Abstract: The disposable pet utility system (10) for providing prepackaged absorbent cat litter and the like for household pet care, includes a container (11) having creases at each of its corners for collapsing the container about its contents during shipment and disposal, and for erection during use. The container (11) includes a top wall (40), having perforations and creases formed in the top wall (40) to allow sections (41) and (42) of the top wall to tear and separate from each other to fold back reversibly and to be positioned underneath the container (11) for a rigid support. After the contents of the container (11) have been used, the sections (41) and (42) of the top wall are resealed and the container (11) is collapsed so as to allow a compact and sanitary method of disposal.

Abstract: A toy airplane and launcher assembly comprises a rubber band powered toy airplane having a propeller at its front end, a winding coupler disposed at its rear end, and a pair longitudinally aligned sleeves mounted to its belly. A rubber band extends between the propeller shaft and the winding coupler shaft. A pistol-shaped launcher includes a handle and with an elongated guide rod extending therefrom. The guide rod is sized to be received through the aligned sleeves of the airplane to mount the plane on the launcher and a latch releasable latches the plane in place when the guide rod is fully received through the sleeves. A coil spring extends about the guide rod and is progressively compressed as the plane is mounted on the launcher to catapult the plane from the launcher when the latch is released.

Abstract: An operating brake valve for an electrically and pneumatically actuated braking system in a motor vehicle has a movable thrust piece (2) arranged within a housing (1) and a balance piston (4) actuated via a graduated spring (3), whereby a combined inlet/exhaust valve (7, 9, 10) is arranged downstream of the balanced piston. A position sensor (20) is provided which can be actuated via a push rod (17) connected to the thrust piece (2). A stop valve (29) is located in the connecting line (26) to the reservoir (12) or in the control line (15) coming from the balance chamber, whereby an electrically controlled solenoid valve (40) is provided for actuating the stop valve and, in the nonexcited state, for relieving the valve body of the stop valve (29) opposite to its closing direction.

Abstract: A novel display panel (10) has a high fidelity visual pattern with a full range of grey scale values, for instance, a marble or leather pattern, which is produced via a novel methodology (20). In accordance with the novel methodology (20), a high resolution visual pattern (31) and a mask pattern (32) are produced and separately printed. The patterns (31, 32) are then superimposed and exposed to a camera (33) which generates an enlarged photograph positive. A silk screen is produced from the enlarged photograph positive and used to print a high fidelity visual pattern onto a glass substrate (13). The glass substrate (13) and visual pattern (14) are then heated in a tempering oven to derive the display panel (10).

Abstract: A wastebasket liner removal device (1) having a generally rectangular frame (8). A plurality of elongated ribs (17) extend between the ends (11, 12) of the frame, and a plurality of cross ribs (18) extend between the sides (9, 10) of the frame. The frame is also provided with a plurality of mounting flanges (20), each mounting flange having a fastener opening (21) defined therein and passing therethrough for passing a fastener to connect frame (8) to the bottom (3) of a conventional wastebasket (2). Device (1) has a pair of opposed footpads (25) supported on the frame. Each footpad is generally rectangular in shape, and is sized and shaped to be held on frame (8) in a retracted position, and to be moved into a generally horizontal extended position so that footpads (25) may be stood on while removing wastebasket liner (6) from the wastebasket.

Abstract: Novel golf clubs (10, 50) and associated methodology optimally minimize air resistance during swinging motion of the golf club (10). A first golf club (10) comprises a head (12) a handle (18) and a shaft (22) connecting the head (12) with the handle (18). A rib (24) protrudes outwardly from the shaft (22) and runs longitudinally along the shaft (22) in a spiral configuration. The spiral configuration has a pitch which decreases from the head (12) to the handle (18). The spiraling configuration of the rib (24) minimizes vortices and drag generated when the golf club (10) is in motion to thereby decrease air resistance to the golf club (10).

Abstract: An apparatus for tying down and anchoring a building structure such as a mobile home (12). The apparatus comprises an elongated threaded rod assembly (16) which is anchored at its lower end (34) to a concrete base (14) and extends upwardly, first through the floor joist (22) and then up to the roof structure where it is connected to the rafters (48). The elongated rod assembly (16) includes a hold-down block (32) that connects upper threaded rod (30) and lower threaded road (28) together in an end-to-end relationship. The hold-down block (32) applies a downward force firmly holding the floor joist (22). The upper threaded rod 30 extends upwardly through a frame board (26) and an elongated bracket (40). An internally threaded lock-block (46) is screwed onto the end of the upper threaded rod (30) extending past the frame board (26) and bracket (40), firmly holding the roof structure.

Abstract: The system (10) for collecting and disposing of contaminated waste products such as medical sharps and other medical wastes includes a housing (11) and its telescopic cover (9) which are fabricated of biodegradable and combustible material such as natural cellulose and non-natural cellulose. An absorbent biodegradable and combustible absorption package (30) or insert (35) can be placed in the bottom of the holding chamber (12) for absorbing any liquids emitted from the sharps and other wastes, and for enhancing the combustion of the medical sharps and other wastes when the housing is placed in a furnace. When the housing is burned it evolves no more than trace levels of sulfur or chlorine and yields substantially only biodegradable ash.

Abstract: A system (10) accurately measures the resistivity of a material (12) via capacitive coupling without contact with the material (12). A transmission electrode (14a) sends signals through the material (12) to a reception electrode (14b). An oscillation mechanism (16) forwards a periodic signal at a predetermined frequency f to the electrode (14a), and a detection mechanism (18) receives a resistivity signal from the electrode (14b), which signal is proportional to the resistivity of the material (12), and translates the resistivity signal into a resistivity value for the material (12). The oscillation mechanism (16) comprises an oscillator (21) connected through a transformer (T1) to a quarter-wavelength stub (24), which feeds an excitation signal to the transmission electrode (14a). The detection mechanism (18) comprises a detector (31) connected via a transformer (T2) to a quarter-wavelength stub (26), which is directly connected to the reception electrode (14b).

Abstract: A sensor (10) detects misfires of combustion cylinders in an internal combustion engine by monitoring the exhaust from the engine. The sensor (10) comprises a spark gap (18) to be situated in exhaust from the engine and a transformer assembly (34). The transformer assembly (34) has an ignition transformer (41a) for providing a potential difference between the electrodes (18a, 18b) of the spark gap (18) and a detection transformer (41b) for sensing the occurrence of an arc across the spark gap (18). An ignition pulse shaper (68) provides an ignition pulse to the ignition transformer (41a) upon receiving a trigger signal from an engine control system (66), and a detection pulse shaper (72) monitors the detection transformer (41b) and forwards an arc detection signal to the engine control system (66) upon detecting an arc across the electrodes (18a, 18b) of the spark gap (18).

Abstract: A first embodiment of a novel parasite remover has a holding plate and an engagement plate for attachment to pivoting arms of a staple remover. The holding plate has a slot for insertion between a parasite body and the skin of a host to which the parasite has attached itself. The engagement plate has a pair of curved prongs spaced apart to define a slot therebetween for straddling the parasite mouth which is inserted into the host skin. As the pivoting arms of the staple remover are moved together, the curved prongs engage the parasite body and extract the parasite from the host skin. A second embodiment has a handle arm and a lever arm which are pivotally mounted together. As a result, the lever arm has a prying end pivotal with respect to a trigger end. The handle arm engages and lifts a parasite away from the host skin. On the lever arm, the prying end presses the host skin in a direction substantially normal to the host skin upon application of user force at the trigger end.

Abstract: A shift lever apparatus for an automatic transmission includes a pin-lock member which can be positioned at a pin-lock position for preventing the positioning pin positioned at the parking position from moving, and a restrict member which can be positioned at a restrict position for preventing the pin-lock member positioned at the pin-lock position from moving. A control device is provided for positioning the pin-lock member at the pin-lock position and for positioning the restrict member at the restrict position when the positioning pin is positioned at the parking position.

Abstract: A turntable means regulates the flow of animals, for example, ratites (includes ostrich and emu) through a slaughtering facility. The turntable means has a circular turntable rotating about an axis within a circular perimeter wall. The perimeter wall has a first opening leading to a holding area and a second opening leading to a stunning area. The turntable has a plurality of upstanding walls extending radially from the axis and forming confinement sectors for receiving the animals. The turntable means moves the animals from the first area to the second area by moving the animals about the axis while on the turntable via the confinement sectors from the first opening to the second opening. The rotation of the turntable is controlled in order to regulate the flow of the animals from the first area to the second area.

Abstract: A smoke stack, which discharges contaminated gases, is provided with a plenum chamber, at its end, formed of one or more stacked modules. Each module includes a hollow cylindrical housing, from which protrudes, in various radial directions, a plurality of ducts, each being provided with a nozzle at its end. The nozzle has a central passageway through which a portion of the gases pass and is discharged into the atmosphere, and a second passageway which directs the air around the discharging gases for imparting a swirling action to the commingled gases. An ultra low volume of treatment fluid, usually a liquid chemical, is progressively discharged into the central passageway so that fog is generated as the gases and liquid emerge. Relief valves for the gas discharge into this fog. An accumulator tank at the top of a chamber or a metering pump supplies the liquid.

Abstract: A cloth cutter attachment (12) mounted onto a conventional double sewing machine (10) for shifting a cutter blade assembly (17) past the needle mount assembly (15) of the sewing machine so that the cutter blade of the cutter blade assembly shifts between and ahead of and behind the double needles of the sewing machine. The cloth cutter attachment allows a cut to be made in a cloth material between the two rows of stitches sewn by the double needles. Such a stitch and cut operation is desirable for forming a set-in pocket.

Abstract: An apparatus serves for the metered coating of an inking roller (1) with a fluid coating medium, in particular an inking roller in a printing press which directly or indirectly inks a printing form, whereby the inking roller (1) is in contact with a soft transfer roller (2) or soft printing roller arranged in parallel, and whereby the surfaces of the inking roller (1) and the transfer roller (2) or the printing roller respectively at least have a path speed which is more or less identical. The surface of the inking roller (1) dips directly into the coating medium (3), whereby the thickness of the film of coating medium (3) remaining on the surface of the inking roller (1) is determined by a wiping roller (4) which is arranged parallel to the inking roller (1), is supported on this, has an engraving and, in comparison to the inking roller, a small outside diameter.

Abstract: A long sand trap for separating and removing sand from inflow channels, particularly of sewage treatment plants is provided with a settling channel (1) having in particular a trapezoidal cross-section and extending along a straight path. A transporting conveyor device (8) which is acting opposite to the direction of flow is provided in the bottom area (6). A classifying conveyor device (10) discharges the sand delivered from the transporting conveyor device (8) in an upwardly inclined manner. The classifying conveyor device (10) is arranged in the central longitudinal plane (3) of the settling channel (1). It has a discharge chute (17) which can be used selectively left-hand or right-hand.

Abstract: A universal adjustable carrying strap which has first and second strap members. Both ends of the first strap member pass through a first slide and one of the ends is doubled back and affixed to itself, forming a loop having a slidable clip. The other end of the fist strap passes through a ring member at the fist slide, a second slide, a pad or grip, and a third slide, both ends of the second strap member pass through a fourth slide and one of the ends is doubled back upon and affixed to itself forming a loop having a slidable clip. The other end of the second strap member passes through a ring member of the fourth slide, the third slide, the pad or grip, and the second slide, underlying the first strap.