Abstract: An exercise device for stretching the lower back and leg muscles of a user includes a flexible footrest and a handle device. The handle device is designed to be grasped by the hands of a user and the cable is attached, at one end, to a footrest or fixed location. The other end of the cable is engaged by a rotatable member in the handle device; and a pawl and ratchet mechanism in the handle device rotates the rotatable member to draw the cable member into the device. A reciprocating lever member is operated by the user, grasping the handle member to effect incremental stepwise rotation of the rotatable member through the pawl and ratchet mechanism.

Abstract: A wire guide for an electric discharge machine is designed with three elongated, cylindrical ceramic rods which close around the electrode wire to maintain its center orientation. The ceramic rods are removably held in pivotal clamps for replacement when they become worn. The clamps are inter-linked to move toward and away from one another, with an infinite range of adjustment; and once the rods are positioned to clamp the wire electrode, the jaws are locked in position during the operation of the electric discharge machine.

Abstract: A waste diversion system for diverting the effluent from a manufacturing process, such as polishing the surfaces of silicon wafers, has an electrically controlled diverter valve for receiving the effluent and diverting it either to a “dirty” output for waste treatment, or to a “clean” output for recycling or other treatment. To determine whether the effluent is “dirty” or “clean”, parameter sensors are located to sense particular parameters such as turbidity, conductivity, ORP, pH, or ion content, as desired. One sensor is located to sense the parameters of effluent flowing into the diverter valve; and the other sensor is located to sense the parameters (typically, the same parameters) of the flow from the “dirty” or waste side of the diverter valve. Only when both of the sensors indicate that the effluent is “clean” is a signal provided to the diverter valve to switch it to the clean output.

Abstract: A thin, flat package of heat sealed thermoplastic material is filled with plastic string trimmer line by inserting a mandrel into an opening in the rear wall of the package to receive the free end of a length of string trimmer line inserted through a slot in the periphery of the package to engage the mandrel. The mandrel is rotated while the package is held in a relatively fixed position to wind line onto the mandrel and, therefore, into the package, until the package is filled. The mandrel then is withdrawn, leaving the free end of the line accessible through the opening in the rear wall, and the other end of the line extends from the slot in the periphery of the package.

Abstract: A recirculating pump system is connected to either skimmers, or a catch basin for a vanishing edge of a swimming pool, to supply water to the suction inlet of the pump system. A water distribution valve operated by an electric control system distributes water from the outlet side of the recirculating pump system to pool cleaning heads normally in accordance with a preprogrammed timed sequence. As part of each programmed cycle of operation of the water distribution valve, water is supplied to one or more pool return jets located on a side opposite the skimmer or catch basin. The return jets create moving surface currents on the water to sweep debris floating on or near the water surface to the skimmer or catch basin. An electric wind speed detector located in the vicinity of the pool and coupled to the electric control system causes the control system to override the programmed sequence in response to wind exceeding a pre-established threshold to operate the pump system to supply water to the pool return jets.

Abstract: A safety triggering mechanism for a non-lethal weapon has a trigger for discharging the weapon. A control circuit is coupled to the trigger. The control circuit will only allow the trigger to discharge the weapon when a light signal transmitted by the control circuit is reflected back to the control circuit.

Abstract: A method for forming a spring coil in a length of hollow, cylindrical thermoplastic tubing comprises clamping the ends of a predetermined length of cylindrical thermoplastic tubing between first and second opposing spaced clamping members. The first and second clamping members then are rotated relative to one another by a predetermined amount selected to be slightly in excess of 360°, while the mandrels are simultaneously moved toward one another, to shorten the distance between the ends of the length of tubing, while the coil is formed. The clamped tube, with the coil now formed around the mandrels, is rotated and simultaneously heated to the thermosetting temperature of the tubing. After a sufficient time to establish thermosetting of the coil, the heat is removed; the tube is cooled and released from the machine.

Abstract: A tapered running block and corresponding tapered cavity blocks are utilized in a mold for fabricating relatively thin, flat plastic cards, such as used for pre-paid telephone cards and the like. The mating surfaces of the runner block and the cavity block are angularly tapered; so that metal-to-metal contact is made between the runner block and the cavity block when the mold is in the plastic injection position. As soon as relative movement of the runner block and the cavity block is effected to part the blocks and separate the cards from the runners, the tapered 1surfaces move away from one another without any sliding contact, thereby significantly reducing wear in the mold.

Abstract: A pool safety lighting system is designed for use in diving swimming pools, in particular, which have a shallow portion connected to a deep portion by an intermediate sloping wall. To reduce the risk of injury for persons diving into the pool, either using a diving board or diving from the edge, colored warning lights are placed in the bottom of the pool, typically with a green light in the deepest portion and a red light at the transition from an intermediate portion to the shallowest portion, with a yellow light located on the intermediate rising portion between the deep part of the pool and the shallowest part. The light delivery system ideally is a fiber optic cable system supplying light to fiber optic cables terminating in the bottom of the pool and supplied with light from a source remote from the pool.

Abstract: A trimmer head for string trimmer machines using fixed length segments of line is made to accommodate trimmer line in a range of different sizes, from relatively small diameter line to relatively large diameter line. To accomplish this, the trimmer head consists of a generally cylindrically shaped hollow main housing having a central axis through it. Exit openings for the line are formed on diametrically opposite sides of the main housing; and line entry holes in two different pairs or sets are formed through the housing. An insert member is placed on the interior of the housing and the insert member has first and second guide channels aligned with and operating with the line entry holes and exit openings to guide string trimmer line inserted through a line entry hole in an arcuate path to exit from the corresponding line exit openings without separately threading the line into the line exit openings.

Abstract: A shock-resistant electrical outlet is designed to prevent the application of power to the outlet only when a standard electrical plug is inserted nearly all of the way into the outlet. This is accomplished by providing at least two normally open switches in series circuit between the voltage line contact and an internal voltage contact which is engaged by the voltage prong of an electrical plug inserted into the outlet. The switches are closed by switch actuators located for simultaneous engagement by both the neutral and voltage prongs of an electrical plug when it is nearly fully inserted into the outlet to complete a circuit between the line voltage contact and the internal voltage contact in the voltage slot of the outlet.

Abstract: A spark transfer seizure or transient suppression component is designed into the female connector or F-connector employed to connect a coaxial cable to electrical components within a cable splitter or other similar circuit for various types of cable distribution systems. The F-connector itself is of a generally standard configuration, with the exception of a conductive metal projection extending outwardly at approximately 90° to its longitudinal axis. This projection extends through an aperture in the F-connector housing to the outer surface, or slightly beyond the outer surface, of the housing. The amount by which the projection extends beyond the outer surface of the housing is selected to be less than the air space between the outer surface of the housing and the metal wall of the receptacle for the F-connector housing.

Abstract: An injection mold for manufacturing two-component elongated members includes first and second mold cavity members mounted for relative movement toward and away from one another through an open central frame which carries a rotatable central mold plate in it. The central mold plate is configured to engage the parts of the first and second mold cavity members, which do not directly engage one another through the opening in the frame. When the mold is opened, the rotatable mold plate in the central frame member is rotated to place a pre-form on the opposite side of the mold for injection of a second component in the opposite side of the mold. The central frame moves one-half the distance between the first and second mold cavity members; and the rotatable mold plate is rotated 180° in each cycle.

Abstract: A monofilament string trimmer line exhibiting reduced noise and reduced drag has a uniform oval cross section throughout its length. The monofilament line is spirally twisted about its longitudinal axis over at least a portion of its length to reduce noise production and drag.

Abstract: A fluid recovery system for removing fluid from a first container into a second container is formed from a dual cap system. The first of the caps has a push-pull, pop-up valve dispenser in it. A second inverted cap is placed between the actuator for the push-pull valve and the top of the first cap. The second cap has a circular opening cut out at its center which loosely fits around a cylindrical extension of the pop-up valve on the first cap. When the device is to be used, the push-pull valve actuator is pressed closed and the first cap is threaded onto the empty container. The entire assembly then is inverted; and the second cap is threaded onto the container which is to receive the residue from the “empty” container. After the two caps have been threaded onto the respective containers, they are pulled a short distance apart to cause the push-pull valve actuator to be opened; and the top container then empties into the lower container.

Abstract: A high visibility panel for use with aerial mapping and aerial surveying is constructed of lightweight corrugated cardboard. Two sections, each having a reflection side and a deflection side, are used. The panel sections are folded alternately into an accordion pleat into short segments along the entire length of each of the panel sections. The panel sections can be installed with either face toward the sky, depending upon the ground conditions on which they are installed. The panel sections are extended to expand the accordion pleating and the ends are secured to the underlying surface to cause the segments to diverge between 10° and 30° from the ground plane to which the panel sections are attached.

Abstract: An automated method and apparatus for sequencing and/or inspecting decks of playing cards is presented. The method and apparatus utilizes pattern recognition technology or other image comparison technology to compare one or more images of a card with memory containing known good images of a complete deck of playing cards to identify each card as it passes through the apparatus. Once the card is identified, it is temporarily stored in a location corresponding to or identified according to its position in a properly sequenced deck of playing cards. Once a full set of cards has been stored, the cards are released in proper sequence to a completed deck hopper. The method and apparatus also includes an operator interface capable of displaying a magnified version of potential defects or problem areas contained on a card which may then be viewed by the operator on a monitor or screen and either accepted or rejected via operator input.

Abstract: A bore sighting apparatus is designed to releasably fit into the muzzle of the barrel of a firearm for use in bore sighting of the firearm. The bore sighter includes a housing for a collimated light source, such as a laser, with an aperture for projecting the collimated light from a first end. The second end of the housing is coupled to a down-tapered, conical section which terminates in its tip at an elongated cylindrical extension for insertion into the barrel of a firearm. The elongated extension has an external diameter which is less than the smallest caliber of firearm with which the device is to be used. An O-ring on the extension is designed to frictionally center the extension within the barrel. The device is inserted until interference with the down-tapered portion and the muzzle of the firearm occurs to center the device. Rare earth magnets are included in the down-tapered portion for holding the bore sighter firmly in the muzzle of the firearm while the bore sighting operation is effected.