Abstract: A self-locking nut has an annular body, an axial threaded bore, and a hexagonal exterior periphery. A small bore is drilled through the body parallel to the threaded bore adjacent to an apex of two peripheral flat surfaces. An L-shaped locking pin has a base leg received in that small bore, and an interference leg projecting into the threaded bore for interfering relation with a mating bolt. The distal end of the base leg is provided with an outwardly facing recess, and this end is secured relative to the nut body by cold flowing body material into engagement with the pin recess. The pin is fabricated from Type 308 stainless steel welding rod having a uniform circular cross section.

Abstract: The system is an electric control circuit and associated components including a door locking circuit and an ignition circuit. The ignition circuit is connected to the vehicle battery power through a latch circuit. The latch circuit has alternative "lock" and "unlock" modes for, respectively, connecting battery power to and disconnecting battery power from the ignition circuit. A code sensing circuit provides switching for the latch circuit. This circuit includes means for programming a preselected unlocking code. The code sensing circuit includes code inputting means which might be a push button pad, a barcode reader, an optical binary-code reader, or a magnetic reader; the inputting means being mounted on an entry door of the vehicle. The code sensing circuit includes comparator means for comparing the inputted code to the preprogrammed code for the sending of an unlocking signal to the latch circuit.

Abstract: A three hulled sailboat consists of a tripod frame having three generally horizontal spars which define support points at their distal ends. During the sailing of the boat, one support point is always toward the windward, and the other two support points are leeward. A generally vertical mast supported on the frame has a masthead spaced equidistantly from the two lee support points and generally above the windward support point. Three buoyant hulls are coupled to the respective support points, the hulls being elongated with a high length-to-beam ratio, and being symmetrical about a transverse vertical plane for movement through the water in either direction. The hulls are coupled for independent rotation and steering relative to the frame and also for independent pitching relative to the frame about transverse central axes. Independent steering is provided for each of the three hulls relative to the frame.

Abstract: A platform simulates a golfing surface on which the golfer takes his stance relative to an address position of a golf ball. Apparatus within the platform conveys a succession of golf balls in a linear path traversing the address position, and conveying the balls in a path adjacent to the simulated golfing surface and in a direction opposite from the intended direction of flight. The linear path is provided by an elongated slot in a simulated golfing surface. An endless conveyor belt underlying that slot carries a plurality of elongated tee members which are projected upward through the slot and carry balls along the path through the address position at a uniform rate of speed. The golfer then will time his swing to hit the ball when it reaches the address position, this encouraging the golfer to swing the clubhead through the ball rather than at it. The endless belt is supported on end wheels, and a bracket provides a support floor for the upper run of the belt parallel to the golfing surface.

Abstract: A laser device includes, within an envelope, an electron gun, and a structure providing a light resonating cavity which includes confronting reflecting surfaces and a semiconductor material which is pumped by the electron beam producing emission of light within the cavity. The resonator cavity consists of mirror bodies having confronting reflective surfaces in parallel planes, one surface being fully reflective and one surface being partially reflective, and a semiconductor wafer mounted adjacent to one of the mirror bodies to be impinged by the electron beam. The electron beam is swept across the semiconductor wafer in a selected pattern, such as the conventional television pattern, and a laser beam is emitted from the lasering device which follows the pattern traced by the electron beam. The apparatus may be controlled by a television produced signal.

Abstract: A sprinkler body, to be anchored in the ground or to some structure, includes a chamber and a fluid inlet to the chamber. A rotatable head assembly mounted on the body includes a ring gear within the chamber and an external head with a laterally directed nozzle for directing a stream of fluid to cover a selected area around the sprinkler. A fluid operated motor within the body chamber, driven by the fluid passing through the sprinkler, drives the ring gear through reduction gearing. A Variable flow control valve consists of a slide mounted in the head for controlling the flow of fluid to the nozzle. A programmed cam is mounted on the body and a cam follower mounted on the valve slide follows the cam to vary the valve opening in relation to the rotational position of the head relative to the body. The valve controls the volume and throw of the fluid stream so that the sprinkler covers uniformly an area of irregular noncircular configuration.

Abstract: A drill assembly includes a handle carrying a mount for a pneumatic drill motor, and an elongated tubular support enclosing an extended motor shaft which carries a drill bit chuck projecting from the end of that support. The drill assembly coacts with a drill guide assembly including an elongated tubular guide for receiving the tubular support in sliding relation, and having a rotary bearing at its lower end for rotationally supporting the drill bit. The lower end face is concave to enable seating on the prosthesis tip to be drilled. The drill guide assembly includes an offset handle and a stop clamp and depth gauge for coaction with the drill assembly handle to control the depth of drilling.

Abstract: For illuminating an area of a structure which is prone to explosion due to dust or vapors in the atmosphere, a system includes fluorescent type lighting devices which are energized by radio frequency energy without any physical connection to the lighting devices. The lighting devices include sealed envelopes having fluorescent material on the inner wall surfaces, and containing a gas which responds to external radio frequency electromagnetic radiation to excite the fluorescent material and produce visible light. The lighting devices are mounted within the structure by insulating brackets and may be mounted within impact resistant protective enclosures. The lighting devices are energized by radiating devices of electromagnetic energy which are mounted adjacent to the several lighting devices within the explosion prone area, and which are supplied with radio frequency electromagnetic energy through appropriate means from a generating source remote from or outside of the explosion prone area.

Abstract: A guide for aligning pickets during the building of a picket fence includes a beam having a lower straightedge against which the tops of the pickets may be abutted during installation. The beam has a length approximately that of the typical distance between adjacent fence posts. The "picket end" of the beam is supported on the top of the last placed picket, with the beam face resting on the picket top, and front and rear legs at the picket end straddle the placed picket and the top rail and are spaced apart a distance equivalent to the thickness of the rail and picket to stabilize that end in the proper supported position. At the "rail end" of the beam, stabilizing legs are spaced apart a distance equivalent to the thickness of the rail; and a spacer block adjustably mounted between these legs rests on the top rail and establishes the rise of the beam at this rail end of the guide.

Abstract: This animal watering valve is designed to enable the animal to obtain its own water within its mouth, by biting on it. Primarily, the valve includes a main body which is threaded into a water source pipe, and the main body includes an activating shaft or stem in its bore, which is normally seated by a coil spring. It further includes a rivet which acts as a trigger for urging the shaft or stem angularly off of its seat, to enable water to flow into the mouth of the animal.

Abstract: A welding machine includes a main housing with head stock and tail stock sections at its opposite ends having respective chucks for supporting a rotating work piece. A carriage movable endwise between the head stock and tail stock sections includes a head overlying the work area and a flux collection tray and associated circulation components underlying the carriage head and the work area. A welding torch assembly is supported in suspended adjustable relation from the carriage head and includes a welding tip through which weld wire is fed and a dispensing nozzle surrounding and concentric with the welding tip for dispensing granulated flux. Granulated flux is supplied by gravity from a hopper in the carriage head; and the flux is circulated from the hopper box under the collection tray to the overhead flux hopper by a pneumatic circulating system.

Abstract: A lever is mounted about an oscillation axis for limited oscillation relative to a first component. A linear tension spring latching member is mounted for rotation on that lever about an axis eccentric to the oscillation axis, the latching member being mounted for frictionally retarded rotation. In the joined condition of second and first components, a latching pin projects from the second component in parallel spaced relation to the oscillation axis and the latching member axis. The tension spring latching member includes a latching hook at its distal end for engagement with the latching pin so that in the latched condition in the components, the spring latching member is tensioned between the latching pin and the eccentric axis.

Abstract: Drilling apparatus for attachment to a rotary motor includes a flexible shaft confined in an elongated tubular sheath. The sheath is formed from a semi-rigid material which is bendable to a desired curvature, at the use site to select the curvature of the drilled hole, and which is rigid enough to retain that curvature in use. A drilling bit is fixed to one end of the flexible shaft, and includes a shank coacting with the distal end of the sheath to rotationally guide the drilling bit. The flexible shaft projects from the sheath at the proximal end so that both components may be secured to a drilling motor which is manipulated to guide the sheath while rotating the cutting bit. The sheath may remain in the drilled hole temporarily as a liner to guide the passage therethrough of a relatively stiff wire or other filamentary member.

Abstract: A transport device includes an elongated housing consisting of parallel spaced bars and end blocks. The housing is mounted for rotation on a pair of conveyor chains by support structure including longitudinally projecting shafts and bushings journaled on the shafts for coupling to the conveyor chain. Adjacent edges of the two housing bars define a support surface for the sticks to be transported. An elongated inner bar is confined between the housing bars for reciprocation, and has an activator rod at one end, extending axially into one of the support shafts and bearing against a cam rotatably mounted transversely at the distal end of that shaft. A spring urges an inner rod into engagement with the cam. The cam is configured to be engaged by support structures associated with the conveyor mechanism, to effect the shifting of the inner rod against the force of the spring.

Abstract: An elongated dissecting tool adapted to be driven by a rotary motor is confined within an elongated tool guide which is attached to the rotary motor. A tool is coupled to the motor by means of a suitable chuck; and the tool guide includes bearings for rotationally supporting the elongated dissecting tool. The dissecting tool includes a specially engineered cutting tip at its distal end having at least one longitudinal cutting edge; and this tip is partially enclosed within a shroud formed at the distal end of the guide. The shroud provides an opening for access of the cutting tip to the tissue to be dissected protects adjacent anatomical structures from inadvertent injury, and provides a cutting edge coacting with the cutting edge of the cutting tip for the dissection of soft tissue.

Abstract: An elevator platform is mounted by means of lift arms and parallel arms to a frame mounted under the truck bed. On the frame, the normal pivot axis for the parallel arms is aligned vertically above the pivot axis for the lift arms; and the pivot axes on the platform are similarly vertically aligned when the platform is in the horizontal load position. One of the parallel arms is articulated having an elbow intermediate its ends; and a control strut is mounted on the truck to be swung into engagement with the articulated arm adjacent to its elbow while the platform is being raised from the ground position. When so engaged, the proximal link of the articulated arm is locked against further upward movement, so that further upward movement of the lift arms will cause the gate to rotate upward 90.degree. to a vertical storage position behind the truck bed. The frame pivot for the other parallel arm is mounted on an oscillating bracket, allowing that pivot to move to permit the rotation of the platform.

Abstract: An automobile seat belt includes a latch tongue fixed to one belt segment and having a latching aperture, and a latch housing fixed to the other belt segment, having a recess and opening at its distal end to receive the latch tongue. The tongue is automatically latched within the housing by insertion; and the tongue is released by depressing a release button through an opening in the top face of the latch housing. To render the seat belt child proof, one form of safety cover is a sleeve slipped over the latch housing, the sleeve having one end partially closed to pass the latch tongue and the sleeve having a limited access opening in one face to overlie the release button. The sleeve is retained in enclosing position on the housing by the latch tongue. The limited access opening may be a small opening only large enough to pass the tip of the ignition key to depress the release button and unfasten the belt.

Abstract: A casting rod includes an elongated piston chamber tube and a connected guide tube for enclosing and guiding a push rod to accelerate and project a fishing lure or other weighted device attached to a line. The push rod has a piston fixed to its rearward end for coaction with the chamber tube, and the rod projects through the guide tube having a mounting tube at its exterior exposed end which is the rod tip. A weighted device has an axial pin received within the mounting tube and attached to the line which passes through a line aperture in the mounting tube. The rod includes a valve housing and handle at its base end, the handle enclosing a CO.sub.2 cartridge which is pierced to pressurize the valve chamber. A valve interposed between the valve chamber and the cylinder chamber is opened momentarily by a firing pin impacted by a hammer to pass a charge of pressurized gas to the piston chamber to accelerate the push rod and project the lure.

Abstract: An automobile seat belt includes a latch tongue fixed to one belt segment and having a latching aperture, and a latch housing fixed to the other belt segment, having a recess and opening at its distal end to receive the latch tongue. The tongue is automatically latched within the housing by insertion; and the tongue is released by depressing a release button through an opening in the top face of the latch housing. To render the seat belt child proof, a safety sleeve is slipped over the latch housing, the sleeve having one end partially closed to pass the latch tongue and the sleeve having a limited access opening in one face to overlie the release button. The sleeve is retained in enclosing position on the housing by the latch tongue. The limited access opening may be a small opening only large enough to pass the tip of the ignition key to depress the release button and unfasten the belt.