Abstract: In a watercraft such as a sailboat, wherein a boom is pivotally mounted to a mast and extends aft over an open cockpit, a plurality of fittings are mounted to the port and the starboard sides of the boom in a spaced apart manner. Elongate spreader members are removably carried by such fittings and they extend laterally outward over the open cockpit, terminating above the port and starboard sides of the cockpit. Flexible membranes are supported on the spreaders and flexible screening depends from the outboard edges of the membranes in such a manner that the screening surrounds the cockpit and the lower edge of the screening is held in place against the hull structure of said watercraft.

Abstract: A method and device for feeding animals, particularly fish, comprise supply of food into a conduit (3) by a food supply member (2). The food is transported in the conduit to feed locations (5) by a fluid flow. The food supply member comprises a rotor having cells adapted to be successively filled and brought into communication with the conduit (3) to be successively evacuated by the flow of fluid maintained in the conduit on rotation of the rotor.

Abstract: A hand-held device for personal protection. The device is provided with a hook at the end of a rod. When it is desired to strike at an attacker, the hook is thrust from within the housing of the device. The device can be provided with compression bias which requires a user to apply pressure to a knob to actuate the device or with a tension bias which permits the device to be actuated upon the release of a trigger-type arrangement.

Abstract: A telephone dialing pager providing a visual display of a caller's telephone number and storage of a plurality of telephone numbers of consecutive callers. The stored information data corresponding to each caller's telephone number is recalled for display by the user of the pager and controllably transformed into appropriate dual tone multi frequencies for dialing the callers' telephone numbers.

Abstract: A structure for mounting a housing, such as the housing of a hydraulic cylinder, on a support plate or panel by a simple manual push and twist motion exerted on the housing. The support plate or panel, such as the floorboard or bulkhead of a motor vehicle, is provided for example with a generally square opening, and the housing has a generally cylindrical mounting portion provided on one side with a circular flange of an outer diameter larger than the largest dimension of the square opening, and on its other side provided, for example, with a substantially square flange dimensioned such as to pass freely through the square opening. A resilient gasket is installed between the two flanges and is compressed such as to permit rotation of the housing for disposing the corners of the square flange in a locked position in engagement with rear surface areas of the plate or panel adjacent each straight side of the square opening.

Abstract: A dual-rate fuel flow control system for the gaseous or liquid fuel supplied to the burner of a space heater, comprising a valve controllable to supply full fuel flow to the burner at the start of a heating cycle to deliver full heat to the heat exchanger chamber in which circulates the heat transfer fluid, and controllable to supply reduced fuel flow to the burner simultaneously with starting the circulating of the heat transfer fluid from the heat exchanger to the space to be heated.

Abstract: A stringing tool for a racket, such as a tennis racket for example, provided with individual strings for the net-like interlacing stringing covering the open area of the racket frame, each individual string being anchored at both ends, for example, by a collapsible anchoring clip disposed in a stringing aperture through the racket frame. The stringing tool comprises a pair of jaws for grasping the end of the string projecting beyond the racket frame, the jaws being mounted on a slide coupled to a second slide movable by lever action. The coupling between the two slides has an adjustable releasable mechanism operable to disconnect one slide from the other upon exerting a pull of a pre-determined force on the string. The stringing tool is preferably further provided with a clipper for cutting off the portion of the string projecting from the side of the racket frame after the string has been stretched taut from one side of the frame to the other and securely anchored by the clips in the frame stringing holes.

Abstract: Sealed ball and socket joints having a spherical member capable of swiveling relative to a socket member. A bearing ring disposed with or without clearance in a housing has a concave spherical surface portion in swiveling engagement with the ball member, and a pair of symmetrically disposed resilient rings installed between the bearing ring and the inner surface of the housing constantly urge the bearing surface of the bearing ring in engagement with the spherical member surface to prevent rattle and to compensate for wear. A bellows seal, formed integrally with one of the resilient rings or, alternatively, formed separate, is fastened at one end in the shell. The bellows seal is held elastically at its other end around a portion of the spherical member.

Abstract: A rhythm indicating exercising device in the form of a generally tubular member having a preferably metallic mass or slug disposed freely slidable in the interior of the tubular member, each end of the tubular member being provided with an elastic, resilient end closure preventing the mass or slug from escaping from the tubular member. In use, one tubular member is grasped in one hand or, preferably, a pair of tubular members are held one in each hand of a person while walking and more particularly while engaged in aggressive exercise walking, that is while walking at a fast pace with extensive swinging of the arms back and forth.

Abstract: The rotor or stator of an electro-magnetic machine, such as an electric motor, having permanent magnets is provided with auxiliary permanent magnets which are relatively positionable to provide an external magnetic flux path during normal operation of the machine and an internal magnetic flux path to enable the rotor to be readily separated from the stator for the purpose of maintenance or repair work. The invention also contemplates, for example, fine speed calibration, through variation of the intensity of a magnetic field during running of electro-magnetic machines such as DC motors.

Abstract: An impulse-action heat-sealer for manufacturing a sealed article, as a bag or the like, by pressingly keeping the portions to be sealed and effecting the sealing by means of heating with short-time electric current. The sealer has a pressing-sealer lever as is actuated electromagnetically, and is further equipped with an air-damper to function as a buffer for the actuating movement of the pressing-sealer lever.

Abstract: A jig-saw puzzle work board forming a work surface recessed relative to a frame surrounding the work surface. The work surface is used for reconstructing a puzzle by placing the puzzle pieces together in a predetermined fashion, and a cover having a resilient facing or padding is placed over the work surface for preserving or storing away a partially reconstructed puzzle, the padding being made of resilient foam material having a surface engageable with the surface of the puzzle pieces and capturing the pieces and applying them against the work surface.

Abstract: A gasoline-substitute fuel for use in motor cars comprises a mixture consisting of 5-15% by weight of a monohydroxy alcohol containing one to four carbon atoms per molecule; 2-10% by weight of a conventional diesel fuel; and the balance consisting of a conventional gasoline.

Abstract: A mixed-bed device for producing pure water for use in the electronic industry, the pharmaceutical industry, etc., comprises a water collector which is shaped to spread along the bottom of a container and which has water collecting apertures positionable as substantially uniformly distributed over the bottom.

Abstract: A support device including a hook for suspending a person wearing the support device on a rope. The person may be fastened into the support device by means of a transverse belt attached to the upper torso, with the transverse belt extending through slots provided in the support device. The support device includes a spreader bar whose length corresponds approximately to the width of a human chest, with the rope-retaining hook being attached to the spreader bar at a point midway between the ends thereof. The spreader bar is made of a substantially rigid material and serves, when the belt is applied to the person, to support said person in the area defining the width of the chest. Accordingly, for all practical purposes, no lateral forces are transmitted to the person by the pulling of the rope and, consequently, no discomfort through chest constriction is caused by the support device.

Abstract: To a substrate is added a plurality of layers of materials comprising: a first layer of thermoplastic acrylic resin, to which is added a layer of aluminum foil. Over the aluminum foil is added a layer of the resin and to the top surface of the resin is added a layer of chopped strand fiber glass mat. Over the fiber glass mat is added a layer of the resin and on top of the resin is added a finish coat of paint.In some applications aggregate material is added to the finish coat of paint.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring the service life of adsorption cartridges used for desiccating moist pressurized air or for purifying pressurized air by removing harmful substances therefrom. The apparatus includes a timepiece for counting the operating hours. The speed of the timpiece is adjusted in accordance with the temperature of the pressurized air to be filtered.

Abstract: A picture frame for displaying graphics such as paintings, photographs, documents, diplomas and the like. The picture frame comprises a plurality of marginal frame members, a window affixed within the frame members, a hinged closure back panel with compression pads for pressing a graphic against the window and a pivotable latch member for holding the closure back panel in a set position. The latch member, formed in the shape of an arrowhead, also serves as means for mounting the picture frame to a hook or nail by a recess formed in one surface of the latch member. The recess is provided with converging sidewalls which guide the nail or hook to a top portion of the recess provided with increased depth.

Abstract: A knuckle or swivel joint of the half-ball and socket type comprising a stud terminating in an enlarged diameter half-ball member disposed in the socket member and having an end flat surface engaged by a resilient retainer cap disposed in the socket member. The retainer cap is elastically pre-loaded in an appropriate direction which causes firm engagement of the spherical bearing surfaces of the socket and ball in mutual swivelling engagement, thus, among others, compensating for wear.