Abstract: This isometric/isotonic exercise and physical therapy system is based on a series of elongated exercise rods made of urethane or other resilient, elastomeric resin that is both bendable and twistable. The exercise or therapy afforded by the system depends on the resilient exercise rod or rods; for a relatively limp, low-resistance rod the exercise is essentially isotonic, but with stiffer rods isometric exercise or therapy is provided. The system includes devices that mount the rod or rods on the person using the system for varied exercises of the knee, elbow, hip, wrist, back, or virtually any other portion of the user's anatomy.

Abstract: Metal hydrides for absorbing hydrogen which are capable of undergoing repeated charge/discharge cycles of absorbing and desorbing hydrogen at high temperatures and cycles through a high temperature followed by a low temperature. These alloys are intended for use in devices such as heat pumps, heat exchangers, energy storage devices, thermal actuators, temperature sensors and electrochemical cells. The alloys generally comprise the chemical formulaA.sub.1-x B.sub.xwhereA is selected from the group of elements consisting of Ti, Hf, Y,B is selected from the group of elements consisting of Nb, Ni, Co, and Fe,and x is in a range from 0.05 to approximately 0.80, and specific alloys comprise hafnium-nickel (HfNi), hafnium cobalt (HfCo), hafnium-iron (Hf.sub.2 Fe), yttrium-nickel (YNi) and titanium-niobium Ti.sub.1-x Nb.sub.x, where x is in a range of from 0.05<.times.<0.60.

Abstract: A composite knob having a core formed of a hard plastic material and an outer covering of a softer plastic material. The core includes a front wall with an integral bent around skirt, a hub and an axially rearwardly extending stanchion. The softer plastic material covers the outer surface of the front wall and integral bent around skirt of the core. A narrow passage extends through the front wall, the bent around skirt and the outer covering and leads to the stanchion. A position indicator of contrasting color relative to the softer plastic material is inserted in the narrow passage and has a detent to engage the end of the stanchion to lock the position indicator in place with a portion thereof extending above the outer covering of the knob.

Abstract: An exercise and physical therapy device for a human anatomical part (e.g. a foot and ankle) includes a support. An adjustable, resilient torsion device, capable of both twisting and bending motion, has one end affixed to the support; an engagement member, for engagement with a human anatomical part, is mounted on the other end of the torsion device. In one embodiment the support is pivotally mounted on a base plate, and an elevating latch mechanism latches the support at one of several angular positions relative to the base plate. In another embodiment the support constitutes the base of the device and a plurality of bumpers mounted on the support limit angular deflection of the engagement member relative to the support.

Abstract: A switch has a carrier sheet with electrodes formed on an internal side thereof to form switch contacts. An armature is held in slidable contact with the internal side of the carrier and the electrodes by a magnet disposed on the external surface of the carrier. The magnet is carried in a knob mounted on the external side of the membrane carrier for rotary, linear or complex motion. When a user manipulates the knob the magnet drags the armature either into or out of shorting relation with the electrodes. A magnetic detent gear can be incorporated to provide tactile feedback. A pushbutton version of the switch can be made with a pivotable armature normally held spaced from electrodes on the substrate by a magnet. A membrane and spacer may be added to protect and seal the electrodes and armature.

Abstract: A sweeping machine has a body, wheels supporting the body for movement over a surface to be swept and a rotatable brush mounted to the body transversely of the direction of movement of the sweeping machine. There is a debris hopper adjacent the rotatable brush and positioned generally forwardly of the direction of rotation of the brush. The body mounts a dust collection chamber and a vacuum fan, with the vacuum fan drawing dust laden air from the area about the brush through the debris hopper and into the dust collection chamber. The improvement is directed to a dust control side skirt assembly mounted on each side of the body generally in alignment with the brush. Each assembly includes an inner skirt and an outer skirt spaced outwardly from the inner skirt throughout at least a substantial portion of its length. There is an ambient air opening between the skirts generally at the rear end thereof.

Abstract: A temporary identification card having smooth edges is formed from a carrier of continuous form stock having indicia printed on its upper and/or lower surfaces. A retainer patch adheres to the bottom surface of the carrier by means of an adhesive area. The retainer patch has first and second plastic layers chemically bonded to one another. The card is die cut all the way around its perimeter, the die cutting extending through the form stock, the adhesive and the first layer of the retainer patch but not the second layer. The bond between the first and second layers of the retainer patch allows the second layer to retain the card in the carrier until such time as a user chooses to remove the card from the carrier.

Abstract: An amorphous semiconductor thin film light emitting diode comprising of a first electrode metal sheet substrate, amorphous semiconductor layers and a second optically transparent electrode. The first electrode metal sheet substrate acts as the support of the electrode and provides ruggedness, good thermal stability and dissipation of heat, good reflectance and flexibility. The device may further include electrically insulating layers which cause a pattern of light to be emitted by the diode, by controlling the passage of current through areas of the amorphous semiconductor layers.

Abstract: A system for automatically producing audio and video records of every procedure performed in a surgical operating room. Video cameras are mounted in the operating room to capture video of each surgical procedure performed. Microphones are mounted in the operating room to pick up audio from each procedure. Videocassette recorders located at a remote master recording facility communicate over telephone lines with the equipment at the operating room and create an audio/video record from the video images and audio generated by the video cameras and microphones. Motion and photoelectric sensors mounted in the operating room detect the presence of persons and start and stop the videocassette recorders at the recording facility in response thereto.

Abstract: A wire fastening tool has a wire mounting portion on which one end of a wire is to be mounted, a containing portion into which a movable member is to be inserted from outside and removably contained, and at least two openings which are formed in a peripheral wall forming the containing portion and into which the other end of the wire is to be inserted. The movable member is inserted with the other end of the were passed through the openings and inserted in the containing portion, whereby the wire is bent between the movable member and the containing portion and is pressed between the outer surface of the movable member and the inner surface of the containing portion.

Abstract: A flush valve for use on toilet devices such as urinals and water closets has a body with an inlet and an outlet and a connecting passage. There is a valve seat at one end of the passage and a diaphragm is positioned to control the flow of water through the passage and close upon the valve seat. A guide member is attached to the underside of the diaphragm and positioned within the passage. There is a refill ring attached to the guide member. The refill ring has an upstream end which is peripherally spaced from the passage when the diaphragm is closed on the valve seat. The refill ring has a downstream water flow control portion having a plurality of first water flow paths which, when the diaphragm is away from the valve seat, provide the major water flowway between the inlet and the outlet. The refill ring water flow control portion has a plurality of second water flow paths, parallel with the first water flow paths, which are formed to provide a smaller volume of flow than said first water flow paths.

Abstract: A slicing station for a high speed food loaf slicing machine that slices one, two, or more food loaves simultaneously using one cyclically driven knife blade; the slices are stacked or shingled in groups on a receiving conveyor located below the slicing station. Independent loaf feed drives are provided so that slices cut from one loaf may be thicker than slices from the other. The slicing station, enclosed by a housing except for a limited slicing opening, includes a knife blade having an elongated arcuate cutting edge and a drive that moves the knife blade at a predetermined cyclic rate along a closed cutting path through the slicing range, which range intersects the ends of food loaves fed at predetermined rates into the slicing station. A marker moving with the blade is sensed by a fixed sensor to establish a home position for the blade. There is a honing device to sharpen the cutting edge of one type of blade, with the blade in its home position.

Abstract: This invention relates to a diode pumped slab laser in the form of a slab where two opposite faces are adapted to receive pumping radiation with the faces being cut at the Brewsters angle at one end to provide entrance/exit faces for the lasing radiation. The laser radiation beam follows a zig-zag path in the slab and is contained within the slab by total internal reflection. The laser slab is contained within an optical cavity which results in the laser beam completing a double zig-zag beam path. The design results in good pump/mode matching, mitigates thermally induced birefringence problems, overcomes amplified spontaneous emission problems, requires no coatings or curved surfaces, and is easy and relatively inexpensive to make. The slab can be used within both Quasi-CW and CW modes.

Abstract: A sweeping machine includes a sweeping brush, a hopper having an inlet for receiving debris from said sweeping brush, an opening in said hopper and a vacuum system for creating an air flow path from the hopper inlet through the opening. There is a filter positioned in the hopper opening and a peripheral flexible seal between the inlet side of the filter and the hopper opening. A vibratory filter cleaner is positioned adjacent the outlet side of the filter to impart vibration thereto. There is a closure which encloses the filter and the filter cleaner and there is a second peripheral flexible seal between the filter outlet side and the closure. The filter is movable between the spaced peripheral seals at its inlet and outlet sides whereby vibratory cleaning force applied by the filter cleaner causes vibration of the filter to provide cleaning thereof.

Abstract: An adjustable backset latch which may also function as a spring latch includes a front case and a rear case telescopically movable relative to the front case. There is a bolt axially movable within the front case and a spring biases the bolt outwardly from the front case. A plunger is positioned adjacent the bolt and axially movable within the front case. A spring biases the plunger outwardly from the front case. A swivel is rotatable in the rear case and there is a retractor movable within the front and rear cases and in engagement with the bolt. A pinion connects the retractor to the swivel such that rotation of the swivel moves the retractor and bolt. Backset, the distance between the axis of rotation of the swivel and the front of the faceplate is adjustable. A flexible backset latching element is mounted on the interior of the rear case and has an outwardly extending projection which passes through an opening in the rear case.

Abstract: A railroad car hatch cover assembly includes a ring which defines a car body opening. There is a peripheral seal attached to the ring. A hatch cover is hinged to the ring and closes upon the ring and seal to close the car body opening. There is a lock assembly generally diametrically opposite the hinge for securing the hatch cover in a closing position. The hatch cover has a peripheral sloping side wall and an integral top. The side wall has a bottom surface. The angle between the sloping peripheral side wall and the side wall bottom surface is constant over the interior periphery of the cover. The height of the sloping side wall gradually increases from a minimum height adjacent the hinge and lock assembly to a maximum height generally midway between the hinge and lock assembly.

Abstract: This isometric/isotonic exercise and physical therapy system is based on a series of elongated exercise rods made of urethane or other resilient, elastomeric resin that is both bendable and twistable. The exercise or therapy afforded by the system depends on the resilient exercise rod or rods; for a relatively limp, low-resistance rod the exercise is essentially isotonic, but with stiffer rods isometric exercise or therapy is provided. The system includes devices that mount the rod or rods on the person using the system for varied exercises of the knee, elbow, hip, wrist, back, or virtually any other portion of the user's anatomy.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a composite article having a front face containing a visible icon, which front face may be planer or arcuate. The method includes the steps of forming a core having perforate and imperforate portions in the core thereby creating a stencil defining the icon; forming an anvil having supporting surfaces in the shape of the icon and seated in supporting contact with the stencil; and forming the front layer of the article by injection molding an opaque plastic covering the front face of the core except for the imperforate portions of the stencil defining the icon. The composite article includes a core having a front face and a rear face with perforate and imperforate portions of the core forming a stencil defining the icon. An opaque plastic layer is formed on the front face of the core and covers the stencil except for the icon portion thereof.