Abstract: A new computerized control system designed for packaging machines. This control system can be installed on any dieless packing machine. The advances achieved by this control system are: High speeds are achieved by synchronizing the machine index cycle and tooling controls, permitting the prestart of tooling before the end of the index cycle; because the motor speed is monitored and profiled by the computer continuously, faster machine speeds can be achieved while maintaining the minimum machine jerk; total index time savings; diagnostics which dramatically reduce machine down time as a user friendly hard-copy print out is produced describing and pinpointing locations of malfunctions in the timers, tooling, and motor performance; access to all timer control settings through easy to use thumbwhell switches. In addition, a new arrangement of the tooling stations is used, allowing for the increase of per cycle capacity several times the capacity of the prior art.

Abstract: An interface system for interfacing a standard telephone set with a radio transceiver as part of a telephone network is provided. The radio transceiver may be a conventional cellular-type transceiver or other transceiver having typical control inputs and outputs similar to that provided by cellular transceivers. The interface system converts tone-dial or pulse-dial inputs from the telephone into a serial data stream for storage in the transceiver. The interface system automatically determines when the last numeral or digit is dialed and provides a send signal to the transceiver when such determination is made. The system responds to incoming call signals, such as alert signals, from the transceiver and rings the telephone accordingly. The system simulates ring and dial-tone type signals under conditions typical of standard telephone set usage.

Abstract: A process for koshering relatively large metallic containers used to store and transport kosher foods includes the steps of washing and rinsing the interior of the container to remove surface oils and greases, treating the interior surface of the container with a rust inhibitor, flame treating the interior surface to drive off any impregnated oils, greases or dirts and, optionally, spraying the interior of the container with a kosher epoxy/phenolic compound and thereafter curing the compound by the application of heat. The resulting container may be used to store and transport food stuffs certified to have been prepared in accordance with the kosher dietary laws.

Abstract: A trailer for transporting boats is provided with an automatic centering structure having a pair of equal-length centering cables each having a first exterior end connected to a forward interior portion of the trailer frame, and a second interior end coupled to a snap-hook, which snap-hook is securable to a bow-eye of the boat being loaded onto the trailer. The centering cables position the bow of the boat along the longitudinal center of the trailer frame as the boat is driven onto the trailer under the boat's own power. Bunks or boards are also provided to aid in the centering procedure, for carrying loads, and for structural integrity.

Abstract: A cellular backup system is provided for a standard security alarm network, so that upon the inoperativeness of the telephone land line, automatic switch over to the cellular system is achieved, so that a digital communicator or telephone tape dialer may still transmit its distress call to a central alarm station, via the cellular system. A line fault monitor is provided which automatically detects the outage of the land-based telephone system which, in turn, provides an output signal to a latching relay which causes the activation of a pair of switching relays to automatically switch the connection of the alarm communicator from the DB-8 cord of the land-based system to a cellular interface coupled to a conventional cellular transceiver of a cellular system. The switching relays are latched in the state connecting the alarm communicator to the cellular backup system and held in such a state, regardless of the state of the land-based system, as long as a manual rest switch has not been used.

Abstract: An improved height-adjustable crutch is provided in which the central carrier member, in which is telescopingly received an extensible leg member, is provided with laterally extending ribbed members, defining exterior concave surface, which matingly received therein the cylindrical portions of the diametrically-opposed tubes defining the lower extremity of the crutch proper. Each tube is coupled to a respective one of the ribbed members via a rivet, each rivet being independent of the other, so as to not to obstruct the interior, hollow passageway formed by the central carrier member, to allow for the sliding movement of the leg member in the central carrier member.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing gyratory motion to a paint can for mixing the contents of the paint can. The paint can is clamped between an upper and lower clamping plate of a clamping mechanism, which clamping mechanism is fixed to a rotatable disc rotatable in a vertical plane. The lower clamping plate is rotatable independently of the rotation of the mounting disc. The upper and lower clamping plates are moveable toward and away from each other simultaneously via a pair of threaded rods. The lower clamping plate is also provided with a plurality of angularly spaced-apart vertically pivotal, clamping fingers, the upper portions of which extend through slots formed in the circumference of the lower clamping plate, which fingers help to clamp and automatically center the lower rim of a paint can being clamped and mixed. The fingers are urged upwardly before the upward sliding movement of the lower clamping plate via a strike plate slidingly mounted with respect to the drive shaft of the lower clamping plate.

Abstract: An interface system for interfacing a standard telephone set with a radio transceiver as part of a telephone network is provided. The radio transceiver may be a conventional cellular-type transceiver or other transceiver having typical control inputs and outputs similar to that provided by cellular transceivers. The interface system converts tone-dial or pulse-dial inputs from the telephone into a serial data stream for storage in the transceiver. The interface system automatically determines when the last numeral or digit is dialed and provides a send signal to the transceiver when such determination is made. The system responds to incoming call signals, such as alert signals, from the transceiver and rings the telephone accordingly. The system similates ring and dial-tone type signals under conditions typical of standard telephone set usage.

Abstract: A baseball with a self-contained speed-measuring module positioned within a hollowed-out portion of the solid core of the ball, with the upper portion of the module being a display unit that indicates the speed at which the baseball was thrown over a fixed distance, the read-out of the display unit being visible from the outside to allow for the reading thereof. The module is enclosed in a single, unitary housing, and includes a computer chip. The chip includes speed-determining circuitry, and is made up of a programmable counter that counts down a plurality of times for every time interval of the flight of the thrown ball, the value representative of each time interval being loaded into the programmable counter by a programmable logic array, whose inputs are coupled to the outputs of a most-significant digit display counter of an LCD unit, the instantaneous value of which is representative of the time interval determined by the countdown rate of the programmable counter.

Abstract: The invention relates to a door fitting with at least one door operating unit, such as a doorknob, a door handle or the like, and at least one cover plate to cover the opening provided in a door, a window sash or the like for the door operating unit, in which the cover plate has at least one round opening for the door operating unit. Primarily in order to secure the door handle against being pulled off, but also in order to help secure the door handle against canting, the invention provides that the door operating unit for such a door fitting has a cylindrical circumferential groove in the area going through the opening in the cover plate when installed, and that the cover plate consists of at least two parts with curved recesses having inner shoulders that are adapted to the groove and which can be inserted into same, and that the curved recesses combine to form a circular opening in the cover plate when the pieces are combined.

Abstract: An improved saddle frame for a passive steering single-axle truck for a railway freight car that allows for unobstructed passage of infrared rays from the wheel bearings, so that they may be sensed by a hot-box detector mounted on a rail bed. The saddle frame has a center web section including a pair of parallel lower flanges, which flanges are cut back on the inboard sides thereof to allow for the unobstructed passage of the infrared rays. Each inboard section is of considerably reduced width as compared to the outboard sections, with compensatory thickening being provided for both inboard and outboard sections of the flanges. The inboard sides of the saddle frame's upright columns and spring arms are also cut back at a forty-five degree slope in order to ensure that the infrared rays reach the hot-box detector.

Abstract: A security system for a personal computer, in which hardware and software are combined to provide a tamper-proof manner of protecting user-access and file-access. The hardware component of the system is an expansion board for insertion into an expansion slot of the PC, and has a first EPROM chip containing four portions of machine code for initializing system function calls and for establishing the proper boot-processing of the PC; a second RAM chip serving as scratch pad memory; a third EEPROM chip storing passwords, audit trail log, protection and encryption system flags, and user-access rights; a fourth automatic encryption and decryption chip for files of the PC; and a fifth clock chip for the audit trail. The software component includes a batch file that runs a program in conjunction with the machine code on the EPROM of the expansion board ensuring access is gained only for valid users.

Abstract: A programmable interface system for interfacing a standard telephone set with a radio transceiver as part of a telephone network is provided. The radio transceiver may be a conventional cellular-type transceiver or other transceiver having typical control inputs and outputs similar to that provided by cellular transceivers. The programmable interface system converts tone-dial or pulse-dial inputs from the telephone into a serial data stream for storage in the transceiver. The programmable interface system can be programmed to automatically determine when the last numeral or digit is dialed for a particular area telephone system and provides a send signal to the transceiver when such determination is made. The system responds to incoming call signals, such as alert signals, from the transceiver and rings the telephone accordingly. The system simulates ring and dial-tone type signals under conditions typical of standard telephone set usage.

Abstract: An adapter for a cellular mobile phone unit which converts the unit to permit simultaneous insertion of a plurality of telephone numbers. A main circuit board is coupled to a microprocessor of the unit, which board includes a plurality of number assignment modules, or NAM's (ROM's), each NAM having its own unique telephone number code. The NAM's are connected such that fifteen of the sixteen pin-connections of each NAM are correspondingly and respectively connected in series, for coupling to the fifteen pin-connections of a plug at one end of a ribbon cable, the other end of the ribbon cable being coupled to the microprocessor of the unit via the conventional NAM connection therefor. Each remaining pin of each NAM, which is not connected in series, is connected to a unique stop of a multi-position switch, so that a selected one of the NAM's may be coupled to the microprocessor in order to change the telephone number from one to another.

Abstract: A container for storing, transporting and displaying a caramel apple, or the like. The container is a single molded piece of plastic, with a pair of pivotal sections and a base section pivotally mounting the pair of pivotal sections. Each pivotal section is formed with an outwardly projecting half-shell, which half-shells cooperate when the two sections are in their closed abutting position, to form a substantially frustro-conically shaped hollow enclosure in which is stored the caramel apple. The base section is provided with an upstanding hollow support on the upper surface of which rests the caramel apple. Each pivotal section is also provided with a lowermost recess or cutout for nestling therein approximately half of the circumferential surface of the upstanding hollow support when the two pivotal sections are in their closed, abutting position.

Abstract: A tool for spreading plaster, or the like, on wallboard surfaces which, in a first embodiment, includes a contoured surface having two end tip portions and a mid-portion contained in a plane spaced from the end tip portions. The tool includes a backing layer which gives structural integrity to the tool, and a flexible application-surface layer which projects beyond the outer edge of the backing layer. In use, the plaster is applied to the wallboard surface, and the projecting outer edge of the flexible layer is forced against the wall and pulled along to obtain a flat surface to spread the plaster out along the wallboard surface in an even and smooth manner to cover up cracks and tape. In a second embodiment, approximately half of the tool has a contoured surface, with the other half being planar. In this embodiment, the tool is used to distribute the plaster along the general wallboard surface area.

Abstract: A towel or cover for covering a lawn chair or sand chair, which cover has a kangaroo-type pocket provided in the head or upper portion of the cover. The kangaroo-type pocket is positionable in one of two positions, one being in front of the chair for forming therein a pillow by providing clothing or other soft material in the pocket, and the other being positionable in the rear of the chair for storing other articles and the like therein. The head portion of the towel includes a hood-type member for telescopingly receiving therein the top portion of the chair which it covers. The hood portion is also defined by a pair of stretchable rectangular-shaped gussets to allow the hood portion to stretchably fit over any type and size of chair.

Abstract: A printer stand is provided with a rear, chute-like paper guide. A pair of slidable trays are provided, with the upper tray serving as a store for blank input paper for a printer supported on the stand, while the lower tray serves as a store for the printed, output paper from the printer. The paper guide has a first, rear, inclined guide wall with a lower edge surface that is spaced rearwardly of the rearmost portion of the upper tray for proper clearance for the output paper on its passage to the lower tray. The paper guide also has a second guide wall spaced forwardly of the first wall, which together with the first wall forms the chute-like passageway for the output paper. The first and second guide walls are connected to the rear of the printer-stand supporting surface, and there are provided upper guide surfaces for directing the output paper toward the chute and away from the path of input paper.

Abstract: An L-sealer apparatus in which the transverse arm portion of the pivotal pressure frame is provided with an adjustably-retractable cutting blade for alternatively forming bags having only three sealed sides thereof, with one side edge being left unsealed for subsequent closure by a twist-tie, and for alternatively forming conventional, completely sealed bags. A clamping element is provided for clamping the plastic film adjacent to the portion at which the cutting blade is to cut, in order to provide a clean cut. The plastic film is cut downstream or upstream of the portion being heat-sealed by the electrical heating wire provided with the transverse arm portion of the pressure frame.

Abstract: A device for allowing the remote-reading of a utility meter having circular dials. The device includes an array of phototransistors for each circular dial of the utility meter. The face of the dial is illuminated selectively, when the reading of the dial is desired, by a light-emitting-diode at the center of the array of phototransistors. The phototransistor which is shaded by the pointer of the dial, which transistor indicates the highest value of the reading for thoses transistors shaded by the pointer, developes a signal indicative of that reading, which is outputted to a logic circuit for the development of the signal into a usable form for generating the value at a remote display device mounted on the outside of the building. Alternatively, the output from the logic circuit may be sent over a telephone transmission line to a remote computer-center for storage and retrieval, for billing customers.