Abstract: An extensible antenna assembly defined by a strip wound into a coil and extensible out of the coil through a guide for forming the strip into an elongated tubular length. In two embodiments the strip is made of a metal whereby the tubular length establishes the antenna for radiating and receiving radio frequency energy and the coiled or wound coil portion defines a coil integrally coupled and electrically continuous with the tubular portion to define a variable inductive reactance for automatically maintaining the antenna resonant to a predetermined frequency in correlation with and responsive to the extended position of the antenna. An insulating means, comprising a strip in the first embodiment and a conical spindle in the second embodiment, insulates the turns of the strip defining the coil and is configured to change the inductance of the coil non-linearly in response to linear movement of the antenna.

Abstract: An impact energy-absorbing, relatively low density, urethane foam for use in automobile bumpers has a high content of urea linkages and is relatively temperature insensitive, i.e. gives approximately the same physical performance over a wide range of temperature. The foam is water blown in a closed mold from a quasi-prepolymer system. The pack factor is preferably in the range of 1.5 to 8 and the molded density is in the range of 5 to 20 lbs./ft..sup.3.The foam formulation is based on a polyol of a poly (oxypropylene/ethylene) triol reacted with a styrene/acrylonitrile monomer mixture which triol thus modified is reacted with (1) a 50 to 150 equivalent weight polyol cross linker of 2 to 6 functionality, (2) a MDI or TDI/glycol or triol quasi-prepolymer and (3) some water.

Abstract: A lightweight bumper guard assembly for a vehicle bumper including a flexible, decorative outer skin member of predetermined shape including a front wall, side walls and upper and lower walls for defining a cavity opening to the rear of the assembly, a core element located within the cavity of the outer skin member for supporting the outer skin member, the core element including a rear surface which generally conforms to the exterior of the vehicle bumper and is adapted to engage the vehicle bumper, the outer skin member including integral flanges extending inwardly across the opening of the cavity and overlapping the core element to hold the skin member tightly to the bumper.

Abstract: An assembly for supplying a nutrient solution, such as water, to plants supported on a greenhouse bench, which retains the solution supplied thereto from a reservoir disposed immediately beneath the bench. A main source of liquid, such as water, is supplied through a main valve to a float-operated valve within the reservoir for maintaining a predetermined level of the solution within the reservoir. Also included is a fluid line interconnecting the bench and a pump disposed within the reservoir whereby the solution may be pumped to the bench through a check valve in the line and which prevents reverse flow. Also attached to the line is a solenoid actuated drain valve which drains the solution from the flooded bench and back into the reservoir.

Abstract: A ball cage retainer of the type including a pair of coextensive strips having annular pocket portions defined by truncated angular flanges to define ball retaining pockets for rotatably retaining balls between the strips with the strips spot welded together and a method and apparatus for assembling such a ball cage. The ball cage is utilized in a conduit of a motion transmitting remote control assembly for facilitating the movement of a motion transmitting core element within the conduit. The cage is assembled by indexing a pair of metal ribbon-like strips successively through a plurality of stations by two sets of fixed and movable clamping assemblies. The pocket portions, and alignment notches adjacent the pocket portions, are simultaneously formed in each of the strips at a first station as the strips pass through the first station in parallel relationship to one another. One of the strips passes through a second station and balls are placed in each of the pocket portions of that strip.

Abstract: An energy absorbing bumper assembly including a mounting means defined by metal mounting plates adapted for attachment to a vehicle and an elongated shell made of elastomeric material disposed adjacent or forwardly of the mounting plate. Urethane energy absorbing pairs of blocks are disposed adjacent the center line of the bumper assembly between the front face of the shell and the mounting plate. Each pair includes first and second members which are spaced vertically apart and define a cavity adjacent and interiorly the front face of the shell. Second energy absorbing urethane pairs of blocks are disposed adjacent the ends of the assembly between the front face of the shell and the mounting plate. The pairs define the first bumper means for absorbing a first quantity of energy resulting from specified impacts.

Abstract: A quasi-prepolymer-type urethane foam for a reaction injection molding (RIM) system comprises, for the polyol side, a blend of a long-chain polyol with a short-chain diol and/or triol and an organometallic catalyst and, for the prepolymer side, a unique high--27 to 31% --free NCO quasi-prepolymer made by reacting an essentially pure MDI with a selected low molecular weight (240 to 1500) polyol having a functionality of about 2.7 to 3.3. The selected low molecular weight polyol is specifically a polyether polyol (i.e. a polyoxpropylene and/or ethylene polyol) initiated with TMP, hexanetriol, glycerine or other suitable polyol. The quasi-prepolymer, while having the expected high reactivity, surprisingly gives good rapid cures in less than 2 minutes. The resulting urethane foam is characterized by its excellent low temperature properties, especially -20% F cold flexibility and -20% F dart impact. The quasi-prepolymer storage stability can be greatly improved by the inclusion of a small amount of a liquid MDI.

Abstract: A furniture assembly, such as a metal box spring assembly, including slats defining support members for a plurality of coil springs. An aperture is formed in the metal support slat with an upset portion disposed about the periphery of the aperture and out of the plane of the support member and the tail of the coiled spring is inserted into the aperture and thereafter the upset portion is flattened toward the plane of the support member to force the periphery of the aperture into gripping engagement with the tail of the coil spring to retain the coil spring to the support member. The upset portion has a groove therein for receiving a radially extending support portion of the coil spring for receiving and positioning the radially extending support portion of the coil spring thereby positioning the entire spring.

Abstract: A circuit board storage cart assembly for transfer of circuit boards between assembly or work stations. The cart has end frame members and cross frame members. The end frame members have swivel casters for mobility. A pair of opposed channel assemblies each having a plurality of corresponding left and right-hand L-shaped channels are paired so that each pair of channels may support a circuit board. The plurality of channels of each channel assembly are vertically connected by two outer posts adjacent and interconnecting the outward ends of the channels and a middle post interconnecting the inner ends of each channel. Each channel has two sloping portions with each portion sloping downwardly at a five degree slope from the outer ends to an apex at the inner ends to define a "V" angle in order to prevent the delicate boards from inadvertently sliding out. The outer posts have stops adjacent their ends and the ends of the outer posts are disposed in a tubular member.

Abstract: An automatic dispensing nozzle of the type for dispensing liquid such as gasoline, or the like, into a container and for automatically shutting off when the container is full. The assembly includes a housing having a fluid inlet and an outlet with the fluid passage extending therebetween and a valve disposed in the passage with a valve actuating stem extending exteriorly of the housing. A handle guard including a downwardly extending guide portion and a forwardly extending guard stem. A handle is pivotally supported at a front end adjacent the connection of the handle guard to the housing and extends to a rear end disposed adjacent the guide portion of the handle guard and engages the valve actuating stem for moving the valve actuating stem upon pivotal movement of the handle. The guide portion of the handle guard includes a forwardly extending rib and the rear end of the handle means is bifurcated to define flanges disposed on either side of the rib.

Abstract: A sofa bed assembly of the type which includes a roller and track arrangement for guiding the movement of the folded bed frame between the storage compartment and the deployed position wherein the roller of the roller assemblies are retractable to provide a quick release connection between the bed frame and the support frame so that the two components can be easily assembled and disassembled.

Abstract: A bed assembly comprising a metal frame of generally rectangular configuration including a pair of opposed side rails and a pair of opposed end rails and a plurality of metal slats extending transversely between the side rails in spaced parallel relationship to one another and to the end rails. Both of the end and side rails have a hollow cross section along their respective lengths. The hollow cross section in each of the rails is defined at least by two metal members welded together. The end rails of a first embodiment and all of the rails of a second embodiment are defined by a pair of U-shaped members having their legs overlapping with the bases of the U shapes spaced from one another to define the hollow cross section. The side rails of the first embodiment are defined by channeled members having a channel extending therealong and a plate-like strip covering the channel to define the hollow cross section.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for igniting the air-fuel mixture within a rotary combustion engine. A primary transformer core half and its primary winding are positioned in the upper cover plate of a Wankel rotary engine. Three spark plugs are electrically connected to their own secondary transformer core halves and secondary windings in a hollow rotor piston. The transformer core halves are arranged so that whenever the rotor is in correct position for ignition to occur (around T.D.C.) the primary transformer core half and one secondary transformer core half are in proper alignment for magnetic flux coupling between the two transformer core halves. When so coupled, high voltage necessary for spark plug firing is induced in the secondary winding whenever the primary winding is excited with an alternating current generated by a gated power oscillator.

Abstract: An amplified microphone assembly for increasing the intelligibility of transmitted speech and including a microphone element, an audio amplifier, an auxiliary power supply and a push-to-talk switch. The microphone element converts an audio signal to an electrical signal while the audio amplifier amplifies the electrical signal. The auxiliary power supply supplies power to the audio amplifier when the push-to-talk switch is actuated, at which time an audio signal from the amplifier is sent to a radio transceiver. The power supply is chargeable and includes a charging circuit for charging the power supply. A connecting cable connects the microphone assembly to a transceiver and includes an audio lead and two push-to-talk leads which place the transceiver in the transmit mode when the push-to-talk switch is actuated.

Abstract: A catheter assembly including a plastic tube having a cup-shaped bulb at one end and which is oval in cross section. The walls of the bulb are thicker than the remainder of the tube and a hub is molded about the bulb both interiorly and exteriorly thereof. The bulb is formed by placing the tube on a mandrel, which extends from a mandrel carrier, and thereafter placing the carrier on a base so that the upper end of the tube and mandrel extend through a slot and into a heating cavity defined by a housing. The upper end of the tube is subjected to radiant heat on opposite sides thereof to heat the circumference of the tube unevenly to form and define the cup-shaped bulb. The upper end of the tube is heated to a temperature close to its melting point.

Abstract: A respiratory mask including a mouthpiece in a breathing conduit or passage for conveying breathing gas to and from a breathing chamber. The breathing chamber has collapsible or diaphragm-like walls for expanding and contracting in response to the pressure of the ambient medium surrounding the mask, such as water, as the mask is utilized by a diver. A fresh air gas supply conduit is connected to the respiratory mask for supplying breathing gas to the breathing chamber upon the breathing demand of the wearer of the mask. The breathing gas in the breathing chamber is utilized twice as an exhaust valve connecting the breathing chamber with the ambient medium is maintained closed during two consecutive breathing cycles by an electromagnet which is energized through a replaceable battery in the mask and controlled through an electronic circuit responsive to a bellows which reacts to each breathing cycle of the wearer.

Abstract: A power booster assembly for a transceiver including a secondary rechargeable battery which is charged by a charging circuit during the receive mode of the transceiver and is automatically switched into series with a primary power source to power the transceiver during the transmit mode. A switching circuit connects or switches the secondary battery into series with the primary power source. In a first embodiment of the invention a sampling circuit senses the presence of a radio frequency voltage during the transmit mode to accomplish the switching. In a second embodiment of the invention the sensing circuit is responsive to the power load of the transceiver during the transmit mode to accomplish the switching. An adjustable resistor compensates for the power load differentials between the transmit mode and the receiver mode for different transceiver designs in the second embodiment.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of forming and subsequently heat treating articles of near net shape from powder metal which includes the steps of producing a thickwalled container by forming a cavity of predetermined shape in a mass of suitable container material such that the walls of the container are of sufficient thickness so that the exterior surface thereof does not closely follow the contour of the cavity, filling the container with powder metal, applying heat and pressure to the container such that the container material acts like a fluid to apply hydrostatic pressure to the heated powder contained in the cavity thereby consolidating the powder metal to produce a densified compact, preparing the densified compact for heat treating by selectively removing portions of the container to form a jacket of container material around the densified compact, heat treating the densified compact and completing removal of the container material.

Abstract: An axial piston pump assembly including a housing having first and second portions with the second portion being cup-shaped and closed by the first portion which defines a closure or cover. A cylinder barrel is rotatably supported in the housing and includes a plurality of piston cavities in which a plurality of pistons are reciprocatively supported. A cam reacts with the pistons for causing reciprocating movement of the pistons as the cylinder barrel is rotated about an axis of rotation. A spicket shaft extends from the cover portion of the housing and into a cavity in the cylindrical barrel. The spicket shaft has a thrust bearing supported at the distal end thereof.

Abstract: A reconditionable drill bit assembly comprising a drill bit body having a thrust face at one end and a head section separably connected to the drill bit body, the head section including a working face and an opposite rear face engaging the thrust face of the drill bit body, a plurality of bores extending through the head section and opening on the working face, the bores including a tapered seat portion adjacent the working face and a generally cylindrical section extending from the seat portion to the rear face, a tapered carbide cutting insert seated in the seat portion and a back-up pin located in the cylindrical section engaging the inner end of the cutting insert and the thrust face to hold the cutting insert in place whereby the cutting inserts are replaceable by separating the head section the drill bit body and removing the back-up pins and the cutting inserts through the cylindrical sections of the bores.