Abstract: The shear mechanism includes two fixed plates and a plate movable therebetween. The movable plate has a notch in one side edge which is moved out of registry with notches in the fixed plate to effect a shearing operation, the movable plate having a blade associated with its notch and one of the fixed plates having a cooperable blade associated with its notch. The fixed plates each have two appropriately located circular holes in which are received a first pair of pins, the pins extending through slots in the movable plate so that the blade on the movable plate can move sufficiently relative to the blade on the fixed plate to perform its shearing operation. Offset from the slots in the movable plate are two appropriately located circular holes in which are received a second pair of pins, the second pair of pins extending through slots in the fixed plate of sufficient size so that the shearing action can take place.

Abstract: The portable fireplace screen unit comprises a glass panel of sufficient size to close the typical fireplace opening. Screen panels are hingedly connected to the opposite side edges of the glass panel. When the screen panels are angled toward the fireplace and the glass panel spaced away from the fireplace opening, air needed to support combustion readily flows through the two perforate screen panels as well as over the top of the imperforate glass panel. When the screen panels are angled in an opposite direction and the glass panel placed against the fireplace, the opening is closed to prevent unnecessary heat loss. The screen panels can be folded against the glass panel for compact storage of the unit.

Abstract: Two parts or shells, each composed of randomly oriented carbon or graphite fibers contained in a nylon matrix, are configured so that when sonically welded together an integral drumstick results.

Abstract: A tubular plastic casing has a coil spring contained therein. A first rod member is hooked to the spring at one end of the casing, the rod member having a shank extending axially through the spring and outwardly through the opposite end of the casing. A hook is provided on the projecting end of this rod member for releasably engaging a post-mounted anchor. A second rod member, which is reversely bent, has its two adjacent ends hooked to the spring at the other end of the casing, the parallel shanks thereof extending through the spring and outwardly through the said one end of the casing so that the projecting reversely bent end can be attached to a length of electric fence wire. The tubular casing has a hand grip portion which is grasped when the gate is to be opened, the moving of the casing toward the gate anchor compressing the coil spring so that the hook on the first rod member can be readily disengaged from the anchor to permit passage through the gate.

Abstract: An upright post has a rounded bearing member at its upper end provided with a discharge port through which air, supplied at the lower end of the post, exits. A cylindrical bearing body is formed with a vertical bore extending therethrough so as to accommodate therein a longitudinal portion of the upright post, the bore being slightly larger in diameter than the post. The bearing body supports upper and lower balancing mechanisms, each including a plate or platform having four quadrantly located sensing ports. A bearing cap overlying the rounded bearing member is affixed to the platform of the upper balancing mechanism. The platform of the upper balancing mechanism removably rests on the top of the bearing body and has mounted thereon a pair of reversible air motors, each having a shaft and shiftable weight threadedly disposed on the shaft.

Abstract: My continuous drier comprises an inclined tubular casing having a feed tube concentrically disposed therein via which the product, such as grain or seed, to be dried is delivered to the lower end of the casing. Circumscribed about the feed tube and in a fixed relation thereto is an auger having its peripheral edge secured to the interior of the tubular casing. Most of the flights of the auger are perforated, the holes being of a size sufficiently small so that the granular product will not pass therethrough, yet large enough to allow a heat conductive media, such as salt particles, to sift downwardly as the drier is rotated about its inclined axis. Whereas most of the auger is perforated, two flights adjacent the closed lower end of the casing are imperforate.

Abstract: A pair of elongated anchors possessing a Z-shaped cross section each have one flange embedded in one side of an elastomeric block and its other flange welded to the metal surface of the truck box to be protected. The sides of each block are angled so as to form a converging slot between blocks. An elongated strip, also of elastomeric material and somewhat softer than that of the blocks, is pressed into each slot to create a generally flush relation with the blocks.

Abstract: A shell-like all plastic insulator has an angled surface formed with a flat boss having a nail hole extending therethrough so that a nail can be driven into a wooden post in order to securely attach the insulator thereto, the boss having a width such that the nail can later be pulled out with a claw hammer and the insulator re-used. Rearwardly spaced ribs act as cleats against the post to prevent the insulator from rotating about the nail. Jaws or hooks for holding the electric fence wire project forwardly and are at a location such that the weight of the wire does not tend to pull out the nail.

Abstract: The bases of a first pair of opposite conductivity transistors are connected to one input terminal of the amplifier circuit. A conventional meter is connected in the collector-emitter path of a second pair of transistors. Four arrangements are disclosed for coupling the first pair of transistors to the second pair; two of the embodiments enable DC signals to be measured and the other two AC signals.

Abstract: A special polarizing beam splitting unit is employed in a composite photography system which utilizes an autocollimating screen having the capability of reflecting light with virtually no scatter or dispersion. A projector projects a background subject image onto the autocollimating screen, the image traversing first a path along an axis generally parallel to the plane of the autocollimating or projection screen and then by means of the polarizing beam splitting unit via a path extending along an axis normal to the plane of the projection screen. The subject is positioned between the polarizing beam splitting unit and the projection screen. A source of fill light is directed onto the subject through a washout suppression screen containing a polarizing filter oriented so that its plane of polarization is perpendicular to that of the polarization filter contained in the beam splitting unit. The suppression screen also includes an absorbing filter for attenuating visible blue light.

Abstract: A ski protector of elastomeric material comprises an elongated resilient or elastic body portion and reinforced end portions having recesses, one of which recesses accommodates the toe of the ski therein and the other recess the ski's heel. The stretching capability of the unreinforced elongated body portion permits the end of the protector that fits over the ski's toe to first be placed thereover, then the other end of the protector pulled rearwardly sufficiently past the rear end of the ski and then released so that it moves forwardly over the ski's heel. The sides of the elongated body contain grooves for receiving therein the side margins of the ski to thus protect the ski's metal edges. The body portion is preferably provided with a web extending between the grooved sides, thereby affording protection for the bottom running surface of the ski as well.

Abstract: The disposable mouth guard prevents the flow of liquid into the user's mouth. It comprises a tubular sleeve of polyethylene formed with a trio of internal flexible or resilient ribs having an annular configuration disposed nearer one end of the sleeve, the first of the three ribs being inset from said one end of the sleeve so that the sleeve can be readily slipped over the suction end of a pipette. The innermost rib is spaced from an internal annular flange that functions as a stop for the end of the pipette. The annular flange also functions as one apertured wall of a chamber containing a fibrous material, more specifically cotton, which expands when liquid is drawn into the chamber, thereby preventing any of the liquid from entering the person's mouth. A second annular flange at the other end of the chamber confines the cotton in a recessed manner from the upper end of the mouth guard.

Abstract: The polarizing beam splitting unit comprises a filter in the form of a layer of polarizing material which passes light in only one plane. This polarizing layer or filter is sandwiched between two transparent glass substrates, one substrate having a reflection-enhancing coating and the other substrate having an anti-reflection coating. In one embodiment the reflection-enhancing coating consists of a single layer of cerium oxide, and in a second embodiment the coating consists of layers of zinc sulphide, magnesium fluoride and silicon dioxide. In both situations the anti-reflection coating consists of magnesium fluoride. The polarizing beam splitting unit is employed in a composite photography system.

Abstract: An examination answer sheet, on which the examinee has darkened certain discrete areas with a graphite or lead pencil to denote his selected answers to multiple choice questions, is moved relative to a plurality of photoelectric cells, these cells providing analog voltages having magnitudes in accordance with the opacity of the marks or data on the sheet. During time intervals derived photoelectrically from a sequence of marks constituting a timing track, the highest voltages provided by the data cells are individually stored, later digitized, and the digital information forwarded to a computer for comparative processing with answer information contained in the computer's memory.

Abstract: An L-shaped clip of sheet metal is provided with a pair of resilient fingers having their connected ends offset from the plane of the clip leg that they are integral with, the fingers then curving upwardly at a decreasing radius with two points or teeth at the upper end of each finger, the four points (two on each finger) all being at different elevations. When cutting out a section of a panel to form an opening, such as in a counter top to accommodate a kitchen sink, an appropriate number (usually four) of clips are inserted into the saw kerf so that the resilient fingers prevent the cutout panel portion from falling, the various points or teeth frictionally pressing against the otherwise detached panel portion to releasably retain the panel portion in place.

Abstract: A driven quad antenna unit includes four perpendicularly arranged antenna elements, each element containing therein a high Q load coil in order to reduce the overall size of the antenna structure. A similarly configured parasitic loop unit functioning as a director or reflector (or both may be employed) is located in front or behind, as the case may be, the driven antenna unit. As with the driven unit, each side of the parasitic unit has a coil connected therein, the number of turns in each coil of the director being somewhat less than in the number in the coils of the driven unit and somewhat greater in the coils of the reflector.

Abstract: A hinged lid closes the upper end of the vertical exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine to keep rain and snow from entering the engine when it is shut down. A latch prevents vandals from manually opening the lid, but the latch is automatically released by the force of the exhaust gases striking a pivotal vane carried on the underside of the lid when the engine is started. The escaping exhaust gases also act against the lid to open it, and the lid remains open as long as the engine continues to operate. However, each time the engine is shut down the lid is again automatically latched closed and cannot be manually opened. This prevents the pouring of water, sand or other debris into the exhaust pipe by vandals, and has the added advantage of keeping the lid from being blown open by the wind. Provision is made for utilizing a conventional padlock so as to externally lock the lid closed or, if desired, to lock the lid open.