Abstract: In a casting apparatus using a mould which comprises a horizontal series of identical mould parts and presents at least one casting cavity at each joint between successive mould parts, the mould is advanced stepwise through a pouring station with a length of step that equals a multiple of the thickness or axial length of each mould part.

Abstract: Method and apparatus which increases the available volume for a nutritive solution contained in a hydroponic receptacle.Hollow shells are placed on the bottom of the receptacle reaching a level just above the maximum level of the nutritive solution, the hollow shells being then covered with a layer of substratum. The hollow shells are made of a material without capillarity for preventing the evaporation of the nutritive solution, the shells being, for instance, cylindrically shaped, thin-walled and having openings at each end thereof.Due to the low rate of evaporation, several days or even weeks can go by before the refilling; it is possible to install hydroponic receptacles outdoors.

Abstract: A hand-driven water craft having a narrow main hull portion cooperating with a submerged ballast member for the support of a generally flat deck partially overlying the hull and partially extending rearwardly therefrom as a cantilever, the hull supporting a hand crank propeller assembly for imparting forward propulsion to the craft, and the rear portion of the deck supporting a rudder adapted to be engaged by the feet of an operator lying in a prone position atop the deck.

Abstract: An installation for rearing plants, comprising a plurality of successive culture chambers, each of said culture chambers comprising an endless circulating system on which plants are moved through zones under controlled environmental conditions, each of said culture chambers being confined at each end by an end wall panel which has the same configuration as the vertical transverse section of the culture chamber, said end wall panels being connected by elements which connect the peripheral edges of the disks and laterally confine the culture chamber.

Abstract: A bracket for mounting an antenna on a vehicle, having an opening giving access to the interior of the vehicle and a closure member for closing the opening, has a base for attachment to the inside of the vehicle adjacent the opening and an antenna support member pivotally connected to the base for folding between an exposed position extending through the vehicle opening to support an antenna for use outside the vehicle, and a storage position inside the vehicle to conceal a supported antenna when not in use.

Abstract: An entertainment and public address system especially suited for mass transit vehicles, including a tape recorder on which is recorded information such as music, news bulletins, announcements, and the like, connected through appropriate amplification circuits to speakers for playback within the listening range of the vehicle passengers. A separate public address circuit is provided for the vehicle operator or conductor and includes a switch which, when actuated, connects a microphone of the public address system through the amplification and speaker network and also energizes a time delay network to rewind the tape recorder a preselected amount regardless of the length of time the public address system is in use. Release of the switch returns the system to normal operation whereupon the rewound tape recorder plays back the last portion of the interrupted recording so as to: preserve continuity of the information being perceived by the passengers.

Abstract: Marking tapes for marking articles is described. The marking tape consists of a tubular hose or cover of a soft and transparent material. The cross section of the hose or cover may be of circle or of rectangular form and have a diameter length being somewhat less than the width of marking plates to be inserted in the hose or cover. The hose or cover will be provided with spaced holes and/or lugs for fastening of the hose or cover onto articles. The ends of a single hose or cover may be furnished with end closures serving as to stiffen the end portions and having fastening holes for mounting the hose or cover onto the articles especially if the hose or cover is devoid of holes. The hose or cover is made from pre-fabricated carrier hose which is cut into sections or segments.

Abstract: A control device for an electronic wrist watch to enable resetting of the display. The device includes a pushbutton switch providing a control signal to a memory device. The memory device is connected to a delay means which transmits the information from said memory device in synchronism with a clock signal to provide an output pulse or pulse train dependent upon the length of time for which the pushbutton is actuated.

Abstract: A control device for the motor of a watch including first and second zero detectors and a delay device for providing gating signals to an AND gate to enable transmission of driving in phase with the a.c. voltage induced in the coil.

Abstract: A control device for an electronic wrist watch to enable selection of a variety of possible displays. The circuit of the device incorporates means for memorizing an input control signal derived from a pushbutton and logic and delay means for combining the input control signal and the information in the memory means to provide outputs according to the period for which the pushbutton is actuated. The outputs can be used to selectively connect counters to the display means of the watch.

Abstract: A piston displacement liquid spray pump comprises a container; a supporting ferrule engaged on the neck of the container, a hollow cylindrical housing supported by the ferrule, and having at least one slit at its upper end to permit air communication between the container and the atmosphere; a stem within the housing; a hollow stem extension telescopically engaged outwardly of the upper section of the stem; an actuator engaging the upper end of the stem extension and capable of biasing it and the stem downwardly; a check valve comprising a seat at the lower end of the housing, a valve chamber above the seat and a bullet-shaped hollow floating valve member; a longitudinal groove along the upper section of the stem and communicating with the hollow extension; a piston slidably movable within said housing and mounted on the lower end of the hollow stem extension with a lost motion engagement to enable the piston to obstruct the groove during its upward stroke and to uncover same during its downward stroke; the p

Abstract: Self-orientation apparatus for a vehicle having a dual wheel axle assembly wherein the rear axle is movable relative to the vehicle frame about a pivot axis centrally disposed in front of the rear axis. A pair of low-friction skids between the axle and each rear spring allow relative movement therebetween, and first and second pairs of converging arms extend from the base of the springs and the axle, respectively, and converge at said pivot axis where the two pairs of arms are joined by a trunnion.

Abstract: A control and correction circuit for an electronic watch involving three push-buttons which are actuable to select and/or correct the information displayed by the watch. The push-buttons provide actuating signals to a delay device and to logic selection circuits which provide outputs to control the counters of the watch circuit. The delay device enables a secondary display to be displayed for a predetermined time after which the device returns to its initial state. During the predetermined time the information displayed may be corrected by actuation of the second or third push-button in which case the secondary display is held unitl the correction operation is complete before returning to its initial condition.

Abstract: A method of producing shaped concrete blocks for hydraulics, such blocks having two spaced arms formed at right angles to each other and spaced from each other and a web interconnecting the centers of said arms, wherein said block is formed by concreting in a dismountable shuttering with the arms located horizontally and the web vertically, it being possible to use a shuttering having a stationary, lower shuttering part which has a horizontal longitudinal axis for forming substantially half of one arm of the block and two shuttering parts separatable from the formed block by lateral movement.

Abstract: A capacitive adjusting device for a quartz crystal oscillator utilizing one of the metallization provided on the quartz crystal as a common electrode for a plurality of capacitors, the second electrodes of which are provided as metallized strips on a portion of a ceramic base member forming part of the casing containing the quartz crystal.

Abstract: It is known that an electro-luminescent display increases its light emitting efficiency with the current through it. Such a display in a watch run from a small battery, is fed by short impulses of high-intensity current by means of discharges from two capacitors which are alternately charged and discharged by transistor switches opened and closed by externally supplied impulses. The battery current is thus kept substantially constant and low. A series of digits or segments thereof, if used, may be fed in sequence with the impulses.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for measuring the ultraviolet radiation in the UV-A and/or UV-B range with detector means for said ranges, switching means for considering the skin sensitivity, electronic means for evaluating the signals derived from the detector, means for displaying the intensity and/or the dose of the radiation and second switching means for selecting one of different quartz lamps in said ranges. This device is in particular adapted for digitally measuring the dose of harmful erythem effective UV-B radiation or the dose of therapeutic healing UV-A radiation. This invention further relates to a method for producing and calibrating said devices, in particular the shunts contained in said second switching means which enables to select different quartz lamps with different line intensities.

Abstract: A plastic material closure member for a container, said closure member having a gripping portion and a substantially cylindrical sealing portion adjacent thereto, in which the sealing portion comprises a sealing wall and a centering member adjacent thereto, and in which the walls of the gripping portion, the centering member and the sealing wall are laterally deformable.

Abstract: A kitchen utensil molded of rubber or flexible synthetic plastic which has a centrally disposed, stepped, hollow frustro-conical jar cap remover that is readily gripped in the palm of the hand, surrounded by a radially disposed, planar flange, the surface of which on the side of the hollow is roughened or otherwise formed for soft abrasive action. The stepped frusto-conical portion can receive different size jar caps and has axially disposed ribs on the cylindrical walls of the step portions for frictionally engaging the rim of a jar cap to facilitate its removal. The frustro-conical portions are capable of nesting with each other in spaced relation so that a plurality of the devices may be gripped and handled simultaneously. In this manner, the utensil may be used as a pot holder with the conical portions preventing slippage between a plurality of the devices and also providing air spaces between the devices for insulating purposes.

Abstract: Apparatus permitting of a storage and removal of profiled members, such as rods, tubes or the like, in which at least two spaced apart parallel comb-like holders are provided, which have vertical comb tooth spaces which are aligned with each other and have a width which is substantially as large as the width of the profiled members in storage so that the same are individually vertically stacked with central symmetry. The holders are combined in blocks in which the aligned comb tooth spaces have the same width or different widths to enable a holding of profiled members having equal or different widths.