Abstract: Disclosed is a support structure mounting groups of rollers with each group having a first pair of rollers spaced one from the other for rotation about parallel axes and a second pair of rollers spaced one from the other for rotation about parallel axes generally normal to the first mentioned parallel axes. The opposed rollers of each pair thereof in each group in part define and lie on opposite sides of the path movement of unstraightened bar stock being fed to a straightening machine. The spacing between the opposed rollers is substantially greater than the diameter of the bar stock passing through the feed mechanism. A motor and chain drive is coupled to the groups of rollers such that a pair of rollers of each group and one other roller in each group are driven thereby to advance the unstraightened bars through the feed mechanism.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a conveyor table having pairs of press heads mounted on its opposite sides. Strips of sheet metal stock from coils are fed through respective die sets for punching integrally extending teeth in the metal strips and the connector plate stock thus formed is fed into the respective paths of movement of upper and lower press platens. The platens are movable toward one another to substantially simultaneously cut the connector stock to predetermined lengths to form connector plates and embed the teeth of the connector plates on opposite sides of joints formed by wooden frame members disposed on the conveyor between the press heads. Simultaneously with the pressing operation, the die set punches additional teeth into the strip. Upon completion of the pressing operation, a feed mechanism locates predetermined lengths of connector stock with struck teeth between the press platens for the next cut and embedment operation.

Abstract: A treatment to alleviate the symptoms of diseases characterized by defects in keratinization consisting of the topical application of an ointment or lotion containing one or more lower aliphatic compounds having from 2 to about 6 carbon atoms, and preferably having .alpha.-carbon functionality is disclosed. The compounds include .alpha.-hydroxy acids, keto acids and esters thereof, and 3-hydroxybutyric acid. The therapeutic composition may include one or more of the commpounds present in a total amount of from one to twenty percent in either a water or alcohol solution or an ointment. Topical application to affected areas has been found to achieve a complete remission of dandruff, acne and palmar and plantar hyperkeratosis.

Abstract: An inherently non-tacky chewing gum which does not adhere to dentures, fillings, or natural teeth is described. The chewing gum includes a base containing elastomers such as polyisobutylene, polyisoprene, isobutylene-isoprene copolymer or butadiene-styrene copolymer, present in from 5-35%; hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated vegetable oils or animal fats, present in from 5-50%; mineral adjuvants, present in from 5-40%; and polyvinyl acetate which may be present in up to 55%; fatty acids which may be present in up to 20%, and mono and diglycerides of fatty acids which may be present in up to 10%, by weight of the base composition.

Abstract: A door check having a slidable arm mounted on a multi-stepped shoulder fastener has means for pivotally mounting the arm on the door of a refrigerator display case or like apparatus at one end thereof and has an elongated slot extending from the mid portion of the arm to an opposite end thereof which receives the shoulder fastener. A restriction is provided in the slot near the outer end thereof. The fastener is mounted on the display case and engages the outer end of the slot when the door of the display case is swung to the full open position. The hold the door open the arm can be moved upwardly so that the restriction in the slot bears against an enlarged shoulder of the multi-stepped fastener to retain the door in the open position. Pressure on the door toward the closed position spreads the restriction in the slot apart to drop the arm and permit travel of the door to the closed position without damage to the door stop.

Abstract: A continuous process is described whereby particulate woody materials are carbonized in a fluidized bed to form solid and gaseous fuel. The process includes injecting particulate woody materials, on a continuous basis, into a fluidized bed of previously carbonized material. Off-gas from carbonization with entrained charcoal fines is continuously removed from above the bed, and coarse charcoal is continuously removed from the surface of the bed. If desired, a high ash, coarse fraction may also be continuously removed from immediately above the bed grid. The off-gas and entrained fine charcoal are separated in a cyclone system, and the charcoal fines with the coarse charcoal fraction from the bed surface are collected for use as solid fuel. Off-gas from the separator may be scrubbed, if desired, or utilized directly as an enriched gaseous fuel.

Abstract: Disclosed is a solid state wristwatch having an active electro-optical display in the form of light emitting diodes. The display is mounted on one sloping side of a groove in a circular module frame and comprises a ceramic substrate having the display on one side and a large scale integrated circuit on the other. The angular orientation of the display coincides with the axis of an angularly oriented viewing window constructed so that the watch case shades at least part of the display. Viewing under bright daylight is enhanced and through ambient light responsive control of current to the display, battery energy under most viewing conditions is conserved.

Abstract: The shoe rack includes a pair of end supports and a platform releasably secured between the end supports. The platform is inclined from one side to the other and has a central upstanding shoulder providing a step for engagement by the heels of shoes for retaining the shoes on the platform. Like units similarly formed are stacked one on top of the other to provide a plurality of superposed platforms for supporting the shoes. The end supports of each underlying rack have upstanding pins cooperative with the margins of openings through the lower edges of the end supports of the next superposed rack for releasably securing the racks in stacked superposed relation one on top of the other. For an elongated rack, a central support is provided for supporting the intermediate portion of the platform.

Abstract: Disclosed is a battery operated hand tool which has incorporated directly into its housing a novel battery charging circuit. The charger normally operates off a conventional household power outlet and comprises a solid state switching circuit for recharging the battery with a series of electrical impulses. In some special cases, it can be operated in a non-switching state. External inductance is eliminated by charging the battery through the hand tool motor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tractor trailer construction wherein the trailer has a pair of spaced side trusses each having an upper beam and a depending support for carrying a load. Telescoping connections under the control of fluid actuated cylinders are located between the trusses at opposite ends of the trailer whereby the trusses can be moved toward and away from one another for loading and unloading. The tractor is releasably coupled to the connection at the forward end of the trailer and a rear axle unit underlies the opposite rear end of the trailer. To load the trailer, dollies are provided to support the front end of the trailer and the tractor and connection between the trusses at the front end of the trailer are removed leaving the trailer open-ended. The trailer is then moved to straddle the load with the trusses lying on opposite sides of the load. The tractor is then reconnected, and the dollies are removed. The trusses are moved toward one another and are raised to engage and support the load.

Abstract: Disclosed is a chain stopper including a pair of side-by-side support plates pivotally connected to hanger plates which support the chain stopper from the vessel's structure. The support plates releasably engage about the anchor chain to support the anchor from the vessel's structure. To haul in the anchor line, the line is winched in such that the connection between the anchor cable and anchor chain lies above the chain stopper which is suspended from support structure on the vessel. The chain stopper is engaged about the anchor chain and the winch is relieved to transfer the weight of the anchor chain and anchor to the chain stopper. The anchor cable is then disconnected from the anchor chain. A secondary chain hanging from a wildcat is connected to the anchor chain and hauled in whereby the weight of the anchor chain and anchor is transferred from the chain stopper to the secondary chain and wildcat.

Abstract: Disclosed is a golf club having a shaft, a club head, and a shank connected between the shaft and head. The club head has a recess opening through the bottom thereof or in another form hereof to the rear side of the club head and which recess is disposed toward the heel portion of the head whereby the center of gravity of the club head lies outwardly of the club head median. In one form hereof, the flat striking surface of the club head lies in a plane generally parallel to a plane containing the shaft and a portion of the shank, such planes being spaced a distance substantially equal to the radius of the golf ball. The axis of the shaft lies in an oblique plane normal to the first-mentioned planes and the lower portion of the shank extends normal to such oblique plane for connection with the heel of the club head. The club is configured, weighted and balanced to provide a broad striking area with nominal or small variation in torque applied to the club when the ball is stroked.

Abstract: The combination container and ball goal includes an enclosure having side and bottom walls and an opening through its upper end. The side wall is provided with an aperture and a movable panel for opening and closing the aperture. In one form, the panel is pivoted at its lower edge to the side wall for movement between a position closing the aperture and forming a substantially continuous side wall portion with the side wall of the enclosure whereby the enclosure is adapted for use as a container and in inclined position within the enclosure for deflecting a ball received within the enclosure through its upper end toward and through the aperture when the enclosure is utilized as a ball goal. In a further form, the panel is fully removable from the enclosure thereby adapting it for use as a ball goal whereby a ball received through the upper end of the enclosure may be retrived through the aperture.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a conveyor table mounting press assemblies above and below the table respectively. Coils of connector plate stock having prepunched integrally extending teeth feed upper and lower press platens of the press assemblies, the platens being movable toward one another to substantially simultaneously cut the connector stock to predetermined lengths to form connector plates and embed the teeth of the connector plates on opposite sides of a joint formed by a pair of wooden frame members disposed in end-to-end butting relation on the conveyor between the press assemblies. To join a pair of wooden members end to end in butting relation, the members are displaced forwardly along the conveyor table with the trailing member offset laterally from the leading member until the offset member butts a stop which locates the butt joint in accurate registration between the press platens. Clamp cylinders displace both members against a fence to longitudinally align the members.

Abstract: The connector plate stock includes a sheet metal plate having a plurality of elongated nail-like teeth struck to project to one side thereof and in a plurality of longitudinally extending rows. Mutually normal scorelines are formed in the stock plate to define a plurality of discrete connector plates. The scorelines also define weakened portions along the stock plate between adjacent discrete connector plates whereby the latter are separable one from the other and from the stock plate. The connector plate stock per se provides a packing assemblage. The stock is stacked for shipping in pairs of stack plates having teeth extending toward one another. The stock plates of each adjacent pair thereof in the stock lie in back-to-back relation one with the other.

Abstract: Disclosed is a panel for securing electrical components in an electrical box or enclosure. The panel includes a plate comprised of sheet metal and having a plurality of teeth struck to extend in a generally normal direction to one side of the plate leaving a plurality of slots in the plate from which the teeth are struck. The electrical components are secured to the plate by screws which are threadedly received in the slots left by the teeth when struck from the plate. The plate is secured to a wall of the enclosure by screws which extend through the wall and into the slots left by the teeth from the side of the plate remote from the electrical components. The plate is therefore spaced from the wall of the enclosure with the tips of the teeth bearing directly against the enclosure wall.

Abstract: Disclosed is a magnetic circuit breaker having improved delay characteristics and particularly improved pulse tolerance. The trip coil of the breaker is spaced from the magnetic pole piece of a delay tube by a non-conductive, non-magnetic gap and the delay core is elongated to extend in its normal biased position through the electrical center of the coil. An inertia wheel is mechanically coupled to the trip armature to further increase pulse tolerance so as to reduce nuisance tripping in the presence of high but very short term overcurrents.

Abstract: Disclosed is a highly stable CMOS oscillator for use as the master time reference in a wristwatch. A novel bias circuit comprising a CMOS pair and a relatively large resistor supply a bias voltage to the amplifier of the oscillator. The resistor can be made larger than normal because it is outside the oscillator feedback loop and does not reduce the amplifier open loop gain.

Abstract: The press includes a base structure carrying a press platen and an upper floating head carrying a press platen, the floating head being movable toward and away from the base. A fluid-actuated cylinder is provided at each end of the press to raise and lower the head. A load transfer assembly interconnects opposite ends of the press and includes a transfer bar pivotally connected at opposite ends to bellcranks at opposite ends of the base. Rods at opposite ends of the press connect between the bellcranks and head. When the press is subjected to asymmetrical loadings, the load transfer apparatus transfers a portion of the force applied to the head by the cylinder at one end of the press to the head at the opposite end of the press.

Abstract: The stinger includes a base structure having a plurality of upstanding stabilizing columns on opposite sides of its pitch and roll axes and carrying pipeline supports which permit translational movement of the pipeline relative to the stinger. The stinger is pivotably secured behind the pipelaying barge and is ballasted from a low draft condition with the base structure having freeboard to a high draft condition. The pipeline supports progressively decrease in height above the base structure from the end of the segment nearest the barge whereat the pipeline is supported in the air toward the opposite end whereat the aft pipeline support disposes the pipeline below the mean waterline. The pipeline centerline extending along the supports defines a radius of curvature at least equal to and preferably much greater than the minimum allowable radius of curvature for the pipeline.