Abstract: A cross hair assembly has an adjustable cross hair intersection point to facilitate calibration of the cross hair assembly relative to the optical axis of an associated x-ray radiation source. Each cross hair has a fixed anchorage on a mounting frame, and an adjustable anchorage on the mounting frame. By selectively adjusting the adjustable anchorages it is possible to change the cross hair intersection point. Each cross hair is a steel wire having a relatively small diameter; a coil spring is included in each fixed anchorage for holding the wire in a taut condition free from sagging or bending.

Abstract: A disposable, and reusable, hand grip is constructed as a flexible multi-ply band adapted to be wound around the circumference of a handle on a tool or other device, so that the person can exert an effective grip action on the hand grip. The multi-ply band includes a core sheet formed of a resilient foam material, a first surface sheet of rubber on one major face of the core sheet, and a second surface sheet of a woven fabric material on the other major face of the core sheet. The thickness of the band is designed to effectively increase the cross sectional thickness of conventional handles, so that the person has a more comfortable, less cramped, grip on the handle (hand grip).

Abstract: A holder for a corrugated paperboard test specimen is designed to orient the specimen in a vertical plane so that the specimen can be subjected to an edgewise compression test. The holder includes upper and lower clamps that grip the upper and lower surfaces of the specimen, leaving an intermediate section of the specimen unsupported; the specimen will experience a buckling action in the unsupported section as a response to progressively increased vertical loads. Each clamp includes a spring-biased clamping pad that can be retracted manually to permit insertion of a test specimen into the clamping space.

Abstract: A mobile screening apparatus for gravel and other aggregates includes a three sided box adapted to rest on the ground surface. A vibrating screen is located above the box in a tilted, or sloped condition, so that gravel deposited on the screen is in a fluidized condition. Relatively fine gravel particles (stones) pass downwardly through the screen into the box. Two upwardly divergent trough walls are rigidly secured to side edges of the screen to guide gravel particles onto the screen. A rotary motor and counterweight system is mounted on the undersurface of the screen to oscillate the screen in a generally vertical direction. The motor and counterweight system are exposed so as to be readily accessible for inspection or maintenance purposes.

Abstract: A multi-purpose tool holder is described, which includes an elongated cylindrical barrel having a non-circular socket in one end for attachment of the barrel to a ratchet-type turning implement. The other end of the barrel forms a slideway for two transversely adjustable jaws that have facing V-shaped grooves designed to grip tool shanks of varying size and shape. An adjusting screw is provided for each jaw, such that the jaws can be held in selected positions of adjustment. The elongated barrel is usable between a turning implement and tool shank gripped by the adjustable jaws. The elongated barrel can also be used as a handle to perform a tool turning operation. For this purpose various sockets are formed in the side surface of the barrel. The shanks of selected tools can be selectively inserted into the various sockets to operatively connect the barrel to the tool.

Abstract: A mechanism for relieving stress on the hands of a person operating a computer, is provided by a panel adapted to be anchored to the underside of a conventional computer keyboard. A hand-support bar is located in front of the computer keyboard, between the front ends of two swingable arm structures pivotably attached to the panel alongside the keyboard. The hand-support bar can be raised or lowered by swingably adjusting the arm structures. Each arm structure has an adjustable length, so that the hand-support bar can be moved toward or away from the front edge of the keyboard. The hand-support bar is rotatably adjustable around a longitudinal axis located near its lower edge, such that the upper surface of the bar can have a desired engagement with the palm area of the person's hand.

Abstract: A hand tool is provided for immobilizing an implanted vascular access port in the body of a patient while a hypodermic needle is being withdrawn from an elastomeric septum that forms a seal for the access port. The tool includes an elongated handle and a V-shaped prong structure designed to straddle the needle so that the prongs apply a restraining force on the implanted access port. The skin-contact surfaces of the prongs are convexly curved, such that the prongs apply the desired force, whatever the position of the handle. The tool can be held in a range of different positions while still applying the necessary restraining force.

Abstract: An arrow rest for an archery bow is formed by a stationary shaft extending transversely across the bowstring movement plane, and a single roller rotatably mounted on the shaft. The roller has an annular groove that forms two axially spaced flanges engageable with the undersurface of an arrow shaft. During the arrow launching process the arrow side surface rides along the edges of the roller flanges so as to cause the roller to spin around the shaft axis. The roller includes a roller body formed of an elastomeric material so that frictional contact between the arrow and the roller body flanges is essentially noiseless.

Abstract: A device for removing skin from a fish, includes a flat table-like support for the fish body, and a spike-like anchoring means adapted to penetrate the head of the fish during the skin-removal operation. A skin clamp mechanism is powered by a motor-driven chain conveyor to move along the fish body for pulling the skin from the fish body. As the skin clamp mechanism reaches the end of its stroke an arm structure is elevated from the fish support to press down on the partially severed fish skin. The skin-clamp mechanism reverses direction so that the fish skin is looped around a roller on the arm structure as the skin-clamp mechanism returns to its starting position. The arm structure prolongs the skin-removal process into a two-direction operation, so that a relatively long length of fish can be accommodated in a given length device.

Abstract: A tool to fold a strip material to fit a 90 degree corner by providing a block with an interior slot to fold the strip material as it is pulled through the block.

Abstract: A rotary oscillating irrigation sprinkler head is supported in a stable elevated position above the ground surface, such that the sprinkler assembly can be used on a lawn or in garden foliage. A tripod support structure is connected at its upper end to a vertical water supply pipe that connects with the sprinkler head, so that the sprinkler head has a stabilized support above the ground surface. The water supply pipe delivers a pressurized stream of water to the sprinkler head.

Abstract: A reusable facsimile cover letter is provided, which consists of a paper sheet printed with indicia and blank lines on both sides. A layer of heat sealed clear plastic laminate is on both sides of the paper sheet. Data can be written on the clear plastic laminate, then erased and replaced with new data. A marking pen is for writing the data, while an eraser being a cloth encased sponge is for erasing the data. A container and holder can also be provided for the eraser and marker pen.

Abstract: A double wall container of bag-like character includes a two layer U-shaped wall structure forming the bottom wall and two side walls of the container. Two double layer panels are stitched to edge areas of the U-shaped wall structure to complete the container. Edge areas of the panel and wall structure are reversely turned inwardly to form double thickness edges stitchable together to provide reinforced container corners. The fabric container is rigidified by means of four stiffener boards, or plates, insertable into pockets formed by the double layer side walls of the container.

Abstract: An adapter is provided between a gas meter and an encoder remote transmitter to provide a driving connection from the gas meter output shaft and the encoder drive shaft. The encoder remote transmitter is used to transmit gas meter readings to a remotely located receiver. The adapter permits a commercially available transmitter to be used with a wide range of commercially available gas meters.

Abstract: A load lifting hook construction is equipped with a control eye that is attachable to a control rope that parallels a suspension rope. A person located above the lifting hook can selectively pull the suspension rope and control rope to manipulate the hook into, or out of, engagement with the load. The tip of the hook is spaced a relatively great distance from the suspension axis so that the hook has a relatively large mouth. The hook is also enabled to extend into relatively small openings in the load. A variety of different types of loads can be remotely controlled and lifted, using the hook structure of this invention.

Abstract: A portable inflatable valve is provided for disposition in a floor drain opening to prevent the undesired flow of toxic liquids into the drain opening. The valve includes a rigid support structure adapted to rest on the floor surface above the drain opening. A pressurized gas cylinder is located below the rigid support structure for pressuring a surrounding elastomeric sock into sealing contact with the hole side surface. Actuation of the gas cylinder is accomplished by a manual plunger arranged for downward motion to puncture a foil closure on the upper end of the gas cylinder.

Abstract: Solid particles are coated with a polymer coating, by a process that includes, dispersing the uncoated particles in water, containing a wetting agent, adding a liquid polymer coupling agent, so that the dispersed solid particles have a film of the coupling agent, and agitating the mixture while adding a prepolymer. The coupling agent is reacted with the polymer to form polymer coatings on the dispersed particles. Relatively thin polymer coatings can be achieved by this process. As an extension of the process, the core particles can be materials used for abrasive blast cleaning, filtration, separation catalysis, animal feed, drug dispensing, contacting, tumble cleaning, and slow release of active ingredients.

Abstract: A cover assembly, for a wall-mounted pushbutton control unit, which normally overlies an array of pushbuttons, and is designed to prevent deliberate, or accidental, actuation of the pushbuttons, is described. The cover assembly, includes a wall plate, attachable to a room wall in surrounding relation to the pushbuttons, and a cover plate, hingedly connected to an upper edge of the wall plate, so that the cover plate, is manually swingable between a closed position, concealing the pushbuttons, and an open position, extending upwardly along the room wall surface.