Abstract: Coilable, tape-like structures are disclosed, that contain parallel segments of dental floss. Each segment has a bead on each of its ends for handling by an applicator. The beads can be fixed to the ends of a floss segment, either by melting its ends (without allowing the melted bead to contact a solid surface) or by press fitting the floss into slits in molded beads and fixing them with a bonding agent. The coilable structures can be made, either by mounting the floss segments onto a flexible tape or by fastening beads of adjacent floss segments together. In the latter version, the floss is (optionally) made stiff enough to support its weight, laterally. Apparatus for producing the coilable structures includes an elongated, substantially-flat, rotating chassis on which floss from a tensioning dispenser is wound. In one embodiment, a tape is held onto the upper surface of the chassis while the floss is wound into slits in the edges of the tape.

Abstract: A trailer system has a drawbar that connects to a flat bed via a laterally-swiveling joint. The drawbar has a forward member and an aft member. A clevis structure on the mating-end portion of each drawbar member is formed by two plates fixed to the sides of each drawbar and extending beyond its mating end. The plates on the forward drawbar member are less that half the height thereof and are fixed flush with the upper edge of the drawbar. The plates on the aft drawbar member are similar, and are fixed to the lower half of the drawbar. Aligned holes in the free ends of each pair of plate extensions can be aligned with a hole in the opposite drawbar member. The selection of bolts placed in these aligned holes can make the drawbar rigid for towing (if both bolts are in place), or its two members disconnected (if both bolts are removed), or the drawbar can be made bendable upwardly or downwardly, depending on which set of aligned holes is fastened with a bolt.

Abstract: Coilable, tape-like structures are disclosed, that contain parallel segments of dental floss. Each segment has a bead on each of its ends for handling by an applicator. The beads can be fixed to the ends of a floss segment, either by melting its ends (without allowing the melted bead to contact a solid surface) or by press fitting the floss into slits in molded beads and fixing them with a bonding agent. The coilable structures can be made, either by mounting the floss segments onto a flexible tape or by fastening beads of adjacent floss segments together. In the latter version, the floss is (optionally) made stiff enough to support its weight, laterally. Apparatus for producing the coilable structures includes an elongated, substantially-flat, rotating chassis on which floss from a tensioning dispenser is wound. In one embodiment, a tape is held onto the upper surface of the chassis while the floss is wound into slits in the edges of the tape.

Abstract: A filament of thermoplastic material is formed into a continuous strand of connected beads having a longitudinal slit that penetrates about half way into each bead. This is done by passing the filament between a pair of rotating mold wheels having matching, hemispherical cavities in their outer edges with a central, circumferential flange in the edge of one wheel-the flange forming the slit. An end bead of the filament is loaded into a first clamp that feeds it to second clamp that grasps the bead while a knife severs it from the strand. The second clamp is then moved to force its held bead onto a short span of floss being held by a third clamp, so that the floss is press-fitted into the slit in the bead. The bead and floss are then released by their respective clamps, and a fourth clamp grasps the floss and moves it forward for the required distance between beads so that the next bead can be pressed thereon.

Abstract: A dental floss applicator is especially designed to cooperate with a floss-loading device. It has a pair of resilient, juxtaposed, divergent prongs attached to a handle. Slots in the ends of the prongs enable the applicator to hold floss of the type having rigid nodules fixed to it at spaced-apart intervals. These intervals are somewhat shorter than the relaxed distance between the prongs, so that the prongs bear outwardly against a pair of nodules. A small outwardly-extending shoulder on the end of each prongs serves the purpose of: (1) Trapping a nodule of the floss, so that a span of the floss is firmly retained thereby; (2) Bearing against convergent surfaces of the loading device, by means of which the prongs are compressed toward each other for loading floss thereon; and (3) It is a device whereby the prongs are retained between the convergent surfaces of the loading device (these convergent surfaces have longitudinal, inwardly-extending lips or flanges under which the shoulders of the prongs slide).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a dental floss system is disclosed, using an applicator having two resilient prongs on one end of a handle member and floss having nodules fixed thereto and spaced apart at distances shorter than the relaxed distance between the prongs of the applicator. The prongs have small shoulders on their ends with slots passing through the ends including the shoulders, so that floss can be loaded into the slots and the nodules thereon trapped behind the shoulders to retain the floss on the applicator. The floss is loaded onto the applicator by moving the prongs between two converging surfaces that hold a span of the floss in slots. This compresses the prongs together until the span of floss is intercepted by the slots in the ends of the prongs. The prongs are then removed from the convergent surfaces, whereupon they tend to spring into their relaxed positions, retaining the floss by trapping two of the adjacent nodules thereon behind the shoulders on the prongs.

Abstract: An inversion tube energy absorber, that absorbs energy by inverting a tube, is made to be capable of infinitely variable loading within a prescribed range by addition of a constricting device surrounding the inverted tube where it emerges from its housing. In this device, spherical balls in contact with the tube can be forced inwardly in radial directions by incline surfaces inside a rotatable ring surrounding the balls. This ring can be rotated as desired by turning a dial that is connected to the ring by a flexible shaft via gear systems.The invention also includes the method for making a variable-load energy absorber by addition of a device that creates additional force through plastic deformation in a selective manner in the basic device.

Abstract: A flow control device for use with inflatable confinements or "air bags" of vehicle occupant safety restraint systems is produced by incorporating in the wall of the confinement a fluid permeable portion which has a filamentous surface on one side in which flexible, filamentary projections align themselves in parallel relation as fluid permeates the portion and flows into the bag relatively unrestrictedly, and collapse against the surface as fluid permeates the portion and flows out of the bag relatively more restrictedly to provide rebound protection for the vehicle occupant.

Abstract: A portable cooking grill has an annular frame with parallel bars spanning it. Each of the bars is attached at each end to opposite sides of the frame. Two U-shaped extension members are attached to selected parallel bars, for sliding motion thereon, and can be moved outwardly from beneath the frame to provide adjustable supports for the grill. These extension members may be supported on indigenous structures, such as stones. The extension members may also be spring biased toward the parallel bars to promote a compact stowage mode that does not require further packaging.

Abstract: A convergent-divergent rocket nozzle is made to be extendible by moving successively larger, conic annuli into a tandem arrangement therewith, so that they collectively form a single exit cone. In a stowed position, the movable, conic annuli concentrically surround the primary nozzle. Each of these movable segments of the nozzle is moved relative to its adjacent upstream segment by being attached to rotary means that engage elongated positive traction surfaces on a set of guide members that are spaced circumferentially about and fixed at each end to the upstream segment, parallel to the axis of the nozzle. The rotary means are actuated, by means of a flexible shaft, by a small, electric motor that is mounted to each movable segment. When in fully deployed position, each movable segment is locked in place by tang latches, fixed to the adjcent, upstream segment, that engage an internal flange or shoulder on the movable segment.

Abstract: An elongated tube that is open at one end and tapers to a closed end has an elongated stiffener or spine fastened inside the tube. The stiffener is sufficiently wide to maintain the normally flat tube in an open position and to provide anchor means for straps used to provide attachments of the scabbard to other equipment. A short, flexible sleeve is attached to the open end of the elongated tube, and a drawstring is threaded into the outer end of the flexible sleeve for closing it.

Abstract: A hollow projectile, to be launched by rocket or fired from a cannon, has a central venturi tube that vents to the external environment near the forward end of the projectile. A pressurized liquid or a solid, combustible matrix that contains a gas or colloid producing material surrounds the venturi tube. This material is released through the venturi tube either by burning the matrix or by rupturing a diaphragm that retains the liquid. A timer, started by an accelerometer in response to the acceleration of the projectile when it is launched, fires an igniter or an explosive fuse to release the gaseous material. Spring loaded valve means, which normally closes the venturi tube, is forced open by gas pressure within the tube to permit discharge of gaseous material into the external environment. This valve means establishes a threshold pressure within the projectile that helps to ignite the matrix and to maintain combustion thereof, and to accelerate the gases being discharged from the projectile.

Abstract: A strong, light-weight flexible bearing, particularly suitable for use in mounting a movable thrust nozzle to a rocket case, is made by stacking reinforced plastic shims, having the forms of concentric, spherical zones, alternately with layers of elastomer and bonding them together. A protective heat and flame barrier is formed by providing an especially refractory outer edge on each shim, which extends beyond the layers of elastomer. Each shim is made by:preparing a mold surface that forms a spherical zone of unique radius; filling a refractory cloth with a curable, liquid resin; placing segments of the cloth on the mold surface in an overlapping arrangement until the desired shim thickness is attained; preparing a second mold surface substantially parallel to the first: clamping this over the cloth segments on the first mold surface; and applying heat and pressure to the cloth segments until the resins are cured.

Abstract: A gun has a projectile housing and a cartridge chamber, aft thereof, aligned between a barrel and a breech bolt containing a striker. The striker is positioned to impact on primer caps of expendable propellant cartridges, which are placed in the cartridge chamber from a spring-loaded magazine or other conventional means and then ejected when spent. A helical projectile duct, concentric with a bore in the projectile housing intersects the bore just forward of the intersection of the bore with the cartridge chamber, for automatically placing projectiles, one by one, into the bore. A gas port leading from the cartridge chamber enters the projectile duct at a distance from the intersection of that duct with the bore such that gas therefrom will urge a selected number of projectiles into the bore whenever a cartridge is fired.

Abstract: A tray has an upturned flange at least on the front edge thereof, and support means to space the tray above the floor of a fireplace, such that an opening is provided under the front of the tray to permit air flow. A hollow, raised portion in the tray, or draft control, has orifices that permit a controlled flow of air to fuel in the tray. The tray is closely fitted to the walls of a fireplace; so that, substantially, the only source of oxygen for the fuel in the grate is through the orifices in the draft control. In a preferred embodiment, the draft control is removable and fits over an opening in the tray. Also, valve means may be included for closing the draft control to any desired extent.

Abstract: The cowl of a spike nozzle is attached to the inside of the aft closure of a rocket case by means that allow it to rotate about a fixed point. Fluid-operated actuators mounted in the aft closure bear against the cowl to effect changes in the direction of thrust. Optionally, the spike may be attached to its cowl by fluid-operated actuators to modulate thrust.

Abstract: A flexible, main strap has a stirrup attached to each end, a forward-extending loop fixed to the center of the main strap, and a small, forward-extending strap also fixed to the main strap. The loop is passed through the typical opening under the pommel of a saddle and looped over the saddle horn. The loop is retained on the saddle horn by the small strap, passed through the loop and fastened into a second loop by a buckle.An alternate embodiment of the invention eliminates the central loop and small strap, and replaces them with two, forwardly-extending, small straps attached to the main strap so that each may be passed under the pommel of the saddle, through the opening, and buckled to itself to form a loop around each side of the pommel. Alternatively, these straps may be attached to fixtures on the saddle. This arrangement is useful for saddles having no openings under the pommel.

Abstract: A ball-and-socket, thrust nozzle for rockets has a movable member retained by a stationary member attachable to a rocket. The movable member includes a venturi throat and an expansion cone for the propulsive gases. At least one of the nozzle members has a spherical surface concentric about the center of rotation of the movable member. The other member bears against this spherical surface via a bearing seal in the form of a thin, narrow ring of lubricous material. The bearing seal is located in a position to support the axial blow-out load imposed by the propulsive gases. It is made of fibers of lubricous material, filled with a solid, lubricous resin; and it is bonded to a nozzle member either with the filler resin or with some other bonding agent. The side of the bearing seal that is bonded to the nozzle member may be reinforced with fibers having high tensile strength, woven into the lubricous fibers, or with a thin sheet of metal.

Abstract: The discharge end portion of a sewage delivery tube is surrounded by the input end portion of a conveyor pipe. A long, flat strip of consumable filter material is inserted through the annular space between them and into the conveyor pipe. Prior to this insertion, however, the filter strip is shaped and fastened into the form of a closed tube. The conveyor pipe discharges into an incinerator equipped with means for breaking the sewage sludge into burnable droplets. The conveyor pipe is supported over a liquid-collecting funnel and is perforated in the portion thereof that is over the funnel. A vibrator attached to the conveyor pipe oscillates it longitudinally; and ratchet teeth inside the conveyor pipe are oriented to cooperate with the vibrator to urge the filter-encased sludge toward the incinerator.