Abstract: A leveling assembly for analyzing the attitude of a structure such as a motor vehicle in two axes. The assembly drives leveling devices on the structure to correct the attitude of the structure relative to a calibrated reference point or attitude. The assembly includes a controller connected to the leveling devices and a proportional two-axis tilt sensor that is connected to the controller and supported on the structure. The tilt sensor provides analog signals to the controller that represent the attitude of the structure about longitudinal pitch and lateral roll axes. The controller also uses those signals to determine the attitude of the structure relative to a calibrated sensitivity factor and a user-defined zero point. This allows an operator or installer to determine which portion of the structure will be leveled without regard to the location of the tilt sensor and allows an installer to mount the tilt sensor at any point on the structure.

Abstract: An exercise device for a person. The exercise device includes mounting straps for mounting on each of two body members on opposite sides of a selected joint of the person, a support member connected to each mounting strap, and a resistance mechanism interconnecting the support members for exercising at least one of the two body members upon repeated moving at least one of the members. The selected joint comprises one of a knee, a hip, an ankle, a wrist, an elbow, and a shoulder. The resistance mechanism includes one of a damper and a pulley with associated rubber bands connected to the oppositely disposed support members.

Abstract: A drive disconnect device is provided in which input and output shafts are provided in splined engagement. The splines are aligned with the axes of the input and output shafts such that the force acting between the shafts in a separating direction is substantially invariant of the torque being transmitted. The shafts are spring biased to a disengaged position. The biasing force is resisted by a meltable restraining element which is arranged to melt when the temperature exceeds an acceptable value so as to allow the spring to cause the shafts to disengage from one another.

Abstract: A breakaway swing-down cup holder assembly including a cup tray that pivots between a horizontal deployed position and a vertical stowed position. Support arms fixed to the cup tray slide through respective apertures in the support panel as the tray moves between the deployed and stowed positions. Arm retainers disposed adjacent the aperture in the support panel arrest downward cup tray movement at the deployed position by engaging and retaining support arm detents. The support arm detents are designed to pull free of the retainers when a predetermined amount of downward force is applied to the cup tray. This allows the tray to give way and drop below the deployed position without damaging the tray, support arms, arm retainers or any associated structures. The support arm detents can be re-engaged with the retainers by merely rotating the cup tray upward into the deployed position with a single motion of one hand and without having to directly manipulate the support arms.

Abstract: A container cap for use on a container top. The container cap includes a heat-sealable central portion for securing to the bottle top rim, a peripheral portion integral with the central portion adapted to be formed into a skirt around the neck of the container top, at least one lift tab connected to the peripheral portion, and a predetermined weakened line formed on one of the central or peripheral portions. The weakened line is operatively connected to one or more lift tabs in alternate arrangements.

Abstract: An air mover apparatus for conveying and separating articles through a transport tube. A line-up of articles are supplied via a track from an orienting and feeding device and, thence, to a transport tube leading to a remote processing machine. The air mover is operatively connected between the track and the transport tube. Oppositely disposed converging air passages are formed in the air mover, adapted to receive compressed air from a suitable source and emit same to the interior of the air mover, to thereby draw each successive article therepast from the line-up and project same forward, creating a separation between adjacent articles while blowing the articles through the transport tube to the processing machine. An orifice may be formed upstream of the converging air passages, adapted to receive the compressed air to stall the articles to enhance the separation between adjacent articles.

Abstract: A cruise controller (2) with a set speed and/or acceleration limit reduction facility is provided. If the controlled vehicle becomes slowed due to the presence of a slower moving vehicle in front of it, the set speed and/or acceleration limit is reduced in order to prevent rapid acceleration from occurring if the target vehicle suddenly moves out of the way.

Abstract: A vehicle running board step construction and method of making and mounting the same on a hollow metal support pipe having a step portion and in turn adapted in vehicle-mounted orientation to extend generally adjacent a sill of a vehicle door. An upwardly facing exterior surface of the pipe step portion has an elongate mounting opening. The step construction includes a support plate having a plurality of transverse trusses arranged in spaced apart relation in a longitudinally extending row and adapted to straddle the pipe opening side edges and rest thereon for support. A plurality of spacer webs are individually interposed between and joined to longitudinally adjacent pairs of the trusses and support at each of their longitudinally opposite ends a resilient spring finger catch adapted to underlie an associated one of the pipe opening side edges. Each finger catch has a free end adapted to resiliently engage an interior surface of the pipe for holding the step plate against upward release from the pipe.

Abstract: A spectrum analyser that includes means (8) for converting, at each of a series of frequency settings, a received radio frequency signal into an intermediate frequency signal, each intermediate frequency signal being derivable from more than one nominal received radio frequency signal. The spectrum analyser carries out a frequency analysis (14) of each intermediate frequency signal to produce a power spectrum thereof and constructs a composite received radio frequency signal power spectrum corresponding to each intermediate frequency signal power spectrum. The composite radio frequency signal power spectrums are then operated on by the spectrum analyser to provide the actual power spectrum of the received radio frequency signal.

Abstract: A plastics pour spout fitment (3) has not only a pour spour (4) thereof welded to plastics-coated paperboard packaging material (2), but also has a plunger (14) welded to a disc (8) of the material (2), the disc (8) being defined by a ring of weakening (6) in the material. Following purely linearly axially inward displacement of the plunger (14) relative to the pour spout (4), preferably followed by rotation of the plunger (14) about the axis A of the fitment (3) relative to the spout (4), to detach the disc (8) from the remainder of the material (2), the plunger (14), and thus the disc (8), are removed from the pour spout (4) as a screw cap (12) is removed from the spout (4).

Abstract: An instrument panel of an automotive vehicle includes a rigid retainer preformed with an air bag opening and a recessed ledge extending about the opening. A separately formed door is installed on the opening and hinged to the retainer along one edge. The remaining three edges overlie the ledge to prevent inward movement of the door. The retainer and door are placed in a cavity of a mold tool in spaced relation to an outer skin and foam constituents are reacted therebetween to develop a foam layer. A foam seal is provided at the interface of the ledge and door to prevent the escape of foam past the ledge.

Abstract: A planar carbon segment commutator assembly made by forming an annular conductor substrate with an annular front projection extending integrally and axially from a front surface of the substrate. An annular carbon disk is formed on the conductor substrate by overmolding a carbon compound onto the front surface of the conductor substrate and around the annular front projection. The conductor substrate is mounted on an insulating hub. Electrically isolated, circumferentially-spaced commutator segments and corresponding mechanically interlocked conductor sections are formed by making radial cuts through the annular carbon disk and the metal substrate, respectively. According to one embodiment, each of the front projections has a greater cross-sectional area at a distal end than at a base end to mechanically lock the commutator segments onto the conductor sections.

Abstract: A method of applying a tree step, having a step part and a tree penetration part connected by a web or shank, to a tree or post or the like utilizing a novel holder-applicator assembly which has inner and outer telescopic members movable relatively from a load position in which the inner member extends forwardly from the outer member to enable loading of the tree step web and step part to the inner member to a rearward position in which the tree step is captured by the outer member. The inner member is first telescopically forwardly extended to a load position and the tree step is loaded to the inner member with the web parallely received in the inner member and with the step part and tree penetrating part extending in opposite lateral directions from the inner member.

Abstract: A rocking chair has a base frame fitted with mounting brackets adjacent the floor to which lower ends of support legs of a chair frame are secured to enable a chair frame to rock about a transverse rocking axis closely adjacent the floor. A spring shock assembly is mounted beneath the seat portion and is coupled at its upper end directly to the chair frame and at its lower end to the forward arm of a reaction lever pivoted to the base frame. A rearward arm of the lever is coupled by a rigid tie rod to the back of the chair frame. The spring shock biases the chair frame constantly forwardly and is overcome when a person is fully seated and leans back in the chair causing it to rock rearwardly. The shock dampens the movement of the chair. The leverage applied to the spring shock can be adjusted by adjusting the longitudinal position of attachment of the tie rod.

Abstract: A method for determining the onset of nucleation wherein a zone of a translucent fluid in which crystals may be formed is illuminated by a beam of light. When crystallization commences the crystals in the illuminated zone reflect and scatter light. Some of the scattered light is collected and transmitted to a light sensitive detector operable to generate a signal indicative of nucleation. Upon detection of nucleation either manual or automatic procedures may be instituted to modify the crystallization process in an appropriate manner.