Abstract: An artificial larynx consists of (1) a first unit mounted in the mouth comprising a dental prosthesis, including a loud speaker, a power amplifier, a self-contained power source, plus a radio frequency receiver, and (2) a second unit held in the hand equipped with an input control device, self-contained power source, electronic circuitry and transmitter allowing the user to alter the frequency and volume produced by the unit in the mouth. The construction and components of the unit allows laryngectomees to speak with both a natural sound and a high degree of intelligibility.

Abstract: A two-step press type transfer operation is made practical by a particular rendering of pictorializations for use upon the transfer sheets. A pictorialization should have a major portion of some object in the center of the pictorialization or a portion of a pictorialization in which a segmentation or division of such pictorialization is to be made so that one portion of the pictorialization may be placed upon one transfer sheet and a second portion of the pictorialization placed upon a second transfer sheet. Substantial straight linear portions of such pictorialization of this area are avoided and the division between the two portion of the image are run along nonlinear borders upon the edge of clearly defined structures within the pictorialization.

Abstract: A disk brake for textile yarns is mounted upon a horizontal brake support for a warp creel with the disk axis disposed perpendicularly to the brake support. The upper disk can be adjustably loaded for adjusting the braking force. The entire adjustable range of the brake can be controlled with a single spring, which is below the horizontal brake support. The brake spring is disposed parallel to the brake support and is attached at one end preferably to an adjuster that can be shifted relative to the brake support and at the other end to a pivoting lever arm which presses vertically downwardly on the upper disk under the influence of the brake spring.

Abstract: An oiless surface for a bowling lane is formed from a high density polyolefin and particularly a high-density polyethylene having a reduced friction surface with alternating high and low points. The high points contact a bowling ball passing over or resting upon such surface and are sufficient in area and close enough in spacing to support such bowling ball passing across such surface from any substantial up-and-down movement. The reduced height points are low enough with respect to the high points not to be contacted by the surface of the ball and extensive enough in area to provide a surface exerting less frictional retardation upon the surface of a bowling ball spinning upon the surface than a flat, smooth surface made of the same material.

Abstract: Thick layers of hard dense chromium coatings are formed on metal substrates by an electrolytic brush plating operation in which a lead-tin electrode having a porous polypropylene felt topped by an polypropylene molded brush element is maintained during coating continuously over the area to be electrolytically coated. The correct current density and flow of electrolytic coating solution as well as relative movement between the anode and brush element and the work piece are closely controlled to enable the hard chromium coating to be produced.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the length of textile material wound onto a lap beam and in particular, onto a dyeing beam, having (a) a pressure roll bearing upon the beam lap and mechanically connected with a displacement detecting transducer that emits measurement impulses, (b) a beam-driven shaft encoder that emits a predetermined number of calculation impulses for each revolution of the beam, and (c) a computer that calculates the partial lengths of the laps (lt) from the measurement impulses and the calculation impulses. The displacement detecting transducer is movably or slidingly interengaged with an elongated linear member in the form of a toothed rack hinged so that a projection of one end always intersects the longitudinal axis of the lap beam.

Abstract: A self-injection facilitating device is made in the form of two arm portions having body contacting jaws at one end and manipulating handles at the other. The jaws are biased toward each other by a spring and have a sharp taper at the inner sides opposed to each other to effectively grasp the flesh at the surface of the body when applied thereto in order to pucker the flesh into a small mound into which an injection can conveniently be made with a hypodermic needle using only one hand. An adjustment arrangement for either the position of the pivot point of the arm portions or the distance of the arms apart at the pivot point is provided.

Abstract: A reinforcing plate for reinforcing a doorjamb to prevent break-ins and particularly kick-ins of the door by unauthorized persons is mounted in back of the doorjamb in the space between the jamb and the door frame. In order to install the reinforcing plate behind the doorjamb, the interior trim strip is removed from the door frame and the reinforcing plate is mounted behind the doorjamb, preferably by the use of shims to temporarily jam the plate between the doorjamb and the door frame. While the reinforcing plate is temporarily secured by a wedging means against the back of the door frame, holes are drilled in the door frame and through the reinforcing plate using appropriately-sized drill bits. Self-tapping threaded screws are then passed through the doorjamb and screwed tightly into the reinforcing plate the attach the plate to the doorjamb and reinforce the jamb. As an alternative, special fastenings are provided to fasten the striker plate to the reinforcing plate.

Abstract: An anti-skid mechanism for vehicles interposes a series of blades or fins between the wheels and the road surface. The fins are mounted upon a sprocket chain or endless belt which rotates about a pair of sprocket wheels with straight section of the sprocket chain aligned near the contact point of the tire with the road. The fins are consecutively laid upon and removed from the road surface in a straight line between the wheel and the road surface. The flat sprocket chain and its mounting upon the sprocket wheels provides a high degree of stability of movement of the blades which in conjunction with the straight orientation of the chain or belt and attached blades under the wheel maximizes the static coefficient of friction between the wheel and the road.

Abstract: A thermoplastic molded sheath for a knife grips the knife tightly to prevent accidental loss or withdrawal. The security of such grip is sufficient to enable the knife to be carried in the sheath in an inverted position upon the body of the wearer. The sheath is made by thermoforming a rigid yet resilient thermoplastic about a knife blade having the exact dimensions of the blade which is to be carried within the sheath. The thermoformed sheath may be attached at its bottom to a pocket-sized semirigid pocket-retaining clip, which clip, when inserted into a pocket, supports the sheath in an inverted position with the blade of the knife extending upwardly and the hilt of the knife in a convenient position for drawing from the sheath. The combination of the orientation of the sheath and the pocket retaining clip places a minimum stress upon a pocket and is comfortable to wear.

Abstract: A fluid driven adjustable speed rotary trowel for troweling a resin/aggregate topping over a substrate weighs not more than 40 pounds nor less than 20 pounds. The attack angle of the troweling blades is adjustable either manually or continuously and automatically by angle-sensing and adjusting means which is also fluid driven without the need to stop the trowel during operation. Aggregate/resin ratios of 5:1 or less will trowel to a smooth finish.

Abstract: A filtering arrangement is provided for effluent from a septic tank prior to passage to a drain field or other disposal. The filtering arrangement makes use of an open-top, U-shaped filter means into which the septic effluent is conducted from the top, preferably through a T-fitting providing an open-topped channel leading into the U-shaped filter. The filter is preferably formed of an outer perforated casing and an inner lining of an open-cell-type polymeric material which effects the filtering of the effluent. The U-shaped filter is preferably suspended from the T-fitting. The arrangement provides fail-safe filtering automatically adjustable for varying flow rates and conditions of the filter. The polymeric filter medium is changed periodically to maintain efficiency.

Abstract: A cross coupling arrangement for two bars disposed at right angles to one another and provided with undercut longitudinal grooves, having a screw bearing a head and disposed parallel to the symmetry axis of a longitudinally running bar in an undercut longitudinal groove of same, whose other end engages a nut disposed in an undercut longitudinal groove of the transversely running bar, and whose head abuts against a cylindrical insert which is installed axially in the undercut longitudinal groove of the bar and which has a through-bore for the screw.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for partially automating the placement of litter bags in animal litter pans. The apparatus uses two pivoted arms over the tops of which the upper portion of a litter bag may be folded when the arms are extended upwardly. The arms are then pivoted downwardly to spread out the litter bag either in a litter pan or upon the base upon which the pivoted arms, which operate in a scissors action, are pivoted. Thus the apparatus also provides a means for complete elimination of an animal litter pan. Litter may be placed within the litter bag either before it is folded over the pivot arms or after. When the litter arrangement has been used by the animal to an extent such that it should be replaced, the pivot arms are extended upwardly and the bag is removed and secured at the top after which is can be disposed of in the normal manner.

Abstract: A self-injection facilitating device is made in the form of two arm portions having body contacting jaws at one end and manipulating handles at the other. The jaws are biased toward each other by a spring and have a sharp taper at the inner sides opposed to each other to effectively grasp the flesh at the surface of the body when applied thereto in order to pucker the flesh into a small mound into which an injection can conveniently be made with a hypodermic needle using only one hand.

Abstract: An adjustable brush for cleaning sprocket chains, particularly on motorcycles, has a three-sided adjustable rectangular cleaning channel, one wall of which is adjustable manually during use inwardly and outwardly to change the width of the cleaning channel while maintaining the rectangular configuration of said channel. The brush allows effective cleaning on three sides of a sprocket chain simultaneously. Various improvements are possible including the use of rollers to facilitate smooth movement of the brush surfaces over the sprocket chain, the use of a transversely movable or adjustable intermediate brush at the head of the cleaning channel and the use of a closed four-sided cleaning channel.

Abstract: An apparatus for influencing the position of a boat in water, with trim flaps disposed on either side of the longitudinal axis of the boat, the flap angles of said trim flaps always being adjustable by a drive with a control device, which acts upon all the flap drives in dependence on a central control switch, which comprises several control contacts assigned to the tilting directions of the boat.In order to control the position of the boat in the water automatically, the apparatus is designed so that the control switch comprises at least one movable, gravity-dependent contact-making body, which automatically activates the control device via the control contacts when the boat tilts.

Abstract: A digesting system for disposal and separation of the component materials, including potentially toxic materials, from used fluorescent tubes, wherein the fluorescent tubes are fractured with a rotating fracture blade while passing stripping air through the fracture zone and the fractured glass is then passed countercurrently through a countercurrent flow zone with a rapid flow of stripping air. As the fractured glass particulates descend or fall through the countercurrent flow stripping gas zone, they impact upon a plurality of baffles or impact surfaces that jar the particulates separating additional small powder particulates from the surface of the glass particles.