Abstract: A broom whose branches made of plastic material are fixed into a main sheath which holds the handle. Each bundle of branches is terminated at the base by a locking tip with a square cross-section. These tips lock into housings arranged inside the main sheath along two coaxial circumferences arranged along planes and staggered along the axis of the broom.

Abstract: An automatic continuously cycleable molding system wherein a plurality of mold sets are transported in predetermined timed cycles through a series of work stations wherein the various molding, curing and workpiece handling operations are accomplished, and wherein the mold sets are recirculatingly moved through the system for repeated usage.

Abstract: An article for dissipating heat generated by an alphanumeric display which is mounted on an electronic circuit board. The article includes a heat sink which is coupled to the underside of the alphanumeric display. The heat sink has at least one transfer member which extends through the electronic circuit board and is coupled to a dissipation plate. The dissipation plate is exposed to an environment which is removed from the immediate environment of the electronic circuit board. Heat generated by the alphanumeric display is transferred to the heat sink and through the transfer member(s) to the dissipation plate. The heat is then dissipated in an environment which is removed from that of any electronic components mounted on the electronic circuit board.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for sealing electronic packages and lids involves placing a heater preform device between the sealing surfaces of the package and lid. If the package and lid are ceramic, the preform may be metallic having a glass coating fused thereto. Similar glass coatings would be fused to the sealing surfaces of the package and lid. The metallic portion of the preform is then heated by, for example, passing an electrical current therethrough to melt the glass and effect the seal.

Abstract: In a digital to analog converter, a circuit for improving the performance of digital to analog converters by reducing and minimizing the variation in analog ground current is disclosed. The resulting digital to analog converter has reduced variation in output signal, the digital to analog converter can provide a more accurate representation of the input digital signal.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for a circuit which is connected in series between the call signal output of a vehicle detector and the call signal input of a traffic controller is disclosed. Under normal operating conditions the invention acts as a signal buffer and input of the invention will be applied to the input of the traffic controller when call signal inputs are continuously present or not present for preestablished times, then test procedures are implemented. During a test or failure condition of the vehicle detector, the detector output signal will be disconnected from the controller. The invention also provides a circuit which is connected between the loop and the loop input of the vehicle detector. The circuit along with the accompanying method is designed to modify the input impedance to the vehicle detector to apply a test or "forced" call signal to the vehicle detector input when a call signal input is not received after a predetermined period of time, a fault condition is established.

Abstract: Two or more sets of liquid substance feed means are provided each which consists of a supply device, a transport pipe and a delivery pump. These feed means are connected through a valve to a single transport pipe and back pressure devices are provided in all but one of the liquid-substance feed means. While a liquid substance is being fed by one of the feeding means, another liquid substance having different properties is passing in the other feed means and using the back pressure device provided in the latter means, the flow rate and the pressure of the latter liquid substance are controlled as the same as those of the former being fed by the former feed means. Being switched over, in this condition, from the former feed means to the latter to feed the latter liquid substance, two or more kinds of liquid substance having different properties can be fed sequentially at predetermined pressure and flow rate.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a disposable therapy diaper which incorporates non-woven, hypo-allergenic materials including an absorbent layer and incorporates shaping, reservoir and attachment means, to serve as a device for containment of incontinent body wastes during phototherapy, such as hyperbilirubenemia phototherapy of premature infants, so that a desirably large percentage of the phototherapy recipient's skin surface is exposed to the therapeutic photoradiation, while the excess body wastes produced during such phototherapy are contained with minimal skin irritation to the phototherapy recipient.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for sealing electronic packages and lids involves placing a heater preform device between the sealing surfaces of the package and lid. If the package and lid are ceramic, the preform may be metallic having a glass coating fused thereto. Similar glass coatings would be fused to the sealing surfaces of the package and lid. The metallic portion of the preform is then heated by, for example, passing an electrical current therethrough to melt the glass and effect the seal.

Abstract: The invention shows a protective, lightweight, disposable woman's hygienic panty for removeably carrying a feminine napkin during a woman's menstrual cycle or period. A relatively thin, lightweight, disposable, biodegradable, mesh-like outer panty shell is affixed to or contiguous with a relatively thick inner layer of absorbent material operably disposed about the inner surface of a lower body portion proximate at least the lower one half of the panty. Alternately, an inner shell or liner of relatively thick absorbent material having a pad-receiving depression can be fitted, temporarily or permanently, into ordinary menstrual panties or common panties or briefs. An elongated, nearly rectangular depression or indentation having oval end portions is included or formed in the relatively thick layer for carrying, aligning, or positioning a feminine napkin.

Abstract: A method for deposition of thin conductive layers of low resistivity titanium silicide. The method comprises the co-deposition of titanium and silicon by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition at a low temperature. An anneal above the deposition temperature reduces the layer resistivity, making the layer especially suitable for microelectronic applications.

Abstract: An article handling device which is particularly well suited for loading articles into a reactor furnace for processing and subsequently unloading the processed articles. The article handling device is supported and vertically movable into alignment with the reactor furnace and includes an article moving device which is reciprocally vertically elevatable and reciprocally horizontally extensible for loading the articles into the reactor furnace and subsequent unloading thereof with minimal disturbing of the reactor process residue which is inherently deposited in the interior of the reactor furnace.

Abstract: A multipurpose ski apparatus is presented which may be used to tune and groove a ski. The apparatus may be easily held by a person's hand. It has a file on its upper end for filing the bottom side of a ski, a metal scraper for scraping the bottom of the ski, two rotating blades coupled to its bottom surface for filing the sides of the ski, and a removable insert which may be placed into an aperture in the bottom surface for grooving a layer of wax applied to the bottom surface of the ski. The multipurpose ski apparatus may be used without a vise or any other anchoring device. A method for tuning a ski with the multipurpose apparatus is also presented which comprises the steps of scraping the wax off the bottom surface of the ski by the metal scraper, filing the bottom surface of the ski with the file fastened to the top end of the apparatus, and simultaneously filing the sides of the ski with the two rotating files.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for improving the solubility of gelling agents hardly soluble in water such as agar-agar, gelatin and carrageenan. Said method includes the step of contacting said gelling agent with a non-equilibrium plasma formed by applying a high frequency wave to a low pressure gaseous atmosphere, such as air, oxygen, carbon dioxide or nitrogen, and thereby obtaining a gelling agent readily soluble in water.

Abstract: A hand exerciser includes a frame having a contoured hand grip portion and a slide mechanism supported within the frame for reciprocative movement. The slide mechanism includes a transverse finger grip which is both rotatable and angled to maximize the contact area between the palm of the hand and the finger grip. Springs are positioned between the frame and the slide mechanism to provide the resistive force necessary. The resistive force may be adjusted by a single internally threaded knob which cooperates with an externally threaded fastening element between the frame and the slide mechanism. A mechanical counter is coupled to the frame and is engaged by the slide element for the purpose of counting the number of strokes. Also provided is a pointer and scale mechanism for indicating the amount of resistive force provided by the springs.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for bending one or two complete rows of leads on a dual-in-line semiconductor package at one time without damaging the leads. The leads of the dual-in-line package are initially in their manufactured position, extending horizontally from the sides of the package and generally parallel to the top and bottom surface thereof. A support anvil is placed under the portion of the lead which is sealed in the semiconductor package, and a punch or bending member is disposed immediately adjacent the outside edge of the handle for performing the actual bending. A sheet of relatively thin metal is formed into a U-shaped channel and the bending member inserted therein before lowering so that as the bending member is lowered, no portion thereof touches the surface of the leads being bent. The sheet of thin metal buffers the bending operation and is interposed between the bottom and side of the bending member and the face of the leads for preventing scratching or damage thereto.

Abstract: An improved footstool is disclosed which is useful for assisting medical patients to climb onto a medical equipment. The footstool includes a top with supporting legs which support the top above a floor surface. A removable incline ramp which stands from the floor to the top of the footstool and allow a patient to move up the ramp to the top without requiring a large upward step. Flat openings are provided on the top of the footstool to engage finger members which are attached to the upward end of the ramp. When in use, the ramp fingers are engaged with the flat openings in the footstool top. When not in use, the ramp in one embodiment, can be supported on a brace which extends across a railing which is attached to the edge of the footstool top.

Abstract: A four-motion wire bonding apparatus, for effecting wire bonds between a semiconductor chip and a lead frame. In addition to employing X-, Y-, Z- and theta-motion drives for the bonding head, the apparatus provides a bulk wire-feed, which delivers bonding wire along the theta-rotation axis.