Abstract: A mechanical clutch which is selectively engageable and disengageable. Interposed between an input member and an output member are a plurality of clutch rollers. In disengaged mode they rotate freely, relative to the members. In engaged mode they bunch together, thereby locking together and to the members, all of which then move together as a unit. A control member is applied to the clutch rollers to either engage or disengage the clutch. The movement of the members may be rotary or linear.

Abstract: A rack and pinion gear having helical teeth. A conical hob is employed for cutting recessed rack teeth in the work piece by continuously engaging the hob and work piece as the work piece moves longitudinally beneath (or with respect to) the rotating hob. To mate with the helical teeth in the rack, a helical gear having rounded or arcuate teeth is provided.

Abstract: Unwanted roadway marking is obscured and gradually removed by abrasion from normal traffic over the roadway. Segments of color the same as the roadway are evenly distributed over the marking, as by speckling. From a distance, the color of the marking is effectively altered to the point where it is no longer recognized as a traffic sign. Thereafter, normal traffic steadily abrades the speckling and the underlying marking until both speckling and marking are completely worn away, leaving the original roadway, unmarked.

Abstract: An intermediate shaft is provided with a single helical gear, and a double helical gear set having opposite and unequal helix angles. The double helical gear set meshes with a corresponding double helical gear set on a second shaft. A third shaft has a single helical gear meshing with the single helical gear of the intermediate shaft. The meshing of the double helical gear sets locks the intermediate shaft against axial motion. The axial thrust on the intermediate shaft, produced by the inequality between the helix angles of its double helical gear set, is offset by the helix angle of the single helical gear. This substantial equalizing of axial thrust obviates the need for a thrust bearing on the intermediate shaft.

Abstract: A ball throwing apparatus has two opposed drive wheels, one on each side of an open-ended barrel. The peripheries of both drive wheels extend into the barrel in opposing fashion, the wheels being slightly offset so that the second periphery frictionally engages the ball before the first periphery does. This directs the ball initially on a path divergent from the barrel axis. The drive wheels are rotated at dissimilar speeds and/or the diameters of the wheels are not the same so that the peripheral speeds of the two drive wheels are different. This imparts a spin to the ball and gives it a curved flight path. The barrel is rotatably mounted to allow the barrel to be rotated about its longitudinal axis to any angular position.The barrel mounting is attached to a tripod, and the mounting can be adjusted to alter the attitude of the barrel to change the trajectory of the ball.

Abstract: A rack and pinion gear having helical teeth. A conical hob is employed for cutting recessed rack teeth in the work piece by continuously engaging the hob and work piece as the work piece moves longitudinally beneath (or with respect to) the rotating hob. To mate with the helical teeth in the rack, a helical gear having rounded or arcuate teeth is provided.

Abstract: A flashlight is fabricated from a conventional design and a conventional means for energizing it. The flashlight has a casing for holding the batteries. The casing is closed at one end and the other end is flared for holding the reflective dish, which has the bulb secured through an opening in its base. A transparent lens seals the volume of the dish. A bezel or rim attaches around the circumference of the lens. The bezel is made of a translucent plastic material, which has a phosphor material embedded into it. When the bulb is energized, the light beam touches the periphery of the bezel as it shines and charges the phosphor material. The flashlight and bezel can also be left in the sunlight to charge the phosphor material. After the phosphor material has been charged, the bezel emits a long-lasting glow called phosphorescence so that the flashlight can be found in the dark.

Abstract: A fluid heater consists of a water tank, to the side of which is mounted an infrared burner which radiates heat at very high temperature, horizontally, against the side wall of the tank. Burned gases are conducted upward in heat conducting relation with the water in the tank and are then vented.

Abstract: A system which stores and uses thermal and chemical energy to provide shaft power during either the charging or discharging cycles. The system is based upon a reversible transfer of gaseous fluid from a holding tank to a receiver. In operation, the fluid generates electricity or other mechanical power by doing work on a turbine or other device positioned between the tank and receiver. The fluid is heated by an external source and is particularly adapted for use with solar energy. The working fluid and an absorbent combine to form the chemical solution. In the charge cycle, heat is applied to the holding tank which distills the fluid. The fluid condenses in the condenser and is held in the receiver. In the discharge cycle, heat is transferred from the still warm holding tank to the receiver by means of piping. The fluid vaporizes and returns to the holding tank.

Abstract: The mechanism is used to dampen the recoil or kickback effects of a machine, such as a machine gun, jack hammer, or the like which generates short duration, high-amplitude unidirectional forces. The mechanism includes an ancillary mass interposed between the base and the recoil mass. A relatively stiff spring is engaged at one end to the recoil mass, which is in contact with the ancillary mass at the other end, only over part of the recoil cycle. A relatively soft spring is interposed between the ancillary mass and the base and is engaged at one end to the base and may be engaged to the ancillary mass at the other end. The mechanism prevents motion of the recoil mass and reduces the maximum recoil force transmitted to the base by transferring the original short-duration, high-amplitude recoil driving force impulse first to the ancillary mass, in the form of momentum of the ancillary mass, and subsequently to the base as a longer duration, lower amplitude recoil force.

Abstract: A racket string filament having in cross-section a first face and a second face, formed back to back, is strung in the frame of a racket such that the first face is exposed only on one side of the racket and the second face only is exposed on the other side of the racket, thus forming a first uniform hitting surface on one side and a second uniform hitting surface on the other side. The hitting surfaces thus formed by the various faces cause a ball, when stroked, to form a trajectory which will be influenced greatly by the type of hitting surface used, and will impart spin or English to the moving ball. In one embodiment, the cross section of the first face is convex in shape and the cross section of the second face is flat or concave in shape.

Abstract: A locking mechanism in combination with a buckle connecting the separate straps of a horse blanket. A buckle includes a T-shaped coupling and a curved U-shaped coupling which couple together to form the buckle. The strap lock itself is comprised of a flat rectangular plate which has one end folded back onto itself to form a flange member, a base and a hollow cavity at the bight of the flange. The base contains raised projections which act as stops for preventing the loss of the strap lock. The strap lock is made of a resilient material because as it is being forced into its locking position, the bight of the flange member has to spread apart enough to slide over the curved area of the U-shaped coupling. The edge of the flange member confronts the head of the T-shaped coupling and prevents the T-coupling from sliding forward and twisting and uncoupling the buckle.

Abstract: A survey tripod for use in uneven terrain which includes a center pole and a pair of support legs, each leg is pivotally attached to a slideable clamp on the upper part of the pole for vertical adjustment of each leg. The lower end of each leg is connected to the pole with a brace, both ends of each brace having pivotal connections for adjustment of the legs. There is a clamp connecting both braces to the lower part of the pole which permits anchoring the brace, and permits additional vertical adjustment of the legs relative to the center pole. A telescopic tube within the pole can be extended upwardly to increase the effective height of the pole. A survey instrument can be attached to the tip of the telescopic tube.

Abstract: A chin implant molded of biologically inert material is surgically inserted and positioned on the outer surface of the mandible to form a build-up of the jaw. The surgical procedure is called a menoplasty. The implant is designed to give a natural contour to the shape of the jaw for patients who have receding chins. The implant has two notches on its upper edge which are adjacent to the mental foramens. The notches allow for physical clearance between the mental nerves and the implant.

Abstract: A detachable balloon catheter for easy placement in arterial lesions. The detachable balloon catheter is comprised of a balloon having a hollow cylinder securely fastened at the neck or entrance to the balloon. A catheter tube is held inside the cylinder by a releasable retainer which permits atraumatic detachment of the catheter tube after placement of the balloon in a lesion. A seal means is installed inside the balloon for sealing the balloon after its placement and inflation. The releasable retainer permits atraumatic detachment by complete separation of the catheter tube from the balloon and its withdrawal after placement of the balloon without any force being applied to the arterial lesion.

Abstract: An emergency airway tube for use in resuscitation of non-breathing patients by inserting the tube through the mouth until it randomly lodges either in the trachea or the esophagus. Only one insertion is needed. The tube is designed to ventilate the lungs regardless of which passageway it is lodged in. The tube has three tubes--the outer tube, an inner tube, which runs along and within the bore of the outer tube, and an air passageway for inflating an inflatable cuff located at the distal end of the outer tube which enters the trachea or esophagus. The end of the inner tube has a pneumatic seal for forming an airtight fit within and adjacent the distal end of the outer tube. The outer tube has a cluster of side air ports in its wall located generally midway between the ends of the tube. If the tip of the tube engages the trachea on insertion, the cuff is inflated and the inner tube will be the air passageway to ventilate the patient.

Abstract: An outdoor sign and housing assembly is provided which is formed of aluminum extrusions, or the like, and which define, in the embodiment to be described, a housing for a plurality of illuminating elements, such as fluorescent lamps, and their associated ballasts and other electrical components; and which also form one or two frames which may be hinged to one or two sides of the housing, and which are constructed to support either a rigid or flexible translucent sign. The flexible sign is supported on its frame by a plurality of specially constructed clamps, and a special tool is provided for tensioning the flexible sign into a taut condition on the frame, after which the clamps are applied. The frames, and the signs supported thereon, may be individually swung open about a hinge axis to permit access to the interior of the housing, and may be individually removable to facilitate the installation of the signs on the frames and of the internal components in the housing.

Abstract: This invention relates to a clinical wick catheter and to a technique for measuring tissue fluid pressure and also collecting tissue fluid by the catheter.A catheter has a wick positioned in one end which is drawn into place by a monofilament tether extending through the catheter tube. In use, a sheathed placement needle is first partially inserted beneath the skin .[.and.]. .Iadd.or .Iaddend.fascia of the subject patient; the needle is partially retracted into the sheath; the assembly is then further inserted into the .[.muscle.]. tissue of interest. The needle is then withdrawn and replaced by the catheter which is inserted, wick first, through the sheath until the wick resides in the tissue region of interest. Thereafter, the interstitial fluids soak into the wick and the pressure transmitted through the catheter via the medium of a .[.saline.]. solution which fills the catheter. The outer end of the catheter is connected to pressure (negative or positive) measuring equipment, such as a manometer.