Abstract: An article of footwear contoured to the foot of a wearer is constructed by first making a rough sole element. The element is made by taking a negative impression of a wearer's foot while in a non-weight bearing neutral biomechanical alignment. The edges and undersurface of the rough sole element are then contoured to form a finished sole which acts to maintain the neutral biomechanical alignment while in use.

Abstract: A housing for miniature halogen lamps is assembled from extruded tubular segments by means of a coupler tube fixed to one segment and frictionally insertable into the other segment which carries a track swivel mount and a lamp socket connected to electrical supply wires. The socket carries a reflector which is closely received and supported within the coupler tube and is easily accessible upon separation of the segments.

Abstract: A prone patient positioner is provided which includes about four padded pylon members mounted on a beam or rail structure. The pylon members are positionable along the beams structure so as to provide a padded pylon at each of the patient's forehead, chin, upper chest and pelvic area. The prone patient positioner is strapped to and movable with the patient.

Abstract: A pull-type blind fastener has a pin slideable through a tubular selectively annealed sleeve, the pin having a pin head permanently bonded to a blind side end of the sleeve, a hollow rivet head formed on the opposite end of the sleeve, and a raised abutment on the rivet head engageable by a conventional rivet setting tool. The rivet head collapses under the differential pulling force applied by the setting tool to a condition of reduced aperture for engaging a stop shoulder on the pin thus limiting axial pin travel at a flush breaking position.

Abstract: A linear mechanical drive with precise end of travel load positioning includes a drive shaft having a threaded portion intermediate two non-threaded portions, reversible motor drive turning the shaft, a load carrier element threaded on the shaft for pulling the load along the shaft, the carrier disengaging at the non-threaded portions thereby to precisely determine the end position of the carrier irrespective of continued drive shaft rotation. The carrier reengages to the threaded portion upon reversal of drive shaft rotation, and a load connector on the carrier element is adjustable for precisely positioning the load at one or both of the end of travel positions. Other features disclosed protect the drive against excessive mechanical wear and disengage the load from the carrier element for strain relief.

Abstract: A novel entertainment game played on a board with two opposite end zones and an intermediate grid field. Two players take turns between offensive and defensive roles in successive plays. The offense seeks to score a touchdown by moving a ball into the opponent's end zone, while the defense seeks to block or intercept the ball by moving respective play pieces on the grid according to specified rules.

Abstract: A web attachment for holding a tubular ball container to a tennis racket cover consists of four segments of pliable ribbon joined at their ends to form a rectangular frame, a fifth segment of pliable ribbon secured at one of its ends to the midpoint of one of the four segments and lying exteriorly to the frame and terminating in a free end, and adhesive material on two of the four sides and on the free end for attachment of the web to the racket cover.

Abstract: A fluid tight metallic blind rivet, for aerospace applications, is disclosed comprising a tubular rivet body that is obtained by providing an outer ductile sleeve or jacket on an approved aerospace rivet body wherein the rivet is set by collapsing the body by means of a pull-stem that is locked relative to the body when the rivet is set.

Abstract: An external combustion engine is provided with an engine body containing a cylinder, a working fluid within the cylinder, and a displacer piston reciprocable between two ends of the cylinder. A heat exchanger matrix permeable to said working fluid is provided at one end of the cylinder. The movement of the displacer establishes a flow path through a limited portion of the matrix such that the working fluid exchanges heat with different portions of the matrix at different displacer positions as the fluid is displaced between the two ends of the cylinder.

Abstract: A walking aid adapted for use either before or behind the invalid user and comprising a pair of tubular side sections spaced apart and connected by a transverse brace at one pair of opposed ends to form a four legged free standing walker frame. Each side section support and adjustably disposable upwardly extending hand support enable the latter to be best positioned for the user and for the use of the walker in either its fore of after the patient position.

Abstract: Housings for high intensity lamps are assembled from extruded elements interlocking without fasteners. The assembled housings feature longitudinal ventilation slots for convective cooling of the fixture. The ventilation slots have grooved edges for receiving mounting hardware which can be continuously positioned at any point along the housing.

Abstract: A high temperature resistant liner of refractory material is used to line the displacer chamber so as to permit engine operation at temperature beyond those possible with metallic chamber walls. A compression sleeve or ring of high tensile strength material circumferentially encompasses the liner and preloads the liner against the forces of the highly pressurized working fluid in the displacer chamber.

Abstract: A furnace or furnace-and-pot heating system comprises an inner shell, an outer shell surrounding the inner shell to form a duct between the two shells for preheating combustion air flowing down the duct to enter a combustion chamber within the inner shell. A container or pot for heating material such as water or foodstuffs may be supported inside the inner shell and above a combustion zone, such pot to be of diameter to form with the inner shell an annular flue for escape of combustion products. Draft control means are provided to regulate the amount of combustion air entering the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A single line pair power control system is disclosed and consists of a reflex module supplying direct current of a first or a second polarity to the control line pair. The polarity of the reflex module reverses in response to a drop in the voltage between the control lines. One or more command modules may be connected between the control lines for short circuiting the two lines to thereby cause polarity reversal of the reflex module. One or more power control relays may be connected to the control lines, such that the relay switch ON for one polarity state of the control lines and are switched off for the opposite polarity of the control lines, thereby controlling power to a load. Also disclosed are an extender module for extending the length of the control lines beyond the length that can be driven by the reflex module, and override circuits for disabling the operation of the command modules, and a special interface which allows control of the reflex module through logic level signals.

Abstract: A stationary dot matrix printer for printing both continuously variable and repetitive information on a moving substrate utilizing a continuously driven endless loop of ink absorbing web material and either a solvent laden wick to wipe the print wires or a composite web having a non ink-absorbing impact layer on the print head side of the web. A shuttle element drives the web reciprocally in a lateral direction to distribute the wear.

Abstract: A disposable sanitary napkin comprising an elongated absorbent pad having two opposite faces extending between two pad ends and two side edges has a reversible bag of substantially impermeable material affixed to one pad face such that the bag may be reversed to wrap and contain the pad after the used pad has been rolled up for hygienic disposal after use.

Abstract: An improved telescoping retainer for dental prostheses includes a coping mounted to an abutment tooth and having an endless O-ring groove formed about the outer axial surface of the coping in a plane generally transverse to the coping axis. The coping mates closely with a retainer cavity in the dental prosthesis and has a complementary O-ring groove defined in the retainer surface. A resilient O-ring is fitted over the coping such that the ring cross section is partly received within the coping groove and partly within the retainer groove, thereby forming a resilient interference fit between the dental prosthesis and the coping. A method for making the grooved copings and retainers is disclosed.

Abstract: This fish securing device has a relatively small diameter cylindrical axial assembly to which are hinged a number of fish securing arms. A spring loading mechanism contained within the axial assembly urges the hinged arms towards a closed fish securing position by means of an actuating linkage arm associated with each securing arm. A cocking and trip mechanism is actuatable upon tugging on a fish lure connected to one end of the axial assembly for releasing the securing arms from an open cocked position towards their closed position to secure a fish tugging on the lure. The device features an improved, compact, streamlined configuration whereby the spring loading mechanism is contained within the central tubular assembly and wherein the cocking and trippng mechanism and securing arm actuating linkages are disposed in a relatively protected position between the securing arms and the central axial assembly to minimize the possibility of damage or of entanglement with underwater growth, rocks or debris.

Abstract: A combination toothpick dispenser/matchbook is disclosed in comprising a matchbook provided with a cover foldable against an opposite match-carrying portion of the matchbook, the cover having an inside surface, a toothpick dispenser attached to the inside surface, the dispenser including a pocket for receiving lower ends of toothpicks inserted therein, a retainer for holding the intermediate portions of the toothpicks flat against the inner cover surface, and a flap covering the upper ends of the toothpicks, both ends of the toothpick, that being cover for sanitary purposes and security while being readily accessible for individual removal. The combined matchbook/toothpick dispenser is disclosed in two different embodiments and a separate self-contained toothpick dispenser is also disclosed.