Abstract: An anti-crossing device to improve efficiency in parallel skiing techniques includes an upright member which is attached to the upper surface of a ski adjacent to the inner longitudinal edge of same. The upright member is molded from a flexible plastic material and comprises an attaching base and a trough-shaped upper portion and is arranged so that the hollow side of the trough is turned towards the other ski. The upright member shows itself to be quite rigid when the skis begin to cross so that it urges the crossing ski back to a more parallel position. When, however, the skis crossed over one another in spite of the provision of the upright member this yields in the other direction, so that the skis may easily be separated from one another.

Abstract: A mobile storage and transport rectangular roller unit with a roller and drawbar device for use in a shelf storage system. Each unit is provided with four wheels, one adjacent each corner in a four sided frame. The roller bar is provided with pair of rollers and cooperates with a coupling member of substantially cubic shape which is pivotally mounted on the drawbar. Two transverse cross members are at the front and back of the frame and lie opposite to each other, each formed by an inverted U-section having limbs of unequal length. The coupling member is provided with a top groove to receive the shorter limb of the inverted U-section and is thereby coupled at the shorter limb of the cross member to the four sided frame.

Abstract: The movable carrier includes a series of upright sockets corresponding in peripheral contour to the parts to be stored in upright position therein, spaced, lower base plates for supporting the sockets and an upper reinforcing plate extending longitudinally between the sockets on the respective base plates, with a cutout in the reinforcing plate for each socket having a greater lateral extent. A cross plate extends transversely of the base plate for supporting one or more additional parts. The lower end of a cylindrical part rests on or is connected to the reinforcing plate and rests in inclined position against a semicircular cup mounted on an upstanding bracket. Casters are attached to the underside of a transverse front plate and the tow handle pivotally mounted on the top of the front plate, while wheels and an upstanding handle are mounted at the rear, to permit the carrier to be pulled similar to a dolly, or tipped rearwardly and moved similar to a hand truck.

Abstract: A scraper for dislodging accumulated debris from a bicycle tire includes a unitary blade and mounting member, the mounting member being detachably secured to a frame member of a bicycle for positioning an edge of the blade adjacent a portion of the outer tire circumference. The scraper is mounted by means of adhesive material which is positioned on the mounting member.

Abstract: A planetary gear reduction unit is drivingly connected between the handlebars and front fork of a motorcycle for steering. The handlebar is coaxially mounted for rotation with respect to the front fork of the motorcycle; sector gears are respectively mounted on the front fork and handlebar for respectively engaging rigidly innerconnected spur gears rotatably mounted on a carrier that is fixed to the vehicle frame to provide a gear reduction so that there is a reduction of the angular movement of the fork with respect to that of the handlebar.

Abstract: A hitch for connecting a trailer to a tow vehicle. The hitch has a beam attached to the tow vehicle for transmitting a load having vertical and horizontal components between the trailer and the tow vehicle. A bearing retained in a guide is connected to the beam by a rack and pinion connection. A shaft retained by the bearing has a yoke pivotally attached to the end thereof for connecting a ground wheel to the beam. By changing the position of the rack with respect to the pinion, the distance between the beam and wheel can be adjusted to distribute a selected portion of the vertical component of the load into the wheel. A linkage connects the tow vehicle to the shaft for maintaining the wheel in alignment with the tow vehicle to allow the wheel to resist the development of lateral forces between the tow vehicle and the trailer as a function of the vertical component of the load carried by the ground wheel.

Abstract: A ski safety binding has a mechanism for deploying a ski brake as soon as the ski boot has left the binding.Various arrangements of the binding utilize mechanisms to deploy the ski brake which are responsive to both upward movement of the sole clamp following release of the binding, and to downward movement of the sole clamp following the boot pulling out from under the binding.

Abstract: A ski binding includes a step-in lever or latch for releasably clamping a ski boot to a sole plate. The latch is pivotally mounted on the bight of a U-shaped bail having ends pivoted within the sole plate. As the ski boot is stepped downwardly, the latch is rotated and translated upwardly by camming action of an arcuate undersurface eccentrically located with respect to the bight. A wedge surface interconnecting the arcuate undersurface and an opposed surface frictionally engages the ski boot and continues pivoting of the latch until an opposed latching surface moves from one side of the bail to the other in order to provide an over-center toggle action to cause the latching surface to overlie the ski boot heel extension.

Abstract: A ski binding comprising a plate-like elongate member removably attachable to a ski and detachably engageable with the sole of the skier's shoe, a lug projecting laterally from the plate-like member and a substantially rigid rod pivoted to the lug about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the elongate plate-like member and parallel to the surface of the plate-like member. The rod has an "U"-like portion associable with a skier's leg at the tibia region.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension system is disclosed which has radius arms for connecting an axle assembly to a frame to accomodate the necessary relative movement therebetween. An improved connection is provided for rigidly securing the radius arms to the axle assembly. The connection consists of a cast wedge bracket adapted to be secured between an axle tube and wheel supporting yoke and mating wedge portions formed on the radius arm and associate clamp.

Abstract: A vehicle frame having longitudinally spaced apart parallel tapered channel frame members extending forwardly from a unitized backhoe mounting rear frame section to a front yoke. The tapered channel frame members are narrow at the front yoke and become wider toward the midsection of the frame. These frame members are at their widest just forward of a rear axle location on the frame.A unitized backhoe mounting rear frame section and a loader tower locate the tapered channels relative to the longitudinal center line of the frame.

Abstract: Disclosed is a document which is made secure from illegal copying by color copiers. The invention comprises including in the printed document a warning word of phrase which is made up of picture elements which are less dense than its surrounding background, but the density changes gradually and not sharply with respect to the surrounding background density.

Abstract: Mating halves of plastic composition form a tapping sleeve service connector for mounting a branch connection on an inservice plastic gas main. A tapping tool supported in communication with the branch outlet is provided in one of the sleeve halves. Emplaced lining the internal pipe gripping surfaces of the sleeve halves is a dual faced, open mesh, basket woven fabric containing a random distribution of particle abrasive bonded on each of the faces. The particle abrasive is of a relatively harder composition than the plastics of either the service connector or gas main to effectively penetrate or imbed in the opposed surfaces of each when the sleeve halves are assembled in place. By being imbedded in this manner the abrasive fabric acts to secure and prevent relative rotational slippage between the service connector and pipe on which it is mounted.

Abstract: An expansion compensating pipe coupling including a circumferential head on one end of one pipe section with the head slidably received in a cylinder secured to one end of another pipe section. Means is provided for retaining the pipe head in the cylinder for checked axial movement to compensate for axial pipe expansion and contraction. One or more expansion rings may be provided on the pipe head for providing a fluid seal. The expansion rings may further be received in annular grooves in the head with passages leading from the bottom of the groove to the interior of the pipe section thereby utilizing the fluid pressure within the coupling to expand the expansion rings in good fluid seal engagement with the interior of the cylinder.

Abstract: A coupling connector that is concentrically engageable about the adjacent ends of two corrugated tubes and includes a bendable strap member having at least one slot at one end thereof and a pawl at an opposite end and wherein the slot is formed with an enlarged end portion. Ratchet teeth are disposed on the interior surface of the strap member along each side of the slot so that engagement of the pawl and ratchet teeth, to secure the connector about the adjacent tube ends, occurs upon insertion of the pawl through the enlarged end portion of the slot.

Abstract: The device shown is a dual purpose unloader for the sheet holder bins of a paper distribution system, such as a collator. The bins of a collator are sometimes sloped to allow gravitational settling of the sheets as they are fed into the pockets. The illustrated unloader is an elongated open channel with an internal slidable rod. One set of grippers is mounted on the open channel and another set of grippers on the rod. A spring urges the two sets to move into a gripper closed position, and manual handles provide a means for opening the set of grippers. A mounting frame is available for guiding the unloader into proper registration with the collator pockets if manual placement is not convenient or desired.

Abstract: A construction for a non-powered trailer to be towed by a motor vehicle is disclosed. A trailer frame is provided to which a plurality of different bodies can be affixed. In addition, the trailer is adaptable to be readily stored in a vertical position whereby storage space is substantially reduced.

Abstract: A device wherein a cover sheet winder adapted to store a cover sheet is arranged in the luggage space of an automobile, so that when luggage is placed on the luggage floor, the cover sheet is extended to cover up the luggage floor.

Abstract: A lamp casing for an indicating lamp is fixed to a rigid panel member of the dashboard such that a socket opening formed in the lamp casing is substantially exposed to the driver's compartment. A cover member for concealing the unsightly parts surrounding the lamp casing is removably fixed to the lamp casing, so that the replacement of a burned out lamp with a new one can be simply done.

Abstract: A watertight cover for the open bed of a pickup truck has continuous flexible sheathing supported on a collapsible frame and pivot arms swingable with the frame for automatically and positively folding the end section of the cover when the frame is collapsed. The collapsible nature of the frame renders the cover shiftable transversely of the truck bed from a normal extended bed-enclosing position to a retracted position along one side of the bed for providing easy access thereinto. In one embodiment, the cover is provided with remote-actuation mechanism including a central torque shaft operably coupled with the frame for collapsing and extending the latter in response to rotation of the shaft in the appropriate direction.

Abstract: A motorcycle wind shield has two sections the mid portion of which are joined together, the two sections defining openings to receive tines of the steering fork, the sections closable about the tines, the shield cooperating with a motorcycle fairing.

Abstract: A safety-type improved motorcycle windshield assembly is described. The windshield panel has lower, central, and upper portions, with at least the upper portion thereof being transparent. The lower portion of the windshield panel is attached to a first part of a motorcycle with which the shield is to be associated in use, and mounting rods attach a part of the windshield panel disposed above the lower portion of said panel to the same or to another part of the motorcycle which is fixed with respect to the first motorcycle part. The mounting rods each include an end portion disposed remotely of the windshield panel, and end portion disposed proximate to the windshield panel, and an intermediate portion extending between the end portions thereof. The proximate end portions include means attaching the windshield panel to the proximate end portions.

Abstract: A multi-position examination chair for supporting a patient and assuming selected ones of a plurality of examination positions which permit a plurality of standard obstetric and gynecologic examinations to be performed upon the patient includes a base for providing support and a chair mounted on the base. The chair includes a plurality of movable chair portions which are movable with respect to each other. An hydraulic power arrangement is provided for moving each of the chair portions into desired relative positions such that the plurality of examination positions may be achieved. A plurality of switch means are provided, with each such switch means associated with a respective one of the examination positions. A control means is responsive to the plurality of switch means for controlling operation of the hydraulic power arrangement. Actuation of each of the switch means results in the chair portions moving into the examination position associated with the actuated switch means.

Abstract: A check valve is integrally formed on one end of an expansion valve slidably disposed in a first stepped bore and arranged to cut communication between the master cylinder and the brake units upon the pressure of the hydraulic fluid biasing the expansion valve to a first normal position being reduced, due to either a signal from a computing circuit indicating a dangerously high rate of deceleration or cessation of the supply of pressurized hydraulic fluid. The movement of the expansion valve from its normal position permits the fluid in the brake units to pressure reducingly expand.A by-pass valve slidably disposed in a second stepped bore responds to increased master cylinder pressure to increase the pressure biasing the expansion valve to the first normal position to balance the reverse effect of the increased master cylinder pressure.

Abstract: A high pressure thrust bearing assembly having a rotatable runner ring mounted in sliding relationship on a plurality of flexible thrust plates, which in turn are resiliently supported on a plurality of spring subassemblies positioned between the thrust plates and an angular base member in the assembly, is characterized by having a plurality of Belleville spring discs mounted in each of the spring subassemblies. The spring discs are supported in coaxial relation on a screw, between a first and a second washer in each of the spring subassemblies, in a manner such that the spring discs are pre-compressed between the washers to bias them away from one another with a constant biasing force.

Abstract: A light-emitting display device comprising a printed wiring board impressed with a wiring pattern; a light-emitting element mounted on the printed wiring board and electrically connected to the wiring pattern; a reflector provided with a penetrating hole for receiving the light-emitting element at its lower opening and disposed on the printed wiring board, the inner wall of the penetrating hole acting as a reflection plane; a light-permeable film containing light-scattering materials and closing the upper opening of the penetrating hole; and a bonding layer containing light-scattering material, the bonding layer bonding the light-permeable film to the reflector.

Abstract: A drawer-lock device that simultaneously locks multiple drawers from one activation point only, wherein the device can be actuated by a centrally located lock mechanism or by a lock mechanism located on either the side of a pedestal of a desk or of a cabinet. The lock device comprises an actuator member having an elongated rod which is operably connected at one or both ends to a crank arm, whereby the rotational movement of the connecting rod is transferred into a linear movement for the spring-loaded lever arm, the lever arm being interconnected to a vertically disposed lift bar, wherein the lift bar includes one or more locking tabs that are adjustable to correspond to each spring loaded keeper member mounted to the respective drawers thereof, wherein the locking tabs are positioned on the vertical lift bar for locking engagement with the keeper members.

Abstract: To provide positive blocking of the slots aligned with current-carrying contacts in a duplex safety electrical receptacle, the contacts in each of the two parts of the receptacle are blocked by two separate sliding plates. Each of the plates: (1) has slots substantially the same size as the slots in the cover of the electrical receptacle that normally receive the contacts of a plug; (2) is normally biased into a position with its slots offset from the slots in the cover of the safety duplex electrical receptacle; and (3) has sprocket holes along an edge which receive the teeth of a gear. The gear is mounted to a spring biased axle. The opening for the ground pin in each part of the duplex receptacle passes adjacent to an axle and an arm is mounted on the axle and extends into the ground pin opening so that when a plug is inserted, the ground pin moves the arm, causing the gear to rotate and move the plate so that its slots are aligned with those in the cover.

Abstract: An improved coupling ring is disclosed having unitary structure providing spring biased engagement between cooperating members. The coupling ring has a substantially cylindrical profile including, at one end, a rigid portion with inwardly directed helical latching grooves and, at the opposite end, an integral spring portion terminating with an inwardly directed annular flange. The members to be coupled are assembled with the coupling ring engaging a shoulder of one member by the flange and with the grooves receiving lugs fixed on the opposite member so that rotation of the ring will draw the members together and hold them together in a spring loaded condition.

Abstract: A composite optical component for use in an improved optical system, for example, of the type in U.S. Pat. No. 4,012,109 includes opposed discs having surfaces in contact. The surfaces in contact are grooved with parallel grooves providing an undulating surface every portion of which is arcuate and capable of magnifying an image at a focal plane approximately between the grooved surfaces of the discs. The grooves are arranged transverse to one another, and preferably at 90.degree., and the component is rotated about an axis normal to the focal point.

Abstract: Disclosed is a solid state apparatus for and a method of (1) modulating the intensity of a multimode light beam; (2) coupling the light beam to an input optic fiber that is butt coupled to a diffraction grating that is formed of a plurality of stripe domains in a magnetic film; (3) altering, by the application of suitable magnetic fields, the angular orientation of the stripe domains in the plane of the magnetic film, and (4) multiplexing the diffracted light beam to a selected one of a plurality of several output optic fibers. The apparatus uses a liquid-phase epitaxially (LPE) grown film of bismuth substituted rare earth iron garnet to form a magnetizable layer in which stripe domains may be generated, sustained and moved about. The stripe domains form a diffraction grating. The angular orientation of the stripe domains in the plane of the diffraction grating may be altered by the application of external magnetic fields.

Abstract: A connecting device is disclosed for coupling an optical fiber cable to a cylindrical optical mixer. Cylindrical tubular ferrules are provided with watch jewels and adapted to receive either the mixer or optical fibers arranged in an annular array. Flanges and a spacer are used to achieve alignment of the two tubular ferrules and, hence, the mixer and fibers.

Abstract: Fiber optic connector apparatus and methods and apparatus for applying the fiber optic connector apparatus to the fiber optic cable is provided in accordance with the teachings of the instant invention. The fiber optic connector apparatus includes a metallic nose piece having a first apertured end portion for butting optical fibers exposed at the aperture and a second apertured end portion for receiving the fiber optic cable. An application device for holding the nose piece in alignment with cable to be attached is provided to heat the nose piece to a temperature to cause protective sheathing on the cable to flow. Upon melting, an end portion of the cable to be attached is biased against the second apertured end portion to cause it to be displaced into the nose piece as the protective sheathing begins to flow to expose optical fibers at the first end portion and, upon cooling, maintain the portion of the cable within the nose piece in a compressed, adhered condition.

Abstract: A zoom lens having small distortion including a front lens group having a negative focal length and a rear lens group having a positive focal length, the front and rear lens groups being mechanically movable to vary the overall focal length while maintaining the image position constant.

Abstract: A golfing aid for limiting the horizontal movement of the eyes and/or head of a golfer during the swing. The aid comprises a pair of glasses having two frame mounted lenses, each being opaque except for a full height vertically elongated clear section generally centrally of each lens.

Abstract: Soft and hard contact lenses with an ionic charge on their surface are treated with a lens solution containing an oppositely charged ionic polymer to form a hydrophilic polyelectrolyte complex on the lens surface, which complex acts as a hydrogel and improves the properties of the lens.

Abstract: There is disclosed a glass ophthalmic lens including an ion-exchanged antireflection coating. Metal oxide films including TiO.sub.2, CeO.sub.2, ZrO.sub.2, La.sub.2 O.sub.3, Nd.sub.2 O.sub.3, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, and SiO.sub.2 when evaporated on glass lenses in a vacuum chamber by electron-beam techniques form hard optical coatings which are chemically stabile at high temperatures and allow potassium and sodium ions to traverse the thickness thereof without changing chemical composition or physical integrity thereby enhancing ability of glass lenses to be ion-exchanged in a conventional ion-exchange treatment. This allows antireflection coated glass lenses to pass impact-resistant standards ANZI Z80.1 for prescription ophthalmic lenses and USAS Z87.1 for safety lenses.

Abstract: A film gate for being received in a cassette which holds a film strip for projection therefrom; the gate provides stationary tapered guides against which a strip not lying precisely in a preselected focal plane, is cammed toward the preselected focal plane by the tapered guide fingers; an opposed movable guide on a movable portion of the film gate opposite to the stationary guide is provided with arcuate guide fingers to prevent the cammed film strip from moving away from the preselected focal plane.

Abstract: An indoor golf game to display scenes representing perspective views of any one of a plurality of different locations on any one of a plurality of different holes on a golf course. The system also includes a ball spot projector for projecting a spot of light on the projected scene in a manner to simulate the trajectory and diminishing appearance of a golf ball in flight.

Abstract: Apparatus within a camera for optimizing the location of the image surface of the lens of a camera relative to the image receiving surface such as film for different adjustments of the lens. A camera having an adjustable lens, nominal image receiving surface, focusing analog, and apparatus for adjusting the position of one such element with respect to the others to compensate for changes in the position of the image surface caused by adjustment of the lens to thereby place the image surface in best fit relationship to the nominal image receiving surface when correct focus is indicated by the focusing analog. The apparatus may provide for manual adjustment utilizing a setting determined on the basis of the focus setting, aperture setting and focal length setting of the lens. Automatic compensation may alternatively be provided within the camera as changes are made in lens adjustment.

Abstract: A photographic developing tank is described to aid in processing light-sensitized photographic materials such as paper, plates, or film. The tank is formed as a unitary body structure having an enclosed water cavity extending between and defined by integral walls of the tank structure. A top wall of the structure includes two or more indentations to form integral photographic processing trays. The indentations extend downwardly into the water cavity to bottom walls that are spaced upwardly from the unitary base wall of the tank. Drain passageways extend from the indentations outward through the cavity to the exterior of the tank. Petcocks are provided at the outer ends of the passageways to allow individual drainage of the fluid contents from the respective trays. Inlet and discharge ports are provided that enable water to flow through the water cavity. The water while in the water cavity completely surrounds the peripheral walls of the indentations as well as the bottom walls thereof.

Abstract: Electronically controlled imaging with a multicolor mixture of photoconductive particles is effected in a single exposure cycle by provision of an addressable electrode array which is energized selectively in imagewise timed relation. The control device for the imaging system has a plurality of sensing elements for measuring the color density values of successive lines of an original to be reproduced and producing a signal in response to the density measurement to regulate the length of time that the electrode array is energized.

Abstract: Electrophotographic copying apparatus of this invention includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member, elements for forming an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member, and for liquid developing the latent image, and elements for removing an excess liquid developer after the development and for applying thereafter substantially uniformly an electric field on the surface of the photosensitive member with the aid, for example, of a corona discharger or an electrode. The developed image is then transferred onto a transfer material and the photosensitive member is cleaned after the transfer, wherein each of these last two functions may be accomplished by conventional elements.

Abstract: An automatic photographic printer includes a sensor system for providing density signals indicative of measured optical density of a photographic film at a plurality of defined areas of the film. Photographic films containing landscape type scenes, snow/beach type scenes, and other scenes which might be incorrectly identified as subject density failures, are identified. The identified films are excluded from receiving a subject density failure exposure correction, while the remaining films are subjected to an automatic subject density failure exposure correction which is derived from the density signals.

Abstract: An automatic system for classifying photographic negatives containing snow or beach scenes measures the red, green, and blue densities of the negative to be printed. Signals indicative of red, green, and blue exposure times are derived from these measured densities, and the signal indicative of the blue exposure time is compared to the signals indicative of the red and green exposure times. The results of this comparison indicate whether a snow or beach scene is present. To determine the amount of density correction, if any, the densities of the negative at a plurality of points are measured. The extent of the density correction is determined by the number of points whose density is within a predetermined interval of the maximum density measured from any one of the points.

Abstract: A light exposure device including an open-ended housing with trapezoidal side walls and a rectangular top wall contiguous therewith. The internal surface of the top wall and major portions of the internal surfaces of the side walls are light-diffusing while the remaining portions of the side wall internal surfaces are specular reflective. These surfaces are arranged such that the reflective surfaces direct light from the device's light source to the diffusing surfaces whereby only the diffused light passes through the housing's open end. A portable copier which utilizes the above device is also described.

Abstract: An aircraft weapon system including a component mounted on a wing of an aircraft and a radiation source and sensor arrangement for measuring changes in the alignment of the component with respect to a reference axis fixed with respect to the main body of the aircraft.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for measuring and recording the amount of solar energy falling at a place over a given period of time, comprising means for producing a frequency signal representative of the energy falling at the place, the provision of the frequency signal being controlled in response to the level of solar energy falling exceeding a morning threshold and falling below an evening threshold, and the frequency signal being applied to a counter, preferably fitted with print-out means, whereby the counter may record the total energy falling between the morning and evening thresholds.

Abstract: The sensing device is a light level indicator that comprises a light sensitive element such as a photo resistor, associated detection circuitry and "go" and "no go" indicator lights which determine whether the level of illumination is above or below a predetermined acceptable level for a given area being tested. The device may be constructed with two light sensitive elements one for sensing direct light and the other for sensing reflected light, or alternatively, the device may have only either element. A multi-position switch may also be provided which can be set at any one of a number of different threshold levels. An adapter is used with the device for checking the calibration of the device. This adapter comprises a radioactive source, holder and a mask which is periodically replaced for maintaining the source at a constant light output.

Abstract: An electro-optical measuring system wherein a scanning laser or light beam is precisely translated in a direction parallel to itself at a constant rate to define a time-varying sensing field whose energy is picked up by a photoelectric detector that yields an output signal. An object whose dimension is to be measured is inserted in the field whereby the output signal of the detector takes the form of a pulse whose leading edge is developed by the traversal of the beam across one boundary of the object, thereby blocking passage of the energy to the detector, and whose trailing edge is developed by the traversal of the beam across the opposite boundary of the object to restore the energy pick-up. The width or time duration of the pulse is an exact index to the distance between these boundaries, the time duration being converted into a measurement reading.