Abstract: Transportation equipment having at least one deck for supporting and transporting four-wheel vehicles such as automobiles and trucks; at least one track secured to the deck; the track having a pair of substantially upwardly extending spaced apart surfaces; chock blocks for a vehicle transported on the deck to secure the vehicle against longitudinal movement; each chock block having a horizontal first member which nests with the track and is quickly removable from such nesting arrangement by upward displacement; each chock block having a second member substantially horizontally positioned and permanently laterally joined to the first member; the second member having a sufficient length to extend along, and terminate beyond, the tread face of a tire of a vehicle located along side the track; and the chock block having a lock for removably securing the first member to the track, when in nesting position therewith, to prevent the chock block from horizontal movement along the track and upward movement from the tr

Abstract: A method for forming soft, resilient, smooth, energy dissipating articles from foamed partially cross-linked polyolefins wherein sheet stock is cut into a preform and the preform while at room temperature is positioned within a mold cavity formed by partible mold halves. The preforms and the cavity of the molds are so arranged and constructed that after molding there is no flashing needing trimming because the polyolefin is substantially confined within the cavity without any lateral projection into the parting surfaces of the mold.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for filling cases with a plurality of articles while arranged in a predetermined pattern. The apparatus includes a pair of staging areas disposed on opposite sides of a first station. Each staging area accommodates a predetermined number of articles. Disposed in vertical alignment with and beneath the first station is a second station wherein a predetermined number of cases are disposed. Adjustably mounted above each staging area is a carrier having a plurality of article gripper members. When the predetermined number of articles are accommodated at the staging areas, the gripper members engage the articles and raise same to preliminary stations above the staging areas. While at each preliminary station the gripped articles are arranged in a row and a selected article is segregated from the row and moved relative thereto in a direction towards the other row of gripped articles.

Abstract: The present invention is a solid marking composition which may be in the form of, for example, a crayon or a marking pencil lead which is washable from fabrics, wallpaper, and painted surfaces and which also has working properties which closely approximate those achieved in conventional crayons. The composition includes a polyethylene glycol resin having a molecular weight of at least about 7,000, a water soluble surfactant which is other than a liquid at room temperatue, and a pigment. Optionally, the composition of the invention may include one or more of a compatible viscosity modifier, a compatible plasticizer, an antifoam agent, and an inert filler.

Abstract: A paper guiding system for an acoustic printer enclosure which includes universally adjustable paper guides which slidably extend into the interior of the printer enclosure to direct printer paper across the gap formed between the paper transport system of a printer housed in the enclosure and the paper opening in a panel of the acoustic printer enclosure.

Abstract: A cylinder head gasket for an internal combustion engine is provided having a single first section of a hard gasket material, and a single second section of relatively soft gasket material which is disposed in spaced encompassing relation with the periphery of the first section. The first and second sections coact to form a narrow gap which substantially coincides with the peripheral configuration of the first section. At predetermined locations within the gap, the sections are interconnected whereby the sections will remain in assembled relation at least while the gasket is being positioned between the engine block and cylinder head of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A container is provided having a tray component and an independent cover component which is adapted to assume open and close modes with respect to the tray component. The components are interchangeable and each is provided with a recessed center portion having a base delimited by an angularly extending wall. An edge of the wall defines an open side. Each component also includes a laterally extending rim protruding outwardly from the wall edge. A predetermined first portion of the rim is provided with a first lock member and a predetermined second portion of the rim is provided with a second lock member. When the components are in the close mode, the first lock member of the tray component is in interlocking engagement with the second lock member of the cover component and vice versa.

Abstract: Apparatus for stacking a plurality of documents on one edge thereof in vertically disposed position which comprises a movable stacker carriage adapted for movement between a forward and a rear position. An upper stacking screw worm rotatable about a horizontal axis is rigidly attached to the movable stacker carriage and functions to move documents laterally away from the carriage and into stacked relationship. At least one lower stacking screw worm and preferably two lower stacking screw worms rotatable about horizontal axes are rigidly attached to the movable stacker carriage and function to move documents laterally away from the carriage and into stacked relationship. The upper and lower stacking screw worms are rotatable. The stacking apparatus is adapted for use with a device for delivering single documents thereto and the stacking apparatus can be used with a movable transport element such as a conveyor for transporting stacked documents.

Abstract: A ridge tillage attachment includes springs associated with a linkage which guides a tool and wheel support beam for vertical movement, the springs being mounted within the linkage envelop to provide a compact arrangement and being operative to apply required forces to to a tool and wheels carried by the beam, while facilitating disassembly of the attachment when desired. The attachment also includes a structure which securely connects wheel axles to the support beam with a clamping action while being adjustable to provide a large range of relative positional values.

Abstract: Novel biologically pure quick acting bakers yeast strains ATCC 20784, ATCC 20785, and ATCC 20786 are provided which show good performance in sweet, regular, and lean doughs, and superior performance in sweet and lean dough, particularly when used in the active dry yeast form. A method of obtaining these and other novel bakers yeast strains by hybridization via protoplast fusion of petite mitochondrial mutants is also provided. Improved methods of baking using these novel bakers yeasts especially in the active dry yeast form are also provided.

Abstract: A bracket assembly such as is used for hanging office furnishing components on vertical supports, e.g., slotted posts of office partition systems, includes a mounting bracket with a plurality of aligned, coplanar hooks for engagement with aligned slots of such supports and an interlock member pivotally mounted on the bracket, with a cam section at one end and a locking projection at the other. The cam section is positioned to enter a slot as the bracket is engaged on the support and thereafter engages the lower edge of the slot as the bracket is seated to rotate the interlock member and extend the locking projection into another of the slots. The locking projection is positioned to enter the slot as the interlock is rotated by the cam and thereafter is held in the slot by the interlock to preclude raising of the bracket for disengagement of the hooks except upon counterrotation of the interlock member by the user.

Abstract: A numeric encoding method and apparatus for neural networks, encodes numeric input data into a form applicable to an input of a neural network by partitioning a binary input into N-bit input segments, each of which is replaced with a code having M adjacent logic ones and 2.sup.N -1 logic zeros, the bit position of the least significant of the M logic ones corresponding to the binary value of the input segment it replaces. The codes are concatenated to form an encoded input. A decoding method decodes an output from the neural network into a binary form by partitioning the output into output segments having 2.sup.N +M-1 bits each, each of which is replaced with an N-bit binary segment being a bracketed weighted average of the significances of logic ones present in the output segment. The binary segments are concatenated to form a decoded output.

Abstract: In a store data communications system, multiple data sources having disparate communications standards are connected with respective device interfaces of a multiple device communications controller unit. Multiple protocol controllers are coupled with the respective device interfaces and convert the data from each to a common protocol for transmission via a single telephone line. The interface units preferably can be customized to operate with various data sources, a fiber optic coupler, or a modem, or another controller unit for convenient expansion. The device interfaces preferably have snap-in assembly with the controller unit so that device interfaces customized to different standards can be inserted or replaced at any interface receptacle, the multiple protocol controllers preferably being capable of corresponding re-programming by downloading from a remote station preferably via one of the device interfaces.

Abstract: A disposable cooking utensil is provided which comprises a metal foil pan and a handle assembly therefor. The pan includes a bottom panel, an upright side wall encompassing the periphery of the bottom panel and being connected thereto, and a rim connected to an upper edge of the side wall and extending laterally outwardly therefrom. A reinforcing bead encompasses the outer periphery of the rim. The handle assembly includes a first section and a transverse second section connected thereto. The first section has an elongate base subtending and supporting the pan bottom panel and side segments connected to opposite ends of the base and extending upwardly therefrom. The side segments are in proximity to first exterior portions of the pan side wall. Each side segment is provided with a handle which is adjacent the pan reinforcing bead and extends upwardly therefrom.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for mounting on a wheel rim a deflated run-flat type tire which has been loosely preassembled on the wheel. The apparatus includes a wheel support for accommodating the preassembled tire and wheel and retaining same in a horizontal plane. A locking member coacts with the wheel support and locks the preassembled tire and wheel in the horizontal plane. An upright post is fixed a predetermined radial distance from the wheel support and is radially spaced from the periphery of the accommodated tire and wheel. A clamp device is mounted for vertical and transverse adjustment on the upright post and is adapted to clamp a segment of the beaded inner edge of the tire sidewall against a portion of a flange formed on the rim of the accommodated wheel. An installer unit is mounted at a selected elevated position relative to the accommodated tire and wheel and is adapted to be manually rotated intermittently about the axis of the accommodated wheel.

Abstract: A palletized container is provided which includes a collapsible receptacle section supported and subtended by the upper surface of a pallet section. The receptacle section is adjustable relative to the pallet section between set up and collapsed modes. The receptacle section includes pairs of foldably interconnected outet wall panels. When the receptacle section is in a set up mode, the pairs of wall panels assume upright opposed relation. Each panel of a first pair of wall panels includes a pair of foldably connected panel segments which are adapted to assume a planar relation when the receptacle section is in the set up mode. When the receptacle section is in a collapsed mode, the panel segments of each panel of the first pair assume a folded face-to-face relation and are sandwiched between a second pair of outer wall panels whereby both pairs of outer wall panels overlie the pallet section upper surface. Each panel of the second pair has a flap connected by a foldline to the bottom edge thereof.

Abstract: A cap for use with marking instruments having a barrel which carries at one end a marking nib. The cap comprises a generally cylindrical shell which is open at both ends. A conical shaped nib sealing element is disposed within the interior of the shell and spaced from each end thereof. The nib sealing element is adapted to fit over and seal the marking nib and is spaced from the cap shell to permit air to pass therebetween.