Abstract: An inverted U-shaped boom is pivotally mounted adjacent the trailing end of a pickup truck bed so as to be movable between a rest position lying entirely within the confines of the truck bed and an operative position inclining upwardly and rearwardly so as to partially overhang the trailing end of the truck bed. A pair of hydraulic cylinders interconnect the boom with stanchions on which the boom is pivotally mounted and are operative to move the boom between the rest and operative positions. A winch is disposed along an upper portion of the boom and includes means for attachment to an article which is to be moved into or out of the truck bed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for high-speed in-line or off-line insertion of newspaper supplements and the like into newspaper jackets is disclosed. In in-line insertion, the jackets are indexed and transported through a sensing station where a diverting conveyor takes any jacket that is sensed to be out of position relative to an assembly conveyor carrying pockets. Each pocket receives a jacket and has a fixed side which precedes a pivotal side in the path of travel. The fixed side and the pivotal side are spaced apart at the bottom of the pocket. Adjustable support bars run continuously underneath the pockets bridging the space between pocket sides and support the jacket and insert. The pockets mechanically spread the jackets as the pockets travel downstream, where an insert feeder impels the bottom insert of a stack of inserts into the open pocket. The initial feeding of a jacket, and later feeding of the insert, are sensed photoelectrically.

Abstract: A ski binding for use both in downhill skiing and cross-country skiing which can be used with either conventional downhill skiing boots or with non-skiing boots through the use of a leg cast which conformably grasps the lower leg of a skier. The leg cast is selectively pivotal relative to a boot plate for cross-country skiing, and vertically releasable from the ski during downhill or cross-country skiing.

Abstract: A syringe device has a hollow tubular body that receives a plunger, having in combination a handle portion rotatable within a sealing member portion, for obtaining gas-free blood samples. After an interior chamber of the syringe body is filled with blood under the influences of an individual's blood pressure, a seal is selectively established to isolate the sample. The syringe body is open at one end to receive the plunger and frictionally receives a hypodermic needle through a cylindrical end element disposed at the other end. A pair of linearatly extending seal interrupters, sliced from the handle portion of the plunger, extend from a position fixed on the handle portion across the sealing member to establish breach points, which in turn allow air communication between the interior chamber and the atmosphere. A pair of grooves disposed longitudinally near the open end of the syringe body retain the seal interrupters and prevent permanent indentations from forming in the sealing member while in storage.

Abstract: A bridge construction includes a bridge deck having a grid system of longitudinally extending members and criss-crossing transverse members supported at a vertically spaced relationship above a base plate. The grid system and base plate are integrally supported by a floor system and main support members. The base plate and grid system act as reinforcements for a fill material like concrete.

Abstract: An attachment for a conical woodsplitter comprises a rigid body having an outwardly radially diverging surface and a threaded tapered hole extending along its longitudinal axis adapted to be threadedly mated with the conical woodsplitter.

Abstract: A spirometer device includes an open ended inflatable elastomeric vessel with calibrated indicia along its length for indicating the volume of gas contained in the vessel and a mouth piece consisting of two relatively rotatable sections, one of said sections being connected to the open end of the vessel so that air can be blown through the mouth piece to inflate the vessel. The mouth piece contains a unique valving system and an air actuated sound generating device so that depending upon the relative angular relationship of the two sections, air can be blown into the vessel and retained in the vessel or allowed to escape from the vessel either through the sound generating device or not.

Abstract: A pair of ski poles, each having a shaft of two portions releasably connected to each other and to a unique grip. Each of the two portions of the shaft telescope one within the other to any one of a number of predetermined positions. The pair of ski poles are further adapted to disconnect from the grip and allow portions of the shaft to be reconnected to the other shaft, forming a relatively longer avalanche probe. The grip has an arresting spur thereon to assist a skier in stopping his momentum after a fall on a hill.

Abstract: The temperature within a freezer case or refrigeration compartment is operatively determined and controlled by a control system employing a microcomputer which operatively controls a refrigeration system associated with the freezer case. A sensing element is operatively connected to the microcomputer for supplying a signal representative of the freezer compartment temperature. Temperature selector switches establish upper and lower limits of a desired range of temperatures for the freezer case and another selector switch establishes an alarm condition temperature limit. The microcomputer follows a program of comparing the compartment temperature to the upper limit, the lower limit and the alarm condition limit. During normal operation, the microcomputer also controls a refrigerant valve to regulate the compartment temperature within the desired range. If the compartment temperature elevates to the alarm condition limit, the microcomputer energizes a first alarm.

Abstract: A traction vehicle includes a frame module formed principally from a plurality of platelike structural elements permanently fixed together to provide substantial rigidity for supplying and withstanding relatively large forces. Elongated boxlike drive assembly housings define the outer transverse longitudinal edges of the frame module, and a plurality of vertically-spaced, transversely-extending plate members connect the laterally positioned drive assembly housings in the frame module. End members extend transversely of the longitudinal ends of the frame module for applying the high forces from the vehicle. A plurality of driving wheel members are positioned outwardly from the drive assembly housings, and one separate power train assembly supplies reversible motive traction power simultaneously to all the driving wheel members on each lateral side of the vehicle. An operator's cab is positioned above the frame module, the sidewalls of the cab slope outwardly and define an octagonal cab structure.

Abstract: A device for drafting parallel lines by positioning a pair of pencils or pens between clamping portions of spring biased arms. The arms are joined at one end, the other ends snapping together to retain the pencils in the device.

Abstract: A modular solar heat controller contains four chambers through which heated air is deflected to an area of need, such as a house or building. One of the chambers contains a conventional air blower while the remaining three chambers are connected by ductwork to the building as well as a solar heat collector and solar storage unit respectively. Each of the four chambers, which are arranged in quadrants, is open to the next adjacent two chambers, making a total of three passageways through each chamber, except the chamber containing the blower, which does not connect to the outside and therefore has only two passageways. Two of the three passageway type chambers have control cylinders adapted to selectively close one of two predetermined passageways within the chamber permitting flow through the chamber by the other two passageways. In this manner the controller acts in three separate modes. In the first mode it can funnel air from the collector through the blower to the building.

Abstract: A spring latch mechanism for releasably retaining longitudinally slidable members in preselected relationships includes an elongated strip of semi-rigid resilient material having a pair of longitudinally spaced protuberances extending away from opposite faces of the strip. The strip is of flat V-shaped longitudinal cross-section and has a pivot location so that the protuberances are resiliently urged into openings in the slidable members to lock the members into preselected relationships. At least one of the protuberances can be depressed in a manner such that the other protuberance is moved out of the opening in which it was received to allow the members to slide longitudinally into another desired relationship. The strip is adapted to be disposed in a space between the longitudinally slidable members in a concealed location.

Abstract: Randomly spaced articles in serial order are separated into predetermined linear configurations or rows of a predetermined number of articles and thereafter simultaneously transferred into compartments in rows in a container. In reverse operation, articles from the compartments in the container are transferred into single file order. The apparatus used in these operations includes a conveyor upon which the predetermined linear configuration of articles is established, and a conveyor which moves the container and its rows of compartments into alignment to receive the articles, and an elevator assembly for transferring the articles in the predetermined configuration between the first conveyor and the rows of the container. Separably operable conveyor segments and separator plates establish the predetermined linear configuration on the conveyor, and the conveyor moves to avoid interference with the movement path of the articles transferred by the elevator assembly.

Abstract: An earplug mounting device individually molded to the shape of a user's ear is adapted to fit tightly therein and support a forwardly extending boom from which can be suspended audio or visual aids of various types and configurations. The earplug mounting device may be further adapted to conduct sound from audio communication devices to the inner ear while being of such construction as to dampen outside ambient noise.

Abstract: A retractable awning adapted to be mounted on a supporting surface and being movable between an extended position away from the supporting surface and a retracted position adjacent to the supporting surface includes a roll bar about which an awing sheet is selectively windable with the roll bar being rotatably disposed within an elongated tubular case. The case has an elongated bead projecting away therefrom adapted to be releasably retained in a mating groove provided in a mounting rail which is securable to the supporting surface. The case carrying the roll bar for the awning is, therefore, connected to the supporting surface by a tongue-in-groove connection. An auxiliary case is suspended from the main case and is adapted to releasably retain brace members which serve to retain the outer edge of the awning sheet in a position extended away from the supporting surface when the awning is in use.