Abstract: An improvement for a low frictional connection between a first element and a second element wherein one of the elements rotates with respect to the other, such as a crankshaft and a connecting rod, includes the addition of a helical member located between the elements. One of the elements i.e., a crankshaft, would include a convex journal surface and the other element i.e., a connecting rod, would include a concave receptacle surface. The helical member is located around the journal surface. A bearing is positioned between the two elements directly adjacent to the helical member and moves against the helical member. The helical member is capable of being hardened and/or machined such that it presents a low frictional surface for the bearing to move against.

Abstract: A device for cropping photographs can be constructed utilizing upper and lower frames which are movable with respect to one another. Each of the frames has two edges located at right angles to one another; the frames are located one above another so that the edges of the frames define a rectilinear opening. The size of this opening can be varied by moving the two frames in a linear manner. The ratio between the lengths of the sides of the opening can be varied by varying the relative positions of the upper and lower frames including the noted edges.

Abstract: A relatively inexpensive electric soldering iron and handle structure can be constructed so as to be relatively simple to assemble by utilizing cooperating holding elements within a tubular handle to form a holder. This holder serves to support or hold a socket adapted to support a heating element and a cord retainer in place within the handle. The holder is in turn held in place within the handle through the use of cooperating detent elements on both the holder and on the handle. The parts of the soldering handle structure are dimensioned so that the parts previously identified can be inserted as a unit into the handle through one end of the handle as the cord is withdrawn outwardly from the other end of the handle.

Abstract: A variable speed vehicle has a satellite vehicle attached thereto by a connecting member. The variable speed vehicle includes a spring activated motor and a power train which is capable of receiving power from the motor and driving the vehicle at at least two velocities. The connecting member is fixedly attached to the satellite vehicle and movable with respect to the primary vehicle. When the satellite vehicle is moved away from the primary vehicle, the connecting member activates the spring motor, and when so activated, the spring motor returns the satellite vehicle towards the primary vehicle by acting on the connecting member. A velocity governing device is operatively associated with the power train and is responsive to the position of the satellite vehicle with respect to the primary vehicle.

Abstract: A toy vehicle has a body, and attached to the body is a chassis which is movably mounted thereon so as to move vertically up and down relative to the chassis. A motor is located within the vehicle and aside from propelling the vehicle forward over a support surface, the motor additionally drives a mechanism which raises and lowers the body relative to the chassis. When the body is raised relative to the chassis, the vehicle is propelled forward over the support surface by the motor; however when the body is lowered to the chassis, the drive connection between the driving wheel of the vehicle and the support surface is severed, inhibiting forward progress of the vehicle. The vehicle performs the above noted functions in a cyclic manner, repeating one after the other.

Abstract: A wheelchair having a frame capable of supporting the occupant includes a plurality of wheels including two driving wheels. Left and right side levers are mounted on the wheelchair such that the tops of the levers can be moved back and forth reciprocally toward and away from the occupant of the wheelchair. When the levers are in a position towards the occupant of the wheelchair, they are in a neutral position and by pushing away from the occupant from the neutral position to a displaced position, a power stroke is performed. Movement of the levers in the reverse direction back toward the occupant constitutes a return stroke of the same. A power transfer mechanism includes a first and second ratchet operatively associated with each of the driving wheels. The first ratchet allows the driving wheel to free wheel at all times in a forward direction.

Abstract: A toy has a body which is divided into a main section and a supplemental section. The supplemental section is movably mounted on the main section between a first and second position. A motor is located within the main section and connected to the motor are a set of drive wheels. The drive wheels extend out of the bottom of the main section and are positioned such that one of the drive wheels is on one side of the longitudinal center line of the main section and the other of the drive wheels is on the other side of the longitudinal center of the main section and both of the drive wheels are located on one side of the transverse center line of the main section. A guide wheel is located on the main section and is positioned such that at least a portion of the guide wheel extends below the main section and is located on one side of the longitudinal center line of the main section and is on the opposite side of the transverse center line from that of the driving wheels.

Abstract: Oil is preferably recovered from oil shale through the use of a process involving two separate heating steps. During the first of these steps the shale is heated by contact with a hot gas stream while it is agitated for a period and at a temperature which together are such that any significant further heating will cause the vaporization of pyrolysis products of the kerogen within the shale. During the second heating step the shale is further heated by contact with a hot gas stream while being agitated for a period and to a temperature which together are sufficient to produce and volatilize substantially all of the volatiles which can be obtained from or derived from the shale. After the second heating step the vaporized products and the remaining inorganic mineral matrix are separated, and the volatiles are recovered as oil.

Abstract: An improvement in Cartesian diving toy includes modification of both the diving component of the toy and of the receptacle in which the toy dives in. The diving toy includes an air chamber, a section of which is invaginated within the remaining section of the air chamber. The invaginated section is convoluted and is capable of extending or shortening in respect to pressure changes in the environment outside of the air chamber. A propulsion member is connected to the invaginated section of the air chamber and moves in response to the elongation or the shortening of the invaginated section to propel the toy through a liquid. The receptacle for the toy is improved by locating a pump chamber in association with the lower part of the receptacle allowing for complete purging of the air out of the pump chamber. The receptacle further includes a stopper having a protuberance on its lower side which fits within an upstanding wall on the upper portion of the receptacle.

Abstract: An apparatus capable of being used by a child for the production of rubbings includes a housing which is divided into a first section and a second section. The second section is hinged to the first section. At least two elements are located in the first section. Each of the elements has a plurality of independent surfaces with raised relief indicia located on the surfaces. The elements are rotatably mounted in the first section so as to locate at any one time one of the surfaces on each of the elements in a working plane. Each of the surfaces so located in the working plane is capable of supporting material which is capable of receiving a rubbing. The second section is positionable on the first section in a holding position, so as to hold the material against the surfaces in the working plane during the production of the rubbing. The rubbing is produced by drawing a crayon or the like over the surface of the material to transfer the outline of the raised relief on to the material.

Abstract: A teaching toy has a stop action feature which allows operators of the toy to momentarily stop the action of the toy in order for one of the operators to make a guess as to a question which is being asked by the toy. The teaching toy includes a housing with at least two operator interface members located on the housing. A control mechanism is located in the housing in association with each of the operator interface members. Each of the operator interface members are capable of independently interacting with the control mechanism such that as soon as a first of the operator interface members interacts with the control mechanism, further interaction with subsequent operator interface members is prevented. Interaction of one of the operator interface members with the control mechanism controls the output of an output mechanism which displays a card or the like utilized in a learning process.

Abstract: A pipe clamp is formed with a body and the body includes a wall. The wall is formed as a loop which completely surrounds an aperture except for an interstice opening through the wall into the aperture. The portions of the wall located on either side of the interstice forms first and second wall ends. The body also includes a foot joined to the wall. A discontinuous passageway passes through the first and second wall ends and through the foot. This passageway is capable of receiving an object such as a nail. The size of the nail utilized is such that its length is greater than the length of the passageway such that when the nail is located within the passageway a portion of the nail is capable of holding the first and second wall ends together in fixed association and a further portion of the nail is capable of extending out of the passageway beyond the foot.

Abstract: A lock for use with a garage door having an automatic garage door opener attached thereto includes a housing which attaches to the garage door. A bracket attaches to the inside of the garage and is positioned such that the housing and the bracket are in close proximity to each other when the garage door is closed. An element is movably mounted on the housing to move between a locked and unlocked position. The automatic garage door opener attaches to the element and is capable of moving both the element between its locked and unlocked positions and moving the garage door via motion imparted to the door via the housing and the element. When the garage door is closed and the element is moved from its unlocked to its locked position the garage door is securely locked against being opened by an outside influence.

Abstract: A fire retardant material is formed by intimately associating the unexpanded form of perlite in association with a permeable mass of silica glass, said association is formed by permeating said perlite into said mass of glass. The composition comprises particles of unexpanded perlite less than 100 mesh and preferredly no larger than 200 mesh and the permeable glass comprises a glass fiber mat. The fire retardant material can be formed as a unified body capable of being applied onto other structural components or alternately, it can be intimately bonded to the surface of structural components as a veneer layer. Upon exposure to combustion temperatures the perlite expands from its unexpanded form to its expanded form at or near the deformation point of the glass mat followed by reaction of the perlite and the glass to form a flame-impenetrable ceramic.

Abstract: A device for evaporative cooling of large masses of air suitable for cooling structures utilized to shelter commercial animals, such as cows and the like, includes a member having a gas inlet, a gas outlet and a hollow interior extending between the inlet and outlet. A fan and motor are associated with the inlet for moving air into the inlet creating an air stream within the interior of the member. A plurality of vanes are located within the interior of the member for introducing a torsional component into the air stream passing through the member such that the air stream moves through the member in a spiral pathway. As the air stream spirals through the member, a spray of water is introduced into the member. The spray becomes incorporated into the spirally moving air stream to reduce the temperature of the air stream. After exiting out of the outlet of the member, the air stream is directed toward the animals of commercial interest to cool both the animals and their immediate surroundings.