Abstract: A coin-controlled, manually operable machine for vending several dozen golf balls at a time. The vending machine has a ball hopper and a ramp below the hopper defining a ball dispensing opening between them. A gate rotatably mounted at the opening, extends partially there across in its closed position to cause the balls to bridge the opening. When the double-stroke actuating lever is pulled forward and returned, the gate is swung or kicked into the mass of balls twice to break up the bridging of balls to release a sufficient excess of balls down the ramp to assure filling of a rotatable ball receiver-dumper cylinder extending across the bottom of the ramp. The actuating lever is maintained inoperative by a coin-releasable locking mechanism. The receiver-dumper cylinder has a keeper slot receiving a limiting lug.

Abstract: A device for calculating decompression plans prior to an underwater dive, and for monitoring the depth of a diver during an actual dive and continuously computing a safe decompression plan. The many tissues of a diver which absorb and eliminate inert gas are approximated by a single tissue having different time constants of uptake and elimination of inert gas. These time constants and discrete values of supersaturation ratio may be chosen to allow calculating of diving plans which approximate diving schedules determined empirically.

Abstract: A nestable octagonal tray having tapered, glued side walls of low height. The tray has an octagonal bottom panel, four trapezoidal side walls each attached at its shorter parallel edge to the bottom panel, four trapezoidal side flaps each attached at its longer parallel edge to the bottom panel, and eight substantially rectangular glue flaps each attached along its base to one of the non-parallel sides of the trapezoidal side walls. The side flaps and glue flaps are adhered in overlapping relation.

Abstract: Generally, each of my chock embodiments has one or more of the following features: a rigid body having a nonsuperficial recessed surface portion or portions on one or more of its working surfaces for saddling a rock formation; a cap portion along the top edge of each working surface of the rigid body; a runner aperture opening solely on the bottom surface of the rigid body; a separate anchor wedged in the runner aperture for securing the runner and reinforcing the rigid body; a runner anchor recessed from the top and/or bottom surfaces of the rigid body; a double loop cable runner; and in the smallest sizes, a rigid body having one or more hooked portions for setting over a constriction of a crack in a rock formation and a second portion protruding from the crack for securing a runner.

Abstract: An athletic mouthguard for use by participants in contact sports to simultaneously protect and topically treat the teeth. The mouthguard is a generally U-shaped channel molded preferably from a composition of thermoplastic resin and a fluoride compound such as sodium fluoride, stannous fluoride, or sodium fluorosilicate. The fluoride compound is released from the molded resin mouthguard to the wearer's teeth over extended periods of use.

Abstract: A universal joint having two intermeshed rotatable assemblies in driving and driven relationship. Each of the assemblies of the joint has a base adapted to be connected to a rotatable device. Each assembly has a plurality of yoke arms fixed at one end to the base and at the other end to a joinder disc through which the axis of rotation of the base passes. Each of the yoke arms extends in a plane including the axis of rotation of the base and curves outwardly from its common point of joinder and then inwardly toward the axis of rotation of the base. Each yoke arm has an eliptical cross-section at its end attached to the base and gradually tapers to a circular cross-section toward its other end at its common point of attachment to the other yoke arms.

Abstract: A carton with a reclosable hinged cover formed by laterally spaced cut score lines in its top panel and front glue flap. The cut score lines in the glue flap flare upwardly to form arrow locking tabs which may be pushed through the cover opening so that the shoulders of the tabs lock under the front edge of the top panel. In the preferred form, the cut score lines forming the shoulders of the locking tabs extend only a portion of the way through the thickness of the paperboard and the cut score lines forming the cover portions in the top panel and glue flap are of the inside-outside double cut score type which provides partial thickness locking tabs and an overlapping cover.

Abstract: A desk top work support device having a primary work support member pivotally mounted in an opening in a desk top. A pair of link arms mounted on the primary work support member rotatably support a secondary work support member, and are pivotable to position the secondary work support member in a forward position over the primary work surface and a rearward position to the rear of the primary work surface. A rotating mechanism causes the secondary work support member to rotate with respect to the link arm when the link arm is pivoted. A drive train is provided for rotating the rotating mechanism and the secondary work support bar independently of movement of the link arms, and a second drive train is provided for pivoting the link arms.

Abstract: A pitless well adapter apparatus providing an easily assembled coupling through a well casing between a well drop pipe and a water delivery pipe. The coupling members include an adapter body member connected to the drop pipe, and an adapter outlet member connected to the delivery pipe and firmly mounted to the well casing through an opening therein. A U-shaped skirt is formed around a side opening in the adapter body and has a beveled groove formed around the inner periphery thereof. A U-shaped beveled flange is formed on the intake end of the adapter outlet member and is shaped and sized to closely mate with the groove in the skirt on the adapter body.

Abstract: A decompression calculator for calculating safe and efficient diving schedules utilizing unequal time constants for uptake and elimination of inert gas in the diver's tissues. Scales are provided to calculate a safe decompression stop for a single stage decompression and the time of decompression required where the working depth, the initial depth and the bottom time are known. Decompression times for staged decompression dives may also be calculated.

Abstract: A method and device for multiplexing time varying amplitude physiological data signals with the signals provided by the photomultiplier tubes of a gamma ray scintillation camera. The time varying amplitude signals from physiological sensors are converted to a series of uniformly shaped pulses having a pulse frequency which is directly proportional to the amplitude of the physiological signal. The pulses are shaped to correspond to the shape and size of significant pulses provided at the output circuitry of the photomultiplier tubes of the camera. The shaped pulses are combined with the pulses provided by a photomultiplier tube, and are processed by the internal circuitry of the gamma ray camera in the same manner as gamma ray scintillation data. A computer can be utilized to process the data thus provided, and to display the gamma ray scintillation data in time synchrony with the physiological signal source data.

Abstract: An inductor device having a superconducting coil winding capable of maintaining a relatively large current flowing therethrough, and a normal conducting shield winding surrounding the superconducting coil. The superconducting coil and the shield are electrically connected in parallel with the shield functioning to maintain the current and the magnetic field in the superconducting coil substantially constant. The superconducting inductor device can be used to store energy and to return the stored energy to an energy consuming load over a relatively short period without incurring large losses in the superconducting material. This result is obtained by making the self inductance of the shield substantially equal to the mutual inductance between the shield and the superconducting coil, or by inserting a controlled compensating voltage source in series with the shield, so that pulse currents are conducted by the shield.

Abstract: A cap assembly for capping the upper ends of well casings of various diameters and associated electrical conduit and providing electrical cable passage therethrough from the conduit into the casing. The cap assembly has an electrical conduit adapter and a cap member with a main dome portion defining a casing chamber of generally circular cross-section and a dome extension portion defining an adapter chamber. The main dome and dome extension portions of the cap member have a stepped series of annular downwardly facing bearing lands of progressively smaller diameter formed therein about the periphery of the chambers for selective seating on the upper end of various sized well casings. The bearing lands have substantially straight sections converging away from the casing chamber. The adapter has an outer taper complimentary to the convergence of the straight sections of the bearing lands for selective seating of the bearing land sections on the adapter.

Abstract: A portable tote bin which may be stacked in vertical registry with similar bins. The bin has a tray section with channeled support members at each end which support the tray in spaced relation to an underlying surface. Inverted U-shaped handles extend upwardly from the tray section, and are insertable within the channeled support members of identical bins for stacking. The handles each have a horizontal transverse segment for engaging and supporting the tray section of a superimposed bin when stacked. An adapter and a dolly combine with the tote bin to provide a material handling system.

Abstract: A fish scaler having a housing with front input opening, a rearwardly declining bottom ramp, and a scaling rotor journalled within the housing. A series of adjacently positioned flexible scaling arms are secured intermediate their ends to and extend radially from the rotor axle. The scaling arms are of rubber-nylon composition and have a pair of laterally spaced extension fingers at one end and a middle extension finger at the opposite end which carry transverse scaling teeth. The teeth arc through a continuous lateral width when the scaling rotor is rotated. The bottom ramp is pivotably mounted within the housing and is spring biased toward the scaling rotor for varying the distance between the ramp and the scaling rotor. The ramp has a hinged extension platform extending forwardly of the input opening.

Abstract: Apparatus for sensing the milk flow from an animal being milked, and for detaching the teat cups from the udder of the animal after the milk flow has substantially stopped. Sensing of the milk flow and detachment of the teat cups is accomplished with pneumatic controls, without the use of any electrical circuitry. Means are provided to shut off the milking vacuum to the teat cups to aid in detachment of the teat cups from the animal.

Abstract: A conveyor chain articulatable in two planes transversely of each other and normal to the direction of chain advancement. The chain has alternating link types. Alternate drive links have a body center defining a center aperture for receiving the cog of a sprocket wheel in driven relation and have end hooks portions which curve transversely toward the body center in spaced relation. Alternate attachment links have a perimeter body defining toroidal outer loops for removably engaging the hook portions of adjacent drive links and have a center section for engaging a transversely extending conveyor flight.

Abstract: A fabric clamp suitable for holding together pieces of fabric, such as surgical drapes, towels and the like, which is relatively compact and inexpensive. The clamp has two resilient arcuate members which are joined together at one end of each member with the arcuate members respectively having convex and concave jaws at their other ends. Latch members extending inward from the arcuate members engage when the clamp is pressed together to maintain the jaws in engagement. Release of the latch members is accomplished by laterally displacing the arcuate members of the clamp. The clamp may have multiple closed clamping positions, and finger members may be provided which are formed on the interior of the arcuate members in position to grasp a tube or other object therebetween when the clamp is closed.

Abstract: An electrical magnet having at least one turn of electrical conductor which is continuously rippled in small radius arcs around is larger circumference. Each ripple in the conductor is formed to lie in a plane normal to the net magnetic field experienced by that ripple. For the special case of a planar turn of conductor, the ripples lie in substantially the same plane as the conductor turn itself. When current is flowing in the rippled conductor, the conductor will experience a magnetically induced force directed outward normal to the conductor. To oppose this outwardly directed force, the conductor is provided support by means which engage the conductor at the inner portions of the conductor between the ripples therein. The support means may consist of members or columns extending to a solid circular wall as, for example, a wall formed in bedrock.

Abstract: A desk top work support device having a base with an inclined primary work surface, and having a secondary work support member positioned above the primary work surface. The secondary work support member is pivotally mounted on the base to provide a preset forward position for close reading, and a preset rearward position for secondary reference tasks wherein the secondary work support member does not interfere with access to the primary work surface. The pivoting linkage provides different inclinations for the secondary work support member with respect to the primary work surface in said forward and rearward positions to permit optimum utilization of remote light sources. The secondary work support member has a support bar, and removable work holders which may be slidably engaged within the base and are retained therein by the secondary work support bar when it is in its rearward position.