Abstract: There is disclosed a shock absorber which is contained within the head tube of a bicycle. The shock absorber has an outer cylinder that is rotationally received within the head tube and secured at its upper end to a handlebar support member, such as a gooseneck. An inner cylinder is slidably received within the outer cylinder and secured at its lower end to the fork that supports the front wheel. Each of the cylinders has longitudinal grooves, the inner cylinder having longitudinal grooves on its outer surface which align with longitudinal grooves on the inside wall of the outer cylinder. A plurality of bearing balls are received in the tracks which are formed by the longitudinal grooves of the cylinders and a thin-wall bearing retainer is concentrically received between the inner and outer cylinders having a plurality of apertures at predetermined spacing which are aligned along the bearing tracks, each of the apertures capturing one of the bearing balls.

Abstract: Disclosed is a self service water dispensing apparatus especially adapted to be located inside a grocery store. This apparatus includes a housing which provides a rigid support structure having a base section which has integral therewith a water storage tank, and an upper section immediately above the base section which includes a plurality of water filling stations. The upper section and base section are joined together and are contiguous with each other along a common generally horizontal plane located about waist high to a typical adult user. This provides a compact and convenient to use structure. The water filling stations each comprise a recessed cubicle having a top wall with a delivery spout therein, an open front side into which a water bottle is placed beneath the spout for filling, and a floor including a drain. Manually operable control switches are at each vending station.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for treatment of an oil slick resulting from an oil spill on a body of water. The oil slick is treated with a mixture of a granular elastomeric gum comprising a block copolymer of ethylene/butylene and styrene and an oleochemical synthetic wax, the latter being used in amounts of from 1 to 33 weight percent of the mixture. The adsorbent mixture has a low density, typically from 14 to about 15 pounds per cubic foot and will absorb oil and form a dry solid which has a non-tacky and non-oily surface. The adsorbent mixture is broadcast on the surface of an oil slick in proportions from about 0.2 to about 1 part per weight part of oil. The wave action on the body of water is generally sufficiently turbulent to admix the absorbent with the oil of the oil slick, resulting in the formation of floating solids which are dry to the touch and which have a non-oily, non-tacky surface. These solids can be readily recovered from the water or from a shoreline after they have washed ashore.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fence support including a generally vertically oriented main support post 31 in the form of a T shaped iron bar and a pair of braces 18. Each brace 18 includes an elongated bearing element 26 that is received in the bites of the T and a collar member 25 fits over the top of the main support post 31 and bearing elements 26 to hold them together. The braces 18 have at their bottom ends stake holders 16 and 17 which receive stakes 23 that are driven into the ground. An anchor 24 holds the main support post 31 in position.

Abstract: There is disclosed a tool for the removal of locking collars of the frangible fasteners used in the aerospace industry, particularly for removal of fasteners installed in close quarters such in a deep channel where conventional tools cannot grip the collar. The tool has a collet-type chuck to grasp the collar of the fastener and has a lead screw to lock the collet chuck about the collar and permit removal of the collar. For this purpose, the collet chuck has a cylindrical neck which is received within a sleeve. The lead screw is received in the opposite end of the collet sleeve and is threadably engaged in the internally threaded bore of the collet chuck member, preferably with left hand threads, and has a head with wrenching flats. The lead screw has a central axial through bore which receives a key member which is used to immobilize the stud or bolt of the fastener system. A disk member is slidably received within the collet sleeve to eject removed collars from the collet chuck member.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and an apparatus for treatment of water in an electrolytic cell having stacked plates of magnesium and copper in alternating array, separated by thin metal, brass washers. The stacked plates are disposed transversely across a cylindrical treatment chamber, preferably with four stacks aligned on equally angular spacings within the chamber. The water to be treated is introduced into the chamber tangentially to the inner wall thereof and is directed over the stacked plates. The tangential introduction of water into the treatment chamber generates a vortex flow of the water across the electrolytic cells which accelerates clarification of the water by forced separation of the precipitates which are collected in the bottom of the separation chamber and periodically removed. The clarified water is removed from the treatment chamber and passed through subsequent processing.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for the removal of impurities, particularly organic impurities from granular solids, having its greatest immediate application for the regeneration of spent adsorbents which are used to purify waste water. The spent activated carbon is immersed in an aqueous bath which preferably contains a surface active agent, and water is circulated over the activated carbon while ultrasonic vibration is applied to the aqueous bath at a frequency from about 1 to about 100 kHz to desorb the organic adsorbate from the activated carbon. The desorbed organic compounds are washed from the activated carbon by the circulating water stream and are decomposed by introducing ozone into the water stream and, most preferably, while subjecting the water stream to ultraviolet radiation, thereby producing a wash water which can be safely discharged to the environment.

Abstract: Disclosed is a chiropractic belt 10 having two belt segments 16 and 18 joined together by a central elastic section 12. There is an elastic cross-structure 26 which overlies and is connected at the intersection of the cross-structure to the mid-section of the elastic member. The ends of the cross-structure are connected to the belt segments. Right hand and left hand tensioning members 58 and 60 are attached at the midsection at the intersection of the cross structure, with free ends of the tensioning members being adapted to be connected or disconnected, respectively, to the left and right hand belt segments.

Abstract: Disclosed is a safety feature for wall beds which provides for jamming of the linkages of a counter-balancing mechanism if anchors for the mounting frame of the counter-balancing mechanism accidentally dislodge.

Abstract: A digital-to-analog converter is disclosed which employs a ladder configuration comprising a series of R1-R2-R3 stages in which resistors R2 and R3 are selected so that mathematically the combined resistance of R2 in parallel with R3 is equal to twice the resistance of R1. The resistance of resistor R3 is on the order of 3 to 30 times greater than the resistance of resistor R2. These resistors are configured in stages with FET switches.

Abstract: A restraining and support device for infants bottles and the like to prevent the bottle from being accidently or intentionally thrown to the ground or the floor is disclosed. The device consists of a flexible resilient elongated member, one end of which (the attachment end) is adapted to be attached to a fixed object and the opposite end (the grasping end) is adapted to hold an infants bottle. The attachment end of the elongated member carries adjustable loop for removably securing the device to a fixed object. The grasping end of the device carries a resilient annulus which is fitted around the neck of the bottle to be restrained. Stand-off connectors connect the grasping annulus and the strap to respective ends of the elongated member and serve keep the elongated member away from the fixed object to which it is secured to avoid entanglement of the device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making garment protector that is of high quality, having an envelope structure made of cloth fabric with an easy access opening in one of its sides covered by a flap member.

Abstract: A golf club container and cart combination comprises a frame on which is carried the container element for the golf clubs and ancillary golf equipment. The container, interior, is divided into two coaxial spaces, a center space and an outer circumferential club containing space. The center space may be further divided into two or more compartments. The upper compartments are accessed through the upper end of the container and a wheel container is defined at the lower end of the bag and is accessed through the bottom of the bag.The frame carries a pivotal handle which may be folded back against the bag of the container or extended when utilizing the device as a pull-cart. A foldable strut assembly is also carried by the frame and is adapted to be folded flat against the frame or extended in a cantilever fashion to carry a wheel and axle assembly.

Abstract: Disclosed is a medical valve comprising a pair of plates holding in tension a membrane folded over to form a chamber with an elongated, slit-like opening along adjoining edges. The plates include interlocking members which interlock the plates together. An inlet tube in communication with the chamber extends outwardly from the plates. The preferred configuration of the chamber is trapezoidal. Also disclosed is a surgical instrument that is a needle-like member having an elongated slot in the wall of this member. A method of using this instrument to implant a tubular element in the body of a patient is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a valve used in the water drainage system of an aircraft having a pressurized cabin. The valve includes a housing with a water inlet and outlet and in which a float is mounted by a spring. The float includes a stopper element adapted to engage the water outlet in the housing. The water inlet is in communication with the cabin pressure and the water being discharged and the outlet is in communication with atmospheric pressure outside the aircraft. The spring normally biases the float so that the stopper element is away from the water outlet when the plane is on the ground. As the plane gains altitude, the differential in pressure between atmospheric pressure and cabin pressure closes the valve, with the spring moving the stopper element into engagement with the water outlet. This occurs in response to the changing differential in pressure between the cabin pressure and atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: Disclosed is a machine for manufacturing bakery products wherein a main drive motors powers feeding means for advancing rows of individual dough packets step-wise along an assembly line to a Ferris-wheel type conveyor including rows of cups into which individual dough packets are deposited row by row. The Ferris-wheel type conveyor is driven by the main drive motor to advance the rows of cup means step-wise row by row. The novel machine includes an inclined table with a surface over which the individual dough packets slide as the dough packets are advanced by the feeding means to the Ferris-wheel type conveyor. The table terminates at a lower end thereof near the Ferris-wheel type conveyor. A gate comprising a roller member with receptacles is positioned to receive the individual dough packets as the packets fall off the table member and into aligned receptacles. The roller has three rows of receptacles, with each row spaced apart from adjacent rows by 120.degree.

Abstract: With reference to FIG. 3, the sloping roof (250) of a building (10) incorporates inner and outer juxtaposed metal panels, (15, 16) spaced from each other to define passageways (20) which serve as heat exchangers. A closed-loop water circulation system (18) connects the passageway (20) with low, medium and high grade heat store chambers (21, 23, 25) disposed within the building foundation structure (13). The water circulation system (18) employs sub-systems (22, 29 and 31) which comprise, respectively, primary, secondary and tertiary sub-systems. The heat store chamber (21) comprises a portion of the primary circulation sub-system (22) whereby water is re-circulated through the panel passageways (20) so as to be raised in temperature 20 by solar heat. In addition to the heat store chamber (21), the primary sub-system (22) comprises a heat pump unit (27).

Abstract: There is disclosed a solids collection and removal system for a settling tank. It is particularly designed for installation in generally rectangular, in-ground settling tanks such as is commonly used for water treatment. The collection device includes a plurality of bottom-travelling collectors which have elongated, open-bottomed channel housings, each with a scraper blade pivotally supported by a pin-in-slot attachment to provide a modified pendulum suspension. The collectors, which span the width of the tank, are mounted on a track or other suitable mechanical linkage for oscillatory travel across preselected portions of the bottom of the settling tank. Each collector is divided by a longitudinal baffle into a lowermost collection chamber and an upper evacuation chamber. The latter is connected through a conduit to a vacuum system for the evacuation of the solids from the collectors.

Abstract: An improved press-on bottle cap is disclosed in which the cap comprises a top disk and a thin-walled outer skirt dependent therefrom with an annular tear band which, when separated from the cap, divides the cap into a lower ring and an upper reclosure cap. An annular lip is provided about the outside wall of the cap, approximately in the middle of the reclosure cap and the tear tab, which is integral with the tear band, extends upwardly into contact with the underside of the annular lip. Preferably, the lip is discontinuous with an open sector above the tear tab, and the cap is fabricated without the necessity to use a split-cavity mold, and a preferred mold construction is also disclosed. A compressible, plastic foam gasket is employed in the cap to seal the container contents. A foam gasket is seated on the undersurface of the cap in a position to bear against the upper end of the neck of the container which is received in the cap.