Abstract: A solar heat collector and storage system for a residential or other building, is provided which comprises an insulated receptacle in the form of a storage tank, which is preferably buried in the ground adjacent to the building, and which contains a liquid solution which has a relatively low freezing point and a relatively high boiling point, and which will not readily evaporate. The liquid solution may, for example, be water and calcium chloride. The liquid solution in the storage tank is pumped to an upper position on the roof of the building, and it is permitted to flow freely over the roof to a lower position, while exposed to the atmosphere, to be heated by the sun during its travel across the roof. The heated liquid solution is collected at the lower position on the roof and returned to the storage tank. The heated liquid solution in the storage tank may be used in any appropriate manner to derive the energy stored in the liquid solution.

Abstract: An integrated electrical component is provided which functions as an inductive-capacitive network, and which may be used, for example, to form a filter, transformer, or the like. The component includes distributed capacitance and inductance with external connections to permit a variety of distributed element configurations, which results in the elimination of spurious electromagnetic radiation from the component and in the packaging of a multiple-pole filter in an extremely compact configuration, so as to provide a variety of filter networks, or the like, each of high quality factor (Q). The component comprises one or more sheets of dielectric material formed, for example, of a ceramic, and having one or more conductive sheets positioned on each dielectric sheet. The resulting assembly is turned into a spiral configuration, as will be described, to form the component, and the resulting assembly is then cured.

Abstract: A fishing pole holder which will support the pole while fishing and will automatically raise the pole to a substantially vertical position when there is a pull on the fishing line. The holder is comprised of a frame and a rotating plate having a cradle for the fishing pole handle attached to the frame. A gravity-operated trigger plate has a tang or finger which engages a detent or notch in the pole cradle plate to arm the device. A tension spring engaging the cradle plate will jerk the fishing pole to an upright position when the trigger is released by a pull on the fishing line. The lower part of the frame provides a thumbscrew and post for detachably connecting a sandspike or a clamp, depending upon the particular type of fishing being engaged in.

Abstract: A form molded synthetic foam roofing section having a relatively broad undersurface and an exposed surface configured to resemble interlocked and overlapping roofing shingles which is united to a support surface such as wood, metal, etc. during molding process. This section may be affixed by any conventional means such as nails and adhesives to roof boards, rafters or over old existing roofing structure.

Abstract: A magnetic stripe head assembly comprised of a support having a plurality of transducer heads mounted on leaf springs attached at one end to the support and at the opposite end to the transducer heads. The leaf springs permit individual translation of each transducer head to compensate for deformities in recorded material. The opposite side of the support provides a stop to limit the translation of the individual transducer head. A pair of gimbal sockets are provided on the support to permit the transducer head assembly to be pivotally mounted.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance adapted to be secured to a tooth by any suitable means, such as a tooth band or by direct bonding. The appliance consists of a bracket and a lock pin which holds an arch wire to the bracket in any of a plurality of attitudes to accommodate successive phases in orthodontic treatment. The offset head of the lock pin engages the gingival edge of the bracket to define the limits of the arch-wire-receiving slot on a gingival-occlusal axis. A notch in the edge inhibits the pin from moving laterally or rotating in the bracket. The bracket is formed by embossing a sheet of material to form a pin-receiving channel. Tabs are bent inwardly from the channel side walls to provide fulcrum edge means approximating a knife edge, on which the arch wire bears as it passes through the bracket.

Abstract: A mattress construction and method of making is disclosed in which an extremely wide, deep stitch flange permits a more uniform and tighter mattress construction. A mattress cover is sewn to an apron or flanging material with a wide border or flange with the thread being deeply set in the cover by the thick foam padding between the flange material and the cover. This construction allows the apron to be very tightly pulled over a coil spring and stapled through sisal padding to the coil spring rim or border. The stretching of the flange skirt and cover creates a bow in the coil spring pulling the rim toward the center. The wide flange then permits the skirt or side cover to be tightly stitched with edging tape or binding material to produce a very firm and flat mattress construction.

Abstract: An automatic control valve is provided for a fluid system where the valve can be adjusted to an equilibrium position based upon a selected flow rate through the valve, and further can automatically close the valve when an excessive flow rate occurs.

Abstract: A hand tool for loosening and removing coil wire wrap electrical connections by engaging the end of the wire wrap, rotating the tool under the coil and then lifting the loosened coil with the tool off the terminal pin. The tool has a helical groove at one end of a first tubular member and a second tubular member concentric with the first having a guide pin in the end of the tube adjacent to the helical groove. The end or entire second tubular member concentrically fitted over the first tubular member is adjustable to vary the spacing between the pin and the side wall of the helical groove. The end of the helical groove is tapered to slide under the end of a coil wire wrap thus allowing it to slip easily into the tool without damaging the wire. The second tubular member is retained concentric with the first by a pin through the first tubular member engaging a slot in the second tubular member and a collar and spring biasing the second tubular member against the pin.

Abstract: An inflation pressure regulator which automatically releases pressure above a predetermined maximum. The regulator has a tubular base extending into the hollow interior of a housing. A collar slideably mounted on the tubular base is biased against the interior of the housing with a coil spring to regulate the pressure. An inflation gas is supplied through the neck of the housing which has a plunger extending through the tubular base. A threaded cavity in the base permits permanent installation on an inflation valve.

Abstract: A multiple story parking apparatus has rows of storage stalls on each upper floor which are separated by a crane-way. A horizontally movable elevator is mounted in each of the crane-ways. A self-propelled traverse dolly is carried on the elevator platform, and the dolly moves in and out of the various stalls to deposit the cars in the stalls and to retrieve the cars from the stalls. The stalls in the center storage unit are open at both ends to the adjacent crane-ways, so that cars may be loaded into the center storage unit from each end. In order to prevent dollies entering one end of the stalls of the center unit from moving through the other end and falling to the ground, springloaded pivotally mounted barrier are provided at the two ends of each of the stalls in the center storage unit.

Abstract: Hot fluid which may contain salts and other dissolved minerals is passed through a direct contact heat exchanger in heat exchange relationship with a working fluid that has a specific gravity sufficiently below the specific gravity of the fluid so that it may pass from the bottom to the top of the heat exchanger chamber in contact with the fluid. The pressure of the chamber is selected to provide a certain mixture of working fluid and hot fluid at the output of the power extracting device of the system. The working fluid is selected so that the salts and other minerals in the fluid are relatively insoluble therein. The working fluid is vaporized in the exchanger and the vaporized working fluid and any steam mixed therewith are passed through a power extracting gas expansion device. The working fluid is separately condensed and recirculated.

Abstract: A process for making orthodontic assemblies such as brackets and buccal tubes which permits simultaneous heat treating of the assembly while brazing the assembly together. The process consists of assembling a plurality of aligned bases with caps and a brazing insert. The caps are then tack welded (temporarily fastened) to the bases to produce a strip of orthodontic assemblies which can be easily handled. The strips are then heat treated to a brazing temperature in a specified atmosphere. The individual orthodontic assemblies are either automatically separated during the heat treatment or may be easily separated by cutting after removal from the furnace. The bases and caps for the buccal tube assemblies are of a unique design which is readily adaptable to the multiple strip brazing process.

Abstract: A monitoring system is provided for use in conjunction with a wire loop which is embedded in a roadway, and which senses the presence of vehicles in the roadway to control a traffic signal. The monitoring system senses the output of the loop oscillator which is included in the traffic control circuitry and which generates a loop signal and whose frequency-determining circuit includes the wire loop to indicate immediately any failure in the loop circuit. If for any reason the loop oscillator fails to operate, that fact will be sensed immediately by the monitoring system of the invention, and such a failure will be equated to a failure in the embedded loop, or in the lead-in circuit which connects the loop to the loop oscillator.

Abstract: An apparatus constructed to receive a card such as a credit card having one or more magnetic strips containing coded data. The card is inserted in the machine and a manually operated latch mechanism carries a read head along a rail to an abutment. A latching element is automatically released and a motive system carries the read head at constant speed across the face of the card. The readout head transmits the information to a connector which may be connected to any suitable data processing system. When the card is inserted in the apparatus it energizes a contact switch which provides an activating signal to the processing system, through the connector. The readout head is mounted in a gimbaled frame attached to a carrier so that it can ride with constant pressure against the magnetic strip on the card, while at the same time adjusting itself to undulations or other slight deformations in the card or the magnetic strip.

Abstract: A dual size lug nut for securing an automobile wheel to a hub. From a central head portion of the nut, threaded shanks extend in opposite direction. The two shanks have different threads. Thus the nut may be screwed onto either of two sizes of stud bolts, depending on which end of the nut is threaded onto the bolt. In this way the inventory of parts may be reduced, in that a single type or style of nut will serve alternatively either of two sizes of stud bolts. A cap or plug covers the exposed outward facing bore.

Abstract: An auxiliary apparatus or device for attachment to an internal combustion engine, so that at a certain point in the depression of the accelerator pedal, an increased resistance to further depression of the pedal is abruptly encountered. This point is constantly adjusted in accordance with the engine vacuum so that when engine vacuum is high, considerable depression of the pedal is permitted before the resistance is encountered, and conversely when the engine vacuum is low, the resistance point is soon encountered. This is effected by attaching one end of a cable to the throttle mechanism of the engine and attaching the other end to a vacuum actuated bellows. When the slack in the cable is taken up, added resistance is provided in the form of a loading spring, which requires increased foot pressure against the accelerator to overcome.

Abstract: A spiral meat slicer especially for cutting ham, wherein the ham is mounted vertically on a spiked platform which slowly revolves. A rotating disk blade is brought into engagement with the periphery of the ham to cut the ham to the bone. The blade support is mounted on a lead screw so that the blade steadily rises as the ham rotates. Thus an unbroken spiral cut of ham is produced. In order to permit selective manual control when cutting around the aitch bone, a manually manipulatable arm is provided, by which the blade may be selectively moved toward and away from the rotative axis of the ham. Once the aitch bone has been cleared, the arm is detented into an extreme position and thereafter the blade is automatically biased toward the ham with a predetermined spring force, by means of a biasing spring.

Abstract: A water ski tow assembly is provided which incorporates a two-way communication system between the skier and the operator of a towing boat. The communication system includes a first microphone/speaker unit mounted in the towing boat and electrically coupled to an electronic amplifier, and a second microphone/speaker unit mounted on the tow line. Appropriate wire leads are threaded through the tow line electrically to interconnect the second microphone/speaker unit with the amplifier. The second microphone/speaker unit is mounted at the junction of the hand lines with the tow line to be held in position in front of the skier while the skier is being towed by the towing boat, so that without further effort the skier can communicate with the operator and vice versa.

Abstract: After securement of brackets of novel design to teeth of a patient to be treated, impression is taken of the mouth. The impression is removed, replicas of brackets are inserted in impression and casting made of teeth which are then separated and positioned in ideal location in a model. Arch wires are then preformed to fit brackets on ideal model and after preforming, arch wire transferred to mouth of patient. Brackets have groove to receive arch wire which is locked in place by follower and snap ring.