Abstract: An aid for reading indicia, such as that printed on golf scorecards and protecting the scorecard from inclement weather. The apparatus includes a base panel, and a back panel connected together near a first back panel edge. A magnifying lens is mounted to the back panel near a second, opposite back panel edge. A golf scorecard is retained against the base panel by two retaining clips. The apparatus is opened by hinging the base panel to a perpendicular orientation relative to the back panel, and hinging the magnifying lens to a perpendicular orientation relative to the back panel to form a U-shaped structure resting on one side leg. In this configuration, the magnifying lens and the base panel, to which the scorecard is mounted, are parallel and spaced apart. The space is enough to permit a user's hand to write on the scorecard. When closed, the device preferably fits in a rear pants pocket.

Abstract: A shade canopy structure has several substantially parallel, but laterally spaced rafter members, each rafter member having longitudinally extending tracks on its laterally opposite sides. The rafters define a plurality of laterally spaced openings. A plurality of cross beams extend laterally between adjacent rafter members and have their ends engaged in the track for sliding along the track. This forms a plurality of laterally spaced tiers of cross beams for each of the laterally spaced openings. A plurality of flexible, laterally spaced opaque sheets, each are extendible along one of the laterally spaced openings and each is attached to a tier of cross beams at spaced locations along the sheet so that each sheet may be independently drawn to an extended position and releasably latched in an extended position, or manually withdrawn to a retracted position.

Abstract: A radar highway motor vehicle guidance apparatus for guiding a land vehicle along a roadway using a backward looking and a forward looking, lateral position sensing, monopulse tracking radar guidance apparatus which transmits radar pulses backward and forward of the vehicle. The pulses are reflected back to the vehicle by a stripe distributed along the roadway. The stripe is a frequency selective surface which generates retro-reflective grating lobes at an operating frequency of the tracking radar. Operating the radar at two frequencies allows the radar to look at regions spaced at two different distances from the front of the vehicle. Highway related information may be encoded in the frequency selective surface by variations in the shape or dimensions of the frequency selective stripe morphology in order to modulate the reflected signal with highway information which is then also detected at the radar receiver.

Abstract: An insert cooperates with the channel in a material moving board. The insert is adapted to reach at least 3/4 of the way from the front edge to the rear edge of the board. The insert is preferably brazed to the channel and is made primarily of tungsten carbide and a cobalt binder.

Abstract: A round shell, flat base container with a closure end on either end, having along one side, an access lid (23) in which one accesses the interior of the container. Accessing the interior of the container reveals a removable internal axle assembly (FIG. 6) which is the rotating mechanism for dispensing and retrieving the roll sheeting. The internal axle assembly (FIG. 6) sets between the closure ends and is supported between a hand wheel and bearing assembly (FIG. 7) at one end and a slotted spindle guide (60) and friction bearing (62) at the other end. This complete assembly supports the roll of sheeting within the container and rotates it, to dispense or retrieve the sheeting. Located along the opposite side of the container is a dispensing slot lid (29), which gives access to an installed roll of sheeting when opened. This lid when closed forms a dispensing slot (26) and contains a cutting guide (28). This slot is where the roll sheeting is dispensed from or retrieved too.

Abstract: A screening plant including a housing to which first and second screen boxes are reciprocatably mounted. The screen boxes are coplanar and the inner peripheral edge of the first box is adjacent the inner peripheral edge of the second box. Separate prime movers, such as hydraulic motors, are drivingly linked to the independently mounted screen boxes. The screen boxes are separated by a gap over which a beveled cap is mounted.

Abstract: Local telephone exchanges in a threatened geographical area connect to their subscribers and transmit a recorded warning message. This is done in response to transmission of threat data communicated from one of several remote computer terminals to a central computer. The central computer has a data storage device upon which is stored a local exchange database and preferably recorded warning messages. Upon receipt of the threat data from the remote computer terminal, the central computer is connected in communication with the local exchanges in the threatened geographical area and instructs the local exchanges to connect to its subscribers and provides instructions or a warning message to be played to the subscribers who go off-hook.

Abstract: A sound absorber is made primarily out of a triangular fiberglass panel. The front face of the sound absorber is covered with porous material. The side edges of the panel rest against walls in a room. A fiberglass pad may be attached to the back face of the panel.

Abstract: A pump or compressor wherein the volumetric displacement of a piston cylinder assembly is variable. The piston is connected to a crank slider or eccentric mechanical drive, the crankshaft of which oscillates alternately clockwise through a controllably variable angle .theta. and counterclockwise through substantially the same angle .theta., the angle .theta. being measured from the angular position of the crankshaft or eccentric at which separation between piston and the closed end of the bore is a minimum (Top Dead Center). The angle of crank oscillation controls the degree of volumetric displacement of the piston. The crank shaft is connected to a torsional spring so as to substantially resonate the rotational inertia of the moving parts. An oscillating electric motor supplies the oscillating torque to drive the mechanism at constant frequency but controllably variable angular amplitude.

Abstract: A bow mount includes a support member, a frame member, and two clamping arms. The clamping arms are spaced from each other and extend laterally from the front side of the frame member. A bow is secured in the clamping arms. The frame member is then rotated and tilted with respect to said frame member to determine the level conditions of a bow. An arrow is then attached to the bow string and an arrow stabilizer. The arrow rest is then placed and the sight pins are properly aligned.

Abstract: A decorative gift wrap includes two sheets, each having two ends. One of the sheets is configured to wrap a gift. The first and second ends of the first sheet extend through an aperture in a loop. This frictionally secures the loop adjacent to the sheets.

Abstract: A fluid-filled pipe is investigated by a non-intrusive procedure to determine whether the fluid is liquid or gaseous, whether it is flowing or static, the direction of flow if it is flowing, the approximate pressure if it is a gas, and the rate of flow if it is a gas. The results are obtained by applying a heater to the surface of the pipeline and measuring the upstream and downstream temperatures of the surface of the pipe wall before and after the beginning of the application of heat. Some of the data generated is compared with data from another source to assist in the determination of the characteristics to be ascertained.

Abstract: The blinking illuminated product box is a box on which are blinking, battery operated lights of either multi-color or singular color which emit light in a variety of blinking patterns. The boxes are constructed in a variety of shapes and sizes, colors and patterns. The externally mounted light-emitting diodes are on the sides of the box, the top of the box, or on the top and sides of the box. The light-emitting diode multi-wired unit is turned on and off by a slide switch which is part of the multi-battery pack. The pack is mounted in the inside of the box. Rubber o-rings are used to mount the light-emitting diodes in place. A false bottom or top of card stock paper, foam or other suitable material such as a felt or other decorative material is placed in the box to provide protection and visual obstruction of some or all of the wires.

Abstract: A three terminal battery equalizer which includes a DC--DC converter has a first filter inductor in the switched, current conducting path connected to the battery ground and a second filter inductor in the switched, current path connected to the non-grounded, non-interconnected terminal of a second battery, and has a capacitor connected between the filter inductors for maintaining the same magnitude of current in the battery equalizer during the time interval when the switching transistors of the DC--DC converter are turned off, as when the transistor switches are turned on. The circuit further includes an error signal feedback circuit for controlling the transistor switches and protective feedback circuits, all providing signals which are integrated to eliminate the effect of alternating voltages, resulting from isolation of the control circuit from the battery circuit. The protective circuits include output current detection for overload protection, reverse polarity protection and temperature compensation.

Abstract: A low frequency vibrator has a stator member with a cylindrical, central chamber, a cylindrical, tubular liner of low friction, non-ferromagnetic material positioned in the chamber to form a bearing and a cylindrical, ferromagnetic, reciprocating piston slidably mounted in the liner. The stator has a pair of coils and a permanent magnet is positioned centrally in the reciprocating piston. A ferromagnetic flux conductor surrounds the coils and extends between opposite ends of the chamber. This structure creates a magnetic spring, having a spring constant K. The ratio of K to the mass M of the reciprocating member is made substantially equal to the square of a radian frequency in the operating frequency range of the vibrator.

Abstract: Disclosed is a reed valve which uses a simple electromechanical actuator to apply a force that overcomes pressure force and opens the valve. The valve is closed by pressure and the elastic restoring force of the reed. Two of the disclosed valves in a back-to-back connection accommodate bi-directional flow. The disclosed valve is especially suited for application as a pulsed expansion valve for refrigerators and heat pumps.

Abstract: A universal backpack harness having two shoulder straps, a backpack support strap attached to each shoulder strap and upper and lower stabilizing straps also attached to each of the shoulder straps. The backpack support strap passes through a loop on the backpack and supports the backpack by means of the backpack loop. An upper and lower stabilizing strap wrap around a vertical backpack member to stabilize and position the backpack on the wearer's body. Alternatively, the stabilizing straps can also pass through additional loops on the backpack. A breast strap keeps the shoulder straps in place. An optional back pad and shoulder pads are used for wearer comfort. A unique backpack design for use with the harness features horizontal and vertical load securing straps and a vertical support strap that forms a loop for receiving the harness horizontal support strap.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting and for conveying fabrics, individual articles and other material, in particular for feeding web-shaped material into a machine which processes it, for example a paper web into a printing machine, with at least one conveyor element formed for engagement with the material, a guide rail, in and/or along which the conveyor element(s) can move, and a drive device comprising the conveyor element in order to convey the material into and/or through the machine via the conveyor element, wherein the drive device is formed by an electric linear motor whose secondary part or rotor device comprises and/or bears the conveyor element(s) and whose primary part or stator device is mounted in a stationary manner on the guide rail, and the guide rail is formed from a non-magnetic and non-conducting or electrically insulating material, preferably a plastics material, and comprises therein one or more electrical conductor strands to which the stator device is coupled and/or connected so as to be ene