Abstract: There is provided an improved method and apparatus for enabling one to easily hitch a trailer to a motor vehicle. The apparatus includes a rod mounted vertically a predetermined distance from the ball receiving cavity of the hitching tongue on a trailer. A second rod is mounted to the motor vehicle at or near a ball on its trailer hitch. A third rod having a guide at one end is mounted on either the first or the second rod, with the guide being the same distance from the rod upon which it is mounted as the first mentioned predetermined distance.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a slow-release fertilizer comprising the steps of:(a) grinding a first volume of peanut hulls to a particle size of 1/32 to 1/4 inch and a second volume to 1/8 to 1/2 inch,(b) treating said first a volume of hulls with an equal volume of 2N (normal) nitric acid for 30 minutes at 121 degrees C. and 15 p.s.i. pressure to extract and solubilize the liqueous material from the hulls,(c) adding 1 volume of 1 normal solubilized sodium hydroxide to 2 volumes of said second volume of peanut hulls and heating and stirring said mixture until said nutrients are solubilized,(d) heating said second volume of peanut hulls and sodium hydroxide with steam and at a temperature of 121 degrees C. and pressure of 15 p.s.i.

Abstract: There is provided a peristaltic pump which has a base member and a rotor attached to the base member. The rotor is adapted to receive a resilient collapsible tube. The pump further includes a stator having a fixed member disposed in a permanent position relative to the rotor. A door stator is connected to the fixed stator, and the entire stator will confront the periphery of the rotor over at least uninterrupted 180.degree. concave surface. A latch is provided on the door stator, so that it may pivot outward for ease of removal of the tubing.

Abstract: Polyester fibers containing an oxalate complex of the general formulaMe.sub.n [Z(C.sub.2 O.sub.4).sub.m ]are obtained by transesterification of terephthalic acid with ethylene glycol where, in addition to conventional transesterification catalysts, such as bivalent zinc, calcium, magnesium and manganese salts, salt formers are added which form a sparingly soluble salt or a complex with the cation of the transesterification catalyst. Preferably, used salt formers are: pelargonic acid, potassium hydrogen sulfate, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, potassium hydrogen phthalate, potassium oxalate, potassium carbonate, potassium hydrogen oxalate, and oxalic acid. In this way, the increase in pressure before the spinneret is considerably slowed down.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for tightly rolling mats. The mats are moved in a horizontal direction in their flattened condition to a rolling section which includes a plurality of fixed curved fingers and a corresponding plurality of curved spring-loaded fingers. A roller is further provided to move the mat upwardly from the conveyor forming a tight cylindrically shaped mat inside the curve of the fingers. Upper belts are provided above the fingers to further ensure that the mat is rolled tightly.

Abstract: A laminate comprising an insoluble, intractable relatively thick layer of a polyimide bonded tightly onto a metallic substrate without the necessity for an intermediate adhesive bonding layer and a process for preparing such by directly extruding a polyamic acid polyimide-precursor onto said substrate and converting said polyamic acid to the polyimide in a single pass in at least two heating stages.

Abstract: Floor covering material for stables, in particular for tie-stall cowsheds, consisting of a top layer impermeable to moisture and a compressible central layer, the underside showing a honeycomb-like structure, having hump-like projections on the surfaces thereof and a fabric attached to the humps of the honeycomb structure is arranged on the back of the matting.

Abstract: There is provided a marker buoy useful to indicate the location of an underwater structure. The buoy is made from a material having a density less than water, including first and second elongated side members and a central portion therebetween. The central portion receives an elongated twine having a weight attached to its far end. Each side member has a stud extending away therefrom at opposing ends of the buoy. The buoy automatically rotates to dispense the twine when the buoy is placed on the surface of water, and is adapted to be manually rotated by manipulation of the studs to retract the twine.

Abstract: There is provided an improved surgical kit, including a pair of trays, one of which is adapted to be received inside of the other. Each tray includes a plurality of embossments in its bottom for receiving various surgical supplies. After the completion of the surgery the inner tray is adapted to be flipped over and applied as a top to the outer tray with various post-operative materials contained therein.

Abstract: An improved flue cleaner is provided having a scraper and an adjustable fulcrum assembly mounted on opposite sides of the end portion of an elongated rod. The fulcrum assembly includes a roller rotatably mounted on one end of a pivotable beam and is fixed in place by a bracket which is connected to the beam and to the rod in an adjustable fashion.

Abstract: There is provided a self-leveling ladder which is particularly useful on uneven surfaces. The ladder includes an attachment generally U-shaped in form having parallel tubes which are secured to the bottom portion of the legs of the ladder and a tubular bridging mechanism connecting the parallel tubes. Legs are received in the bottom portion of each parallel tube and a plurality of balls are received in the bridge portion and the top portion of the tubes. The balls act to transfer the force from one leg to the other so that when the bottom of the legs are placed on different levels the ladder will automatically level itself.

Abstract: A composite material consisting of at least three layers joined by welds, wherein, in order to prevent the intrusion of cold, as well as to improve the hand, the points of fusion do not join all layers, but in each case only a part thereof. It is especially suitable for the manufacture of clothing and bedding. A new process and apparatus for its manufacture is also disclosed.

Abstract: A pipe and sleeve telescoped joint with the pipe and sleeve in sealing engagement and keys embedded in both pipe and sleeve at their interface. The size and number of the keys are calculated from the size and strength of the pipe. The sleeve is sized and its strength selected from the strength of the pipe, and the sleeve ends are shaped to hold the joint circular when it is made. The apparatus includes means for holding the midportion of the sleeve circular when creating the joint, and for cooperating with the sleeve ends to keep them circular. The sealing engagement is created by firing a propellant into a substantially incompressible medium, like water, held by the apparatus in a cavity about the sleeve, and a piston separates the explosive propellant from the pressure medium.

Abstract: Novel discrete coaxial cable and coaxial cable assembly constructions are disclosed. One preferred embodiment of the invention is a flat coaxial cable assembly. The invention also provides a novel method for manufacturing the coaxial elements which are the primary structural components of the coaxial cables and assemblies. In this method a signal wire and at least one drain wire are embedded in a minor matrix of dielectric material. A portion of the minor matrix material is peeled or skived away to expose the drain wire or wires. The resulting product is then wrapped in metal foil so that the foil makes electrical contact with the exposed drain wires. This step yields a completed coaxial element. A single element may be embedded in a major matrix of dielectric to yield a coaxial cable or several elements may be so embedded to yield a coaxial cable assembly.

Abstract: A pinch-type shut-off, pressure- or flow-regulating valve having a flexible tube extending through a valve body wherein the flexible tube is pinched off by the action of an eccentric cam attached to a motor. As the eccentric cam is rotated the flexible tube can be pinched off as it presses against the opposing wall inside the valve body. A number of positions of pinching off can be achieved and a microswitch can be available to locate the position of the eccentric cam.

Abstract: There is provided an enclosed trailer for transporting stacked cartons containing living fowl. The trailer includes an elongated enclosure having an elongated air duct running along the length of the floor of the trailer. The air duct has a plurality of holes pointed upwardly for forcing air along the length of the trailer towards the ceiling. The cartons are adapted to be stacked and arranged in at least two parallel rows along the length of the floor in a closely spaced parallel arrangement. The air duct is located so as to provide forced air in the spacing between the parallel rows of cartons so that the probability of survival of the fowl during transport is increased.

Abstract: There is provided an improved flat electrical communications cable which includes a plurality of coplaner pairs of elongated, insulated conductors. The pairs of conductors are embedded in a jacket which supports the cable and maintains the spacing among the conductors and pairs. The spacing between conductors in a pair is substantially less than the spacing between each adjacent pair. The jacket is thicker in the regions around each pair and thinner in the regions between each pair, thus forming the valleys and ridges on each side of the jacket. An elongated metal shield covers at least one side of the jacket. The shield conforms to and is contiguous with the valleys and ridges resulting in somewhat of a sinusoidal cross-sectional appearance of the shield. Each conductor includes a dual insulation, the inner insulation being made from a flame retardant material and the outer insulation being made from a different material from the jacket.

Abstract: There is provided an improved locking ring which may be used as a staple and a staple gun for clinching the locking ring. An open ring of spring-like material is provided having a pair of free ends with loops bent back. The open ring is clinched by intermating these loops thus forming a strong locking ring. A staple gun apparatus is provided to clinch the locking ring. A specially shaped die at the end of the staple gun having grooves which are cross-sectional mirror images of one another is utilized.

Abstract: There is provided a termination assembly for a cable shield which is particularly useful in connecting the shield to ground. The termination includes a tubular rivet for compressing a serrated ring into the shield for making electrical and mechanical termination. A resilient Belleville washer is compressed by the rivet for maintaining the termination.