Abstract: A spring whip is formed of plural lengths of helically wound springs having respectively smaller diameters permitting them to be interconnected about a common axis. The springs are movable between a telescoped storage position, and an extended operative position. A hollow housing is provided both as a hand grip as well as a storage housing for the springs in a telescoped position. A magnet is located in the top of the housing and restrains the springs in their telescoped storage position. A weighted tip is formed at the distal end of the smallest diameter spring for aiding in the projection of the springs into their extended position, and simultaneously forming a closure for the housing when the springs are in their storage position.

Abstract: An apparatus for securing handles onto a stream of bags sequentially transported on a first conveyer and then is engaged by a second conveyer. The second conveyer interacts with the first conveyer to receive the bags and take them through a series of stations. At one of these stations, handles are attached to each of the bags. A supply of handle material is cut into flat strips. The flat strips are bent into a U-shape and the legs thereof are fastened onto the bags.

Abstract: An improved unit counter, which includes a bottom tray having two adjoining upstanding sides secured thereto, provides an included angle of 60.degree. to define a first corner in which a plurality of generally rounded pills or the like may be nested in such a manner to form an equilateral triangle of pills. A third upstanding side is secured to the bottom and adjoins one of the first two sides to provide an included angle of 90.degree. defining a second corner in which a plurality of generally oblong capsules or the like may be nested. A fourth upstanding side is secured to the bottom and adjoins the third side and converges towards the first side but remains spaced apart to provide an opening through which the pills or capsules contained within the tray may be poured therefrom. A storage area is included to retain the surplus of pills or capsules over and above a desired amount counted.

Abstract: A telephone answering system which can be interconnected to a telephone line and includes two tapes, one of which is utilized for recording incoming messages from the telephone line, and the other of which is used basically for playing outgoing messages onto the telephone line. The outgoing message tape includes a plurality of tracks each of which can be selectively placed in communication with the telephone line. A decoding apparatus is responsive to numerals dialed onto the telephone line by the caller with which the caller can select the particular track to be placed in communication with the telephone line and thereby receive the particular outgoing message contained on that track. By dialing an additional number, the caller can also change over the operation of the outgoing message tape to a record mode whereby he can utilize that tape for also receiving incoming messages from the telephone line and cause the message to be placed on a particular selected track.

Abstract: An escape mechanism for enabling a person to escape at any floor of a building, the escape mechanism including a vertically disposed hollow rail and at least one rack disposed within the rail. At least one running and suspension apparatus is adapted to be introduced within the rail, where the apparatus is equipped with support members and includes an engagement portion having at least one pinion. The pinion engages the rack to allow the apparatus to move along the rail only upon rotation of the pinion. The engagement portion includes impeding assemblies having inertial escapement members for hindering the rotation and for slowing the descent of the apparatus by gravity while the engagement portion is engaged within the rail.

Abstract: A magnetizable layer is initially magnetized and selected portions thereof are demagnetized by an optical imaging system. In one embodiment, an image to be reproduced is projected through a transparent electrically conductive electrode which is brought into contact with a photoconductive matrix through which is dispersed magnetizable particles. Changes in resistivity of the photoconductive matrix causes a current density distribution, which corresponds to the image intensity distribution, to flow transversely from the transparent electrode through the photoconductive matrix to a support electrode on which the matrix is fixed when a potential is applied between the transparent and support electrodes. The current distribution results in corresponding magnetic fields which modify or "erase" selected portions of the initially magnetized layer.

Abstract: A piling which can be embedded into a sand or mud bedding beneath a body of water and which includes a cylindrical body portion having a smooth exterior surface; the body portion being made of a synthetic material, preferably a polyvinyl chloride material. A longitudinal bore extends through the body portion to permit introduction of a fluid under pressure thereby facilitating the sinking of the piling into the bedding. After the piling is embedded, the bore is covered, thereby providing a space for resisting the forming of a vacuum in order to prevent loosening and releasing of the piling from the bedding.

Abstract: A garment hanger having a hook portion with a pair of shoulders depending from the hook portion. Sidewalls extend downwardly from the shoulders and a bottom rib extends across the bottom to complete a closed hanger structure. The shoulders, hook, sidewalls and bottom rib all lie in a common plane. At least one arcuate rib is connected between the sidewalls and bows outwardly in a lateral direction from the common plane to provide form and shape to a garment placed on the hanger for display.

Abstract: An imaging system is provided whereby graphic information from a source is magnetically recorded on a receiving surface. The imaging system comprises an arrangement for shaping a magnetic field to substantially linear configuration. A photo-responsive element is provided for varying the intensity of the magnetic field along the line in accordance with information contained in a corresponding line of the source of the original graphic information. An intermediary receiving surface is provided to receive the magnetic information and construct a magnetic image thereon. A toner supply is also provided in magnetically attractable relationship to the intermediary receiving surface for causing transfer of toner material from the supply to the intermediary receiving surface in a quantity corresponding to the variations of the magnetic field intensity on the intermediary receiving surface.

Abstract: An article supporting apparatus including a bracket which can be selectively placed and locked onto a supporting standard. A shelf, or other article holding device, is connected to the bracket. The bracket includes a U-shaped clip with transversely offset extending arms at the ends of the clip and longitudinally extending legs at the opposite ends of the arms. One of the legs includes an offset portion which lies in the same plane as the U-shaped clip. The standard includes three spaced apart bars positioned so that when the arms of the bracket sit on the middle bar, the bight of the U-shaped clip will be securely retained behind the upper bar and the legs of the bracket will straddle the lower bar. The bracket can be easily removed and repositioned at another location on the standard.

Abstract: Device for the continuous electrophoresis in a carrier free buffer current including a separating chamber, in which a separating space is located between two plane parallel glass plates held in a two-part frame and is separated from electrode chambers by permeable membranes. A dividing joint is provided between two frame-parts at least partially at an angle to a dividing plane of the frame located between and parallel to the glass plates. The membranes, when the frame-parts are pressed together along the dividing joint, are pressed against the surfaces of the frame-parts which form a part of the dividing joint, with a force component lying in the direction of the dividing plane, thus forming a seal. The separating chamber permits easy assembly and disassembly thereof.

Abstract: A vent valve of an air pump for charging air into a fish bowl which comprises a separator wall having an insertion vent hole, a valve body made of a silicone rubber and consisting of a disc-shaped tongue section having a semi-circular portion of a small diameter for closing said insertion vent hole and an annular disc-shaped fixed section of a large diameter connected to the base portion of said tongue section.

Abstract: Electrically actuated jack selectors for a knitting machine which are normally positioned out of engagement with the needle jacks or pattern jacks of the knitting machine. When each of the jack selectors is actuated, either by a perforated tape loop or by a drum, the jack selector is deflected into a position along the path of an associated needle jack or pattern jack and, upon engagement therewith, displaces the associated jack relative to the cylinder so that, depending upon the direction of deflection of the jack selector, either the needle jack or the pattern jack will not be raised by the cylinder cam. Each jack selector includes a knife edge cam portion that is engaged by a conically shaped tip on the movable armature of a solenoid that is associated therewith. A comb-like element may be used to initially position a group of the jack selectors in order to predetermine the direction of deflection thereof.

Abstract: A convertible cart having a shelf and readily assemblable and disassemblable partition members. The cart includes a frame on which the shelf is mounted and casters are included for providing mobility to the cart. The partition which may be in the form of a bottom mat, a back mat, side panels and intermediate panels, are made of rod-like members formed in a grid pattern and which include couplings that permit their interconnection and their convenient assembly and disassembly to and from the frame. The use of conventional fasteners for assembling and disassembling the panels with respect to each other and with respect to the frame is avoided.

Abstract: A metal spraying device of the kind in which two wires are fed along convergent guide ducts, and an electric potential is established between the wires, so that an electric arc is produced between the terminal ends of the wires. A jet of air is blown across the arc, removing metal from the ends of the wires in the form of minute droplets, the jet of air being directed against a workpiece to be sprayed with a metallic coating. The metal spraying device comprises a head made of insulating material (e.g. ceramics material), the head being provided with passages forming the guide ducts for the wires and for the jet of air. In this manner, the wires may be guided more accurately to the arcing zone, and turbulence in the jet of air may be minimized, producing an overall improvement in the quality of the spray which may be achieved.

Abstract: An electrosurgical unit which provides a voltage output to a load. An oscator in the unit produces the output of a given frequency. A switching circuit coupled to the oscillator provides an unmodulated RF carrier from the oscillator for use in cutting procedures and a pulse modulated RF voltage from the oscillator for use in coagulation procedures. A feedback circuit is coupled from the output to the input of the oscillator to maintain the output voltage level from the unit at a substantially constant value independent of the load.

Abstract: An attachment to an electronic flash unit for converting the unit into a photographic ring light for use with a camera, the attachment including a body member and a plate member attached thereto, with both the body and plate members being fabricated from a transparent material such as an acrylic plastic. The body member has a centrally located opening extending therethrough to define a torus-like configuration. Except for a front surface of the body member and a bottom surface of the base member, these members are covered with a light reflecting material disposed against the remaining outer surfaces thereof. A lens mounting adapter is secured in the opening of the body member for coaxially mounting a camera lens so that the uncovered front surface of the body member faces in the same direction as the camera lens.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a dental prosthesis in situ for the reration of one or more missing, worn or broken teeth. The method includes forming an elastomeric mold half containing a corrected model of tooth areas to be restored, and forming a hard model of the tooth areas after they have been prepared for restoration. A pair of channels are placed through the elastomeric mold at spaced apart locations. The elastomeric mold and the hard model are secured together to form an assembly including a mold cavity therein. The assembly is placed in a vacuum chamber which can be pumped to produce a vacuum inside the chamber and inside the mold. One of the channels of the mold is connected to an overflow container within the vacuum chamber, and the other of the channels is connected to a source of liquid prosthesis forming material which is contained outside of the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: A carrying case which serves as a handbag having a compartment for retaining normal handbag materials, and which includes a second compartment which is expanded and can be used as a shopping bag. A movable dividing wall serves to selectively close off each compartment so that a common access of the carrying case is utilized for each of the two compartments.

Abstract: A liquid feeding device for roasting or stewing pots is described which permits a supply of liquid, and specifically water, to be continuously added to the interior of the pot to compensate for liquids lost by evaporation. The liquid feeding device is in the form of a liquid reservoir mounted on the cover of the pot, the reservoir having a porous, liquid permeable bottom wall through which the liquid is stored in the reservoir may slowly be filtered. The reservoir, which may be made entirely from a porous surrounding-type material, is advantageously provided with impermeable coatings on the side walls thereof to limit the flow of water into the cooking container through the bottom wall thereof. Advantageously, an array of nipples are provided on the under surface of the reservoir to assure a uniform distribution of liquid flow.