Abstract: A pedestal adapted to support a floor panel comprising a base, support means for supporting said floor panel above said base, displaceable means operable between said base and said support means for selectively displacing said support means and said floor panel relative to said base so as to level said floor panel while said floor panel is supported by said support means.

Abstract: A pipe-cutting device comprising a portable support; a device for rotating said pipe relative the support; a cutter associated with said support for cutting the pipe during rotation of the pipe.

Abstract: A self cleaning conveyor roller for supporting a conveyor media carrying contaminant materials. The conveyor roller consists of a drum defining a support surface, having a generally cylindrical shape, and being adapted to be supported for rotation, for supporting a conveyor media. The conveyor roller has a plurality of abutments on the support surface, raised above the support surface, and defining a series of spaced apart conveyor media support ridges lying on a circular configuration, concentric with the drum. The abutments are arranged in generally chevron shapes, around the drum. During rotation of the conveyor roller the abutments cause any debris or contaminants between the roller and the conveyor media to be guided out of the conveyor system. Also disclosed is a method of cleaning a conveyor roller.

Abstract: An office chair has multiple moving parts and controls for the different moving parts of the chair. The chair includes a control directory which is in a more visibly accessible position than the controls to a person sitting in the chair. The chair further includes control switches which when activated provide a guide to distinguish which particular set of instructions on the directory pertains to each of the controls. The control switches are activated without producing operation of the actual controls.

Abstract: A multipurpose disc useful as a throw, tug, and chew toy for play involving pets and for play involving pets and people, and useful as a water and food dish for pets, the disc comprising: a circular top portion; an annular sidewall portion that merges with the circular top portion; an annular flange portion that merges with the annular sidewall portion, the annular flange and circular top portions being disposed in parallel spaced planes; a convex outer side; and, a concave inner side. The multipurpose disc has a flat top, annularly depressed trough formed in the annular flange, an internal flexible woven fabric re-enforcing member, and is composed of a resilient, waterproof, durable, and flexible material such as natural or synthetic rubber.

Abstract: The invention is a lens. The light transmitting portion of the lens comprises a plurality of fiber optic strands arranged parallel to each other in a side-by-side manner, forming a planar layer. The fiber optic strands are also inclined at an angle to a surface of the lens. This defeats any reflection from the interior of the lens, which gives virtual invisibility to the lens face or surface when the light source is not in use. In operation, when a light source is illuminated, the lens is then lit, displaying the color of the light source or of the color of the strands.

Abstract: An electrical high tension test device having first and second contacts connectable to a high tension circuit, a first electrode connected to one contact; a second electrode connected to the second contact, the first and second electrodes being spaced apart from one another by an air gap defining a predetermined resistance preset to a resistance corresponding to the high tension voltage in the high tension circuit to be tested, and, a signal device responsive to high tension discharge across said air gap to generate a signal such that when a predetermined high tension voltage is applied to the first and second contacts, a spark will jump the gap between them and in this way activating the signal device, and when a high tension voltage is applied which is less than the predetermined voltage no spark will jump the gap, and no signal will be generated.

Abstract: A belt drive cantilever tensioner. The tensioner is particularly suited to belt drive systems having a high belt tension. The tensioner comprises a pulley journaled to a cantilever arm. The cantilever arm is pivotably attached to a mounting surface by a fastener at a pivot. The cantilever arm further comprises a hole disposed radially from the pivot for containing an embedded resilient member. A second fastener extends through the resilient member fixing it in a position relative to the first fastener. A load applied to the pulley causes the arm to pivot thereby causing a lever action to exert a force upon the resilient member. The resilient member has a limit of movement as well as an asymmetric force characteristic which increases in proportion to an arm rotation.

Abstract: An orthopedic traction apparatus includes in coaxial arrangement, a first tubular member anchored to a operating table or other stationary structure supporting a patient, and a second tubular member telescopically moving within the first one. A hand-crank and jack-screw mechanism is used to vary the position of the second member in relation to the first member. A tensiometer is provided at the distal end of the second member proximate a fixture adapted for attachment to a part of a patient's body. The tensiometer is based on a compressible, calibrated coil spring and is provided with a vernier scale for convenient and precise adjustment of the traction force. Alternately, the tensiometer uses a load-cell driving a digital read-out.

Abstract: The invention comprises a tolerance compensating mounting device comprising a bushing having an internal and external thread. The bushing is threaded into a part to be mounted to a surface. A bolt is then threaded into a bushing bore using the internal threads. The internal threads cause an interference fit between the bolt shank and the threads, temporarily preventing further insertion of the bolt. The bolt is then turned further, thereby turning the bushing and causing the bushing to unscrew from the part toward the mounting surface until the bushing seats on the mounting surface, thereby completely compensating for a tolerance gap. As the bolt is turned further, at a relatively low torque the sacrificial internal threads are stripped allowing the bolt to be fully torqued into the mounting surface hole, thereby simultaneously connecting the components with a properly torqued connection while compensating for a tolerance gap.

Abstract: A floor panel for elevated floors comprising a base adapted to be supported and providing a load bearing surface; an inner panel adhesively secured to said base; an outer panel adhesively secured to said inner panel, said inner panel extending beyond said outer panel so as to present a border along the edge of said inner panel.

Abstract: A portion of a mask or helmet covering a user's ear has an aperture covered by a sound-collecting and sound-transmissive protector swivelingly mounted thereon. The protector has a substantially parabolic reflector surface oriented substantially perpendicular to the protector's axis of rotation which magnifies sounds arriving from a particular angular direction and directs the sound through a plurality of holes axially penetrating through the protector from an outer to an inner surface. A user manipulable actuator nib extends axially outwardly from a peripheral portion of the outer surface of the protector allowing user control of swiveling movement.

Abstract: An orthodontic bracket for securing an arch wire to the labial area of a tooth comprises a plunger having a lateral notch dimensioned to capture a section of the arch wire. A dual-positioned detent mechanism alternately holds the plunger in a labial, open position exposing the notch and a lingual locked position wherein the section of arch wire captured by the notch is securely held in a diametral slot cut into the bracket.

Abstract: A single drive ring CVT coupler. Opposing inclined planar sides on outer circumferences of the drive ring have a high friction coefficient for enhanced engagement and power transmission between the pulleys and the drive ring. The drive ring rotationally operates between the cooperating pulleys of a moveable sheave CVT transmission. The opposing sides are inclined at an angle to each other for proper fit between the sheaves of the driver pulley and driven pulley. The drive ring operates between the outboard portions of each pulley. In an alternate embodiment, a drive ring operates in a bearing and is retained between the driver and driven pulleys by a retainer that spans between the pulley shafts. The drive ring comprises inclined opposing frictional sides on outer circumferences for frictionally engaging the sheave sides of a driver pulley and driven pulley. The drive ring operates between the inboard portions of the driver and driven pulleys.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a CVT belt having two multi-ribbed belts. Each belt is engaged in an opposing slot in a transversely mounted clip. Each belt is retained in each slot by a flat belt which is sandwiched into each slot with the multi-ribbed belt.

Abstract: A directional small part transporter and sorter simultaneously imparts upon a part-carrying platen reciprocating movements along one or two horizontal axis perpendicular to each other and a third vertical axis. A stack of slidingly coupled carriages are each independently driven by a stepping motor. Each motor is coupled to a carriage by means of a mechanism that translates the rotation of the motor into a linear translation of the coupled carriage by means of a worm screw or transmission belt. An electronic module controlled by a data processor allows for adjustment of the duration, amplitude, frequency and phase relationship of the three periodical movements of the platen. A part reservoir along the platen can be either raised to deliver parts onto the platen or lowered below the platen ledge to receive parts off the platen. The transporter and sorter may be used in connection with various electronic component manufacturing processes.