Abstract: A unitary injection-molded plastic refuse collection box is adapted to reduce back strain during lifting. The box has a bottom and a generally rectangular side wall. A handle extends circumferentially about the side wall external to the compartment. The handle has a uniform inverted L-shaped cross-section, the cross-sectional dimensions of the handle being sufficient to permit a person to insert his fingers between the handle and the associated side wall to the second joints of his fingers. The upper handle portion has a lowermost terminating portion defining an expanded, downwardly-facing convex surface which comfortably engages the fingers. The user can grip the handle on opposing sides of the box with one hand adjacent to one corner of the box and his other hand adjacent to a diagonally opposite corner. The bottom is configured to avoid freezing to pavement with leakage of contained liquids.

Abstract: A local area network permits wireless transfer of digitized data among data processing machines in the interior of a building. The network includes a base station which may commonly be associated with shared network resources such as a host computer, print servers and file servers and a plurality of local stations each associated with a data processing machine such as a dumb terminal dependent on the host computer. The base station polls each local station to initiate a transmission of data to the base station. All data including request for data is transmitted as temporally spaced-apart packets spread spectrum modulated according to a pseudo-random noise code common to all stations and encoded onto an RF carrier which is common to all stations. The transmitted data packets include a synchronization code which permits proper spread spectrum decoding without loss of relevant data.

Abstract: A dinghy is towed from the stern of a sailboat or power boat with the stern of the dingy and associated motor forward and raised from the water. An associated towing mechanism includes a pair of rigid tubular members which are connected between the stern of the boat and the transom of the dinghy. Pivot connections permit upward and downward pivoting of the tubular members relative to the boat and permit pivoting of the dinghy upwardly and downwardly relative to the tubular members. A pair of rope lines support the tubular members against downward pivoting. The lines are releasably retained against paying out by a pair of line retainers adapted for installation on a pre-existing rail commonly mounted at the stern of many boats. An additional line permits the bow of the dinghy to be raised from the water and pivoted upwardly against the stern of the boat thereby permitting both dinghy and motor to be stored entirely removed from the water.

Abstract: Complementary laminations for a stator pole assembly and a cooperating rotor pole assembly of an electric motor or generator are produced simultaneously from a plate of magnetic material. The plate is stamped to produce an outer peripheral edge corresponding in shape to the exterior of an annular stator yoke and to produce a central aperture shaped to be received by an indexing element of an indexing table. The plate is then repeatedly indexed about its center in equal angular increments and a punch is displaced in a reciprocating rectilinear fashion synchronized with the indexing to punch a multiplicity of identical apertures equally-spaced circumferentially. The apertures are shaped to define internal edge surfaces in the plate corresponding in shape to radially inner surface of the stator yoke and to radially outer surfaces of a central hub of the rotor pole assembly and to define a multiplicity of identical radial webs.

Abstract: A tunnel for freezing scrap is adapted to reduce consumption of volatile liquid cryogens. The tunnel is supported in an inclined orientation and rotated to move scrap from a scrap inlet to a scrap outlet. A liquid cryogen is injected into the tunnel. The scrap inlet may incorporate a screw drive or other mechanism to reduce loss of gaseous cryogenic material. An exhaust conduit permits discharge of spent gaseous cryogen. The temperature of the spent gas is sensed and indicated, and the rate at which spent cryogen is exhausted and fresh cryogen is introduced is varied with the temperature. A discharge end of the tunnel contains an annular plate which prevents free discharge of liquid cryogen. A longitudinal rib attached to the interior surface of the tunnel adjacent the plate lifts scrap from liquid cryogen accumulating at the plate and drops the scrap through the central opening.

Abstract: Dewaxing control apparatus is adapted for use in a well casing containing a production tubing string defining an annulus within the well casing and a down hole pump which pumps oil upwardly through the production tubing. The apparatus has a housing adapted to be installed in-line with the production tubing. A passage in the housing places the annulus in communication with the interior of the production tubing for purposes of circulating a hot dewaxing oil. A cup packer positioned below the passage closes the annulus against downward liquid flows. A gas by-pass passage in the housing permits gases to be exhausted upwardly through the annulus during oil production despite the presence of the packer. A valve mechanism responsive to pressure developed by pumping hot dewaxing oil down the annulus closes the gas by-pass passage and opens the liquid transfer passage so that the dewaxing oil can flow into the production tubing and back up to the surface.

Abstract: A playback system permits two or more recordings associated with time condes to be retrieved synchronously at variable relative speeds. A master playback unit retrieves a master video recording and the associated master time code and a slave playback unit retrieves a slave audio recording and the associated slave time code. A microprocessor scales the slave audio time code to produce virtual slave time code, and the master and virtual slave time codes are compared to produce a virtual offset whcih is maintained substantially constant with speed control thereby synchronizing the operation of the master and slave playback units. An operator can select the magnitude of the virtual offset, and can also select the scaling factor used to produce the virtual slave code thereby varying the retrieval speed of the slave playback unit relative to the master playback unit, effectively compressing or expanding the slave recording relative to the master recording.

Abstract: An alarm for indicating when a fish strikes bait at the end of a line associated with a fishing rod. The alarm includes a plastic housing defining a receptacle with a rim and opening through which the fishing rod is and a separate compartment where a sound generating unit is stored. A movable receptacle part is integrally hinged to the housing and in a rest position defines a part of the rim against which the rod is rested. The receptacle part is deflected outwardly to a strike position when the fish takes bait, but is otherwise restored to the rest position by the resilience of the plastic forming the hinge. The sound generating unit is mounted on a plastic carrier which has a pair of prominent terminals connected to a speaker drive circuit. A pair of conductive clip elements within the compartment serve both to retain the carrier in a releasable snap fit and to electrically contact the circuit through the carrier terminals.

Abstract: A free-standing collapsible panoramic theatre is described. When assembled, the theatre includes a multiplicity of vertical screens arranged in a polygonal arrangement that defines an internal viewing region. The viewing screens are supported by a multiplicity of towers which are located external to the polygonal arrangement with one tower located at each vertical corner of the polygonal arrangement. Each tower has a base, a support structure extending vertically from the base, a manually-operable alignment mechanism which permits the vertical orientation of the support structure to be adjusted, a pair of upper and lower screen support brackets mounted for telescopic movement on the support structure and releasably retaining the pair of adjacent viewing screens at the vertical corner associated with the tower, and a projector support housing for supporting a projector.

Abstract: An automatic self-cleansing system for dispensing nutrient liquids to suckling animals is described. The system includes a liquid delivery system which can be selectively activated to dispense a number of liquids including a nutrient liquid composed for example of powdered milk and food additives mixed with water, a liquid detergent for cleansing and a rinsing liquid (most conveniently water) for rinsing of residual nutrient liquid or liquid detergent. Solenoid valves actuated by a preprogramed controller release the liquid appropriate to each nursing, cleansing and rinsing phase of operation to a conduit which conveys the liquid to a remotely located nursing device, which might be located in a pen confining the animals. The nursing device has a number of artificial nipples, and a liquid distribution system which includes a multiplicity of reservoirs corresponding in number to the artificial nipples.