Abstract: A foldable playpen having two end portions and two side portions which are interconnected to form a substantially square frame, and a flexible skirt forming a wall thereabout, where the two end portions are pivotable in a downward direction toward a center vertical leg located at each end, and the side portions are pivotable inwardly bringing the two folded end portions together, to thereby fold the playpen into a small, almost square area less than the area of the opened frame. The floor of the playpen is formed of spaced apart, hinged slats covered with a padding protection. The covered slats can be folded into a cylindrical shape which is adapted to receive the folded playpen frame therein, such that the entire playpen can be easily carried, such as by a handle connected thereto.

Abstract: A lock shielding assembly for preventing unauthorized access to a lock by providing a shield over the lock which can easily be removed by authorized individuals, while requiring an unauthorized person an extensive amount of time to open. The assembly includes a housing which can be superimposed over the front face of the lock. The housing includes a slot positioned between a front and rear wall and includes cooperating openings in the walls providing access to the key hole of the lock. A shield plate is slidably mounted in the slot for movement to and from a position covering the lock. A plurality of pins extend into the front wall, selectable ones of the pins extending through the front wall and into engagement with the shield plate to retain the shield plate in its position covering the lock. The location of the selected pins are known only to the authorized user who can easily remove them, while the unauthorized individual must remove all or most of the pins.

Abstract: A device for quantitative determination of impurities, especially bacteria, on a flat surface including a body member provided with a centrally located cylindrical rinsing chamber and an annular suction chamber surrounding the rinsing chamber, whereby the suction chamber generates a subpressure therein to press the rinsing chamber against the flat surface being investigated. The rinsing chamber has an opening adapted to be placed on the flat surface, and at least one aperture, preferably two apertures, spaced from the opening for connecting the rinsing chamber with the outside atmosphere for permitting both liquid passage and air passage from outside the body member into the rinsing chamber and vice versa. An outer sealing edge is provided around the suction chamber and an inner sealing edge is disposed on a common wall between the rinsing chamber and the sealing chamber for providing a liquid-tight and an air-tight seal therebetween to maintain the subpressure within the suction chamber.

Abstract: An article of footwear having a shoe portion including an upper with a mouth, and a tubular portion adapted to be selectively coupled to the shoe portion. A fastener interconnects one end of the tubular portion to the mouth of the upper. A reversible cuff on the tubular portion is available to conceal the connected fastener and a reversible collar on the shoe portion is available to conceal the unconnected fastener and to prevent any abrasive contact with the leg of the wearer. When the shoe portion is used alone there is provided an ankle boot, and when used in combination with the tubular portion there is provided a calf high boot.

Abstract: A method for making a plastic, relatively flexible stringer for a slide fastener is disclosed. The stringer blank is extruded in a relatively rigid U-shaped form and, subsequently, a plurality of longitudinally spaced, transverse slots are die cut in the stringer blank in order to provide a series of transverse, substantially parallel ladder-like portions wherein each of the ladder-like portions includes an interlocking head member. A plurality of longitudinally spaced apart seats are also formed by a die cutting step in order to define neck portions of reduced thickness about which the stitches are placed in order to secure the fabric to the stringer.

Abstract: A turbine drive system for operating a vehicle, where the drive system includes a common drive shaft powered by a turbine, and is used for propelling the vehicle and also for operating an air compressor. The air compressor supplies air under pressure which is stored in a pressure tank. The pressurized air operates the turbine which has a vane rotor. A return air flow path is provided from the turbine back to the compressor. By use of a vehicle fan, an air intake is provided to the compressor during forward movement of the vehicle. An auxiliary engine can be included for starting the compressor where the auxiliary engine can also be utilized as an auxiliary drive for the compressor. Additionally, a conventional vehicle engine can be included which operates the same drive shaft and which can work in conjunction with the turbine drive system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a coupling member for joining two generally coaxial, tubular members such as an electrical conduit. The coupling member includes internal left hand threads at one end and internal right hand threads at the other end with an annular groove therebetween. One end of a first conduit is provided with two sets of axially spaced apart external left hand threads. The coupling member is rotated so that the left hand threads thereof matingly engage the first set of left hand threads on the conduit and then is temporarily locked by engagement of the second set of left hand threads. The first set of left hand threads on the conduit will then be in the annular groove defined between the left and right hand threads of the coupling member. A standard length of a second conduit having external right hand threads thereon may then be matingly engaged with the right hand threads of the coupling member.

Abstract: A locking device for preventing the unauthorized removal of an outboard motor from a boat, where the outboard motor is clamped to the boat by a C-clamp, which is bolted to the stern of the boat. The locking device includes a casing which has holes aligned with the holes in the clamp to accommodate the bolts which can pass through the casing prior to their entry into the clamp thereby holding the casing in abutting relationship with the clamp while the boltheads are contained internally of the casing. A cover for the casing is pivotally connected to the casing at one end thereof, and contains a locking member at the other end therefor for securing the cover to the casing.

Abstract: In a rolling cart assembly, a smooth bumper assembly is provided that minimizes the likelihood of trapping dirt, grime, or the like. Corner bumper members having a smooth, uncrimped outer surface are provided with integral stiffening members and internally secured nuts so that the corner bumper members may be secured to a support frame by fasteners that extend in an outwardly direction from the inside surface of the support frame. Since the nuts are completely enclosed by the corner bumper members, the outside surface thereof are smooth and unbroken. Stiffening members may be co-molded or otherwise suitably formed integrally with and interiorly of the corner bumper members. Longitudinally extending side and end bumper strips are formed with an opening therein in order to receive V-shaped stiffening members.

Abstract: An elongated fitting, which forms a thread as it is screwed onto the end of a conduit, has an internally threaded tubular portion at one end which receives the conduit. A stem portion on the opposite end permits coupling of the fitting to external parts. An intermediate portion is provided for rotating the fitting relative to the conduit. A longitudinal slot axially extends along the wall of the tubular portion to permit visual inspection of the amount of conduit inserted in the fitting and for lowering the tightening torque required for forming the threads on the conduit.

Abstract: A dental anchor is disclosed comprising an elongated member for anchoring a superstructure to a tooth. The elongated member includes at least one threaded section defining an anchoring portion that is attached to an L-shaped manipulating section by a reduced thickness portion in the form of an annular groove. The reduced thickness portion is frangible. The manipulating section is comprised of a cylindrical guide element that is coaxial with the anchoring portion and a torque transferring element having an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the guide element. The dental anchor is used with a dental attachment in the form of an elongated member having a first end that is adapted to be received by a power tool and a second end having a socket for receiving the manipulating section. Once the elongated dental anchor is inserted into a channel formed in the tooth, the manipulating section may be broken off at the frangible, reduced thickness portion without overstressing the tooth.

Abstract: A filter press having a number of filter plates, each of which includes a center hole, with a filter cloth hanging over each filter plate. The filter cloths include a corresponding center hole, and a flexible coupling member having a tubular stem with a flanged base, wherein the flanged base is positioned around the hole on one side of the cloth. The tubular stems are inserted within a coupling cylinder which is positioned within the hole of the filter plate. A method is described for hanging the filter cloths onto the filter plate by inserting one of the stems into one end of the coupling cylinder, and then inserting the cylinder into the hole in the filter plate. A tool is then used to reverse the stem of the coupling member of another filter cloth, and then the same tool is removed permitting the restoration of the stem while positioning it within the other end of the coupling cylinder.

Abstract: A construction and design of coke-oven plant to handle fumes occurring in coke-oven plants, particularly those which are emitted during the pressing of coke from a coke-oven, and which subsequently arise from the coke quenching truck during transportation of the coke to the quenching tower. A deflector apron extends downwardly from the roof towards the quenching truck trackway, to trap fumes in the roof space behind the apron. An extractor duct extends lengthwise of the battery close to the roof, and control means establishes progressive communication between the extractor duct and successive regions of the roof space as the quenching truck passes therebetween.

Abstract: An electrosurgical unit for use in tissue cutting or coagulation procedur A vacuum tube oscillator operating in push-pull relationship generates RF oscillations which are extracted across a balanced coil transformer, the secondary of which is ungrounded. Forceps are provided to be connected across the output of the transformer for producing an isolated voltage for use in sealing off bleeding blood vessels. A handpiece is also provided for connection across the transformer output for selectively producing a cutting voltage or a coagulation voltage. An intensity control circuit is capable of connection in the power supply to control the output voltage. A pulse modulation unit is capable of being connected at the input of the oscillator to control the "on" time of the oscillator.

Abstract: Automatic sand mold fabricating apparatus and a method for using the apparatus is disclosed. The present invention provides at least a first cope and a first drag. Preferably, first and second copes and first and second drags are used. Where two pairs of copes and drags are utilized, the first pair will be filled at two diametrically opposed stations while the other pair will be positioned at one of two ejection stations that are both 90.degree. spaced apart from the first and second stations. The pairs of copes and drags alternate between the filling stations that are diametrically opposed to each other and the ejection stations which are 90.degree. away.

Abstract: A coupling member for joining two generally coaxial tubular members, for example electrical conduits, fittings and the like, is disclosed. The coupling member includes an elongated sleeve having axially extending threads formed internally at one end thereof and an outwardly flared, deformable section at the end thereof opposite the threads. The deformable section has an inwardly directed lip for engaging an annular groove formed on the outside surface of one of the members that is to be coupled. The other member that is to be coupled is provided with external threads that are arranged to matingly engage the internal threads on the sleeve. Interface surfaces for temporarily securing the sleeve and the second one of the two members to be joined are provided so that the sleeve does not rotate while the first one of the two members is being engaged therewith.

Abstract: A dermatome for cutting thin organic tissue sections for transplanting, the dermatome comprising a thin resilient cutting band provided with a cutting surface disposed along a longitudinal edge of the cutting band. A T-shaped support member positions the cutting surface of the cutting band relative to the tissue sections. The head portion of the support member holds portions of the cutting band to determine the width of the cut tissue sections, the cutting band being held in a loop-like arrangement with the cutting surface extending along a bight portion thereof. The head portion of the support member also includes a guide element for determining the depth or thickness of the cut tissue sections, the guide element being disposed between the spaced apart cutting band portions and being spaced a preselected distance from the bight portion. Attachment elements are provided on the support member to permit connection of the support member to a handle member.

Abstract: A heating system having a furnace which intakes air for combustion purposes, and produces exhaust gases which are emitted through a flue pipe. One coupling device interconnects a draft opening in the flue pipe with the exterior of the building for allowing air outside of the building to provide the draft for the flue pipe. A second coupling device interconnects the air intake with the outside of the building for allowing use of air outside of the building as the air supply for the furnace.

Abstract: A stringer method for making a plastic, relatively flexible stringer for a slide fastener is disclosed. The stringer blank is extruded in a relatively rigid U-shaped form and, subsequently, a plurality of longitudinally spaced, transverse slots are die cut in the stringer blank in order to provide a series of transverse, substantially parallel ladder-like portions wherein each of the ladder-like portions includes an interlocking head member. A plurality of longitudinally spaced apart seats are also formed by a die cutting step in order to define neck portions of reduced thickness about which the stitches are placed in order to secure the fabric to the stringer.

Abstract: A fastening element for fastening to a wall having an opening therethrough which is accessible only on one side of the wall, comprising a cylindrical upsettable shell having a flanged end. A cylindrical inset member having a flanged head is disposed in the shell, where the outside diameter of the head is equal to the outside diameter of the upsetting shell. Between the inset member and the upsetting shell, in an end zone adjacent the head, there is provided a material-closure, The underside of the head abuts against the shell to define a closed-linkage juncture with an adjoining face surface of the shell through direct contact. The inset member is provided with screwthreads to move the head of the inset member towards the flanged end of the shell, whereby the movement of the head upsets the shell which enlarges outwardly to define a ridge or bulge which abuts against a rear side of the wall, the bulge being larger than the opening in the wall.