Abstract: Apparatus and method for developing and applying an adhesive strip and protective cover strip on the backing side of a hospital underpad. The apparatus is positioned along the production line where the folded hospital underpad material has been fabricated and is ready for cutting into individual pads. The apparatus draws a continuous ribbon from a supply spool, applies a strip of liquid plastic melt adhesive to the upper side of this ribbon, and then inverts the ribbon and directs it, with the adhesive strip on the underside, onto the intermediate layer of the folded underpad material where rollers press it into the desired position. The plastic melt adhesive fuses to the portion of the hospital underpad backing layer with which it comes in contact. After the folded sheet material is cut into individual hospital underpads, the ribbon serves as a protective strip which may be easily pulled away from the adhesive strip when the hospital underpad is to be placed in service.

Abstract: A platform and safety harness for supporting and restraining a pet within a vehicle comprises a resilient base member, preferably of tubular steel, with vertical arms connected to opposite sides of the platform adjacent the rear thereof and horizontal arms spaced below and parallel to the platform, for installing the carrier on a vehicle seat with the platform supporting the pet above the vehicle seat at about the window level in the vehicle. The base member can be secured in place by a conventional vehicle seat belt. The carrier also includes a flexible, non-choking pet harness, an anchor affixed to the upper surface of the platform and a flexible lead releasably interconnecting the harness and anchor for safely restraining a pet on the platform. The platform can also include a removable water cup with lid, and a carpeted or otherwise cushioned top surface, which preferably slopes downwardly and rearwardly, to facilitate the pet bracing itself during travel of the carrier in the vehicle.

Abstract: The can stacker is in the form of a flexible resilient split ring of elastic memory-retaining material such as rubber or plastic, capable of being opened to accommodate the rims of cans of various diameters. The ring includes a generally vertical, annular split rim and a number of separate, spaced, generally horizontal fins adapted collectively to support a can. The fins extend radially inwardly from the rim on opposite sides of the split and are connected to the inner margin of the rim at about the vertical mid point thereof by preferably narrow stems bearing annular recesses on their upper and lower surfaces. The recesses and the rim inner surfaces form can rim-receiving grooves. The fins may be tapered inwardly to facilitate closing the rim to accommodate smaller diameter cans. The can stacker is adapted to loosely receive the rims of a pair of cans to be vertically stacked.

Abstract: An improved electro-explosive squib device is disclosed with filter/shield characteristics rendering the device substantially immune to electromagnetic environments, thus preventing accidental ignition of the squib device. The invention provides for adapting existing squibs or constructing new squibs with immunity to the electromagnetic environments while adding only a minimal amount of material to the device, thus minimizing the possibility of personnel injury caused by debris ejected from rocket propellant ignited by the squib device. These benefits are achieved while maintaining reliability and extended shelf life, and at minimal cost of conversion or manufacture of the squib devices.

Abstract: A miniature anti-siphon valve is disclosed which is of inexpensive manufacture, requiring only three parts which may be molded rather than machined. The valve will close to prevent reverse fluid flow when either pressure in the supply line drops below ambient air pressure or fluid flow into the valve outlet occurs. The valve operates regardless of its physical orientation, and in one embodiment may include a nozzle for use with a bidet.

Abstract: An improved missile tail fin assembly. The missile utilizes four tail fin assemblies, each assembly comprising a fitting having three locking portions, each of which comprises a gudgeon having a pair of locking teeth, and a fin having mating recesses for the locking portions. A portion of the material associated with recesses of the two forward locks of each fin is removed, leaving clearances which permit limited rotation about the fin pivot axis in one direction only. When the fin is loaded in a direction to produce clockwise torque, all three locks which form the lock assembly are loaded approximately equal and this locates the elastic axis of the tail lock approximately just aft of the center of pressure which produces a small increase in cant angle with load. When the tail fin is loaded in the direction to produce a counterclockwise torque, the aft lock of the assembly will take all the torque. This moves the elastic axis further aft thus producing a larger increase in cant angle with load.

Abstract: A planetary gear transmission having the capability of accepting input power from two separate, counter-rotating shafts, and combining the input power with application to a single output shaft. The two input shafts are coaxial and each is coupled to its own input sun gear. The output shaft extends from the side of the transmission opposite to the input shafts and is coaxial therewith. Various series of planetary gears mounted on a planet carrier provide the coupling between the input and output sun gears. There is no ring gear, and the carrier is not independently driven.The planetary gear transmission is combined with a continuously variable transmission and a direct drive coupled in split power paths from a single drive shaft to provide constant speed output over a range of 2:1 variation in speed of the drive shaft.

Abstract: A piston-controlled locking mechanism including an external cylinder having annular retaining means, a first elongated piston located adjacent the cylinder and having ball lock positioning apertures in the extension, a second coaxially located piston positioned inside of the skirt of the first piston and having indentations capable of mating with the ball positioning portions of the first piston, and positioning elements for first moving the inner piston to release the balls and thereafter moving the outer piston to either release or lock the cylinder.

Abstract: Magnetic levitation apparatus utilizing an arrangement of permanent magnets, one or more electromagnets, position and motion sensors plus electronic circuitry to effectively support the weight of and control the position of a levitated object. Provision is made to minimize the force required from each electromagnet and the levitation system power consumption. Particular damping elements are incorporated in various arrangements of the levitation system to enhance the position and motion control of the levitated object.

Abstract: A transfer unit for serial re-orientation of plural items comprising an item supply train and a rotatable drum within a cylindrical housing. The items are provided serially to an inlet to the housing by a chain ladder or other mechanical means, and are longitudinally and axially re-oriented in the housing for transfer out of the housing. The drum is rotatable about its axis to provide further re-orientation of the items. All internal components of the rotatable drum are synchronously driven by mechanical means, and positive mechanical control of the serially supplied items is maintained at all times.

Abstract: An improved device adapted for selectively, inexpensively, sterilely, and rapidly collecting, in a simple manner, the mid-stream portion of urine during voiding. The components of the device are easy and economical to mass manufacture and assemble and are disposable. They comprise an open topped cup which is preferably generally inverted frusto-conical in shape and has a first small opening in the bottom thereof to drain off the initial portion of urine as it is voided. The cup sidewall has a second opening through which extends the neck of a urine collecting bottle, the open head of which is in the cup interior. A resilient plug, preferably of plastic, releasably grips the neck and seals the bottle to the cup, while shielding the bottle head from direct access of urine as it passes into the cup. The plug has a urine passageway extending upwardly therethrough into contact with the bottle head.

Abstract: Correspondingly keyed combination of a round-headed bolt fastener and a generally cylindrical socket, preferably for use in securing an automobile wheel cover against theft. The fastener has a plurality of axial slots, or lock impressions, about the periphery of the circular head which may be spaced in accordance with a preselected code. The wrench socket is provided with a corresponding number of key elements projecting inwardly from the cylindrical wall of the socket, the position of the key elements being in accordance with a preselected code. When the key code of the wrench matches the lock code of the fastener, the wrench socket may be slipped over the fastener head with the key elements engaging the lock impressions so that the wrench may tighten or untighten the fastener. The fastener has an axial recess extending from the outer face of the head with an inner beveled surface about the recess opening.

Abstract: A method for fabricating fluid containers in general, and more particularly, plastic fluid containers which are suitable for use in water mattresses. The containers are fabricated by first extruding a polymer mixture into a tubular configuration and cutting to the desired length. One end of the tubing is framed by a support member in such a way that a portion of the end of the tube folds over the support member. The support member is constructed in a manner so that it may be disassembled into two sections. A flat end piece section is then placed over the assembly and the thus-formed end assembly is positioned within a support fixture such that the sealing end surface of the assembly is supported on the upper face of the support fixture. The fixture is then moved to a sealing area where an induction heater generates sufficient heat to heat seal the flat end piece to the end of the tubular member.

Abstract: A pump comprising an outer casing, an inner liner and a rotatable impeller, the liner being mounted to the casing in a manner such that the liner is substantially secured against rotational movement within the casing but can expand, contract or deflect radially from the centerline of rotation of the impeller.

Abstract: A projectile trajectory correction system, the projectile itself including a unique steering arrangement. The projectile, initially part of a shell cartridge, is fired, and its position is automatically sensed. A corrected trajectory necessary to hit a target is calculated and data commands are transmitted to the projectile. The data command signals are sensed by an antenna on the projectile. The antenna in turn generates a signal which is fed to the projectile steering mechanism which is deflected in response thereto to steer the projectile onto the correct trajectory. The steering mechanism includes an elongated rod extending from the rear of the projectile into the surrounding air stream. Deflection of the rod provides the actual steering.

Abstract: Reusable mandrels for fabricating bumped circuit base sheets may be formed by alternative methods. One method involves the selective etching of a copper sheet to develop pits or cavities at predetermined locations. A thin plating layer is deposited on the base sheet, covering the surface including the depressions to form the mandrel. After passivation of the plated surface, copper is plated thereon to form the sheet with the bumps in place. This sheet is then peeled off the mandrel so that the mandrel may be reused for making subsequent bumped sheets. An alternative method of forming the reusable mandrel involves the selected build-up of a base metal sheet by plating with a compatible material about islands of photoresist. Thereafter, the photoresist is removed, leaving cavities where the islands had been. This surface is then plated with a thin layer of nickel to form the permanent mandrel.

Abstract: A projectile trajectory correction system, the projectile itself including a unique steering arrangement. The projectile, initially part of a shell cartridge, is fired, and its position is automatically sensed. A corrected trajectory necessary to hit a target is calculated and data commands are transmitted to the projectile. The data command signals are sensed by an antenna on the projectile. The antenna in turn generates a signal which is fed to the projectile steering mechanism which is deflected in response thereto to steer the projectile onto the correct trajectory. The steering mechanism includes an elongated rod extending from the rear of the projectile into the surrounding air stream. Deflection of the rod provides the actual steering.

Abstract: A graphic aid device is disclosed which may be used with computers having a mouse-type computer cursor controller. The device provides a specific geometric orientation to the mouse, thereby enabling a tracing member attached onto or near the mouse to be used to manually trace complex figures while simultaneously and accurately transferring the complex figures to the computer memory. The device of the present invention utilizes a drawing machine arm to maintain a specific geometrical relationship of the mouse with respect to the surface over which the mouse is moved to trace the complex figure.

Abstract: An improved poultry feed supplement is provided by homogeneously mixing together, preferably utilizing both rotary and lateral oscillatory motions, waste lime from a sugar refining process and not in excess of about 20% of nutritive agglomerating constituent selected from the group consisting of beet molasses, cane molasses, wood molasses, citrus molasses, corn steep liquor, invert sugar solution and mixtures thereof. The moisture content of the mix is adjusted, if necessary, during mixing to about 18 to 23 weight percent, preferably about 21 weight percent, and the resulting mixture preferably is formed into pellets of an average diameter of about 1/16", which pellets are then dried to a hard stable form, with a moisture content of, for example, about 0 to 4 weight percent. The feed supplement is used to improve the strength of poultry egg shells. The supplement is simple, efficient and inexpensive to make and use.

Abstract: A latching device for a security gate of the type used at the entrance of subterranean garages for apartments or condominiums or secured storage rental areas is disclosed which is mechanically actuated by operation of the motor drive system to open the security gate. The latching device effectively prevents the security gate from being forced open, and in one embodiment includes a mechanism for preventing manual disengagement of the latch from attempts to force the gate laterally until the latch disengages. The latching device of the present invention is substantially cheaper than other security gate locking devices, as well as being highly reliable and wear-resistant.