Abstract: In school jewelry such as school rings, bezel ring top keys, and ring top charms used as souvenirs and prom favors, a school ring top is provided having a beveled bezel and a stone with a faceted pavilion. The school ring top closely simulates the appearance of a die struck or cast ring top and provides clear and legible letters spelling out school-related information in its bezel which is made from a developed photographic film sheet with a reflecting backing layer. The bezel is slanted and of sufficient height for easy reading from a side view as well as a top view, and for accommodating a stone with a faceted pavilion. Three methods of making the miniature ring top are disclosed. One method includes doming the bezel by applying pressure to form a dome section, and then cutting a bezel out of the dome section. A second method includes cutting a bezel strip, removing a pie section from the bezel strip, and then doming by placing the ends of the pie section together.

Abstract: A discharge valve for controlling the discharge flow of water from the delivery end of a fire pump including a valve body having an integral extension portion forming an inlet waterway for delivering water from the delivery end of the fire pump to the valve chamber of the discharge valve, a valve cover having an integral discharge portion for directing the water to the fire hose in a downward direction, and a push-pull drain valve formed integrally with and contained within the valve cover.

Abstract: This orthopedic appliance for correcting a wide variety of lower extremity deformities comprises: a bar which is scored so that it can be broken to provide a bar of a desired length; lockable articulated joints at both ends of the bar; releasable clips for rapidly attaching and detaching the articulated joints to and from the bottom of the patient's shoes; index markings allowing the articulated joints to be accurately adjusted and locked in the desired position; nesting extension attachments; and stabilizer rods for maintaining plantar or dorsi flexion and insuring that the device is not defeated by bending the knees.Included in the appliance is a lockable articulated joint utilizing a hollow spherical member clamped between a spherical socket and a spherical locking member.

Abstract: A ticket issuing machine is constructed with a ticket wheel rotatably mounted adjacent a ticket supply for feeding tickets by means of pins which engage in holes in the ticket web and a wheel advancing mechanism including a manually operable means engageable with the ticket wheel for rotating the same through a first portion of the ticket issuing stroke, and a spring-operated detent mechanism causing the ticket wheel to advance through the remainder of the ticket issuing stroke. The ticket issuing machine is also provided with a full stroke mechanism for insuring a complete ticket issuing stroke and an anti-spin mechanism for arresting the ticket wheel at the end of the ticket issuing stroke.

Abstract: A seal for sealing between a rotating member and a housing comprises a seal ring mounted for movement towards and away from the rotating member and having a high pressure side, a low pressure side, and a face opposed to the rotating member. Resilient means urge the seal ring towards the rotating member. Hydrodynamic means in the form of a plurality of spaced recesses in that face of the seal ring opposed to the rotating member, with the entry to each recess more restricted than its exit so as to produce negative hydrodynamic lift in the recess and urge the seal ring towards the rotating member. A seal is provided between the housing and the seal ring.

Abstract: A medical alert bracelet for carrying an emergency supply of a patient's medicament comprising a bracelet strap and a blister package containing a medicament form. The blister package is held in the bracelet strap, a hole is formed in the bracelet strap beneath the blister package for push-through ejection of the medicament from the bracelet, and a closure is provided for closing the strap onto the wrist of the patient. A weakened line is positioned across the strap and is easily ruptured to remove the strap from the patient's wrist, and a locator notch is provided at the weakened line so that it is easily located, even in the dark. The invention also includes a method of making the medical alert bracelet.

Abstract: A multiple paper punch has a base. A substantially vertical stripper plate is mounted on the base and has a plurality of openings for punch pins. A punch pin is mounted in each opening with each punch pin having a cam follower head. A substantially vertical die plate is mounted on the base adjacent the stripper plate and has openings in line with the openings in the stripper plate. The stripper plate and the die plate form a guide for the vertical entry of a sheet to be punched. An operating bar is mounted on a substantially horizontal pivot and has a depending cam portion adapted to engage the head of each punch pin. The punch pins and operating bar are biased to the inactive position by resilient means.

Abstract: Apparatus for promoting blood circulation in a body part suffering from a circulation deficiency by inflating and deflating a pressure cuff applied to a patient's limb proximal to the affected body part so that the blood is forced into the affected body part. The apparatus is synchronized with the patient's heartbeat by way of an EKG pickup and automatically compensates for the blood transit time from the heart to the point of cuff application. The apparatus includes control means responsive to the sensing of the blood flow at a location distal to the cuff for achieving optimum blood circulation in the body part being treated.

Abstract: A method of making a copper thick film conductor paste which includes the step of preoxidizing a controlled amount of the copper powder particles. A copper thick film conductor paste, and an electrical conductor element and a method of making it from the paste.

Abstract: A collapsible wind and/or sunshade screen of the type comprising a screen sheet and a stand supporting the sheet. The stand includes a hub and a pair of outer ribs and an intermediary rib kept together at one end at the hub. The ribs are pivotally carried by the hub on axles in parallel relationship and at least approximately perpendicular to the portion of the screen sheet adjacent the hub. The screen includes means interconnected between the outer ribs and the intermediary rib for releasably maintaining the sheet in a fixed stretched condition.

Abstract: A method of making plastic optical fibers in which a tubular plastic sheath is heated to a predetermined temperature in a vacuum chamber, a rod-like plastic core is inserted into the sheath in the vacuum chamber and the assembly is allowed to cool in the vacuum chamber to room temperature. The internal diameter of the sheath at the predetermined temperature is greater than the outer diameter of the core at room temperature so that said core can be inserted into the tube at the predetermined temperature. The internal diameter of the sheath at room temperature is less than the outer diameter of the core at room temperature so that when said assembly is allowed to cool from the predetermined temperature to room temperature, the tube will shrink tightly onto the core.

Abstract: A mixer for mixing oil and gasoline in a can comprising a mixer disc having a plurality of holes therein, a plunger shaft having its bottom end rigidly connected to the mixer disc, a guide sleeve adapted to be mounted in a mixer opening in the can, a lower spring mounted between the disc and a lower spring stop on the guide sleeve, a handle mounted on the top of the plunger shaft, and an upper spring mounted between the handle and an upper spring stop on the guide sleeve, whereby the handle is pumped up and down, assisted by the springs, to mix oil and gasoline for use in a snowmobile and the like.

Abstract: A vertically oriented air-tight bellows has its lower end connected to an opening in the top of the reservoir by an air-tight connection. A cover closes the upper end of the bellows and has secured thereto a fill inlet in communication with the interior of the bellows and carrying a removable cap. Vertical guide means guide the bellows in substantially vertical movement. Advantageously the bellows have means for lifting upwardly the upper end of the bellows and means for holding the bellows in an upwardly expanded position for filling. Preferably the cap for the fill inlet is transparent to permit viewing the hydraulic fluid in the bellows. A preferred embodiment has means to sight the position of the top of the bellows and a manually actuated bleed valve to vent gas from the interior of the bellows. A housing for the bellows is provided for situations where exposure to dirt particles is substantial.

Abstract: A device for smearing liquid on a slide has (1) a housing and means for supporting a pair of slides on top of the housing, (2) a carriage with a pair of spaced runners which slidably support the carriage on the top of the housing, (3) a spreader pivotally mounted on the carriage and free to rock transversely with respect to a slide, (4) a member to advance the carriage and spreader, (5) a spring and dashpot arrangement to retract the carriage, and (6) latch means to arrest the carriage after it retracts a short distance. The means for supporting the slides may support the slide at an angle of at least five degrees with respect to the plane in which the carriage moves reducing the thickness of the liquid smeared on the slide. The dashpot plunger moves in the direction of an open end of the dashpot cylinder. Advantageously the device has means to clean the spreader.

Abstract: An electroless nickel bath for applying a nickel coating to articles without heat distortion, especially plastic articles, comprising water, nickel ions, a reducing agent for reducing the nickel ions to a metal, and a stabilizing agent for controlling the operating speed of the reducing agent, the bath being maintained at an alkaline pH, with the weight of the nickel ions being less than the weight of the hypophosphite anions. The nickel ions may be obtained from nickel salts, the reducing agent may be sodium hypophosphite, and the stabilizing agent may be sodium citrate and ammonium chloride. A replenish mixture for maintaining the bath comprising nickel ions and reducing agent anions in about the same ratio as in the original bath, and a stabilizing agent in about one-third the amount as in the original bath. A method of applying a nickel coating to articles comprising immersing the articles in said electroless nickel bath at room temperature.

Abstract: A pallet assembly combines a structurally simple, although relatively expensive, heavy-duty, high quality pallet with an expendable, inexpensive, light-weight, and extraordinarily simple shipper skid. The heavy-duty pallet is made of solid hardwood lumber or other durable material such as plastic and is designed for long lasting service. The expendable shipper skid is made of a light-weight hardwood, plastic or corrugated fiberboard. The pallet assembly is entered by a forklift from one direction and the shipper skid and a load thereon is arranged to be lifted from the pallet assembly by a forklift entering from a direction displaced 90.degree. from said first mentioned direction. Notches in the intermediate as well as the end runners of the heavy-duty pallet allow the tines of the forklift to pass through the entire pallet assembly when the expendable shipper skid is to be lifted. Only the inexpensive expendable shipper skid is shipped with the load.

Abstract: A catheter holder for securing a urethral catheter to a patient includes an anchoring strip with a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer on one side covered by a peel-off cover sheet. A cord passes through a pair of adjacent openings in the anchoring strip with the cord being tied to secure it to the anchoring strip. The anchoring strip in the area of the openings is reinforced by a reinforcing panel. The cord is looped around a peripheral groove in a connector between the catheter and a drain tube and tied to secure it in the peripheral groove against longitudinal movement.

Abstract: The striking surface of a matchbook is camouflaged, protected or concealed to reduce the probability of the successful striking of a match by young children.

Abstract: A hanging file support frame has a pair of file folder support rails and a pair of transverse members. Four corner fittings supported in an elevated position each have a substantially vertical slot receiving one end of a rail and a substantially horizontal slot receiving one end of a transverse member. Each transverse member overlies both rails to prevent the upward movement of the rails.

Abstract: A liquid fraction collector has a first series of containers and a second series of containers, each of the first and second series of containers being arranged in a plurality of groups with means to support each group at a different elevation. A conduit leads upwardly from each container in said first series with the upper ends of the conduits lying in a first row and a conduit leads upwardly from each container in said second series with the upper end of the conduits lying in a second row parallel to the first row. A carriage is mounted above said conduits. The carriage has means to discharge a liquid having an inverted V guide member with one trough over one row and the other trough over the other row and a discharge tube having its discharge end movable from a position over one trough of the guide member to a position over the other trough of the guide member.