Abstract: A coin receptacle cover for attachment to a coin receptacle box and subsequent use in a pay telephone comprising a panel, connectable to a coin receptacle box, which defines an opening therethrough for admitting coins into the coin receptacle box. The cover also comprises a movable door mounted for linear reciprocating movement between a closed position covering the opening and an open position uncovering the opening. An actuator arm is mounted for pivotal movement and includes a finger which is engageable by a pay telephone for pivoting the actuating arm upon installation of the coin receptacle cover in a pay telephone. Additionally, a pin and slot arrangement between the movable door and the actuator arm is provided for converting pivotal movement of the actuator arm into linear reciprocating movement of the movable door. The coin receptacle cover further comprises a linear track and the movable door has a guide pin slidable within the linear track.

Abstract: A capping apparatus and a magnetic coupling assembly therefor comprises a capping head for applying a cap, a drive mechanism for driving the capping head, and a separable magnetic coupling for selectively coupling the capping head to the drive mechanism. The separable coupling is operable to selectively drive the capping head at an initial rotational speed and for selectively de-coupling the capping head from the drive mechanism while the capping head is rotating. This allows the capping head to be moved toward a container to place the cap on the container while preventing the drive mechanism from continuing to drive the capping head as the cap is placed on the container.

Abstract: A coin receptacle for use with a locking coin receptacle cover and for use within a pay telephone. The coin receptacle comprises a molded one-piece plastic (polycarbonate) receptacle body having a bottom and four sides extending therefrom. The four sides define a top opening adapted to be covered by a coin receptacle cover. The receptacle body includes slots and a tang for releasably retaining the receptacle cover. The receptacle body further comprises a pull for facilitating removal of the coin receptacle from a pay telephone.

Abstract: A process for executing payment transactions between a user and a merchant, the process being carried out in connection with a bank or other institution maintaining a financial account for the user. The process comprises a step of segmenting the financial account of the user into a first sub-account containing unrestricted funds and a second sub-account containing restricted funds and transferring funds from the first sub-account of unrestricted funds to the second sub-account of restricted funds. Preferably, the transferring of the funds is done periodically according to a predetermined budget or is done from time to time according to specific authorization. The process also comprises tendering a restricted funds bank card to the merchant for accessing restricted funds in the second sub-account and scanning the restricted funds bank card electronically to identify the account to be accessed.

Abstract: A combination wrench for threading and unthreading a J-shaped lag screw into trees, telephone poles, and the like includes an elongate wrench shaft having first and second opposite ends and a substantially closed loop adjacent the first end. The closed loop is adapted to be looped over an end of the J-shaped lag screw to allow the J-shaped lag screw to be turned. A hook is formed adjacent the second end of the elongate wrench shaft and is adapted to be removably hooked into the J-shaped lag screw to enable the lag screw to be turned. The hook and the loop are each offset from the elongate wrench shaft to provide hand clearance.

Abstract: A data messaging method for communicating a short data message between a message sender and a message recipient using the existing facilities and capabilities of the public switched telecommunication network and without establishing a telephonic connection therebetween, thereby reducing the time and cost required to communicate a data message between the parties as compared to current methods. In a preferred embodiment, the method communicates a user-definable data message between a message sender having telephone terminal equipment and a plurality of telephone lines associated therewith, and a message recipient having telephone terminal equipment and a telephone line associated therewith. According to the method, a first plurality of data message portions are associated in one-to-one correspondence with the message sender's plurality of telephone lines. The data message is then parsed into a second plurality of data message portions taken from the first plurality of data message portions.

Abstract: A modular railing including a plurality of upright posts and a plurality of composite hand rails extending between adjacent ones of the upright posts. The composite handrails each include a plastic outer shell and an internal metal reinforcing element extending longitudinally within the plastic shell. A plurality of lower rails extend between adjacent ones of the upright posts and a plurality of composite spindles extend between the lower rails and the handrails. A plurality of brackets couple the handrails and the lower rails with the upright posts. The brackets are adapted to be slipped over end portions of the handrails and over end portions of the lower rails and to be fastened to the upright posts. Preferably the brackets are made of metal and have a shaped opening matching a cross-sectional profile of the handrails to allow the brackets to be slipped over the end portions of the handrails. The brackets include flanges to allow the brackets to be fastened to the upright composite posts with fasteners.

Abstract: Golf clubs, and a matched set of golf clubs, with each golf club having a hollow shaft with a head end and grip end. A resilient grip is fitted about the grip end of each shaft, and the grip has a butt end and a forward end and a midpoint therebetween. A clubhead is secured to the head end of each shaft. A frictionally-dissipative, vibration-damping counterweight (dash pot) is positioned within each hollow shaft (except for that of the 1-wood or driver) at the grip end thereof. The counterweight is at least substantially entirely contained between the midpoint and the butt end of the grip. The various counterweights are sized to position the center of gravity of each individual club a selected distance from the head end of the hollow shaft of the individual club, such that the selected distance does not decrease for successively shorter clubs in the matched set.

Abstract: A jet aircraft engine having an improved turbine section with curved intake manifolds to direct combustion gasses from the engine's combustion chamber into the turbine housing on a chordal flow path through the turbine generally perpendicular to the turbine rotor's axis of rotation. The turbine rotor has a number of radially extending turbine blades for transmitting energy from the combustion gasses to shaft work to drive the engine's fan and compressor. Exhaust manifolds can also be provided, directing the flow of exhaust gasses from the turbine to the engine's intake, and having noise and emissions control capability.

Abstract: A system for girding an article, in particular the twisted end of a bag, with a closure including a strip of adhesive tape. The system comprises a girding device and a roll of adhesive tape having a core. The girding device comprises a housing including a slot which is adapted for receiving the article moving therethrough. The housing also is provided with a support post for rotatably supporting a roll of adhesive tape. A star wheel is mounted for rotation at one side of the slot and has radially extending spokes which extend over the slot and are separated by recesses suitable for accommodating a twisted end of the article as it is moved through the slot past the star wheel. The housing further includes an element which lies at an opposite side of the slot from that of the star wheel and thereat forms a wall part lying along the path of ends of the spokes of the star wheel. A severing mechanism is provided for severing a strip of adhesive tape after the article has passed the star wheel.

Abstract: A climbing device for a tree or other vertical columnar member having a platform fashioned from fiber-reinforced composite material. The platform is a one-piece structure having a peripheral skin with bi-directionally oriented reinforcing fibers and longitudinally extending reinforcing fibers. The back bar is also fashioned from fiber-reinforced composite material having a peripheral skin with bi-directionally oriented reinforcing fibers and longitudinally extending reinforcing fibers. Fiber-reinforced members include a foam core for shape retention. The manufacturing process permits use of T-shaped joints in fiber-reinforced structures.

Abstract: A staged rotisserie for cooking poultry includes a housing having an inlet end and an outlet end and a plurality of discrete heating stations spaced within the housing between the inlet end and the outlet end. A plurality of poultry spits are moved through the housing, each spit supporting a poultry thereon. An admission mechanism is provided for controlling admission of spits into the housing. An advancement and driving mechanism advances the spits through the housing in sequential fashion and drives the spits in rotation within the housing, and is operative to ensure that each spit resides within the housing for a pre-determined length of time to ensure that the poultry is properly cooked, thereby avoiding undercooking and overcooking.

Abstract: A climbing tree stand for hunting or other outdoor activity includes a platform and tubular frame members connected thereto and at least partly supporting the platform. A yoke is connected to the platform for engaging the tree and a cable couples the platform to the tree with the ends of the cable carrying a series of nuts securely mounted thereadjacent. Cleats are positioned at the tubular frame members for releasably securing the cable ends using the nuts on the cables. The cleats include keyhole-shaped openings and moveable covers for covering the openings. The yoke includes two sections which are oriented at an acute angle with respect to each other to partly straddle the tree.

Abstract: A climbing tree stand includes a detachable, reversible seat assembly suspended from the body support structural frame. The seat assembly itself has a seat bottom portion and a back support portion connected to the seat and operable to bear against a transverse portion of the structural frame. A pair of straps attached to the bottom of the seat bottom portion carry hooks at their ends which hooks engage sides of the frame assembly so as to suspend the seat assembly below the frame assembly.