Abstract: A shoe upper is divided into front and back parts which are hinged together at the shoe sole. The hinge may comprise a creased part of the sole or a mechanical hinge. The parts are held in either an open position or a closed position by a tension spring or a rigid element. The spring and element are pivotally secured to the shoe sole so that their longitudinal axis will be above and extend across the rotational axis of the hinge when the shoe is flat. Additionally, the distance between their points of connection will be less than the corresponding length of sole between said points. This will provide a low stress open position and a higher stress closed position. The stress is created by tension in the spring or by the inherent resilience of the shoe sole counteracting the compression force caused by drawing together the points of connection when a user steps into the shoe.

Abstract: A fluid dispensing gun is provided which is manually operated by a lever arm and cam mechanism. As an operator draws the lever arm to an open flow position, a pivot plate displaces a cam bar to which is attached a valve stem. This causes movement of the valve stem away from a valve opening and permits fluid flow. A U-shaped stem housing and an open tubular spring housing provide convenient access for axial adjustment of the valve stem and compression adjustment of the valve spring.

Abstract: A mold set is formed with upper and lower mold plates having corresponding upper and lower cover plates. The mold plates have predetermined openings which become enclosed and form mold cavities when the cover plates are placed thereover. A plurality of mold sets are stacked to form a mold unit which may be placed in a storage apparatus or into a molding cycle. The molding cycle comprises a series of automated processing steps where successive mold units are sequentially processed. the steps are performed at preheating, molding, curing, mold disassembly and mold reassembly stations. At the disassembly station, the mold units are dismantled and the individual plates may be cleaned as they are conveyed to the reassembly station. At the preheating station, new mold units may be inserted into the cycle from the storage apparatus. The stations may be physically arranged into upper and lower levels whereby gravity and simple elevator mechanisms may be used to conserve time, space and energy.

Abstract: A stationary cutting plate is releasably secured about an annular joint between a base housing and a housing extension. The plate overlies a cavity in the housing which serves as a receptacle for cut particles. The housing extension is hollow to provide a feed chamber above the plate. A free-standing partition extends upwardly into the extension from a ring which is supported by the upper surface of the cutting plate. The plate has scoop-shaped cutting elements which are distributed about imaginary concentric circles emanating from the plate center axis. Even numbers of the elements are unevenly spaced-apart along respective circles but are diametrically opposed from each other. A slotted driver implement is used to engage the partition and cause its rotation for lateral movement of feedstock into the cutting elements. The implement is also used to simultaneously push the feedstock downwardly against the cutting elements.

Abstract: An accessory fuse connector is provided that attaches to a fuse housing and provides electrical communication between the fuse and the original vehicle circuitry. Attachment legs secure the connector to the fuse housing and function to position an elongated contact arm over an exposed part of the fuse circuitry. The arm has an end tab and/or projection that contacts the exposed part so that current may be transmitted back through the arm and connector to an accessory connector tab. The desired accessory can then be operated by wiring it to the connector tab. When the connector is used in association with a blade or plastic sheathed fuse, a nonconductive spacer is attached to the connector body to enhance attachment and prevent a short circuit.

Abstract: An axially oriented detent system interacting between a contact plug housing and a coaxial coupling ring. The coupling ring includes an inner peripheral rib that provides an axially outwardly facing shoulder. Detent springs or a detent washer with resilient detent elements engage the serrated face of a cover part. The cover part is secured to the sleeve so that the springs or elements move across the face during rotation of the coupling ring. The springs and elements have flexible arms that incline from a base apex to a distal free end. Movement of the serrations from the free end toward the apex creates a compression force that is absent when the serrations move in opposite direction. As such, the system creates a resistance to rotational decoupling that exceeds the resistance to coupling.

Abstract: A metering and dispensing machine that operates in accordance with the position of a cross-bar. The cross-bar is powered by a pneumatic cylinder and reciprocates two piston pumps that draw liquid from storage vessels during a back stroke. The liquid is expelled during a forward stroke through a valve and an outlet opening. The amount of liquid dispensed is determined by the pump chamber volume and pump piston draw distance. Each pump is removably secured directly to a valve block. To vary the ratio of liquids expelled from the pumps, at least one of the pumps is replaced with a larger or smaller pump. Each valve head includes a plug valve which is rotated from a fill position to a dispense position by an independent valve drive mechanism. The mechanism is actuated by sensor switches which are activated by predetermined positions of the cross-bar.