacting his or her genitals. The open side of the shield has a flange about its wall edges which acts to distribute force against the body of the user and to allow the shield to slide for comfort. The upper horizontal shield wall has a curved recess and flange which conforms to the shape of the lower abdomen of the user for a comfortable fit. The lower straps for the apron main section extend around each of the thighs and prevents the apron and shield from being pulled up.

Abstract: A portable landing ramp for boats which can be positioned manually has a walking plank having a first end secured to the boat by chains which support that end beneath the boat deck and thus reduce the angle of plank inclination, while a second plank end has foldable legs which are unfolded to extend to land to support the second end above the water, reduce the angle of inclination of the ramp, and add lateral stability to the ramp. A folding parallelogram hand rail assembly has braces in the upright position which support a pair of hand rails parallel with the plank to provide guidance while walking on the plank. The rear braces of the assembly are offset to position the first plank end away from the boat, and the chains extend around the outside of the rear braces to engage them and thereby reduce lateral movement of the plank. The chains and the assembly can be folded into channels in the plank and latched so that either hand rail can serve as a carrying handle for the ramp.

Abstract: A tube of plastic or the like having a flexible bellows middle section and straight section ends with identifying indicia of color or shape thereon to represent information about garments contained on clothing hangers. It may have a flared section and a tapered section on opposing ends of the signal tube; the flared section to fit about the shoulders of a hanger and the tapered section to fit snugly about the neck area. The flared section may have locking nibs to help secure the signal tube to the neck of the hanger. Serrations may extend upwardly from the upper straight section to permit a closer fit to the hanger and help prevent the accidental removal of the signal tube.

Abstract: A wiener steamer housing has a bun compartment, and has a wiener compartment over a base containing a heating element. A juice catch tray with side walls is suspended in the wiener compartment, and inserted in it is a wiener holding grill. The tray bottom catches juices from the wieners, and its sides, with holes at their upper ends, provide steam passages conducting heat to the upper wieners stacked on the grill.

Abstract: Admixed glass frits and conductor-forming materials are applied directly to selected portions of the smooth-surface, doped areas of photovoltaic cells, and then are fired to form electrical contacts for those smooth-surface, doped areas. Those conductor-forming materials form electrical contacts that have essentially-linear, low resistance, electrical connections with those smooth-surface, doped areas and also provide exposed surfaces to which leads can be bonded; and those glass frits fuse to the smooth surfaces of the doped areas of those photovoltaic cells to provide sturdy mechanical bonds between those electrical contacts and those smooth-surface, doped areas.

Abstract: A plastic, heated water tank for gummed tape dispensing machines that resists corrosion, is easy to clean, reduces the likelihood of burning the user, and yet affords good heat transfer from an external heating element into the water in the tank. It provides as an insert in the plastic tank a tubular metal heat transmission member with special sealing means between the plastic and the ends of the metal member. The sealing means prevent leakage from the container around the ends of the metal member that could result from differences in expansion rates of the plastic and the metal.

Abstract: This invention relates to a hot water system which utilizes heat from the refrigerant of a refrigeration system to produce hot water. A condenser as part of the hot water system is especially designed with greater heat exchange surface than would normally be provided with the refrigeration system so that water at convection flow and at a higher temperature than normal can be used in the condensing unit and yet achieve the necessary absorption of heat from the refrigerant passing through the condenser as required for proper operation of the refrigeration system.In one embodiment of the condenser unit a de-superheating coil is located at the top of the housing to overlie the top of an inverted can arrangement within the housing. Between the sides of the housing and the inverted can is located a sheet type heat exchange surface which is preferably pillowed.

Abstract: A roof, that is constituted by a number of contiguous three-dimensional roof pans, has fascia-supporting clips adjacent one side thereof; and has a fascia releasably held by those clips. That fascia also extends along the ends of that roof. The opposite side of the roof is supported by a flashing-like bracket; and that bracket has a shelf-like bottom which extends under, and which is secured to, the roof pans to enable the weight of that opposite side to tend to draw that bracket into intimate engagement with that opposite side. The one side of the roof is underlain and supported by an elongated channel which, in turn, is supported by vertically-directed posts. The upper ends of those posts extend upwardly through openings in a horizontally-directed lower portion of that channel and are co-extensive with, and are directly secured to, the vertically-directed portion of that channel.

Abstract: A printing press for use in printing a continuous paper web having a fountain section and a plate section each pivotally mounted to a main frame. The fountain section includes a removable ink fountain and rotatably mounted fountain and transfer rolls, and the plate section includes a rotatably mounted plate cylinder. An impression cylinder is rotatably mounted in the main frame. The fountain section is pivotal for selective engagement and separation of the transfer roll with the plate cylinder, and the plate section is pivotal for selective engagement and separation of the plate cylinder with the transfer roll and the web supporting impression cylinder. The pivotal sections are actuated by hydro-pneumatic cylinders and are adjusted against mechanical stops which maintain the adjustment of the contacts between the respective cylinders and rolls. The fountain section also has adjustment and mechanical stop devices for selectively engaging and separating the fountain roll with the transfer roll.

Abstract: The vapor-sensing protective system of the present invention has a sensing device for fuel vapor which is mounted in an area where a fuel-powered engine is located. That sensing device develops a voltage within a predetermined range whenever it is operative and is properly connected in that system and senses for but does not detect fuel vapor; and that system responds to that voltage to permit starting of that engine. If that sensing device is not operative or is not properly connected in that system, it will be unable to develop a voltage within that predetermined range; and hence that system will prevent starting of that engine. If that sensing device is operative and is properly connected in that system and senses for and detects fuel vapor, it will develop a voltage above that predetermined range; and hence that system will prevent starting of that engine.

Abstract: A vehicle air suspension assembly consists generally of a hanger and a front and rear air spring depending from the chassis on opposite sides of the hanger. An axle seat assembly attaches to the axle and rigidly extends between the springs. An upper and a lower radius rod are pivotally connected between the hanger and the axle seat assembly and form a parallelogram which supports and stabilizes the axle. The pivotal connections of the radius rods are adjustable to provide accurate axle alignment and pitch in relation to the chassis. A shock absorber extends between the axle seat assembly and the chassis to dampen suspension movement.

Abstract: A suspension assembly for a vehicle having front and rear axles. Front and rear hanger assemblies depending from the vehicle chassis. A free floating shackle assembly between the axles. A front leaf spring extending between the front hanger assembly and the shackle assembly and bearing downwardly on the front axle. A rear leaf spring extending between the shackle assembly and the rear axle and bearing upwardly against an elastomer main load pad in the rear hanger assembly. The rear leaf spring bears downwardly against the rear axle. Elastomeric load pad spacers are used to mount the leaf springs. A slide limiter mounted to an end of the rear leaf spring allows linear sliding within specified limits while retaining the leaf spring in a downwardly bearing relationship to the rear axle.

Abstract: An x-ray tomography apparatus has a couch for a human subject to lie on, a cylindrical capsule to enclose part of the body, a flexible water filled bag to stabilize a portion of the human body being x-rayed, an x-ray source mounted on a rotatable frame, and an arcuate row of x-ray detector plates enclosed in a metal container filled with xenon gas. The detector plates are positioned on the rotatable frame opposite the x-ray source so that the x-rays pass through the subject and are received by the detector plates. The detector plates and x-ray source are continuously rotatable about the subject, having slip ring power and electrical connections. The couch is servo motor powered and is switched at the completion of one rotation of the rotatable frame to automatically index the subject forward.

Abstract: An article of orthopaedic footwear comprises an upper of thermosoftening plastics material, e.g. a vinyl polyer, having a lining of resilient expanded thermosoftening plastics material of closed cell construction, e.g. an expanded cross-linked polyethylene. The upper has an autogenously welded seam covered externally by a strip of thermosoftening plastics material, e.g. a vinyl polymer, autogenously welded to the upper on both sides of the seam, e.g. by longitudinal and/or transverse welds. The article can be shaped by forming and/or cutting the upper.