Abstract: An energy conversion apparatus is disclosed adapted to convert any type of rotatable mechanical energy into electrical energy in an efficient manner which includes a plurality of generators positioned upon a rotating wheel of arms wherein the wheel is secured to a rotating drive shaft. Cylinders such as drums are axially oriented around the drive shaft and are caused to rotate in an opposite direction therefrom by a reversing gear system driven by the drive shaft. These cylinders include grooves therein which are adapted to receive a drive belt which extends outward along the individual arms to a pulley located on the rotor shaft of each generator.

Abstract: Apparatus for the manufacture of circular wreaths, such as Christmas wreaths, is adapted for making either single-faced or double-faced wreaths, utilizing either artificial or natural wrapping materials.Disclosed is an apparatus or machine for securing facing materials to an elongated, straight wire core to form a wreath section capable of being joined end to end with other similar sections in a separate, subsequent assembly operation to produce a circular wreath of selected diameter. The machine includes means for feeding a wire core in the direction of its length, while imparting intermittent rotational movement thereto about its own axis, with each such movement being on the order of approximately 180.degree. of angular travel about the core axis. The opposite sides of the core are thus alternately presented to the operator for positioning of the wreath facing material in longitudinal contact with the core.

Abstract: A composition of matter utilized by particular method for forming an electrically conductive glaze upon the outer surface of a ceramic mold form wherein the combination includes approximately 33 percent soda feldspar, approximately 20 percent flint, approximately 9 percent calcium carbonate, approximately 1 to 2 percent ball clay, approximately 2 percent kaolin, approximately 7 percent zinc oxide and approximately 27 percent black iron oxide, all percentages being taken by weight, the method including the addition of an amount of flocculant such as 20 percent magnesium sulfate solution or deflocculant such as sodium tetrapyrophosphate or sodium silicate to control the viscosity of the solution and thereby control the thickness of the layer formed upon the external surface of the ceramic mold form, including the spraying or dipping of the mold form in the resulting solution for coating thereof as well as the firing of the coated ceramic mold form in a furnace or approximately 2200 to 2300 degrees Fahrenheit fo

Abstract: A weight lifting bar apparatus particularly usable for leg exercises such as deep knee bends and toe lifts which includes a support bar extending laterally and adapted to be placed generally upon the shoulders of the user and a weight retaining bar extending out of each end of the support bar but axially displaced downwardly therefrom. The weight retaining bar is adapted to receive the weight secured thereto by standardly configured collars. The apparatus further including projecting support members extending downwardly and projecting forwardly from the support bar in order to rest upon the shoulders of the user and facilitate retaining of the apparatus during exercising upon his shoulders. The projecting support members are preferably at an axial angle of approximately 28.degree. with respect to the axis of the displaced weight retaining bar, in this manner, the weight will rest upon the shoulders and back of the user without requiring holding of the bar by his hands.

Abstract: A bag holding device particularly designed for holding in an open position a trash bag or similar type of receptacle such that it is capable of receiving easily large amounts of trash such as leaves or year debris. The device includes a generally loop-shaped frame having a flexible member secured along the frame. The flexible member is adapted to form a loop of bag material as the bag is placed over the frame such that when a retaining means is moved downwardly on to the frame to hold the bag in place secured thereto, the loop of bag material formed by the flexible member will allow the retaining device to secure the bag in place without damaging the bag material itself. This is achieved by making the flexible device collapsable to allow the loop to close as the retaining member is placed downwardly on to the frame.

Abstract: A disposal device for animals such as cats which is particularly usable by being secured to conventional toilet bowls wherein the disposal device includes a first and second platform member each being generally semi-circular extending horizontally across the upper opening of a conventional toilet at a location below the water inlet holes thereof, each of the platforms is secured to the toilet such as to be pivotal from an upper position to a lower position with respect thereto, a controlling assembly is secured to the first platform member to move it between an upper position and a lower position and the second platform member rests upon the first platform member and as such is controlled in movement also by the controlling assembly, the disposal device further including a stopping device fixedly attached with respect to the toilet bowl and to the second platform member to hold it in a predetermined second downward position such that movement by the controlling assembly of the first platform downwardly will a

Abstract: An egg transfer bar for use in groups arranged in parallel extending rows to form egg carrying conveyors, wherein each bar includes a main shaft, said main shaft defining a plurality of egg receiving locations each including a set of support members which are movably secured to the main shaft or to a carriage member which is, itself secured to the transfer bar, each of said support members within a set of support members being individually and independently pivotally movable with respect to the carriage member or the main shaft, each support member presenting an upwardly facing arcuate surface which is concave in the upwardly facing direction to thereby define the egg receiving locations laterally along the egg transfer bar, with use of the carriage member the egg transfer bar includes a pivot shaft which is secured to the carriage member and provides the point of attachment of each of the support members to the carriage member, each support member being pivotally movable about the pivot shaft or the main sha

Abstract: A shelving unit including corner posts on which shelves are removably and adjustably mounted through the provision of sleeves provided at the corners of the individual shelves. In association with each sleeve, there is provided a saddle acting as a spacer between the sleeve and post. The saddle initially is interengaged with the posts through the provision of a lug and complementary recess on the saddle and post respectively. As one function of the saddle, there is defined a point of reference for aligning a threaded opening of the sleeve with the lug of the saddle, through the provision of a lip or abutment on the saddle engaged by the sleeve when it is lowered to its selected position along the length of the post. At this time, a threaded opening of the sleeve registers with an outwardly facing recess of the saddle defined by the formation of the saddle lug.

Abstract: A shoe adapter for use for holding the user's shoe in fixed engagement with the shoe receiving stilt platforms of utility stilts, the shoe adapter including a frontal member fixedly secured to the stilt platform adapted to receive the frontal area of the user's shoe and including a heel member fixedly secured to the stilt platform in spaced relation with respect to the frontal member such that when the heel of the shoe of the user is placed within the heel member, the frontal area of the user's shoe will be locatable within the frontal member, the frontal member including a frontal base directly attached to the platform and a rigid upper member extending from one lateral end of the frontal base to the other lateral end of the frontal base to define a frontal shoe area receiving opening between the rigid upper member and the frontal base, the heel member including a heel base fixedly secured to the stilt platform, and at least two lateral heel plates extending upwardly from the lateral edges of the heel base t

Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuously controlling of the cleaning of suede and leather garments comprising a plurality of tanks each containing a slightly different cleaning fluid. Each of the tanks is preferably continuously filtered for soluble impurities and is selectively communicable to a washing device into which is introduced the garments. An additional amount of cleaning fluid is added to the wash device approximately equal in weight to the weight of the garments to be washed. A further additional amount of cleaning fluid is added which is approximately proportional to the weight of the garments being washed. After washing, the remaining liquid is returned to the original tank. In this manner the tank will be refilled to the original level and will overflow through an overflow aperture in an amount approximately equal to the further added cleaning liquid.

Abstract: A solar panel has a series of channels through which water or other fluids may flow for exposure to and heating by solar radiation. Common to all the channels are inlet and outlet manifolds through which, respectively, the water is directed into and discharged from the channels. Construction of the panel is simplified and is rendered economical by fashioning of the same from a pair of superposed, inexpensive metal sheets, as for example roofing tin. The sheets are readily preformed with the manifolds and channels, in such fashion that when the sheets are connected along their peripheries by means of mechanical expedients well known in the sheet metal art, the several channels are automatically defined between the sheets, and are further automatically brought into communication with the inlet and outlet manifolds.

Abstract: An electrical switch has an operating handle which snaps onto a housing assembly, and when so attached is rockably mounted in engagement with a switch actuator projecting forwardly from the face of the assembly. The handle is formed with tapered projections at opposite sides, which resiliently yield upon insertion of the handle through the opening of a conventional wall plate and engage in back of the wall plate immediately prior to movement of the switch into its pivotal mounting on the housing assembly, to deter those who would casually and without authorization detach the handle from the housing assembly assembly. Removal of the wall plate permits the handle to be detached, to facilitate selection and interchangeability of handles according to a particular room decor or other aesthetic considerations.

Abstract: Low density fillers or pigments adapted for use in paints, plastics, caulks and the like are produced by dispersing particulate materials of an average equivalent spherical diameter of 0.1 to 30 micrometers in an aqueous medium containing an acid-polymerizable resin. The dispersions thus produced are formed into spheroids which are heated to polymerize the resin and evaporate water therefrom so that voids are developed within the products. In this way the particles are bonded together and the product is provided with a protective coating of polymerized resin.The products thus produced are relatively low in density and may embody various particulate materials which would be hydrated or otherwise adversely reacted with water or other constituents of the paint, plastics, or medium in which they are incorporated.

Abstract: A device for propelling tennis balls has an oscillating discharge barrel to which balls are fed from a rotating distributor. A programmed relationship is provided, including a motion-translating linkage oscillating the barrel as an extension of the mechanism used for rotating the distributor. Programming is achieved to cause a predetermined number of objects to be propelled from the barrel, during each oscillatory cycle, as a direct response to rotation of the distributor.The linkage can be optionally provided without changing the basic design of propulsion devices heretofore made. The invention provides this through an extension shaft of the distributor, which rotates a member having openings spaced different radial distances from the axis of rotation of the member. A drop pin is extendable through any of the openings, and through a slot of a motion-translating link connected to a support bracket for the barrel.

Abstract: A shelving system, of the type adapted for swift assembly and disassembly, has an improved upright and shelf structure in which each shelf is swiftly attachable, without the use of tools, at its corners to transversely spaced posts of the upright. The upright is a ladder type, incorporating vertically spaced cross braces extending between vertical posts each of which comprises inner and outer post elements that allow insertion of a shelf without necessity of its being tilted or cocked. Each shelf is formed at its corners with right-angular, inwardly extending locking tongues or tabs, initially locatable, during assembly, in wide spaces defined between the inner and outer post elements. With the shelf in horizontal position, it is permitted movement downwardly from the wide spaces into narrower spaces in which the corners of the shelf lock, with the shelf being supported upon the cross braces of the uprights.

Abstract: Disclosed is a means for preventing "logging" of receivers, that is, the excess filling of a receiver with liquid in a refrigeration system of the type in which a compressor, a condenser, and one or more evaporators are connected in a closed cycle in association with a surge receiver. Communication between the discharge side of the compressor and the receiver incorporates a valve of the differential pressure regulating type, having means sensitive to the relationship of pressures established and maintained in a liquid line extending from the condenser to the evaporator and in the compressor discharge line extending from the compressor to the condenser, respectively.

Abstract: A general purpose, alternating current wall switch is provided with a rocker handle having an extremely light feel resulting from the fact that the angular distance or throw between the opposite extreme positions thereof is very small, on the order of about 20 degrees in a preferred embodiment. Throw of the handle through the noted small angular distance is effective, however, to operate a contact actuator through a much larger angular distance to assure a proper mechanical and electrical function, the distance through which the contact actuator rocks in a preferred embodiment being on the order of about 50 degrees. The mechanical advantage is produced by a loose, lost motion interengagement between the rocker handle and the contact actuator, both of which are mounted to rock about spaced, separate pivot axes.

Abstract: A life raft, having a floor joined at its periphery to a flotation member, is formed with a flexibly-walled, depending, correspondingly water ballast chamber generally parallel and contiguous to the flotation member. The chamber may be compartmented for retention of the water ballast as a distributed stabilizing mass, and extends about a wholly open center area that underlies all or the greatest part of the floor, thus to concentrate the ballast below the peripheral flotation member as a further aid to stability.Ports are provided in the walls of the chamber, the openings of at least the outer wall being continuously open to the flow of water therethrough. In one form of the invention the openings of the inner side wall are check-valved to exhaust air from the center space, creating a partial vacuum that increases the stability of the raft.

Abstract: A device for suppressing transient voltage surges is mountable at the end of a branch circuit in place of a conventional duplex receptacle. When so mounted, the device in external configuration duplicates the duplex receptacle exactly, except for omission of one of the two sets of slots normally provided for receiving the prongs of attachment plugs. The device, when mounted in a conventional outlet box, receives a conventional duplex receptacle wall plate, and being of the external configuration matching that of a conventional duplex receptacle, provides no projection beyond the wall plate greater than the projection defined by the raised portions of an ordinary duplex receptacle as heretofore known. Use of completely conventional duplex receptacle components, modified either not at all or only slightly, is permitted.

Abstract: An electrical connector having a tubular support through which a power cable extends, and a contact housing within which the cable is connected to male or female contacts. The support and housing have mating quick threads facilitating their assembly after connection of the cable to the contacts. A lock means on the support automatically responds to connection of the support and housing to each other, to prevent their accidental separation. Normal operation of a cable clamping device on the support clamps and strain-relieves the cable within the support. Deformation of the cable to offer strain relief acts upon the lock means to prevent its movement from the position in which it locks the housing and support against accidental separation.A cable-clamping and strain-relieving device is disclosed, including a screw threadable laterally through an opening of a wiring device body into a power cable-receiving passage formed in the body. A swiveled head on the screw bears against the insulation of the conductor.