Abstract: A method for injecting a plastic material into a mold cavity to precisely fill the mold cavity under low pressure and to avoid packing the mold cavity with plastic material. The plastic material is injected into the mold cavity at a rate sufficient to maintain an unbroken melt front and to avoid any spraying or splashing of the plastic material within the mold cavity. After an initial unbroken melt front is established, the rate at which the material is injected is increased in proportion to the size of the melt front. After a predetermined amount of the material has entered the mold cavity, the material is injected based upon a rate-dominated control algorithm which maintains the unbroken melt front. Once the mold cavity has reached a pre-determined level of fill, the rate-dominated control algorithm is changed to a pressure-dominated control algorithm to prevent overrunning the end point of the mold process and to eliminate splashing and associated backflow problems.

Abstract: A hitching device is provided for connecting a trailer to a towing vehicle. The device reduces shocks and vibrations that can be transmitted between the trailer and the towing vehicle. The hitching device mounts on the rear section of the towing vehicle. A swing plate has hitching means attached to it for connection with the trailer. The swing plate is connected to swing means which allow the plate to swing forward or rearward. As the swing plate moves forward and rearward the hitching means remain at a constant angular orientation. The swing plate has a central position wherein the swing plate is at a lowest level. As the swing plate swings forward or rearward out of the central position it moves to a higher level. Gravity tends to force the swing plate back to the central position when the swing plate is displaced from the central position. The swing of the swing plate reduces shocks that typically are transmitted between the trailer and the towing vehicle.

Abstract: An excavating machine is provided having an adjustable grooving device for forming a groove in the bottom of a trench. The excavating machine has a power unit, a supporting frame assembly operably attached to the power unit, an earth cutting device to form a trench behind the excavating machine, and a shoe assembly operably attached to the supporting frame assembly to prevent a cave-in of the sidewalls of the trench. The adjustable grooving device is attached to the bottom of and extends below the shoe assembly and is comprised by two arcuate groove plates which pivot relative to one another to form an arc of varying radius. A hand crank is operably attached to a linear actuator for pivoting the arcuate groove plates relative to one another to adjust the radius of the groove to be formed.

Abstract: A beam member for use in construction, particularly as a waler in concrete form assemblies, and a method of producing the same. The beam member is flexible to a preselected curvilinear shape and adapted to be held in said preselected curvilinear shape, and includes a flexible face and a plurality of flange members secured to and upstanding from the flexible face, the flange members being arranged side-to-side in two rows, one each of which rows is adjacent a corresponding one of opposing sides of the flexible face. Each of the flanges has a terminal end section extended parallel to the flexible face and is separated from an adjacent flange by a distance which increases from the attachment of the flange at the flexible face to said terminal end section whereby the beam member is laterally flexibly movable to conform to a preselected curvilinear shape. A strap is secured to the terminal end section of the flanges to maintain the preselected curvilinear shape of the beam member.

Abstract: An adjustable dental appliance for positioning and retaining absorbent polymer rolls in the oral cavity; in an anatomical location in the mandible (lower jaw) where the submandibular and sublingual glands secrete saliva that interferes with visibility during treatment and contaminates the application of moisture sensitive dental materials. The appliance consists of an adjustable dental device which engages the opposite convex surfaces of a tooth with a clasps joined to clasp arms which are mounted on a resilient transverse member. The relative displacement of the clasp arms are adjusted with a plier-like instrument that separates the clasp arms by stressing the tension of the transverse resilient member until the appliance is in place in relation to a tooth to be engaged. Adjacent to each clasp arm, a rectangular projection of metal and small diameter metal shaft, end free and unsupported to receive two absorptive polymer rolls.

Abstract: A seat unit is provided comprising a base structure and at least one cushion layer comprised of a random mesh of plastic filament between the base structure and the cover layer. The cushion layer not only provides adequate firmness, but has adequate air circulation therethrough. The perimeter of the cushion may be molded in with a plastic base structure, and there may be multiple cushion layers where each layer has a different density. The multiple layers of cushioning where each layer has a different density further allow the seat to have both a specifically desired firmness and air circulation therethrough. Also provided is a method for molding in the cushioning with the base structure as well as molding in a spring layer and a cover layer.

Abstract: A lockout device for selectively locking out the trailer brake actuator on a hitching device to allow for backing. The lockout device works on a hitching device having an inner housing connected to a pulling vehicle and an outer housing connected to a trailer. A brake actuator to activate the trailer brakes is connected between the inner housing and the outer housing. During towing, the actuator will activate the trailer brakes if the trailer approaches the pulling vehicle, as for example when the pulling vehicle slows and the trailer's inertia carries it towards the pulling vehicle. When the lockout device is in a lockout orientation, the lockout device prevents the inner housing from sliding rearward in the outer housing, thereby preventing the actuator from activating the trailer brakes. Upon an initial movement forward by the pulling vehicle, the lockout device will return to a neutral position so that the actuator is functional.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for sequentially molding a plurality of plastic articles within a single mold unit. A first mold section is provided with a runner system and a plurality of gates and a second mold section is provided with a plurality of recesses in operable alignment with the gates of the first mold section. When the second mold section is clamped into mating engagement with the first mold section, a plurality of discrete mold cavities are formed, each having at least one corresponding gate provided on the first mold section. A central processing unit signals an injection assembly as to the proper injection parameters for each discrete mold cavity. The central processing unit opens the gates sequentially, with each discrete mold cavity being filled according to its own set of injection parameters. By the present method, it is possible to mold a plurality of articles having different injection parameters, while using a single mold unit.

Abstract: A storable self-aligning towing assembly which allows universal pivoting about three axes between a towing vehicle and a towed vehicle. The towing assembly is self-supporting.

Abstract: An inhaler indicator for a dispenser of an inhaled medicament, for example an asthma medicine. An inhaler body is releasably attached to the dispenser and includes a port through which air is drawn when a user of the inhaler inhales preparatory to the administration of a dose of the medicament as is required for proper administration of such medicaments. The flow of air through the port activates an audio or visual signal generator, such as a whistle or a flag, that signals to the user that the user is inhaling and that conditions are appropriate for the administration of the medicament. In an alternative embodiment, an indicator for releasable attachment to a conventional metered dose inhaler includes a passageway through which air is drawn during an inhalation of a user prepatory to the discharge of medicament. A whistle in the passageway creates an audible tone when the conditions are appropriate for discharge of the medicament. The indicator is useful as a trainer of proper technique.

Abstract: A metal reinforced plastic article is provided and comprises a first plastic member and a second plastic member bonded together through a plurality of apertures in a metal reinforcing member. Preferably, the metal reinforcing member has a plurality of angled protrusions on a first and second side. The protrusions on the first side are pressed into the first plastic member and the first plastic member is bonded to the protrusions, and the protrusions on the second side are pressed into the second plastic member and the second plastic member is bonded to the protrusions.A method of forming a metal reinforced plastic article is provided and comprises providing a first plastic member and a second plastic member. A metal reinforcing member having a plurality of apertures therein, and having a plurality of angled protrusions on a first and second side is provided.

Abstract: A card printing and dispensing system located at the venue of an ongoing or recently completed entertainment event and including a video display monitor, a customer interface, a printer, and a computer control. A customer interested in purchasing a card selects using the customer interface from a variety of options displayed on the video monitor a desired card unique to the particular ongoing or recently completed entertainment event for printing and dispensing by the system. The system is particularly suited to printing and dispensing unique baseball cards which would include information corresponding to an individual game or series of games and available only at the venue where the individual game or series of games were actually played.

Abstract: A trailer break away safety mechanism which brings a trailer to a controlled stop after disengagement with a pulling vehicle. The mechanism consists of a cable which remains attached to the trailer after the trailer has disengaged from the pulling vehicle. As the trailer slows in relationship to the pulling vehicle, the cable actuates a braking mechanism on the trailer. Once the breaking mechanism has been fully actuated, the S-hook which attaches the cable to the pulling vehicle straightens, thereby completely releasing the trailer from the pulling vehicle. The cable is connected to a lever which pivots to actuate the braking system on the trailer. A catch spring and catch pin are provided to prevent the lever from inadvertently moving to its nonactuation position after the trailer has separated from the pulling vehicle. The use of the lever allows accurate and positive engagement of the trailer braking system which may be easily released by simply lifting a catch pin up and away from the actuated lever.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for dynamic analysis of images of a mobile object. An electronic signal corresponding to the images, for example, from a video camera, is input into a digitizer which identifies the coordinates of the periphery of the mobile object in each of the images. A digital processor processes the contour information and a computer controlled by a software program having image processing and graphics capabilities calculates a plurality of parameters representative of the shape and motion of the object. The output from the computer may be displayed in graphical representations tabular form, in the formation animations on a monitor, or in hard copy printouts of the tables, animations and other graphical representations.