Abstract: An improved wheelchair formed of a frame, two pairs of support wheels for the frame, and a seat portion rockably connected to the frame and normally maintained in a generally horizontal alignment when the chair is unoccupied by bias springs that permit the seat to rock about its rockable connection while the frame and wheels of the chair are completely stationary.

Abstract: A break away joint assembly for pivotally connecting an outer end boom section to a center boom section of an elongated spray boom to prevent movement of the outer section with respect to the center section from a normal condition in which the sections are colinear to a folded condition. The assembly includes a break away joint that pivotally connects adjacent lower ends of the boom sections and is formed of an inclined ramp disposed on an extension arm at the outer end of the center boom section, a stabilizing member fixed on an extension arm of the inner end of the outer boom section, and a yieldable biasing member extended through the stabilizing member and the center boom extension arm to form a yieldable connection there between.

Abstract: A trap assembly for capturing small animals formed from a housing that encloses a jaw assembly for grasping the paw or leg of the animals. The jaw assembly is formed from a trap plate having an aperture and a resiliently biased arm that is movable from an open position to a closed position where it coacts with side edges of the plate aperture to form a pair of jaws for grasping the animal.

Abstract: A scheduled fluid control valve which performs a pre-established sequence of flow rates and timing schedules in response to pressure pulses in the controlled fluid. The valve consists of a generally cylindrical housing connected to a source of pressurized fluid and containing circular plates of cylindrical control surfaces coupled to actuating means responsive to the presence of pressurized fluid. The actuating means includes an actuator plate or cylinder, a biasing spring, and a longitudinal shaft or cylinder upon which is incised at least one generally helical groove within which track one or more follower pins. Pressurized fluid causes the actuator plate or cylinder to rotate, following the path defined by the helical groove, resulting in relative movement of the control surfaces whereby the schedule embodied in the relative size and placement of fluid ports through the control surfaces is performed.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for measuring the moisture content of wood and paper products utilizing the dependency of the resistance or capacitance of such products upon moisture content. A resistance or capacitance-controlled oscillator circuit is completed by electrical connection to a product. Electrical connection of the resistance-controlled oscillator embodiment is accomplished by either application of a conducting contact grid pattern to a product or by forming a parallel plate probe incorporating the product therein. Electrical connection of the capacitance-controlled oscillator embodiment may also be accomplished by forming a parallel plate probe incorporating the product therein or by insertion of a plurality of conductive cylinders in parallel combination into flutes of a corrugated paperboard product when such a product is to be subject to measurement.

Abstract: A protective wrapper for printed material includes an opaque cover into which the material is removably inserted and which conceals the identity of the material. Price information on the outside of the material is displayed through a small window in the cover. A tab having a foldable or removable portion projecting over a free edge of the cover is attached to or forms part of the cover. The identity of the material is initially displayed on the foldable portion of the tab. A purchaser of the material may conceal its identity from the general public view without hindering the purchasing process by folding the tab under the cover or removing the tab.

Abstract: An improved automobile windshield cover to prevent frost, ice or snow from freezing on a windshield, includes a shield portion formed of an elongated strip of pliable material, with at least one resilient strap on each end for attaching the shield portion to the automobile. The cover straps are adapted to be clamped between the front doors and body of the automobile. One of the end straps is semi-permanently attached to the shield portion so that the strap can first be clamped between one of the front doors and the automobile's body and then attached to its associated cover end to pull the cover tauntly over the windshield.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for repairing inside the body a damaged section of a blood vessel, including an occlusion catheter which is inserted into the vessel at an incision site remote from the damaged section. An umbrella-like stopper at the proximal end of the occlusion catheter is positioned upstream of the damaged section whereupon it is opened to block the flow of blood through the damaged section. A prosthetic graft is inserted into the vessel around a balloon catheter. The outer periphery of the graft is coated with a contact adhesive which is brought into contact with the healthy walls of the vessel on either side of the damaged section by inflation of the balloon catheter. The graft adheres permanently to the walls of the vessel thereby replacing the damaged section while leaving the normal circulatory pathways intact.

Abstract: A drive unit preferably employed with a self-propelled lawn mower for driving at least one pair of wheels of the mower. An axle pulley is fixed on the axle of the drive wheels and a directional pulley is rotatably mounted above and in a spaced apart relation to the axle pulley. A drive belt is trained over an upper portion of the directional pulley and about a lower portion of the axle pulley and is then trained about an upper portion of a directional roller. The drive unit has a drive condition and an idle condition in which a portion of the drive belt, between the directional roller and the axle pulley, is in a generally vertical run.

Abstract: A hinged vehicle gate arm is mounted for automatic traffic control on a gate operating mechanism. The arm includes a first section mounted to the gate operating mechanism and a second section attached to the first section by a hinge assembly for pivotal deflection of the second section upwardly of the first section. A resilient roller is mounted for longitudinal rotation below and substantially the length of the second section. The resilient roller and hinged section section limit damage to a vehicle contacted by the arm lowered by the gate operating device.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for pressuring a hard frozen comestible, similar to hardened ice cream, while simultaneously subjecting it to mechanical action to reduce the crystal and cell structure of the material to transform it into a soft, smooth and creamy texture only slightly less cold than its starting temperature. The apparatus includes a hopper for receiving the hard frozen comestible to be treated, an auger positioned above the hopper and automatically actuated by movement of the hopper toward the auger to produce conditioning of the comestible by the auger as the hopper and auger move toward one another into an adjacent relationship. The hopper is supported on a saddle member, and vertical guide members are employed for supporting and guiding the saddle member during vertical movement thereof provided by linkage assembly.

Abstract: A tool for assisting in the installation of horizontally overlapping siding boards for the exterior of a building including a body member and a gate member rotatably attached thereto. The body member has a head portion that forms a downwardly facing channel for hooking onto the upper edge of a siding board, and a mid portion that coacts with the head portion and the gate member to form an upwardly facing channel for receiving the lower edge portion of a siding board to be installed on the building. The gate member is moveable between open and closed positions whereby when installation of the siding board is completed, the gate member can be rotated to an open position for removal of the tool.

Abstract: A work piece holder assembly for moving a work piece along a selected annular path relative to a predetermined fixed position of a work tool. The assembly includes a base member having a concavely arcuate shaped guide track, a saddle member slidably mounted on the base member for movement on the guide track, and a work piece mount for attaching the work piece to the saddle member in a predetermined relation with respect to the work tool.