Abstract: A device for separating stick-on material, such as self-adhesive stamps from a roll of backing tape to which the stick-on material is adhered, for dispensing and applying the stick-on material onto an application surface, and for storing the empty tape. The device provides a chamber for holding a supply roll of backing tape and stick-on material so that backing tape and adhered stick-on material can be payed out from the roll in a first direction. The tape is guided along a path that causes the tape initially to extend in said first direction and then in a second direction angularly related to the first direction so that as the tape changes direction it separates from the stick-on material.

Abstract: A wall-mounted cabinet that is especially adapted for use as a security cabinet in a security system includes the cabinet and the equipment secured by the cabinet in such a manner that the system does not rely on surveillance by security personnel. The cabinet includes a housing with a back support panel securely fastened to a wall of the building that is being monitored. The panel fits around cables used to power or otherwise electrically service the equipment. The housing also has top, bottom and side panels projecting outwardly from the back panel, and shelves are located within the housing defining an upper and lower compartments. Upper and lower doors are mounted on the housing for movement between open and closed positions over the compartments, and locks on the doors secure the doors in their closed positions. Fasteners join the panels of the housing together so that access from the exterior of the cabinet when locked is prevented short of destroying the cabinet.

Abstract: Apparatus for supporting heavy glass panels in a bathing enclosure without opaque metal frames or metal clips. The supporting apparatus includes transparent plastic support brackets and fasteners that attach to the heavy glass panels. These brackets and fasteners are used in a panel assembly to join an adjacent wall or pan to a fixed glass panel or panels and to join adjacent fixed glass panels to each. Although not relied on for support, clear sealant in the joints of the assembly enhances the overall integrity of the support. The combination provides dependable support while giving the enclosure a more transparent look. The brackets and fasteners are preferably molded of clear polycarbonate, which has the characteristics of transparency, strength, and moisture resistance needed, and the sealant is preferably silicone.

Abstract: A tool and method for its use in taking a sample of liquid from a tank. The tool is used to open the valve of the tank and cause a sample of the liquid in the tank to flow by gravity into a container below the tank without allowing the liquid to contact the person taking the sample. The tool is especially suited for taking samples of the fuel of a helicopter or other aircraft. The tool includes a head having an axially extending wrench socket that fits over the valve and has a transverse inner base wall to limit movement of the socket over the valve. The head has a fluid passageway extending therethrough with an upper inlet communicating with the socket and a lower outlet opening through the lower end portion. When the valve is opened by the tool, the liquid flows out of the tank, through the valve and into the passageway, through which it is channeled to the container.

Abstract: An interconnection structure (102) includes a plurality of nodes (108) and a plurality of information elements (106). The plurality of nodes are arranged in a regular array having a preselected number N columns and having a preselected number S rows. The preselected number N equals n+n+1, where n is the order of a Prefect Difference Set of the integers {d0, d1, . . . dn}. Each node is coupled to nodes in the previous row and the subsequent row according to a diagram of interconnections.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cleaning a boat in the water without pollution. Included are a floating, water-impervious basin and a filtration system. Included are a floating, water-impervious basin and a filtration system. The basin has side walls sloped downwardly to a nadir spanning substantially the full length of the basin, an opening allowing the surrounding water to enter the basin as well as ingress and egress of boats, and a gate movable into a closed position forming a cleaning chamber in the basin. After a boat is in the chamber, the gate is closed to create a pool of water in the chamber isolated from the surrounding water and in which a boat may float while being cleaned. As the gate is closing behind a boat, it allows water to pass therethrough thereby to facilitate closure, and yet is substantially sealed when closed. The filtration system includes a collector pipe lying submerged in the nadir and a pair of return pipes that float on the water in the basin.

Abstract: A machine or apparatus for polishing, especially adapted for polishing fiber optic connectors and similarly configured industrial components. The polishing apparatus includes a first stage having a first mounting member and a first staging member supported on the first mounting member for reciprocal movement along a first path; a second stage having a second mounting member supported on the first staging member and a second staging member supported on the second mounting member for reciprocal movement along a second path in angular relation to the first path; a polishing member mounted on the second staging member; and a drive mechanism operable to simultaneously reciprocate the first and second staging members along their respective paths so that the polishing member traces a predetermined pattern.

Abstract: A construction tool and method for its use in laying out stud marks. The tool is adjustable and is especially suited for laying out stud marks on a rafter of a pitched roof so as to be aligned with the corresponding stud marks on a sill beneath the rafter. The tool includes an elongated measuring member; stud-marking members attached to the measuring member in spaced, transverse relation therealong, at least one of the marking members being adjustable along the measuring member; measurement indicia on the measuring member that enables the spacing between the marking members to be set; and conversion indicia on one or more of the members that sets forth the relationship among various roof rises and stud spacings on sills and rafters. The method involves laying out markings on the sill and rafter boards with the tool including the steps of placing the layout tool along a first of the boards, e.g.

Abstract: A wrap for conditioning the interface between a part of an article and a user's body and a method of making and using the wrap. The wrap provides a flexible, resiliently compressible, elastic pad that is flexed into a tubular configuration for tightly wrapping around the part being wrapped so that the inside surface of the end segment at one end of the pad overlaps the outside surface of the end segment at the other end of the pad; an adjustable fastening strip interposed the overlapping ends that allows the pad to be wrapped about parts of various perimeters and provides stability at the interface being conditioned; and attaching members on the opposed surfaces of the pad and the fastening strip that releasably engage each other and tightly hold the pad in wrapped condition around the part being wrapped.

Abstract: An intravitreal medicine delivery device and method are provided and include an implant device through which a wide variety of beneficial medicines including drugs or other pharmacological agents can be introduced into the vitreous cavity over an extended period of time with only a single initial surgery to implant the device. The device and method minimize the surgical incision needed for implantation and avoid future or repeated invasive surgery or procedures. Additional amounts of the initial medicine can readily be introduced or the medication can be varied or changed, as required. Furthermore, the device and method allow the dosage delivered to the vitreous cavity to be device is constructed so as to filter medicines delivered to the cavity and also avoids damage to or interference with other parts of the eye during implantation or during use.

Abstract: A faucet assembly including dual handles whose position indicates, both tactilely and visually, the volume and exit temperature of the water flowing from hot and cold water valves to a faucet outlet. Such indication is achieved by the mounting and controlled movement of the handles, by their configuration and perimeter, by surface exposure, and by their individual connections to hot and cold water valves. The proximity of the handles and their controlled movement enables the handles to be manipulated simultaneously by a single hand of the user without pinching the fingers. The handles are mounted to conceal their mountings and their connections to the valves and are thus the only parts of the faucet assembly visible to a user thereby enhancing the appearance of the installation. Further, the faucet assembly reduces plumbing costs and is universally adaptable to both rotary and linear water valves in a wide variety of bath and kitchen installations.

Abstract: A basket or dryer liner that has the usual basket shape, i.e, generally cylindrical, but is resiliently compressible or deformable along multiple axes for reshaping into irregular shapes. It has perforate bottom wall and side walls and an open top and is generally symmetrical about x, y, and z axes that are orthogonal to each other. The basket may be manually compressed alone these axes and then allowed to return to its normal shape when released. Thus, it has a non-compressed, relaxed state wherein it has maximum exterior dimensions and can stand-alone and serve the normal functions of a basket. The basket also has a compressed condition wherein at least certain of the dimensions of the basket are less than said maximum dimensions so that it can be fitted into a dryer, allowed to expand, and serve as a dryer liner. Wet clothes and other items can then be placed in the basket through the dryer opening in the normal manner.

Abstract: A method for creating and maintaining a substantially perfect figure eight polishing pattern for polishing fiber optic connectors and similarly configured industrial components. The method is capable of simultaneously performing this figure eight polishing pattern on the multiplicity of such connectors and components. Moreover, the specific embodiment disclosed includes a computer program that controls the method. By simultaneously polishing a minimum of forty-eight fiber optic connectors, or similarly configured industrial components, with a polish being better than any now capable of being obtained by the prior art, this invention enables the output of polished fiber optic connectors and similarly configured industrial components to be increased three to four fold over currently employed polishing method while significantly reducing the cost of such polishing.

Abstract: An apparatus for creating and maintaining a substantially perfect figure eight polishing pattern for polishing fiber optic connectors and similarly configured industrial components. The apparatus is capable of simultaneously performing this figure eight polishing pattern on the multiplicity of such connectors and components. Moreover, the specific embodiment disclosed includes a computer program that controls the apparatus. By simultaneously polishing a minimum of forty-eight fiber optic connectors, or similarly configured industrial components, with a polish being better than any now capable of being obtained by the prior art, this invention enables the output of polished fiber optic connectors and similarly configured industrial components to be increased three to four fold over currently employed polishing apparatus while significantly reducing the cost of such polishing.

Abstract: A trailer is provided that is especially suited for transporting bicycles and has load supporting, suspension, storage, parking, and rolling functions. The trailer has a main frame providing a trailer bed, adapted to support a plurality of bicycles, and a high performance suspension system. The suspension system includes a pair of independent suspension units including trailer wheels mounted by suspension arms on opposite sides of the main frame for elevational movement in earth traversing positions and for pivoting movement between the earth traversing positions disposed outwardly of the sides of the main frame and stowing positions folded under the main frame. The suspension units include heavy duty shock absorbers that cushion the bicycle or other load, maintain the bicycles in level upright positions during earth traversal, and maximize traction of the wheels.

Abstract: A plumbing tool for providing a passageway through a blockage, such as a test cap or other blockage, in a fluid-carrying line. During the rough-in plumbing phase of construction, the drain pipe leading from the plumbing system in a building to the city sewer main in the street is positively sealed off by a test cap welded in the pipe at the location of the clean-out. Pressurizing the rough-in plumbing to test the same can then proceed knowing that if any leaks occur, they are in the branch plumbing on the building side of the test cap and not at or in the test cap. Following successful completion of the initial test, the top-out plumbing is completed, leaving the test cap welded in the clean-out or drain pipe. After the roof vents are in, the top-out test of the plumbing system is made, again knowing that if the system shows any leaks, they are the result of a failure in the plumbing work and not a failure of the test cap.

Abstract: An integrated continuous assembly of synthetic crystals of diamond, or like materials, which exhibits crystallographic characteristics substantially the same as a single crystal so that characteristics of diamond such as abrasive resistance, thermal conductivity, electrical properties and chemical vapor deposition are more fully utilized for various applications. The crystals are of substantially uniform size and of cubic and cubo-octahedral shapes, each having a crystallographic direction of maximum abrasive resistance lying along a diagonal of the crystal. The crystals are assembled with their mating faces in congruent contact with respectively adjacent mating faces of adjacent crystals, and with their exposed face substantially coplanar with the exposed faces of adjacent crystals to form a common surface for the assembly.

Abstract: A container for handling bulk flowable products including a housing having opposed first and second end walls and opposed first and second side walls, a partition in the housing dividing it into first and second compartments, an outlet for each compartment respectively adjacent to opposite ends of the housing; and closures for the outlets. The partition is sloped toward each outlet so that when its closure is opened, the product in the corresponding compartment flows through the outlet and is dispensed. In effect, the container is comprised of two, back-to-back, funnel-shaped compartments that are inverted relative to each, with outlets from the compartments adjacent to the respective throats of compartments.

Abstract: A plastic shim or other workpiece useful in the construction industry. The shim or workpiece is an elongated tapered hard plastic body incorporating qualities of a shim lacking in wooden shims. Each shim has transverse break lines so that segments can be broken off to adjust its length. For handling, a plurality of such shims are molded in a sheet with adjacent shims being spaced along their thinner sections but separably joined by longitudinal, break lines extending along their thicker sections, whereby the shims can be detached from the sheet either individually or in multiples. The shims may have pockets defining nailing portions of reduced thickness which minimize the grasp of nails by the shim and allow removal of nails without damage to the shim or adjacent wood and etching to avoid uncontrolled slippage.

Abstract: A bathtub spout water filter for use with a bathtub spout having a spout body with an open rear, and an open front for water egress with a female threaded fitting located behind the open front. The bathtub spout water filter has a frustum-shaped filter body with enclosing sidewalls, a rearwardly extending male threaded end for water ingress adapted to screw into a bathtub spout water supply line, and a frontwardly extending male threaded end for water egress and adapted to screw into the female threaded fitting in the bathtub spout. Filter material is contained within the enclosed filter body.