Abstract: A single piece gutter bracket having a gutter support arm is connected to a centrally disposed web with two spaced apart flanges extending substantially perpendicularly from opposing edges of the central web, in the direction opposite the gutter support arm. The distance between the flanges is approximately equal to the thickness of a rafter extension and may be substantially parallel or slightly angled in order to provide a frictional fit on a rafter extension. The flanges are secured directly to the sides of the rafter extension. The central web covers a portion of the end surface of the rafter extension, providing some protection to the rafter extension. The front of the gutter support arm may lie lower than the back of the gutter support arm to inhibit the flow of water, thereby helping to preserve the dwelling's building materials. The gutter bracket need not be installed during construction, beneath the roof shingles or the like, but may be installed after construction is complete.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for application of metal coatings, specifically copper and silver, to continuous ceramic fibers, by electroless deposition. The method comprises the steps of: winding the uncoated ceramic fibers over a frame so that the fibers are coiled adjacent to each other; introducing the wound ceramic fibers into a solution of metal with which the fibers are to be coated; circulating the solution through said fibers; and contacting and causing the metal to be deposited on the wound fibers. Coated continuous ceramic fibers produced by the method of the present invention are also included within the scope of this invention.

Abstract: A fixation panty brief (7, 29) comprises a tubular body portion (10) and a crotch portion (11). The panty brief comprises a waistband portion (16) for encircling the body of the user and at the same time a snug fit to the user known from ordinary circular knitted panty briefs. The body portion (10) and the crotch portion (11) of the fixation panty brief are produced in one singular piece by circular knitting and at the same time a looser knitting has been used in one or several areas for providing containment and fixation pockets (21, 30) for containing a diaper or hip protection bowls which are held in place in that the delimiting edge areas have an elastic and firm knitting which forms a close fit to the user's body. The edge areas will consequently be in firm contact with the user's body while the pockets (21, 30) are able to contain a diaper or a hip protection bowl. A panty brief may also comprise a loose net-like structure for providing an inspection window (5).

Abstract: A convergent-divergent Single/Multiple Expansion wave contour wall and wave Reflection solid wall Nozzle (S/MERN) for use with particle blast systems is provided which includes a single contoured converging-diverging wall opposing a generally flat, solid wall disposed generally parallel to the direction of the jet flow. The transition from a circular delivery hose to the rectangular throat of the S/MERN nozzle is preferably in only one dimension, with the distance between the side support walls being substantially the same as the diameter of the delivery hose. The S/MERN nozzle relies on reflection from the flat, solid wall for Mach wave expansions, rather than reflections of opposing expansion waves as in conventional nozzles.

Abstract: A water and dust collector for the bit of a wet core drilling operation. The device comprises a dome-shaped element with a hole in its top to receive the core bit with relatively close clearance, and an annular planar bottom edge adapted to rest upon the surface being drilled, about the drilling site. The device has an outlet tube assembly near its bottom edge for connection to a wet-dry vacuum system, and at least one air inlet formed in the annular bottom surface substantially opposite the outlet tube assembly.

Abstract: A method for uniformly controlling the ripening of bananas and other perishable products from harvest to delivery, wherein a combination shipping and ripening container having an internal volume capable of receiving and maintaining a controlled atmosphere is provided. Freshly harvested, unripened perishable products are loaded into the container and cooled to a holding temperature in a range of from about 57.degree. to about 70.degree. F. Once the products are stabilized at the desired holding temperature, a controlled atmosphere including ethylene is preferably substantially immediately provided to the internal volume to uniformly initiate ripening of all of the loaded products. Once ripening has been initiated, the ethylene is reduced within the internal volume by displacement with a low oxygen controlled atmosphere, which is maintained within the container during storage, transportation, and delivery procedures.

Abstract: A woodworking center comprising a horizontal frame supporting a work table assembly at a level comfortable for the operator. For most woodworking operations the workpiece is supported by the work table assembly. The work table assembly can be moved horizontally and with precision between the front and rear of the horizontal frame by an acme screw mechanism and can be locked in any desired position. The woodworking center also includes a head in the form of a carriage and a tool slide assembly mounted thereon. The carriage is located above the work table assembly and is shiftable in a horizontal direction from side to side of the horizontal frame. The carriage may be shifted by hand, or with precision by an acme screw assembly. The carriage is lockable in any desired position along its path of travel. The tool slide assembly is capable of mounting a large variety of portable power hand tools.

Abstract: A control system for controlling the movement of the ram of a press or press brake of the type having one or two main cylinders with pistons operatively attach to the ram. The control system comprises a programmable processor with inputs from a pressure transducer indicating the pressure applied to the one or two pistons and a linear potentiometer for each side of the ram to indicate ram position and levelness. The control system further includes a hydraulic circuit operated by outputs from the processor. The hydraulic circuit comprises a variable volume load sense-controlled pump supplying hydraulic fluid through a speed control assembly to a solenoid-actuated directional valve determining upward and downward movement of the ram. The speed control assembly comprises at least two lines connected to the output line of the pump and to the speed control assembly output line to the directional valve. At least one of the at least two speed control assembly lines is provided with a restricting orifice.

Abstract: A cold therapy system for applying a cooling pad to an area of the body of the user. The system comprises a portable insulated cooler having a lid and serving as a reservoir for water and ice. A pump is located within a housing affixed to the exterior of the cooler. The pump has an inlet operatively connected to the reservoir through the adjacent cooler wall. The pump has an outlet connected by an insulated delivery tube to the inlet of a pad. The outlet of the pad is connected by an insulated return tube, through the cooler wall to which the pump housing is affixed, to the reservoir. The pump is provided with a pulse-width modulating circuit having an electronic switch output that switches an intermittent drive current to the pump motor according to any one of a number of predetermined operating modes selectable by the operator through the use of a manual switch.

Abstract: A rain gutter shield for preventing leaves, other debris and animals from entering a rain gutter of the type attached to a structure adjacent to and directly beneath an edge of a roof of the structure. The rain gutter shield comprises a sheet of material havimg a length and width and being transversely formed to define a substantially planar primary surface securable to the roof such that a portion of the primary surface lies atop the roof. The primary surface is followed by a substantially arcuate surface extending downwardly therefrom and terminating in a trough having a plurality of perforations along its length and being located beneath the substantially arcuate surface of the shield and directed toward the interior of the gutter. The portion of the sheet beyond the trough is formed so as to be securable to the front of the gutter and to provide an upwardly extending deflector positioned beneath the substantially arcuate surface.

Abstract: A portable, battery operated air pump comprising a battery power supply, an electric motor having a drive shaft, a drive wheel affixed to the motor shaft, a driven wheel mounted on a pivot pin and driven by the drive wheel, a cylinder-piston air pump having a forward end pivotally affixed to a pivot pin and a piston rod actuable by the driven wheel, and a nozzle connected to the cylinder and configured for engagement with an air valve of an inflatable object. The above-noted elements are arranged end-to-end in the order given. The pump has a longitudinal axis. The motor shaft has an axis parallel to the pump axis. The driven wheel pivot pin and the cylinder pivot pin having axes perpendicular to the pump longitudinal axis. The overall structure is extremely compact and can be operated by a single hand of the user.

Abstract: A method of operating a folder comprising a plurality of sequentially arranged folding units. At least one folding unit is provided with a sheet detector arranged upstream of a sheet abutment and at least one lateral guide. Apart from automatic and single stroke modes of operation, a further mode of operation for the set-up or "make-ready" of the folder is provided, in which (1) the drive of the folder is run at a reduced speed within a predetermined speed range, for example, 50-60 m/min.; (2) upon detecting a supplied sheet, the sheet detector supplies a switch "off" signal to the drive so that the sheet movement is retarded short of the guide of the respective folder unit and comes to rest; (3) the sheet is then moved at a further-reduced speed toward the sheet abutment of the respective folder unit; and (4) in a phase between a stationary state of the sheet until the sheet arrives at the sheet abutment, the guide is set to suit the size and folding shape requirements of the supplied sheet.

Abstract: A sootblower is provided for cleaning boiler tubes with steam, in which individual time-delays allow the lance tube to move in an axial direction only for certain time intervals at the beginning of the extension and retraction strokes before the lance tube also begins to rotate. The sootblower can operate in a reverse cleaning mode in which the nozzle at the end of the lance tube continuously rotates in one direction during the entire extension stroke, then reverses its direction of rotation for the entire retraction stroke so that the paths of steam cleaning do not criss-cross during any given extension/retraction stroke. In a second embodiment of the sootblower, the nozzle on the lance tube oscillates between pre-determined minimum and maximum arcuate limits about the rotational axis of the lance tube.

Abstract: A method of producing a container of banana clusters is provided wherein a flexible inner container is inserted into an outer container prior to placing the banana clusters into the outer container, placing a first row of banana clusters in the inner container atop the interior bottom, placing a second row of banana clusters in the inner container such that a portion of the second row is positioned atop a portion of the first row, providing a tunnel pad having a width at least as great as the length of the sidewalls of the outer container and a length greater than the length of the endwalls of the outer container and positioning a portion of the tunnel pad atop and in contact with a portion of the banana clusters of the first and second rows, and placing a third and fourth row of banana clusters in the inner container atop a portion of and in contact with a portion of the tunnel pad. A method of transferring a load of bananas from the outer container to another outer container is also provided.

Abstract: A holding fixture for a wheel and tire assembly enabling a single person to perform an operation on the tire such as grooving or the like. The fixture comprises a first U-shaped bracket having a base for mounting on a wall or other vertical surface and legs extending perpendicularly from the vertical surface. A second similar U-shaped bracket has a vertical base and horizontal legs adjustably bolted to the legs of the first bracket. The vertical base of the second bracket supports a horizontally extending support tube. A rotatable tube segment has a wheel mounting plate for a wheel and tire assembly affixed to one of its ends and a slotted positioning ring affixed to its other end. The tube segment and its slotted ring and mounting plate are captively and rotatively mounted on the support tube so that a tire and wheel assembly affixed to the mounting plate is rotatable about the support tube. A lock assembly is affixed to the support tube and the base of the second bracket.

Abstract: A method of treating retroviral diseases such as AIDS in an infected host is provided. The method comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of at least one (pseudo)halogen complex of gold(I) in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The (pseudo)halogen complex in gold(I) can be chosen from the group consisting of:R--Au--[CN], R--Au--[SCN], and R--Au--[SeCN].R may be chosen from the group consisting of: phosphines (such as triethylphosphine); halogens (such as chlorine); and pseudohalogens (such as an additional cyano, thiocyanato or selenocyanato moiety). When R is an additional cyano moiety, the complex is termed a dicyanogold(I) complex, i.e., [Au(CN).sub.2 ].sup.-, and is preferably employed as an alkali, ammonium or alkaline earth salt. When R is another moiety, the complex may be either neutral or anionic in nature, and any anionic complexes are also preferably present as alkali, ammonium or alkaline earth salts.

Abstract: A product display stand is provided, the stand comprising:(a) at least one display surface for displaying the product thereupon;(b) a first vertical face positioned beneath the display surface; and(c) a first drawer positioned beneath the display surface for storing the product, the drawer movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein the drawer is disposed within the stand when the drawer is at the closed position, wherein the drawer is angled downwardly when the drawer is at the open position, and wherein the drawer may be moved from the closed position to the open position by slideably moving the drawer from the interior of the stand in the direction of the vertical face.An optional cooling/humidification unit may be provided inside the stand. A method of displaying and storing produce using this stand is also provided.