Abstract: Improved manhole cover locks are disclosed that fit into existing access recesses in the covers and engage the rim of the manhole cover housing at one end thereof and latchingly engage the underside of the manhole cover thereof. A tamper proof bolt provides adjustability to the latch from the top of the lock.

Abstract: A manually operable ceiling tile cutting tool has a blade slidably retained in one of several pockets or slots in the tool. Each of the pockets formed by complementary grooves and ridges defines a flat blade receiving surface, is a differing predetermined distance from a bottom of the tool which corresponds to a standard dimension in a ceiling tile relief for a suspended ceiling.

Abstract: A package for storing and transporting a stack or column of nested ice cream cones that is hollow, round in circumference with a cylindrical top portion and a conical bottom portion that converges toward a radially extending base. A circular cover snaps on an open top and an enclosure snaps on the bottom to form a base. The package is made of food safe plastic and is shaped to look like a baseball bat.

Abstract: A single electronic device is disclosed that splits a transport stream in order to simultaneously produce NTSC and ATSC standard outputs with the same video and audio content so that the same content can be viewed side-by-side on a standard definition NTSC television and an ATSC digital HDTV set at the same time.

Abstract: A vibration isolation platform utilizes a plurality of viscoelastic polymer blocks sandwiched between rigid plinths or boards and stacked on top of one another to provide vibration damping additively per layer of the sandwich. Smaller viscoelastic blocks are positioned between the edges of the plinths and the sidewalls of a framework in which the sandwich is mounted to compensate for lack of shear stress in the larger blocks. The platform is pre-loaded to optimum isolation and locked down at the required compression. Optimum isolation is achieved for any electronic component positioned on the platform up to the design weight limit.

Abstract: A pair of elongated, thin, flexible, plastic strips capable of being secured together linearly, around an object to be anchored, such as a bundle of wires, or pipe. One of the strips has means for securing the device to a panel such as a wall.

Abstract: An improved bit assembly for road milling, mining, and trenching equipment includes a streamlined tip assembly that is a combination of conical and cylindrical in shape and devoid of protrusions or annular indentations that might impede the flow of removed material over and around the bit assembly or provide space for removed material to become clogged or imbedded on the tip assembly. The assembly further includes a generally cylindrical spacer that allows a bit removal tool access to the bottom of the assembly to aid in bit removal.

Abstract: An articulated guard rail reflector assembly includes a standardized base adapted for mounting the corrugations of a metal guardrail or on top of a guard rail and a pair of interchangeable top reflector holding members, one being circular in outline and one being trapezoidal in outline to fit in the corrugation of a metal highway barrier. The base member and the reflective member are joined by a spring steel L-shape clip that snaps into place. The base and reflector holding members may be made of sheet or galvanized metal, aluminum, polycarbonate plastic, ABS plastic or the like. The L-shape member is made of spring steel and allows the reflector to be moved backwardly of its direction facing traffic by either brushing forces rubbing against the guardrail, or by the pressure of packed snow being pushed against the guardrail by a motor vehicle carrying a snowplow or the like. Preferred reflector material includes plastic lenses and/or reflective tape.

Abstract: A high definition television player records and plays back HDTV signals in a closed circuit to demonstrate high definition television. The signals are recorded on a hard drive, CD, DVD or the like in discrete 2-meg data blocks, with each block of data being separately identified. The invention provides for continuous looping play of a desired program or programs by identifying the starting data block and ending data block of the program. The program play is begun at the starting block. When the program is finished at the end block, play continues at the start block, and so on until the stop button is pushed.

Abstract: A hydraulic press utilizes a product feed mechanism including a product lifting linkage capable of raising and lowering a product-holding platen while maintaining same in a precise horizontal position during such movement. The hydraulic drive for the lifting and lowering mechanism is capable of moving the platen to any precise vertical position and maintaining same at that position before, during and after press operations. In connection with the lifting and lowering mechanism, a linear motor horizontal drive mechanism is coordinated with the lifting mechanism to enable the product feed system to precisely position the platen anywhere along the travel of the linear motor. The combination of the lifting and lowering mechanism with the linear motor horizontal drive mechanism provides, when operated by an open architecture PC control system, a new and improved product feed mechanism more precisely controllable than heretofore known.

Abstract: A modular direct flow clean air delivery apparatus is disclosed that is particularly adapted for use in restaurants, banquet halls, meeting rooms, offices etc., where cigarette smoke and other pollutants need to be efficiently removed from the air in the room. The filtering and air moving apparatus may be mounted above a false ceiling in a whole room, or any part of a room, and includes remotely located air intakes and supplies, high capacity minipleat V-bank filters, and backwards curved impeller blowers mounted in the duct work between the intakes, supplies and the filtering apparatus for utmost efficiency and uncompromised air movement in a room. The modular apparatus may also be suspended from high ceilings with the use of rigid ductwork.

Abstract: A suspect restraining device is disclosed that includes a device for extending and retracting a plastic-covered cable from one end of a housing and inserting the end of the cable in another end of the housing to selectably releaseably retain that end in the housing. When the free end of the cable is retained in the housing, the opposing end of the cable is restrained in its movement to only allow retraction of the cable into the housing, thus snugly fitting the cable around the torso of a suspect to be detained. The housing may be mounted in vertical position on the wall of a building or on the inside of a police wagon or corrections vehicle or on the outside of a police squad car.

Abstract: An improved bit assembly for road milling, mining, and trenching equipment includes a streamlined tip assembly that is a combination of conical and cylindrical in shape and devoid of protrusions or annular indentations that might impede the flow of removed material over and around the bit assembly or provide space for removed material to become clogged or imbedded on the tip assembly. The portion of the bit block which mounts on a drum or endless chain extends from a cylindrical portion of the bit block and provides opposed angled shoulders which extend downwardly and away from a central ridge on the bit block to again provide for efficient flow of removed material over and around the bit block.

Abstract: An 8-VSB modulated signal is produced using software to randomize, encode and interleave an MPEG II data signal and then converting the 2-bit encoded signals to 3-bit encoded signals using hardware.

Abstract: An improved bit holder with its mating bit block is disclosed utilizing a slight taper in the bit block bore, and a tapered shank on the bit holder that includes a second larger diameter tapered distal segment that combines with an axially oriented slot through the side wall of the bit holder shank to allow a substantially larger interference fit between the distal tapered shank segment and the bit block bore than previously known. When inserting the bit holder in the bit block bore, the distal first tapered segment resiliently collapses to allow insertion of that segment into the bit block bore. A second shank tapered portion axially inwardly of the first distal tapered portion. The dual tapered shank allows the insertion of the bit holder in the bit block with an interference fit that provides a secure mounting of the bit holder in the bit block.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for capturing and storing digital high definition television signals. The signals are taken from an input device in 8-bit parallel fashion at a constant flow rate and put into each of four 8-bit first in-first out memory registers until they are half full. After the respective first in-first out memory registers are half filled, additional quantities of data equal to half filling the registers are added while the data from the first half register filling is presented to the system memory as 32 bit words. That data is filled into a first of two concurrent blocks of system memory and after the first block is filled, while the second block is filled, the data is written from the first of the two concurrent blocks into another part of the system memory. The transfer of the 32-bit data words is accomplished at a faster rate than the input rate of the 8-bit data.

Abstract: A skimmer filter assembly includes a hollow skimmer box including therein an accordion pleat weir-type water inlet, substantially vertically positioned filter mats and a submersible or external water pump positioned at the rear of the skimmer box. A filter mat holder and dirty sump retain the filter mats in a stable, slightly off vertical position and provide for removal of the dirty sump without repositioning the weir or water pump. The water pump is positioned in a portion of the skimmer box which is not vertically restricted, thus allowing multiple size water pumps to be utilized in their standard upright position without removing the mats to make room for large pumps and providing for servicing or removal of the pumps without disturbing the filter mats the filter mat holder, the dirty sump or the water inlet weir.