Abstract: A gauging assembly adapted for use in positioning stock material with respect to fixed equipment. The assembly includes an elongated retainer having a predetermined arrangement of stop positions thereon. An elongated holder is provided for slidable coupling with the retainer and permitting reciprocal relative longitudinal movement therebetween. At least one stop block is provided and has a plurality of material engaging faces. The block is rotatable to expose each face in sequence for engagement with stock material. A connector is used for removably positioning the stop block at a desired stop position to prevent rotation of the stop block and permitting displacement and rotation of the stop block and shifting of the block to the other stop positions. Indicia indicates the relative horizontal position of the retainer with respect to the holder, the stop block with respect to the retainer and the exposed face of the stop block.

Abstract: Web material is carried on air to advance the material in a fixed stable floating position through one or more decks of a treating plant, preferably a drier. The air is supplied through pairs of apertures arranged in the upper surface of blow-boxes distributed in the conveying path of the material which apertures eject the air in pairs of streams facing away from each other. To reduce deflection of the material between said pair of apertures the space between said apertures is supplied separately with a great volume of secondary air of the same static pressure as that prevailing on the upper surface of the material, which secondary air is taken along by ejector effect by the primary air streams ejected from the apertures of the blow-boxes.

Abstract: A laundry dryer structured to recirculate and reheat a portion of the warm exhaust air, and admix same with newly heated make-up air. A novel hot air compartment positioned within the dryer's housing includes a heat transfer air duct disposed immediately above, and as a part of, a heat transfer chamber. The heat transfer chamber includes a roof above a heat source, that roof comprising the floor of the heat transfer air duct and that roof being heated by the heat source. Recirculated air is directed over the exterior surface of the heat transfer air duct (which is heated by reason of its being proximate to and a part of the heat transfer chamber), and thereafter is directed through the heat transfer air duct. The make-up air heated in the heat transfer chamber exhausts from a port in that chamber's roof into admixed flow with the already preheated, recirculated air as the recirculated air passes through the heat transfer air duct.

Abstract: A drum-type drier for fabric in which the drying drum has a perforated periphery and is mounted in a housing for rotation about a horizontal axis. The housing has, opposite an end wall of the drum, at least one door or flap. The fabric web is guided over the periphery of the drum. According to the invention, the cooler for the drying gas, generally air, is mounted within the housing on this door or flap.

Abstract: A device for recovering and using the hot, moist air exhausted from a clothes dryer is disclosed. The device includes a housing having a supply inlet, an exterior vent outlet and a heating outlet. Valve means are provided for selectively closing off the vent outlet so that hot, moist air may pass from the supply inlet to the heating outlet. A staged filtration system is supported within the housing for filtering the lint and other particulate matter from the hot, moist air as it passes from the supply inlet to the heating outlet. The heating outlet is connectable to an existing heating duct or the device may be vented directly into the interior of the building within which it is used.

Abstract: A machine for drying textile materials, which comprises a casing, electrically driven means for feeding the textile material through the casing, electrically driven means for circulating hot gas within the casing, a gas turbine engine, an alternator driven by the gas turbine engine and providing electrical power for said feeding and circulating means and trunking for feeding the exhaust gas of the gas turbine engine into the interior of the casing.

Abstract: An apparatus for the heat treatment of textile material comprises a plurality of nozzle boxes extending across the operating width at least on one side of the length of material. The nozzle boxes are fed from a front face and have openings discharging in a direction towards the length of material and a fan is disposed at the feed end of these nozzle boxes. The fan is a radial flow fan. It is arranged with its axis of rotation at right angles to the plane of the length of material on the long side of the apparatus.

Abstract: A teaching aid providing text for a spoken commentary by a teacher and transparencies for simultaneous illustrative visual display, said aid comprising a loose-leaf binder of folded sheet material to form an enclosing case, means on adjacent folded flaps thereof to secure the case, loose-leaf binding means in the case, a stack of envelopes and an adjacent stack of text volumes mounted to said binding means, said volumes of text being arranged in a predetermined sequence, and a plurality of transparencies each removably accommodated within a respective one of said stack of envelopes and being arranged in said stack in the same sequence as said volumes of text.

Abstract: An electro-optical system for weapons training, consisting of a low-power e-safe laser beam simulating the weapon's fire, a realistic moving target scene projected by a moving picture projector or slide projector onto a screen, a laser beam hit detector based upon a second projector, and a display board for displaying the hits and attempts of each trainee. Multi-station operation is accomplished by a digitally multiplexed time sharing system which allows each laser beam to fire only during a discrete time interval regulated by encoder pulses transmitted by radio. The laser beam detector is synchronized with the film of the target projector and acts as an annotated mask, this mask being opaque except for transparent areas corresponding to the target areas projected by the projector. A properly aimed laser beam will pass through the transparent area of the mask and be counted as a hit by the hit detector.

Abstract: A didactical aid for the teaching of geometry and, more particularly, an apparatus is provided which allows the experimental verification of the Pythagorean theorem on an infinite number of right triangles obtained by varying the acute angles formed by the hypotenuse with the perpendiculars. The apparatus is operated by means of a knob and immediately visualizes the Pythagorean relation.

Abstract: A hiking or military boot or shoe is provided with a sole formed with a plurality of internal passages which lighten the sole, enhance the flexibility of the sole and provide a portion of a shoe ventilation system. Included is a snorkel arrangement connected to the internal passages to ventilate the sole, with the outlet therefor at an elevated level to prevent moisture from entering the shoe. Preferably, the footwear is comprised of a moisture and air impervious material.

Abstract: A device for use in footwear to correct and prevent problems associated with the human foot. The device includes upstanding side and rear walls which are integrally joined with a lower wedge to form a heel cup that closely fits with and supports the heel bone with respect to vertical. An upper planar surface of the wedge inclines at a predetermined lateral angle for controlling contact position and movement of the heel bone during locomotion. A support anchor projects forwardly from the wedge and terminates in a pointed distal end which is located toward the medial side of the foot.

Abstract: A trouser pressing apparatus comprising two pairs of horizontal pressing plates, arranged at 90.degree. - 110.degree. to each other and two further pairs of pressing plates arranged above the horizontal pressing plates, carriages on which the lower plates are mounted, clamps for clamping the legs to the plates and for stretching the legs longitudinally, means for stretching the legs transversely, means for applying vacuum to the legs to hold them in position on the lower pressing plates and means for lowering the upper pressing plates onto the lower plates when these latter are in their rearward position and means for steaming and applying pressure to the trouser legs.

Abstract: A portable frame for holding and transporting fabric-based murals. The frame comprises tubular members joined together and conforming to the shape of the canvas to be mounted thereon. The canvas is folded over to the back side of the frame, and pipe-like battens are secured to the ends of the canvas. Cords attached to the battens are pulled to insure a uniform, wrinkle-free mounting of the canvas.

Abstract: A shield mounting plate is formed to accent and mount an official shield, of the type worn by a police officer, fireman or the like person; and to facilitate attachment of the shield to such person. The upper edge of the mounting plate is further formed to mate with and mount an award designation mounting strip upon which a bar type symbol designating an award, as for bravery, markmanship, or the like may be secured. Each award designation mounting strip is formed to mate and be mounted to the shield mount, or to another award designation mounting strip and also to mate with and mount another award designation mounting strip such that a unitary device may be formed to mount not only the shield but also a selected number of award designations.

Abstract: An index tab comprised of a unitary strip of material folded upon itself to form two slightly spaced and oppositely located walls in approximately parallel relationship joined at a fold line at the top end thereof and the walls each terminating in a bottom end. Attaching means in the form of a doubled strip of flexible material arranged lengthwise within the unitary strip is provided with its sides secured directly to the walls below the top end of the unitary strip, and the lower end of each of the sides extending beyond the bottom end of each of the walls and forming a pair of arms. The inner surface of each one of the arms is coated with an adhesive material. Guard means is interposed between the arms and in face-to-face contacting relation with the adhesive coated surface of the arms.

Abstract: A perpetual monthly calendar for showing the numerical days of any month related to the proper days of the week comprising a rigid planar surface having a plurality of pegs spaced apart in a horizontal line disposed near the upper edge of the surface and a plurality of vertically positionable rigid strips bearing columnized numerical indicia indicative of particular numerical days, each strip removeably coupled to a different peg. Displayed on the planar surface adjacent each peg are indicia correlating a particular peg to a particular day of the week. The numerical indicia on each strip is displayed in column form, displaying the appropriate numbered sequence one week apart. Each strip has a pair of vertically disposed apertures (except the strip having the first day of the month, which has a single aperture), each of which may receive a peg to mount the strips vertically on the board. A particular monthly numeral-day array is achieved by positioning the strips relative to the pegs.

Abstract: An identification tag for a dog, cat or the like is carried by a holder fastened to a collar, harness or leash. The holder comprises a transparent plastic pocket open at one end secured to the collar and overlaid by a protecting strap held in place by a rivet at one end and a snap fastener at the open end of the pocket permitting the strap to be lifted or rotated about the rivet to insert an elongated identification tag or to view identification information.

Abstract: Procedure and device for marking of data distinguishing an article of clothing in respect of size, quality, color, manufacturing data, delivery, pattern, price or other marketing data, etc., on a clotheshanger, the label belonging to the article of clothing and affixed to it close to the hanger by a thread being detachably affixed to the carrier in an easily visible position while remaining secured to the article.

Abstract: A sign serving as a deterrent to unauthorized parking is mounted on a post which is resiliently supported by a base in a normal vertical position and is adapted to be deflected into an inclined position by the car bumper when overriding the base in driving head-in into the parking space. The base has a vertical wall which guides the post in returning from the inclined to the normal vertical position preventing rearward deflection and has an open front shaped to permit the forward deflection of the post through a predetermined horizontal angle. An axial helical tension spring for a tubular post or a spring biased pivot for a channel shaped post connects the respective post to the base for the resilient deflectability.A wire slide-guard is mounted along the post spaced from the sign to engage the car bumper and any protruding portions of the undercarriage for smooth passage therealong to facilitate the deflection and prevent the sign from locking thereon when the car backs out of the parking space.

Abstract: A breech plug for sealing the breech end of black powder guns is constructed of two pieces. The first piece is an inner plug which threadedly engages internal threads at the breech end of the barrel and creates a bore seal. The second piece is an outer housing adapted to mate with the inner plug and to effect alignment with the barrel flat sides and barrel breech end. An assembly technique utilizing this composite breech plug greatly simplifies the machining procedures and reduces the cost normally associated with producing high quality black powder guns with a full hook breech plug.

Abstract: An improved fishing line sinker which contains at least two additional passages forming passages inclined downwardly in the body of the sinker in addition to the loop passages for attaching the sinker to a fishing line. The two additional passages located in the conventional fishing line sinker provide a means for threading the fishing leader line through said sinker body and thereby provide a positioning location of safety for a fishing hook normally attached to the one end on the fishing line leader as the hook end of the fishing hook is placed into one or more of the passages. In another embodiment, a cylindrically shaped fishing line sinker containing at least three passages is provided for threading of the fishing leader line to said cylindrical sinker, said cylindrical sinker being made of conventional nonbuoyant material which is plated with chrome or nickel to serve as a jigger in addition to being a sinker; a useful embodiment for particular kinds of fishing.

Abstract: An improved children's marionette theatre for self-propelled puppet-like objects utilizing a housing formed from collapsible sides, back and ceiling members that may be readily collapsed into a relatively flat compact structure for ease of transport and storage. The housing defines a stage on which puppet-like objects are displayed and includes an upper ceiling member disposed over the stage. The upper ceiling member has path-like guide means formed by a track suspended from the under surface of the ceiling member and on which self-propelled puppet transport vehicles are supported. Means are provided for securing puppet-like objects to the self-propelled vehicles for display and movement across the stage. The puppet-like objects may comprise facsimiles of the sun, earth, moon and other planets as well as the inclusion of lighting effects to simulate stars, galaxies and constellations.

Abstract: A toy vehicle includes an optical sighting system having a lens, a focusing screen upon which images are focused by the lens, and a mirror to invert and transmit the images upward out of the toy body to a viewer. The toy vehicle further includes a complementarily firing mechanism for launching a plurality of projectiles at sighted targets. Additionally, the toy vehicle can also support a detachable plane-like device which includes a wing, a propeller, and a means to drive the propeller.

Abstract: Protective coverings for growing plants, food storage shelters, greenhouses and other structures provided by creating a relatively dead air space around the protected object with a device for deploying a canopy of water over and around said object.

Abstract: A hanging flower-pot comprises a body portion for receiving soil and a bowl portion detachably connected to the body portion for receiving excess water, said bowl portion being adapted to be mounted on the body portion from a forward direction thereto without any rotation.

Abstract: A balancing mechanism for manhole covers uses two sets of conical disc springs, one stronger than the other, mounted on a common pull rod, to balance the cover as it moves from the open vertical position to the closed position. This provides a progressive spring force curve that balances the manhole in any position between the closed position and the vertical position. The balancing mechanism is also provided with an additional set of disc springs that absorb shock when the cover is opened rapidly. The mechanism is preferably mounted on a nozzle protection ring, which allows the system to be installed on existing glass lined vessels without welding, drilling or similar operations which might damage the lining.

Abstract: A hand file board of the type used in repairing damage to the bodies of automobiles. The hand file provides a firm elongate planar support surface against which a sheet of abrasive material may be secured, and front and rear handles which can be used for manipulating the file to shape, sand, or scuff a surface with abrasive material supported on the file board. A central handle is provided between the front and rear handles, which central handle is disposed generally parallel with the abrasive support surface and is specially shaped for firm grasping by either hand to allow one handed use of the file board for light sanding or scuffing or when it is awkward or impossible to use two hands on the file board.

Abstract: A storm window latch mechanism which permits easy removal of a storm window sash when the latch mechanism is placed in one position and yet positively secures said storm window sash within the mounting framework when the latch mechanism is in a second position with freely slidable up and down movement being permitted. The latch mechanism includes a spring slider assembly having a low friction slide component mounted on the face thereof, with retention prongs provided on each of the respective ends of the spring member for engagement in appropriate apertures of the window sash, and a positive acting lever and bias spring structure connected to the middle portion of the resilient flexible spring member for actuation thereof. The lever portion is provided with two adjustment recesses which cooperate with a properly configured channel member mountable upon the edge channel of the window sash.

Abstract: A window construction is provided having a window frame with horizontal top and bottom members extending between vertical side members. The horizontal members define surfaces that slant downwardly and outwardly with respect to the frame at a predetermined angle. Window units are positioned within the frame and each unit includes a sash having horizontal elements extending between vertical side elements. The horizontal elements of each window unit define surfaces that slant downwardly and outwardly with respect to the frame at said predetermined angle. When in place, the slanting surfaces of the window units contact the slanting surfaces of the window frame to provide a weathertight seal. Fastening means are provided to enable each window unit to be individually placed into position within and removed from the frame.

Abstract: This is an apparatus for performing the method for dressing, or finishing the bottom surfaces and edges of skis, or the like, featuring the use of belt sanders wherein the sanding belt runs over an elongated platen, which platen has means to flex at its center so as to provide a curvature bearing surface, in which the ski bottoms are dressed to an even and flat surface across their widths.

Abstract: A holder for use in cutting the outside surface of a cylindrical blank, the inner bottom of which has a concave spherical seat, to make said outside surface concentric with said concave spherical seat, characterized in that a rotatable shaft of a smaller outside diameter than the inner diameter of said blank and having a tip bearing against said concave spherical seat is provided longitudinally with three equi-distant grooves. A concave spherical surface is formed at the bottom of each of said grooves and this surface has a concave spherical surface of radius R with its axis running at right angles to the longitudinal direction of said rotatable shaft. In each groove of said shaft is slidably inserted an expansion pawl having at its top a projection bearing against the inside surface of said blank and having at its bottom a convex spherical surface of radius r (R > r). The invention includes a method of correcting concentricity by using said holder.

Abstract: A cylindrical sand reclaimer drum for removing spent bonding contaminants and refuse from chemically bonded foundry molding sand and the like. The cylindrical drum is rotatably mounted along its longitudinal axis and is supported in a substantially horizontal inclined position along its longitudinal axis. The cylindrical drum has an intake opening at the elevated end thereof to receive the contaminated sand and process it through a plurality of internal compartments containing spherical or cube shaped abrasion media. The compartments are formed by a plurality of spaced-apart circular divider panels mounted on the central spindle or shaft of the cylindrical drum and which are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof and are axially adjustable therealong. A plurality of spaced-apart openings are provided along the circumferential edge of each of the divider panels.

Abstract: A device for controlling the grinding of a piezo-electric element is designed to convert the frequency of an electric signal produced with grinding of a piezo-electric element into a lower frequency, using frequency converters and a local oscillator and then to select, by means of filters, a frequency generated from the frequency converters at the time when a desired grinding of a piezo-electric element has been obtained so as to bring the grinding operation to a stop in response to the selected signal.

Abstract: A constant horsepower drive system for a grinding wheel includes a first motor and associated control for rotating the wheel at a constant peripheral or surface speed and a second motor and associated control for providing linear relative motion between the wheel and a workpiece. Constant horsepower operation below the rated or base speed of the first motor is achieved by controlling the relative position of the wheel and the workpiece through the operation of the second motor. The control of the second motor is effected by the development of a correction signal which is a function of the quotient of a signal value representing the desired wheel surface speed divided by a second signal representing the counter electromotive force of the first motor.

Abstract: A vertically suspended foil structure for sound muffling and light scattering false ceilings comprises a grid of U-shaped metal crossbeams, resting on longitudinal stringers, and foils attached to one another by a crossbeam engaging device having a spring biassed head for insertion in a hole through a metal plate and a prismatic body whereto a foil is affixed rigidly, each crossbeam having holes through the upper side thereof and mating notches in its wing portions adapted to engage the head in the hole and concurrently snap engage two opposite corners of the crossbeam engaging device in the wing portions.

Abstract: A building unit which comprises a column adapted to be fitted to a foundation and supporting a plurality of identical, doubly-curved umbrella, hyperbolic paraboloid shells inverted so that their top edges form a plane figure, and a continuous, horizontal member integrated with said edges.

Abstract: An exterior building wall includes insulation injection holes filled by hole plugs. The hole plugs each include a disc-shaped circular outwardly convex head. Arcuate in transverse cross-section legs are radially inwardly offset from the outer peripheral edge of the head. The legs include a series of longitudinally outwardly tapering shoulders which form wall gripping and sealing teeth.

Abstract: A tile which forms part of a wear-resistant lining that covers a metal backing has a tapered hole and is held against the backing by a fastening device which fits into the tapered hole. The fastening device includes a threaded element that projects from the backing into the hole and an anchor that threads over the threaded element. The anchor fits completely within the tapered hole and has a tapered side wall, the taper of which corresponds to that of the hole.

Abstract: A floor system for grain bins or the like in which free-standing support legs are positively connected without mechanical fasteners to interlocking, channel-shaped floor members so as to substantially prevent lateral and vertical relative movement between the floor members and the support legs.

Abstract: Decorative object comprises a plurality of panels joined by slide fasteners. Surface ornamentation on the assembled panels may be continuous. Preferably, all of the panels are a single ply sheet of a woven fabric such as canvas. The decorative object is secured to support means.

Abstract: A building element comprises a rectangular panel having four flanges projecting from one face thereof adjacent to the edges of the panel, wherein the bottom and side edges of the panel each have at least one groove running the length thereof and wherein the flanges are provided with means suitable for, or suitable for use in, the fixing of the building element to another similar or different building element.

Abstract: A reinforcement member for concrete bodies includes a bamboo rod having a roughened surface consisting of the bamboo cortex, and a substantially continuous coating of crystallized sulfur adhering to the roughened surface to prevent moisture absorption and swelling of the bamboo rod. The rod may have a helical wrapping of wire to further prevent swelling. The manufacture of the member includes roughening the rod by removing the bamboo article to expose the cortex, and dipping the rod in a bath of molten sulfur coating.

Abstract: Steel rods are formed, by hot rolling, with at least three (preferably four) series of ribs extending along the length thereof. The ribs are all formed to extend along a spiral line along the surface of the rods and are so constructed that any cross-cut through the rod must pass through at least one rib. Each of the ribs has end portions which gradually blend into the core of the rod, which core is substantially circular in cross-section. The outer surfaces of the end portions are substantially straight and tangential to the core. Thus, when viewed from the end or in cross-section, the rod has the appearance of a polygon. The polygonal shape of the rod prevents it from rotating after embedding it in concrete when tension is applied to an end thereof. The spiral arrangement permits tension to be applied to the rods by means of screw nuts, etc.

Abstract: A stressed membrane space enclosure having a supporting frame comprising a plurality of spaced individually separable arch-like members with a strip of fabric stretched between each adjacent pair of arches and by means of which separable arches the fabric is tensioned. The feet of the arches rest on load-bearing pads that are individually shiftable as during the frame spreading for the purpose of tensioning the fabric and that each finds its own proper resting place when all the stresses on the structure have been normalized and is then secured against unauthorized movement by ground anchors, thereby achieving the greatest possible strength and stability of the supporting frame. The fabric is applied in reinforced elongated strips one such strip between each adjacent pair of spreadable frame members and stretched to a predetermined tension to bear maximum loads of wind and snow.

Abstract: Objects are packed in respective receptacles in a unitary body of sheet material having orifices open in a common direction. An annular edge portion of the body envelops the orifices and one or more rib portions of the body separate each orifice from each other orifice. A cover of sheet material is superimposed in a vacuum chamber on the edge portion and the orifices and sealed gastight to the edge portion. When the body with the sealed cover is exposed to atmospheric pressure, the cover is pressed by the air against the rib portions and may be sealed thereto. The sealing die employed in this process need only clamp the edge portion of the sheet material body against a suitable backing die.

Abstract: A bag filling and weighing machine including an endless conveyor with bag holding means carried thereby and releasably suspending pliant bags in open condition. The machine includes an intermittently actuated endless conveyor for stopping the bag holding means at a main feed station and dribble feed station for two-stage filling and weighing. Weighing means are located adjacent to, at one side of, and at the approximate level of the endless conveyor means. One side of each bag-holding means is connected to the endless conveyor means and rotatable disc means concentric with conveyor sprocket means are provided for supporting bag-holder means as the bag holder changes direction around the end of the endless conveyor means. A novel driving and mounting connection for a bag holder to a single drive chain.

Abstract: Large mill reels of paper are protectively wrapped for shipment by a method which first caps the reel end-faces with a header disk having a diameter greater than the reel diameter. The flange of excess disk material is pleated and pressed into a band of adhesive applied about the reel circumference near the respective end-face. Subsequently, a second band of adhesive is applied to the two pleated and pressed flanges around the reel circumference and a circumferential surface wrap of width substantially equal to the axial length of the subject reel is applied thereabout.

Abstract: A stretch wrap packaging machine packages articles received on trays, and can handle various different article geometries and tray sizes without modification. In an initial phase of a wrapping operation film is sleeve wrapped around an article and tray by elevating the article and tray upwardly against a horizontally stretched length of film to draw the film over the article and tray and downwardly along and beyond both ends of the article and tray, and by then joining the downwardly extending film portions below the tray and cutting them from the film supply through the use of a heat-seal and cut-off device having a heated wire which supplies heat to the film, to perform the heat-seal and cut-off functions, by radiation and without engaging the film.

Abstract: A system for metering and film packaging of bitumen and like materials that are solid at room temperature and molten liquid when heated. The packaging film is thermoplastic, having a melting point not exceeding the temperature of molten bitumen. The material of the packaging film in liquid form is compatible with bitumen without deleteriously affecting the characteristics of the bitumen. In the system, bitumen in a hot molten state is pumped at a filling station into empty molds that are lined with release material. The fluid bitumen is metered at the filling station to supply a predetermined quantity in each mold. The filled molds are conveyed through a lengthy cooling station that may include a water bath and after a suitable time, e.g. 2 to 4 hours, the bitumen solidifies into slabs.