Abstract: A stiff rectangular panel is placed centrally on an adhesive coated rectangular sheet of covering material with marginal edge portions of the sheet extending beyond the panel edges. The panel and sheet are conveyed on a first pass through a roller press and on such pass a leading edge portion of the sheet is engaged by weighted pivoted folding plate segments which fold or turn the edge portion of the sheet upwardly and around the leading edge of the panel and down onto the top face of the panel where the tack of the adhesive holds the folded edge portion of the covering sheet temporarily in place. Immediately following this, a stationary stiff brush engages the folded edge portion of the sheet and presses it tightly against the top face of the panel while the brush bristles simultaneously tuck the opposite end portions of the folded sheet snugly against the advancing longitudinal edges of the panel.

Abstract: Incoming cold water is delivered to a storage tank upstream from the customary domestic hot water heater. Waste heat recovery coils are located in the furnace flue and on the outlet of an air conditioning condenser unit. A system pump upstream from the water heater and between it and the storage tank circulates water from the storage tank through the two coils and back into the water inlet line leading to the water heater in a preheated state enabling the thermostatic setting of the water heater to be set at a significantly lower level than is customary.

Abstract: A unitized convenient and durable log lifter includes coaxial tube and rod members with the tube slotted longitudinally from one end to receive and guide a projecting jaw carried by the rod member which is freely movable axially of the tube throughout the length of the slot while being constrained against rotation. Coacting jaws are carried by a crosshead on the end of the tube having the slot and parallel transverse handles on the tube and rod provide easy manipulation of the device.

Abstract: A compact rectangular boiler for hot water heating systems serves as a booster or helper boiler but can be used in some cases as a primary boiler. A boiler power module consisting of fire tubes and a surrounding water chamber is readily removable like a sliding drawer for cleaning and repair, when necessary. Beneath the boiler power module is a sturdy refractory lined fire box for burning wood or other solid fuel including a cast iron grate. Beneath the grate is a readily removable ash receiving drawer or pan. The boiler power module may employ an alternate heating source in the form of an electrical heating element. Forced draft and manual draft arrangements are included.

Abstract: An indoor table game resembling golf employs a precision hand-operated playing apparatus including a wheeled maneuver unit, a connected actuator assembly, and an animate figure operated by the actuator assembly and holding interchangeable striking clubs for a lightweight game piece in the form of a ball. The game is preferably played on a game course embodied in a table-mounted movable strip. The feet of the inanimate figure are self leveling. A pair of spring-biased wheel fenders are provided to lock the wheeled unit in a fixed location on the playing course. The upper section of the inanimate figure may be driven as a right or left hand golfer and, in each case, the simulated head of the inanimate figure is driven to rotate in a natural follow-through mode. The game requires practice and skill in order to obtain proficiency.

Abstract: A newspaper vending machine in conversion kit form allows the ready installation on existing or new vending machines of a simplified, reliable, durable and essentially theft-proof mechanism to dispense newspapers one at a time downwardly through a bottom outlet with the assistance of gravity. Variation in newspaper thickness has no adverse effect on the mechanism. A standard type coin mechanism is utilized.

Abstract: A soft toy having a greater degree of appeal than normal soft toys. The toy, which may for example be a teddy bear, panda, or other animal, has two electric contacts disposed at spaced-apart regions of the exterior of the toy, there being contained within the toy an electrically operated device for producing a noise, such as a musical tune, when the contacts are bridged by being touched by a child or other user.

Abstract: A wheeled irrigator carriage has a fulcrum around which a piping frame can rock at the ends of crop rows to lift one traction wheel of the irrigator and lower a second traction wheel at the other end of the irrigator into driving engagement with the ground. The second traction wheel has a power drive reversing member associated therewith. An independent higher speed power drive for the first-named traction wheel is provided. The piping frame also serves to deliver irrigating water from a remote source to a pair of spaced irrigation booms on the piping frame which may span several rows of crops. A massive hose reel is supported symmetrically above the fulcrum.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the activation and deactivation of a vacuum assembly which is connected to a conduit system such as a suction conveyance system or a central cleaning system for maintaining a partial vacuum in the conduit system which has suction sockets which may be opened for coupling in vacuum-driven appliances and which are preferably self-closing when the vacuum-driven assemblies are disconnected is provided with a first sensing device and a second sensing device. The first sensing device is operative to sense that state in which all of the suction sockets are closed, in order to emit a stop signal to the vacuum assembly. The second sensing device is operative to sense the opening of one or more suction sockets, in order to emit a start signal to the vacuum assembly.

Abstract: A precision rectangular fixture frame includes top, bottom and grooved side members. A middle bar of the frame parallel to the top and bottom members has a pair of recesses aligned with opposing recesses in the top member whereby a single vertical bar having a pair of spaced notches can be interlocked with the top member and middle bar of the frame in two positions of use parallel to the side members. The vertical bar is grooved in its opposite sides whereby in each position of use of the vertical bar one of a pair of contact gage and alignment bars can be supported at plural elevations on the fixture frame during servicing of successive ranks of contacts in two distinct areas of an upper tier of contacts in a receiver. A third contact gage and alignment bar is employed without the vertical bar and is engaged with grooves of the frame side members at plural elevations during servicing of successive ranks of contacts across a lower tier of contacts in the receiver.

Abstract: A simplified sturdy and economical side guard or protector for automobiles is manually operated and requires no power assistance. The support frame of the protector is slidable in simple guide brackets secured to the bottom of the vehicle. When extended for use, the active portion of the protector is swung to an upright position where it can protect the most vulnerable areas of the automobile body against denting and scratching commonly caused by the swinging doors of other vehicles. The protector can also support letters or ornamental characters in a provided trackway. Rubber bumpers on the protector engage adjacent side portions of the vehicle.

Abstract: A slope or list sensor placed on a floating vessel detects listing thereof in either direction and produces an electrical signal which is proportional to the degree of list. An overhead movable flowable material delivery means responds automatically to the signal from the sensor and moves laterally of the vessel to load the vessel in such a way that the list is corrected automatically during the complete loading of the vessel. Various types of material delivery devices capable of responding to a signal can be employed.

Abstract: A support for a bulk liquid container includes a universal U-bracket mountable on a wall, floor or ceiling within a safety storage cabinet. Drawer type telescoping slides support a container basket structure pivotally suspended on the extensible and retractable sections of the slides which are horizontally arranged regardless of the disposition of the U-bracket. A bulk liquid container held by the basket structure can be rotated 360 degrees on the trunnions of the basket structure. A chain attachment is provided to support the container in a tilted liquid dispensing position. Due to its compactness and retractability, the support is useable in close quarters.

Abstract: A water borne barge or other floating vessel is loaded automatically with flowable material from end-to-end with a proper predetermined level of material without dependency on inaccurate human observations. The automatic load-out is terminated with the vessel in a level plane. A material level sensor initiates fore and aft relative movement between the vessel and dockside material delivery equipment and the relative movement progresses until the vessel is loaded end-to-end. During the automatic load-out under control of the material level sensor, a vessel list or slope sensor monitors the degree of list in the fore and aft plane and generates an electrical signal proportional to the degree of list at any given moment. As the vessel load-out progresses, this signal will advance toward the level or null point and when such point is reached, the operation of the dockside material delivery equipment will be terminated automatically with the vessel completely loaded and in a level attitude.

Abstract: For convenience, speed and economy in the reading of submerged water meters, as illuminated reading scope is provided which is extendable to draw in water. The scope is compressed after being placed over the face of the meter to expel the water from its interior in a jet stream which positively flushes the face of the meter so as to render it readily readable. The scope is simple and economical.

Abstract: A disc body formed of tough somewhat resilient plastics has a center cylindrical hub of lesser diameter than the disc body projecting axially beyond one side of the disc body and joined therewith by a smooth fillet. The flat end face of the hub engages a building ceiling or wall to create a stand-off space between the ceiling or wall and the marginal lip of the disc body whereby tubes or cables may be snapped into supported engagement with the disc body in any direction tangent to the cylindrical hub. The device has a central aperture for a supporting fastener, such as a nail, which may be power driven.

Abstract: A mechanism to reduce the physical effort and arm movement of an operator in positioning the multiple electrical contacts of a test adapter and receiver in engaged relationship with the receiver located in a support well of a table and the operator seated at the table. The mechanism includes a short stroke low effort hand lever depending from the table in ready reach of the operator, the hand lever forming one component of a compactly stacked motion and force reducing linkage held in a recess in one side frame member of the receiver and operatively connected with a rotational cam shaft on the receiver which cams the test adapter into operative engagement with the receiver by overriding accumulated forces created by the deflection of the multiple contacts.

Abstract: A conversion or retrofit kit includes an adapter bar for a receiver assembly which may readily be assembled to a receiver frame in the position normally occupied by a receiver module carrying contacts, which module is removed from the receiver assembly. The adapter bar in cooperation with one side rail of the receiver frame enables placement on the receiver of a smaller control panel having a lesser number of contacts to coact with the receiver contacts than the full size control panel for which the receiver is primarily designed. Simplicity of conversion and economy are paramount.

Abstract: A vertical axis wind driven prime mover has plural circumferentially spaced horizontal wind driven arms carried by a central hub which is attached to a central vertical axis rotational working shaft. Each wind driven arm carries multiple fixed blades or louvers which can extend horizontally or vertically on the arms. The louvers of each arm are constructed and arranged to act as impulse elements when the arm is moving with the wind on one side of the vertical axis machine and to form reaction motive elements when moving against the wind on the opposite side of the vertical axis machine. Each arm of the prime mover additionally includes fixed wind confining or pocketing members along its leading and trailing horizontal extremities at both the top and bottom thereof and at its inner and outer ends. Each arm carries a fixed angular vertical flange at its outer end to propel the arm in the proper direction when the arm is aligned with the direction of the wind.