Abstract: A stand which captively suspends service hosing above the ground so the housing does not contact sensitive areas along the terrain includes vertically extending legs which are inserted into the ground in order to hold the stands in an upright position. Side plates and cross-members create cradles for holding each of the hoses separately. The cross-members of the stands are equipped with roller means which facilitate the process of threading and pulling the hosing through the cradles of the stands. Two separate horizontal rollers are spaced vertically to support each hose individually. A series of stands of any desired number are selectively placed between and around sensitive shrubbery.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance for moving the upper teeth relative to lower teeth in either a backward or a forward direction contains a resilient body coupled to at least one rotating end portion that allows the device to spin freely. Since the ends of the device spin freely, the stress of twisting on the flexible portion will be eliminated thus reducing breakage. Furthermore, the need for a different right and left device is eliminated. In addition, the end portion may also be telescoping in order to make the device expandable, thus allowing the patient to open his/her mouth more fully which results in the additional benefit of less appliance breakage. Also, because the device is expandable, the flexible portion can be made one size that will result in a more consistent force output and reduce the number of parts needed to manufacture the appliance.

Abstract: A packet ironing system for documents fan-folded into a packet which includes a conveyer path bounded laterally by an ironing plate on one side and an opposite-facing backing plate on the other side, defining a conveyance gap therebetween. The leading end of the ironing plate is rotatable about a vertical axis hinge. An actuator for moving the ironing plate about a point of rotation defined by the hinge alters the gap between the ironing plate and the backing plate. Control means which includes a sensor located downstream of infeed rollers signals the actuator to forceably move the ironing plate against the fan-fold document as the document is pulled through the conveyance gap by the infeed rollers.

Abstract: A kneel-type chair is provided by a pair of interconnected cushions and provides a frameless device that is lightweight, portable and rugged. A bottom solid wedge base composed of a firm foam includes a cut-out leg groove lined with three layers of varying density foam that receives the knees of the occupant. The bottom cushion is angled downward in the front so that the occupant's knees are supported at the lowest point on the cushion. Upwardly extending portions located at the sides of the bottom cushion provide a lateral boundary to the occupant's lower legs. An upper, smaller wedge support cushion is positioned behind the occupant's knee joints extending to and supporting the occupant's buttocks. The upper cushion is releasably attached to the upwardly extending portions of the lower cushion by means of hook-and-loop-type fasteners. The material of both the upper and lower cushions is preferably molded polyethylene foam.

Abstract: An orthodontic height hand gauge is both double-ended and double-sided, allowing four measurement heights to be determined by a single tool. Each end of the gauge has a rotatable element capable of rotating and stopping at zero degrees, 45 degrees, and 90 degrees from the handle axis by a plunger mechanism which provides a detent function. Rotatable ends provide proper gauge alignment to the tooth, especially for difficult-to-reach teeth in the back of the mouth. A center tab extends longitudinally from each rotatable element and is separated by a given distance from top and bottom legs which extend parallel to the center tab. The distances between the center tab and the legs are two different gauge heights to be measured. Thus, by using both ends of the tool, four gauge distances can be measured.

Abstract: A bus buffer conditions and amplifies bi-directional electrical signals on a line carrying MIL-STD 1553 bi-polar signals. The device includes a receiver with a threshold detector, a signal conditioner including a retiming circuit and an amplifying transmitter. The signal conditioner receives filtered bi-polar signal output from the receiver and transforms the signal into separate uni-polar digital outputs. The signal conditioner includes means for increasing the positive voltage state period of each uni-polar output voltage state until the beginning of the next output voltage state to eliminate an effective null bus period during a signal transmission. A timing circuit includes a clock and logic circuitry which retimes and combines the uni-polar signals to create a bi-polar digital output having retimed zero-crossing points which is then transmitted out to a second bus. Two bus buffers are connected between the first and second buses in reverse orientation to provide bidirectional capability.

Abstract: A golf club grip alignment device is provided by a rib of material laying along the surface of the golf club grip. The side edges of the rib guide the golfer's hands into proper alignment. The rib may be formed by a continuous metal wire which wraps around the surface of the golf club grip, in which case the rib is held to the golf club grip by means of the torsional spring resilience of the wire. In an alternate embodiment, the rib may be composed of a flaccid material whose position and affixation to the grip is provided by a highly elastic sleeve into which it is embedded. The sleeve is applied to the golf club grip as a pull-over cover which holds itself firmly in position by the elastic constriction of the sleeve.

Abstract: A pet chew toy is generally bone-shaped having an elongated body member with a bulbous knob at each end. The body member has a hollow cavity along its axis and an opening at one end. A screw rod is positioned along an axis of the body member and is affixed to the one knob located at the end opposite the cavity opening. A hard chewable food product which has a non-circular cross-section that corresponds to the shape of the cavity is threaded onto the screw rod. An internal bore within the food product includes internal threads which are compatible with the threads of the screw rod. The chew product may also be of a soft enough material that it is self-threading, that is to say that, the screw rod creates thread in a smooth internal bore of the food product when it is initial introduced into the body member. When the two opposing knobs are rotated with respect to each other the screw rod is turned.

Abstract: A yo-yo kit comprises precise metal fitting parts which provide the accuracy and ease of assembly. Metal sleeves are pressed into each yo-yo half. The sleeves provide a mounting point for turning the yo-yo halves and also carry compressive forces of the axle. During assembly, the sleeves are affixed to each body half by an adhesive such as an epoxy glue. Inner and outer hubs located at the ends of the sleeve of each body are rigidly press-fitted into each sleeve. The outer hubs include blind threaded apertures which receive the threaded ends of the axle to secure the parts in a rigidly assembly. The inner hubs are likewise press-fitted into the other ends of the sleeves and act both as radial spacers between the axle and the sleeve and also capture a centrally mounted ball bearing between opposing flanges on their respective inner facing surfaces. The inner hubs also include friction grooves to increase friction between the spinning yo-yo and the string which operates the yo-yo.

Abstract: A mud flap lifting system for trucks pushes the mud flaps from their inside surface upward and rearward away from the rear tires. Push bars swing about a pivot from the underside of the truck body directly behind the mud flap. The push bars include C-shaped arms which receive the upper portion of the folded mud flap as it is retracted. Fully retracted, the mud flap is compactly folded so that it is less susceptible to damage. The lift mechanism is pneumatically powered by a single centrally-located cylinder which actuates twin linkages on either side of the truck through a transverse pivoting axle so that both mud flaps may be retracted simultaneously by a single pneumatic actuator.

Abstract: A light-controlled safety switch for an automated press includes an optical transmitter and receiver affixed to the press frame just above the press ram that redirects the light beam from vertical to horizontal. A light beam is directed downward from the transmitter to a 45-degree reflective surface on the ram. A cross-hole, perpendicular to the centerline of the ram, and a second 45-degree opposite-facing reflector opposite to the first reflective surface returns the light beam to the receiver. Thus, an optical path is achieved from the transmitter to the first reflector, through the ram, to the second reflector and then back up to the receiver. The opposing 45-degree reflectors are preferably provided by a 45-degree dished collar with a light-reflective interfacing surface fitted about the ram.

Abstract: A protective coat for domestic animals, such as dogs, is reversible to alternatively protect against heat or cold. The coat is made of a light-weight flexible material that is preferably fastened with the use of hook-and-loop fastening strips. The coat is a two-ply garment, one ply providing a water-repellent surface, while the second ply provides a heat radiation-reflective surface. The preferred material used in constructing the pet garment is Astrolon.RTM.. The coat is a lamination of two sheets providing the desired protective qualities. The first sheet is aluminized clear polyethylene, and the second sheet is a colored polyethylene. The two sheets are heat-fused together. A cloth piping is sewn around the side edges of the lamination.

Abstract: A captive panel fastener includes a retractable screw having a thermal plastic cap molded around its head. The cap includes slotted skirt with resilient fingers. When the retractable screw is forced downward through the bore of the ferrule having divergent sides, the fingers of the cap spread apart by the wedging action against the outside surface of the ferrule, thus providing a biasing force urging the screw in an upward retracted direction. The ends of the cap fingers include inward facing ribs which fall into a circumferential groove around the outside surface of the ferrule adjacent its bottom end. The groove may further include plurality of radial extending teeth which engage inward facing protrusions located on the fingertip ribs to resist unwanted loosening of the screw.

Abstract: A dental impression tray includes venting in the palatal area of the tray that permits excess impression material to be expelled downward and forward as the impression material and tray are forced upward against the patient's teeth when the impression is taken. At least one vent is located along the apex of the palatal shelf portion of the tray. A pressure plate is also employed which lies substantially in the plane of the base of the tray near the back of the tray. The pressure plate provides a reduced pressure against the impression material and also provides a convenient place in the center of the dental tray for the clinician to apply upward finger pressure to control the positioning and pressure of the tray against the patient's teeth as it is applied.