Abstract: A vehicle (10a) includes an elongated opening (35) defined by a frame (33) in a side (30) of the vehicle. The opening (35) receives therein a window pane (34) and a seal (40) is positioned in the space between the frame (33) and the window pane (34). The elongated opening (35) has opposed ends with side panels (38) adjacent the ends of the opening (35) and positioned so that an end portion of each panel overlies the opening. Disposed between an interior surface of opposed end portions of the window pane (34) and the end portion of the panel overlying the opening (35) is an essentially opaque material. There is at least one lamp (32) attached to the window pane (34) directly on an exterior surface of the end portions of the window pane (34) opposite the end portions of the panel (38).

Abstract: An assembly 10 of a writing implement 12 and a pick 13. The pick 13 is attached by a hinge 32 to a spring clip 18 for holding the writing implement 12 to a user's pocket. The hinge 32 enables the pick 13 to move between a first position where the pick is disposed in a slot in the spring clip and a second position where the pick extends outward from the slot. The pick 13 comprises a generally conically shaped body made of a polymeric material that is unlikely to injure the gums of a user and terminates in a point.

Abstract: A dental flosser 10 includes a handle 12 having a hollow interior 14 adapted to hold a supply of dental floss 26. The handle 12 has an open end providing access to the hollow interior 14, and a cap has one end is connected to this open end of the handle 12. Another end of the cap includes a pair of fingers which are spaced apart. Each finger has a opening therein near a distal end thereof. The end of the cap connected to the handle 12 has a guideway which permits floss 26 to pass from the hollow interior 14 and be threaded through the openings in the fingers. A post 42 is attached to the cap member 16 between the fingers elements and the one end of the cap member 16. This post 42 includes a guideway 40 for the floss 26 and a blade 50 for cutting the floss. The post 42 has an underside which intersects the cap member 16 at an acute angle to provide notch structures 54 and 56.

Abstract: An adjustable socket has a number of selectable socket size openings available. It includes a drive member, an indexing collar positioned within the drive member, and an axially moveable drive core positioned within the drive member that is manually rotatable to different positions corresponding to the selected socket size openings. There are a series of teeth on the drive core and the drive core has a cam surface with guide elements. Jaw members mounted to the drive member to move laterally between fixed lateral positions upon rotation of the drive core, each fixed lateral position corresponding to a selected socket size opening.

Abstract: A roller skate 100 includes a support 2a attached to a skater's foot. First and second non-aligned axles 9 and 10 are attached to the forward end of a support 2a and extend sideways from the inside of the support, with the second axle 10 being closer to the center c of the skater's foot than the first axle 9. Third and fourth non-aligned axles 18 and 19 are attached to the rear end of the support 2a and extend sideways from the outside of the support, with the third axle 19 being closer to the center c of the skater's foot than the fourth axle 18. Wheels 12 and 16 and wheels 13 and 15 are mounted for rotation on the axles.

Abstract: A conveyor indexing mechanism for a bakery production line includes a variable speed motor, a conveyor, a number of baking pans, a dough packet drop mechanism, a sensor, and a timing generator. The conveyor moves the baking pans under the dough packet drop mechanism at a base speed and a ramp-up speed based on input from the sensor and timing generator. The sensor senses pan pockets in the baking pans which causes the motor to assume the base speed. The timing generator periodically causes the motor to assume the ramp-up speed. The indexing mechanism ensures that a row of pan pockets will be below the dough packet drop mechanism so that a row of dough packets will consistently fall therein with maximum throughput. The absence of any clutch or brake reduces wear, as does the continuous motion of the drive train, which prevents backlash in the gear components. A programmable controller receives system inputs and instructs an inverter to change the motor speed.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) for manufacturing different shaped bakery products, such as hamburger and hot dog buns, includes a dough packet feeder (18) which advances to an exit station (22) in a step-wise manner rows of dough packets having a first shape. A roller gate (20) positioned at the exit station (22) to receive the rows of dough packets exiting the dough packet feeder (18) includes a first roller member (20a ) having three rows of receptacles (20b ) spaced apart from each other 120.degree. and each sized to receive an individual dough packet having the first shape. A bakery pan indexing feeder (26) advances in a step-wise manner bakery pans (60) or(62) into which the dough packets are deposited by a moving carrier member (52) positioned between the roller gate (20) and the bakery pan indexing feeder (26). The moving carrier member (52) has a receiving end onto which the rows of dough packets are deposited after leaving the roller gate (20) and an exit end where the dough packets leave the moving carrier member.

Abstract: A fountain includes a container having a top with an opening therein, a bottom, and an interior for holding a liquid, such as water. An elongated, hollow support member is positioned within the interior and extending from the opening in the top. This support member has a first end mounted at or near the bottom of the container, a second end terminating a predetermined distance above the opening in the top, and an exterior surface over which liquid flows. A pump positioned within the interior and operably connected to the first end of the support member pumps liquid in the interior into and through the hollow support member to flow out its second end and then along the exterior surface of the support member to return to the interior of the container. A faucet is attached to the second end of the support member in a manner which allows the liquid to flow from the second end.

Abstract: A limousine type vehicle includes a standard electrical system, a coach section with an auxiliary electrical system, and an electric power generation system which has first and second batteries isolated from each other during normal operation of the vehicle's engine. The first battery is electrically connected to the engine to supply electric power for the operation of the engine and the standard electrical system, and the second battery is electrically connected to the auxiliary electrical system to supply electric power for the operation of said auxiliary electrical system. A first alternator is electrically connected to the first battery to recharge said first battery during operation of the engine, and a second alternator is electrically connected to the second battery to recharge said second battery during operation of the engine.

Abstract: A coating composition comprising a colloid of a thermoplastic, elastomeric polyurethane and a wax dispersible in water is applied to the surface of a substrate, drying rapidly to form a tough, durable, protective film bonded firmly to the surface.

Abstract: A pliers for a hose includes a pair of arms pivotally connected together at intermediate portions of the arms. Each arm has a handle section and an end section opposite the handle section, and a "floating" gripper attached to the end section of each arm. Each gripper has an internal surface which substantially conforms to the configuration of a portion of the external surface of the hose being engaged by the grippers upon grasping the hose with the pliers.

Abstract: A golf bag includes a bag body having a substantially cylindrical configuration with a closed end, an open end, and a sidewall between said ends forming an internal cavity which receives the shafts of golf clubs. A golf club receptacle structure at the open end has a lower portion with a circumferential section divided into a plurality of outer receptacle compartments, and, in outline, a substantially truncated, conical-like upper portion at least partially extending outward from the open end of the bag body. The conical upper portion has a raised, inner, central section with a divider member that segregates the inner central section into a plurality of inner receptacle compartments. A substantially cylindrical, hollow connector section fits snugly within the open end of the bag body, and includes a frame with radial arms.

Abstract: A novel irrigation valve having a single central inlet and a plurality of radially located outlets each covered by a sliding disk valve. Each disk valve is manually operable and in automatic mode is operated by the interference action of an innovative indexing mechanism which uses the hydraulic pressure of the inlet for its operation a single three-way solenoid valve is energized to actuate a piston within the indexing mechanism while a pin-teeth engagement of a cylinder-indexer assembly converts the linear motion of a piston rod into a rotary motion of an indexing arm. A battery operated timer controls the time intervals between each incremental rotation of an indexing arm in sequence until it is returned to its home position. The housing of the valve is compact and of low profile, thereby simplifying its manufacturing, assembling, installation and maintenance and reducing cost.

Abstract: A personal vehicle loading and unloading apparatus includes a support structure mounted to a platform such as a truck bed which supports the personal vehicle, and a moveable ramp mounted telescopically within the support structure. The ramp is manually moveable between a retracted position where substantially the entire ramp is within the truck bed and an extended position where substantially the entire ramp extends from the truck bed. The ramp and the support structure each have an upper surface over which the bottom surface of the personal vehicle, or a conveyor for the vehicle, rides as the personal vehicle is moved to and from the truck bed. These upper surfaces each comprise an anti-friction material having a kinetic friction coefficient no greater than 0.5. A winch mechanism mounted to the support structure pulls the personal vehicle into the truck bed during loading and lowers slowly the personal vehicle from the truck bed during unloading.

Abstract: A corner connector for siding retainers having a unitary structure includes a base plate which is adapted to be attached to a wall that is to be covered with strips of siding. The base plate has a generally orthogonal-shaped edge portion formed by first and second members. Each member has a connecting end and a receiving end over which a siding retainer is adapted to slide and each sized to be received snugly within a channel in a siding retainer slid over an individual member. There is a corner section to which the connecting ends of the first and second members are joined so that the first and second members are at an angle of substantially 90.degree.. The corner section has raised segments where each of the connecting ends join the corner section. The raised segments serve as stops which abut an end of a retainer slid over an individual member.

Abstract: A support rail for a boxspring includes a cross bar having opposed ends, and a bracket attached to each end. Each bracket has a gripper arm and is mounted to move laterally across the end to which it is attached between an extended position and a retracted position. An end section of each of end of the cross bar and a connection section of each of the brackets is made of a malleable material, from which a lock mechanism is formed to releasably interlocked together the cross bar and brackets when the brackets are in the retracted position. The lock mechanism includes a locking element and a receptacle, with the receptacle formed in either the bracket or the cross bar and the locking element formed in either bracket or the cross bar depending on the position of the receptacle.

Abstract: An anti-theft device disables the engine of an automotive vehicle during an attempted robbery by breaking the rotor of the engine's distributor. The distributor has a plurality of electrodes and the rotor is moved through a circular path during operation of the engine to make electrical contact with the electrodes to generate sparks in the engine's combustion chamber. A stopper element mounted to be moved between a first position where the stopper element is in the path of the rotor and a second position where the stopper element is displaced from the path of the rotor. A solenoid selectively moves the stopper element between the first and second positions by manual actuating a hidden switch. The rotor is made of a material which fractures upon engaging the stopper element, so that, with the stopper element in the rotor's path, the rotor is fractured to prevent contact with the electrodes and the generation of sparks.

Abstract: Disclosed is an assembly 10 of a writing implement 12 and a pick 13. The pick 13 is attached by a hinge 32 to a spring clip 18 for holding the writing implement 12 to a user's pocket. The hinge 32 enables the pick 13 to move between a first position where the pick is disposed in a slot in the spring clip and a second position where the pick extends outward from the slot. The pick 13 comprises a generally conically shaped body made of a polymeric material that is unlikely to injure the gums of a user and terminates in a point.

Abstract: A device 10 detects the presence of occult blood in feces by employing a sheet 12 of brittle material in which are formed a plurality of chambers 18 holding a liquid reagent solution juxtaposed to an absorbant material 14 impregnated with a guaiac material. The individual chambers 18 provide individual liquid tight enclosures that have thin walls that rupture to release the reagent solution when the device 10 is used to wipe feces from the rectum. The reagent solution reacts with the guaiac material to produce a blue color in the presence of occult blood in the feces.