Abstract: A portable device for trimming hedges, shrubs and trees, cutting grass etc. in which an integral clippings collector is provided. The device features a hedge trimmer consisting of reciprocating blades, a generally cylindrical rotatable brush juxtaposed with the hedge trimmer, and a baffle so disposed in relation to the hedge trimmer and brush that severed portions of the vegetation are directed to an enclosure in which the severed portions are collected. In a preferred embodiment the enclosure may be periodically emptied of accumulated vegetation by pivoting a panel portion of the enclosure about one edge thereof.

Abstract: A liquid nail polish which imparts improved flexural strength to the human nail and inhibits splitting when applied thereto as a coating. The nail polish formulation is characterized by the inclusion therein, as a dissolved component, of a small but effective amount of a terpolymer comprising a copolyamide consisting essentially of recurring units of equimolecular proportions of caprolactam, laurolactam and hexamethylene diamine adipate. Typically, said terpolymer is first dissolved in a mixture of trichloroethane and ethyl alcohol, and this liquid solution is added in a small quantity to a stock liquid nail polish formulation so that a final formulation containing a small but effective amount of said dissolved terpolymer is produced, e.g. a formulation containing in the range of about 0.001 to 0.1% by weight of said dissolved terpolymer.

Abstract: A whip antenna is constructed in three sections which screw together end-to-end to form the complete antenna. Each section comprises a flexible fiberglass rod which is surrounded by a sleeve of braided copper wire over a major part of its length, this sleeve serving to pass radio frequency current along the section during use of the antenna. Two of the sections also each provide a capacitor which is connected in the radio frequency path along the antenna. Each of these capacitors is formed by two strips of copper tape which constitute the capacitor electrodes and which lie opposing one another on the surface of the fiberglass rod of the appropriate section.

Abstract: An electrical coupling arrangement suitable for connecting protective relays to the primary current transducers in an alternating current power transmission system, comprising three winding arrangements flux linked so that an a.c. input current applied to one winding arrangement provides an a.c. output voltage substantially free of d.c. transients at a second winding arrangement, the third winding arrangement including a resistance which is variable and whose value determines the phase relationship between the output voltage and the input current.

Abstract: A fighting toy doll and the combination of a fighting doll and a toy prizefight ring. The doll is provided with appurtenances and mounting so that the doll falls down onto the floor of the ring when appropriately struck by an opponent doll. The fighting doll and ring combination has a swivel mounting for the doll which is rotatably and slidably mounted on a corner post of the ring so that the doll may readily be manually moved about to all parts of the ring. The toy prizefight ring has features of structural design which facilitate assembly of the toy. The fighting doll is provided with internal structure so that movement of the arms, and also the legs in combination with the arms, is readily attained by the insertion of a linear actuator into an opening in the lower torso of the doll, which linear actuator is usually a member of the supporting assembly by which the doll is manually moved about in the ring.

Abstract: An angular position sensor having a housing with an aperture in the form of two mutually inclined slits. Behind the aperture is a linear array of light sensitive elements which intercepts laminar light beams developed by the slits from light from a small light source. The positions of interception of the light on the array constitute a measure of the angular position of the light source in elevation and azimuth.

Abstract: A braking system for, primarily, separately excited D.C. traction motors, in which rheostatic braking is effected by field reversal to generate armature current freewheeling through the low impedance supply and through a brake resistor in series with the armature. A contactor shorts out the brake resistor for normal motoring. Field excitation in conjunction with armature current or armature voltage polarity reversal is detected to indicate the motor generating function, lock open the motoring contactor and prevent short circuiting of the motor/generator. Plug braking by energisation of the armature supply is thus always permissible either by brake handle and power handle or reverse handle and power handle. The armature current then contains a rheostatic braking component and a tractor braking component. What would normally be mis-use of the reversing control to achieve rapid deceleration thus becomes acceptable.

Abstract: A P.C.M. compression-law coder in which sample values in different segments of the dynamic range of the coder are allotted different charging time intervals in an integrator circuit, the segment number forming one part of the resultant encoded signal and digital measure of the discharge time of the integrator circuit at constant current providing another part of the encoded signal.

Abstract: Electric signals in two narrow frequency bands arising from ground or airborne vibrations incident on one or more geophones at the perimeter of an area to be protected are monitored and an alarm given if signal components that are indicative of human footsteps near the geophones occur in both frequency bands two or more times within a predetermined period. These signal components comprise bursts of oscillations having steep leading edges and durations of some thirty to one hundred milliseconds, and there are provided means to rectify these bursts and to detect resulting pulse waveforms.

Abstract: A drink-through closure lid for hot potable open-top containers, in which at least the portion of the lid that is in contact with the inner surface of a user's upper lip during the imbibing of the hot potable is composed of heat insulating material or an insulating layer to prevent harm or discomfort to the drinker.

Abstract: A coupling sleeve for joining the ends of two conduits. One end is threaded, the other is unthreaded. The coupling sleeve has a female thread which engages the threaded end. The unthreaded end has a terminal portion of reduced external diameter running to an inwardly displaced groove in which a locking ring is disposed. The end of the coupling sleeve which engages the unthreaded conduit end has a recess in which the locking ring is axially slidable and a flange that engages a full diameter external section of the unthreaded end. The recess is long enough to permit the coupling sleeve to be fully received on the unthreaded conduit end when the female thread is disengaged from the threaded end of the conduit.

Abstract: Headgear incorporating an optical display system comprising, an optical data source mounted within the headgear above the level of the wearer's eyes, an image combiner having a spherical reflecting surface directed inwardly of the helmet and intercepting the wearer's forward line-of-sight, and a prism positioned and dimensioned so that a collimated, aberration free virtual image of the data source is presented to the wearer as a result of reflection of rays transmitted from the data source by way of the prism to the spherical reflector. Such aberration as is introduced by the prism compensates for aberration introduced by the spherical reflector.

Abstract: A chain door guard which is constructed in a manner so that the chain coupler element can be set into a position of the slot member wherein the chain has limited slack. The coupler element, when positioned in the slot member that keeps the chain substantially taut, limits the opening of the door to a minimal distance. Limiting the opening of the door to a minimal distance will provide greater protection of the premises for it will not allow sufficient open space between the door and the door frame, when the door is opened, to allow a chain cutter or jimmy to be used in cutting or breaking the chain. In addition, the construction of this chain guard provides for a person to alternatively set the chain coupler element into the long slot of the slide bracket. Thus the chain will have a maximum of slack in this disposition of the coupler element, thus allowing the door to be opened sufficiently for the occupant of the premises to see and converse with someone standing at the outside of the door.

Abstract: A board game called "Airborne" includes a game board having an upper surface, wherein a square pattern of 64 boxes is contained on the upper surface. The latticework of upraised strips on the said game board form the perimeter of each box or guide-line square, wherein the individual forms can be placed. The said individual forms, once placed, so as to cover the upper surface of the game board, form the total playing surface of different-sized square and rectangle forms. Innumerable different playing surfaces or patterns can be created as a result of the individual forms being juxtaposed and then some or all of the aforesaid forms can be removed and replaced by different forms and/or some or all of the forms can be removed and replaced by the same forms in different juxtaposition. Two sets of eight movable playing units are contained on and move on the playing surface of square and rectangle forms, wherein the movable units engage and capture each other.

Abstract: Rechargeable batteries powering an electric circuit which produces a signal at an output terminal in response to an input, are connected with the output terminal through a rectifier and a capacitor so that in normal use the capacitor isolates the batteries from the terminal but so that the batteries may be recharged in situ by the external application of an alternating charging voltage to the terminal.

Abstract: A voltage level detector which detects when a periodic waveform voltage exceeds a predetermined value for a predetermined time and upon detection produces an output, this output being cancelled, after a predetermined delay, if detection ceases. The drop off/pick up ratio of the detector may be reduced by providing feedback from the output.

Abstract: A double-ended clip such as clothes pins, paper clips and the like including two elongated arms between which a floating elastically resilient fulcrum rides in a direction longitudinally of the arms. As the pin is manipulated the fulcrum snaps away from the closing end of the pin and in so doing snaps together the tips of the arms at this end.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a variable-speed drive mechanism for the drum of an automatic sheet feeder.It is known that the collators for signatures and single sheets are provided with so-called automatic feeders which collate the material arranged in a pile on a collating table.In modern machines each feeder is provided with an aspirator for removing the lower sheet from the pile so that it can be gripped by the grippers fitted to each rotating drum. In the moment in which the sheet lifted by the aspirators is gripped by the grippers, the drum must stop to allow the perfect gripping of the single sheet.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for cooking food wherein the food to be treated is located in a chamber where it is subjected to heat, there also being present in the chamber steam that is either separately introduced or is generated by the food as it is being heated. This steam is forced into a layer surrounding the exposed surface of the food being treated by establishing in the chamber an electrostatic field of substantially constant polarity while the food is supported on a grounded hearth. This electrostatic field is created by applying a high voltage direct current potential to a grid located above the food being treated and preferably also disposing a ground above the grid and between the grid and the roof of the chamber in which the food is being treated.

Abstract: A displaceable frusto-conical channel is provided typically axially in-line in a housing, the housing being interposed in a fluid supply pipe, e.g. a water supply line. The truncated smaller end of the channel is downstream in terms of fluid flow. A ball is disposed in the channel so that a surge or high flow of fluid will move the ball downstream within the hollow channel until the ball constricts and stops fluid flow by contact with the inner wall of the channel. To complete the device, the upstream end of the channel is spring-loaded and a rod acts against the downstream end of the channel, typically in conjunction with a timer. When the timer is set, the rod holds the channel away from the tapered internal surface of the housing, to permit continuous fluid flow.