Abstract: A buckle is provided for use with a halter. The buckle includes a first coupler sized for close fitting insertion into a second coupler. A triangular shaped latch is pivotally secured within the second coupler for retaining the first coupler therein. A spring is enclosed within the latch for biasing the latch in a locking position.

Abstract: Bales of filamentary material are separated into weighed charges of the material by disintegrating the bales in a rotating drum to produce tufts that are passed to a picking chamber wherein a toothed roll strips individual filaments from a supply roll formed from the tufts and passing the filaments to scales upon which the charges are accumulated. Each time a charge is accumulated on a scale, air is blown across the scale to discharge the scale. The charges are delivered to a magazine having a plurality of vertically stacked chambers, each chamber underlain by a movable gate, through which the charges are passed sequentially to be discharged at a fixed schedule from the lowermost chamber. Spikes mounted on the interior of the drum are shaped to loosen portions of bales entering the drum, tear tufts from such portions, and finally deposit the tufts into an air stream passing through the drum to expel the tufts.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a thread dyeing apparatus and method for dyeing a thread. The apparatus comprises a support housing which stores and applies dye to thread moving through a thread opening in the housing. The housing is positioned between the thread source and the end use. In one preferred embodiment, the apparatus is used to dye thread during operation of a sewing machine. The support housing is positioned between the thread spool and the needle of the machine.

Abstract: A system for baling strands of material wherein a predetermined quantity of strands of material is compressed into a bale of strands of material having a density of at least about 14 pounds per cubic foot and having a substantial portion portion of the bale unmatted, the system being particularly useful for baling easter grass. The system includes a baler wherein the strands of material are compressed in a substantially enclosed portion of the baler to form the bale of material. In the system, a predetermined weight comprising a portion of the total desired weight of a bale of material is compressed, and additional portions are added and compressed until the total desired weight has been compressed into a bale of material.

Abstract: Anti-estrogenic cyclopropyl analogs such as 1,1-dichlorocis-2,3-diphenylcyclopropane, when administered to a subject function as anti-tumor agents to prevent the development of estrogen-dependent tumors in the subject and substantially arrest the growth and metastatic involvement of existing estrogen-dependent tumors in the subject. Further, the anti-estrogenic cyclopropyl analogs may be used as anti-estrogenic agents and as fertility agents in the treatment of female infertility. The cyclopropyl analogs useful as anti-tumor, anti-estrogenic and female fertility agents have the general structure ##STR1## wherein: X is a halogen or hydrogen atom;R.sub.1 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group containing from 1 to about 3 carbon atoms, a monocyclic group, a hydroxy substituted monocyclic group, an alkoxy substituted monocyclic group in which the alkyl substituent contains from 1 to about 3 carbon atoms or an acetoxy substituted monocyclic group;R.sub.

Abstract: A target illuminating aiming system, for use with a firing weapon in reduced lighting, is provided with a light assembly for generating light and a light focusing assembly for directing the light generated by the light assembly at a target area into a first zone and a second zone. The second zone generally overlies the first zone and provides sufficient illumination of the target area such that an individual firing the weapon is better able to identify the target area. The first zone is alignable with the trajectory of a projectile fired form the weapon such that the projectile impacts in or near that portion of the target defined by the first zone.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a thread dyeing apparatus and method for dyeing a thread. The apparatus comprises a marker having a transorb material and a nib with dyeing liquid being disposed in the marker housing as passing through the transorb material to the nib. A slit is formed in the nib. The slit is sized so the thread extends through the slit in the nib wherein the dyeing liquid is applied to the thread. In one embodiment, the apparatus is used to dye thread during operation of a sewing machine and, in this embodiment, the marker is positioned between the thread source and the needle of the machine. In other embodiment, the apparatus is utilized for applying a thread lubricant to the thread.

Abstract: A method of detecting the presence of first antibodies against a chorionic gonadotropin-like substance in a first biological sample obtained from an organism other than domestic poultry. The first biological sample is contacted with a chorionic gonadotropin-like substance, preferably isolated from Progenitor cryptocides microorganism, which has been immobilized on a solid phase, under conditions permitting first antibody/chorionic gonadotropin-like substance binding. Unbound sample components are removed from the solid phase, and a plurality of second antibodies, each comprising an immunological conjugate of the first antibody, are contacted with the solid phase, under conditions permitting second antibody/first antibody binding. Unbound second antibodies are removed from the solid phase and the presence of chorionic gonadotropin-like substance/first antibody/second antibody complex, if any, is observed, as a measure of the presence of first antibodies in the first biological sample.

Abstract: A swing check valve having a readily replaceable valve seat and having a cage surrounding the disc in the final closing movement of the disc sized to guide the disc evenly onto the seat.

Abstract: A trap for capturing crawling insects is provided. The trap includes a cylindrical outer housing, a container slidably inserted within the outer housing and a conical entrant lid is detachably secured to the upper end of the container. The outer housing is positioned in the ground such that when the container is inserted therein, the conical entrant lid is substantially level with the ground. Insects traversing the conical entrant lid cascade into the container and are retained therein. The trap also includes a lifting ball pivotally secured to the container for removing the container from the outer housing.

Abstract: A swing check valve having a readily replaceable valve seat and having a cage surrounding the disc in the final closing movement of the disc sized to guide the disc evenly onto the seat.

Abstract: A swing check valve having a readily replaceable valve seat and having a cage surrounding the disc in the final closing movement of the disc sized to guide the disc evenly onto the seat.

Abstract: A swing check valve having a readily replaceable valve seat and having a cage surrounding the disc in the final closing movement of the disc sized to guide the disc evenly onto the seat.

Abstract: A riding apparatus, such as a water ski board or snow ski board, in which the rider's feet are positionable within bindings formed on first and second riding plates. Each riding plate is positionable above a channel section formed within a rider support surface of the riding apparatus. Fasteners supported by each riding plate are releasably engageable with retaining elements installed within the channel section. After loosening the fasteners from the retaining elements, each riding plate may be repositioned angularly or longitudinally with respect to its channel section, thereby permitting the apparatus to be used with a variety of stances and leg spacings.

Abstract: A porch adapted for use with a mobile living unit. The porch is moveable from a traveling position wherein the base is disposed generally under the mobile living unit to a support position wherein the base extends a distance from one side of the mobile living unit.

Abstract: A continuously variable transmission having pulleys mounted on parallel input and output shafts and an endless belt engaging both pulleys for power transmission from the input shaft to the output shaft. The pulley on the output shaft is split into axially spaced halves having facing conical surfaces for variation of the radius at which the belt engages such pulley. One or both halves of the pulley on the output shaft have threaded bores mating with threaded portions of the output shaft.

Abstract: A system for testing the conditions of at least one pair of contacts to determine if the contacts are opened or closed comprising a transmit circuit and a receive circuit. The transmit circuit generates and outputs a test signal having a known frequency and the test signal is optically coupled to the contacts. The receiving circuit receives the test signal from the contacts and outputs one output indication indicating the contacts are closed in response to receiving the test signal and outputs one other indication indicating the contacts are opened in resposne to not receiving the test signal. The receiving circuit also optically couples the test signal from the contacts to the indicating means.