Abstract: By providing two independent torsionally flexible loop systems, each incorporating a curved wire loop portion and a stabilized portion which anchors the loop portion with a resilient, torsionally flexible quality, a unique bicycle seat undercarriage is achieved which provides dual, independent, resilient loop deflection at the areas of maximum load, with resilient loop return to their original positions when the deflection force is removed. Preferably, the bicycle seat undercarriage incorporates a wire holdng and clamping bracket adapted for mounting engagement with a bicycle seat post and at least one elongated wire member securely affixed along a portion thereof to said bracket and extending from said clamped position in a substantially uniformly curved loop with its terminating end holdingly engaged with said bracket. In the preferred embodiment, a single continuous wire is employed which also forms the forward leading pommel end of the undercarriage.

Abstract: A needle guide for intra-ocular surgery designed for insertion through the corneal rim incision to span the anterior chamber of the patient's eye, and being thereby positioned to conduct surgical needles safely past the corneal endothelium, comprises an elongated narrow substantially rectangular guide plate having along each edge an elongated needle flange inturned to form a needle guide chamber dimensioned to embrace a surgical needle during its endwise telescoping passage through the guide chamber, and having an elongated suture-release slot too narrow to permit lateral removal of a surgical needle from the guide chamber, whereby the elongated narrow guide may be inserted spanning an anterior chamber, guided by trans-illumination, a pair of surgical needles secured to opposite ends of a first suture loop interlinked with a retention loop of an intra-ocular lens may be inserted through the respective guide chambers safely passing the endothelium to exit through the sclera opposite the corneal rim incision, l

Abstract: A wire storage and wrapping tool for making wrapped wire connections on wrapping posts incorporates a portable housing having a front end and a rear end, a hollow open-ended sleeve shaft extending through the housing and rotatably mounted therein with its open ends exposed, and a drive motor mounted in the housing and connected to rotate the sleeve shaft. A hollow wrapping bit is removably engaged in the front end of the sleeve shaft with a wrapping post-engaging axial bore and an eccentric axial wire-delivery portal with an insulation-slitting axial edge. A hollow wire storage container encloses an extended length of wire wound in a succession of uniform layers concentric about a central axis, and has a wire exit portal disengageably secured to the rear open end of the sleeve shaft.

Abstract: By circumferentially embracing both the proximal and distal portions of a severed nerve at positions removed from the severed ends and controllably moving the severed portions into abutting, juxtaposed contacting relationship, the reattachment and repair of severed nerves is achieved. Preferably, both portions of the severed nerve are embraced within a holding member which incorporates nerve securing means at the desired location. In addition, the preferred nerve holding member incorporates nerve cooling components, electrical pulse stimulation means for directing a pulse from the proximal portion towards the distal portion, and temperature sensing components for monitoring the temperature of the nerve.

Abstract: Rail handling apparatus for automatically seizing, gripping, raising, carrying, lowering and releasing a rail comprising angularly pivotable vertically elongated tong arms connected near their lower ends by a pivot pin and each having means forming a support aperture in its lower end, a toggle link or shackle linking each support structure with an overlying crane ring supported by a crane, and slim tapered tong jaws protruding downward from the lower ends of the tong arms beneath the pivot pin, having converging outer jaw surfaces and inner jaw tip surfaces diverging at an acute angle surmounted by upwardly facing rail-supporting surfaces positioned to embrace and support the ball of a rail flanked by the tong jaws in crane-suspended rail-carrying position. The tong jaws are preferably removable and interchangeably bolted to the lower ends of the tong arms.

Abstract: A signmaker's jig assembly incorporates a signblank-supporting worktable, a setting bar movable over the signblank for guiding the alignment of a line of letters to be installed on the signblank, a letter staging zone incorporating a letter aligning staging bar, a centering guide, and a manually movable adhesive transfer bar co-acting with the staging bar for seizing the staged line of letters en bloc, transferring them to the signblank, and installing them thereon. Different embodiments incorporate different features facilitating stripping each line of letters from the staging zone.

Abstract: A digital computer with the capability of incorporating multiple central processing units (CPU's), utilizes an address and data bus between each central processing unit and from one to fifteen intelligent composite memory and input/output modules (MIO). Data is transferred to and from each MIO and the CPU synchronously by a bus during one phase of a three phase clocking cycle. During a second phase of the clocking cycle data on one or more low speed serial data channels within each MIO is transferred to and from the MIO and external devices. During the third phase of the clocking cycle data on a high speed direct memory access channel (DMA) is transferred to and from the MIO and one or more external devices. Additional CPU's can be interconnected with the first CPU by means of an inter-processor buffer module (IPB) which interconnects to the bus at one end and the additional CPU, by means of a bus, at its other end.

Abstract: By providing a single wrapping composition capable of wetting and conditioning unbleached hair fibers while simultaneously protecting, equalizing and conditioning bleached hair fiber so that both the bleached and unbleached hair fibers are capable of responsive interaction with a waving or processing lotion, a unique permanent waving system is achieved which allows a head of hair having both bleached and unbleached hair fiber inseparably mixed, to be permanently waved in a single, uniform application and treatment. In order to assure that the bleached hair fibers will be capable of reacting with the waving or processing lotion, the wrapping composition should comprise an aqueous solution incorporating a hair substantive compound containing a lipoidal alkyl chain having ten or more carbon atoms and a disulfide derivative of a mercaptan with a substituent group. Preferably, the respective chemical compounds are those containing a quaternary ammonium group and a dithio derivation of a thioglycolate.

Abstract: By providing a plow and scraper blade assembly with a camming and securing member at one end and a pivotable, blade locking member at the other end, along with a cooperating, interfittingly engageable plow blade, a plow and scraper blade assembly is achieved wherein the plow blade is easily and quickly installable and removeable. In the preferred embodiment, a blade nesting and engaging channel is incorporated along with a plurality of stiffening ribs spaced along the channel to provide rigidity to the plow blade while enhancing the blade's rapid installation and removal qualities.

Abstract: A device for applying paper to a wall is disclosed which has a clamp member, a carriage and an actuator. The clamp member is formed of two elongate members for holding the paper therebetween and the carriage is formed of two pairs of wire members which hold a supply of the paper. One end of each pair of wire members is connected to one of the clamp members. The actuator is in the form of a hinge having two parts and includes a handle. The other end of each pair of wire members is connected to each part of the hinge so that the handle may be used to actuate the hinge to swing one pair of wire members relative to the other to open the clamp members and allow paper to be drawn therebetween.

Abstract: Optical apparatus, such as head-up display apparatus, for superimposing visual information on an observer's view of a scene or object comprises a substantially flat transmission hologram through which the observer views the scene or object, the hologram being disposed substantially orthogonally to and midway along an axis between the observer's eye position and projection optics so as to deviate light from an image produced by the projection optics to the observer's eye position with minimal field aberrations.

Abstract: A drag reducer for a gap in a land vehicle moving through air which consists of a retractable or articulated baffle, spanning approximately the entire distance of the gap. The drag reducer can be used on all land vehicles and is readily adaptable for use on railroad box cars, truck semi-trailers, full trailers in tandem and vehicles towed by cars. The drag reducer can take the form of a fin mounted rigidly or with articulated joint or flexible material to allow for movement between the leading and trailing vehicles. It may also be of a retractable nature, such as an accordian arrangement, a roll-up screen, an inflatable fin, a folding plate, etc.

Abstract: Composite electron microscope grids for support of specimens and suitable for energy dispersive X-ray analysis are fabricated from an etched surfaced mold which is sacrificed after the grid casting. Preferably, the mold is made from a material with a different solubility or chemical resistance than the composite material forming the grid so that the mold can simply be dissolved after use. The mold itself is preferably etched using a photoresistive process for precisely etching the desired grid structure into the mold material. The mold process for making the grid can be utilized for molding other types of micro-components.

Abstract: By providing an input/output housing which incorporates paired slider assemblies for supportingly maintaining a printed circuit board in secure electronic engagement between a central processor and external devices, with said printed circuit board being quickly and easily removable from the electronically engaged position, an input/output system for a programmable controller is achieved which is capable of being quickly and easily expanded as well as capable of rapid field assembly and field disassembly for removal or replacement of any required parts. In addition, the external equipment wiring is made to a terminal block which is mounted between the paired slider assemblies and pivotally engaged therein to provide readily accessible contact points for initial interconnection thereto, while also being pivotally movable and slidingly advanceable into the housing for continuous maintenance therein in a secure, hidden, easily accessible storage zone.

Abstract: A control system for energizing and de-energizing external loads in series with a source of electricity incorporates a rectifying network having inputs in series with the alternating current source and each external load. The control system incorporates one electronic switch, such as a triac, and one part of a rectifying network to energize and de-energize each external load. The triggering of a particular electronic switch is made in response to a desired combination of externally sensed parameters obtaining predetermined magnitudes. The same or different sensed parameters may also be used to activate any other external load when these sensed parameters obtain a second set of predetermined magnitudes, which may be identical with the first set of predetermined magnitudes.

Abstract: A collimating magnifier lens which may be used in a head-up display has a focal length of F. The lens has a front part comprising at least one positive element with a focal length between +1 F and +3 F and a negative element with a focal length between -1.2 F and infinity, the focal length of the front part as a whole being between +1 F and +6 F and the negative element of the front part not being cemented to any other element, a rear part comprising a single positive element with a focal length between +0.4 F and +1.2 F, and a field flattener behind the rear part and comprising a single negative element with a focal length between -0.4 F and -1.1 F.The negative element of the front part may have a refractive index less than or equal to 0.13 greater than that of any positive element of the front part and may be meniscus in shape having a focal length of at least 2.8 times that of the positive component and which produces overcorrect spherical aberration.

Abstract: A signmaker's jig assembly incorporates a signblank-supporting worktable, a setting bar movable over the signblank for guiding the alignment of a line of letters to be installed on the signblank, a letter staging zone incorporating a letter aligning staging bar, a centering guide, and a manually movable adhesive transfer bar co-acting with the staging bar for seizing the staged line of letters en bloc, transferring them to the signblank, and installing them thereon. Different embodiments incorporate different features facilitating stripping each line of letters from the staging zone.

Abstract: The efficiency of a convective heating system employing an elongate firebox is dramatically increased by, inter alia, increasing combustion zone volume to approach that of the firebox and increasing residence time of rising combustibles at ignition temperatures.