Abstract: Absorbent pads with theft alarm activator elements concealed from view within each individual pad. These pads are designed for inclusion in a tray with a meat, fish or poultry product. The alarm activator element in each pad may be a strip or wire of magnetic material of suitable magnetic retentivity. In an alternative arrangement, a resonator may be used in conjunction with a magnetic strip which controls its resonant frequency. In the case of meat or poultry product pads, the element is cored into the pad between pluralities of laminated layers of tissue, cellulose, airlaid or composite. The element may be positioned between adjacent pairs of laminated tissues in a composite pad.

Abstract: A lock down apparatus for use with an oil well pumping unit of the walking beam type. It includes upper and lower clamps for attachment to the walking beam and to the bottom frame of the unit, respectively, and an adjustable tensioning arrangement extending between the two clamps. Part of the tensioning unit is a wire rope with plastic buttons pressed onto the rope at suitably spaced intervals. A coupler for latching to the particular button which is selected for adjustment for the distance between the walking beam and its frame is provided. Once the tensioning unit is in place, a turnbuckle is tightened to increase the tension to hold the walking beam in a lowered position, against inadvertent release of the pumping unit safety brake.

Abstract: A shrouded engine valve having a shroud wall so as to direct and swirl a mixture of fuel and air into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. The arrangement of the invention improves the efficiency of combustion and thereby engine performance. The shrouded engine valve may be manufactured as a single unit, or with a multiple piece design.

Abstract: Apparatus for coordinating the positions of valves in a pair of air flow passages along a jet engine nacelle to control two rotary valves from a single linear actuator. Each of the valves is of a ball type which is rotatable within a housing to achieve variable flow control in accordance with the particular shape of the opening through the rotatable valve member which varies with valve member rotation. The valve member bore shape may differ for the two valves, as well as the angle of the linkage between the linear actuator and each valve, to achieve different flow control relationships for the two valves from the single actuator armature. Each valve incorporates a pressure balancing member at the inlet seal of the valve which results in a reduction of the force of the seal element against the rotatable valve member when the valve is in the closed position, thereby reducing the torque required to rotate the valve out of the closed position.

Abstract: A locating implement for use in aligning mechanical components during assembly such as the aligning of an engine head over an engine cylinder. The locating implement is installed after the head has been placed on the engine cylinder, but prior to the securing of the head to the cylinder. A generally disk-shaped body having a nipple of reduced diameter serves to accurately center mounting studs extending from the block within the corresponding receiving holes in the head. A shaped approach portion permits secure press-fitting of the locating implement to the head. Visual indexing and orientation functions are featured.

Abstract: Pairs of aerofins used for stabilization and control of missile flight are deployed through shared longitudinal slots provided in the missile body. Before launch, the pairs of aerofins, each pair comprised of a canard and a deflector, are retained in a folded position by a releasable latch mechanism within the missile body. The deflectors are mounted in a laterally displaced position from the longitudinal slots and are constrained from sliding into alignment with the slots by the presence of the folded canards. When the canards are released by the latch mechanism and permitted to extend outward to their deployed positions, the deflectors are able to laterally shift, effectively displacing the canards in the alignment position and subsequently deploying. The latch mechanism is designed to simultaneously release all the canards following missile launch, with biasing torsional springs operating to urge the canards outward through the associated slots to the extended position upon release.

Abstract: An improved endodontic procedure for preparation of root canals in teeth comprising the use of selected endodontic instruments such as files or burs in a prescribed series of steps. These steps include using a series of successively smaller instruments in a first crown-down procedure, using the instruments in a reverse sequence in a serial step-back procedure, followed by finishing the preparation of the canal with selected instruments in a second crown-down procedure. Conventional root canal files of standard taper or variably-tapered files may be used in the practice of the method.

Abstract: A mechanism for locking the fins of a missile in place when the missile is not in use utilizes tabs inserted in slots of the output shafts of the fins to immobilize the output shafts and the fins. In one embodiment, the tabs are cantilevered on a locking plate from which they extend radially toward the output shafts. A cam plate slidably engages the tabs on the locking plate and simultaneously lifts all the tabs out of the slots when it is rotated. for disengagement of the locking mechanism. Operation of the locking mechanism can be effected either manually, using a specialized tool, or remotely, using for example a pyrotechnic actuation device.

Abstract: An elongated tube having interconnected sidewalls defining a generally central cavity extending the length thereof from one end to the other end is particularly designed for cutting the "facial" openings in a pumpkin Jack-O-Lantern. The front end of the cutter has sharp pumpkin cutting edges, while the rear end of the cutter is adapted to be held for operating the cutter. Preferably, the cutter is formed of a single folded sheet of thin hard metal or plastic and is generally triangular in front and rear elevation. The cutter can taper down from the front end to the rear end. In one embodiment the cutting edges are divided into spaced longitudinally extending generally rectangular or triangular segments. The triangular segments have their apices projecting forward. One of the triangular segments may extend forward of the remainder of the triangular segments to facilitate the starting of the punching and cutting of a pumpkin.

Abstract: In order to prevent stockpiling of tickets and to encourage the purchase of more tickets, a system is provided whereby game instructions are announced subsequent to distribution of the tickets. The game instructions notify the players as to which game areas in a ticket playing field they must unmask in order to win the interactive game of chance. The game instructions may be announced during a television program or radio broadcast or any other similar promotional activity and provide the players with the incentive to purchase tickets and to participate in the viewing or listening of the program or other promotion. To safeguard against stockpiling of old tickets, play areas that are not unmasked in accordance with the play instructions automatically invalidate the tickets. Unmasking of the play areas is undisguisable, allowing the game sponsor to readily determine which play areas have been revealed in accordance with the play instructions and which are in violation therewith and are, accordingly, invalid.

Abstract: An endodontic system of shaping instruments, irrigation cannulas, filling instruments and materials designed to safely create specific tapers of root canal preparations and to clean, dry, seal, and restore them. The shaping instruments are a series of reamers, files, and handpiece burs, made of stainless steel, nickel-titanium, or other alloys, which impart several different specifically-tapered apertures in root canals. The instruments have one or more safety features to eliminate perforating curved roots, including shorter flute length as the angle of taper increases and variable sharpness along the length of the flute portion, as well as variable flute pitch along the length of the flute portion to maximize cutting efficiency and resistance to breakage, and a rounded tip to eliminate ledging. The hand instruments have a handle designed to optimize use of the instruments in apically directed, rotary cutting motions.

Abstract: A device for enabling a person to breathe more easily while alleviating snoring problems. The device is a generally W-shaped frame providing a pair of suitably sized spacing tips for insertion into the user's nostrils. These tips serve to open and shape the nasal passages so that breathing is facilitated.

Abstract: An optical system is provided with a plurality of field of view optical groups for insertion into the optical path. The field of view optical groups each subtend a prescribed field of view angle and are rotatably mounted on a rotary assembly for insertion into an operational position in the optical path. The rotary assembly is provided with hard stop contacts which rotate along a path and interact with stationary stops to locate the optical groups in the operational position. Additionally, movable stops are reciprocated into the rotation path of the hard stop contacts to provide additional modes, including a calibration mode. The system is also provided with extender optical groups which can be inserted in the optical path to provide intermediate fields of view between those of the field of view optical groups, thereby doubling the total number of fields of view available.

Abstract: An endodontic system of shaping instruments, irrigation cannulas, filling instruments and materials designed to safely create specific tapers of root canal preparations and to clean, dry, seal, and restore them. The shaping instruments are a series of reamers, files, and handpiece burs, made of stainless steel, nickel-titanium, or other alloys, which impart several different specifically-tapered apertures in root canals. The instruments have one or more safety features to eliminate perforating curved roots, including shorter flute length as the angle of taper increases and variable sharpness along the length of the flute portion, as well as variable flute pitch along the length of the flute portion to maximize cutting efficiency and resistance to breakage, and a rounded tip to eliminate ledging. The hand instruments have a handle designed to optimize use of the instruments in apically directed, rotary cutting motions.

Abstract: A caulk gun is provided with a forward-biasing mechanism to maintain contact between the caulk tube and the piston rod. The forward biasing mechanism is of simple construction and is piggy-backed to the trigger housing of the caulk gun. The operation of the forward-biasing mechanism relies on a friction grip which surrounds the piston rod. This friction grip is urged in the forward direction by a spring contained within the housing of the forward-biasing mechanism, and thereby biases the piston rod in the forward direction, while relieving the back pressure inside the caulk tube.

Abstract: In a missile thrust vector control (TVC) system, two yoke plates are used which surround a pair of pivotably-mounted rocket nozzles. The rocket nozzles pass through corresponding elongated slots disposed on each yoke plate, the elongate slots engaging said rocket nozzles and operating to actuate the movement of the rocket nozzles in accordance with command signals issued by the missile autopilot. The actuator yoke plates are mounted for movement in orthogonal directions, and for rotation in unison. The orthogonal movement of the yoke plates effects corresponding movement of the rocket nozzles in the yaw and pitch directions. Simultaneous rotation of the yoke plates produces a relative twisting of the pivotably-mounted rocket nozzles causing thrust angles to deviate from the missile central axis in opposite directions but equal degree, thereby imparting a roll moment to the missile. In this fashion, any combination of movements of the missile during flight is made possible.

Abstract: Fish of the Salmonoid family (salmon, trout and their relatives) is preferably first trimmed to remove heads, tails, fins, entrails, skin and bones and cut into fillets or loins to facilitate further removal of dark meat, bone, bruised meat, blood and viscera. The remaining light meat is then vacuum tumbled with a marinade solution under reduced ambient pressures at rotational speeds and for times dependent upon the thickness of the fish fillets or loins. During the vacuum tumbling step, penetration of the marinade solution into the light meat is facilitated and thereby the mobility and accumulation of curd-forming, soluble fish proteins are greatly diminished, serving to fix such protein in place, to ultimately provide a greatly visually-reduced curd product. Additionally, this vacuum tumbling step softens any pin bones which may remain to ultimately provide a virtually boneless product.

Abstract: An endodontic system of shaping instruments, irrigation cannulas, filling instruments and materials designed to safely create specific tapers of root canal preparations and to clean, dry, seal, and restore them. The shaping instruments are a series of reamers, files, and handpiece burs, made of stainless steel, nickel-titanium, or other alloys, which impart several different specifically-tapered apertures in root canals. The instruments have one or more safety features to eliminate perforating curved roots, including shorter flute length as the angle of taper increases and variable sharpness along the length of the flute portion, as well as variable flute pitch along the length of the flute portion to maximize cutting efficiency and resistance to breakage, and a rounded tip to eliminate ledging. The hand instruments have a handle designed to optimize use of the instruments in apically directed, rotary cutting motions.

Abstract: An endodontic system of shaping instruments, irrigation cannulas, filling instruments and materials designed to safely create specific tapers of root canal preparations and to clean, dry, seal, and restore them. The shaping instruments are a series of reamers, files, and handpiece burs, made of stainless steel, nickel-titanium, or other alloys, which impart several different specifically-tapered apertures in root canals. The instruments have one or more safety features to eliminate perforating curved roots, including shorter flute length as the angle of taper increases and variable sharpness along the length of the flute portion, as well as variable flute pitch along the length of the flute portion to maximize cutting efficiency and resistance to breakage, and a rounded tip to eliminate ledging. The hand instruments have a handle designed to optimize use of the instruments in apically directed, rotary cutting motions.

Abstract: A remote controlled fishing line transport apparatus for carrying a fishing line and tackle over a body of water to a selected spot. The fishing line is releasably mounted on a boom extending from the transport apparatus. The boom is equipped with a signalling flag to indicate that the line has been pulled by a fish. Various arrangements of flag triggering devices are disclosed.