Abstract: A changeable letter for signs is provided as a part of an illuminated sign or copy board system which provides different appearances when the changeable letters are alternately backlit or frontlit. The letter, understood to include letters, symbols and numerals, includes a translucent plate and first, second or additional layers of opaque, indicia-defining material applied thereto. The second layer is preferably of a lighter color than the first layer, and when superposed thereon, presents the appearance of a lighter colored letter surrounded by a darker border. However, when the letter is backlit as it would appear at nighttime positioned on an illuminated sign, the letter presents a black or otherwise darkened appearance surrounded by the lighted portion of the sign.

Abstract: Modular, firearm support cradles, an assembled rack and means for securing the cradles and rack to a variety of vehicle configurations. The rack includes a longitudinal frame member and from which project multiple padded cradles. Strap fasteners and lock means respectively restrain firearms and sundry paraphernalia to the cradles and rack. A telescoping expander bar assembly and mating extension arms permit a vehicle ceiling mount and/or roll bar mount of the rack. Cradles having sleeves which mate to the expander bar assembly facilitate user tailored mountings. A clamp plate assembly and mating extension arms permit a vertical divider mount of the rack.

Abstract: A dustless cat litter including a wetting additive to agglomerate dust to litter ingredients and promote hydration. Exemplary wetting additives are water soluble, anionic, nonionic, amphoteric or synthetic surfactants, surfactant mixtures, soaps or synthetic detergents which are applied to the litter ingredients to bind dust and fines contained in the mixtures. A masking fragrance, neutralizer or attractant may be admixed with the surfactant. Exemplary hydrating cat litter or additive mixtures, which solidify upon contact with liquids to encapsulate pet waste matter, include a granulated base material (e.g. whole or coarse ground agricultural grains, pulse crops, clay granules or mixtures thereof), a gluten containing material (e.g. semolina or ground wheat) and may include sodium bicarbonate and/or a carrier bound fragrance. A quantity of surfactant on the order of 1/2 to 7 oz. per 10 pounds litter containing 5% to 10% fines is applied to the ingredients during blending of the mixture.

Abstract: An elastomer fishing lure dressing retainer and mating sound chamber. A body piece secures the retainer to a lure and/or to a lure dressing. One or more integral, accessory retainers radiate from the body to secure a rattle or other dressings to the lure. Alternative retainers provide open looped bands or tubular body and accessory pieces to contain a discreet rattle, scent, beads and/or a plug which enhances sound and/or stores scent. Alternative discreet rattle constructions, which mate to the retainers, provide a bead containing housing having a flanged mounting head. A plug may be recessed or project from the housing or a tubular accessory piece and may comprise a bead, or open cavity plug for amplifying sound or storing scent.

Abstract: Discrete circuit devices constructed on a component substrate thermally matched to the supporting substrate of a higher level circuit assembly. Upon securing each component to the supporting substrate of a higher level circuit assembly, a connection subject to reduced thermal stress is obtained. In the construction of an exemplary surface mount, hybrid component containing resistors and capacitors, a component substrate of a polyimide impregnated material is populated with a repeating matrix of chip capacitors and chip resistors, which are adhesively bound and soldered to selected termination pads containing high temperature solder filled through vias. The substrate is epoxy encapsulated and then diced at selected ones of the through vias into multiple components. Each thermally matched component is resoldered at the separated vias to obtain surface mount terminations. Portions of the vias may be exposed through the component sidewall to permit circuit test.

Abstract: A multi-product, self-service merchandising kiosk having a walk-in enclosure, interactive selection panel, illuminated merchandise display, internal drink dispenser and modular, dry goods dispenser having multi-compartmented inventory shelving and bottomless storage drawers. Purchases are selected via audio visual instructions entered at an interactive touch panel containing graphical icons, and a monitor having a menu and overlaid with an array of infrared transmitters and receivers. A programmable controller controls the drink and dry goods dispensers, manages payment transactions via a bill receiver, coin changer, credit card verifier, and receipt printer and provides periodic inventory status reports. A merchandise selector includes a motor driven, track supported collection bin and electromagnetic drawer puller. The selector aligns the bin to selected inventory drawers, extends and retracts the drawers and conveys the selected merchandise to a customer dispenser.

Abstract: A personal support assembly accessible to a wheel chair bound user to support and elevate the user from a seated to an erect posture. A telescoping support column includes an adjustable tabletop, padded chest and leg supports and a pivotally mounted seat and hip support. A base frame includes transport wheels and a foot support. A manually controlled hydraulic lift pivots a cantilevered support arm to the seat support. A base frame of a stationary construction includes transport wheels and a clamped boot restraint. In a user maneuverable construction, a pair of hand wheels independently direct assembly movement via locking drive belt assemblies.

Abstract: A braking system for in-line skates including a skid pad. The skid pad is mounted to transversely pivot within a support bracket or track housing and adjust to ankle cant of a skater. A spring at the skid pad mates to a tapered socket at the bracket to center the pad to the bracket. Side limits prevent over rotation of the skid pad. Insert molded and multi-section skid pad assemblies are disclosed.

Abstract: Flexible contact terminals configured from printed strip circuits and usable with integrated circuit test fixtures. The termination circuits include printed conductive pathways formed on a flexible, multi-layered substrate. The conductive paths are three dimensionally tailored for impedance and resilience. Circuit processing includes steps to profile etch the conductive paths at the X, Y and Z-axis, especially end terminations. A support fixture contains the termination circuits to provide resilient electrical test terminations to circuit components supported to a resilient component support.

Abstract: Dental hand tools including disposable water and air treatment cartridges. In various constructions, cartridges containing selected arrangements of disinfectant media mount to a detachable, hand tool adaptor manifold or to an integral hand tool manifold. The cartridges purify water and air discharged from the hand tool of undesired microbes and pathogens. Seals at a cartridge body retain the cartridge to the manifold and direct liquid and air flow over external surfaces of the cartridge to an interior cavity containing a halogen disinfectant media (e.g. a multi-valent iodine resin) and/or halogen scavenger media and porous spacers. A retainer may interlock the cartridge to the manifold and means may be included to prevent leaching of the disinfectant by the scavenger media. Various constructions of handpieces, syringes and scalers compatible with alternative adaptors or having integral cartridge manifolds are disclosed.

Abstract: Liquid containment apparatus comprising a metal storage tank mounted within a liquid impermeable, cast concrete vault. An open-topped, reinforced casts concrete vault base includes an internal thermal liner, liquid impermeable membrane, vault seal, tank cradles and support legs. Sloped interior walls, a sump and siphon facilitate liquid and/or condensate removal from the base. A vault cover is integrally cast with the tank and supports a number of projecting fill, vent, gauge, inspection, and siphon standpipes. Chamfered and flanged edges at the cover and lift hooks facilitate cover removal and alignment, and tank inspection. The cover and tank are cast in alignment to one another at an elevated, multi-section molding form having sliding wing sections.

Abstract: A modular produce display rack having a rectangular base track removeable, sidewall panels and a hinged, multisection, perforated product support track which mounts to the sidewalls. The support track sections detachably mate at hinge joints and couple to sidewall rails at mating slots. Lateral and longitudinal dividers selectively mount to the support track to segment the display surface. The base track, sidewalls and ones of the support track sections may include extension pieces. The peripheral edge of the sidewalls may be stepped or may be formed to a variety of angular alignments. A variety of rack arrangements are achievable to accommodate displays of any desired height and depth.

Abstract: A locator aid for identifying and permitting the actuation of the number "9" and "1" keys of a rotary or touch telephone keyboard. Each locator includes a base which is fixedly positioned with respect to the telephone, an elongated guide strip, and an intermediate hinge connection between the base and the guide strip. Each base is positioned with respect to the telephone so its guide strip will lie in spaced relation to a finger hole of a rotary dial or in overlying relation to one of the keys of a keyboard. In a preferred construction the locator is constructed of a die cut plastic strip and includes multiple, bendable hinge joints and an adhesive fastener, which permits selective attachment of the locator to a phone body. In other constructions, the locator is integrally molded as an selectively attachable member or is molded as part of the keyboard.