Abstract: A buttonhole stitching device for a zigzag sewing machine, the buttonhole stitching device having a forked member which is arranged on a base plate. The forked member consists of a forked front portion which forms a long notch having a width corresponding to the amplitude of movement of a sewing machine needle and a rear portion provided with a shroud frame wall defining a nearly rectangular aperture. The base plate is provided with a hook at its front edge which is fitted into the long notch of the forked member and the forked member reciprocally moves along the base plate under the guidance of the hook provided thereto. A cam plate is removably fitted into a walled or framed aperture formed on the base plate, and the cam plate is provided with a loop channel surrounded by a rack at the under surface thereof. The shape of the loop channel corresponds to the shape of a buttonhole to be stitched.

Abstract: A cassette tape recorder particularly featured by the improved apparatus for insertion, holding and removal of a tape cassette. The apparatus comprises a movable chassis rotatably supported on a stationary chassis and an elongate metal strip extending along one side of the movable chassis and slidably supported by the stationary chassis. A tension spring is fastened to the movable chassis at one end, while its other end is secured to the slidable metal strip. A rotatable L-shaped lever has one end engaged with the slidable metal strip. The other end of the L-shaped lever is engaged with a latching member adapted to maintain the one end of the L-shaped lever in restrictive engagement with the slidable metal strip to prevent the strip from movement under the action of the tension spring, so that the tension spring acts to pull the movable chassis toward the metal strip to rotate the movable chassis into its lowered position during insertion of a tape cassette.

Abstract: An aerial lift platform apparatus has a wheeled chassis, a turret on the chassis and a boom pivoted to the turret. The wheels are carried by extendable axles, to provide increased stability. The boom is depressed to raise at least one wheel, to permit its extension and retraction. Preferably, there are four wheels on two axles, and the wheels of each axle are successively raised and then extended or retracted.

Abstract: This invention relates to a self-propelling construction machine comprising a frame provided with at least two groups of ground engaging members disposed and spaced longitudinally on said frame, either the front or rear end of the frame being provided with means for coupling to a tractor or articulated vehicle. The group of ground engaging members disposed near the end with the coupling means comprises a device for adjusting their height with respect to the frame, enabling them to retract away from the ground when said machine is coupled to the tractor, whereas the ground engaging members other than those disposed near the end with the coupling means are constituted by a wheel assembly which is irremovable whilst the machine is functioning. One application of the present invention is the production of a travelling crane.

Abstract: A static electricity suppressor includes a base insulating sheet having conductive patterns coated on its two surfaces, and ion emitters in the form of pointed wires passing through the sheet, the ionizing points of the emitter extending beyond one surface of the base and being spaced from the pattern thereon, which is grounded. The opposite ends of the emitters are coupled to the pattern on the second surface of the base, capacitively or directly, which second surface pattern is connected to electrical source(s).

Abstract: A collapsible bulk shipping container comprising a pallet with a tray secured to it, the front wall of the tray having a flap at its mid-portion severed from the front wall and fastened down against the tray bottom, the flap edges providing spaced detents. A wall element has a back panel, two side panels and two partial front panels, and is resiliently urged to flat condition. When placed inwardly of the tray walls, the edges of the partial front wall panels engage the edges of the tray flaps, which thereby hold the wall element open, providing front entry for loading the container. A single front closure panel overlaps the partial front panels of the wall element, to close the entry, this panel extending between the tray walls and the partial front panels.

Abstract: A protective circuit for an overload sensor of a lifting boom, such as an aerial platform boom. Excess deflection of the boom under load, due to such factors as weight of the load, boom angle and boom extension, is detected by the actuation of an overload sensor switch engaged by the free end of a beam which extends generally parallel to the boom, the other end of the beam being fixed to the boom. The overload sensor switch is in a protective circuit which causes interruption of current to controls which effect movement of the boom in a manner to increase the boom deflection, and which circuit causes the interrupted circuit to remain interrupted independently of the position of the overload sensor switch. The circuit requires positive resetting once there has been such interruption. The protective circuit includes a drop out relay in series with the overload sensor switch, a latching relay with re-set coil, and control circuit switches controlled by the latching relay.

Abstract: For mechanically filtering movement transmitted by a step-by-step motor to a member to be driven in rotation, a coil spring in an axial bore of the motor shaft has one end rigid with the shaft and the other end rigid with the member to be driven and is axially pre-stressed to urge a damping member, rigid with the member to be driven, into frictional contact with the shaft.

Abstract: A method of recovering non-ferrous metal conductors from a sheathed cable laid in the earth comprising excavating the earth at spaced intervals, such as 20 to 50 meters, along the cable, severing the cable, stripping off the sheath to expose the conductors adjacent the severed end or ends, and withdrawing the severed conductor length by supplying a pulling force to a severed end.

Abstract: A blind fastener system comprising a ductile sleeve having an expansion portion of small inner diameter in a thin workpiece and having a bulbing portion of larger inner diameter extending on the blind side of the workpiece, and a threaded expander member having an expander portion for expanding the sleeve expansion portion and a head portion for bulbously deforming the sleeve bulbing portion, both actions occurring on axially pulling the expander member. The expander portion has a tapered, radiused leading end followed by a configured (splined, knurled, etc.) portion for the remainder of the active length. The protrusions of the configured portion leave a void volume between them and between the minor and major diameters of the protrusions, and the volume of the sleeve expansion portion between the small inner diameter and the projection of the large inner diameter is approximately 0.5 to 0.8 of the void volume of the configured portion. The protrusions have blunt outer surfaces.

Abstract: A telescopic crane boom is provided in which tubular boom sections include a thicker, flat bottom plate and a thinner channel having the free edges of its walls welded to the bottom plate at the lateral edges of the bottom plate. Wear pads for supporting an outer boom section, e.g., the fly section, are placed on the bottom plate of the adjacent inner section, e.g., the mid-section, closely adjacent to the vertical walls of the inner section, and underlying the walls of the outer section, to provide substantially columnar support for the walls of the outer section, reduced bottom plate bending forces, and reduced boom width and weight.

Abstract: A method of loading a box having an open side with plural, successive layers of articles, such as fruit. The box is supported in a first position laterally of a dispenser, and then moved to a second position in which it substantially encompasses the dispenser. The dispenser, having previously been loaded with enough articles to form a layer in the box, is then caused to discharge the articles into the box, after which the box is returned to its first position.

Abstract: Apparatus for placing fruit in layers in a box having an open side. An elevator is supported and lowered step-by-step, the elevator having a horizontal platform substantially longer than the length of the box, to permit the box to be moved to and fro on the elevator platform. A pivoted pan extending over the end portion of the platform is loaded with the proper number of pieces of fruit, and the box is manually moved on the platform so as to encompass a large part of the loaded pan, with the bottom of the box under the pan. The pan is pivoted to discharge the fruit into the box, after which the box is withdrawn from the pan by being moved on the platform. A method of loading an open-sided box.

Abstract: A board game involving the criminal judicial process. The equipment includes a supply of "people cards" each exhibiting a person having individual socio-economic characteristics. From this supply each player selects one card at random to establish his "identity" for the course of the game. A game board is provided with a branching and recombining path providing for analogies to such events as posting/not posting bond, public or private attorney, etc. A first card and a chance device combine to establish the "Alleged Crime" of each player and a second card and said chance device to select the type of Defense Attorney. At the "jury selection" spaces on the board, a jury of nine is selected by choice from a group of 15 randomly chosen people cards. The characteristics of the jury are numerically weighted to provide a realistic simulation of jury selection as related to the accused and the Alleged Crime.

Abstract: A hydraulic shock absorber has a piston slidable in a pressure tube, and separating the tube into two chambers. The piston has a flow passage therein with an annular groove in the piston about an extremity of the passage. Transverse passages communicate the flow passage with the groove and the groove with one of the chambers. A spring urged valve extends over the groove and transverse passages, constricting fluid flow thereto until excess pressure displaces the valve and permits flow directly from the flow passage to the one chamber.

Abstract: A method of combing textile and the like fibers is provided in which the free end or fringe of a sliver of fibers is clamped, a section of the sliver adjacent the clamped fringe is combed leaving the fringe itself uncombed. Thereafter the clamp is released and the fringe of the sliver is combed. After fringe-combing, the fibers which have been combed by these two operations are drawn off from the sliver through a comb element to comb the tail ends thereof. Apparatus adapted to carry out the method of combing is provided and includes combing means comprising a clamp for clamping the free end or fringe of a sliver of fibers and a comb element relatively movable with respect to the clamp to effect combing of the sliver adjacent the clamp, means to comb the fringe of the sliver when released from the clamp and means to draw off the thus partly combed fibers through a comb element to comb the tail ends thereof.

Abstract: A static electricity suppressor includes a base insulating sheet having conductive patterns coated on its two surfaces, and ion emitters in the form of pointed wires passing through the sheet, the ionizing points of the emitter extending beyond one surface of the base and being spaced from the pattern thereof, which is grounded. The opposite ends of the emitters are coupled to the pattern on the second surface of the base, capacitively or directly, which second surface pattern is connected to electrical source(s).

Abstract: An air line lubricator comprises a casing having an axially disposed air inlet and outlet, the casing defining a chamber adapted to receive a removable cartridge for a lubricant in such manner that the cartridge is spaced from the inner walls of the chamber to define an air passage between the cartridge and such inner walls, the air passage communicating between inlet and outlet. The cartridge is provided with a discharge port at one end thereof and a piston movable therein towards the other end. In use air entering the casing inlet impinges on the piston to cause the latter to urge lubricant through the discharge port. Discharged lubricant is entrained by air passing through the casing outlet.

Abstract: A toilet flushing reservoir system is provided which includes a reservoir comprising upper and lower headers and individual longitudinally extending pipes between the headers: one of the pipes has a flow restrictor therein. The top header is provided with a water inlet and a vent, controlled by a float valve. A discharge valve in the lower head is opened by a hydraulic motor, under the control of a manual flushing control valve. The headers are of synthetic resin and are substantially identical.

Abstract: An inflatable aquatic rescue board is provided having particular advantage in rescuing persons who have sustained injuries while swimming or diving, and who frequently must be held rigid to prevent further injuries while being removed from the water. Prior to inflation, the rescue board is quite flexible, permitting it to be rolled into a compact bundle for storage. Then, upon activation of a self-contained compressed gas supply, the rescue board quickly becomes stiff and buoyant to form an ideal aquatic stretcher. The board comprises a planar structure having two impervious parallel broad faces constrained to a maximum separation by internal members extending therebetween. Transverse reinforcements provide additional rigidity and two longitudinally extending flat springs facilitate unrolling of the rescue board under water during rescue.