Abstract: A web of plastic bags is made from rollstock of a strong heat sealable plastic material for the bulk storage and dispensing of liquids by passing two aseptic sheets of the material into a press that heat bonds the longitudinal edges and laterally across the sheets to form a web of sealed bags. The longitudinally bonded strips are perforated to engage sprocket wheels which draw the web of bags to a position at which a dispensing fitment is bonded to the outer surface of one sheet, and then to a station which cuts a short lateral slit across only one sheet. The web then passes over and hangs from the sprocket so that the slit slightly opens to permit filling of the bag from the bottom up with a long pointed diving fill tube that isolates the bag contents from the slit. The area around the slit is then heat sealed against the opposite side of the bag to prevent leakage of the bag contents and the admission of contaminants into the bag.

Abstract: In scanning electron microscopes the field established between the focusing lens housing at ground potential and the secondary emission electron detector at a positive potential attracts and carries the secondary electrons to the detector. This field is often displaced from the secondary emission source so that much of the emission is attracted to other areas of the microscope and is lost to the detector. To greatly improve detection efficiency, an electron attracting grid at a potential between that on the detector and the focusing lens housing ground reference potential is interposed between the detector and the specimen and positioned so that the new field established between grid and lens housing dips down toward the specimen surface and thus collects substantially all of the secondary emission electrons which then are attracted to higher potential on the detector.

Abstract: A baseball-type cap having on the front and above the visor a miniature transparent mug which contains a small motor and pump that circulates a fluid from the bottom of the mug up through a conduit within the cap to a small dispensing tap mounted above the mug. The tap handle operates an electrical switch to power the motor and also a lamp that back-lights advertising material visable through the transparent mug and illuminates the fluid flowing through a transparent tube connected between the dispensing tap outlet and the bottom of the mug. A top cover of the mug may support a plastic foam for further realism.

Abstract: A self adjusting camshaft gear including an inner hub member and a coaxial outer gear-supporting member that is rotatably mounted to the periphery of the hub member. Weighted levers pivotally mounted to the side face of the outer gear member overlie a portion of the coplanar side face of the hub member and pivotally engage posts extending therefrom so that movement of the weighted levers around their gear member pivots will change the relative position of the hub with respect to the outer gear member and thereby advance or retard the camshaft. Springs between the levers and the hub member force the levers inward and into a normally advanced position for optimum power at low r.p.m. At some mid-range r.p.m. as determined by the spring modulus, the weighted levers are centrifugally forced outward to alter the rotational position of the hub with respect to the outer gear member to thereby retard the timing of the camshaft for optimum power at high r.p.m.

Abstract: An automatic bag filling and capping apparatus includes an input ramp for receiving a continuous web of flexible laminated plastic bags each having a capped tubular filling fitment. A linear drive conveyer engages the leading bag fitment and pushed it along the ramp to a fitment gripper and, at that point, a severing blade separates the leading bag from the continuous web. The separate bag is then passed to a filling position where the fitment is held by side grippers on a three-position elevator, a cap gripper on a shuttle comes in to grasp the cap which is removed when the elevator is lowered. The elevator is then raised to engage the open fitment with a filling tube. When filled, a pair of temporary sealing cups are brought in to pinch the filled flexible bag just below the fitment to seal the bag against the admission of air.

Abstract: A remotely controllable linear power actuator for the control of manually operable hydraulic valve handle or the like. A down-geared motor drives an adjustable friction slip clutch connected to a plate that can be rotated around the axis of the clutch by operation of the motor. A freely movable second plate is pivotally connected to the first elongated plate and the linearly movable output shaft is connected to the opposite end of the second plate. Thus, until the two plates are interconnected against pivotal rotation the output shaft which is connected to the valve handle may be easily moved manually. A solenoid interlock on one plate may be actuated to force the solenoid armature, or a steel ball driven by the armature, into a corresponding hole in the other plate to thereby connect the two plates at some point distant from the pivot pin.

Abstract: A remote operable coupler for rapidly connecting the loading hook of a crane, or the like, to a load to be hoisted comprises a load collar that is attached to the load and an upper unit support on the crane hook. The load collar has a funnel shaped aperture vertically aligned therethrough and the upper unit has a depending lifting tube that is lowered into and through the funnel in the collar. Steel balls are located in radial holes near the bottom of the lifting tube and normally are recessed into an annular groove near the bottom end of a cam rod in the bore of the lifting tube.

Abstract: An automatic leveling device for crane boom supported work baskets includes a weighted and damped plumb sensor coupled to a first potentiometer and a second potentiometer for measuring the relative angle between the crane boom and the basket pivotally attached thereto. The measured output levels of the two potentiometers are applied to a servo circuit that controls a linear power actuator pivotally attached between the boom and basket to thereby maintain the basket vertical. The basket may be electrically isolated from ground for use on "live" wire maintenance when the basket carries a storage battery for powering the servo and actuator and if the basket controls for boom movement are transmitted to the crane through a fiber optic or radio remote control link.

Abstract: An cabinetmaker's adjustable template for shaping uniform arches or crowns or the like on rails or stiles used in panelled cabinet doors of various sizes. Sub-templates preferably having similar but mirror-image shaper working edges are attached at one end of a base unit and at the opposite end of a second member that is slideably adjustable in a longitudinal slot in the surface of the base so that various length pieces of wood stock clamped to the surface of the base and between the corner ends of the base and slideable second member may be shaped with identical patterns.

Abstract: A lightweight portable shower foldable into a backpack for campers or the like. A pliable water storage bag lies on a floor unit that also supports a vertical, sectioned, standpipe having a valved showerhead at the top. An annular curtain rod is held in a horizontal position by a hooking device at the top of the standpipe and supports a tubular shower curtain that is elastically connected to a rigid footpad atop the storage bag. In use, the weight of the user standing on the footpad provides water pressure to force water through the standpipe and showerhead. The elastic coupling to the footpad assures that the curtain will remain taut as water is forced from the storage bag.

Abstract: A device for retrieving fishing tackle e.g. lines is described. The retriever has a weighted elongated body portion comprising a forward portion and a rearward portion. An attachment member is provided at the rearward portion for connection to a retriever line. A pair of forwardly converging limbs extend from the forward portion and terminate in an upwardly directed closed loop to receive a snagged fishing line. A rear guide member is provided on the upper rearward portion of the weighted body for receiving and being guided by the snagged line. The weighted body has a longitudinal groove which is in line with the rear guide member and the upper portion of the closed loop to permit close guiding by the snagged line.

Abstract: An educational toy for teaching small children alphanumeric characters and their positions on a conventional keyboard includes a flat base unit having a plurality of surface slots extending partially through the base and second slots between the bottom of the surface slots and the bottom surface of the base to a metallic bottom plate. Keys are represented on the top surfaces of bars having exterior shapes that fit within the surface slots and with magnet tipped extensions that fit within the second slots. The slots and keyboard bars are uniquely shaped so that each bar can only fit into its respective slot to form a completed assembly similar to a conventional keyboard.