Abstract: A poultry breeder flooring system including a plurality of spaced apart and substantially parallel wire mesh channel defining beams, a wire mesh floor supported on the channel defining beams and a fastener mechanism interconnecting the floor and the channel defining means. The wire mesh floor and beam assembly provides an improved surface to space ratio which reduces dung collection and thereby enhances egg production.

Abstract: A processing system for processing a plurality of products, the system including a plurality of interchangeable units arranged to receive the products and each having a work station for effecting a specific operation, and a canopy covering said work station, the units being interconnected to form an enclosed chamber encompassing the work stations and covered by the interconnected canopies; an environmental control system for controlling environmental conditions within the chamber; and a transport system for transporting the products within the chamber and between the work stations.

Abstract: A guide tube formed from non-magnetic material defines a cavity of rectangular section arranged within a brake drum, and a plurality of ferromagnetic plates are retained at equal circumferential intervals by an outer portion of the guide tube. Magnet support tubes formed out of magnetic material and axially spaced and rotatably supported in the cavity of the guide tube and magnets twice in number of the ferromagnetic plates are mounted to outer surfaces of the magnet support tubes with pairs of the magnets having common and alternating polarities. The magnet support tubes are reciprocatively rotated by actuators to produce non-braking, braking and partial braking conditions.

Abstract: A mouthguard including a U-shaped base portion; an upwardly projecting inner flange portion joined to an inner edge of the base portion; an upwardly projecting outer flange portion joined to an outer edge of the base portion; the upwardly projecting inner flange portion, the upwardly projecting outer flange portion and an upper surface of the base portion forming an upwardly facing U-shaped channel; and the mouthguard being molded from a composition including a light pervious foundation material, and a light reflective aggregate distributed throughout the foundation material.

Abstract: A processing system for processing a plurality of products, the system including a plurality of interchangeable units arranged to sequentially receive the products and each having a work station for effecting a specific operation on each of the products, the operation requiring a given time period; and wherein each work station accommodates simultaneously a predetermined number of the products, and the given time period and predetermined number associated with each unit are different than the given time periods and predetermined numbers of other said units. A transport system transports the products through the processing system so as to provide for each product a common occupancy time therein.

Abstract: A steamer for a steamable hair curler includes thermally isolated cold and hot water reservoirs. Water in the hot water reservoir is heated by a PTC heater. The volumetric t capacity of the hot water reservoir is very small. The PTC heater has an intrinsic cutoff temperature high enough to boil water in the hot water reservoir and low enough to prevent deterioration of any component parts of the steamer, even in the absence of water in the hot water reservoir. Due to the thermal isolation of the reservoirs, water in the cold water reservoir is not substantially heated during normal operation of the steamer.

Abstract: This invention relates to a filter change indicator that is operable in various orientations of the device incorporating it. For example, the filter change indicator is operable when the device is positioned in either the upright or sideways position. The device incorporating the filter change indicator can be any air moving device which incorporates a cleanable or replaceable filter. The filter change indicator includes a transparent viewing window and a tubulation. The viewing window displays a visible signal when the filter needs changing. The visible signal can be a float retained in the tubulation. The tubulation is a hollow transparent tube which forms an incline plane within the housing. The tubulation includes a first end, a second end and a step. The first end is in fluid communication with an air flow path through the tubulation, and this air flow path is exposed to atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A hair clip having a first lever member with a first jaw portion, a first actuator portion and an intermediate portion joining the first jaw portion and the first actuator portion; and a second lever member having a second jaw member, a second actuator portion and a second intermediate portion joining the second jaw portion and the second actuator portion. A hinge connects the first intermediate portion to the second intermediate portion and the first and second jaw members are shaped and arranged such that closure movement between the first and second actuator portions produces separating movement of the first and second jaw members. A spring member exerts a separating force between the first and second actuator portions and a closure force between the first and second jaw portions. Attached to and movable with at least one of the first and second actuator portions is a cover mechanism which substantially covers and conceals the spring member.

Abstract: A container including a plurality of wire mesh wall panels having substantially planar sides and arranged to form an enclosure, adjacent panels having juxtaposed panel edges attached along a plurality of joints, a panel edge attached along at least some of the joints having wire ends forming loops each projecting through a mesh interstice a given distance beyond one planar side of an adjacent planar panel and each loop having a reentrant terminal portion extending back through the mesh interstice beyond an opposite planar side of the adjacent panel. Attaching the reentrant terminal portions on the opposite planar side of the adjacent panel is a retainer wire and a latch link extends through the loops on the one side of the adjacent panel.

Abstract: A guide frame for an eddy current type braking system includes a brake drum connected to a rotary shaft; a stationary pole piece frame formed of a non-magnetic material, disposed within the brake drum and retaining a plurality of ferromagnetic plates opposed to an inner surface of the brake drum; and magnet support rings formed of a magnetic material and retaining permanent magnets opposed to the ferromagnetic plates. An outer surface and an inner peripheral surface of each ferromagnetic plate is displaced in a direction parallel to the axis of the brake drum, and an axial center of the outer peripheral surface of the ferromagnetic plates is substantially radially aligned with an axial center of the brake drum.

Abstract: A slidably engaged surface of a sliding member has a first travel length portion formed of a composite material providing a small contact angle with respect to lubricating oil and an adjoining second travel length portion formed of a composite material providing a higher contact angle with the lubricating oil. The first length portion preferably corresponds to boundary and mixed lubricating areas and the second length portion corresponds to a fluid lubricating area.

Abstract: A portable electric heater including a housing having a bottom wall with front and back portions, a rear wall, a pair of side walls each having front and back portions, a top wall with front and back portions, a divider wall having a given area, and a front grill wall. The rear wall, divider wall and back portions of the bottom, side and top walls define a chamber while the divider wall, the front grill wall, and the front portions of the bottom, side and top walls define a cavity horizontally juxtaposed to the chamber. A plurality of elongated quartz heater elements and a temperature sensor are mounted in the cavity, and an electrically energizable fan is mounted in the chamber. Defined in the rear wall are a plurality of inlet openings, and in the divider wall are a plurality of discharge openings having a combined area equal to less than 2.5% of the given area.

Abstract: A back support system including a first cuff for securement around one thigh of an individual; a second cuff for securement around the other thigh of the individual; a suspender harness for securement over the individual's shoulders, the suspender harness having a rear connection portion arranged for placement in substantial transverse alignment with the individual's upper spine, and first and second front connection portions for placement over the individual's chest; and an elastic mechanism attached between the rear connection portion and each of the first and second cuffs, the elastic mechanism having first and second elastic portions extending over, respectively, portions of the individual's buttocks with the first elastic portion being attached to an attachment portion of the first cuff and the second elastic portion being attached to an attachment portion of the second cuff.

Abstract: An electric power generating system including a motor vehicle defining a passenger compartment and an engine compartment; an internal combustion engine retained in the engine; an exhaust system defining a passage for discharging exhaust gases produced by the internal combustion engine; and a primary heat exchange system coupled to the exhaust system means and defining a primary chamber adapted to transfer thermal energy from the exhaust gases to a working fluid; a cooling system for circulating cooling liquid in a path that results in removal of thermal energy from the internal combustion engine; and an auxiliary heat exchange system coupled to the cooling system and defining an auxiliary chamber adapted to transfer thermal energy from the cooling fluid to the working fluid.

Abstract: Projecting into a brake drum is an annular guide frame defining an annular inner chamber of rectangular shape in section, having an outer wall portion formed by a thin cylindrical body of nonmagnetic material, and an inner annular wall of ferromagnetic material. An annular magnet support member is axially movable within the inner chamber of the guide frame, and supports a plurality of permanent magnets disposed closely adjacent to the cylindrical body and in circumferentially spaced apart positions of uniform pitch, the polarities of the permanent magnets alternating circumferentially.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a piston having a crown portion with a bottom surface and a skirt projecting therefrom to form a cavity, and a connecting rod having at one end a semicylindrical yoke portion with an upwardly directed semicylindrical concave surface and downwardly directed semicylindrical convex surfaces. A guide member is slidably retained between the bottom surface and the concave surface, and an annular member projecting into and fixed to the skirt defines spaced apart semicylindrical concave surfaces each engaging portions of the convex surfaces.