Abstract: A counterweight is attached to the rocker shaft of a short sword loom diametrically opposite the lay, reed, and weft directing components to shift the center of gravity of the oscillatory elements to a position subtantially coincident with the center of gravity with a minimum of structural changes to the conventional loom configuration.

Abstract: A transducer formed of one or more electrode arrays is positioned in confronting relation and parallel to the plane of rotation of one or more rotating members. A plurality of phase modulated, two-phase, square wave drive signals of the same amplitude and frequency are applied to each electrode. The signals are combined at a central node or electrode to form, as a result of the signal, the superposition of the algebraic sum of all drive signal pairs. Samples of the resultant signal taken at the same frequency and of a duration of less than one-half the duration of the drive signal period provide a multi-step, synchronously detected signal. The detected signal is a multi-step approximation to a sine wave, the phase angle thereof relative to a timing point being proportional to the angular position of the rotating member.

Abstract: A generally conventional air washer is modified by dividing the water delivered to a bank of sprays into a first portion that is directed to a header at the top of the bank and a second portion that is directed to a header at the bottom of the bank. A throttling valve is placed in the line upstream of the upper header. When the air washer is being used as a dehumidifying apparatus, as in summertime use, and during situations of minimum use as a dehumidifier, the water supply to the upper headers may be throttled or even cut off completely without affecting the water pressure to the lower header. Water from the lower nozzles in such situations continues to be emitted into the air stream as an atomizing spray.

Abstract: A foot splint to be worn following surgery on the metatarsophalangeal area of the foot includes the sole having an upper foot supporting surface and a lower ground-engaging surface, and a leather upper which surrounds and embraces the foot and secures the sole in place. The foot supporting surface of the sole includes a recess or depression underlying a selected one of the metatarsal joints of the foot for floating the selected metatarsophalangeal joint or area. Other areas of the sole are formed with convex portions to place more pressure on the portions of the foot they support, thereby relieving pressure from the area where the surgery took place. In a preferred embodiment the ground-engaging surface of the sole includes an upwardly inclined area substantially underlying the ball and anterior portion of the foot and a substantially flat walking surface underneath the arch and posterior portion of the foot.

Abstract: A tripod stepladder in which a bracing means includes a sleeve or collar that slides up and down the third or rear leg as the ladder is folded and unfolded. A pail shelf is pivotally attached to the third leg and locks the ladder in the open position, thereby preventing inadvertent closure of the ladder as long as the pail shelf is in the horizontal position.

Abstract: A cross-bow (10) having a tiller (12) which comprises a forward portion (14) and a stock (16), a prod (20) carrying the bowstring (30) mounted on the forward portion a bowstring arrestor and release mechanism (78) and a cocking mechanism (M) of which the prod or the arrestor and release mechanism is a slider mounted for reciprocal movement along the stock to facilitate cocking the bow.

Abstract: A frame buffer, divided into three bit planes, is addressed by a single grahic display control chip, whose address signal is altered by an adder to address each bit plane at successive, prescribed time intervals during a single display cycle. A data word of N-bits from each of the first two bit planes is read and latched, then loaded simultaneously with a data word of N-bits from the third bit plane into corresponding shift registers. Thus, the number of memory chips in the frame buffer is minimized and three times the normal data output is achieved during each display cycle.

Abstract: A pair of identically formed, U-shaped housing halves formed of a conductive polymeric material are snapped together to form a rectangular body open at the front and rear with a top, bottom and side walls and which establishes an effective Faraday Cage. Nesting pads on the top and bottom walls provide for stacking multiple housings, one atop the other. A plurality of parallel, non-continuous tracks extend from front to rear of the body and support a pair of horizontally spaced, upstanding circuit board mounting partitions therein. Each partition includes a vertical wall having a longitudinal axis offset from the corresponding axis of supporting track and longitudinally extending channels on the opposite surfaces thereof of receiving one edge of the printed circuit board and supporting the printed circuit board horizontally between such partition and the other partition of the pair.

Abstract: A multipurpose, collapsible carton formed of telescopically connected inner and outer members is used, in a preferred embodiment, as a disposable insect trap. The inner container member has closed bottom and side walls, and a funnel-shaped top wall. The outer cover member is telescopically mounted over the inner container and includes a closed top, open bottom, and side walls having open windows therein. When the carton is open insects are lured by bait to enter the windows, crawl down through the funnel into the container where they are trapped. When full, the carton is closed by slipping the cover down around the inner container, and the unit is discarded. When opened, the cover member remains attached over the inner member by a simple locking mechanism.

Abstract: A static dissipative garment configuration for persons employed in the manufacture and testing of sensitive electronic components. The garment is formed from a fabric which exhibits an electrical resistance of less than 10.sup.8 ohms per unit square and a decay time of no greater than 0.05 seconds. The garments also include tapered sleeves, steel snaps and are at least 3/4 length and include side slits extending from the bottom hem upwardly.

Abstract: An athletic sock having a knit-in, cushioned shin area. Preferably the sock also includes a knit-in, cushioned sole and ribbed support rear leg area. The cushioned shin area of the athletic sock may be formed on a single feed, single drum knitting machine by needle manipulation rather than by sinker manipulation. A selectively operable, special cam operates in conjunction with a radially shiftable lifting cam, and with long and short butt needles. The special cam lifts the short butt needles to an intermediate level where they grasp the body yarn but not the terry yarn. The long butt needles meanwhile are initially lifted by the special cam to the same level as the short butt needles. However, the lifting cam, which is retracted to clear the short butt needles as they pass by, further elevates the long butt needles to the uppermost level where they grasp both the terry yarn and the body yarn as they are lowered by the center cam.

Abstract: A motor control mechanism for adapting electric sewing machines to be used by handicapped people, is mounted on the sewing machine or adjacent thereto and includes a motor control means operatively connected between the machine motor and a variable control arm which is activated by the operator's arm, or head, or knee.