Abstract: A musical instrument support stand, adapted for storage substantially entirely within the hollow end of the musical instrument during periods of non-use, is comprised of a base including a tripod, a post secured at one end to the base and having a free distal end for projection within the interior of the musical instrument, and a musical instrument support received on the post and adjustable over the length thereof, wherein the outer geometry of the instrument support is complementary to the inner geometry of the musical instrument whereby the latter may be received by the former and supported thereon.

Abstract: An inductance coil is clamped onto the cable which is to be monitored. For normal line currents, the coil produces a signal voltage which charges a reset capacitor which in turn periodically discharges to an indicator to show a no fault condition. When the line current goes above a predetermined fault level and remains at that level for a corresponding fault time period, the coil develops a signal voltage sufficiently high to charge a "set" capacitor that discharges to the indicator to show a fault condition. The indicator continues to show the fault condition until normal current has returned to cause the "reset" circuit to operate to indicate no fault. To insure that the set capacitor discharges in a manner to indicate reliably the fault condition, there is provided a voltage responsive variable impedence in the circuitry to charge the set capacitor. This variable impedence matches the fuse characteristic in the main power line.

Abstract: An automatic control system for articulated vehicles including leading and trailing wheeled supports each having steerable wheels and each pivotally connected to, and supporting, a center frame, and where the leading support may be manually controlled; wherein: (i) a parameter indicative of distance traveled by the vehicle is continuously measured; (ii) the leading angle .alpha..sub.1 between the longitudinal centerlines of the lead support and the frame is continuously measured and averaged over time and as a function of distance traveled to produce a delayed first signal representative of the time average of the leading angle .alpha..sub.1 ; (iii) the trailing angle .alpha..sub.2 between the longitudinal centerlines of the trailing support and the frame is measured to produce a signal representative of the trailing angle .alpha..sub.2 ; (iv) the delayed first signal is compared with the second signal to produce a third signal representative of the angular difference between the trailing angle .alpha..sub.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for shaping illuminating beams from continuous duty searchlights or the like so as to minimize the effect of backscattered illumination and, to thereby increase the brightness contrast between illuminated target objects and background so as to improve visibility.

Abstract: A carrier adapted to move between a movable vessel, such as a boat, and a stationary platform. The carrier has an extendable and retractable intermediate uphaul line adapted to be connected to a crane on the platform. It also has a downhaul line connected between the carrier and the vessel. When the carrier is being lifted from the vessel, the downhaul line is payed out at a controlled rate with the uphaul line extending and retracting to keep the carrier out of contact with the vessel which may be rising or falling due to wave action of the water. At a predetermined elevation, the tension in the downhaul line is decreased so that the uphaul line retracts to move the carrier out of the area of possible contact with the vessel. The reverse operation is followed to move the carrier from the platform to the vessel.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming thin-film, large area solar cells having a relatively high light-to-electrical energy conversion efficiency and characterized in that the cell comprises a p-n-type heterojunction formed of: (i) a first semiconductor layer comprising a photovoltaic active material selected from the class of I-III-VI.sub.2 chalcopyrite ternary materials which is vacuum deposited in a thin "composition-graded" layer ranging from on the order of about 2.5 microns to about 5.0 microns (.congruent.2.5 .mu.m to .congruent.5.0 .mu.

Abstract: A replaceable cutting blade assembly for a dozer is designed to present at least three, and optionally four, potential working edges.

Abstract: A cassette-like housing containing a cleaning ribbon which is wound on a pair of spools. The housing is placed in the video player/recorder apparatus, and the apparatus is operated so that the cleaning ribbon, located the forward part of the cassette, is pulled outwardly from the cassette-like housing into cleaning engagement with the rotating head of the apparatus and also in engagement with other components of the apparatus. At completion of the cleaning cycle, the cleaning ribbon is retracted into the cassette-like housing.

Abstract: A device to extend the support area of a music stand, where the music stand comprises a lower horizontally extending support member having a support flange to engage the lower edge of music sheets, an upstanding central main support bar, and a plurality of collapsible support struts. The present invention comprises a separate upper support section adapted to be mounted to the central support bar and having two laterally extending upper arms. There are a pair of extension wings slide mounted to the stand, with each wing having a lower flange and retaining portion engaging the lower support member of the stand, and an upper retaining portion engaging a related one of the support arms. The two extension wings can be moved toward one another to a middle position, and can be moved slideably to an extended position to provide increased support area. In a second embodiment, the stand is adapted to be mounted from a table top.

Abstract: The shaft of the stick is formed with a downward taper at the lower end, with the two sides surfaces of the shaft having an outer lamination of high strength fiberglass material. To form the blade portion of the stick, two blanks are formed from a thin wood veneer sheet and the two toe ends of the blanks are bonded together, while the rear heel ends of the blanks are separated moderately. The heel ends of the two blanks are placed on opposite sides of the lower tapered end of the shaft and bonded thereto. Then the space between the blanks is filled with an epoxy glue which hardens to form the completed blade.

Abstract: The mechanism allows the bin to be manually moved from a stowed position to a loading position, and requires support arms which are mounted with self-aligning bearings for proper operation. The bearing has three parts: an interior bin mounted needle bearing axle unit; an exterior bin mounted nut; and an axle retainer unit in the arm. Installation and repair are accomplished from the interior of the bin by the turning of the bearing axle bolt which is threaded unto the arm, and upon disconnection from the arm is automatically gripped by a retainer washer for retention inside of the needle housing while the bin is in its loading position and momentarily arrested by a pin connecting both arms. Self-aligning and linear control is accomplished by the substantially wide needle bearing housing providing full support to the solidly mounted axle bolt.

Abstract: In combination with a structural component, an improved self-retaining, non-metallic, molded bushing suitable for use in close tolerance applications--viz., applications where the inside and/or the outside diameters of the bushing must be maintained within .+-.0.005" and, in many instances, within .+-.0.002". More particularly, a self-retaining, non-metallic, close tolerance molded bushing having: (i) a tubular body portion with an outside diameter D.sub.1 ; (ii) an integral, enlarged, premolded first retaining head at one end of the tubular body portion; (iii) the tubular body portion having an axially extending area of reduced wall thickness at its opposite end terminating in an outwardly flared extremity having an outside diameter D.sub.2 (where D.sub.2 is greater than D.sub.

Abstract: Methods for forming simulated, shaped, edible products suitable for human and/or animal consumption, or as a bait for marine creatures; and simulated, edible products produced thereby.

Abstract: A device adapted to be mounted to a conventional music stand to hold sheet music to the back panel of the stand. The device has a mounting portion comprising upper and lower hinge connected mounting flanges that grip the support flange of the music stand. The device has a transparent retaining arm connected to the upper mounting flange and extending upwardly therefrom to engage the sheet music with moderate pressure. A spring clip is positioned over the mounting portion to cause firm gripping action.

Abstract: A device formed as an integral plastic piece having an inner tubular portion to surround the stalk of the tomato plant and an outer support portion which defines a circumferential trough surrounding the inner tubular portion. The inner tubular portion is placed around the stalk of the tomato plant, with the lower edge of the tubular portion being implanted into the ground. The upper growth portion (i.e., vines) of the tomato plant and the tomatoes are conveniently retained in the trough.

Abstract: A light-weight, inexpensive lifting device for facilitating the handling of heavy hollow-cored cylindrical objects such, for example, as the hollow supports commonly used with large rolls of paper and the like, comprising: (i) a thin-wall, pre-shaped cup member adapted to be force-fit into one end of the hollow-cored support and having an outwardly flared radial flange with a diameter greater than the inside diameter of the hollow-cored support for engagement with one end of the support; (ii) a relatively thick metallic washer disposed within the base of the cup member; (iii) a saddle-like clip having parallel leg portions extending through the washer and the base of the cup member for securing such elements together; and (iv), an elongate steel strap or the like characterized by its resilient and self-supporting characteristics and formed into a closed loop having one arcuate loop end passing through the cup member and the washer and engaged with the saddle-like clip, and its opposite arcuate loop end normal

Abstract: An improved tank process for plating aluminum substrates which is especially advantageous for plating porous aluminum castings and, blister-free plated aluminum substrates produced thereby, characterized in that the aluminum piece parts are: (i) emulsion cleaned in a room temperature alkaline cleaner; (ii) immersed in a room temperature dilute acid, inorganic, fluoride salt solution to dissolve heavy oxides and surface silicon while minimizing etching and intergranular attack of the aluminum substrate such, for example, as a porous cast aluminum substrate; (iii) immersed in a room temperature dilute zincate bath for applying a relatively thin zinc protective coating, preferably utilizing a double zincate immersion process with an intermediate prolonged (1-3 min.) nitric acid soak to reduce the zincate deposition rate and to thereby provide improved zincate adhesion; (iv) plated with a non-porous strike applied directly on the zincate protective coating--e.g.

Abstract: An improved leading edge contour for control flaps of the type suitable for use with hydrofoil vessels and the like wherein discontinuities or gaps between the leading edge of the flap and the trailing edge of the fluid foil to which it is attached are held to a minimum; yet, wherein localized or discontinuous differential deflection of the flap leading edge and the foil trailing edge, which inherently occurs as the vessel moves through a fluid medium, does not result in interference between the two edges, thereby minimizing the problem of reduced fatigue life; and, wherein excessively large discontinuities are not required between the two edges in those edge areas where no significant differential deflection occurs, thereby significantly improving the performance characteristics of both the flap and the flap/foil combination.

Abstract: An improved thin-film, large area solar cell, and methods for forming the same, having a relatively high light-to-electrical energy conversion efficiency and characterized in that the cell comprises a p-n type heterojunction formed of: (i) a first semiconductor layer comprising a photovoltaic active material selected from the class of I-III-VI.sub.2 chalcopyrite ternary materials which is vacuum deposited in a thin "composition-graded" layer ranging from on the order of about 2.5 microns to about 5.0 microns (.congruent.2.5.mu.m to .congruent.5.0.mu.