Abstract: An instrument for removing tissue samples from a tissue mass which automatically penetrates, severs, and removes a tissue portion for examination. The instrument is motor powered, preferably by self-contained rechargeable batteries, and employs electrically actuated stops to control the action of penetration into and retraction from the tissue mass. The tissue penetrating means and severing means includes an inner stylet which penetrates the tissue mass and a hollow outer tube or cannula which surrounds the stylet and serves to sever a sample of tissue. In a preferred form the tissue penetrating end of the stylet is notched so that when the stylet penetrates the tissue mass, a portion of the tissue relaxes in the notched area. After tissue penetration by the stylet, the cannula, having a cutting surface at its distal end, penetrates the tissue and cuts off the tissue portion residing in the notched area of the stylet.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to apparatus for cleaning swimming pools, incorporating intermittent pop-up jet nozzles, the nozzles being adapted to intermittently rotate and project cleaning jets of water adjacent the inner surface of the pools. Wear and tear on the nozzle housing and related parts is minimized by use of a water delivery assembly in which the stop means for arresting upward movement of the nozzle are located in the lower part of the housing, thus eliminating bending moment of stress force against the housing and related parts. The inclusion of a retainer or cage within the housing provides other improvements in the operation of the water delivery assembly.

Abstract: A swimmer's flexible plastic hand paddle has a surface area larger than a human hand, and a plurality of perforations (approximating the user's hand size) which are positioned to an off-set location on the paddle toward the thumb side of the user's hand. The edge of the paddle closely approaches the outer edge of the user's hand on the thumb side when the hand is in position on the paddle, whereas on the little finger side of the paddle there is a substantially larger (compared to the thumb side of the paddle) area (preferably unperforated) that makes a water foil. The corners of the paddle are rounded and means for attaching the user's hand to the paddle and positioned it in a desired position over the perforations are provided. The thickness in a plastic material having a modulus of elasticity of about 130,000 p.s.i. is from 2 to 4 mm., preferably 3 mm.

Abstract: Tinted hydrophilic plastic articles, such as soft contact lenses, are prepared by carrying out the tinting operation while the hydrophilic material is still in its non-hydrated state. Tinting at this point avoids the need for use of swelling agents and also permits integration of the tinting procedure into an overall automated manufacturing operation. A preferred embodiment of the invention is an integrated process for producing a tinted soft contact lens comprising the steps of providing a casting mold having an arbor formed as a cup shaped container, filling said container with a monomeric lens forming liquid, polymerizing said liquid to produce a lens blank having one optical surface formed by the bottom of said cup shaped container, generating (e.g.

Abstract: A go-cart vehicle, made from high strength, molded engineering plastics, has a steering shaft tilt assembly which includes a steering shaft (66) slidable in a pivot bushing (70) carried by a bracket (73). The shaft pivots at a U-joint (78) and the bracket (73) pivots at its base. The bracket carries a detent--a cylinder (94) attached to the base (74) of the bracket (73). The cylinder (94) has a number of holes (93) to engage a latch pin (92) which is controlled by a release lever (95) operated by a release button (102). The shaft (66) may be adjusted to varying angles of tilt by moving the latch pin from hole to hole which motion causes the bushing, shaft and bracket to pivot in unison as the shaft slides in the bushing. The vehicle combines a change in caster angle (12) to about 12 degrees with a short, rigid chassis (2) and a live axle (45) to make it possible to turn a sharp corner at speeds of 20 mph or less.

Abstract: A camper shell for use on a pick up truck towing a mobile living unit such that the lower forward end registers with the top of the truck and the back end registers with the mobile unit's roof to streamline air flow. The shell may optionally have upper and lower telescoping parts that are telescoped for travel and when at rest the shell is raised to provide a habitation.

Abstract: A golf putter has a substantially cylindrical club head made from a tough, resilient, non-metallic plastic material such as acetal polymer (e.g., Delrin or Celcon); has weight-receiving receptacles recessed in each of the heel and toe ends; and weight inserts within the weight-receiving receptacles. The diameter of the cylindrical club head, e.g., one and one-quarter inches, is smaller than the diameter of a ball to be played. A visual alignment mark extends circumferentially partially around the cylindrical body at a position equidistant between the heel and toe ends and thus, just toward the toe end from the position at which a conventional shaft is coupled to the club head.

Abstract: Vehicle finish protection apparatus is disclosed which is adapted for temporary installation on a vehicle when the vehicle is parked closely adjacent another vehicle and is therefore susceptible to finish damage as a result of the edge of a door of the adjacent vehicle impacting against the side of the vehicle to be protected. The vehicle finish protection apparatus includes unitary first and second elongated sections, triangular in cross sections joined by a living hinge such that the first and second elongated sections are normally aligned in an operational configuration, but may be folded together at the hinge to effect a compact storage configuration. The means for securing a hinge are on separate faces of the sections so that one section can be swung up and away and back on itself with one hand for easy use in tight spaces.

Abstract: A head restraint system for vehicles including an extensible support provided with energy absorbing devices which limit the rearward angular displacement of the occupant's head. The support is secured to each side of the interior of a vehicle so that the support is positioned horizontal to the top of a seat back and substantially in the same vertical plane as the seat back.

Abstract: An awning assembly including two elongated roller memers on which awning fabric is mounted. A first roller member is mounted to the side of a vehicle or building and the second roller member is pivotally mounted to the side of the vehicle or building and can be extended therefrom or retracted therto. The second roller member is provided with a cover which is generally U-shaped in cross section and strengthened in a special manner.

Abstract: A hair curler system is disclosed which includes a selected length of flexible tubing used in conjuction with one or more flare members and a male coupling member to obtain a configurable assembly for rolling and looping a curl having different incremental diameters along its length. A first flare member is adapted to be partially inserted into one end of the tubing and has an outside diameter which tapers outwardly toward the flare member free end to obtain a graduated diameter along its length. The male coupling member is partially inserted into the opposite end of the tubing and terminates in a bulbous coupling element which is dimensioned and configured to be manually snapped through a reduced diameter neck region within the hollow interior of the first flare member such that, once a curl has been rolled onto the assembly, the assembly may be looped by snapping the coupling element through the reduced diameter neck region for retention during the perming process.

Abstract: The improvement to machines for filling trenches in paved surfaces has two hoppers hydraulically operated to deposit selected course material directly into the trench from a substantially vertical drop in substantially equal quantities from each side. At least one of the hoppers moves responsive to the movement of guide rails that follow the contours of the trench. A vertically adjustable strike-off plate, adapted to define a course level above or below the level of the surrounding paved surface, has two components, at least one of which moves relative the other responsive to the guide rails to accommodate trench width, and includes apparatus for laying down a window of paving material during a final pass and pushing it into a mini-trench created by intrusion of the guide rails.

Abstract: The specification teaches a method of applying contact lenses to human eyes by sensitizing the fingers and applying the lenses to the eyes by sense of touch. Also taught are several preferred embodiments of means for sensitizing and cleaning the fingers with water only and without a cleaning chemical or doing a thorough job with only the use of minimal chemical solvents, such as soap, wherein a base having two faces provided with abrasion means, e.g., brush bristles or nylon fiber pod, preferably trough shaped and with means for gripping the base, are provided.

Abstract: A speaker transducer assembly is disclosed which includes first and second speaker diaphragms supported on a frame in over and under juxtaposition. Each of the speaker diaphragms has a central opening defining an inner periphery which is attached to a voice coil form for coaxial movement therewith and in unison. An intermediate baffle is coaxially positioned between the speaker diaphragms to define upper and lower, separately vented chambers. The upper chamber is vented through an outlet in the region of the outer peripheries of the first speaker diaphragm and the intermediate baffle; similarly, the lower chamber is vented through an outlet situated in the region of the outer peripheries of the second speaker diaphragm and the intermediate baffle. Preferably, the two vent systems have different vent exhaust areas to obtain stagger tuning and thus achieve a split of the deepest frequency load.

Abstract: A self-adjusting climbing chock is disclosed which includes a main cable structure having a looped end and first and second cable end sections. A fixed wedge element is joined to the cable end sections, and one of the fixed wedge element faces is provided with a tapered depression. A translating wedge element, having a bearing surface which is complementary to the sliding surface of the depression, may be manually retracted against a compression spring between a first position at which the combined thickness of the fixed and translating wedge elements exceeds the maximum thickness of the fixed wedge element and a second position in which the combined thickness does not exceed the maximum thickness of the fixed wedge element.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for squaring and decambering at the assembly plant, and shimming at the job site, a thin metal door frame wherein the frame becomes an integral part of its own setting jig until installation, after which the semi-permanent setting jig is removed. Temporary jigs are used in the method to set the minimum door width tolerance and to square the frame elements.

Abstract: A flat belt CVT is disclosed in which a geared control system is employed to establish and maintain the effective diameter of each pulley assembly by determining the mutual angular relationship between sets of inner and outer guideway disks provided with spirals oriented in the opposite sense and supporting belt engaging elements at their intersections. The sets of guideway disks are coupled through a planetary gear system which includes a component which can be externally manipulated to adjust the angular relationship between the sets of inner and outer guideway disks while rotating. The planetary gear system includes a first sun gear which meshes with star gears whose shafts are fixed in position with respect to the first sun gear. A second sun gear meshes with planet gears which may orbit around the second sun gear while rotating on a planet carrier.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a composition of matter comprising a rock substrate having a coating simulating natural desert varnish which can be developed within a few days, as contrasted to natural desert varnish which requires at least decades to develop in nature. The coating comprises an initial layer of the reaction product of the rock substrate with a solution of an alkali base and a finishing cover comprising the reaction product of the initial layer with a solution of a metallic salt. Optionally, the coating can include an additional covering of sodium hypochlorite.

Abstract: A flat belt CVT is disclosed in which an idler pulley is situated intermediate variable diameter driving and driven pulley assemblies and within the axial dimension given by their respective inner guideway discs. the frame supporting the idler pulley is linearly moved on a rail by the slack side belt forces to automatically position the idler pulley in an intermediate position between the belt drive elements of the driving and driven pulley assemblies in accordance with their instantaneous effective diameters. While many arrangements are possible (positioning of the idler may be accomplished on or from either side of the center line between the two pulley assemblies, etc.), a preferred disposition is disclosed in which the idler pulley is situated in a region external to the slack belt side in order that the support apparatus for the idler need not enclose moving belts.