Abstract: A battery charging circuit employing three operational amplifiers, one to sense charging current and two to regulate constant voltage charging, one for low rate or float level and one for high rate charging. A resistance element acts as part of the current sensing circuit and also limits charge current. A Zener diode provides a voltage reference and aids in sensing deviations of actual terminal voltage from desired terminal voltage to provide feedback control to the voltage regulating operational amplifiers.

Abstract: An improved vent operator for controlling the position of an edge opening vent in the roof of a recreational vehicle or the like is disclosed. The vent operator is coupled to an electric motor, manual jamb or crank or the like, and comprises a set of reduction gears and drives two sector arms which raise or lower the vent cover. The gear reduction is accomplished by spur gears which have good mechanical properties. The cost of the entire apparatus is minimized by making the gears from pressed metal, the sector arms from stampings and the housing from castings. The result is a reliable vent operator that can be produced economically in commercial quantities.

Abstract: An apparatus having an alternately expanding and contracting chamber comprises at least one pair of cylindrical rollers each having an exterior surface in continuous rolling engagement with the surface of the other roller of the pair, the rollers being rotatable along parallel axes, and two parallel side walls, with each one of the rollers also being in continuous rolling engagement with one of the side walls. A third wall is opposite the rollers and joins the two side walls wherein the chamber is defined between these walls and the pair of rollers, and is enclosed.

Abstract: A telescoping plant stake employing a number of telescoping tubular elements, each of which are fitted with a highly resilient friction element at their inner end. The friction element is secured in a groove with its outermost surface extending slightly above the surface of the tubular member with which it is associated and includes a plurality of diamond like protuberances spaced around the periphery which assume compressive engagement with the encircling tube for that member.

Abstract: A novel handle for use in sliding windows and the like formed as a single member and providing the functions of a handle, a catch and a resilient spring release portion which is formed integrally with the handle. The handle includes a surface which may be bonded to the surface of a window light or door by an adhesive while still providing the necessary functions of a gripping handle, a catch and a spring catch releasing mechanism.

Abstract: A simple, unitary flexible sheet member designed to be removably secured to the burner region of a stove to prevent dislodgment of a coffee pot or cooking pot. The holder is fabricated from sheet material including a side wall portion and a number of depending legs, each of which terminate in a foot part. The holder is deformable to form generally into a circular shape and is spring action tending to flatten which brings the foot portions into engagement with the lip of the burner opening into the top of the stove. The spring action of the body holds the foot portions into engagement despite movement of the stove, as is common in a recreational vehicle, and the device is automatically adjusted to the size of the burner opening.

Abstract: This invention consists of a pair of modules containing silicon power rectifiers which are wired into the existing ignition system of an automotive vehicle so as to increase the sparkplug life of the internal combustion engine and increase the gasoline mileage thereof.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for holding and forming a sheet of thermo-plastic material particularly optical or mirror grade glass to a precise dimension with contact only on one face thereof and capable of applying forming stress uniformly to the plastic body with a minimum of contact with the faces of the blank. The device which may be inserted into a tunnel oven or the like includes a female cavity conforming to the precise shape to which the thermo-plastic material is to be formed. The female cavity is positioned at an angle with respect to the vertical and includes an edge lip on the lower extremity against which a flat blank of material to be formed may rest over the cavity. A generally planar mold cover includes an edge hook which engages the opposite or upper edge of the blank. The entire assembly is inserted into an oven and the oven elevated to the softening temperature of the plastic blank.

Abstract: A simple, adjustable roller assembly for supporting sliding track doors and windows and comprising a U shaped bracket which journals a roller and includes a corner opposite from the journaled roller which engages the intersection between the stile and rail of a door frame. An adjusting screw passes through the stile or rail and engages the U shaped bracket whereby tightening of the screw pivots the bracket and roller into increasing downward movement by pivoting the bracket with respect to the inside corner defined by the junction of the stile and rail. In one alternate embodiment, a single screw adjusts a pair of side by side rollers journaled on a common shaft. In another embodiment the U shaped member includes a tap member extendable outward and securable at a spaced point on the door rail or sill. Tightening of this screw serves to bend the tab member and adjust the roller position. The bendable tab actually provides a degree of spring support for the door.

Abstract: An improved front opening holster including depending enclosed spring members extending along the edges of the front opening. The spring members have free ends and are operatively secured together by a retainer in the completed holster but relatively movable during manufacture to facilitate production.The body includes an elongated stiffening member providing attachment point for a belt loop and defines a cylinder cup shape as well.The belt loop includes a stiffening member and a distortable spacer and tightening means to expand and contract the spacer to selectively engage or release the belt to afford both free movement and fixed engagement with the wearer's belt.The hammer of a handgun positioned in the holster is covered by an overlying strap. A thumb strap with a selective direction release fastener engages the overlying strap in a recess between the handgun and the belt loop.A novel method for producing a spring closed holster, particularly the spring assembly, is disclosed.

Abstract: A beacon receiver or IFF system in which the gain of the receiver is time varied to enhance the discrimination between response from transponders located ahead of the interrogator as compared with the responses from transponders in the side or rear lobe regions of the interrogator antenna pattern. The system is employed with a directional antenna and signal processing apparatus giving sum .SIGMA. and difference .DELTA. channels. In accordance with this invention, the gain of the receiver in the sum .SIGMA. channel is increased from the minimum value to a maximum value beginning after the end of interrogation pulse. The difference .DELTA. channel is varied in gain from the time in the beginning after the end of the interrogator pulse but the gain is varied inversely from the maximum level at the beginning of reception to a maximum level at the end of reception.

Abstract: A skate board including a body and a pair of trucks located fore and aft with a friction brake pivotally mounted with respect to the board body to bring a pair of brake shoes into engagement with each of two rear wheels of the rear truck. An operator arm extends from the truck upward above the level of the board whereby the foot of the rider may be used to pivot the brake shoes into engagement with one or the other or both of the truck wheels. The brake arm and shoe assembly is pivotal about a transverse horizontal axis to bring the shoes into engagement with the surface of the wheels and likewise is pivotal around a longitudinal axis to selectively engage one or the other of the two wheels for steering. The operator arm may be operated by either the rear foot of the rider or by his hand in certain cases when the rider is crouched upon the board.

Abstract: A film transport mechanism for use in conjunction with a motion picture projector is a free standing unit carrying supply and takeup reels and associated drive motors. The arbors for the supply and takeup reels are generally parallel, and positioned therebetween is a free running sprocket assembly. Film direction rollers cause film from the supply reel to run over one side of the sprocket and additional rollers to direct the return film from a projector over the opposite side of the sprocket whereby the rate of film advance to the projector and return are equal. The transport mechanism transfers a major portion of the torque required to pull film off the supply reel from the projector to the transport thereby significantly reducing the tension on the film going to and from the projector. The entire assembly includes a support structure having a vertical column supporting the motors, arbors and the control electronics, and constitutes a conduit for virtually all electrical interconnections.

Abstract: A holster which alternately may be worn as a shoulder holster under the armpit of the wearer with the weapon inverted or on a belt for front draw by either the right or left side. The holster employs a body which is folded to define a revolver pocket and a front opening held closed by a spring member. The spring includes a pair of legs which extend along opposite sides of the front opening and which spring legs extend up to the extreme corner of the holster body whereby the ends of the spring embrace and enclose the hammer of a revolver in the holster. The body includes two sets of generally arcuate openings defining two belt loops, one pair on each side of the holster. One ring for securement to a shoulder harness is retained by an integral extension of the body in the muzzle region. A second ring is secured to the body in the trigger guard region. Adjusting means for drawing the body sides together below the muzzle is employed.

Abstract: A camping sidecar and trailer assembly designed for use in conjunction with a motorcycle. It comprises an elongated body with a wheeled suspension. The camper includes utility features such as storage space, a water reservoir, sink, cold storage, and cooking means. A cover encloses the top and one side of the camper and is movable to expose access to utility features of the camper and protects the utility features while in transit. The cover provides wind and rain protection for the utility features when in use and additionally provides partial support for an enclosing tent.

Abstract: A vent operator assembly employing a pair of operator arms which simultaneously control the position of an edge opening vent for recreational vehicles and the like. An operator body is secured to the inner side of the recreational vehicle adjacent to the vent opening therein. The body mounts a worm gear extending between a wall of the body and a cup recess in a bridge extending across a sector shaped recess in the body. A pair of operator arms, each including integral gears are journaled in the body from within the sector recess for simultaneous rotation in opposite arcs. The operator arms are relatively rigid except for the outer 16% which is a flexure spring element. Each spring element mounts a roller which engages a track in the edge of the vent cover opposite its hinged side. Upon rotation of a knob connected to the worm gear, the operator arms move simultaneously in the opposite direction to either open or close the vent cover.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and method for establishing and maintaining a controlled environment for the growth of food yielding plants. The apparatus includes an enclosure having a plurality of artificial light sources positioned over a growing region. Planting areas constitute suitable trays which are mounted for automatic or controlled movement past the light sources and to a work area where all planting, cultivating, crop management and harvesting is accomplished. The necessity of labor expense is thereby reduced.Photo periodism or the enhanced growth rate of plants with light cycling is easily optimized by controlling the speed of movement of the plants. Size and position of the lamps also is varied to optimize growth. Growth enhancement through plant movement is attained.