Abstract: An apparatus for switching on and off vehicular electrical loads. The switching of these loads is controlled automatically by sensing alternator output voltage either alone or in combination with alternator frequency and or vehicle battery voltage.

Abstract: A method and system for locally organizing and laying out text and pictorial material for a page to be printed at a remote facility provides a layout template having a fixed grid pattern, and plural layout elements which are organized across the grid pattern corresponding to the page to be printed. Each element contains an area for text or pictorial material. A predetermined code is assigned to each layout element, with regard to whether the element contains text, photographs, or both. A predetermined code is assigned to each layout element and represents the area of the element with respect to the grid pattern of the template. A representation of the organized layout elements is generated and transmitted to the remote facility, where the pictorial and text elements are correlated and merged together to provide an output data stream representative of the page to be printed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for slidably contacting and pressing upon the back side of a conveyor to urge an advancing corrugated paperboard sheet into substantially uniform contact with adjacent laterally extending heating surfaces irrespective of any thermally induced deflection or bowing thereof. A plurality of heating chests arranged in side-by-side relation define the series of laterally extending heating surfaces. A conveyor belt is positioned opposite the series of heating surfaces for advancing the corrugated paperboard sheet longitudinally along a predetermined path of travel. A plurality of contact assemblies provides the sliding contact with the conveyor belt. Each contact assembly, in turn, preferably includes a plurality of contact shoes arranged in side-by-side relation and carried by a laterally extending supporting frame. The contact shoes have contact surfaces slidably contacting the back side of the conveyor belt.

Abstract: A common mode choke has a generally rectangular ferrite body for surface mounting on a printed circuit board. First and second spaced apart slotted openings extend vertically between the top face and the bottom face of the ferrite body. At least one pair of electrical conductors extend along parallel paths from the bottom face through the first slotted opening to the top face, along a portion of the top face, and back down through the second slotted opening to the bottom face. One pair of opposing side faces preferably has lower portions extending outwardly past a plane of the bottom face to thereby serve as a support to mount the bottom face of the ferrite body in spaced relation from the circuit board. The electrical conductors may then extend outwardly from the bottom face of the ferrite body for electrical connection through corresponding openings of a circuit board or extend laterally outwardly for electrical connection to corresponding portions of the circuit board in a gull wing configuration.

Abstract: A noninvasive skin-tightening method is provided wherein a target line or wrinkle is selected that the patient wishes to minimize or eradicate. A pair of lines is scratched in the skin parallel to and one on each side of the target line. Preferably two series of lines are then scratched in the skin, one series parallel to each of the first pair of lines, with a separation of at least 1/16 inch. The post-treatment steps include cleaning the scratches with antibacterial soap, drying the area, and massaging with antibacterial topical cream. Once the lines scratched in the skin are permitted to heal, the skin is found to be tightened.

Abstract: Bowling balls are returned from the pit area of a bowling alley to a return shroud through a vacuum tube into a lift tube. A transporter assembly is contained within the shroud for decelerating the bowling balls. The shroud includes continuous rails for permitting a high volume of bowling ball storage. In order to reduce the area required for spacing between adjacent bowling alleys, the vacuum tube is installed underneath the plane of the alleys, with the bowling balls fed into the vacuum tube via a vertical tube extending upwardly behind the pin-setting equipment located in the pit area.

Abstract: A sound effects device is used with a guitar having an electromagnetic pickup for inducing feedback into an original signal source for creating a unique musical sound. The device comprises a coil winding which is placed on a hand or wrist of a player for maneuvering the hand in proximity to the guitar pickup. In an alternate arrangement, the coil is affixed to a stand and the guitar is maneuvered by the player for placing the guitar pickup close to the coil. The player thus creates new and pleasing sounds by changing relative positions of the guitar and device in proximity to each other thus allowing for an enhanced unrestricted performance.

Abstract: A brace for assisting a disabled person in rising from a sitting position to a standing position has a handle extending from a vertical support such as a leg of a walker. The handle is moveable affixed to the vertical support by a coupling for positioning the handle for rising and for storage on the walker while walking. The handle is positioned above a lower horizontal member of the brace for enabling the person to rise from the sitting position. A handle grip is formed to cause optimum use of forearm muscles during the rising movement. A friction pad is affixed within an aperture of the coupling for retarding movement of the handle and hold it in a desired position along the vertical support. The brace has a U-shaped bracket for securing the apparatus in a stored position during transport. A pad is affixed within the bracket cradle for sound absorption.

Abstract: A construction for nestable dollies particularly suited for plant containers includes a platform having opposing first and second surfaces and plural wheel assemblies rotatably affixed to the second surface. The platform has plural wheel wells spaced across the first surface and dimensioned for receiving a wheel of another, nested dolly.

Abstract: A compact fruit picker is mounted on the three-point lift of an agricultural tractor and utilizes the power take-off of the tractor to operate a reciprocating series of probe arms having spring-loaded picking fingers mounted on each arm to penetrate the tree canopy and remove fruit as the arm is withdrawn. The picked fruit is caught in a device positioned below the picker.

Abstract: A breast wrap (10) has two rectangular non-stretching panels (11, 12) of cotton flannel material joined over a user's back by short elastic strips (16, 17), and joined in overlapping relationship across the breasts by upper and lower complementary hook-and-loop fasteners (28, 29, 30, 31) running marginally along upper and lower longitudinal edges (24, 25, 26, 27). The panels run lengthwise in opposite directions from the user's back, under one arm, across both breasts, and terminate at a point located under the other arm; the panels run widthwise from above the breasts to below the breasts; and the fasteners are located so they will not be pressed into the breasts. Two rectangular open-ended pouches (40, 41) having pockets (40) for crushed ice, are held between the overlapping panels by additional hook-and-loop fasteners (47, 48) that mate with fasteners (28, 29, 30, 31).

Abstract: An apparatus for positioning a bowling ball during a drilling process and method that provides reproducible orientations of the ball for accurately modifying and repeating the drilling process is described. The apparatus affixed a bowling ball while exposing a sufficient portion of a surface of the ball where middle finger, ring finger and thumb holes are to be drilled. The apparatus positions the bowling ball for drilling holes of varying pitch without requiring the ball to be removed from its rigidly affixed position within the apparatus. Holes having severe pitches are easily drilled and reproduced, including oval holes having preselected oval rotations. A computer program converts inputted hand measurements to digitized apparatus movements for positioning the ball prior to drilling a desired hole. Digital encoders indicate apparatus movement that is matched with computer output for ease and repeatability in drilling a ball.

Abstract: A mechanical fruit harvester employs a fruit-picking unit having plural, flexible probes which are extended into the foliage of the tree. Each probe has retractable fingers for separating the fruit from the stem. Each probe is significantly flexible, in order to avoid damage to the unit and to the tree being harvested. In one arrangement, the harvester is free-standing and has restricted dimensions, in order to permit movement about substantially all of an individual fruit tree among a plurality of densely-spaced fruit trees. The restricted-dimensioned arrangement employs hydraulic motor means for operating the drive, the probe extension and the probe elevation features.

Abstract: A motor vehicle warning system for use on a roadway having an established safe speed comprises a sensing and processing circuit located on the motor vehicle. Signaling elements are strategically placed on the roadway in advance of a hazardous area for the vehicle. The signaling elements, such as permanent magnets, are separated by a distance indicative of a recommended safe speed for executing the hazard. An induction coil located on the underside of the vehicle senses the magnetic field from the magnets as the vehicle passes and provides an input to the sensing and processing circuit. The time period for the vehicle to traverse the distance between the elements is compared in a logic circuit to the recommended time period representative of a safe speed. If the vehicle speed exceeds the safe speed, a warning signal is generated to give the driver additional time to react to the potentially dangerous situation that is about to be encountered.

Abstract: A spinnaker halyard turret is affixed to a sail boat's masthead permitting a spinnaker halyard to be lead from within the mast through an exit tube at the top of the mast; then over a pair of sheaves aligned one forward of the other to a point on an arc beyond the perimeter of the mast. The turret has a crane which pivots freely in response to the load and direction of pull established by the sail on the halyard. The halyard maintains a fair lead over the sheaves to the head of the spinnaker sail. The arc through which the crane pivots in normal operation is controlled by limit stops to prevent twisting the halyards internally within the mast. The crane is mounted to a plate which pivots about the halyard exit tube. The plate and the exit tube are supported by bearing surfaces that minimize friction. With a second set of sheaves set adjacent and parallel to those described above, a second spinnaker halyard may be used to set a second spinnaker before the first spinnaker has been doused.

Abstract: To entertain fans at sporting events, such as baseball, basketball backboards, palm trees, hockey and soccer goals are provided as targets for fans to participate by tossing objects at the target. Targets are strapped to a person moving through the stands. In one configuration the target is attached to a backpack and raised over the head using a telescoping mechanism attached between the target and the backpack worn by the operator. In another configuration the target is attached to a helmet worn by the person working the crowd. Both the helmet and backpack arrangement use mounting brackets for attachment of the target members. To telescope the target overhead from the backpack, concentric tubes are extended from within each other using a pulley and cable system controlled by the operator.