Abstract: A force measuring device of the electromagnetic compensation type is disclosed. The force measuring device includes a coil moving in a magnetic field, a display unit and a control circuit which returns the coil to its original position and supplies the display with the value of the forces being measured at substantially the same time. The device is also disclosed including a variable integration constant in the control circuit to provide a quicker response to small disturbances thus making the balance insensitive to vibrations.

Abstract: The portable sign includes a display frame, a base having shafts for pivotably mounting the display frame on the base, first and second stops, one positioned on one side of the base, the other positioned diagonally across on the opposite side of the base. The spring structure has two springs, each engaging and winding only in one direction to prevent unwinding of the spring. Upon application of a force such as the wind to the display frame, the first spring engages the adjacent stop and tightens while the second spring disengages from the adjacent stop and rotates away from the stop. This allows deflection of the frame while protecting the spring from being unwound.A second embodiment of the portable sign includes a display frame, a base having shafts for pivotably mounting the display frame on the base, and a spring mechanism for biasing the display frame including a first bracket for retaining a spring, a spring, and a second bracket for slidably retaining a spring.

Abstract: A copy holder which simultaneously positions and supports a first relatively loose display and a second relatively fixed display in a manner so that the displays does not interfere with each other. A rigid support member defines a flat display panel, a pair of side flanges and a lower supporting ledge. Leg means supports the panel in a selected upright position. A mounting means in the form of a transparent sheet is removably mounted to the support member so as to extend over the flat display panel. A first display can be loosely supported on the ledge in front of the transparent sheet. A second display can be more permanently positioned between the transparent sheet and the panel, so as to be visable through the transparent sheet. Magnet means can be provided to movably retain the loose first display in position against the front of the transparent sheet. A line guide also is preferably provided and movably mounted to the rigid support member in front of the transparent sheet.

Abstract: A family of improved seat base assemblies for furniture seats and automotive seats and the like. A cushion base means, which might comprise a plurality of sinuous spring bands, a wire mesh unit, or chord rubber webbing or the like, is mounted between the front, back, and side nails of the seat frame. Rail connecting means connect at least the back rail to the cushion base means. The rail connecting means provides vertically resilient support to the cushion base means which increases as the cushion base means moves downwardly under load. In one form of the invention rail connecting means connect a wire mesh unit to all four of the rails, around its entire periphery.

Abstract: An improved food preparation process is disclosed. In order to practice the process, a container is provided which has a centrally-depressed receptacle with an outwardly and downwardly extending rim. A food filling is first deposited in the container receptacle. The container receptacle and rim are then covered with a sheet of unbaked dough so that the dough conforms to the container rim. The now-filled and covered container which comprises the food product is then frozen. The frozen product filled container is inverted in a conventional oven and heat is applied. A seal is formed between the dough sheet and the container at the juncture of the container walls and rim. The filling heats to a fluid state. When the container is removed, the filling flows outwardly to fill the upstanding crust formed by the baked dough.

Abstract: This invention relates to a ski lift which comprises a frame adapted to be moved over the surface of the snow supported at least partially by snow runners and equipped for attachment to a source of power whereby it may be pulled upwardly on a slope and further having a transverse holding rail disposed horizontally in a spaced relation to the surface of the snow a distance above the level of the snow surface to provide a convenient holding access to children when they are standing at the level of the snow surface, and further having a tough relatively thin flexible sheet-like member of width to extend substantially across the width of the frame and attached at its leading edge to the frame the sheet-like member extending rearwardly and being supported throughout the major extent of its surface area on the surface of the snow and being so positioned with respect to the frame as to provide a carrying surface on which children wearing skis may stand while holding onto the holding rail.

Abstract: An incremental measuring instrument having a series of fixed reference marks along one edge of the grid scale is disclosed in which a series of movable magnets or occluding screens are located along the opposite edge of the grid scale so that any subset of the total set of reference marks may be designated for control purposes. A scanning unit is provided to scan the scale, and this scanning unit includes a first photosensitive element responsive to the fixed reference marks, and a second photosensitive element mounted in anti-parallel with the first photosensitive element. This second photosensitve element is illuminated by light which varies in intensity according to whether or not the respective reference mark has a magnet or occluding screen associated therewith.

Abstract: A coated animal flooring which is raised off a barn or crate floor but requires no independent framing. A deck is formed of filler wires extending in one direction and base wires extending perpendicular thereto. The wires are either welded or crimped together. Welded to the underwide of the deck, extending parallel to each other, are a plurality of support bars. Welded to the base of each of the support bars, extending perpendicular thereto, are a plurality of tie rods. The flooring is coated, preferably with plastic.

Abstract: A display package comprising a semi-rigid outer container having a front wall and a back wall with a cutout creating an opening in the front wall. The outer container encloses an inner container, the latter comprising a sheet or pouch of film plastic on a food product base, a plurality of intermediate pouches loosely enclosing separate food product ingredients, and an outer pouch of shrink film plastic heat shrunk onto the base over the intermediate pouches so as to hold them in place. The film forms a window for viewing the food products through the cutout.

Abstract: A device for opening sealed bags containing foods of various types. A lever is pivoted to one end of a base plate and carries a serrated cutter wheel which is mounted for free rotation. The base plate has a recess which receives the cutting edge of the cutter wheel when the lever is pressed toward the base plate to a cutting position. The bag is inserted between the lever and base plate and is pulled through the device such that the peripheral teeth of the cutter wheel cut or perforate the bag.

Abstract: A floor cleaning apparatus, particularly adapted to clean carpet, is disclosed. A rotatably mounted brush extends in a transverse direction substantially parallel to the floor. The apparatus has front and back ends with a plurality of foam-producing nozzles mounted to the rear of the brush, the nozzles being positioned to spray foam into the brush, so that rotation of the brush causes the foam to be brushed into the floor. Vacuum means are also included which have a downwardly directed intake extending transversely across the apparatus, the intake being positioned forward of the brush so that rearward movement of the apparatus causes the vacuum means to remove foam and released dirt from the floor.

Abstract: An improved axle for a vehicle maintains the wheels of the vehicle in a upright position when the wheels pass over irregularities in the surface of a road and holds the body of the vehicle in a fixed position with respect to the wheels when a lateral force such as a centrifugal force is applied to the body. The axle includes a shaft which supports the wheels of the vehicle and which pivots when the wheels roll over irregularities in the surface of a road. The shaft has two offset end portions which each support a wheel. The end portions are connected by a central bar which is pivotally and slidably supported so that the end portions move in arcuate paths when the shaft pivots. A wheel support assembly is provided for each end portion of the shaft to connect a wheel to the end portion and to change the arcuate movement of the end portion to a corresponding vertical movement of the wheel, so that the wheel is deflected in a vertical plane when it rolls over an irregularity of the surface.

Abstract: A process for forming a high resolution recording medium including at least a high resolution, patterned interference filter formed from at least two reflecting layers separated by an interference layer including the step of removing patterned portions of a reflective layer not protected by a photosensitive layer by means of chemical etching or ion beam etching. When chemical etching is used, the etching process is accelerated to reduce under-etching by maintaining a rapid, thorough, and continuous boundary surface exchange of the etching solution at the boundary between the etching solution and the reflective layer being etched.

Abstract: A sound-actuated light advertising display (10) includes an octagonally-shaped reflector (20) having an octagonal base (21), outer side walls (22) extending away from the base (21) and projecting at an obtuse angle thereto, and a pyramid-shaped portion (23) extending away from the center of the base (21). A plurality of lights (25) are positioned in the reflector base (21) and are arranged symmetrically with respect to the pyramid-shaped portion (23). A sound-actuated power switching means (27) is connected between the plurality of lights (25) and a power source. The switching means (27) detects sound in the vicinity of the display (10) and regulates power input to the plurality of lights (25) in response to the variations in the level of the detected sound. A prismatically textured translucent cover (15, 19) is positioned over the reflector (20).

Abstract: A rack for storing and dispensing individual containers of generally cylindrical shape, comprising at least two identical side members, each side member including a plurality of apertures in paired, adjacent relationship and at least one pair of support tracks, each pair of support tracks being positioned at the same vertical location on opposite sides of the side member, and rods, each rod being removably received by an independent pair of parallel apertures and interconnecting the side members at a plurality of locations whereby said support tracks cooperate to support the containers along an incline.

Abstract: A cable clamping device of the rotary jaw type, including a hook-shaped female member adapted to be mounted on a support, and a male member of symmetrical cross-section with a cylindrical head adapted for rotation within the female hook. Cable-receiving bores in the male and female members and a separate clamping surface on the female shank cooperate to clamp the cable. Size or force adjustability is provided by making the axis of the male bore non-coincident with the axis of symmetry of the male member, and rotating the latter about its axis of symmetry. Cam-locking means are provided to create a resilient clamping pressure on the cable prior to closure, and to ensure positive locking of the device upon complete closure.

Abstract: A teaching device includes a reading station provided with six on-off switches for automatically sensing a text key encoded as a pattern of punched holes in a text book. The teaching device automatically generates an answer key from the text key by means of a pseudo-random number generator which is run using the text key as a seed. The text book includes a number of multiple choice questions in which the correct answer corresponds to the answer designated in the answer key.

Abstract: An automatic note analyzer is disclosed which automatically generates and displays a note signal indicative of the musical note corresponding to an input signal. The disclosed analyzer operates to measure the period of the input signal on a regular basis. According to one aspect of the invention, the measured period is compared with a predetermined window representative of the expected value of the measured period. Measured periods which do not fall within the predetermined window are rejected. According to a second feature, measured signals representative of the period of the input signal are averaged in order to increase the stability of the analyzer. The disclosed analyzer operates in two modes: an absolute mode, and a transposer mode. In the absolute mode the displayed note value is determined with reference to an absolute pitch. In the transposer mode, the displayed note value is determined with reference to a relative pitch which can be readily adjusted as needed.

Abstract: An improved lighted coding switch generates binary coded signals corresponding to selected numerals that are displayed in a window of the switch. The numerals are inscribed on a translucent peripheral wall of an encoding wheel that brushes switch contacts against a printed circuit board to define binary signals as the wheel rotates. When the wheel is at rest, a particular numeral is displayed in the window of the switch and the switch contacts of the wheel define an associated binary coded signal. The symbol that is positioned in the window is illuminated by a light emitting diode that is positioned to irradiate a portion of an annular area defined between the peripheral wall of the wheel and an inner hub of the wheel. The LED is inserted into the switch through an aperture in a back wall and the power wires of the LED are inserted through another aperture in the wall and are conductively connected to upstanding pins of the printed circuit board.

Abstract: An energy absorbing apparatus is provided to dissipate the energy of the impact force of a vehicle. A plurality of energy absorbing sheets are arranged in a stacked relation to resist the impact force and to thereby dissipate the energy of the force. Each sheet has a honeycomb structure of hexagonal cells that are filled with a deformable material such as polyurethane foam and that are defined by walls of relatively rigid material. In operation, an impact force is applied to the stack of energy absorbing sheets and each sheet is thereby caused to cut or shear into its abutting sheet so that at least a portion of the energy of the impact force is dissipated. As the stacked sheets cut into one another, the energy of the force is further dissipated by the compression of the polyurethane foam of the sheets.