Abstract: A plastic cover fits over the top and partially down the sides of a corked wine bottle. Such a bottle conventionally has an external bead a short distance below the top of the neck. The cover has a skirt formed with a complementary bead which fits tightly over such bead, the plastic material stretching sufficiently for the cover to lock into place so that it cannot be removed with the skirt intact. A tear strip is formed substantially circumferentially around the cap bead by a pair of vertically spaced score-lines. The skirt is grooved to form a tear tab which extends circumferentially along a portion of the bottle bead. By tearing off the tear strip the portion of the cap thereabove can be removed. As a supplemental means of access for removal of the cork, the top disc of the cap may be formed with a circular score-line.

Abstract: The device is used to transfer liquids such as pharmaceuticals from a container having a stopper of rubber or other material which can be punctured with a needle to a syringe. The device has a plug which is pressed down on the stopper and on the bottom on the plug are two needles. The first needle is long enough to extend near the bottom of the container and has a connection through the plug to a fitting to which the syringe is connected. By raising the plunger in the syringe, liquid is drawn from the container. The second needle is preferably shorter than the first and communicates with the atmosphere through a second connection in the plug. Thus air is admitted into the container to replace the liquid withdrawn into the syringe. A micro-pore filter in the second connection may be used to prevent contamination of the container.

Abstract: An excavating tooth has a blade of substantially constant thickness with a transverse shoulder at its inner end and a longitudinal gusset. The tooth terminates in a reduced diameter spindle and a button with a shoulder on its forward face. The adapter has a recess to receive the tooth, the forward end of the adapter receiving the thrust of the tooth because the transverse shoulder bears thereagainst. A top to bottom opening in the adapter intersects the recess at the spindle. A pair of grooves are formed on the outside edges of the opening with projections extending inward from the outer walls of the grooves. A retainer is formed of round cross-section wire and slides in the grooves between locked and unlocked positions, the diameter of the wire being less than the width of the grooves. The retainer is symmetrical about its longitudinal center line, having a slightly upward bowed top connector and legs depending from either end of the connector.

Abstract: A neck finish for plastic containers which are closed by plastic caps of the general type having an integral, thin, flexible inward-directed top flange at the lip which initially slants upwardly-inwardly at an angle of about 20.degree.. When the cap is applied, this top flange fits under the top disc of the cap and is depressed to an angle of about 10.degree.. It nests between the outer skirt and the inner skirt. The neck seals against the outer skirt in several locations (as in prior constructions), but the inner edge of the flange seals tightly in the corner where the bottom of the top disc and the outside of the inner skirt intersect. The top flange also augments the sealing effect of the lower edge of the inner skirt and the inside of the neck. Below the cap skirt the container neck has a shoulder to impede any attempt to pry the cap off the container.

Abstract: Containers (such as metal, glass, plastic, fiber, but not limited thereto) are sterilized in a section of the apparatus having a helical or spiral belt conveyor within an insulated casing through which air above atmospheric pressure at up to about 500.degree. F. is circulated by means of a heater and blower, in a recirculation path. The containers then travel along a straightline encased conveyor where sterile air above atmospheric pressure prevents ingress of non-sterile ambient air. During part of the path through the straight-line conveyor, the containers are driven by a helical screw which forces the containers into close proximity (in fact the out-turned flanges of the containers preferably overlap). Pre-sterilized, preferably cooled, product is delivered into the containers preferably through a curtain, slit-type filler. Other fillers, such as rotary fillers, may be used. The speed of the containers is timed to deliver the desired product volume into the containers.

Abstract: The drive and driven gears of a pump are formed with grooves extending inward from the tips of the teeth to inside the root diameter. Thus each gear is divided into a first portion which serves solely as a drive or driven gear and a second portion which serves the two functions of a conventional pump gear, mainly to perform the pumping function and part of the drive function. Fitting within the grooves of both gears is a suction shoe which also overlies the inlet duct of the pump block and the mesh points of the first portions of the gears plus about two teeth to either side of the mesh point. The shoe separates the large portion of the pump chamber from the inlet duct.

Abstract: A readily portable and, optionally readily disassembled rack comprises longitudinal members on either side and transverse members between the longitudinal members. The transverse members are spaced apart so that cylindrical objects--e.g., reels for wire and cable, rolls of paper, coils of steel, drums, etc.--rest on two adjacent transverse members. The longitudinal members are preferably formed of vertically spaced apart tubing. This permits the rack and contents to be handled by a forklift. It also permits the rack to be supported by the reels on another rack.

Abstract: To prevent tampering with the contents of containers for pharmaceuticals and other products, a plastic cap which is an improvement upon U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,338,446 and 4,166,552. The neck of the container is sealed with a commercially available foil seal; the cap is dimensioned so that the foil seal is inserted inside the cap prior to its being applied to the container. The dimensions of the cap accommodate the foil seal yet the snap-on and the tamper-proof features of the cap are maintained. At intervals, scorelines are formed extending upward from the bottom of the cap skirt; these tear if one attempts to pry the cap off the container and are visible evidence of the tampering.

Abstract: A solar water heating system comprises a solar collector having coils consisting of several stages, some of the coils having transparent covers having different heat insulation effects increasing with the temperature in the coil stages. Water is introduced to the collector either from a cold water source or from the hot water storage tank. The hot water discharge from the collector is divided into two branches, one branch leading to a mixing valve and one to a storage tank. Discharge from the storage tank leads either to the hot water line to the consumer or to an excess water utilization means, such as a spray to wash the collector, to an irrigation system, a roof cooling system or the like. The present invention improves the efficiency of the system and increases the accumulative capacity of the tank. Existing tank heaters may be used to reduce cost.

Abstract: A mat is provided for practicing golf club swings. The mat is made of longitudinally spaced apart blocks held in staggered rows by wires passing through the opposite ends of the blocks. Select blocks have a slit at one end so the select blocks are not held by the wire at one end and, thus, may be pivoted upward about the wire at the other end to serve as knockdown indicators.

Abstract: This system is configured to operate in a number system in which the radix of each digit is a different prime number, or a system in which all of the radices are relatively prime, hereafter a prime or relatively prime radix number system. The system includes an input/output device which inputs data in a constant radix number system and outputs results of operations carried out in the system in a constant radix number system. A means is connected to the I/O device for converting the input data from the constant radix number system to the prime or relatively prime radix number system. A processing means is connected to the converting means for carrying out operations on the input data in prime or relatively prime radix form. A memory means connected to the processing means stores the data and results of operations thereon in prime or relatively prime radix form.

Abstract: A handle mounted adjacent one end of a centrally bored body when squeezed toward the body turns a stem through about 22.degree.. The interior of the stem is cut away so that all that remains is a 90.degree. sector which functions as a cam. On the opposite end of the body is an inlet port. A reciprocable actuator has a seat at one end which is biased to close the inlet port. The opposite end of the actuator engages the cam. Vanes on the actuator center the actuator relative to the bore of the body and permit fluid to pass from the port past the stem when the handle is depressed. When the handle is up, the cam is positioned so that the end of the actuator moves forward by spring and water pressure force to close the valve. When the handle is depressed, the cam turns to force the stem back to unseat the valve and because the stem is cut away for approximately 270.degree., fluid flows around the stem and out of the discharge port.

Abstract: A folding board used as a backing for pamphlets, maps and graphic and printed material consists of four or more sections. Three sections are hinged together along the lengths of abutting edges; the fourth is hinged to one section along the length of an edge abutting one other section, but disconnected along the length of another such edge except by a fourth hinge. The sections are folded flat against each other along three hinges. The fourth hinge has its axis above the place of two sections to permit flat folding of all sections. Various types of hinges are disclosed. How more than four rectangular sections may be hinged together is disclosed. Illumination means for the board and compass to be used with a map on the board are shown and described. Various scales for locating the coordinates for a map may be used. One such scale is hinged; another is telescopic.

Abstract: An improvement on commercial machines which bind documents using plastic strips. The punch mechanism may be automatically actuated when the paper sheets are properly aligned on a punch platen or actuated manually at the user's discretion. Distance of the holes from the edges of the sheets may be indexed.

Abstract: A cap for a wide-mouth container has a short inner skirt and a longer outer skirt. The outer skirt has upper and lower internal locking beads which are preferably interrupted with gaps between bead sections. Above the lower locking bead is a circumferential score line. A portion of the outer skirt below the score line is cut away to form a pull tab extending parallel to the score line. The cap has a peripheral flange the undersigned of which slants downward-inward. The container neck is thin walled, having an internal top flange terminating in a first sealing surface which bears against the top of the inner skirt, a groove below the last-mentioned surface and a second sealing surface below the groove which also bears against the inner skirt. The neck also has upper and lower external beads each having shoulders on their lower edges under which the upper and lower internal locking beads of the cap seat. The neck curves outward in a lower shoulder immediately below the bottom edge of the skirt.

Abstract: A container neck has a bead mating with the internal bead on the lower end of the skirt of a sifter fitment. A plastic tamper-proof cap fits over the fitment and has a skirt having two vertically spaced internal beads locking under the shoulders of external beads on the container neck. The cap skirt has a first score line immediately above the lower internal cap bead and a second score line extending from the first score line to the bottom edge of the cap skirt. Preferably both the internal cap beads are interrupted. The cap has a peripheral flange, the underside of which slants downward-inward.

Abstract: A drafting machine which employs two variable speed and one constant speed motors. A pencil is moved along both X- and Y-axes by means responsive to the speed differentials of the motors. Speeds of the motors are controlled by an electrical circuit having a plurality of off-on switches and a plurality of rocking switches. The latter load counters from a pulse generator into counters for straight line, circle, spiral and logarithmic spiral controls which control activation of resistors which govern the speeds of the two variable speed motors. Indicators indicate to the operator the direction in which the pencil is moving, the diameter of a circle being drawn, the increment (or decrement) of a spiral being drawn as compared with a circle and the increment (or decrement) of a logarithmic spiral being drawn as compared with a spiral.

Abstract: The device senses the level of a float which may rest on the surface of the liquid whose level is to be determined or may rest on the surface of liquid (e.g., mercury) of a manometer which measures the level of liquid in accordance with the purge bubble principle. The fluctuation of the float turns a pulley which causes oscillatory movement of an arm carrying a magnet. In proximity to the path of the magnet is a board carrying radially disposed, angularly spaced reed switches. As the magnet passes each switch it closes same and passes a signal to a digital accumulator. A slip clutch between the arm and a second arm causes the latter to oscillate in the same direction as the first arm, but only for a limited distance. The second arm also carries a magnet which changes the direction of a second reed switch and dampens hunting of the first series of switches by preventing activation of the accumulator except when the second reed switch is closed.

Abstract: In a hot air aseptic canning system, containers are sterilized by hot air in an adaptation of a commercially available machine. In accordance with the improvement of the present invention, hot air is blown into the tops of the containers to displace ambient air trapped therein and thus lower the time required to sterilize the containers. As the containers travel along a helical conveyor, inside an insulated housing, they pass under off-center nozzles having openings in their bottoms to cause swirling of air within the containers. The nozzles are connected by ducts to a source of sterilizing air. As the containers leave the conveyor, with their axes vertical, they travel side-by-side down a waterfall with their axes horizontal, then onto a rapidly moving horizontal conveyor which carries the containers away as rapidly as they reach the bottom of the waterfall, and then are turned to vertical position and directed into a filler.

Abstract: One of the annular magnets used in a magnetic drive for pumps and other devices is enclosed on the outside in a thin metal jacket. The jacket and the interior of the magnet and preferably one end thereof are filled with a plastic material which is apertured to receive the shaft on which the magnet is to be mounted. Means is provided in the plastic material for balance weights. The jacket and plastic are impervious to fluids being pumped so that the fluids are not contaminated and the magnet is not attacked by the fluids. A preferred method of making the combination is disclosed.