Abstract: A roofing shingle is conveniently formed from a square sheet metal blank. One corner of the blank is provided with a pair of open ended, back to back U shaped slots transverse to a diagonal passing through that corner. The two sides intersected by the slots are downwardly turned to form a small margin, and the other two sides are upwardly turned to form a margin of similar width to the downwardly turned sides. The corner is also downwardly folded above the slots to form a margin of similar width to the other margins, and below the slots it is folded so as to be generally parallel to the central area of the shingle. A shingle support preferably of foamed sheet polystyrene is disposed on the under surface of the shingle. The shingles are layed course by course on a pitched roof in a diamond configuration, a shingle of an upper course engaging the respective downturned edges of two adjacent shingles of a lower course in the U shaped slots to lock the lower corner of the upper shingle mechanically in position.

Abstract: A modular constructional toy kit for use in forming signs is made up of modular elements, each of which comprises a body portion having a planar forwardly facing surface with a bounding periphery having a regular geometric shape, and coupling elements for coupling the modular elements together with the planar surfaces generally residing in a plane and the body portions in side by side relationship. A set of e.g. alphabetic characters is provided, each character being arranged on a discrete portion of planar sheet material bounded by a margin complementary to the periphery of the body portion. Preferably the characters are die cut on the discrete portions of sheet material so as to form the character and at the same time a reverse character, either of which may be applied to the planar surface of the modular elements.

Abstract: A low cost high speed counter and dispenser of tickets includes a feed roll and a hopper for feeding cards tangentially onto the feed roll. A pair of nip rolls rotating at a higher peripheral speed than the feed roll opens a gap between the trailing edge of one ticket and the leading edge of the next ticket that is detected by a photodetector cell providing an input for a digital counter. A D.C. motor drive is used which is dynamically braked when a desired count is reached. A collector bin includes a detector for determining if the bin is empty to automatically initiate a new dispensing cycle, if desired.

Abstract: A lampholder for use with e.g. a string of outdoor Christmas decorative lamps includes a pair of jaws forming a clip for supporting the lampholder from an elongated support frame to create a decorative display. At least one of the jaws is provided with a recess in medial portions to adapt the clip for gripping the head of a screw from which the lampholder may alternatively be supported.

Abstract: A shuttle for advancing the free end of a flat sleeve of casing onto a stuffing horn includes a bore therethrough and a vacuum manifold which causes the casing to expand into gripping relationship with the bore, to permit the shuttle and casing end to be advanced onto the horn. When vacuum is released from the manifold, the casing is released from the gripping relation with the shuttle bore and moves towards a gripping relation with the horn, which is increased by reducing the pressure in the horn. This permits the shuttle to be withdrawn at least sufficiently to apply a casing brake to lock the casing to the horn. The shuttle is also used to consolidate meat stuffed into the casing by locking the casing to the shuttle with the vacuum manifold and moving the shuttle away from a restricting orifice surrounding the casing.

Abstract: In a nutating spherical engine, improvements for increasing the seal between the rotor and the engine head comprise the provisions of a pair of minor cusps disposed on the rotor which as seen in plan view are diametrically opposed and at right angles to the major cusps of the rotor. The engine may include a rotor guide including a cam and cam follower which cause the rotor to undergo the same nutational rotation as that caused by the interaction of the rotor and cylinder head. The rotor and cylinder head may be coupled by a ball and socket, and the ball may contain a simple coupling for the drive shaft of the engine. The cam, cam follower and coupling of the engine are easily located as they are not in direct communication with the working chambers of the engine.

Abstract: A wrist exercizing device comprises a pair of generally coaxial handles for grasping in the hands and turning, and a reel mounted therebetween. The reel has a reel surface that is eccentric with respect to the axis of rotation of the handles. A cord is wrapped round the reel surface and supports a weight. Rotation of the handles to raise or lower the weight requires a periodically varying effort. Suitably the reel surface has an axis of rotational symmetry that is offset from the axis of rotation of the handles to provide the eccentricity. The degree of offset may be varied so as to vary the ratio of maximum to minimum effort required to raise the load.

Abstract: An encryption template has a grid of permanent openings thereon forming several arrays which are symmetrically located about a rotational axis, and members for selectively marking certain of the openings to be used for coding a message. Indicia carried on the template and the members facilitate the selection of the openings.

Abstract: A slat for a shutter is in the form of a hollow, flat tube. The slat is connected to a tubular adjusting rod by a swivel connector which comprises a pair of hook elements and a serrated body portion from which each of the hook elements is supported. The slats and the adjusting rod are each provided with openings into which the body portion of the swivel connector is inserted. Splines locating within the slat and the adjusting rod engage the serrations and lock the swivel connector in position. The shutters may also incorporate an anti-sag support for retention when in their closed position.

Abstract: A hinge assembly comprises a pair of continuous extruded channel members, one of which has an axially aligned tubular portion and the other an axially aligned keyway. The members are united by hinge clips having a leg insertable in the keyway and a gudgeon plate having an opening depending from the leg, and a hinge pin which passes through the gudgeon plate opening and the tubular portion. The keyway may be hidden within the other member, which may be transversely slotted to provide an access opening for the leg where this is to be supported intermediate the axial ends of the member. Similarly the tubular member may be transversely slotted to provide an access opening for the gudgeon plate. The other member may include one or more axially aligned extensions which form a labyrinth seal with the one member, making the hinge assembly particularly suited for use in shower doors.

Abstract: A cord reel which also functions as a holder for a license plate of a vehicle includes a passageway therethrough. An electrical cord is captured in the passageway, conveniently by assembling the reel about the cord, whereby the cord cannot be removed from the reel, while permitting the cord to be moved along its length.

Abstract: An oral hygiene device comprises a bowl, a handle and a lid hinged to the bowl. Water is connected to the device by a small hose, and a drainage hose is provided. A valve is interconnected with the lid to initiate the flow of flushing water into the bowl when the lid opens. A manually operable valve is operable to provide a fountain of rinsing water. A mouth wash fountain may also be provided. The lid is upwardly dished to provide an interior compartment closed off by a mirror which is hinged to provide access to the compartment. A light may also be provided in the compartment. A pump is provided for emptying drainage water. The device may be used out of the bathroom by bedridden patients.

Abstract: A battery protector/automatic ON switching device comprises a first terminal for connecting to the generator output of the vehicle and a second terminal for connecting to the input pole of the vehicle battery, and a diode serially connecting the first and second terminals to permit a charging current to flow to the battery and block current flow in the reverse direction. A third terminal for connection to a load circuit of the vehicle connects to the first terminal through an automatic switch which will switch on the ON condition only when at least a threshold voltage sufficient to excite the genertor to its full output is experienced at the first terminal. The first terminal connects directly to a dummy pole that may be gripped by a booster cable for providing a booster charge to another battery. The diode prevents current flow from the battery of the source vehicle and the inadvertent damage thereof.

Abstract: A cart for infants includes a front wheel bogie steerable by means of a handle for the cart. The cart is provided with rear wheels and runners. The wheels are removable without the use of tools and without removal of the handle, whereby the cart may be used as a sled.

Abstract: In a multi-purpose vehicle hoist including a wheel lift and a chassis lift, the elevational movement of the wheel lift may be used to generate a force to raise the chassis lift.