Abstract: A yieldable roadway signing and delineating apparatus is disclosed. A standard is positioned at a safe distance from the roadway to avoid snowplows, mowers and other errant vehicles. A horizontal moveable arm extends toward the roadway and carries a sign at its free end, thus placing the sign or delineator at the required position near the roadway for viewing by passing vehicle operators. Means for moveably retaining the arm in a desired position, permitting its deflection by pressure, and returning the arm to the desired position upon release of pressure are provided. Thus, the sign can yield to pressure from snowplow and mower attachments with a minimum or no damage to the sign. A delayed action mechanism is provided wherein a sealed fluid filled canister is eccentrically positioned around a shaft to which a gate is pivotally attached.

Abstract: The disclosure teaches a novel cow milking system which provides an adjustable width aisle having a milking side and a head side, a fixed fence disposed on the milking side, a moveable herring-bone fence adapted to move as an integral unit disposed on the head side and having stanchion means for engaging the shoulders of the cows and moving them back to a desired position; and means for moving the herring-bone fence that, in a preferred embodiment, is a plurality of links pivotally attached to the fence and to a plurality of fixed anchor points. Also, gate means to control the ingress and egress of the cows are provided.A novel feed dispensing means is also taught by the disclosure. There is provided a funnel for each cow stall, means of conveying the feed at a desired, measured rate from a source of feed to said funnels, a wheel with radial compartments for holding a measured amount of feed disposed in the funnel, and means for directing the feed into the compartments seriatim from the funnel.

Abstract: The disclosure teaches a book-holding apparatus to be used with a kitchen cabinet and the like. A leaf, to be used as a book-holder, is provided with means for retaining the book on the upper surface of the leaf and means to hold the book open at a desired page. The leaf is enclosed in a box frame having two spaced sides and a back. Means for supporting the leaf within the frame is provided as a slot carried in each side and back of the frame. At the front of the frame the slot expands upwardly and downwardly. A flange extending from a surface of the leaf is adapted to engage a first stop member to limit the forward movement of the leaf relative the frame. When it is thus limited the forward end of the leaf is outward and its weight causes the leaf to rotate about the first stop member. The rotation of the leaf is limited by a second stop member defined by a forward wall in the upward vault of the slot which engages the upper surface of the back end of the leaf as the leaf pivots about the first stop member.

Abstract: A tool for raising indentations in golf greens is provided. A shaft is telescopically carried within a sleeve that is provided with a longitudinal slot curving to one side to form a pocket. A pin carried by the shaft moves in the slot and the pocket. In use, the pin is retained in the pocket during a longitudinal thrust of the sleeve serving to implant the lower end of a plurality of fingers (pivotally attached to a base plate at one end of the shaft) vertically in the ground; then a rotation of the sleeve moves the pin from the pocket to the slot and the sleeve is telescoped onto the shaft by a longitudinal thrust, thereby forcing the upper ends of the fingers over a cam carried by the sleeve and converging the lower ends of the fingers toward the axis. The lower ends of the fingers do not touch, however, and are of different lengths. The fingers are automatically returned to a readiness position by gravity and the action of resilient means provided to urge the upper ends of the fingers together.

Abstract: The specification discloses a book index which has an index page adapted for permanent attachment to the body of a page of a selected book, color indicia carried by the page, subject identification means associated with the color indicia, transparent colored sheets keyed to the colors of the color indicia and adapted to self-adhere to the pages of the book selected for marking and to cover the pertinent subject matter desired to be marked extending to the margin of the page whereby the color indicia is visible when the book to which the sheets are applied is closed. The marking and indexing of passages of selected subject matter is done by affixing the index page to the forepart of the book, writing in the title of the subject in association with the color indicia and affixing the colored sheets to selected passages in the book and extending the colored sheets to the edge of the page whereby they are visible when the book is closed.

Abstract: A dispenser of latch hooking yarns provides a container having one or more wells for receiving a sheaf of yarn in each well and a port large enough to admit a latch hooking tool in the wall of the container communicating with the interior of each well at a point intermediate the ends of the strands of yarn disposed within the well. The strands are pulled out of the well through the container wall by means of the latch hook and the remaining strands are held in place until needed.

Abstract: A workpiece holder adapted for an operator having only one useful arm is disclosed wherein the retainer for the workpiece is mounted on a turntable that can be locked into position by using one hand. The retaining jaws can be simultaneously opened by the weight of the operator's arm on a flange connected to one jaw while the workpiece is inserted.

Abstract: The Specification discloses a segmented wind turbine which can be added to incrementally to increase the driving force and power generation of the machine. By this means the smaller diameter rotors that are more easily handled and that put the minimum of stress on the wind turbine apparatus can be used in series to achieve the power output desired. Each segment has a venturi means incorporated into the elements of the apparatus to enhance the apparent wind speed. Also disclosed are novel means for operatively supporting the moving parts of the apparatus.In a preferred embodiment an exoskeletal frame is made in segments that can be stacked one upon the other. Each segment of frame has arms which converge inwardly toward the axial center of the apparatus. There a hoop connects the ends of the inwardly converging arms and defines an axial aperture.

Abstract: A solar oven of improved efficiency wherein an octagonal radiation absorbing base is provided with eight primary reflectors and eight secondary reflectors to direct the solar energy thereupon. Each primary reflector is affixed to one side of the base at an angle of about 55.degree. thereto. The triangular secondary reflectors are interposed between adjacent primary reflectors at an angle of about 57.degree. to the base. The article to be heated is placed on the base and a transparent eight-sided cover is placed thereover. The entire apparatus is rotated and tilted so that the base is orthogonal to the incident solar energy.

Abstract: A hoist for raising building board from the ground to working proximity to a structure to which said board is to be affixed, e.g. a ceiling, has an inclined track which in one embodiment may be curved in such a manner as to allow the board to be loaded on a vertically disposed truck and moved upwardly on the track into position in working proximity to a horizontal working plane without bumping or jostling the board against the structure.

Abstract: An improvement in freeze-drying of skin tissue for use in treating wounds and diseased areas of the body wherein un-frozen skin is partially dried and frozen by drawing a vacuum across the skin before commencing the freeze-dry process, resulting in a novel product which reconstitutes more rapidly and more completely, and more nearly obtains the properties of fresh skin than obtainable by the product produced by the prior art process. In addition to the advantage of more efficient reconstitution, the method shortens the freeze-dry cycle and is less expensive.

Abstract: An improved, flexible habitation cooling system combines an evaporative cooler having a cold water circuit communicating with heat exchange means for cooling the interior of the habitation and a compression refrigeration system. In one embodiment means are provided in a cold water circuit for circulating cooled water from the evaporative cooler into a heat exchanging coil in an air plenum and back to the cooler for re-use. The expansion coil of the refrigeration apparatus communicates with the cold water circuit in heat exchange relationship to further cool the cold water before it enters the coil in the air plenum. In an alternative embodiment wherein the expansion coil is disposed in the air plenum, the cold water circuit is also disposed in the air plenum upstream of the expansion coil.

Abstract: The disclosure teaches an improvement to a type of novel modular display panel which in the prior art required removal of the frames in rearranging. The improved system can be quickly assembled, disassembled, rearranged and newly assembled in different panel order without the necessity of taking the panels out of their frames. Multiple panels are joined together by means of elongate vertical frames and center posts having reciprocally mating splines and keyways which freely move longitudinally such that the center post can be slipped out, the panels rearranged and the center post put back in to position. The stability of the system is secured by providing a temporary removable insert in the keyways carrying an elastomeric material which is expanded to frictionally engage the side walls of the keyways. The elastomeric material can be reversably contracted to release the sidewalls.

Abstract: A patient handling system is disclosed which includes a novel patient handling sheet and a novel patient lift apparatus and a combination thereof. The patient handling sheet has spaced parallel longitudinal tubes to receive stretcher poles and longitudinally spaced transverse apertures in the tubes to permit either the grasping of the stretcher poles by the hands or by hook means attached to the lifting apparatus or use of the apertures as hand holds without the stretcher poles. The apparatus for lifting stretchers is generally rectangular, is wide enough to straddle the patient's bed, and is hinged at each corner so that it may be folded up and stored away when not in use. A frame locking means is used to prevent its folding when in use. A crane is provided at one corner to do the lifting.

Abstract: A novel dye system and improvement to the conventional method of preparing highly colored soap and synthetic detergent bars is disclosed. In the making of soap bars, for example, a solution of water, glycerine and dye is added to soap pellets in the amalgamator along with a slurry of uncolored soap additives to produce a highly colored soap product, thus solving the problem of introducing high concentrations of dyes to soap pellets at the amalgamator, particularly in the presence of a slurry heavy with additives. This makes it feasible for one slurry tank to serve multiple amalgamators producing different highly colored bar products.

Abstract: An atomizer disposed between the carburetor and intake manifold for breaking up and intimately mixing the charge of fuel and air received from the carburetor before passing it on to the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine. The atomizer has a chamber with two motor driven paddles with parallel axles disposed within the chamber across the air flow. The paddle vanes are overlapping in operation and geared to rotate outwardly as viewed upstream of the paddles with very high turbulence to atomize the gas particles and provide an intimate mixture of air and fuel.

Abstract: An improvement on a ball valve for use in detachably connecting a riser pipe to an irrigation lateral. The novel valve has a throat operatively connected to the outlet end of the valve. The throat receives a valve trigger tube which has spaced fingers extending longitudinally from the end of the pipe to engage the ball, thereby forming apertures between the fingers which serve as a strainer to prevent the passage of foreign objects and which can be sized to regulate the flow of water. When the tube is withdrawn the flow of the water through the then open end of the tube generates a self-cleaning action.

Abstract: An orthopedic arm sling made of a lightweight fabric material which has a front apron, the bottom of which is secured to the top to form a cradle extending the length of the arm. The supporting straps extend over the shoulders, cross the wearer's back and engage the edges of the apron to secure the apron and the arm to the wearer's body and keep the weight from being borne by the neck of the wearer. Optionally a restraint strap secures the arm from horizontal movement.

Abstract: A machine for breaking the foretoes of sheep and lambs carried on a moving kill chain. It has a fork presenting seriatim the open end of the tines to receive the forefeet of sheep at the knuckles, a portion of the tines spaced to closely confine and engage the knuckles and a more widely spaced portion of the tines to release the feet as the sheep is advanced by the killing chain. The machine provides means for supporting and rotating the tines of the fork around its longitudinal axis to break the toes while the sheep's feet are engaged. When the toes are broken, the fork rotates back to the original position.