Abstract: A fishing lure comprising a V-shaped body, a weight supported on one arm of the body, and a spherical member supported on the other arm of the body is disclosed. When the lure is retrieved through the water, the spherical member imparts a side-to-side motion to the lure.

Abstract: Apparatus for conditioning the air of a supermarket and for removing heat from refrigerated display cases therein is disclosed. The apparatus includes first and second refrigeration apparatus, a chemical dehumidifier which uses a desiccant, a regenerator for the dehumidifier, means for transferring heat to the regenerator to enable regeneration of the desiccant of said dehumidifier, and means for causing air of flow in dehumidifying relationship with the dehumidifier and then into the space. The apparatus is operable to maintain the temperature of the case below that of the supermarket and to deliver dehumidified air to the supermarket to maintain a humidity ratio therein below about 50 grains of moisture per pound of dry air. The first refrigeration apparatus has a heat rejecting section, a compressor, and a heat absorbing section which is operable to transfer heat from the refrigerated case.

Abstract: A seat including a seat back and a seat bottom which is pivotally mounted is disclosed. The seat bottom is pivotally mounted for rotational movement between a first position wherein the seat bottom is substantially horizontal and a second position wherein the seat bottom is angled relative to a horizontal plane. The seat also includes means for maintaining the seat bottom in a number of positions intermediate the first and second positions. An occupant of the seat can select a seat bottom position which provides the best balance between the shock absorbing functions provided by the knees and the posterior.

Abstract: A bowling device comprising a base, at least one transparent overlay, and fasteners for supporting the overlay on the base for limited sliding movement relative thereto is disclosed. A representation of a bowling alley and ten bowling pins is provided on the base. A representation of a path of body travel and a path of ball travel corresponding with one of a variety of bowling styles (i.e. straight ball, hook ball, etc.) is provided on one or more overlays having first and second ends.Slots are provided in the first and second ends of each overlay, at positions adjacent to the end of the path of ball travel and the beginning of the path of body travel. The slots are oriented substantially transversely to the path of ball travel. Pins are secured to the base so that a portion of each pin engages the edges of the first and second slots.

Abstract: A device for dispensing a viscous fluid from and charging a viscous fluid into a canister mounted on a housing of the device is disclosed. The device comprises a reversible auger-type pump including an auger having first and second ends. The first end of the auger is in communication with a nozzle conduit for conducting a viscous fluid between the first end of the auger and a nozzle provided on the nozzle conduit. The second end of the auger is in communication with the canister. The device further includes a motor and associated gearing for connecting the motor to the auger in driving relationship. Power cell means are provided to supply current to the motor. The polarity of the current so supplied is controllable by a switch so that, when current of a given polarity is supplied to the motor, the auger will rotate in a first direction to fill the canister and when the polarity of the current is reversed, the auger will rotate in the opposite direction to dispense from the canister.

Abstract: A mailbox provided with a first signal flag mounted for rotation between a first position indicating the presence of mail in the box to be picked up by the mail carrier and a second, neutral position is disclosed. A flange depending from the first signal flag is adapted to frictionally engage a portion of the mailbox door when the first signal flag is in the first position thereby retaining the first signal flag in the first position. When the mailbox door is opened, for example, by a mail carrier, the frictional engagement is broken and gravity causes the first signal flag to rotate to the second, neutral position. The mailbox is provided with a second signal flag mounted for rotation between a first position indicating that a mail carrier has opened the mailbox door to insert mail and a second, neutral position.

Abstract: A reamer for removing material from a packing cylinder bore of an expansion joint is disclosed. A housing is provided which consists of a hollow cylindrical body having a threaded outer surface and a threaded inner surface. The threaded outer surface of the housing is adapted to cooperate with a threaded sidewall of a cavity formed in the packing cylinder such that the housing can be selectively retained therein. A shaft assembly is provided within the hollow cylindrical body of the housing. The shaft assembly includes a head portion, a threaded intermediate portion, and a bit portion. The threaded intermediate portion is adapted to engage the threaded inner surface of the housing. Rotation of the shaft assembly causes the bit portion to be rotated and advanced through the packing cylinder bore to remove the packing material therefrom.

Abstract: An assembly of a plurality of hooks with a particular curtain structure is disclosed. The curtain structure includes straps which extend from an edge of a curtain and a fabric layer attached to the curtain in the vicinity of each strap. Each hook has first and second spaced legs which depend from a web, and a third leg which depends from the web between the first and second legs, and has an upturned free end which constitutes a hook member. The legs of the hooks are supported relative to the curtain by the fabric layer. The straps of the curtain structure have free ends with openings therethrough, and are so sized that the curtain structure can be installed by passing the straps over a suitably mounted rod and slipping the openings in the free ends thereof over the hook members. The hook members are so shaped that, when the curtain is so installed, a second curtain can be installed by slipping openings in the vicinity of its upper edge over the hook members.

Abstract: An improved ball and socket type joint for use in a fluid conduit and an improved method of forming such a joint are disclosed. The joint comprises ball and socket portions each provided with communicating internal passageways. The socket portion of the joint is formed from two members, namely a cylindrically draped socket retainer body and a socket transition. A first end of the socket retainer body is provided with a ball retaining flange, while a second end is adapted to mate with and be welded to a neck region provided on the socket transition. The ball portion of the joint includes a spherically shaped end. To assemble the joint, the socket retainer is initially disposed about the spherical end of the ball portion so as to enclose it. The second end of the socket retainer is then moved toward the socket transition until they mate. Lastly, the socket retainer and the socket transition are welded together so as to form an integral socket portion for permanently retaining the ball.

Abstract: A structural aid for assisting an occupant of a vehicle in rising from a seated position in the vehicle to a standing position outside the vehicle is disclosed. The structural aid includes sleeve means mounted in a door frame of the automobile and a handlebar insertable therein. The handlebar includes a sleeve-engaging portion adapted to be inserted in and withdrawn from the sleeve means and a handle portion graspable by the occupant. The sleeve means and the handlebar are configured so that when the sleeve-engaging portion is inserted in the sleeve means, the handlebar extends generally outwardly from the vehicle and the handle portion is positioned so as to be readily grasped by an occupant of the vehicle.

Abstract: An improved spark plug, capable of suppressing radio-frequency electromagnetic interference from internal combustion engine ignition systems such as those commonly used in motor vehicles, is disclosed. The plug comprises a shell releasably engageable with an engine, an insulator mounted in the shell, a center electrode seated within the insulator and a ground electrode structurally integral with the shell and in spark gap relationship with the center electrode. The spark plug is further characterized in that at least a portion of its insulator has a dielectric constant sufficiently high that the effective dielectric constant of the insulator is at least 30, and the relationships among the elements of the spark plug and the effective value of the dielectric constant of the insulator are such that the spark plug has a capacitance of at least 20 picofarads. Preferably, the spark plug has a capacitance of from 20 to 100 picofarads, most desirably from 30 to 80 picofarads.

Abstract: Magnesium alloys containing up to 12 percent of aluminum, up to 30 percent of zinc, up to 1.5 percent of silicon, not more than 0.15 percent of manganese, and from 0.0025 percent to 0.0125 percent of dissolved beryllium are disclosed. The alloys are resistant to oxidation when they are in a molten state. A method for die casting such alloys is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for producing a composite spark plug electrode is disclosed. The method comprises forming a first metal into a cup having an open end, a closed end and a wall surrounding a central opening which extends a distance z from the closed end to the open end. The method also comprises forming, from a second and different metal, a right circular cylindrical core sized to be received in the central opening in close fitting relationship with the wall therearound, and extending from the closed end toward the open end a distance less than z, and positioning the core in the central opening, thereby forming a composite billet having first and second ends corresponding, respectively, with the open and closed ends of the cup. Finally, a portion of the composite billet is extruded, second end first, through an extrusion orifice of a die with a force applied to the first end of the composite billet by an end of a tool.

Abstract: An improvement in a method for producing a glass article is disclosed. The method includes the steps of lubricating the walls of a mold cavity by igniting a gas therein, introducing a gob into the mold cavity, and pressing the gob to a desired shape. The improvement involves the use, as the gas ignited in the mold cavity, of a mixture of a methyl acetylene/propadiene gas and a hydrocarbon gas having an acetylenic triple bond. The proportion of the hydrocarbon having an acetylenic triple bond is controlled to one at which the flame which results from igniting the gas mixture is capable of penetrating an air lock in a deep mold cavity. Usually, the hydrocarbon gas having an acetylenic triple bond has from two to six carbon atoms and constitutes from 1 percent by volume to 10 percent by volume of the gas mixture.