Abstract: A sail is reefed by a single continuous reefing line which passes from the boom through a leech cringle then down parallel to the boom and then upwardly through a block affixed to a luff cringle. The reefing line then leads through a turning block near the gooseneck of the boom so that when a downward pull is placed on the line and the halyard is simultaneously released, the luff will first be moved downwardly to the foot of the sail and then the leech will be moved downwardly creating a reef.

Abstract: The invention provides an earfitting for an earring to be worn on pierced ears. An earring post which in use is positioned in the pierced hole in the ear lobe has a spearhead hingedly mounted on the end thereof. The earring post and spearhead can be temporarily locked in mutual alignment to enable the earfitting to be passed through the ear lobe, whereafter the spearhead can be turned with respect to the earring post to secure the earfitting in place behind the ear lobe.

Abstract: An improved lateen rigged sailing board is disclosed that basically combines a sailing board with a mast mounted thereon which is swivelly mounted to the upper surface of the sailing board, and which is provided with means to prevent the mast from completely falling forward. The mast is particularly configured with a wishbone or hoop-like section therein, through which the lateen sail is passed. The boom of the sail is secured within the lower portion of the hoop-like section, while the gaff of the sail is hoisted toward the upper portion of the hoop-like section by a halyard that may conveniently pass through the upper end of the hoop-like section and be secured by a simple expedient of a cam cleat. The arrangement is such that the mast will allow the center-of-effort of the sail to be adjusted relative to the sailing board and allow the entire unit to be tacked through the wind and move upward.

Abstract: A machine for wrapping tape about an article in which a suppy of tape with adhesive on one side thereof is fed across a pair of spaced stationary jaws along a feeding platform and cut to a size for the bundle to be wrapped. The bundle to be wrapped is placed in the jaws, and against the tape, while holding bars, that reciprocate in the jaws, engage the ends of the tape, and move the tape upwardly about the bundle. Pincher jaws are provided and are located across the upstanding ends of the tape. The jaws squeeze the two ends together to secure the bundle and ejecting means move the bundle out of the jaws.

Abstract: A control valve having a through flow path with a closure member providing a substantially unhindered flow through the valve when in open position but closing the path substantially at right angles to the axis of flow when in closed position. A stem controls the unit closure member and is located at an acute angle to the flow path and also to the closure position of the closure member in such a manner that a multiplication of the force applied is provided by means of its geometric relation. The casing in which the closure member is located is in two parts and separable in such a way that the closure member may be easily removed and replaced by a closure member of a different shape.

Abstract: A telescopic supporting device for heavy loads of trailers is disclosed which device has a supporting leg projecting from a guiding tube and on the lower end of the supporting leg there is detachably fastened an articulated foot. The foot features a supporting plate which has fastened thereto a holding ring. The lower terminal section of the supporting leg has a ground plate that overlaps the lower edge to laterally jut out. A coupling articulately connects the holding ring with the supporting leg, the coupling being provided with a bolt system traversing diametral circular holes. An elastic compression body is placed between the ground plate and a supporting plate. The upper terminal section of the holding ring overlaps the laterally jutting-out edge section of the ground plate. The supporting leg and the ground plate are separated. To the ground plate there is fastened a supporting tubular sleeve, that fits within the leg.

Abstract: A sailing craft having a mast mounted therein is provided with a track on the mast for supporting the vertical edge of a sail. To support the upper portion of the sail, an L-shaped gaff is provided having two legs, one leg being substantially parallel to the mast and contained against the mast by track slides or bolt ropes, while the other leg extends at an angle to the mast and supports the upper edge of the sail. The gaff is supported in an elevated position by a halyard that extends through a block at the upper tip of the mast, and a traveler is provided to change the position of the halyard along the gaff on the leg portion that extends away from the mast.

Abstract: A hollow precious metal earring post that has a notch in the wall thereof to receive a clutch is disclosed, which post has a solid gold solder metal interior from the radiused end to a point beyond the notch to rigify and support the post along the notched area.

Abstract: An infra-red radiant burner is disclosed which uses a porous refractory board matrix that is supported by two pairs of frame members that provide a ledge upon which the matrix lies and a peripheral lip means that grips the edge of the matrix. The frame members together with a flat sheet will form between the flat sheet, the frame members and the matrix, a gas-air mixture chamber, while the frame members are made hollow to receive a non-combustible gas which is directed outwardly along a narrow exit path along the sides of the matrix.

Abstract: The invention comprises a single unit which serves as the solar collector, heat storage area and the heat exchanger. A generally rectangular tank is provided with suitably heavy insulated walls at the bottom, ends and rear. One side, facing the sun is open and the opening extends into a portion of the top. The top is provided with a thickly insulated cover. The open side is provided with a heat collecting surface, the preferred angle being the latitude plus 10.degree.. The water is carried through suitable tubing which enters the tank through one end wall and then out through the same or another end wall. The tank is then filled with a suitable material having good heat storage and heat exchange properties. The best material is an eutectic salt having extremely high heat absorption and storage ability in direct contact with the container wall which is designed to absorb heat radiation, and in direct contact with the tubing to transfer the heat to the water passing through.

Abstract: A clutch is disclosed consisting of two parts, the first part being a tubular shell closed at one end, the shell having therein a resilient female clutch member that is held in position by lips on the open end of the shell. A male member is provided which is adapted to be received within the resilient member. The resilient member within the shell is cylindrical of a longitudinal dimension less than the space within the shell and of an outside diameter less than the inside diameter of the shell. The male member is made of a size so that the sum of its diameter plus the wall thickness of the resilient clutch member is greater than the inside diameter of the tubular shell, so as to create an airtight joint when the male member is inserted within the resilient member, but yet permitting air to escape around the outside of the resilient member and retarded only when disengagement is attempted, at which time the resilient clutch member will seal against the lip of the tubular shell.

Abstract: A ball-tossing device is disclosed that has a batting practice member that is mechanically coupled to a foot treadle plate that is pivoted on a base member. The arrangement is such that pressure on the foot treadle plate spring-loads the ball-tossing member, and continued movement of the foot treadle plate causes the ball-tossing member to quickly move the ball in an upward direction. A spring means is provided to return the foot treadle plate to a normal rest position that in turn, returns the ball-tossing member to a rest position.

Abstract: A vertically-oriented solar collecting apparatus primarily for installation in the wall of a building is disclosed in which the panel has a heat collecting plate spaced therefrom and covering an open cell formed in the panel which has lower and upper openings communicating therewith. The cell may be provided with deflecting devices to create turbulence within the cell and the panel has a cover thereover capable of passing the sun's heating rays and forming a heat trap.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improvement in a fountain pen in which the fountain pen is provided with a writing point feed bar and a casing for supporting the writing mechanism, there being a partition located adjacent to the feed bar and having a cylindrical boss extending away therefrom. The cartridge is provided with a double lip interior open end which is adapted to fit over the boss and conduct the ink into the bore that extends through the boss that communicates with the feed bar. The tapered nose end of the cartridge snugly fits into the bore of the casing adjacent the boss that communicates with the feed bar. This not only insures that the lip sealing is forced radially inward and is not disturbed, by also insures that the end of the cartridge engages the partition wall for sealing and the interior wall of the casing for additional sealing.

Abstract: A pin stem clutch or securing device is disclosed which is particularly adapted to grip and hold a shank, for example a pin, the pin being utilized in an earring device, a hat ornament device or the like.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for the feeding of oval-shaped open end wire links seriatim, from an open-link feeding bar magazine, to a groove in a movable link-forming slide tool. Subsequent upward movement of the link-forming slide tool carries the open oval-shaped wire link into internal surface contact with a fixed position link center-forming anvil. Closed chain links or findings are mounted over the ends of the open wire links at this point, and further upward movement of the link-forming slide tool results in the closure of the previously open wire link to a desired configuration such as oval or round, and its assembly with the preformed ornamental objects is completed. The present device may be employed in various power driven modes.

Abstract: A poultry leg deboning machine is disclosed that has a plurality of stripping trays that receive and engage the enlarged end portion of a thigh bone with a pusher plate engaging the opposite end of the bone and forcing the bone through stripping jaws, all of the trays being located on a continuous moving belt-like structure, the severed meat being dropped off at the end of the structure from each of the operating trays.

Abstract: A plastic material extruder having a barrel and an outer sheath with heating and cooling means in the outer sheath is disclosed, together with means for maintaining the temperature of the inner barrel, including two temperature sensing devices, one on the barrel and one on the other sheath, the sensing devices connected to control circuitry which actuates the heating and cooling means to maintain a temperature gradient between the two sensors by sensing the temperature change from the barrel and adjusting the set point of the sensing device on the sheath.

Abstract: The vehicle has two spaced wheels with a frame extending therebetween which frame essentially consists of substantially spaced parallel bars with a portion on the bars that may be gripped by the user. The frontal section of the frame has journaled thereto a fork that supports a wheel, which fork is adapted to rotate under restraint so that directional control of the vehicle may be had.

Abstract: A thermally actuated switch located within a housing is disclosed, the switch having a bi-metallic element coupled thereto for the opening or closing of an electrical circuit. The switch is particularly characterized by a one-piece housing having a recess which provides a surface against which the bi-metallic heat responsive element engages and a surface against which a fixed electrical contact is held. Since there is a fixed relation of the element and the contact being a definite distance apart, and by the utilization of conductive contact members that self align within the housing, protrusions on the contact members egaging corresponding recesses in the housing, the actuating pin between the bi-metallic element and the contact may be of a uniform length thereby facilitating assembly of the switch.