Abstract: A cable bending device specifically adapted to form an expansion bend or loop in a cable television wire or cable to enable the cable television cable to expand and contract during temperature changes without undue tension, stress or buckling of the cable television cable. The bending device includes an elongated, generally vertical plate supported from the lasher cable at a point adjacent a supporting pole or the like with the plate including a pair of end shoes engaging the undersurface of the cable television cable and a center shoe engaging the top surface of the cable television cable. The center shoe can be adjusted vertically by a handcrank and screw threaded shaft arrangement and the two end shoes can be adjusted and locked by eccentric locking mechanism.

Abstract: A tide-operated turbine is located in a holding tank having communication with a tide-fed reservoir so as to supply the turbine with operating water. To provide continuous, around-the-clock operation of the turbine by insuring a positive operating head throughout tidal cycles, a control system causes the turbine to discharge into the ocean through a turbine discharge port in an ocean-fronting wall of the holding tank at times during each tide cycle when the tidal level is below the discharge port, but closes the discharge port and causes the turbine to discharge into the holding tank at times when the tidal level is above the discharge port. The control system also provides drainage of the holding tank during each tide cycle.

Abstract: A game device utilizing the old and well known concept of connecting adjacent dots of a matrix of dots by utilizing a connecting line formed by a player during his period of play. In this known type of game device, the matrix of dots is usually arranged periodically in a horizontal and vertical array with the purpose of the game being to complete more squares than an opponent. The present invention provides a tri-level gameboard with each level having a number of dots thereon with each level also including a predetermined number of fixed and optional "stops" that are distinguishable by color and/or configuration to prevent a player from capturing the enclosed shape, such as a square, triangle or the like having any side composed of a "stop" thereby introducing the use of skill and strategic planning by the players inasmuch as a player, by judicious use of the "stops" can decisively control the outcome of the game.

Abstract: Apparatus for resisting rearward movement of a tow truck or wrecker while winching a vehicle up to towing position in back of the wrecker comprises a stiff leg attachment which is raised and lowered by toggle linkages that move overcenter and engage against a stop to support the stiff leg attachment in lowered position during winching.

Abstract: A pliers-type hand tool has a pair of pivotally connected jaw-forming members defining jaw portions on one side of the pivot connection and elongate slotted lever portions on the other side of the pivot connection. A slide pin is received in the lever portion slots and is connected by pivot links to operating handles which are attached to the pivot connection in common with the jaw-forming members. The arrangement produces a mechanical advantage between the handles and the jaw-forming members allowing a greater jaw-closing force to be developed, related to the manual effort applied to the handles, than with conventional pliers-type tools of comparable size.

Abstract: A ball-returning tennis net assembly comprises a net structure of an inner net and an outer net on each side of the inner net for gathering balls hit into the net structure in a manner preventing the balls from rebounding onto a playing surface of a tennis court and for causing the balls to drop into an elongate inclined tray positioned along the base of the net so that the collected balls will roll down the tray to one end of the net structure. The tray delivers the ball to an automatic ball return mechanism at the side of the court which has a powered paddle device for batting the balls to a selected location at either end of the court.

Abstract: A transducer rendered operative by a battery voltage source is mounted on and closely spaced from a sonic radiating surface by a sonic coupling body to which a housing is secured in enclosing relation to both the transducer and the battery source. Openings in the housing expose a volume control knob and an output signal jack through which a signal cable connects the transducer to a remotely located amplifier.

Abstract: An imprinter having a continuously rotated printing wheel, is inked through a transfer roller drivingly connected by intermittent gearing to the printing wheel, the roller being in contact with a Teflon surface of an arcuate ink pad projecting from an ink storing cartridge within an inking chamber housing an excess ink wiper.

Abstract: A pressure vessel mounts hinges adjacent its open end for pivotal displacement of a door between open and closed positions, the hinges being raised and lowered with the door by power operated means. The door may be closed when lowered into roller-supported alignment with power operated locking means which includes toggle linkages for clamping the door to the vessel. Power operated safety pins hold the linkages in the locked condition.

Abstract: A centrifugal pellet dryer including an exhaust fan mounted on the upper end of the dryer in direct communication with the interior of the dryer for removing moisture laden air therefrom. The exhaust fan impeller is connected directly to the upper end of the rotor shaft so that a single motor drives the rotor and exhaust fan. A unique rotor with a larger length to diameter ratio is included in the dryer for increased pellet drying efficiency.

Abstract: A building block, of generally the same overall shape as a concrete or cinder block, is provided and includes upper and lower recesses and projections which interlock the blocks in tiers of blocks for compact storage and shipment and which enable the blocks of adjacent courses of blocks to be interlocked with each other during construction of a wall. In addition, the blocks include reinforcing members embedded therein for transferring vertical loads through vertically stacked courses of blocks and some forms of reinforcing enable cementitious material poured into the cavities of the block to be reinforced. One form of reinforcing is tubular and includes bell and spigot ends which may be sealingly engaged with each other and used to allow heating or cooling fluids to flow through the blocks.

Abstract: One side of the base end of a chain saw bar and an opposing abutment member relative to which the base end of the saw bar is releasably clamped include ratchet and pawl structure operative, when the clamping action between the abutment member and the saw bar base end is relaxed, to allow lengthwise saw chain tightening adjustment of the saw bar in a first direction and to prevent lengthwise displacement of the saw bar relative to the abutment member in the opposite direction.

Abstract: Energy saving attachments for insulating attic access openings in the ceilings of houses or other buildings comprise insulating panels which attach from below to the outside of a swing-down door which closes the access opening, or to the ceiling around the access opening. The panels, which may be fitted to existing attic door installations, do not impede access to the attic, nor do they impede operation of the door or a folding stairway when such is carried by the door.

Abstract: A rescue basket structure to be suspended from a helicopter winch cable comprises a cruciform-like suspension frame and a collapsible rectangular basket-like container suspended by cables from the frame. The suspension frame has tail fins to stabilize the structure when it is airborne and the cable configuration is designed to impart a scooping action to the container when it is lowered into water to facilitate access thereto by a person being rescued or an object being recovered. The basket-like container may also be partially covered over its base and may trail a sea anchor to enhance the scooping action.

Abstract: An upstanding hollow rotary drum is provided and is mounted for rotation about its center axis. The lower end of the drum is closed and the upper end of the drum is open. A motor is drivingly connected to the drum for rotating the latter at generally 7000 to 8000 R.P.M. and the interior of the drum includes structure for stationarily mounting one or more crab cores within the drum introduced there into through the open upper end thereof and with the crab cores being supported in generally centered position relative to the axis of rotation of the drum. The drum is of an inside diameter sufficient to enable a plurality of crab cores to be received within the drum in centered position therein and to have the outer peripheral portions of the crab cores spaced only slightly inwardly of the inner wall surfaces of the drum.

Abstract: A deodorizing fitting is provided for an air filter used in air circulation ducting of a domestic dwelling or other building for deodorizing the circulating air. The fitting comprises a rectangular envelope of perforated cardboard with a deodorizing insert therein and adhesive-backed tabs on adjacent edges of the envelope for securing same in the corner of the filter.

Abstract: Adjusted voltage measurements of monitored AC electrical energy supplied during a welding operation are evaluated by integration with respect to time during half cycles to develop a variable criterion each half cycle that is compared with adjusted limits to electronically make weld quality judgements. The generation of a fail signal during two consecutive half cycles as a result of such judgements, is operative through logic gating to produce a reject signal to control the marking of defective welds, interrupt the supply of energy to the welding electrodes and effect timely operation of an ejector removing articles with defective welds from a production line.

Abstract: A mount is provided for secure mounting on one end of a vehicle and an elongated arm has a first end thereof provided with support structure for supporting a vehicle wheel therefrom with the medial plan of the wheel generally paralleling the arm. Mounting structure is also provided for mounting the second end of the arm from the mount for angular displacement relative thereto about a first horizontal axis generally normal to the aforementioned plane between a raised upright position with the first end of the arm uppermost and a generally horizontal position with the arm first end swung downwardly to a horizontal position. The mounting structure also mounts the second arm end for swinging relative to the mount about an upright axis, whereby the wheel supporting arm may first be swung across the associated vehicle end from an upright position to a horizontal position and then may be swung outwardly from the corresponding vehicle end.