Abstract: A container for disks has an improved latching mechanism. The container comprises a cassette with sidewalls with slots for holding disks in an axial arrangement, two opposite endwalls each have a U-shaped recess extending downwardly from the open top, a top cover with a rectangular top portion and two end portions extend downwardly to cover the U-shaped recess. The top cover latches to the cassette by way of a latching mechanism which includes a living hinge, an extension portion, and a hook portion all on each end portion. The hook portion cooperates and engages with a cooperative catch member on the cassette. The extension member is under tension to secure the top cover in place. In an alternate embodiment, recesses on the extension portion connect to nubs on the cassettes or on the bottom cover to secure the top cover in place.

Abstract: A ligature for the mouthpiece of a reed wind instrument. The ligature is a flexible, pliable, and adjustable clamp collar which, when fitted to a mouthpiece, complements the shape of a mouthpiece and associated reed. The clamp has two circumferential bands held in spaced relation by a plurality of ties, with the bands intended to be arranged along two planes, more or less perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the mouthpiece. The ligature has at least one, and preferably two, bars interposed between two of the longitudinal ties and arranged so that when the ligature is in use, the bars rest against a reed along their longitudinal extent.

Abstract: A reconstituted leather product and process for making. The reconstituted leather product can be finished to have the look and feel of real leather and physical properties equivalent thereto. The process is essentially dry and involves reducing leather materials to fibers, preferably not longer than one inch. The process further involves blending these fibers with synthetic fibers, a resin and optionally other additives, forming the mixture into a mat, curing the mat and pressing the mat into a reconstituted leather product.

Abstract: A drapery support and drawing structure having drapery guides, a rod mechanism and a drapery panel. Each of the drapery guides incorporate a plate and a rod engagement mechanism. The plates are inserted into uniquely spaced pockets on the back side of the drapery panel. The rod engagement mechanism slidably engages the rod mechanism. The rod mechanism incorporates an inner extension that extends and retracts within an outer extension; the outer extension alone may be supported by mounting brackets. When the inner extension is fully extended a flat panel drapery results. However, when the inner extension is partially or fully retracted the drapery guides are proximate each other and evenly spaced pleats are formed. At all times the rod mechanism is hidden behind the drapery panel. A drawing wand may be utilized to extend and retract the inner extension.

Abstract: The invention comprises a three-way diaphragm valve. The valve has a housing having three flow ducts each leading into an open interior chamber. The open interior chamber is divided into a central chamber, an upper chamber and a lower chamber. A first valve seat is positioned between the central chamber and the upper chamber. A second valve seat is positioned between the central chamber and the lower chamber. A central valve stem assembly is slidably mounted in the valve and has a first valve member and a second valve member positioned to alternately engage the first valve seat and second valve seat respectively, to direct flow from one passageway to another. A spring bears against the valve stem assembly to bias the relative position of the valve members and valve seats in a first predetermined position.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for holding firearm cartridges, such as shotgun shells, and other related accessories. The system may be utilized on wearing apparel such as hunting vests and belts, on structures such as duck boats and blinds, or on vehicles. The system has a rack portion that may be permanently secured to such apparel, structures, or vehicles. Attachable to the rack portion are rigid receivers with cylindrical bores sized to a particular size of cartridge. Each cylindrical bore has a tab extending inwardly into the cylindrical bore that provides an interference fit with the cartridges to secure the cartridges in place. The receiver and the rack portion have cooperating sliding engagement members to removably secure the receivers to the rack portion. The sliding engagement members on the rack portion are arranged on a plurality of sequential segments with breaks between each sequential segment.

Abstract: A wafer container has an open front defined by a door receiving frame and a door sized for the door receiving frame. The door receiving frame has slots on opposite sides and the door utilizes latching linkages and lifting linkages cooperate to extend, lift, lower and retract the latching portions from the door into and out of latch receptacles on the door receiving frame. The door may also have passive wafer cushions or active wafer engaging arms which extend inwardly toward the wafers to secure said wafers when the door is in place. The latching linkages, lifting linkages, and where desired the retaining arms are linked to rotatable cammed members in the interiors if the door. The cammed member utilizes cammed surfaces configured to first extend the latching portions in a first direction into the latching receptacles and to then move the latching portions in a second direction normal to the first direction to pull the door inwardly and to seal the door to the container portion.

Abstract: The present invention is a modular electronic sign having a plurality of display units assembled on a mounting track and connected to a sign controller. Each display unit has a circuit board having a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged in a pattern thereon A microprocessor in each display unit is in communication with the sign controller and adjacent display units. Each display unit is environmentally sealed to avoid a separate enclosure for the modular sign. A plurality of standoffs are used to electrically connect the display units to power and communications conductors and mechanically connect the display units to the mounting track.

Abstract: The ice fishing hole cover and indicator generally includes a base having a pole engagement end which is adapted to hold a conventional ice fishing rod and reel. A cover end is positioned opposite to the pole engagement end which includes a catch. A trip latch is provided which is adapted for adjustable and releasable engagement to the catch. The trip latch is rotatably engaged to the cover indicator which, in turn, is pivotally engaged to the cover end of the base. A fishing line is engaged to the trip latch to release the indicator cover from the cover end for vertical positioning relative thereto upon the taking of the bait by a fish. The base and cover end are adapted to be placed over an ice fishing hole, preventing the freezing thereof during ice fishing activities. The indicator cover, upon release from the cover end, functions to advise a fisherman as to the existence of a fish on the fisherman's line.

Abstract: A mail accumulating device having a number of stream forming units, each of which has a pair of powered belts superimposed at a point of contact defining the input of the unit. Each stream forming unit is provided with a sensor for detecting the passage of a mail item into the unit, and for generating a signal for activating the belts, thereby moving the mail items retained on the belts from the input to the output of the unit in discrete steps, and forming a group of overlapping mail items with the leading edges separated by a substantially constant distance. The device also includes a number of conveyor belt devices, each of which has an input communicating with the output of a respective stream forming unit, to enable the conveyor belt to receive a group of mail items at the input and feed the group of mail items to an output of the conveyor belt device to define an accumulating unit.

Abstract: A system for comparing digital images, whereby a first and second data processing block receive respective data streams corresponding to a reference image and a detected image for comparison with the reference image. The data processing blocks detect reference points in the images, and generate data, which is supplied to a block for determining a first approximation of the function A.sub.o relating the two images. The system also presents blocks for successively refining the function relating the reference image to the detected image. (FIG.

Abstract: A method for obtaining a gas sample from a sealed glass ampule containing a liquid and a gas, wherein the steps are immersing the sealed glass ampule in water beneath a collection chamber which is also immersed in water, breaking the glass ampule to permit the gas in the ampule to bubble upwardly into the collection chamber, inserting a hollow needle connected to a syringe into the collection chamber to obtain a sample of the bubbled gas, and injecting the obtained sample into a gas analyzer machine.

Abstract: A device for automatically reading checks, wherein a scanner includes a reading unit for reading an identification code on the check, and a reading unit for taking an image of the surface of the check, and the device also includes a central processing unit receiving the digitized image of the check, and for defining an the image, on the basis of the identification code, at least two subimages respectively containing the numeric amount and the alphabetic amount of the check. The device also provides for binary-coding the subimages to automatically read the numeric and alphabetic amounts in the binary-coded subimages, and for correlating the two amounts to elect a final amount, which is displayed on a video of the processing unit together with the image of the check.

Abstract: A box pallet having an open top, side plates and a bottom plate for surrounding the box pallet on four sides and a bottom, the bottom plate being divided into two bottom plate parts and being assembled to move in a downward direction for opening and closing, the box pallet including an actuation arm vertically pivotally supported by two opposite side plates, an interlocking member provided for interlocking between the actuation arm and the two divided bottom plate parts so as to permit opening and closing movement of the bottom plate parts, an actuation rod horizontally supported such that the actuation rod can change its position between a position on a pivotal locus of the actuation arm and a position out of the pivotal locus of the actuation arm and is engageable with and disengageable from the actuation rod, the bottom plate parts being held to be closed when the actuation rod is in engagement with the actuation arm, and the bottom plate parts being permitted to be opened when the actuation rod is in dise

Abstract: A seed coating apparatus for applying a coating fluid to seeds, consists of a seed input, a housing connected to the seed input, the housing having a seed output, a rotating seed dispersing member within the housing receiving seed from the seed input, a device adapted to produce a moving air curtain between the seed dispersing member and the seed output, whereby coating fluid applied to the seeds is kept within the seed coating apparatus by the moving air curtain, a rotating fluid dispensing member between the air curtain producing device and the seed output, and a source of coating fluid entering the housing. The rotating fluid dispensing member may preferably be a rotating bowl with apertures arranged vertically along the periphery, so that the fluid is dispensed along a vertical axis.

Abstract: An image forming device is adapted for placement on a surface on which pictures or characters are drawn or displayed. The image forming device includes a lens member including a plurality of distributed-index rod-like lens elements disposed in juxtaposed relationship with each other in a matrix-like arrangement and operable to map the pictures or characters as a visual real image on substantially one image plane in the air spaced from the surface. A touch-less display switch for use with a display device includes a sensor in addition to the lens member as in the image forming device. The sensor has a detection area corresponding to at least a part of the formed image on the image plane and operable to detect an object entering the detection area in a non-contact manner.

Abstract: The present invention is a vehicle having a mobile extremity pumping apparatus mounted thereon. The mobile extremity pumping apparatus comprises a control module, a driver module and one or more compression units. A two-layer bladder assembly is positioned between the inner layer and the outer shell comprising precompression and compression bladder layers. The precompression bladder layer extends longitudinally along the person's extremity with the individual bladders each wrapping around and arranged sequentially along the extremity. The precompression bladder layer is surrounded by a compression bladder layer mounted between the precompression bladder layer and the outer shell. A pump in the driver module compresses the media, which may be water, air, or similar media, and directs the compressed media to a manifold for distribution to each valve in the driver module.