Abstract: Packaging for products having at least one movable component, such as navigational compasses and binoculars, to allow a customer to try the packaged product prior to purchase. The packaging provides accessibility to the movable components by the customer. Instructions, including examples of use, are included to guide the customer through the features and the use of the product without the need of assistance from a sales clerk.

Abstract: An automated crimping machine for crimping a fitting or end connector onto an end of a cable is made up of segmental die portions which together form a die surface in the desired configuration including cylinder-operated pivot blocks to advance the segmental die portions between an open position and closed crimping position, a plunger assembly axially spaced from the die portions to support the fitting in loosely assembled relation on the cable and to automatically advance in an axial direction into the cavity formed by the die surfaces to cause the fitting to be crimped onto the cable end, following which the segmental die portions are expanded away from the fitting and the crimped fitting removed to permit insertion of the next fitting and cable which is advanced through a guide block into properly aligned relation with the plunger.

Abstract: An air compressor system is characterized by being made up of a swash plate type of air compressor which is capable of delivering pressures into the range of 200 p.s.i. and is selectively and interchangeably insertable into holding tanks of different sizes and configurations for different specific applications and wherein the holding tanks are also characterized by having inner tank liners and a connecting valve between the compressor and liner to deliver pressurized air from the compressor into the storage compartment defined by the liner within the tank; and the tank and its liner can serve as a self-contained source of pressurized air which can be selectively discharged as required so that the compressor itself may be disconnected from the tank and successively connected to a number of different or additional tanks.

Abstract: A carrying case for binoculars which protects the binoculars during use without interfering with the user's operation of the binoculars. The carrying case comprises a tubular-shaped main body formed from a stretchable and resilient material which is normally undersized in relation to the binoculars, whereby the main body undergoes expansion upon insertion of the binoculars and surrounds the binoculars in snug-fitting relation. The main body has openings at opposite ends thereof for exposing the lenses of the binoculars during use, and an aperture for exposing a focus adjustment member during use. Each of the openings and the aperture contains removable closures for protecting the lenses and the focus adjustment member when the binoculars are not in use. Further, the resilient material of the main body facilitates the gripping and holding of the binoculars while in use.

Abstract: A fitting for connecting a coaxial cable to a terminal or to another coaxial cable is made up of a connector body, an outer sleeve extending from one end of the connector body for insertion of an end of the cable, and a crimping member is loosely connected to the outer sleeve and has a tapered annular portion which in response to engagement by a compression tool will undergo axial movement with respect to the outer sleeve member and impart inward radial deformation to the outer sleeve member into sealed engagement with an external surface of the cable. In a modified form for splicing two cables together, the connector body is provided with outer sleeve members at opposite ends into which the ends of the coaxial cables are inserted and crimping members for crimping both of the sleeve members into sealed engagement with each of the respective cables.

Abstract: A lens cap apparatus for an optical instrument adapted to shield a user's eyes from incident light from any direction. The lens cap apparatus is formed from an annular base with a pivotally connected lid and a connecting assembly for releasably securing the base to a cap-receiving end of a tubular member which houses a lens in an optical instrument. The connecting assembly permits rotation through 360.degree. of the base and its pivotally connected lid in relation to the cap-receiving end of the optical instrument. This 360.degree. rotation coupled with a greater than 180.degree. pivotal movement of the lid in relation to the base gives the user maximum adjustability to shield the user's eyes from incident light from all possible angles. Additionally, the greater than 180.degree. movement of the lid in relation to the base allows the user to adjust the lens cap apparatus to compensate for such variables as the width and shape of the user's head and can be used in conjunction with eye glasses.

Abstract: An infant rest, particularly for use with infant support devices, such as cribs, bassinets, strollers, infant seats and the like. The infant rest of the present invention provides not only support for the head of the infant from sudden movements and the impact from sudden movements but from the effects of the environment as well. A padded roll is formed by a doubled padded layer which provides protection from sudden movements and the impacts from sudden movement. A zipper or other fastener is disengaged to allow this doubled padded layer to extend upward into a single layer to form a bonnet around the head of the infant. This provides protection from excessive sun, wind, cold or other environmental causes.

Abstract: A fishing reel eliminates line twist as the fishing line is taken on or off of the spool by utilizing a non-rotating nose member and line pick-up member in combination with a rotational spool and a line-engaging control mechanism which at the beginning of the cast retracts the nose member against a forward end of the housing to capture the fishing line therebetween and, toward the end of the cast, a separate release mechanism manually releases the nose member to permit the fishing line to play freely off of the spool. The release mechanism may be a manual or automatic casting control mechanism which is mounted just forwardly of the handle portion of a fishing rod and is operable to return the nose member to an open position in response to a forward casting motion of the rod and reel.

Abstract: A filter use device is adapted for use with various types of containers, such as, liquid containers for water coolers in which the device includes a cap to be threaded onto an open end of the container, a filter cartridge in the cap which retains a conventional filter and a resilient pawl which is engageable with a disk having an indicator aligned with a slot in the cap and engageable with ratchet teeth to incrementally advance the indicator each time that the cap is threaded onto the end of the container; and when the indicator reaches the end of the slot is shifted to prevent any further advancement of the disk or passage of water through the filter or device and thereby signify the end of the life of the filter and the need for replacement of the filter. The number of rachet teeth may be varied in accordance with the number of containers with which the filter is to be used.

Abstract: A scraper tool of one-piece construction is conformable for use in scraping various surfaces and is made up of a generally arched body portion having an intermediate handle section to be gripped by the user and scraper blades at opposite ends of the body portion provided with edges extending in opposite directions transversely across the width dimension at each end so that the application of force in either lengthwise direction to the body portion will cause one of the blades to scrape the materials away from the surface. In an alternate embodiment, the scraper tool may include a handle extension pivotally connected to the body portion and provided with a brush on the handle extension.

Abstract: A bath toy mounting device adapted to be releasably secured to the side or bottom wall of a bathtub partially filled with water. The bath toy mounting device maintains a secure attachment to the bathtub but may be easily removed by an adult. The bath toy mounting device further includes a toy holding device, such as elongated bar, for suspending toys above the water. Toys are secured to and hang from the toy holding device by means of a coupling member. In this way, the coupling member allows the child to move the toys while restricting movement to the immediate vicinity of the toy holding device. Additionally, the bath toy mounting device insures that toys are readily accessible to the child while he or she takes a bath.

Abstract: A quick change tooling method and apparatus has been devised for tube bending operations in which the bend die, clamp die and pressure die as well as mandrel and wiper die, if required, are preassembled along with a tube corresponding to the tube to be bent in that particular die assembly by releasable latches or other types of releasable connectors; and each preassembled die set as described can be removed, transported and relocated on a bending machine as a complete assembly and in exact aligned operating position without readjustment and pressure setting each time that the die set is installed. A lift mechanism is provided to facilitate lifting of each die set onto and from the bending machine as well as to automatically locate each die set in proper aligned position on the machine.

Abstract: An auxiliary sun visor is in the form of an oblong panel which is placed in front of a rear view mirror to bridge the space between the standard sun visors of a motor vehicle, and complementary fastening members on one surface of the panel and the front surface of the rear view mirror to releasably attach the panel to the rear view mirror.

Abstract: A coaxial cable end connector for connecting a cable to a terminal has inner and outer spaced concentric sleeves, the outer sleeve provided with sealing rings which are formed out of the thickness of the outer sleeve along a crimping zone of the sleeve to minimize the crimping force required to crimp the outer sleeve by inward radial deformation into sealing engagement with the cable. Preferably, the wall thickness of at least a portion of the outer sleeve is reduced in order to further reduce the crimping force required to deform the sleeve into sealing engagement with the cable. In certain applications, an external annular seal is interposed between confronting surface portions of one of the inner and outer sleeves and a coupling member which makes up onto the terminal in sealing against moisture infiltration.

Abstract: There is provided a method and system for transferring biological material samples from the point of collection to a chamber for placement into a centrifuge for processing and analysis. A container is used to hold the sample from the point of collection and during transport to a sample chamber which is placed into the centrifuge. The container is provided with a threaded open end, the threads being complementary with screw threads on a lid and also with threads around a port in the chamber. Thus, the user collects the sample, places it within the container, and engages the lid to close the open end of the container. The container is transported to the laboratory, where the lid is removed, and the threads on the container engaged with the threads on the chamber to attach the container to the chamber. The container is then inverted to permit the sample to pass from the container into the chamber. The chamber may then be placed into a known centrifuge for processing.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus and method for using a centrifuge to apply a treatment liquid, such as a fixative agent, to a specimen undergoing centrifugation analysis. There is provided a centrifuge sample chamber with a mounting flange for engagement with a microscope slide, so that specimen material is centrifuged to the slide for inspection. The sample chamber has an upper cavity and a lower specimen holding portion which are connected by a fluid passage. The specimen holding portion ideally includes a lower cavity with a lower leg extending down therefrom for holding the specimen prior to centrifugation. An upper hollow leg in communication with the upper cavity holds the treatment liquid while the chamber is at rest prior to centrifugation. Activation of the centrifuge tilts the chamber to incline the upper and lower legs, so that the treatment liquid flows into, and is held within, the upper cavity by centrifugal force.